Old Treasures!

As we hurry through our lives at breakneck speeds, we often forget some of those simple pleasures that once brought us comfort.  We continually gather the new things and pile them on top of our already collected goods until we have tall totem poles of stuff.

We may eventually realize that we indeed have a plethora of gains and in a few moments of stillness, we might have a chance uncover some of those beloved items at the bottom of the barrel.  It’s comparable to cleaning out a drawer and rediscovering a favorite blouse or snugly pair of pajamas.

As clarity returns to us when we slow down, we begin to remember other things that once brought us joy.  It could be a classical radio station that we once found  rewarding, a gospel CD that has been tucked away or a radio talk show that we had forgotten during our frenetic paces.

Old books that we once enjoyed could catch our attention and we may revisit them.  Or we might pull out the paint brushes and therapeutically finish a poem that we started on a piece of stretched canvas.

After completing several high-paced projects, we take the time to draw back the heavy curtains of our personal stages and notice those things that we once cherished.  We hear ourselves say, “Oh yeah,” as we remember how much peace a sauna or pool brought us.

Or, we may decide to replace those old ballet shoes that we enjoyed wearing around the house for increased balance. It is the small things that bring us the most happiness if we only take the time to remember them.

We should shuffle around those possessions that we already own or jog our memories to recall what once brought us peace in the past.  When the cream has risen to the top along with our smiles, we can make a pointed effort to restock our treasure troves of joy!

Lynn M.                                                                                       April 28, 2018

Rest!

Everything comes to a rest after being in motion.  Musicians learn to read the rest signs on musical scores.  Trains, cars and airplanes come to a stop to unload and reload passengers or perhaps they have come to the end of their destined routes.

Birds stop flying to eat, regather and get their directions.  They may need to confer with the leader who is flying the point and see the new plan.  But they still have to come down to the ground to have that communication.

Wise ones know that in order to make good choices, they must descend from the mountains of high activity.  Then, they can come to a low valley point and simply stop.  As they rest, they can reflect, reassess, analyze and decide on what needs to be done next.  They can then create a new blueprint or action plan.

When the mind, body and soul are in one accord and all of the right tools are in place, they can emerge from those resting places.  They are then fired up and ready to go on.  They may have had to put everything and everyone on hold but  now, they can have continued success.  Then they are recharged, replenished  and as all systems are set to go, they can assertively, dive in!

Lynn M.                                                                                 April 21, 2018

Root-Bound No More

The other day I was teaching a unit on New Plants to a group of first graders.  I thought of the many parables and parallels about life that were tucked in this lesson.  It basically said that plants need air, water and space.

I thought about my own fascination with gardens.  Those of us with a green thumb know that it all starts with a tiny seed that is deeply planted in fertilized soil. Yet, if properly nurtured, those tiny seeds grow into rows and rows of bountiful beauty.

Just like the plants, we also need plenty of air.  One of the first recommendations of our physicians and metaphysicians is, “Get plenty of fresh air!”  A breath of fresh air not only fills our lungs but it changes our thoughts.  A brisk walk in the elements whether sun, rain or wind is a sure-fired method of solving a problem.  A mental light bulb will invariably pop on and new perspectives are likely to emerge during a walk.

We need light too and the sun usually brings a smile to most of our faces.  It is a welcome source that inspires us to enjoy daily living.  If we have been sitting in the dark for too long, we realize what we have been missing once we open the blinds and pull back the curtains.  That emitted light speedily brings us closer to better health.  We can see that the glass is truly more full than empty.

And lastly, we definitely need space.  When plants stop growing we pull them out of their old pots and see that they have become root-bound.  The roots are all crowded together and there is no room for them to stretch their proverbial new wings.  So, we get a larger pot and make room for the new growth.

We may feel the walls of constriction are closing in on us but it is usually a sign that it is time to move on up higher. Like the  plants, we have been unconsciously growing.  There is a saying that says, “Your growing is showing!”  So, as the process dictates, we must move on to airy, light-filled, spacious places as we drink from even fresher fountains!

Lynn M.                                                                                       April 14, 2018

Happy April!

In April umbrellas go up,
As frequent rainstorms do erupt!

Flower buds push forward with force,
Leaning on the sun for its source.

It’s Poetry Month for thirty days,
Poems lift us from that humdrum haze.

Birds chirp and celebrate the earth,
Setting the tone for widespread mirth!

Lynn M.                                                                  April 8, 2018

Chappaquiddick: A Movie Review

I am so glad that I didn’t listen to the one of the film critics who gave the new movie Chappaquiddick a “D.”  As in most cases in life, we have to experience things for ourselves and then make a judgment call.  So, I followed my first mind and went on to see this movie.

Most of the people in the audience looked like they were baby boomers like me and were probably there to revisit their feelings about this indelible incident.  The year of 1969 was a highly sensitive time in our country after several assassinations of political figures and it was at the height of an unpopular war.  So, to my recollection, emotions were already running at an all-time high on so many levels and fronts.

When this story involving Ted Kennedy emerged, many did not know what to think.  This new movie, Chappaquiddick, reopens old wounds and yet it is done tastefully and handled with an air of sensitivity.  He was, after all, the youngest of the famous brothers and people wanted to hear what he had to say and give him a fair shake.

The highly polished and believable cast includes Jason Clark as Ted Kennedy; Ed Helms as Cousin Joe Gargan and Bruce Dern as Patriarch Joseph P. Kennedy.  We are allowed to take a walk back down memory lane hoping to get greater insight into one of the bigger political mysteries. We will never fully know what happened on that unfortunate night in July of 1969 so we can only speculate.  We certainly should thank Director John Curran and writers Taylor Allen and Andrew Logan for doing a fine job of recreating a grave and dark time in our history.

What we do know is, for whatever reason, Ted Kennedy’s life was spared. He went on to live a full life – something that fate did not afford his tragic brothers.  Obviously, his mission was not complete in July of 1969 and he went on to become one of the longest serving US senators in American history. He was able to push through many legislative bills.

We are all flawed in some way and though it is easy to pass judgment, it is difficult to continually stay the course and forge ahead.  As someone in the movie said, “Only history will decide.” I personally think that he proved his father to be wrong.  He survived the hurt, the shame and the embarrassment as he went on to accomplish many great things!

Lynn M.                                                              April 7, 2018