Staying In The Moment

I just saw an ad on TV for the brand new Windows Phone. It shows people tripping over one another, falling down stairs, and generally mis-stepping in hilarious ways. Everyone is so focused on their cell phones that they're not paying the least bit of attention to what is going on around them. What makes the ad so funny is that it's actually true! Everywhere you look these days, people are fiddling with their phones. Thankfully I'm not a phone-fiddler, but I used to be an e-mail junkie. Fortunately, I broke that habit when I realized that I was missing out on lots of wonderful and beautiful sights and sounds all around me because I was spending too much time in front of my computer. I vowed to become more mindful of how I was traveling through life. I did not want to miss a single minute.

All that being said, I do fall off the wagon now and then. I often feel like the little girl in the children's book, If You Give a Pig a Pancake, by Laura Joffe Numeroff. The little girl is tormented by a very challenging piglet whose never-ending wishes take them from kitchen table to bathtub to backyard, leaving everything in their wake a total mess. By days end, the poor little girl was exhausted. That is so me. For instance, I went to my closet to get a sweater and see that the hook that my pj's hang on is loose, so I went to fetch a screw driver. While I'm upstairs getting the screw driver I decide to put in a load of wash. When I go to put the laundry detergent in I spill a little, so I grab the paper towels and the next thing you know I'm wiping finger prints off the door frame and smudges from the window panes. It just goes on and on until I've totally forgotten about fixing the hook in my closet. I go back downstairs and the hook still hangs askew. I lost my focus.

So, if you feel side-tracked by your phone, or your chores, or a pig that wants a pancake for that matter, it's okay - we've all been there. Next time, try to be more mindful - that's all you can do, really. Be thankful for the life you're living, try to find ways to appreciate your surroundings and the people you care about and when it happens the next time, laugh about it and move on.

An Evening of Art in Butchers Hill

Tonight was a special night. Not in any grand way, but special nevertheless. In lieu of our regular neighborhood association meeting, there was an Evening of Art in Butchers Hill that featured some of the many artists that reside there - jewelry makers, sculptors, photographers, knitters, and wood workers. In the past, I might have feigned off, made up any old excuse in order to justify staying home - too busy, too tired, an early appointment the next morning. But, this time I didn't! Instead I asked my friend and neighbor if she would like to join me, and she said yes.

We ended up having a really good time talking with neighbors, browsing among the myriad of artistic works, and drinking some darn good wine to boot, just steps from our own front doors. Perfect. Afterwards we went to my friend's house to settle in with a nice bottle of red and some good conversation. I felt truly blessed that I live in a neighborhood that holds this kind of event, that is chocked full of interesting and good people, and that I have a good friend to share it all with.

Election Day 2010

Today is election day and as always I was eager to cast my vote. Once my ballot was cast, I took a moment or two to reflect on the gift and gravity of voting. What came to mind first was the notion that my vote actually counted. I know, a silly thought, right? We all know that in the State of Maryland it doesn't really matter how you vote, the Democrats always win. But, always the eternal optimist, I was determined to savor the moment nevertheless.

As I continued to reflect, I thought about a time not too long ago when women weren't allowed to vote. I couldn't imagine how that must have felt when only men made all the decisions that ultimately affected family, home, and hearth. In 1919 Women's Suffrage ended and things haven't been the same since! We have a lot to be proud of gals!

So today was special and for the right to vote I am thankful. I felt the stirrings of civic pride and a strong sense of community. And, just for a moment, I believed that my voice would be heard. It was pretty cool.

Thanksgiving and Blessings

It's November so I thought it appropriate to devote some time to writing about thanksgiving and blessings. But, to tell you the truth, I'm prepping for a scheduled colonoscopy, so I'm not feeling particularly blessed or thankful at the moment. As a matter of fact, I'm feeling pretty miserable and a little sorry for myself to bout, so I decided to try and flip the switch so to speak, and write about gratitude.

I have often read that it's good for the soul to take time at the end of each day to write down five things for which you're grateful. A worthwhile endeavor I think, and one that I have engaged in off and on for about the last 10 years. I find it a simple task, that perhaps keeps me focused on the abundant blessings in my life instead of the things that I wish I had (and really don't need, by the way) or the things that I think I need and simply can't afford. There are so many things to be grateful for each day, things as simple as a sunny day to something grand like a successful medical procedure. In working on this post, I came across an old Gratitude Journal. Here are a few of my entries:

1 - I'm grateful that I was able to prepare a nutritious meal for dinner tonight.
2 - I'm grateful that I was able to maintain a calm, loving mood all day, even though those around me were grumpy and in a foul mood.
3 - I'm grateful that I can rest today and don't have to go out.
4 - I'm grateful that I saw two beautiful cardinals in the backyard this morning.
5 - I'm grateful that I am able to articulate well enough to be understood - at least most of the time.

Do you keep a gratitude journal? If not, do yourself a favor and go buy a nice-looking journal (there are lots of inexpensive ones out there), and use it to record your abundant blessings and gratifications. If you already have a Gratitude Journal, go back and read some of your entries - it really does brighter your day and certainly puts things in perspective - I know it does for me. And, please, feel free to share some of your gratitudes with the rest of us by leaving a comment. There, now I feel better.