Unfinished blog post #1, started July 2015:
I grew up in a perfect world. Okay, that's not true, but did I get your attention? A more true statement would be to say that I have a lovely "perfect world" that exists in my mind and in my daydreams. It's a nice place to visit and I do often. I've been thinking a lot about that word "perfect" lately. We put so much emphasis on it, as if our true happiness hangs on the mere word itself. Our quest for it can be all consuming. When in reality, at least my reality, I think I set myself up for great disappointment. Think about it, we strive for something as simple as the perfect vacation. We plan, we prepare, we make a timeline, we make reservations or other purchases needed to achieve that perfection we have concocted in our minds. We know how we want it to turn out and what it will take to make it happen. We want all involved to have that feeling of "perfect happiness" as the vacation unfolds. Then disaster happens. It could be as simple as bad weather, something out of our control. Then our perfect vacation becomes less than perfect and we feel it was not a success. Okay, that's such a simple example, but no less a good example.
Unfinished blog post #2, started Oct 2016:
I'm reminded of something I used to tell my children a lot. I guess I still do on occasion. I would say, "You can't control what other people do or how they treat you, you can only control what you do and how you react to how others treat you." Simple wisdom, right? Wouldn't it be great if we (meaning I) could be the kind of person we (meaning I) are (am) trying to teach our children to be.
So hold that thought. I've felt a real need to share something I've been pondering lately. There's a lot of political talk and tension right now to say the least. So before you shut me out and stop reading, let me reassure you this isn't about politics, but it is about what I'm learning about myself.
Unfinished blog post #3, started Jan 2017:
Unfinished blog post #3, started Jan 2017:
I will start out by saying that my heart hurts for those affected by violence and oppression of religious freedom. I don't claim to be an expert on this subject, but what I am learning and seeing is heartbreaking. Our own recent election and most recent executive order banning refugees from specific countries, has affected me in a way I would have never thought possible. You see, I have always been very happy with my head in the sand. It's a most comfortable position and one that requires very little if any action or even thought on my part. It's an easy position and I could claim to have no knowledge or resource to help, so why even bother......right?? Well, that is not what my heart is telling me. People in other parts of the world are suffering in ways that I have never known nor experienced. I live a comfortable life in a comfortable home in a great land with freedoms that allow me to peacefully worship the way I choose. This great land offers that same freedom to all, regardless of that choice.....or so I was always taught. Religious freedom is more than just a constitutional right, it's a fundamental human right. So why are so many not allowed that same privilege. Why do so many try to flee their own county to avoid persecution, violence, sexual atrocities, torture, even death. The Revolutionary War was fought over religious freedom. Remember, that's why the early pilgrims sailed from England to a land where they could worship in their own way and not be punished by the government for doing so. That's why it's the 1st amendment in a county where freedoms are protected and cherished.
So there you have it, my 3 started and unfinished posts. Life is not perfect, but can it be? We cannot help everyone, but can we help someone? And what about our differences and experiences and what can be learn from them?
A few days ago, my husband said something to me that still rings in my mind. He said, "We are becoming." That's it, the whole sentence. So becoming what, and when, and how, and maybe even more importantly, for what purpose? It was at the end of one of those days where we were reflecting on the events we had just shared. We have become acquainted with several refugee families and individuals here from African countries. They are French speaking for the most part and Dave speaks French so he has become a great friend and help to them. We have become very aware of some of the struggles that they encounter once here in America. One thing that we have learned is.... to the outside (meaning outside of America) world, America seems to be a land of wealth and opportunity. Once here, it becomes apparent that there are still a lot of struggles that they did not imagine. Perhaps they looked upon life in America like I look upon my "perfect world" that exists in my mind. No ones fault here, they just are fleeing a much worse scenario and only know what they hear about America. From what I have seen, these are hard working people who want to survive here on their own. They are humble in attitude, yet proud in self reliance. They are willing to work, but are learning the hard way just how far a $10/hour job will go when trying to support a family. This was the end of a day where some of these struggles had come to a head for one family we know. We could only do so much and we encountered our own disappointment and learning from this experience. That's when Dave said, "We are becoming." Our experiences cause us to become something. They contribute to our learning and to our progression in this life. I believe we are continually progressing, whether we like it or not, whether we recognize it or not. I can tell you what I am becoming. I am becoming more compassionate. I am becoming more willing to share my time and my abilities with some less fortunate. I am becoming more aware of what is going on around me, taking my head out of the sand, that comfortable place of complacency. And the really big question.....For what purpose am I becoming these things? I suppose I don't have an answer to that, yet. I suppose I will find out little by little as time and experiences go by. I suppose I will continue to become something, hopefully a better person, one with something to share and contribute. Yes, we are all becoming. What are you becoming? And why? And how? And for what purpose?
So there you have it, my 3 started and unfinished posts. Life is not perfect, but can it be? We cannot help everyone, but can we help someone? And what about our differences and experiences and what can be learn from them?
A few days ago, my husband said something to me that still rings in my mind. He said, "We are becoming." That's it, the whole sentence. So becoming what, and when, and how, and maybe even more importantly, for what purpose? It was at the end of one of those days where we were reflecting on the events we had just shared. We have become acquainted with several refugee families and individuals here from African countries. They are French speaking for the most part and Dave speaks French so he has become a great friend and help to them. We have become very aware of some of the struggles that they encounter once here in America. One thing that we have learned is.... to the outside (meaning outside of America) world, America seems to be a land of wealth and opportunity. Once here, it becomes apparent that there are still a lot of struggles that they did not imagine. Perhaps they looked upon life in America like I look upon my "perfect world" that exists in my mind. No ones fault here, they just are fleeing a much worse scenario and only know what they hear about America. From what I have seen, these are hard working people who want to survive here on their own. They are humble in attitude, yet proud in self reliance. They are willing to work, but are learning the hard way just how far a $10/hour job will go when trying to support a family. This was the end of a day where some of these struggles had come to a head for one family we know. We could only do so much and we encountered our own disappointment and learning from this experience. That's when Dave said, "We are becoming." Our experiences cause us to become something. They contribute to our learning and to our progression in this life. I believe we are continually progressing, whether we like it or not, whether we recognize it or not. I can tell you what I am becoming. I am becoming more compassionate. I am becoming more willing to share my time and my abilities with some less fortunate. I am becoming more aware of what is going on around me, taking my head out of the sand, that comfortable place of complacency. And the really big question.....For what purpose am I becoming these things? I suppose I don't have an answer to that, yet. I suppose I will find out little by little as time and experiences go by. I suppose I will continue to become something, hopefully a better person, one with something to share and contribute. Yes, we are all becoming. What are you becoming? And why? And how? And for what purpose?
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