Aspire to everything Inspired

9/11 - Ten years on

 
[Breathtaking photograph by the lovely Sarah Jane Wright, of Sarah Jane Studios.  All rights reserved and used with permission.  Thank you!]

Enjoy the weekend

 

Resolutions 2011... because everybody is doing it, so shouldn't we?

Do you know what this blog has been missing lately?

(Well, besides posts, I mean)

Sass.  Yes, my friends, there's been a distinct lack of Sass.  And Whimsy.  Maybe even {gasp!} Humor around here lately.

What there has been...  Determination.  Practicality.  Snark.  Lots of snark.

Between you and me, I think there's a real difference between Sass and Snark.  But we'll save that discussion for another day, because I don't have any Resolutions about Snarkiness.

So -

Resolutions for 2011...

{big drum roll here}  {maybe an amazing guitar riff too} {while we're at it, let's just bring out U2}  {and snacks!} {Now that's a bit of sass, don't you think?}

• Resolved...  be more lighthearted, find the fun, bring back the Sass.
• Resolved...  Focus on what matters Most
• Resolved...  Clean up the mess in this room.  It still looks like my suitcases exploded all over the sofa
• Resolved...  Blog more often  (after all, you're here aren't you?)
• Resolved...  Work less  (a reflection on the 18-hour days I've been spending at the office lately)
• Resolved...  Do more to serve and think about others
• Resolved...  Take these ideas and come up with concrete goals for the next 3 months
• Resolved...  (Except for that one about Cleaning up the Mess.  THAT really ought to be done this weekend.)

Just in case you decide stop by.

You should bring cookies.  Because there aren't any here.  But I've got plenty of cocoa... for now.

 

• Resolved... Make sure we don't run out of hot chocolate.
• Resolved... Find out what's up with YOU.

So...  That's what's on my list.  What are your New Year's Resolutions?  Do tell - I'm simply perishing of curiousity...

Attention December! I’m through with you

Robert Burns had it right when he wrote “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”

December is supposed to be a great month.  A month of holidays and celebration.  Good friends, good eats, good times.  I was looking forward to my annual tropical vacation!  And normal hours at work.  And weekends and after-hours fun with family and friends.  Holiday traditions would be followed.  New traditions would be started.  It was going to be an awesome holiday season!

Really, not so much.

A weekend getaway to start the month was great… until a canceled return flight threw everything awry.  My annual tropical vacation was canceled for a 10-day business trip instead… that resulted in 19-hour work days. Every. Day.  And somehow, I found myself at 11:00 am on December 23rd.  Depressed. Exhausted.  Behind schedule.

All I wanted for Christmas?

A hug.  A few words of kindness.  A nap.

A really long nap.

There’s no magical end to this tale.  I made it through the holiday weekend with a little help -- and a lot of faith. :-)  Which is to say that sometimes you just have to put on your coat and go out the front door.  Lose yourself in spending time with others.  24-hours hanging out with my two favorite houseguests helped – even if we still didn’t get much sleep.   Christmas Eve dinner at my house was deferred until another day, and we all heaved a sigh of relief to have a few extra hours back for our other preparations.  Christmas presents were wrapped on Christmas morning, which worked out just fine.  They were gleefully shared on Christmas evening after family dinner.  And Boxing Day included morning Church, afternoon reading a book, and an early bedtime.  

Sometimes, we just get by with what we can do.

Christmas morning, I went to visit a close family member recovering from major surgery in the hospital ICU.  Only to discover he had been discharged the night before.  Well enough to go home?  That’s something to be grateful for.  And reminds me that I have so much more to be grateful for too…

A job, when this time last year I was losing one.  A home, when in the Spring I wasn’t sure what the options would be.  Good health, when family are battling cancer and friends are suffering the flu and other winter ailments.  More friends and family, who sent cheer and love in holiday cards and photos.  Good times past… and many schemes for new grand adventures in the future.  And maybe a few good holiday eats courtesy of a few good cooks.  :-)

When you stop to count your blessings, December may not have been such a bad month after all.  There's so much in life to be grateful for each and every day.

But I’m still glad this month is almost over.

Welcome January!

Tempus Fugit

 
It comes.  It goes.  Sometimes it drags.  Sometimes it flies. 

Sometimes its lost.

Very occassionally... it's gained.

I love the "Fall back" part of Daylight Savings Time.  Where we all set our clocks back an hour?  Except for some of us who don't.  That would be me.

For some reason, it usually takes me about a week to change my clocks.  And in the meanwhile, I walk around the house thinking it's later than it really is... and then maybe I start to question if I'm subtracting correctly...

"hmmm... that clock says 9, so it must be 8 - or wait, did I change that clock?  is it 10?  or maybe 7?"

Usually two or three days go by and then I'm confused.  Very Confused.

And it doesn't help that my computer clock automatically adjusted.  Or that I've never changed my wristwatch from Belgium time back to US time.  And on Tuesday, I thought it was Wednesday all day.

{sigh}

Personally, I think time does more than just fly.  I think sometimes it sneaks up on us, pulls a hat down over our eyes and then laughs like a maniac as it runs away.

But maybe that only happens to me.

Retreat. Recharge.

There's a Military retreat - a tactical fall back.  And there's a recreational Retreat - a place for pondering and developing.

Today we're talking about the latter.

I've been visiting one of my favorite retreats...

Surrounded by the beauty of nature.  The cleverness of good art.  The wit of good humor.  The peace of quiet.

 
 
 

Not to mention the company and affection of dear friends.

Take a deep breath.

Creativity may bloom.  Or blossom.

What thoughts will you think?  What inner inspiration will you hear?  What personal goals will you make, or become recommitted to?

Sometimes we need a little Retreat in order to recharge.  Where do you like to Retreat?

Today is the first day of the rest of your life

Early last week, a friend sent an email asking for my viewpoint on several topics.  The topics were thought-provoking and my answers probably more so -- in some respects, almost a declaration or challenge to myself to do more and to be more.  Which is sort of the point of this blog too – to aspire to everything we’re inspired to do.  As the Christian world prepares to celebrate Easter this coming weekend, it’s a perfect time for personal thought and reflection, and so I’ll be sharing each topic and my answer… for your own thoughtful pondering.  You're invited to stop by each day for both thoughts and Easter Fun!, and maybe a little contemplation of your own…

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What are your thoughts on… “A full and happy life – planning for the future”

Each of us has at least three lives:  the life we are living, the life we wish we were living, and the life we'd like to live at some point in the future.  One of those three is real.  The other two are usually more fun... and imaginary.  The life where we will find the greatest happiness is the one we are living.  Who we are and what we do TODAY matters.  Our actions and words today plant the seeds for who we will be and what we will do tomorrow.  Being happy today means accepting responsibility for our actions and the consequences of our choices, whether good or bad.  Free agency - the freedom to choose - is ours.  We can CHOOSE to be happy.  Or we can CHOOSE to be otherwise. 

Choosing to be happy means that we need to stop putting off for tomorrow.  Do you save the 'special' china just for holidays?  Or do you make up holidays to use the special china?  Your life is your own.  Waiting for someone else, or some special occasion, in order to live your life and dreams... that's foolishness.  Now certainly there are exceptions, but we're talking about every day, not exceptions.  Don't you want to be the sort of person who LIVES?  Who does what they love and loves what they do - even if it's only 'after hours'?   You are a child of God.  He loves you.  He has given you unique talents, abilities, and capabilities.  He has given you this life, full of blessings and opportunities.  Take advantage of them.  Start today to believe in yourself and to believe Him.   You can truly do all that you want to do and be all that you want to be.  Believe it.  Be it.

Pick something you've always wanted to do, see, or try... 

• Now set a DATE for it within the next 12 months...

• Now make a PLAN to get there - do you need to prepare, to save, to enroll, to act?  Schedule it.  Commit to it.  Prepare for it.

• Need a friend to HELP?  Start calling around - explain why you need to do it and extend the invitation.  Someone will rise to the occasion.  And if they don't?  DO IT ANYWAY.   

The only way to learn to be comfortable in your own shoes is to go ahead and walk in them.  Remember:  you are a child of God.  He loves you.  He has given you this life, full of blessings and opportunities, and he wants you to be happy.  Trust in Him, live the life you have, and make the choice to be happy.

Lighting the fire within

Early last week, a friend sent an email asking for my viewpoint on several topics.  The topics were thought-provoking and my answers probably more so -- in some respects, almost a declaration or challenge to myself to do more and to be more.  Which is sort of the point of this blog too – to aspire to everything we’re inspired to do.  As the Christian world prepares to celebrate Easter this coming weekend, it’s a perfect time for personal thought and reflection, and so I’ll be sharing each topic and my answer… for your own thoughtful pondering.  You're invited to stop by each day for both thoughts and Easter Fun!, and maybe a little contemplation of your own…

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What are your thoughts on… “Unique opportunities for service and growth”

Opportunities to serve come in many ways.  Most often, we think of accepting / fulfilling a volunteer service assignment.  That's serving, right?  Well what about saying "hello" to others.  Greeting someone you don't know at work or church or school.  Sending a Thank You note to express appreciation for a thoughtful gesture, a lovely lesson, a good example, an inspiring talk or a well-conducted meeting.  Making a phone call just to say hello to someone not normally in your social circle.  Reaching out to include friends and family in your life -- and letting them reach out to include you in turn.  Attending church and community activities and taking the time to talk with others afterwards.  Giving a hug or a warm smile.  Stopping to share a compliment about someone's shoes/dress/hair or whatever.

There are many ways to serve.  Some so small we don't ever consider them.  But they all take some amount of personal effort.  Sometimes they're an inconvenience -- do I really have time to talk to my homebound neighbor or to run that errand for someone? -- and sometimes they may feel like a burden.  But whether big or small, all service brings blessing.  It’s worth saying again: ALL service brings blessings.  

Never underestimate the positive impact an act of service, either given or received, may have in your life.  The fuel it may add to your personal fire.  And never underestimate the impact you may have in the life of another, no matter how put-together or capable they may seem.

Not all of my friends are imaginary

Early last week, a friend sent an email asking for my viewpoint on several topics.  The topics were thought-provoking and my answers probably more so -- in some respects, almost a declaration or challenge to myself to do more and to be more.  Which is sort of the point of this blog too – to aspire to everything we’re inspired to do.  As the Christian world prepares to celebrate Easter this coming weekend, it’s a perfect time for personal thought and reflection, and so I’ll be sharing each topic and my answer… for your own thoughtful pondering.  You're invited to stop by each day for both thoughts and Easter Fun!, and maybe a little contemplation of your own…

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What are your thoughts on… “Family connections, friends and associates”

Surround yourself with positive thinkers.  With friends of faith.  And hope.  And optimism.  Consider your own words and actions - are you a positive example?  do you build and uplift others?  We can't always choose our family or our work associates, but we can choose what we say and do.  Be an example of joy and confidence.  Be an example of righteousness and moral living, without being 'preachy'.  Be an example of respect and courtesy.  Have faith in others and seek to strengthen them the way you want to be strengthened.  See the good examples and great talents of people around you.  Appreciate them and express your admiration and gratitude at appropriate times.  And truly know that every good thought and deed and word you send out is known by God and will be returned to you in ways you cannot today imagine.  You'll have inspiration when you need it most, faith when your heart is weary, and hope when all around you seems dark.  You'll have relationships that will shelter, and rally, and rejoice with you.  And in building, nurturing and cherishing those relationships, you'll discover that sweet thoughts of your loved ones bring sunshine to brighten any day.  For a dear friendship with a family member, an acquaintance, or a work associate can be it's own sweet reward.

Sometimes you just don't want to be alone

Early last week, a friend sent an email asking for my viewpoint on several topics.  The topics were thought-provoking and my answers probably more so -- in some respects, almost a declaration or challenge to myself to do more and to be more.  Which is sort of the point of this blog too – to aspire to everything we’re inspired to do.  As the Christian world prepares to celebrate Easter this coming weekend, it’s a perfect time for personal thought and reflection, and so I’ll be sharing each topic and my answer… for your own thoughtful pondering.  You're invited to stop by each day for both thoughts and Easter Fun!, and maybe a little contemplation of your own…

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What are your thoughts on… “Coping with aloneness and loneliness”

No matter who we are or where we are in life, what we've achieved, who we have gathered around us... we all will experience times of aching loneliness.  A feeling of being alone and a desire for true companionship, a burning wish to be with someone who simply wants to be with and who understands you.  Those feelings may come when you're sitting in a crowded room with people you know and love, or they may come when you're truly physically alone.  They may come when you're married or unmarried, divorced or widowed.  No one has a monopoly on feeling lonely and alone.   

Sometimes coping means we need to take a deep breath and take a step forward in life.  To let go of unrealistic expectations.  To seek to see the good in our lives and to recognize the miracles and opportunities of each new day.  As an unmarried person, I spend a lot of time alone and not interacting with other people.  And here's what I've noticed:  I need to make myself reach out, pick up the phone, schedule a lunch date, plan a movie, or something.  Always waiting for other people to reach out to us isn't enough.  We need to make an effort too.  Meaningful, relationship-building contact with other people is important to each of us.  It contributes to part of our psychological well-being.  We need to interact with other people in a positive way.  Nurturing friendships is important, and sometimes its just something we have to make ourselves make the time or the effort to do.

Taking that to the next level, there's the desire for a spouse or life companion.  Someone to share your life and experiences with.  Someone to 'complete you'.  But the hard truth is that a spouse doesn't necessarily do that.  A spouse is another person with their own ideas, habits, needs, and feelings.  A spouse isn't going to be the ideal, perfect person we might imagine.  We need to let that myth go. 

People who are married - happily or otherwise - generally agree that marriage is hard work, made up of give and sacrifice and compromise.  It's not a "cure all" for anything - including loneliness.  And allowing ourselves to pine for a marriage and/or spouse we don't have won't make it happen.  So focus on what we DO have and be grateful for the many many blessings in your life TODAY. Build and nurture the relationships you have already with friends and family.  Focus on being happy and comfortable with who you are. 

Then in those dark moments, which still may come, when you find yourself overcome with an aching loneliness that seems inconsolable, fall to your knees in prayer.  Turn to the God of heaven and earth for comfort and solace, don't be afraid to ask him to help you to overcome these feelings for which there is no immediate remedy.  Do all that you can and put your faith and trust in him for the rest.  He knows the desires of your heart and he will never leave you truly alone.

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An Important Post Script:
Sometimes loneliness is accompanied by depression and anxiety, and its simply, deeply overwhelming.  Overcoming it can be more than we can handle, no matter our good intentions.  If we feel overwhelmed by loneliness, depression, and/or anxiety, don't be afraid to seek for, ask for, outside help.  Sometimes outside, professional help really is needed to make the difference in regaining you.