I do not believe in reincarnation. I am one of these people who rolls their eyes when Shirley McLain espouses her, let's just say, "cosmic" view of life. I do embrace the belief we all get one shot at this chance on the planet to fulfull the tasks and purpose given us.
So what do you call the feeling when you walk into a restored historic house and feel completely at home? Or walk along a street in a town you have never been to before and expect to see someone you've known? Or read a biography and clearly see in your mind the events being described as if you were there? The result of painstaking restoration or brilliant wordsmithing by an author?
My personal experiences, whether by actual presence or absorbed through reading, seem to be connected to three historical periods: Ancient Eygpt, England/Scotland between 1100-1600, and our Civil War era. It astonishes me how my focus sharpens and my emphathy heightens when I am exposed to the situations, archeology and lives vitally captured therein. I can't explain it logically. And it's not scary at all. More like, "Oh...I fit in here!" It is as if I have slipped through an invisible veil and I am instantly connected to a shared intellect that plugs me into a "place" where I can feel as if I belong or at least I can understand the involved lives and circumstances more deeply.
This may seem a bit kooky (a "bit"??) to some of you. I'm a very grounded person as you are well aware. All I know is that on more than one occasion I have realized I have been affected on a deeper level than beyond just surface exposure. I feel at home, comfortable, knowledgeable. The latent tensions, rivalries, intrigues, laughter, emotions of the site come to life in my head. Maybe a bit unsettling the first time it happens. Or the second. Like fingers snapping in front of your eyes your attention is jolted and the lightbulb comes on and you become aware of this added dimention. Not a weird sort of cerebral plane. More like icing a cake with extra-thick chocolate frosting. These additions increase the richness of each of our life-experience tapestries.
Think about it. After all of these thousands of years Heaven is an extremely busy place filled with a whole lot of fascinating folks. Perhaps we are given these experiences to facilitate a pressure-cooker effect. By passing down emotions and situations to us we can eleviate some of the incredible lively, bubbly collective history generated by our predecessors. And for those of you who do embrace the reincarnation viewpoint I'd have to admit this is argumentatively another venue for recycling!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Child of the Depression Once Removed
My father is the perfect example of a Depression era survivor. He has kept everything over the years just in case he might need to use it on some day in his life again. The obvious implication being that if he had it in his possession he wouldn't have to spend any money to acquire what he once owned. That would be a waste of money. I grew up with a basement full of "stuff", a pile here...a pile there.... Sympathetically I understood how those extremely rough months impacted his life. Empathetically I couldn't because I never lived through the daily scraping for survival and constant sense of impending disaster that our nation experienced.
What did impact my psyche was the conscious choice that I faced when choosing how I was going to set up my way of life, the mind set for the days of my future. And I have to admit I, too, was impressed with a watered-down version of that same angst. I don't like to throw away items in my trash. Why? Because all of our refuse ends up in a landfill that contaminates the earth. Plain and simple. I believe that is irresponsible. That explains why I am adamant in our household about taking advantange of the recycling system our community offers. I take re-useables to Goodwill or Salvation Army dropoffs. We support a wonderful church in the inner city which has a fabulous outreach for over twenty years to the homeless and less fortunate.
Many (let me emphasis that again...MANY) years ago the autobiography of Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, came into our house. I never paid attention to it...except for the attention-grabbing very feminine pink book cover which I thought was so cool. Probably twenty years ago I asked my parents if I could borrow and give it a read. I learned three invaluable lessons from this single, highly motivated mother that resurfaced when I was contemplating my resolutions for this new year. Number one: take no more that three minutes to iron a shirt. Number two: Get up an hour earlier every day to create seven more hours in your week. Number three: clean out one drawer a day.
So faithfully I am cleaning out a drawer a day. Daunting? Not really. Refreshing? Absolutely. Satisfying? Yes!! I have found things I couldn't find (you know how that works --"I'll put it right here in this safe place and I'll be sure to remember this because it makes so much sense.....). I have discovered some kitchen gadgets I had forgotten I even owned that will be exciting to start using. I have been able to cluster like-items together where I put some here and some over there. I am sharing inherited pieces with family members and reuseables to organizations who can use them. All recyclable plastic and paper have been tossed in their respective bins. And, I will admit, I have kept just a very few, small sentimental things that I can't quite give up. Oh! I now have a small number of extremely selected goodies (that I was given Lord know why) will be gifted to the person who should have been the recipient in the first place over the next year.
Additionally, my clock is set for 6 o'clock on weekday to get that extra hour in and I am picking up the pace on the ironing chore which is NOT my favorite activity. (HINT: Put on some of your favorite music --preferably with a good, peppy beat. That iron will move a little faster as your attitude improves!)
Try this no-charge therepy. Purely cathartic. Be open to the freedom it affords. I actually look forward to this task of rediscovery. Take on this simple challenge to cleanse your nest. And your life.
What did impact my psyche was the conscious choice that I faced when choosing how I was going to set up my way of life, the mind set for the days of my future. And I have to admit I, too, was impressed with a watered-down version of that same angst. I don't like to throw away items in my trash. Why? Because all of our refuse ends up in a landfill that contaminates the earth. Plain and simple. I believe that is irresponsible. That explains why I am adamant in our household about taking advantange of the recycling system our community offers. I take re-useables to Goodwill or Salvation Army dropoffs. We support a wonderful church in the inner city which has a fabulous outreach for over twenty years to the homeless and less fortunate.
Many (let me emphasis that again...MANY) years ago the autobiography of Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, came into our house. I never paid attention to it...except for the attention-grabbing very feminine pink book cover which I thought was so cool. Probably twenty years ago I asked my parents if I could borrow and give it a read. I learned three invaluable lessons from this single, highly motivated mother that resurfaced when I was contemplating my resolutions for this new year. Number one: take no more that three minutes to iron a shirt. Number two: Get up an hour earlier every day to create seven more hours in your week. Number three: clean out one drawer a day.
So faithfully I am cleaning out a drawer a day. Daunting? Not really. Refreshing? Absolutely. Satisfying? Yes!! I have found things I couldn't find (you know how that works --"I'll put it right here in this safe place and I'll be sure to remember this because it makes so much sense.....). I have discovered some kitchen gadgets I had forgotten I even owned that will be exciting to start using. I have been able to cluster like-items together where I put some here and some over there. I am sharing inherited pieces with family members and reuseables to organizations who can use them. All recyclable plastic and paper have been tossed in their respective bins. And, I will admit, I have kept just a very few, small sentimental things that I can't quite give up. Oh! I now have a small number of extremely selected goodies (that I was given Lord know why) will be gifted to the person who should have been the recipient in the first place over the next year.
Additionally, my clock is set for 6 o'clock on weekday to get that extra hour in and I am picking up the pace on the ironing chore which is NOT my favorite activity. (HINT: Put on some of your favorite music --preferably with a good, peppy beat. That iron will move a little faster as your attitude improves!)
Try this no-charge therepy. Purely cathartic. Be open to the freedom it affords. I actually look forward to this task of rediscovery. Take on this simple challenge to cleanse your nest. And your life.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
The Unexpected
I was on the city's busy inner freeway system (as opposed to it's outerbelt) this afternoon en route to the house. As I was taking the curve of the on-ramp I noticed this flock of Canadian geese heading south (smart birds to be heading that direction....a couple months too late perhaps as we currently are experiencing 9 degree days and 6" of snow) flying over the car. Now we have lots of that feathered species here in the city. That wasn't what drew my eye. What captured my attention was the extremely large number of them traveling together.
Please know that I understand I should have been paying attention entirely to the road and the surrounding vehicles as I was the "merging traffic" but, my heavens, there had to have been 60 plus in this group. And what was wonderouly advantageous was that I had to take the southern leg of the system to reach my destination. I realised that I had just been given this incredible gift. Watching this enormous number of participants in the fabulous, fluid aerial ballet made me speechless. To observe the individuals maneuver their bodies into ever changing positions in this sort-of-rounded, wavy, assymmetrical movement was simply, beautiful. It reminded me of flowing seaweed in an ocean's currents. You know what that looks like. You can close your eyes and see a colorful picture of that scene in your head. Weaving this way and that way in an ever-moving slow motion display of un-earthbound grace.
With one eye (just kidding) on the road and one eye anxious to keep tabs on the progress of the birds I was rewarded when one brave soul burst forth and took the lead. How couragious is that - with the frigid temperature and the full force of the wind at their altitude. The others then started to fall into their instantly recognizable and distinctive V formation. By that time I had travelled ahead of their position and lost sight of their progress. What a glorious last memory.
I was going to write about something totally different today but the sight of nature's artwork in the sky erased all other thoughts. Wow. And that "wow" is said very quietly from my heart. I have no idea if any other person who was in the vacinity even took note of that beauty. Perhaps not. Perhaps I was the only lucky recipient of that dance. Wow.
Please know that I understand I should have been paying attention entirely to the road and the surrounding vehicles as I was the "merging traffic" but, my heavens, there had to have been 60 plus in this group. And what was wonderouly advantageous was that I had to take the southern leg of the system to reach my destination. I realised that I had just been given this incredible gift. Watching this enormous number of participants in the fabulous, fluid aerial ballet made me speechless. To observe the individuals maneuver their bodies into ever changing positions in this sort-of-rounded, wavy, assymmetrical movement was simply, beautiful. It reminded me of flowing seaweed in an ocean's currents. You know what that looks like. You can close your eyes and see a colorful picture of that scene in your head. Weaving this way and that way in an ever-moving slow motion display of un-earthbound grace.
With one eye (just kidding) on the road and one eye anxious to keep tabs on the progress of the birds I was rewarded when one brave soul burst forth and took the lead. How couragious is that - with the frigid temperature and the full force of the wind at their altitude. The others then started to fall into their instantly recognizable and distinctive V formation. By that time I had travelled ahead of their position and lost sight of their progress. What a glorious last memory.
I was going to write about something totally different today but the sight of nature's artwork in the sky erased all other thoughts. Wow. And that "wow" is said very quietly from my heart. I have no idea if any other person who was in the vacinity even took note of that beauty. Perhaps not. Perhaps I was the only lucky recipient of that dance. Wow.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Things I Just Can't Do...Ever
I like being me. At this stage of the life game I feel confident, at ease with who I am. I've developed my own style, have goals to reach, love my family. I am excited to get up each day and dig my hands and my spirit into making my dreams come true.
But I will confess there are "things" I will never do in this lifetime. (Right here I feel the need to add the word "probably" before "never" in the last sentence...maybe it the litigative (Oh, a new word coined by me right this moment!! Like it??) times we live in right now. You know--better add the small print so the possibility of being sued is erased or at the very least, lessened. This post might come back to haunt me some day in the near or distant future since I wrote the word, never. But I'm pretty sure these items are NOT included my goals or preferences or the I-have-to-do-this-before-I-leave-the-planet list.)
Hot stewed tomatoes and corn mixed in one bowl is number one. Just typing that makes the hair on my arms stand straight up. Yep, worse torture than bamboo under the fingernails for this girl. Used to want to parachute. Not so much now. The urge has gone. Bungee jumping also holds absolutely no appeal. For me at the end when the person has reached the length of the tether and is still bobbing up and down until the elastic tension is exhausted -- is like being at the top of the ferris wheel when the operator stops the rotation and the bucket you are sitting in rocks ever so slightly back and forth. And I sit there frozen to my spot demanding that anyone who is with me better not move, breathe or flinch (not so much as a hair) under the penalty of death. Nope, not for me. And the ferris wheel? Not going to happen again, either.
Sushi also comes to mind. "Raw" when in reference to fish doesn't do much for me. Kind of like the concept of raw hamburger or chicken. Yet I eat raw vegetables and fruits (including the rare slice of potato my mother allowed during my childhood. Those weren't good for you. Remember?) And when we would go to this marvelous family-owned German meat market I enjoyed the uncooked hot dog offered by the butcher. Oh, yeah. That was me. Right on the edge, baby. Taking chances.
My tastes have definitely changed over the years. And that's a good thing. I believe that reflects flexibility and the excitement of experimenting and stretching yourself. No, I don't mean stupid stuff like illegal crap or making choices that could harm yourself or others. What I mean is feeling the ability to break out of the old habits and restrictions whether those are self-imposed or the priorities of others thrust upon you.
Guess the one word that sums it all up for me is "freedom". Try it. Good ahead. Right now. Don't wait. Don't hesitate. How about that crazy, new flavor of ice cream that's been calling your name or grab dinner at that new trendy bistro everyone is talking about or pack your bags and head off to Paris or Rome or the Pyramids?? Or all three!! Feels really good, doesn't it? And you can quote me on that....but just don't sue me. Please.
But I will confess there are "things" I will never do in this lifetime. (Right here I feel the need to add the word "probably" before "never" in the last sentence...maybe it the litigative (Oh, a new word coined by me right this moment!! Like it??) times we live in right now. You know--better add the small print so the possibility of being sued is erased or at the very least, lessened. This post might come back to haunt me some day in the near or distant future since I wrote the word, never. But I'm pretty sure these items are NOT included my goals or preferences or the I-have-to-do-this-before-I-leave-the-planet list.)
Hot stewed tomatoes and corn mixed in one bowl is number one. Just typing that makes the hair on my arms stand straight up. Yep, worse torture than bamboo under the fingernails for this girl. Used to want to parachute. Not so much now. The urge has gone. Bungee jumping also holds absolutely no appeal. For me at the end when the person has reached the length of the tether and is still bobbing up and down until the elastic tension is exhausted -- is like being at the top of the ferris wheel when the operator stops the rotation and the bucket you are sitting in rocks ever so slightly back and forth. And I sit there frozen to my spot demanding that anyone who is with me better not move, breathe or flinch (not so much as a hair) under the penalty of death. Nope, not for me. And the ferris wheel? Not going to happen again, either.
Sushi also comes to mind. "Raw" when in reference to fish doesn't do much for me. Kind of like the concept of raw hamburger or chicken. Yet I eat raw vegetables and fruits (including the rare slice of potato my mother allowed during my childhood. Those weren't good for you. Remember?) And when we would go to this marvelous family-owned German meat market I enjoyed the uncooked hot dog offered by the butcher. Oh, yeah. That was me. Right on the edge, baby. Taking chances.
My tastes have definitely changed over the years. And that's a good thing. I believe that reflects flexibility and the excitement of experimenting and stretching yourself. No, I don't mean stupid stuff like illegal crap or making choices that could harm yourself or others. What I mean is feeling the ability to break out of the old habits and restrictions whether those are self-imposed or the priorities of others thrust upon you.
Guess the one word that sums it all up for me is "freedom". Try it. Good ahead. Right now. Don't wait. Don't hesitate. How about that crazy, new flavor of ice cream that's been calling your name or grab dinner at that new trendy bistro everyone is talking about or pack your bags and head off to Paris or Rome or the Pyramids?? Or all three!! Feels really good, doesn't it? And you can quote me on that....but just don't sue me. Please.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Everything Should Come With A Box
Don't you agree?? How much easier our lives would be if the world accepted this simple concept and accepted my humble wisdom.
Let's see. Hmmmm. You would not have to traipse to some hidden gift wrap counter in the farthest corner on the lowest level of a department store to obtain said container when your arms are juggling sacks and receipts and a purse while you are bundled up in some plump winter attire feeling like a beach ball all on your own....perspiring I might add. (Gosh -- can you tell the author, who prefers to wrap packages as opposed to using gift bags, is composing this lovely run-on sentence at Christmas time having recently experienced the role of frustrated shopper herself??)
Then there is the time the harried gift wrappers can't give you a box because they haven't received the latest shipment they were expecting that was due yesterday? And all they can offer are the two extremes -"Would you like a coat or a tie box, Ma'am??" Ahhhhh!!! So what are you supposed to do? Hope that you haven't thrown away that last shoebox your child's Adidas came in or the shirt box you had used previously for the three birthdays and Father's Day you already celebrated during the year??
Yep, that famous quotation floats into the consciousness of the now -- "My Kingdom for a horse". Guess those feelings of angst are generations old. I understand that some are much more important than others with farther reaching serious consequences. But, heck, all I wanted was a box.
Let's see. Hmmmm. You would not have to traipse to some hidden gift wrap counter in the farthest corner on the lowest level of a department store to obtain said container when your arms are juggling sacks and receipts and a purse while you are bundled up in some plump winter attire feeling like a beach ball all on your own....perspiring I might add. (Gosh -- can you tell the author, who prefers to wrap packages as opposed to using gift bags, is composing this lovely run-on sentence at Christmas time having recently experienced the role of frustrated shopper herself??)
Then there is the time the harried gift wrappers can't give you a box because they haven't received the latest shipment they were expecting that was due yesterday? And all they can offer are the two extremes -"Would you like a coat or a tie box, Ma'am??" Ahhhhh!!! So what are you supposed to do? Hope that you haven't thrown away that last shoebox your child's Adidas came in or the shirt box you had used previously for the three birthdays and Father's Day you already celebrated during the year??
Yep, that famous quotation floats into the consciousness of the now -- "My Kingdom for a horse". Guess those feelings of angst are generations old. I understand that some are much more important than others with farther reaching serious consequences. But, heck, all I wanted was a box.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
This Machine We All Share
The Body. What an incredible invention. It has been around for thousands of years and has taken humanity much a part of that timeframe to even figure out how it all works, let alone replicate the pieces/parts. There is no patent on this machine. No one has ever stolen the pattern or the mold in order to reproduce it as a cheaper rate or to make a fortune or to create competition.
Think about it. This collection of tubes, screws, liquids, motors, chemicals, filters, wires, electricity, rubber bands, plumbing fixtures all covered in a shell of canvas and fur is beyond the realm of incredible. It is the stuff of pure fantasy.
Wow. This apparatus does it all. Walks. Talks. Sees. Thinks. Communicates. Laughs. Cries. On an on. It breaks down on the inside and is injured on the outside. It gets broken. It wears out.
It stiffens, swells, expands. It stretches and shrinks. It turns colors like brown, red, black&blue. It gets spots. It itches. It burns. It gets invaded. It can kill or repel alien intruders.
It is fine-tuned through a miraculous titsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny microscopic architectural blueprint that is so far past mind boggling that comprehension is surpassed. This intricate recipe allows the appliance to heal itself. Inside and out. To reproduce. To have talent. To make this planet a better place.
Ah. Did you catch it? The concept. This invention wasn't created to be static like a robotic automaton. This machine was blessed with endless possibilities. Are you taking advantage of yours? Respect and be awestruck by what you "are". Orchestrate your gifts and make a difference to the other machines that surround yours.
Think about it. This collection of tubes, screws, liquids, motors, chemicals, filters, wires, electricity, rubber bands, plumbing fixtures all covered in a shell of canvas and fur is beyond the realm of incredible. It is the stuff of pure fantasy.
Wow. This apparatus does it all. Walks. Talks. Sees. Thinks. Communicates. Laughs. Cries. On an on. It breaks down on the inside and is injured on the outside. It gets broken. It wears out.
It stiffens, swells, expands. It stretches and shrinks. It turns colors like brown, red, black&blue. It gets spots. It itches. It burns. It gets invaded. It can kill or repel alien intruders.
It is fine-tuned through a miraculous titsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny microscopic architectural blueprint that is so far past mind boggling that comprehension is surpassed. This intricate recipe allows the appliance to heal itself. Inside and out. To reproduce. To have talent. To make this planet a better place.
Ah. Did you catch it? The concept. This invention wasn't created to be static like a robotic automaton. This machine was blessed with endless possibilities. Are you taking advantage of yours? Respect and be awestruck by what you "are". Orchestrate your gifts and make a difference to the other machines that surround yours.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Labels of Life
My youngest niece and her husband are going to have their first child in January. I was thinking last evening as I did the dishes about how their world will change once the little one arrives. And I was reminiscing how I felt the first time I had someone call me "Mom" after our son was born. I LOVED it! I was one of those now -- a mother-- and it felt so right.
As I savored that memory, the word "family" arose to capture my thoughts. Because not only had I gained the former tag (just as my husband was now "Dad), we also could claim this latter term together. Being a "couple" or "married" was wonderfully sufficient for those years we shared together in the front end of our marriage but that bright-eyed infant changed it all. "Wife" is one I am especially proud of.
Once the floodgates of brainstorming opened I realized how many labels actually exist in my life. "Graduate" brings memories of that special, proud tingle I felt when I reached out to received my diplomas being extended to me from my high school principal and then my college dean. No one's smile was bigger than mine. I had done it. Woo-Woo!!! Watch out, World!!
"Sister", "daughter", "niece", "granddaughter", "daughter-in-law" all signify deep emotional bonds in my heart. The professional titles I have earned are woven into my life's resume. I am pleased to have studied and achieved those significant letters that now appear after my name.
"Christian" is not just a label but a vital personal claim. "Volunteer" reflects a soul-held desire to be a part of the lives that exist around me.
What are the labels of your life? I plan on adding a few more....how about you??
As I savored that memory, the word "family" arose to capture my thoughts. Because not only had I gained the former tag (just as my husband was now "Dad), we also could claim this latter term together. Being a "couple" or "married" was wonderfully sufficient for those years we shared together in the front end of our marriage but that bright-eyed infant changed it all. "Wife" is one I am especially proud of.
Once the floodgates of brainstorming opened I realized how many labels actually exist in my life. "Graduate" brings memories of that special, proud tingle I felt when I reached out to received my diplomas being extended to me from my high school principal and then my college dean. No one's smile was bigger than mine. I had done it. Woo-Woo!!! Watch out, World!!
"Sister", "daughter", "niece", "granddaughter", "daughter-in-law" all signify deep emotional bonds in my heart. The professional titles I have earned are woven into my life's resume. I am pleased to have studied and achieved those significant letters that now appear after my name.
"Christian" is not just a label but a vital personal claim. "Volunteer" reflects a soul-held desire to be a part of the lives that exist around me.
What are the labels of your life? I plan on adding a few more....how about you??
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