enroute365

Finding good (a year later)

Once again today, I beg your indulgence as I recycle stories from my archive. For today I chose one that brings me hope whenever I feel the world is out-of-control ... that reminds me to put aside my personal agenda whenever I can contribute to the greater good.

From time to time, I’ve fretted over the degree of hatred being unleashed across continents and peoples. Every day, headlines give evidence to new hostilities. But, I’ve rationalized, the stories of love and humanity don’t always get the best coverage.

Four weeks ago, however, I knew the world was in bad shape. Knew, because I’d caught one too many commentaries on TV. I didn't have to ponder; the talking heads spelled it out. Said we all knew the mess the world was in.

Maybe the moderator and panel experts were right. That’s what I believed one Saturday morning in March. And why I’m glad for the perspective of that same afternoon.

3:00 p.m. I was in a hurry. I’m always in a hurry. I had just left one event and was busily checking items off my To Do list before heading home. One last stop to pick up craft supplies.

I entered the art store with a sense of purpose and moved directly to the specialty paper section. There, I found myself stymied by choices. In the background I heard the cashier greet a customer at the counter. I held a paper up to the light, faintly aware that a monologue had begun.

“If you take the time, you'll find a silent bond that unites us.”

5 points of gratitude (and lots of links)

Every time I visit  Are you Grateful? and 365 Days of Gratitude I am torn. Although I'm always inspired by the abundance mindset I find there, I know I should be reserving some time here for gratefulness as well. And now ... that time has come!

My statement of gratitude (what I am thankful for today):

• Good news from the doctor. After I gained an unprecedented 15 pounds in two weeks, friends insisted I visit my physician. Luckily I passed the physical (after all, no studying was required)! A subsequent x-ray proved that for some reason my only problem is that I am -- quite literally -- full of it! With some medication this, too, shall pass, so today I am relieved ... well, I soon will be! 
• A husband who thinks my situation is hysterically funny! Actually, I'm not really thankful for Frank at the moment ... but I am working on it. My gratitude toward my spouse is a very fickle thing which has a lot to do with how many hours he spends sleeping in front of the TV and how often he laughs at my jokes. My jokes ... not my predicament! Still, he has a heart of gold and the very best intentions. And for that I am forever grateful.
• My outdoor world. Even though it's August, the last several days have brought comfortable temperatures to central Iowa where I live -- perfect weather for enjoying the sights and the songs of a variety of bird life. No flooding or wildfires threaten my home ... and for this I am incredible thankful!
• A new contract. In my work as a consultant, I had just ended one project early due to a client's budgetary woes and was scrambling to get more work lined up. I was beside myself with worry ... well, I was worried anyway. But today I got the phone call I needed and will begin my new job next week. Somebody's looking out for me and for that I give thanks!
• Blogging. Why is it that every time I question the value of maintaining a blog, something happens to refocus me? Someone's comments or online friendship. An exciting new find in the blogosphere. Or, as has recently happened, the receipt of an award. I'll have more on that tomorrow ... but for now let me just say "Thank you" to all you bloggers who inspire me, challenge me and those who remind me to count my blessings!

What are you grateful for today?

In order to be able to achieve and maintain happiness we need to, actively, be able to do two things:

1. Complain and then let go (Dump the baggage, the roadblocks to happiness.)
2. Openly Express Gratitude (The open expression of gratitude promotes happiness.)

In order to be able to achieve and maintain happiness we need to, actively, be able to do two things:

1. Complain and then let go (Dump the baggage, the roadblocks to happiness.)
2. Openly Express Gratitude (The open expression of gratitude promotes happiness.)

After all, everyone has something to be grateful for and/or something to complain about. If you would like to accept the challenge, please follow the appropriate link and do so: "Are You Grateful?", "Complain Complain Complain."

Contributors to "Are You Grateful?" & "Complain Complain Complain" are: 1-Attitude, the Ultimate Power 2-Max 3-DianaCA's Metamorphoses 4-Mental Poo 5-My Thoughts 6-Baba Doodlius 7-Wake Up America 8-Life is a Roller Coaster 9-Life and Me 10-pinay mommy's love blog 11-My Happiness Haven 12-And Life Goes On for a Filipino Mom 13-Blessed Sanctuary 14-Expressions And Thoughts 15-Memories by Jenn 16-Reminiscence of My Adventures 17-In the Life of Mne 18-Juliana's Lair 19-Pinay Wahm 20-Lucid Creativity 21-Winged Words 22-Irresistible Fascinations 23-A Little Time 24-See Me For What You Will 25-Greatest Reviews 26-ETC ATBP 27-Gandacious 28-We Are Family 29-Journey to this thing called LIFE 30-www.rajeshrana.net 31-www.rajeshrana.com 32-BaReFooTeD Me 33-Uncomplicated 34-Points of View 35-Pride & Prejudice 36-Colorful World 37-Nora's Notes 38-A Daily Walk With Bill & Gina 39-Strange but True 40-Everything Under The Sun ( Beth Rebokon ) 41-Kaleidoscope 42-Fil-Oz Blog 43-By Osc@r Luiz 44-Comedy Plus 45-Blogging by Sandee 46-Soul Meets World 47-Mae's Memoirs 48-Beyond the Rave Reality 49-Amori, poesie, arte, chat by Hanna 50-Attached at the Hip 51-Carver's Sight or is that Site? 52-Empress Reviews 53-Simple Pleasures In My Heart 54-Lourdes' mia 55-A Grateful Heart 56-Majorsleepyhead 57-Scrappy n Happy in Ohio 58-CHOC MINT GIRL 59-Extraordinary Things 60-ZOOROPAZOO 61-BeNolSatuEm 62-As The World Turns 63-Your Caring Angels 64-Life Is Wonderful To Know Everyday 65-Sugar Magnolias 66-Little Peanut 67-Creative In Me 68-Me and Mine 69-Pea in a Pod 70-the diary of the Pink & Brown Wedding 71-good thoughts, good trades, good life 72-My Blog - all things me 73-Rainbows 74-Little Corner of Mine 75-Me, Myself and I 76-My Planet Purple 77-Amel's Realm 78-A Handful of Surprises 79-A Detour 80-Something Purple 81-Vanity Kit 82-Are You Grateful? 83-A Simple Life 84-BlogTips.Com 85-Balitang Kalye 86-Mariuca 87- Emila Yusof 88-A Total Blog 89-My Life in this Wonderful World 90-MommyAllehs 91-Things That Suck 92-A Mother's Stuff 93-Princess Vien 94-My Inner Thoughts Revealed 95-Roxiticus Desperate Housewives 96-Apples Of The Eyes 97-Nita's Random Thoughts 98-Nita's Corner 99-Thomas Digital Services 100-A Mother's Thoughts101-Meltwater. Torrents. Meanderings. Delta 102-My Perfect Escape 103-Vanidosa. Marie 104-Confessions of a Supermodel Wannabe 105-Lynda's Loft 106-Listening..Learning..Living 107-LadyJava's Lounge 108-The Painted Veil 109-Poeartica 110-Maryannaville 111-the life of a psychotic weirdo 112-CARPE DIEM 113-Turn-u-Off 114-asian mutt international 115-Petty Ramblings of a Petty Queen 116-LIFE IS A ROLLER COASTER 117-AZZY'S BLOG-A-ROONIE! 118-glad to be here 119-WilStop 120-Dare to Blog 121-WebGeek Journal 122-Foster Me Up 123-This is My Life 124-DaveylynneDR 125-Life Realities 126-aNgRiAniWorld Dot Com 127-All That Matters 128-My Inspiration Sharing Land 129-Hidup Biar Sedap 130-Mutiara Hati 131-EM Muhammad 132-I Digress 133-Mapped Memories 134-Working It 135-Startin' A New Life too, 136-Little Secret 137-FEEL FREE to Express Yourself 138-iAM-Mai 139-SOLOFLIGHT 140-BLACKNICKEL 141-NEUROPATCH 142-EMJEI SAYS 143-Big Money List 144-daily information 145-TRCoach 146-LOVE YOUR LIFE! 147- INSTANT MESSAGES 148-MEME ME 149-mEldita's untamed world 150-mEldita's uncensored life 151-i.MEL.dific 152-SNAPSHOT 153-DAILY STOCK PICKS 154-The Pet Haven 155-Pet's Garden Blog 156-Ketuk_angel Weblog 157-Laketrees 158-Enroute 365

Called to care

I want to begin by begging everyone's indulgence! We've had some great discussion following the last several posts; your comments allow me to consider alternative viewpoints so I appreciate your insights! Unfortunately I'm behind schedule in visiting your blogs and commenting. I will correct that omission this week. For now, however, I want to provide what I hope is a conclusion to my posts regarding the flooding in Iowa.

On Friday, after my last entry, I headed with my husband Frank to help with the sandbagging effort in Des Moines. This activity was important to me for a few reasons. First, my community was in need. Second, I was able. And third, acts of service give me a feeling of purpose. You see, I'm not one of those lucky few with a conscious knowledge of where my life's purpose lies. I don't even know if I'm on the planet for a single specific reason, so I'm forced to create purpose in little ways where opportunity presents itself.

Still, I sometimes fall short of my mark. Like Friday, when I wanted to focus my hands and my mind in a prayerful attitude to the task of building sandbags. My hands cooperated but my mind did not. While Frank's thoughts (as he revealed to me later) primarily centered on whether our efforts would make a real difference, I was obsessed with the realization that I had not shaved my legs! Really! I don't believe Mother Theresa would have faced this same dilemma, but then again, I tried to remind myself, I wasn't trying to be Mother Theresa, just a better Brenda.

After sandbagging Frank and I began the journey home. I had brought my camera along, hoping to take pictures for a local news blog, Around Des Moines, and I found several chances to document the flood's impact on the city. At one stop near my home, I was able to direct a displaced homeless man to a make-shift shelter nearby. The police had issued a mandatory evacuation for his home (which I believe was actually a park by the river). At any rate, he needed just a bit more guidance to reach his destination. Since my camera later malfunctioned, destroying the photos of street flooding at that particular location, I'd like to think that my true purpose there was in assisting this lost soul.

By Saturday it had become apparent that Cedar Rapids, a city approximately 100 miles to the northeast, was suffering far greater flooding than Des Moines. In a telephone conversation with my younger sister, a Cedar Rapids resident, I learned that the city's ability to provide water to its population was still in jeopardy and citizens had to get by with minimal water usage. Bottled water was also proving difficult to come by. My sister has four girls in her household. Two of them are teenagers. Perhaps that's all I need to say! So, during the night, my husband and I hatched a plan for hauling a pick-up load of water up to Cedar Rapids. Early this morning (Sunday), we set about making the calls to make our plans become reality. By 11 am, due to a heart-warming degree of help and cooperation, we were ready to head out of town with two 50 gallon drums of water, perhaps a dozen individual gallon containers of water provided by my older sister, a camping shower kit, clean dishcloths, a package of baby wipes and more. Due to all the road closures resulting from flooding, charting a course between the two cities had been our greatest challenge, but by 2:30 pm, our cargo had been delivered.

We're now back home and I'm trying to overlook a less-than-tidy home as my husband asks me, “do you think it was worthwhile ... our activities this weekend?” Good question! I didn't get to the work I'd brought home from the office and Frank still needs to study for his organic chemistry test. Dishes sit dirty, stacked by the sink; the weeds in the yard didn't leave of their own accord; and our refrigerator is looking pretty bare. But yes, it was all worthwhile. This was a weekend with a purpose, and that purpose was putting caring into action. Maybe my highest calling is to care ... and, if so, I'm content. After all, sometimes caring is the best deed anyone can do.

My need to weed (2008)

[This post was first published on Enroute365 in April 2007, but after a weekend of yard work -- my way of reconnecting to Mother Earth -- I've decided to republish a slightly modified version at this time.]

A number of years ago, my husband and I bought a house surrounded with sumptuous landscaping. Out of necessity, I took-up weeding. Oh, we could have hired a service, but Frank and I are chronic do-it-yourselfers, the types that would rather spend hundreds of dollars on lawn and garden equipment than ask for help.

And this is a good thing. Because it gave me the chance to rediscover dirt.

As a child, I’d always been fond of dirt and digging and mud-pie making. But over time I’d forgotten. Forgotten how good the earth smelled after a rain and how it easily could be moved and shaped. So now reminded of this pleasure as an adult, it wasn't long before I'd abandoned my garden gloves, preferring to work with my bare hands.

To Frank’s amazement, I soon announced that I’d take over the weeding; I wanted the excuse to play in the dirt. But there was more to it than that. As much as I enjoyed the feel of connecting to the ground itself, I grew to love working with plants, plucking out the undesired encroachers and adding in those we saw as beautiful: hen and chicks, vinca, hostas, phlox.

As my confidence grew, I started creating new, blooming spaces where none existed before. A late-riser by habit, I began to rise early in the morning eager to begin my work outdoors. Neighbors would warn me, “it’s too hot today,” and I’d promise to finish early. “That’s quite an ambitious project,” they’d say. And I’d agree, but it was too late. I was already halfway done.

As time wore on, I came to realize that it wasn’t the dirt that drew me to yard work. Not even the plants. Rather it was -- and is -- my way of making an inner connection. I came to understand that in the wee hours, I can still see the traces of my dreams. In the morning's stillness, I can hear the messages of my soul. And with my hands busy in labor, my mind is free to explore the thoughts that reveal themselves to me.

I began weeding to keep the yard neat, tame. But I continue weeding to discover myself, my hidden voice unrestrained.

Do you have moments or activities in which you can hear your still small voice?  How do you experience this personal phenomenon?  What has it taught you about yourself?

A number of years ago, my husband and I bought a house surrounded with sumptuous landscaping. Out of necessity, I took-up weeding. Oh, we could have hired a service, but Frank and I are chronic do-it-yourselfers, the types that would rather spend hundreds of dollars on lawn and garden equipment than ask for help.

And this is a good thing. Because it gave me the chance to rediscover dirt.

As a child, I’d always been fond of dirt and digging and mud-pie making. But over time I’d forgotten. Forgotten how good the earth smelled after a rain and how it easily could be moved and shaped. So now reminded of this pleasure as an adult, it wasn't long before I'd abandoned my garden gloves, preferring to work with my bare hands.

To Frank’s amazement, I soon announced that I’d take over the weeding; I wanted the excuse to play in the dirt. But there was more to it than that. As much as I enjoyed the feel of connecting to the ground itself, I grew to love working with plants, plucking out the undesired encroachers and adding in those we saw as beautiful: hen and chicks, vinca, hostas, phlox.

As my confidence grew, I started creating new, blooming spaces where none existed before. A late-riser by habit, I began to rise early in the morning eager to begin my work outdoors. Neighbors would warn me, “it’s too hot today,” and I’d promise to finish early. “That’s quite an ambitious project,” they’d say. And I’d agree, but it was too late. I was already halfway done.

As time wore on, I came to realize that it wasn’t the dirt that drew me to yard work. Not even the plants. Rather it was -- and is -- my way of making an inner connection. I came to understand that in the wee hours, I can still see the traces of my dreams. In the morning's stillness, I can hear the messages of my soul. And with my hands busy in labor, my mind is free to explore the thoughts that reveal themselves to me.

I began weeding to keep the yard neat, tame. But I continue weeding to discover myself, my hidden voice unrestrained.

Do you have moments or activities in which you can hear your still small voice?  How do you experience this personal phenomenon?  What has it taught you about yourself?

Kick-ball caring

The little tyke couldn't have been older than four, five. He advanced hesitantly to the swings, then the climbing equipment, but his eyes were on the game in the nearby clearing. At first glance he seemed to be alone. I quickly scanned the parking lot and picnic facilities to make sure someone was watching out for him. Relief! Two adults were keeping an eye on him from their vantage point in the shelter. I looked again to the boy. A wide smile filled his small face as he followed the antics on the field.

There, just out of the shade, my nieces and brother-in-law, Dan, were playing kick-ball. Twelve-year-old Camilla pitched the ball to her sister. Jianna (all girl at age seven) gave it a tentative kick and ran for the frisbee that served as first base. Safe! Her older sister Micah also made it to third base successfully, her long, black tresses flowing behind her.

Dan took a brief break under the shade tree where I sat. “You may have another eager player here,” I said, nodding at the young boy. Dan quickly downed some water, then called over to the lad. “I could sure use an extra player on my team,” he said. “Could you help me out? Would you like to play?” The boy's smile brightened as he ran out onto the field.

"The simple things make all the difference."