Life has its ups and downs. We all experience them. When life knocks us down. We have two choices, we can get up and get going, or, we can stay down. There’s no in between. Sometimes when we’re knocked down, it isn’t fair or just. Maybe our mother or lover will listen to us. Most others are too busy with their lives to spend too much time with us if we’re complaining about life’s injustices. What do we do, we suck it up, refuse to quit, and get going again. We’ll show anyone watching that we are tougher than the moment. Yes, we are tougher than the moment!
courage
Do You Fear the Wind ~ A Poem by Hamlin Garland
Do You Fear the Wind
Hamlin Garland
Do you fear the force of the wind,
The slash of the rain?
Go face them and fight them,
Be savage again.
Go hungry and cold like the wolf,
Go wade like the crane:
The palms of your hands will thicken,
The skin of your cheek will tan,
You’ll grow ragged and weary and swarthy,
But you’ll walk like a man!
Do You Dare to Take the Chance?
“Make your choice, adventurous Stranger,
Strike the bell and bide the danger,
Or wonder, till it drives you mad,
What would have followed if you had.”
― C.S. Lewis
Challenge Your Fears
What is one small fear in your life you can challenge today? Perhaps it’s calling a brother or sister with whom you haven’t spoken to in some time. Face the fear, kick its ass. When we face our small fears and challenge them, we become stronger, more resilient, and ready to face our bigger fears. Yes, it time to conquer our fears. Do it!
Family is Important
Family has always been important to me. It has given me a sense of place, love, joy, and security. My understanding of family has evolved. In one sense I have 5 daughters and their families. I live geographically apart from them, yet, we remain close. In another sense, I am surrounded by family. I consider my neighbors and friends as part of my family. Family exists wherever I go. Each time I make a new friend, I am building and extending my family. Being part of a family is important as we navigate our journey. We can all be family builders. It takes effort to reach out. It takes a certain sense of vulnerability and courage. The benefits are well worth the effort.
A New Year’s Plea ~ A Poem by Edgar Albert Guest
A New Year’s Plea
Edgar Albert Guest
Lord, let me stand in the thick of the fight,
Let me bear what I must without whining;
Grant me the wisdom to do what is right,
Though a thousand false beacons are shining.
Let me be true as the steel of a blade,
Make me bigger than skillful or clever;
Teach me to cling to my best, unafraid,
And harken to false gospels, never.
Let me be brave when the burden is great,
Faithful when wounded by sorrow;
Teach me, when troubled, with patience to wait
The better and brighter to-morrow.
Spare me from hatred and envy and shame,
Open my eyes to life’s beauty;
Let not the glitter of fortune or fame
Blind me to what is my duty.
Let me be true to myself to the end,
Let me stand to my task without whining;
Let me be right as a man, as a friend,
Though a thousand false beacons are shining.
Smile at 2024 and Look Forward with Hope to 2025
How was your 2024? It’s easy to take a glance back and talk about the negative stuff. The news media conditions us to look for the bad. If we, however, take time to look for the good we’ll have multiple reasons to celebrate 2024 and look forward with hope to 2025. When we are grateful we can understand the Ojibwe saying, “May you be strengthened by yesterday’s rain, walk straight in tomorrow’s wind and cherish each moment of the sun today.”
From Darkness to Light: Trusting Grief’s Journey
In this episode, we explore the profound metaphor of waking up in the darkness and how it reflects the experience of grief.
Do You Like Surprises?
Do you like surprises? I do when they are pleasant surprises. Not so much when the surprise puts me into a sudden tailspin. Many of the success oriented self help books encourage us to set goals and pursue them. They don’t talk too much about chasing a goal only to find out your airplane decided to land at an alternate destination. One you hadn’t expected. One for which you feel totally unprepared. That’s more or less been my life. I’m heading in one direction, then my plane takes me to a new destination. I know folks whose plane always takes them to the destination they were seeking. Sometimes I’m a bit envious until I reflect on my adventures and what they taught me. I agree with E. M. Forster who wrote, “We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”
