Are You Grateful?

In all things, give thanks. We are approaching Thanksgiving and we are gently nudged into counting our blessings and giving thanks for all things great and small. Though we may choose to focus on our woes and what-if’s, we must become mindful enough to note what went right this past year.

If we are still breathing, that is a huge and automatic thanks. Some people did not make it to this date and time.

If we have food, shelter, clothing and fresh drinking water, we should give a humble thanks. Many others around the world do not have this daily luxury.

If we have friends, family and beloved colleagues who share our daily lives with us, we should pause and give thanks. Every smile and hug offer us the silent encouragement to continue on our journeys.

If we have income or some means of sustaining our daily needs, we should stop and give thanks.

If we did not have to ask for a loan or a hand-out from loved ones, then we should almost shout out a thanks out loud. And if we did, we have to thank them for being there for us.

If we were able to complete any memorable projects that had been lurking around on our to-do lists, we should breathe out a big thank you.

If we are still able to get up and function everyday without assistance, then we should really let out a big sigh and give thanks. And if we do need assistance, we thank those who support us.

If we can walk, talk, laugh or cry, we should give thanks because that means we are still able to get in touch with our emotions and for that we should be thankful.

If we can cuddle a child or note the innocence in their eyes, we should feel a lot of gratitude for they are grand readers of the spirit.

The list is endless of those small, yet precious comforts that offer us those warm cushions when life seems to be too much.

We are thankful for that morning cup of coffee with that special cream that gets our motors running to start our day to that bar of chocolate candy that puts us to bed at night. We take absolutely nothing and no one for granted as we admit that we are indeed grateful!

Lynn M.                                                                     November 23, 2019

Thank You!

It’s that time of year when we begin to make our slow descent into the holidays. Before things become totally hectic, we can push the pause button and take a look back over the past year. We ask ourselves, “What did I accomplish?” “How did I do?” “Where am I now compared to where I was this time last year?” “And more importantly, am I in a better place emotionally?”

To which of yesteryear’s woes can we honestly echo the famous Rhett Butler and say, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” If the things that caused us grief earlier truly don’t matter anymore, then that is growth. As the adage goes, “If it does not matter to you, then it does not matter.”

After looking over our shoulders, we turn and look at our current surroundings and situations and bow our knees and give a humble thanks. We count our blessings both big and small. We give thanks for our food, shelter and clothing. We take nothing and no one in our lives for granted as we cherish the rich company of those who supported us. We are even grateful for the agitators because they strengthened our resolve in some way as we kept on trucking forward. We now understand that the challenges helped us get to where we are today.

We give thanks for the village that offered both silent and audible cheers as we ran our race. We give thanks for all of our guardian angels both seen and unseen. And most preciously, we give thanks for having the wherewithal to continue to place one foot in front of the other and continue our journeys.

At times, we may have felt as if we were walking in a heavy fog with blinders on, but we give thanks that we stretched out our arms and felt our way forward towards a brighter light. So, we give a big hearty thank you as we hum a tune such as “Through it All.”

Lynn M.                                                                          November 9, 2019

Changing like the Seasons

The leaves are changing colors during this autumn season as we each change in some individual way. Their myriad array of hues easily matches the altering stages of our personal journeys.

Though we advance at different paces, we are still in motion and moving forward. At times, we may feel as if we are stuck while going about the same rituals and routines. But if we take a closer look, it simply is not true.

We may not see our own inner chameleons, but others do. The other day, a co-worker told me that I looked less stressed. I did not quite know how to take it but no matter how I weighed the statement, it was definitely a compliment.

I pondered it for a moment and thought about what I was doing this time last year. I silently agreed with her. I not only looked less stressed, I felt less stressed. I was not carrying the same loads and burdens and I was glad that it was visible to others.

We should take a private inventory and answer some honest questions. What was I doing this time last year? What type of work was I doing? How was I feeling emotionally? Are the same people or situations causing me distress or have I taken the time to clear the cache?  Am I aware of my own growth?

Nine times out of ten, there will be a few aha moments. We can inaudibly admit that we feel more energized by our growth. Our progression is apparent so we can draw our tick marks on the wall.  Or, we can simply compare ourselves to the grand, rich colors of the autumn foliage!

Lynn M.                                                                         October 26, 2019

 

Dear Angry Birds!

Do you walk around upset with your lip reaching for the floor?  Perhaps you feel justified but how does it make others feel?  Are they inside of your head?  Do they know what is wrong?  Have you considered how you impact others?

Everybody is struggling with something.  It could be a broken heart, the loss of a parent, an addiction or any host of things.  Do they deserve your rude and unhappy angst? Are you threatened by your perceived loss of power?  Do you think that someone else can steal your thunder?  Do you think they can take your place?

All these notions are only going on inside of your inner self because what’s for you is for you. Period.  And guess what?  The universe always delivers on time.  If whatever you are waiting on hasn’t arrived either you are not quite ready for what you think you want, or it is not in the cards.  Your anger will not make it happen.

So, lighten up.  Give yourself a break.  Smile a little.  And please, give the world a break.  Don’t be an angry bird that attacks the innocent bystanders.  Read Desiderata by Max Ehrmann and see what really matters in life. 

And after that, take the advice from the Bee Gees and remember, that You Should be Dancing through life.  Push play and let loose.  Dance and release those bottled up emotions.  Get it all out of your system and try to become a pleasant bird!!

Lynn M.                                                                 September 21, 2019

 

 

Resilience

What is resilience?  Think of a time when you knew you were resilient.  Did you fall apart and wonder if you could go on, yet later found yourself back in the game?  A host of debaters was recently asked to share one of their resilient moments. Some answers were clear and profound while others became lost somewhere in the middle. Reliving crises can make you veer off course.

When the onslaughts of life have taken their tolls on your mind, body and soul, it is best to simply halt and retreat.  If possible, take a self-prescribed reprieve from it all.  You can announce your own time-out and step out of the path of the fiery darts.

You may have to hunker down and rest on your laurels for a while.  The universe knows how to bring you back into alignment with the natural order of things.  One sage said, “It did not get that way overnight and it possibly will not straighten out overnight.”  It is a process.

So, during your down time, become still and wait.  Wait until you can think clearly.  Remain calm by reading, walking, sitting in the silence, listening to inspiring music and podcasts of experts who offer you hope and encouragement.

Stay busy and let the sizzle of the fires of chastisement simmer down and give them time to completely fizzle out.  Wait in secure spaces while the angry birds fly overhead searching for something to devour.  Yes, wait.  Wait until the coast is clear.

Do your own inner work by emptying your mental vessels of anguish, bitterness and disappointment. Wait inside your cozy cocoon until you have gathered your strength and your resolve to go forward. Here is a poetic suggestion for you:

                                                “Stay down; until you feel sound.”

Once your storm has passed over, peek out.  You will see the sun sitting there waiting for you to come out and dance to those new, harmonious tunes.  Now, that is being resilient!

Lynn M.                                                                                                         September 14, 2019

A Wider Lens!

 

I recently read The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot.  I had thoroughly enjoyed Silas Marner years earlier and wanted to read another work by her.  Mary Ann Evans used George Eliot as both a disguise and pen name.  This gave her a better chance of being taken seriously as an author in the mid-1800’s.

The book is filled with shards of wisdom, but this one quote stuck with me.  It was also highlighted in my Kindle version of the novel.   It said, “He, like every one of us, was imprisoned within the limits of his own nature and his education had simply glided over him, leaving a slight deposit of polish; remember that the responsibility of tolerance lies with those who have a wider vision.”  When things go awry, someone needs to have enough insight to take responsibility and help make good choices.

They could choose from this list of uplifting reminders:

•    “You take the high road and I will take the low road.” (Loch Lomond lyrics)
•       Be the bigger person.
•       Turn the other cheek.
•       Give them your cloak also.
•       Forgive seventy times seven.
•       Hold your peace.
•       The more you know, the more you are responsible for.
•       “You have to give a little, take a little. (Glory of Love lyrics)

These lyrics and aphorisms appeal to the mature ones who understand that age is just a number. The ‘mother wit’  of old souls is a  gift that has been given to those with higher visions.  They know how to move into the upper room of  thinking when faced with grave decisions. They are able to exhibit more tolerance of others as they meet life’s demands

As wise eagles, they may perch for a while and observe the disorder taking place in the valley.  After carefully assessing the situation, they can make their descent  into the fray with plans in hand. With the aperture of the lens perfectly adjusted, they succeed in making a difference while using the lightest of touches!

Lynn M.                                                                   September 7, 2019

 

Peace in the Storm!

Charles Dickens starts The Tale of Two Cities by saying, “It was the best of times, the worst of times...”  It makes me think of these perilous times of major uncertainty and the importance of finding peace and centers of refuge.                      

Level-headedness is essential to maintaining a sense of balance as we navigate the abrupt storms on the high seas of life.  We must weather these swift changes and the use of good sound mother-wit can serve as a great aid. I often think of Rudyard Kipling’s poem, If.  He wrote:  

“If you can keep your head when all about you.   Are losing theirs and blaming it on you.”

When things seem to be spiraling out of control all around us, there is still that calm center waiting there in the midst. It would behoove us to hunker down and cleave to it with all of our might. 

Most of us have a place in our homes where we can get quiet.  We may have to minimize the use of social media and the news reports, so our clear thoughts allow our intuition to kick in and point the way.  When there is no music, no television and no silly chatter, we can get in touch with our true selves.  Our thinking crystalizes like a newly-washed drinking glass and the old, muddled ways of thinking are flushed down the drain.

Life is like walking a tight rope so we carefully place one foot in front of the other.  We don’t have the luxury of looking too far down the road to see what is coming because we could lose our equilibrium.  We must take slow, decided steps.

I read a lot because while reading, I must be still.  I am not bouncing and flitting around and spinning my wheels.  It may be an e-book or a regularly printed book but I quiet my thoughts and gain new perspectives at the same time.  I worry less and become like a lily of the field. “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin.” (Matthew  6:28)

 Cooking also defuses my anxiety.  As I chop each chip of an onion or a bell paper, clarity seeps in and  answers to my concerns trickle onto the scene.  More light is emitted, and I see things from other points of view.  Einstein said, “The problems we face today cannot be solved by the minds that created them.” Yes, it takes new mindsets to solve those old dilemmas.  

Spirit is always nudging and guiding us, but if we are distracted, we miss the directions that can help us.  When attuned, we can hear the warning signs that say, “Don’t go that way today or don’t call that person today.”  Later, we may discover that a disaster has indeed been averted because we adhered to that still, small voice.

Traveling on our personal paths is a methodical process and the Chinese proverb reminds us that, “A journey of thousand miles begins with a single step.”  Each single step can lead to more peace and greater understanding if we walk mindfully and take serene reprieves to gather our bearings and stay the course!

Lynn M.                                                                                                                   August 10, 2019

 

Creative Expression!

Creativity can unfold in many forms and shapes.  If one thing is not shaking, then we can try something else to unleash the creative spirit within us.  There are so many ways to open new channels. 

I recently communicated with a fellow writer and she said that she was trying some new things.  She meant that she was funneling her energy in new media formats.  She had not written a new book, but she was doing more online interviews and articles and has found newer ways to stay in the creative mode.

It helps to unload and get rid of some of the inner angst on many levels.  Journaling is a great way to talk to that silent friend and let those emotions fly on paper and then disintegrate into nothingness.  It is like letting out a big sigh of relief!

If no new ideas for a book project have, as Alice Walker said, “crawled in,” then we can find other ways to color our worlds.  We can always blog, write poetry or even paint for that matter.  Ernest Hemingway spoke of how painters influenced his writing and said, “ I was learning something from the painting of Cezanne that made writing simple true sentences far from enough to make the stories have the dimensions that I was trying to put in them.”

Lately, I have been creating e-cards for family members and close friends.  They have worked as a panacea for both the receiver and me, the giver.  As I acknowledged special events, I found increased calmness as I worked with pictures, colors, designs and fonts. I took the time to personalize each birthday, anniversary and sympathy card and found myself deeply engaged during the process.

Many have found peaceful rewards through a host of activities like doodling, whittling, drawing, knitting, crocheting, glass staining  and of course, the list is endless.  They offer quiet  gifts and no talking is required. What a great outlet!

Lynn M.                                                                                                         July 13, 2019

 

 

 

Great Choice!

It’s officially summer!  At last.  The warmth has not quite shown up, but many graduations are taking place all around us.  Today, I was sitting by the lake when I noticed a family taking pictures with their freshly-minted graduate from the local university.

The first day of summer was calm and pleasant and I enjoyed observing this family revel in their delight of their accomplished young one.  They took a variety of poses and by the time they finished, I knew which one was the mother, the father, the brother and the grandmother. I was like Harriet in Louise Fitzhugh’s Harriet the Spy.

They finally dispersed and the grandmother walked by and said, “This is a really good day.” “Yes, it is,” I replied.  The graduate was still wearing her cap and gown, so it was clear that she was the honoree. I asked her “What was your major?” She responded, “English.”

I perked up and sat taller on the bench and said, “Me too!  You will always find work.  You can teach or work in corporate.”  The testimony just seemed to roll out and stand like a rook on a chessboard.

 “Thanks,” she beamed.  “My parents will be glad to hear that!” It was a good way to kick off the summer as I reassured this young person setting out on her path that she had indeed made a great choice.

Employers are always looking for those who can read, write and effectively use the language. English majors can branch out in so many directions. 

They can serve in the fields of writing, technical writing, corporate blogging, copywriting, news reporting, public relations, editing and certainly education, to name a few.   One of my ministers often said, “It works, if you work it!”

Lynn M.                                                                    June 22, 2019

We Don’t Talk Anymore!

Today everything is done on the fly, so to speak. One day, I realized that I had not spoken to an old friend for years, though we email each another on a regular basis.  So, I decided to shock her. I picked up the phone and dialed her mobile number.

She said that she started not to answer because she did not recognize the city nor the number. She also said that she considered blocking it.  When she discovered that it was me, we both laughed and admitted that we have allowed social media to take over our lives.

Since we had last spoken, her land-line number had changed years ago and that says a lot about our current state of affairs when is comes to real communication.   When I used to call my older relatives, they would often say, “It’s so good to hear your voice.”

Nowadays, we shy away from actually talking to each other for a host of reasons.  We are too busy or though we may not say it, texting and emailing is a convenient way of not dealing with each others’ feelings and emotions.  When we shoot a brief message over to someone, we don’t have to deal with their being lonely, worried, sad, overly-excited or just too long-winded.

I recently saw a Twitter message where a woman basically wrote, “Text me or email me.  Don’t call because if you do, I will just look at the phone ringing.” I thought, “This speaks volumes and it perfectly makes my point.” People don’t have a lot of time or they are unwilling to spare it to listen to others.

I am currently reading a book called Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell which was written in the mid-1800’s.  Mary Smith, the narrator, has a bird’s eye view and she shares what is going on in the lives of the people in the town of Cranford.

Reading this book is comparable to taking a slow stroll in the park.  The reader gets to see the houses, the roads, the carriages and the gardens.   We feel the silk dresses of the women and witness the threadbare clothing of Captain Brown.  We smell the fresh roses and breathe in the frigid air as the townspeople commune with each other in a variety of settings.

The pace is slow enough where they truly get to know each other and accept each other’s strengths and weaknesses.  Their visits often last weeks if they are visiting from another town.  They have real face time.

Today, we have allowed our little screens to dominate our existences and we are missing out on a large part of simply being human.  Talking and listening to one another are still vital to our wholeness.  It reminds me of Charlie Puth’s song, “We Don’t Talk Anymore.” Think about it!

Lynn M.                                                                                May 18, 2019