tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46403767215643597432023-11-15T06:22:58.402-08:00365 Days of LIFE-ingAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310394256805111831noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4640376721564359743.post-59809276336324948762015-11-24T18:34:00.002-08:002015-11-24T18:35:50.582-08:00Day 9: The Unexpected Gift<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">lagniappe</span></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">/lan yap/</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">noun</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">an unexpected gift</span></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A Creole word shared tonight during the Thanksgiving service at church...</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A reminder to be open-eyed for these gifts in our lives...</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A point to be an unexpected gift in the world</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(too jaded and unaware that such gifts are even possible.)</span></b></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310394256805111831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4640376721564359743.post-54225565797760870762015-11-23T18:58:00.001-08:002015-11-23T19:00:53.845-08:00Day 8: See The World Through Different Eyes <b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I want to see the world</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">with eyes that blur out</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">hate</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">eyes that focus on</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">love</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">eyes that square on</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">peace</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">eyes that glow with</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">joy</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and eyes that shine with</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">excitement</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and eyes that open to</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">possibility</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and eyes that close to</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">negativity</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and eyes that smile at</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">strangers</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and eyes that cry with</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">friends</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and eyes that watch over</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">family</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and eyes that dream of</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">all these things.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I want to see with eyes that make the whole world </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>worth</i> seeing;</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and be in a world that sees me the </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">same</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">way.</span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310394256805111831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4640376721564359743.post-27331037577267266832015-11-22T18:57:00.000-08:002015-11-22T18:59:53.526-08:00Day 7: Appreciating My Husband<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Today, in the very early morning hours, a high school classmate of mine departed this life after fighting a HARD battle with cancer.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He left a wife and in-laws and a throng of friends who are, by all accounts, shredded by this loss.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He and I were not close all those years ago at THS, but I remember well how hilariously funny he was and what an incredible writer he was.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I hate using those past tense verbs. Chad should not now be past tense...</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">All day, I've thought of him, and with every thought of him, I've also thought of his wife. I never met her, but I "know" her from Facebook, from the messages of love and support she's received from relatives and friends all over the country, from her posts. She clearly LOVES Chad. Seriously. Her love is almost tangible in her words, and on her face...the look of love is literally visible in every photo of the two of them. Theirs was clearly a marriage of soul-mates. I say that with no sarcasm or skepticism. Soul-mates. For real.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I can't imagine the pain she's feeling right now. The love and partner of her life will never again hug her or hold her hand or smile at her. He'll never be there again to share a meal, share a laugh, share a conversation. The exuberant and mundane moments of life will never again be theirs together.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I think of that and I can hardly breathe.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Because...what if it were me? What if I were the one staring at an empty chair, normally inhabited by my sweet husband? What if were crawling into a bed alone? Waking up alone?</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have been so, so thankful to have Glen in my life the past four years. Days like today make me all the more thankful for him, and enable me to frame specifically the ways I love...</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">...his sweet smile</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">...his quiet strength</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">...his faith</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">...his intelligence</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">...his integrity</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">...his hugs</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">...his kindness </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">...his love.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> He cares about me---actually <i>cares</i> about what I say and what I hope for and what I want and what makes me happy. He makes me laugh. He makes me want to be a better person. He gives me strength and hope. He brings light into my life.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It has been precious, seeing how loved my classmate was and how loved his wife is still--there are so many people pouring themselves out to her, supporting her through her grief. It encourages me to see so much love in the world, and reminds me of all the love I have right here in mine.</span></b><br />
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<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310394256805111831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4640376721564359743.post-23143359318247943692015-11-21T19:10:00.001-08:002015-11-21T19:11:15.093-08:00Day 6: Brief Philosophy, Big Idea<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">From Japan, this concept:</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Wabi-Sabi: </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nothing lasts,</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">nothing is perfect,</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">nothing is finished.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I love that...</span></b><br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310394256805111831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4640376721564359743.post-82134158267141924612015-11-20T20:51:00.000-08:002015-11-22T19:01:34.923-08:00Day 5: Giving Fear the Space To Leave<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Oh, no---fear.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You are</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">voracious</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">relentless</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">avaricious</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">cruel.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You imprison</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">walk away,</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">giving no thought to the prisoner who spends every moment thinking of</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">you.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If only there were a</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">key</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">or</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a door</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">or</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">an exit</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">or an</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">escape.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">(If only...)</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">...except,</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">there is.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That's Fear's real power---that he has none.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">(I invite you to leave now, cruel one. It is time for)</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Oh...no fear.</span></b><br />
<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310394256805111831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4640376721564359743.post-18106475281826773772015-11-19T18:49:00.001-08:002015-11-23T19:02:37.512-08:00Day 4: The Sweetness of Being "Present"<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Oh, the beauty of children....</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tonight, while grabbing a meal at a local sandwich shop, I observed a sweet little boy seated at a table directly by ours. He and his mother had entered the shop after his father (who was already seated when he came in), and when he saw him, he rushed forward excitedly and hopped into their booth! Unfortunately, the little boy's father was too intent on staring at his phone to notice him. He barely acknowledged his wife, who came over to inquire about ordering their meal, and he certainly was ignoring their son. It was troubling, to say the least.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But...the little boy...undeterred by a silly iPhone...slipped out of his seat and moved around their table toward his father's spot in their booth. (Getting no reaction from his dad.) Undeterred still, he slipped closer. (Again, getting no reaction.) Finally...this determined, precious, beautiful boy (whose father was behaving more like a child than <i>he </i>was, ignoring his family and petulantly attaching himself to a tiny screen) leaned in closer and closer and closer...</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">...until their faces were practically touching</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">...until he knocked his father's ball cap askew</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">...until his father finally smiled at him--and even laughed a little.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Getting that smile and getting that giggle elicited a glow of joy so pure from that sweet boy's face that I felt joy, too. It reminded me about being present. It showed me how little we look---<i>really look</i>---at each other (because we're more comfortable <i>really </i>looking at hand-held screens). </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Had I brought my phone to dinner tonight, I probably would've missed all of that.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Which made that sweet moment all the sweeter. If not for the dad, certainly for me.</span></span></b><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310394256805111831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4640376721564359743.post-86560338940747102632015-11-18T18:59:00.000-08:002015-11-19T18:50:06.593-08:00Day 3: Gratitude for A Horrible Day<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Day 3....some random thoughts on gratitude after a truly horrible day.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Even horrible days make me thankful.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am thankful that I have</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">no sorrows,</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">no struggles,</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">no illnesses,</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">no losses,</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">no <i>anything</i></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">so staggering that I feel the need to run from my life.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My life is beautiful....</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">...and hard</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">...and amazing</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">...and exhausting</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and I love it.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I will not run from it--nor do I want to.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">(Isn't it sad that others do?)</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am thankful that I can</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">listen to people</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">(and not feel the need to interrupt them, even though they don't afford me that same courtesy).</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am thankful that I can</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">laugh loudly and deeply</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">(and not worry that people are "offended" by my mirth).</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am thankful that I can</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">see</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">how miserable people are and make the choice to be their opposites; these are pathetic souls who have nothing in their lives except</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">running</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">interrupting</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">scowling</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">looking disapprovingly</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and <i>missing everything</i> </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">in their hyper-bitter-rigid-cold-fearful-mean-judgemental-scornful angst.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I choose to plant flowers in my soul</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and spread my arms to gentle breezes.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Even when I fail myself and temporarily succumb to the jagged edges,</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">my heart opens a portal to grace</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">invites me in.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is an invitation I always</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">(and will always)</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">accept.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gratefully.</span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310394256805111831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4640376721564359743.post-16548741826979996072015-11-17T19:05:00.001-08:002015-11-19T18:50:49.951-08:00Day 2: Not Gonna Feel Bad About Being Me<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Second day, and I failed (sort of) at making the passions of my life manifest.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Today was soul-sucking, mind-numbing, and boring, spent going from session to session at Day 2 of Convergence, listening to one presenter after another drag me through apps and platforms and programs that mean NOTHING to me. Seriously, nothing. My threshold for these sessions today was extremely narrow, especially when Day 1 wasn't much better. While I can respect the fact that there are people out there who get super excited about tech "stuff", I'm not one of them. Especially on the first two days that I'm making a point of pouring "life" into my life.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>There was one bright spot today, though. The one session I attended that actually spoke to me was led by two brothers, twins, whose mirror souls inspire them to write children's books and produce children's videos and make the world a beautiful, creative, brighter place. At one point during their presentation, tears puddled in my eyes; their words were all about trying and doing and painting and drawing and creating; their "ish" philosophy is gorgeous; their parting comment was about "painting our dot and signing it", a philosophy that fits perfectly into my goal of living. They made me want to turn my space into love and light and paint and words and music.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Not apps. Not Google classroom. Not some program that is designed to give electronic sticky notes to group participants that I can't remember the name of, even though I used it during a session today.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Okay, maybe today wasn't a fail. Maybe tapping into what I want---even though my day didn't represent that---was living my life after all.</b></span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310394256805111831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4640376721564359743.post-88377443970189854322015-11-16T18:08:00.000-08:002015-11-19T18:51:08.432-08:00Day 1: A Year to Live<b>To<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">day is Monday, November 16, 2015, and...</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have 365 days to live.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Let me clarify:</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm not saying I've been diagnosed with a terminal illness that will take my life one year from now. I'm saying that I've come to a point on my life-path that I'm assessing what that means, having a "life path"...</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What is this thing called LIFE? What is the point of it? What are we supposed to be doing with it? These are questions I've been circling around for years... and then...</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Yesterday, at church, our minister challenged us with these queries:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Would you want to know the exact day you were going to die?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>and</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>If you did know it, what would it inspire you to do?</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Oh, boy....</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">His question made me wonder if I'd want to know that about myself. I have to admit, my initial reaction was no (as most people's reaction is), but....the more I thought about it...the more I realized that I actually did want to know the day that would be my final day. Maybe that's macabre and maybe I'm playing with fire by admitting that, but I really do think I'd like to know.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Because, if I knew....I TRULY believe that it would spur me on to live, to REALLY LIVE, in the time I had left.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So...</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What am I waiting for? Why can't I face my future with a fierce determination to wring the maximum life out of each day, even without a specific "X-number of months left" diagnosis falling over me? Why can't I go ahead and live each day as if it were my last? Why can't I appreciate every moment, every breath, every teeny-tiny-itty-bitty aspect of my world RIGHT NOW? If I started to truly realize that the clock WAS ticking, would I change myself? Would I quit my job and take up a cause? Would I become more loving? Be more forgiving? Get peaceful or more brash or more patient or more kind?</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have no idea, but....I want to see.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, for the next 365 days, I am committing to a life fully lived. Each of the days, over the next year, are gifts. MY gifts. I want to open each one with excitement and with appreciation. I want to see how, by keeping the idea of impending finality present in my life, I can be (in that life) more present. I want to honor this length of days, whatever mine may be, by lengthening my joy of them.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here's to life, then. My life. For the next 365 days.</span></b><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310394256805111831noreply@blogger.com3