Dear LIFE,
Must you be so unpredictable? Please arrange things to go according to my plans from now on. It is really frustrating when I have everything in order, and then you come and mess it up. It almost seems like you're laughing at me. I will assume that you aren't, because that's just mean.
Also, in the future I would like at least a short notice of any minor or major disasters that you are planning to throw at me. It really isn't fair for you to just expect me to deal with it out of the blue. It's like a house guest showing up unannounced with a suitcase on your doorstep.....very rude. In fact, I think we should work on your manners altogether, because now that I think about it, they really are terrible.
Sincerely,
Me
Monday, November 9, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
This week I...
took the first sick day I've taken in over a year. Recovered quickly. Bought a new T.V. (Merry Christmas Brian). Learned how to administer a subcutaneous injection. Helped Brian apply for health insurance. Got angry when he was denied. Worked. Slept. Started reading Jeni Stepanek's book, Messenger. Watched Food, Inc. and found it very interesting. Promised myself I'd be more mindful of the things I put in my body. Ordered a very expensive bottle of wine. Went on a date. Saw Paranormal Activity & woke up 5-6 times in the middle of the night because it freaked me out. Got my Chicken Fried Chicken fix at Cracker Barrel. Gave many hugs & kisses. Played with my cats. Cooked the best Chicken Parmesan EVER (if I do say so myself). Became 100% debt free. Laughed a lot. Cried a little. Finally admitted that I'm "adjusting". Got made fun of for "adjusting", complete with a song. Fell in love again. :)
Monday, November 2, 2009
I can't believe how much I learn every day. It's amazing how much growth I have experienced just by being open to learning, and realizing that until my last day on this earth I will continue to learn. I will never have it all figured out. That's my journey.
My teachers are amazing. Everyone who surrounds me has so much to offer, as long as I am willing to listen. When you go to school, you are taught the basics of what this country thinks should be common knowledge by a certain age. After that, you are trained and prepared for a specific career. I will never devalue education, because I believe it is absolutely paramount, but my point here is that it can only prepare you for one element of your life. We spend 16+ years in school being formally prepared to enter the work force. This leads me to ask.....how much of life is work?? We haven't spent any time with our youth preparing them for the other 90% of life. Who teaches us how to deal with loss and love and friendship, unexpected illness, giving, surviving, inner strength, & passion? Our parents teach us some, but I think most people who have survived teenagers will agree that you can't really tell them anything...they have to learn on their own. What about the children who are forgotten? Let us not assume that all children have two loving parents at home willing to teach and explain, because in reality, the world is darker than that. Who teaches these children? Learning math will not send them home feeling comforted. While we can not personally reach out and touch each child or person who may just need to be told things will be ok, and that time is an amazing healer, what we can do is be open to these people in our lives. Think of what would happen if every one did that. Teach kindness by example, and the person who learned from you will in turn teach another. Let's not turn our backs on someone in need so that we may be confidant that if we are in need we will not be ignored. "We are our brothers keeper." Let's continue the education every single day, never forgetting how much we have to learn, and equally as important, the responsibility that we have to teach.
For Our World
We need to stop.
Just stop.
Stop for a moment.
Before anybody
Says or does anything
That may hurt anyone else.
We need to be silent.
Just silent.
Silent for a moment.
Before we forever lose
The blessing of songs
That grow in our hearts.
We need to notice.
Just notice.
Notice for a moment.
Before the future slips away
Into ashes and dust of humility.
Stop, be silent, and notice.
In so many ways, we are the same.
Our differences are unique treasures.
We have, we are, a mosaic of gifts
To nurture, to offer, to accept.
We need to be.
Just be.
Be for a moment.
Kind and gentle, innocent and trusting,
Like children and lambs,
Never judging or vengeful
Like the judging and vengeful.
And now, let us pray,
Differently, yet together,
Before there is no earth, no life,
No chance for peace.
- Matthew Stepanek (1990-2004)
I am planning to go get the book his mother just wrote. It's called MESSENGER: The Legacy of Mattie J.T. Stepanek and Heartsongs. If you need some inspiration, I think this is a good place to start. What an amazing little boy.
My teachers are amazing. Everyone who surrounds me has so much to offer, as long as I am willing to listen. When you go to school, you are taught the basics of what this country thinks should be common knowledge by a certain age. After that, you are trained and prepared for a specific career. I will never devalue education, because I believe it is absolutely paramount, but my point here is that it can only prepare you for one element of your life. We spend 16+ years in school being formally prepared to enter the work force. This leads me to ask.....how much of life is work?? We haven't spent any time with our youth preparing them for the other 90% of life. Who teaches us how to deal with loss and love and friendship, unexpected illness, giving, surviving, inner strength, & passion? Our parents teach us some, but I think most people who have survived teenagers will agree that you can't really tell them anything...they have to learn on their own. What about the children who are forgotten? Let us not assume that all children have two loving parents at home willing to teach and explain, because in reality, the world is darker than that. Who teaches these children? Learning math will not send them home feeling comforted. While we can not personally reach out and touch each child or person who may just need to be told things will be ok, and that time is an amazing healer, what we can do is be open to these people in our lives. Think of what would happen if every one did that. Teach kindness by example, and the person who learned from you will in turn teach another. Let's not turn our backs on someone in need so that we may be confidant that if we are in need we will not be ignored. "We are our brothers keeper." Let's continue the education every single day, never forgetting how much we have to learn, and equally as important, the responsibility that we have to teach.
For Our World
We need to stop.
Just stop.
Stop for a moment.
Before anybody
Says or does anything
That may hurt anyone else.
We need to be silent.
Just silent.
Silent for a moment.
Before we forever lose
The blessing of songs
That grow in our hearts.
We need to notice.
Just notice.
Notice for a moment.
Before the future slips away
Into ashes and dust of humility.
Stop, be silent, and notice.
In so many ways, we are the same.
Our differences are unique treasures.
We have, we are, a mosaic of gifts
To nurture, to offer, to accept.
We need to be.
Just be.
Be for a moment.
Kind and gentle, innocent and trusting,
Like children and lambs,
Never judging or vengeful
Like the judging and vengeful.
And now, let us pray,
Differently, yet together,
Before there is no earth, no life,
No chance for peace.
- Matthew Stepanek (1990-2004)
I am planning to go get the book his mother just wrote. It's called MESSENGER: The Legacy of Mattie J.T. Stepanek and Heartsongs. If you need some inspiration, I think this is a good place to start. What an amazing little boy.