Values

Values. What do you say you value? Family? Friends? Faith? How do you actually spend your time? Do you spend the majority of your time on what you value? If you say you value health, do you take the time to plan, purchase and prepare healthy foods? Or do you run through the drive-through picking up something quick and easy? Do you take the time to be active or are you on the couch watching hours of television? If you say you value reading, do you actually take time to read? If you value finances are you being a good steward with your money? If you value faith, how much of it really is a part of your life? Today I listened to a podcast entitled " Simple Life Together. "They raised the question about whether your time matched your values?  It really got me to thinking about my own life. It is easy to say you value something, but don't actions speak louder than words? I plan on reflecting about what I value in my life. I'm going to make a list of my values and my actions. If they don't align I'm going to take steps to change that. We only get one life and I want mine to actually be mine.

True Mirrors

True mirrors. Have you ever heard of one? Apparently they are the only kind of mirror that allows you to be seen as others see you. I find that fascinating, and have to admit that the science behind it is a mystery to me. But, more importantly the idea that people find their reflection to be lacking is more than intriguing. Why is it when I pass by a mirror I have to check my appearance? Why must I validate myself through my reflection?  Each time I look in the mirror it is as if I am looking for someone else. Almost like I know my truer, better looking self is somewhere hidden behind the glass. The reality is  that our better looking days have probably passed us by. They are behind us and the days that will come might not be met with our approval. I can't help but think that we are more than just our outward appearance and that others see us more truly because they see more than just our looks. They see our heart as well. Picasso once said, "Who sees the human face correctly: the photographer, the mirror, or the painter?" The next time you look into a mirror remember that your true self will never be revealed there.

Food Adventure

Food adventure. This past weekend my husband and I went on a food adventure at Central Market. I like to call my rare trips there a culinary field trip. I knew going in that I wanted to try some Manchego cheese. I had sampled it at a wine pairing and it was quite tasty. Next we chose a crusty Artisan garlic and Monterey Jack cheese bread. A thinly sliced lean salami was next. It was the best salami I've ever eaten. Perfectly ripe raspberries and blackberries were the perfect compliment to the meal. We finished with a luscious chocolate mousse cake. I haven't enjoyed a meal this much in quite a while. It just goes to show you that simple, tasty ingredients make the best meals. To quote Julia Child, "You don't have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces-just good food from fresh ingredients."

Fishing

"Hope the fish are biting." I'm not actually a fisherman. Infact, I think I've only caught one fish in my life and it was quite tiny. But I can't help but compare biting fish to opportunities. One of the things that I do know about fishing is that it requires patience. If you think you can go in every time and catch as many fish as you want you are probably mistaken. Opportunities are like this also. They don't just come around just because you want them to. No, sometimes you have to be patient and give them a chance to evolve. But just like fishing, you have to be prepared and ready, because if you're not paying attention they just might get away. So whether you are an angler or a writer or a teacher or an athlete keep your eyes open for that perfect opportunity and don't let it slip away.

Point of View

Point of view. Sometimes point of view is everything. I remember when I made the decision to retire, I did so with some reservations. After all I had taught for thirty-one years, and it was a huge part of my identity. I worried about what I would do next in life?  I wondered if my pension would be enough? I was apprehensive about leaving my comfort zone. Each day when I left my neighborhood I had to take a right  turn onto the road with a somewhat limited view. You couldn't quite see around the bend. However, each time I returned from the opposite direction I had a clear view of the turn. One day it hit me like a ton of bricks. It was the same road! The only difference was the point of view. As I was approaching this new phase of my life, it became clear to me that I could not allow the unseen part of the road to hold me back. I had to trust that the view from the other side was wide open. It's been six years now and, although there are times I really miss being in the classroom, I'm glad I didn't let the bend in the road hold me back.

Sadness

Well I caught up on last week's Grey's Anatomy tonight. It definitely was a tear jerker. One very powerful scene had to do with sadness and pain. I have noticed that in our society we strive to be happy. Now there is nothing wrong with happiness. To be honest, I prefer it. But, the reality is that not everything we experience leaves you with a smile. A little over two months ago my family went through a very difficult time period. We saw our Dad rapidly declining and knew that changes were going to have to be made. There were times during this process when all I could do was cry. Most of the time I can handle things pretty efficiently. This was not one of those times. Each day I got up, did as much as I could, cried, and accepted the love and help from family, friends and even strangers. I allowed myself to feel the hurt. I allowed the tears to flow, and sadness to settle. Those were two of the longest months of my life. Now everything is not perfect today, but it is so much better. I'm still doing my best to handle each situation as it arises. But I have worked past some of the sadness, and my life is taking on a new normal. Oh, there are still moments, but that is okay, because life is sometimes sad.  But, the love and kindness I have experienced through this has taught me that I don't have to always have all the answers. Sometimes you just need a good cry.

Encouragement

Encouragement. We all need it at times. I have found over the years that I take great pleasure in encouraging others. It is something that comes quite naturally to me. It brings me joy to see others succeed. If there is something I can do to contribute to their success, all the better. This was one of my favorite things about being a teacher. I loved all those moments to encourage.  All of us bring something unique and special to the table. Sometimes all it takes is a gentle nudge to help others recognize their own greatness. I remember even during my childhood, I always looked for ways to encourage. You know sometimes things that come naturally to us are overlooked as unimportant. I hope to continue looking for opportunities to encourage others. I hope you recognize that thing you do to make a difference in the lives of others.