I have been amazed the last couple of days. I am helping conduct interviews for a vacancy and one of the questions is something like, "tell me what the best co-worker looks like to you." uh-oh. I've really got to raise the bar. I think I'm failing miserably and for that, I am truly sorry.
There will soon be a laminated card at my workspace that indicates what all those qualities are that people look for in a good co-worker, so that I can be the best that I can be. For so many years I have existed in my own bubble, and now it is time to make a change.
There are so many changes on the horizon. Just like my last posting with shedding the leaves and preparing for re-birth, I will attempt to make changes in who I am as I move forward this season to make myself into a better co-worker, wife, mother, friend, and Christian. There is always room for improvement & now is the time!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Autumn Leaves
Fall is, I think, my favorite season.
The Autumn leaves fall so freely from the trees, a shedding of the old, a preparation for what is to come.
In order to have new life, we must rid ourselves of what we hold on to. Let go of hurt, of pain, of grudges. Just as the tree lets go of the drying leaves, we too shed that which causes us trouble.
~Below is a different thought on letting go ~
Generosity has such power because it is characterized by the inner quality of letting go or relinquishing. Being able to let go, to give up, to renounce, to give generously — these capacities spring from the same source within us. When we practice generosity, we open to all of these liberating qualities simultaneously. They carry us to a profound knowing of freedom, and they also are the loving expression of that same state of freedom. Fall, then, is the perfect season to give generously of your time and talents to others.
May you find inner peace during this most beautiful season.
The Autumn leaves fall so freely from the trees, a shedding of the old, a preparation for what is to come.
In order to have new life, we must rid ourselves of what we hold on to. Let go of hurt, of pain, of grudges. Just as the tree lets go of the drying leaves, we too shed that which causes us trouble.
~Below is a different thought on letting go ~
Generosity has such power because it is characterized by the inner quality of letting go or relinquishing. Being able to let go, to give up, to renounce, to give generously — these capacities spring from the same source within us. When we practice generosity, we open to all of these liberating qualities simultaneously. They carry us to a profound knowing of freedom, and they also are the loving expression of that same state of freedom. Fall, then, is the perfect season to give generously of your time and talents to others.
May you find inner peace during this most beautiful season.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Slow Down
Photo credit - Doug Glaze
This kid has shown me how to slow down and take life one day at a time. He appreciates all the little things in life and recognizes the big things too & how important each person is to him.
So as I was nearly run over in the crosswalk today by someone too eager to get to work -- i could have touched her car -- I thought to myself, "Why such a hurry? Why not leave the house five minutes early so you can get to work on time without killing someone?"
I love my job, but I can't imagine that it is so important to nearly kill someone in a crosswalk for. I don't like to be later either, and I'm thinking I would have been really late had I not stopped and let her make her turn.
So, please, this weekend slow down; sit down and talk to someone you haven't chatted with in a while, hug your teenager, enjoy coffee with a friend, or as I like to do, admire God's handiwork in nature. After all, he created this world because of his love for us! He gave it all to us so we would be happy. Isn't that enough reason to take it easy?
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
For Better or for Worse
I was listening to the radio this morning and people were calling in and telling the story of their craziest dates. I was amused as I thought back to my first date with my handsome husband almost 23 years ago. (I will spare you the boring details of dating) This fall we celebrate 20 years of marriage, something almost unheard of these days.
As I look back, I'm caught in thoughts of our own parents. Mine were married 42 years at the time of my mom's death, and my in-laws lived happily ever after for 48 years when she lost her battle with cancer. What amazing testaments of love, what great examples we have had. Many of our friends have been married 20, 30 years, some longer (and a few less). As our own son grows, we watch him in relationships. My prayer is that he, too, will find love that lasts.
But what is the secret to lasting love? Holding your tongue? Putting up with little idiosyncrasies of your loved one? Giving up and giving in? For me it is the choice and decision every day to love my spouse with my mind, heart and soul just as Jesus asks us to do and as He has done for us. Some days it's a bit of a struggle, but over the years, I've made that decision over 7,000 times, so it must not be that difficult. It's a choice that I'm glad I made, and I wouldn't give it up for the world.
Don't get me wrong -- we've had the "better" and we've had the "worse." Of course, the tough times are what stand out, but it's the day-to-day cruising happily through life that makes it great! It's a feeling of comfort -- like old, worn jeans that fit just right. It's the "better" that helps you through the "worse." It's knowing that your partner is right there with you, walking every step of the way that makes it right. How would I have ever made it through difficult times without my beloved and God by my side? And to share the joys and happiness too -- ahhh, that is bliss!
As a midlifer, I'm pleased with this aspect of my life. I've known my handsome husband longer than I haven't known him!
Here's to another 20 (or more) years!
As I look back, I'm caught in thoughts of our own parents. Mine were married 42 years at the time of my mom's death, and my in-laws lived happily ever after for 48 years when she lost her battle with cancer. What amazing testaments of love, what great examples we have had. Many of our friends have been married 20, 30 years, some longer (and a few less). As our own son grows, we watch him in relationships. My prayer is that he, too, will find love that lasts.
But what is the secret to lasting love? Holding your tongue? Putting up with little idiosyncrasies of your loved one? Giving up and giving in? For me it is the choice and decision every day to love my spouse with my mind, heart and soul just as Jesus asks us to do and as He has done for us. Some days it's a bit of a struggle, but over the years, I've made that decision over 7,000 times, so it must not be that difficult. It's a choice that I'm glad I made, and I wouldn't give it up for the world.
Don't get me wrong -- we've had the "better" and we've had the "worse." Of course, the tough times are what stand out, but it's the day-to-day cruising happily through life that makes it great! It's a feeling of comfort -- like old, worn jeans that fit just right. It's the "better" that helps you through the "worse." It's knowing that your partner is right there with you, walking every step of the way that makes it right. How would I have ever made it through difficult times without my beloved and God by my side? And to share the joys and happiness too -- ahhh, that is bliss!
As a midlifer, I'm pleased with this aspect of my life. I've known my handsome husband longer than I haven't known him!
Here's to another 20 (or more) years!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Fall is here
Nothing exciting to post today, so I will just put up a picture that my talented husband took. I give him credit for the photograph.
Another sign of God's love for us. He gives us such beautiful gifts.
"May you be strengthened with power through God's spirit in your inner self."
Monday, October 10, 2011
Dreary Monday ...
It's a dreary day, this Monday. The bus I take no longer conveniently drops me off across the street from my building, so I have to hike up the hills of Tacoma about five blocks. Today it was raining. I told my bus buddy this morning, "At least it's not windy & 38 degrees." Her response was, "Almost a perfect day." What a positive attitude she had. It made me smile & I thought to myself, so what's the worst that happens, my once-curled hair will be straight & my toes may be a little damp. Oh, well.
As we passed people hunkering under a tree to stay dry, or stretched out in their sleeping bags, still asleep from a night of walking to find somewhere out of the weather, I decided it wasn't so bad after all to have to walk five blocks up hill. I soon would be in the comfort of my warm, dry office. It's not all about me.
This coming weekend the St. Vincent dePaul truck will be at my church to collect those unwanted goods we all have in our homes. I think I'll go through my closet and find things that I don't need that others can use. My recent weight loss has made many things available to others. I don't need to save them in the back of the closet "just in case" because I don't plan on going back there, where I was four months ago. If you would like to do the same, let me know and I'll make arrangements. Furniture, clothes & household goods are welcome. Warm coats and blankets this time of year are especially needed.
As we passed people hunkering under a tree to stay dry, or stretched out in their sleeping bags, still asleep from a night of walking to find somewhere out of the weather, I decided it wasn't so bad after all to have to walk five blocks up hill. I soon would be in the comfort of my warm, dry office. It's not all about me.
This coming weekend the St. Vincent dePaul truck will be at my church to collect those unwanted goods we all have in our homes. I think I'll go through my closet and find things that I don't need that others can use. My recent weight loss has made many things available to others. I don't need to save them in the back of the closet "just in case" because I don't plan on going back there, where I was four months ago. If you would like to do the same, let me know and I'll make arrangements. Furniture, clothes & household goods are welcome. Warm coats and blankets this time of year are especially needed.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Sustainable Life
I have been encouraged over the years by Alex's ways. I've read books he has recommended, become a better giver, tried to live with less, loved more, and have begun to look at more sustainable ways to live -- in a sense, become greener -- and I'm not talking about recycling.
For the past two summers we've tried our hand at container gardening. We have had better luck with some crops than others. Take, for instance, the lemon cucumber crop. Perhaps our success was due to the large quantity of plants he planted. 18 plants will give you many cucumbers. Though eating them was not high on our list. Even with adopting a plant-based diet, we couldn't find a way to fit them all in. I admit I tossed a few rubberized lemon cucumbers early this week to regain control of my kitchen from the fruit fly coup that was occurring. I think I was successful, though I don't believe it was the fault of the cucumbers.
I ran into an urban farmer from our old neighborhood a few weeks back and talked to her about her crops and the garden, what grows & what doesn't. This lady has been growing vegetables in a back-yard garden for as long as I've known her (about 20 years). She suggested I order a seed catalog -- I think she was actually growing tired of my questions. Territorial Seed came through and the catalog arrived in the mail. I've been pouring over it, dreaming of abundant crops of carrots & spinach, baskets overflowing with tomatoes just like in the pictures. I even saw an advertisement for a chicken tractor and thought for a very brief moment of raising chickens.
My crazy, hair-brained idea was quickly quelled. No chickens, no goats, no bees & definitely no mushrooms.
Mushrooms, I have learned, need to be grown indoors and apparently after a few harvests become fly attractants. (See paragraph above regarding fruit fly coup) With the quantity of mushrooms we eat in our house (enter, plant-based diet), I thought a mushroom farm would be a good idea. I guess, in the meantime, I will just keep someone else in the dark & feed him lots of poo... Just kidding!
Maybe in retirement I will figure out an outdoor, covered, warm way to grow mushrooms. Oh, and if you think my mention of retirement there was a lead-in to something, it's not. I will be working for many more years. Perhaps, I should say "in retirement, HE will figure out a way to grow mushrooms." We do have that extra-large detached garage available. Hmmmm...
Off to do more browsing through my seed catalog & contemplate growing eggplant. Baba ganoush is sounding pretty good about now.
For the past two summers we've tried our hand at container gardening. We have had better luck with some crops than others. Take, for instance, the lemon cucumber crop. Perhaps our success was due to the large quantity of plants he planted. 18 plants will give you many cucumbers. Though eating them was not high on our list. Even with adopting a plant-based diet, we couldn't find a way to fit them all in. I admit I tossed a few rubberized lemon cucumbers early this week to regain control of my kitchen from the fruit fly coup that was occurring. I think I was successful, though I don't believe it was the fault of the cucumbers.
I ran into an urban farmer from our old neighborhood a few weeks back and talked to her about her crops and the garden, what grows & what doesn't. This lady has been growing vegetables in a back-yard garden for as long as I've known her (about 20 years). She suggested I order a seed catalog -- I think she was actually growing tired of my questions. Territorial Seed came through and the catalog arrived in the mail. I've been pouring over it, dreaming of abundant crops of carrots & spinach, baskets overflowing with tomatoes just like in the pictures. I even saw an advertisement for a chicken tractor and thought for a very brief moment of raising chickens.
My crazy, hair-brained idea was quickly quelled. No chickens, no goats, no bees & definitely no mushrooms.
Mushrooms, I have learned, need to be grown indoors and apparently after a few harvests become fly attractants. (See paragraph above regarding fruit fly coup) With the quantity of mushrooms we eat in our house (enter, plant-based diet), I thought a mushroom farm would be a good idea. I guess, in the meantime, I will just keep someone else in the dark & feed him lots of poo... Just kidding!
Maybe in retirement I will figure out an outdoor, covered, warm way to grow mushrooms. Oh, and if you think my mention of retirement there was a lead-in to something, it's not. I will be working for many more years. Perhaps, I should say "in retirement, HE will figure out a way to grow mushrooms." We do have that extra-large detached garage available. Hmmmm...
Off to do more browsing through my seed catalog & contemplate growing eggplant. Baba ganoush is sounding pretty good about now.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Points to Ponder
Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Computers died yesterday at the age of 56. Below I include a quote that touched me today. Although I don't believe I own one Apple product (except maybe a Gala or a Golden Delicious), from what I have read, Jobs was one amazing man, both in his personal life & what he did for the techno industry. The vision that he had was incredible. Look where we have come... from a computer that took up an entire room to a little thing you stick in your pocket that will satisfy your musical cravings for eons to come (not to mention all the inventions in between that people can't live without these days). Unbelievable!
“Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me.
Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful…
that’s what matters to me.”
~Jobs, 1993
May we all strive to do something wonderful today!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Friends Come & Go
The last few weeks have been an interesting menagerie of emotions -- people coming in and out of my life, each change having its own purpose, perhaps not one I can pinpoint right now. But it made me think of something I read once in the book The Shack. You know how at the beginning of every chapter in a book sometimes the author will put little snippets of others' work? I have had this one hanging on a Post-It on my desk for quite a long time to remind me that we aren't really to question why, but just to go with the flow.
Some of us live and some of us die;
some day God's going to tell us why.
Open your heart and grow with what life sends;
we'll meet again at the Festival of Friends.
~ Bruce Cockburn 1975
Monday, October 3, 2011
I want to be somebody
Who am I, really? A mom. A wife. A court reporter. A strong Christian woman who truly believes in the power of God. I am all that! But I want to be more. As life cruises along and we are swept up in the day-to-day grunge work of parenthood, married life and careerdom, don't we really want more? Don't we want to be known for something? I'm not the next Bill Gates or an up-and-coming Oprah, nor am I the next entrepreneur who is starting a great business. I'm not an author who will write the next New York Times bestseller (which I'm thinking you've figured out by now.)
So what is it that I want to be? I want to be the loving-est wife, the most patient mom, the strongest woman that lives her life in the way that Jesus asks each of us. I want to be *that* career woman that carries everything I want to be into the office and cast that upon those I meet each day.
When we were young, in high school, when we were carefree and whimsical, we had dreams of what we would be. Some people acted on those dreams and are living that life they saw for themselves; others realized those dreams were so unrealistic and changed direction. I don't think a midlifer has to lose the idea of dreaming. Our dreams are just different now that we have families, husbands, wives, kids, careers, responsibilities; some of us even have extended families that we are caring for that add extra blessings in our lives.
Continue to dream. Re-light the fire and be who you want to be! Take others with you on the journey because it's more fun!
Shoot for the moon, because even if you miss, you'll land upon the stars!
What is your dream?
So what is it that I want to be? I want to be the loving-est wife, the most patient mom, the strongest woman that lives her life in the way that Jesus asks each of us. I want to be *that* career woman that carries everything I want to be into the office and cast that upon those I meet each day.
When we were young, in high school, when we were carefree and whimsical, we had dreams of what we would be. Some people acted on those dreams and are living that life they saw for themselves; others realized those dreams were so unrealistic and changed direction. I don't think a midlifer has to lose the idea of dreaming. Our dreams are just different now that we have families, husbands, wives, kids, careers, responsibilities; some of us even have extended families that we are caring for that add extra blessings in our lives.
Continue to dream. Re-light the fire and be who you want to be! Take others with you on the journey because it's more fun!
Shoot for the moon, because even if you miss, you'll land upon the stars!
What is your dream?
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