Ten Days of Awe : Day 6

It’s “over the hump” day, when it’s easy to get lax or make areas of discipline “routine”.  I don’t want to lose the “awe”, but I’m tired (healing, not sleeping well, etc.)

Looking for inspiration from the Dictionary:

AWE:  Function: noun

Etymology: 13th Century; Middle English from Old Norse as well as Old English, but also from the Greek word achos, meaning pain

1: an emotion variously combining dread, veneration, and wonder that is inspired by authority or by the sacred or sublime <stood in awe of the king> <regard nature’s wonders with awe> 2: archaic a: dread , terror b: the power to inspire dread

How interesting that the word Awe has its roots in pain and dread.  As though an amount of fear is mixed with wonder.  Perhaps due to a lack of control?  Most often that is when I get fearful, when I feel out-of-control.  Yet the reality is that much of life is out of our control.  Nature exist largely to remind us that we are not in control.  Weather, rodents, and weeds are all simple examples of natural things we try to predict and control, not to mention health, finances, and relationships.

Some people enjoy the adrenaline rush that comes with that out-of-control feeling, and some people resort to all sorts of behaviors and solutions to try to regain the control that they feel they have lost.  We humans have “extreme” tendencies in our hobbies and our habits.  Extreme ends of the spectrum are not healthy places to be.

So what can one do to stay “middle of the road” and “take it as it comes”?  What is this “chill pill” that people talk about??  I don’t think you can find it at Starbucks or the Pharmacy….

Ten Days of Awe : Days 3 & 4

The “fun” part about discipline is that sometimes it’s hard. Three days into my “Ten Days of Awe”, and I hit a speed bump.  Improvise!  On Day 3, Steve read my bible to me as I drove to work. Honestly, I don’t recall any significant Awe moments that day. In fact the challenges of the day were very weighty, but as I reflected on the day at its end, I was not discouraged. In fact I was inspired by the interactions of the day, the teamwork and cooperation involved, the relationships I’m privileged to enjoy, and the complete rest I had that night.

Day 4 started off with skin cancer surgery, a particular surgery that I had been dreading. That’s awesome in a different light. As I was preparing to read my morning assignment (Psalm 3, Prov. 3 & Romans 4), I flipped open my bible and my eyes rested on a verse in Jeremiah that talked about how God’s Word can sustain and bring joy. Okay, bring it on.

The surgery was not as dreadful as anticipated, but everything involved took all day (9-5). The long day was broken up with my Ipod, magazines, humor, a Chick-Fil-A milkshake, and the historic Bailout Bill vote in the House.

There was a variety of people gathered around the TV in the doctor’s waiting room to watch the final results of the House vote. The patients were in their 70′s and 80′s, their travel companions and the staff were “middle-aged”. It was interesting to observe the different reactions across generational lines. Over the last few weeks, I have truly been awed by the national & global impact of greed, selfishness, and pride.

On a final awesome note I have successfully submitted this post while under the influence of pain medication!

good or bad?

There was a little girl,
Who had a little curl,
Right in the middle of her forehead.
When she was good,
She was very, very good,
But when she was bad, she was horrid.

 

 

 

 

 

My parents used to say this poem to me a LOT when I was a child.  I didn’t have curly hair, so I have to assume they were inspired by my attitude!  I’m pretty sure I can still make a face like the one illustrated above.

 

Lately, that verse has popped into my mind on more than one occasion.  Today, as I visited my insurance agent and hand-delivered my premium a wee bit late, and then dashed off for a LONG overdue oil change….I actually found myself  saying  this verse!!  

 

Did my parents “curse” me?  Perhaps they simply knew me very, very well — as parents do.

This verse rings true in my life, although I still do not have curly hair.  The phenomena is definitely tied to how much I enjoy doing something, but there’s also the problem of determining what is good and what is bad:

When I am good (Parties, procrastinating, creative stuff, shopping) I am very, very good;

but when I am bad (RSVPs, thank you notes, confrontation, to-do lists) I am HORRID!

*sigh*

chai

Chai tea (pronounced Ch-eye)  is one of my guilty pleasures, but thankfully it is not all that guilty.  Especially since my favorite prep uses soy milk — so it’s actually “healthy”!

Chai tea is actually a “class” of tea because the recipe differs all over the world.  The basic formula is a strong tea (black, gunpowder, etc.) steeped in 1/2 water 1/2 milk and blended with a variety of spices (ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, anise, pepper, cloves).  The result is a creamy, spicey, yummy concoction.

Recently, I discovered that “Chai” is also a hebrew term meaning “living” (pronounced with a throat-clearing “H” followed by “eye”).  Honestly, when I’m curled up on the couch with a good book, a hot & spicey cup of chai, and my dog….that’s LIVING.

What follows is my extremely simple recipe, if you’d like to try a cup of “Living” Tea:

INGREDIENTS:  I use a liquid concentrate (Oregon or Tazo).  There are powdered mixes, but they tend to be VERY sweet.  There are also chai tea bags, but they are not the same.  The liquid concentrates come in many varieties of spice and sweetness.  Tazo is my current favorite brand.  Instead of milk, I use Chocolate Soymilk (vanilla is good too, but chocolate is my favorite!)  If you are not a soy fan, don’t sweat it, just TRY it!  A great way to get the benefits of soy as well.

RECIPE:  In a big coffehouse-style mug, fill the mug 1/2 way with the chai concentrate and top it off with milk.  Microwave on high for 2-3 minutes.  Smell the spice-filled aroma and sip to your heart’s content!  The only simpler version is at Starbucks (ask for no water, all soy) or Panera’s (don’t use skim milk, yuck).

Enjoy!

The League of Extraordinary Friends

We all have special people in our lives.  There are many words used to describe these people:  friends, buddies, pals, homies, BFF, to name a few.  You don’t have to live long on the earth to discover that some friends are “bosom buddies”, lasting friendships that endure through seasons, times, trials and “life”.  Most friends are for a season.  That doesn’t mean they are any less “friends”, or that they were bad friends.  It just means that some seasons end.

Recently, my daughter dragged me, kicking & whining, into the realm of “Facebook”.  I do realize that I am blogging, online, presumably to people that are fairly up on modern technology and social networking, but regardless….in this post I’m going to sound like someone who doesn’t belong, who doesn’t “get it”, and that’s OK!

You see, on Facebook, you get “friends”.  Lots and lots and LOTS of friends.  People you hardly know, or haven’t seen in years, asking you to be their friend and you can confirm or ignore them.  Or you can invite people to be your friend, and they can confirm or ignore YOU.  Once you become “friends”, you can “throw” things at them, poke them, write on their “wall”, or lots of other silliness that you can’t do at home.  But mostly, once you are “friends”, you are just a number.  One among many.  After that, it’s pretty much all about you — posting updates on yourself, pictures of yourself, information about yourself, and collecting more friends….

Back in my day (see — old people words!), when you became friends with someone, there was committment involved, risk, investment, etc.  You had to maintain the friendship, and there was a certain level of expectation involved.  On Facebook, you may have a few “friends”, but the majority of these people are, in retro terminology, ”acquaintances”.

Having someone poke you, send you a bumper sticker, or a ((((HUG)))), just isn’t the same as the real thing.  Most of these Facebook People aren’t going to visit you in the hospital, stand by you in a fight, comfort you when you’re brokenhearted, or go nose-to-toes in a fight with you and then do the work of making up.  Facebook, and many other computer offerings, are a distraction to the real business of making friends.

I might lose all my new Facebook Friends after this, and I have made some interesting reconnections through Facebook, but I’d much rather talk on the phone or go have a cup of coffee somewhere (hint, hint).

victory!

I love to shop!  More accurately, I love to find bargains!  If I don’t find many bargains, I tire of shopping very quickly.  One of my favorite places to shop is Ye Local ReSale Shoppe!  I love to find upscale clothing labels.  Even better is when the upscale label item is brand-new with tags on.  The ultimate find is a brand-new upscale label and the Resale tag is marked half off!!!  Such fun!  I can only imagine that shopping at a resale shop is like playing the lotto involving many days of playing with no reward, but then, one day, you hit the jackpot!

When I hit the jackpot while shopping, I have a feeling of victory and I love to tell people about it.  When someone comments on something I’m wearing, I can frequently be heard to say “You know what the best part is??  It only cost $3.00!!”  Perhaps you can better relate this feeling to your perfect golf score, completing a challenging assignment, accomplishing a long-term goal, etc.

Everyone loves the thrill of victory!  We’re not all Olympic athletes who have dedicated our lives to honing our sport, but we can all experience a similar thrill in some area of life.  It’s a good and healthy thing to work toward something, persevere through challenges, and ultimately achieve your goal.

I don’t think they’ll ever make shopping an olympic sport.  Even if they did, I’m sure I’m only amateur status, but it’s fun to dream isn’t it??

Summer Solstice

The longest day of the year is called Summer Solstice.  Today is that day.   When I was a child, I remember thinking of the long days of Summer as a challenge:  How much can I do in one day?   My husband remembers the routine instruction when he was a kid:  “Be home when the streetlights come on.”   One of the many delights of Summer was when the streetlights didn’t come on until after 9:00 PM!  Long lovely days full of swimming, bike riding, kick the can, TV tag, tree climbing, backyard performances, catching fireflies, and more… 

For those who like trivia, this is the earliest Summer Solstice in 112 years.  Not sure what the impact of that is, or if busy global warming scientists have taken notice, but here in my hometown we have been having unseasonably cool weather.  Don’t tell anyone, but I like it.  There is wonderfully cool air for sleeping, and it gets pleasantly warm during the day.   The weather man has recently made frequent mention that when we have air patterns like this, the more sunshine we see, the more likely we’ll have some “severe weather”.  Now, we’ve had nothing compared to the mid-sections of our country, but we have had some rockin’ storms!

Speaking of weather men, in what other job in the world can you be wrong so many times and still collect a salary??  I actually feel sorry for these guys and girls.  Imagine, doing your absolute best at your job, presenting your final report to your people, and then being left to the mercy of Mother Nature.  Then you have to get up and do it all again.  What kind of person wants to do this for a living???

How about the smells of Summer?  Chlorine, freshly cut grass, clean laundry on the line, suntan lotion.  The opportunity to wear light and airy Summer clothes, and go barefoot.  We have an outdoor wedding to attend this weekend which should provide some stunning visuals.

Soooo, I’m rambling….like a long Summer day….

Influencing People

I’m a big fan of Dale Carnegie. Yes, the “How to Win Friends and Influence People” Dale Carnegie. Some may think that’s hokey, others may not even know what I’m talking about. When I was entering the working world in the early 80‘s, the Dale Carnegie Workshops were all the rage. Actually, his teachings have been around since the 1920’s. People intent on climbing the corporate ladder simply “had” to attend the workshop(s) which contain very practical teaching on influencing people, public speaking, and careers in general. Since I wasn’t climbing the corporate ladder, I didn’t care.

Years later, I was introduced to Dale Carnegie through a work of his that is not as well known as HTWFAIP. Mr. Carnegie had a keen interest in the life and character of Abraham Lincoln.  So he did his homework and wrote a biography. It is very interesting and well written. He brings out many details of Lincoln’s life that are not recorded in the average history book. Mr. Carnegie took the time to travel to the places where Lincoln lived and worked, and actually spoke to people that knew him. The book, “Lincoln: The Unknown” is out-of-print, but I had to have it, after first borrowing it from my local library (and being oh so tempted to keep it). This book became my first Ebay auction purchase. (It took two tries but, after an initial defeat, I reworked my strategy, familiarized myself with my “enemy”, and I won!) Since then, I’ve read several other Carnegie books and given some as gifts. There is some rich, practical wisdom in these tomes.

All that to say that it can be surprising how life ebbs and flows, and the long term impact that is created. When Dale Carnegie was “in”, I couldn’t have cared less. Years later, when I’m no longer corporate at all, I find his writing fascinating. The ripple effect of this one man’s work in this one woman’s life is fascinating. He taught me about a great man from a great time in our country’s history. Because of him, I learned to bid successfully on Ebay. I now appreciate his techniques and teaching style, which appear to be timeless. His passion and life’s work was for the “working man”, helping them network and speak and pursue success. However, I think that his teachings are useful in all walks of life as we deal with people day to day. I’m sure that he had no idea how far his passion and influence would reach. Long after his death, his writings continue to influence people.

I can’t help but wonder, what influence will be passed on from my life’s work?

EGR

This acronym – EGR – was first introduced to me in a Small Group Leadership training course. The topic was that, in any group activity, there was the potential for one or more people to demand more attention than others. These people were dubbed with this acronym “EGR” or “Extra Grace Required”. EGR people can drain a leader and monopolize a group. The idea is that in order to maintain your leadership position and care for all people, you need to gather up some extra grace in order to handle challenging people.

This was joked about for years among my friends, after all, none of us were EGR people. The “elephant in the room” is that any of us could require Extra Grace at any time. In fact, I hope that my friends and family use Extra Grace liberally toward me.

In this context, the definition of Grace is “undeserved favor”. To receive grace can be embarrassing or even cause angry feelings. My initial introduction to “EGR” generated those types of feelings, because it was used to identify someone “less than”. I always want to remember that I am “less than” and in need of grace. I don’t want to be tolerated with grace. Grace is the gift of undeserved favor.

As with any gift, when received we should rejoice over it.  Don’t you love the look on someone’s face when they receive a perfectly selected gift?  When we receive a gift, we are often inspired to pay it forward which is equally satisfying.  Grace is a gift that can easily be “regifted”.  When someone is gracious to you, be grateful and make a big deal about it.  Then turn around and look for EGR opportunities. They happen all the time, because we all need a little more Grace.

BIT-O-HONEY, CARAMELS & STARBURSTS

I’ve always liked things chewy, and as I’ve “aged” it seems I enjoy chewing on my thoughts as well, not unlike a cow thoughtfully chewing her cud as unflattering as that seems. What starts the process could be something as simple as a billboard, a bumper sticker, or a sentence leaping off a printed page — certain thoughts just roll around in my mind and I “chew” on them. A more politically correct term may be “to mull them over” or “meditate” on them, but I’ve always used the word “chew”. There are lots of reasons people choose to blog, and I’ve struggled with the idea and whether or not to join in.

I’ve been a stay-at-home, home-schooling mom for almost two decades. I struggle with a genetic condition that causes pain and angst. I’m married. I have a strong Christian faith, and fairly strong political views, but I don’t fall under any particular label. At least not perfectly. I love to read, watch TV/movies, and chat with friends. This life creates lots of food for thoughtful chewing.

Some thoughts that I chew on, I dislike right off the bat. Some things start off well, but leave a funny aftertaste — or they start off a bit shakey, and grow on me with time. Some are tough and hard to swallow. Some are hardly palatable, and are quickly spit out. Then there are those that are so delightful and thought-provoking, I chew them some more.

If you are reading this, then maybe you’ll enjoy some of these things and chew on them yourself. They may come from a variety of sources, and I will always name them if I can. You may agree or disagree, and you may leave comments if you like, but this blog is not a forum for debate. My goal is not to change your mind. As Arsenio Hall used to say on his TV show (a long time ago), these are just some things to make you go “hmmmmmm”…