“Tell me what you pay attention to and I will tell you who you are.” Jose Ortego Y Gassett I read this quote the other day and the words dug their spurs into my heart. You see, I have been frustrated, tearful and quite moody this past week. All on account of one tiny stumbling block in life: my computer. My computer died this week. I lost writing I was working on. I missed deadlines to get ready for an upcoming conference. Replacing this vital equipment for a writer is expensive and unplanned. On top of all this, I just plain was trying to accomplish too much in too little time before we left for vacation the end of this week. Too many to-do’s to fit through the narrowing funnel of time. Frustration raises its ugly head when our will and our ego meet barriers that blocks its desire to have its own way. I tell myself there are bigger problems in the world. I have my health. My family. A warm house. I know my next paycheck is coming. I live in a country where I can freely … [Read more...]
Who was St Valentine and Why Do We Send Cards?
February 14 is Valentines Day. Made me wonder just who was this St. Valentine and why am I giving cards to those I love? I remember having Valentines Day parties in school. We all exchanged small paper cards. There were certain cute boys I giggled when I getting one from them. My hubby is good at remembering to buy me a card. We don't do much else to celebrate that holiday. One year he sent me flowers on Feb. 14 and then again next month on my birthday. When my son was born nine months later, he swore he was done with flowers.True story. So I am curious and looked up some interesting facts about St. Valentine. I learned his story isn't very romantic at all. In fact sort of tragic: Who was St. Valentine? He was a priest in Rome around third century, a time the church was being prosecuted. The emperor declared an edict that that prohibited the marriage of young people. This was based on the hypothesis that unmarried soldiers fought better than married soldiers because … [Read more...]
Spoice and Love
I learned a new word this week - SPOICE. Sage Kotsenburg tweeted a message after the American won a gold medal in the men's snowboarding slopestyle event in Sochi. “Keep it spoice." Was this a Russian word? Actually no. Surprisingly, it is good ol' US slang, rising from the snowboarding culture. I never heard of it before. The Urban Dictionary defines Spoice this way: "Spoice is an exclamation of gratitude towards life. It's the proper word to use when you find yourself in a situation involving a multitude of positive things at once. You may only utter it with pure joy behind it." Let's say this fun word together. Ready? SPOICE! Saying this word out loud it reminds me of the word: rejoice. I almost smile when saying it. A fun word. A festive word. A great word to use to celebrate and enjoy a special moment. I helped to lead worship Sunday morning. As we sang the Hymn of Praise, I faced the altar and looked up at the cross. For a moment it felt like I was … [Read more...]
Mystical Murmuration
I first noticed them outside of the car window. The flock of birds moving like synchronized swimmers or a well-choreographed dance troupe, dark flowing against the white clouds. What music did they hear? Who leds them? Who taught them such grace? I am amazed at the Creator's wonders found in nature. I knew this phenomenon of the bird ballet had a name and being a word person knew I had to explore this mesmerizing movement. The result was not disappointment and the name wasn't either. Murmuration. Isn't that a cool word! When birds, usually starlings, fly together and swirl in a repeating, coordinated ever-changing pattern - this dazzling dance is called a murmuration. The starlings in a murmuration seem to be connected together. They twist and turn and change direction at a moment’s notice. Perhaps you've seen this amazing video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRNqhi2ka9k&feature=youtu.be Wired Magazine described murmuration like this: "Each starling in a … [Read more...]
Dancing with Faith and Courage
Hope is the ability to hear the music of the future. Faith is having the courage to dance to it today. ~ Dr. Peter Kuzmi I watched two different women this week dance with faith and courage in the midst of raw grief and confusing self-disclosure and doubt. Like the cracked thick calluses on my heels, my harden heart split open raw with their stories. Each word, the pumice stone. Each tear, the moisturizing cream. After sharing her story one lady faces the future with inspiring courage. She has chosen a difficult path and is ready now to explore the second half of her life. She told me, "It's been an ongoing struggle of pretending to be something I am not and then learning to accept myself as I am created to be. I've let my walls down and found strength in my vulnerability." Her pain taught me I can survive and even thrive being myself - no masks needed. Just take the steps into the unknown path ahead knowing God will accompany me and guide me. Once she said those words, … [Read more...]
My Un-Word
I wrote last month about my Word of the Year but am now seeing in various blogs the idea of choosing an Un-Word. Myquillyn over at the Nesting Place Blog first introduced me to the concept of a un-word. "The UN-word is a word that you are rejecting for the new year. You would like to Un-Do it." I like a challenge, especially a word challenge, so began to think about what is something I want to undo or stop this year. Instead of something to do or to be, what is on my to-don't list? What do I want to say good-bye to this year? This could be a great reflective question to ponder this time of year. What is an ugly, negative and even hazardous word in your life that you could get rid of this year? She stresses a un-word can be made up. For example if you don't want to be so bossy this year, your un-word is unbossy. Her word this year is undistracted. The Nesting Place hosted a link up last week where others shared their un-word of the year. Other people's un-words were … [Read more...]
I’m Imperfect and I’m Enough – My Attempt at Being Vulnerable
"I'm imperfect and I'm enough." Sounds good on the video, but not sure I really believe it. "I'm imperfect and I'm enough." Why did I ever sign up for this course and nobody will ever know if I don't write about it. I will just stay in the shadows and not take the risk. "I'm imperfect and I'm enough." Yeah, right. Had my hubby take the photo above - one of the class assignments - but of course I had to edit it and touch up my cold sore and age spots before posting it here. Then in a silly moment I told some others what I did and Kathy said to me, "I read your blog and now will look to be sure you post this." Rats, now I'm stuck out in the open. YIKES what have I done? I am feeling rather exposed, vulnerable, self-conscious here. You see I am taking an online class taught by one of my favorite teachers, Brene Brown. In readings, activities and videos it's like having a cup of coffee with a good friend, enjoying deep conversation. I finish thinking, sure I can do … [Read more...]
Learning How to Accept the Things I Cannot Change, Well Sort Of…
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. --Reinhold Niebuhr Many of us take comfort in reciting the Serenity Prayer, especially the line about accepting the things I cannot change. But doggone it, accepting those unchangeable facts of life are difficult. I don't like it. I feel powerless. Frustrated. Discouraged. Even angry. Give me a few days of whining, withdrawing into my self-pity and wailing against the world, THEN just maybe I'll come around with resigning myself to not controlling everything that happens to me. I studied this prayer this past weekend and journaled about winter. I hate winter. Northern Ohio is experiencing a nasty, cold and snowy season this year. And guess what? I can't control it nor change it. The way our family is and how life has unfolded, Ohio has been and will continue to be my home. I guess I need to make friends with this miserable … [Read more...]