From her 1971 Tapestry album, Carol King turned 76 this February. The year 1971 was when I started Nursing School at UCSF. Seems far away now. “A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.” Then sometimes it seems like yesterday. Now the lyrics make me think of my daughter who lives in Northern California. I look forward to seeing her face at my door soon.
Beautiful Daughter
Stream of Consciousness Saturday is hosted by Linda G Hill. Today’s prompt is ‘so far.’
I came across a beautiful post in the New York Times column Disability: Essays, art and opinion exploring the lives of people living with disabilities, about a man who found himself chronically ill and lost in the Healthcare maze of diagnosis and health insurance and despite all that discovered new meaning and insight into the value of all people, including those ill or disabled who are often shunned, In My Chronic Illness, I Found A Deeper Meaning, by Elliot Kukla.I have been thinking a lot about our obsession with having to show how strong, busy, and productive we are. How in charge of our fates we are,when the truth is we often don’t have that much control over what happens in life. Maybe it’s really not important if we do not shake up the world but if we can say that we did some small good acts, shared our love and kindness with the people we met, then that is enough.
Just Jot It January is hosted by Linda G Hill. Today’s prompt word ,’contemplation’, suggested by Cheryl of the blog The Bag Lady. Featured image, ‘Contemplation’ by Maurice Fillonneau
I have been thinking again about reining in my time on social media, blogging. I did a post on my other blog Grandmotherly.blog about being over-connected. I just read a post from the Atlantic by James Hamblin that suggests we do a social media fast every other day to break the addiction. I was thinking of taking a vacation from blogging, which is still an option, but this every other day fast sounds like it would be worth a try. Otherwise, I have visions of spending the rest of my life glued to my computer and cell phone.
But then there are so many interesting things that I find online from Smithsonian.com, like the West Coast is being invaded by hordes of gelatinous Sea Cucumbers and I have to read about it. Or how about the story of a shriveled human toe, put in a drink called Sourtoe Cocktail in the Yukon, that was stolen then returned. That last one makes me queasy. I am being facetious, but interesting articles about science, nature, quirky comical stuff helps lift my spirits when there is so much bad news.
I have been watching the The Lord of the Rings Trilogy again. We could see it as good triumphs over evil, and maybe too simplistic, but I do find the message inspiring. That even one small person can make a difference in the world. One of the inspiring speeches in the film is by Sam Gamgee to Frodo when Frodo feels despair of ever overcoming all that is against him, all the darkness:
Frodo : I can’t do this, Sam.
Sam : I know.
It’s all wrong
By rights we shouldn’t even be here.
But we are.
It’s like in the great stories Mr. Frodo.
The ones that really mattered.
Full of darkness and danger they were,
and sometimes you didn’t want to know the end.
Because how could the end be happy.
How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad happened.
But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow.
Even darkness must pass.
A new day will come.
And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer.
Those were the stories that stayed with you.
That meant something.
Even if you were too small to understand why.
But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand.
I know now.
Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back only they didn’t.
Because they were holding on to something.
Frodo : What are we holding on to, Sam?
Sam : That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for.
When the darkness rains down, I must not give up in despair. Have to be courageous and believe in the good in the world. And that even one person can make a difference.
Stream of Consciousness Saturday is hosted by Linda G Hill. The prompt words for today: rain/reign/rein. Sam’s Speech ‘Worth Fighting For’ via Richurd on edgestudio.com. Featured image of ‘Aqua Tibia Wilderness Sunrise’ by pdpolena on Wikimedia.
“I will write down my worries and put them in a worry box.”
When you become a parent you buy a membership to The Lifetime Worriers Club. When you become a Grandparent you earn a Platinum Card. I was thinking about what to do with my worries. Worry beads? I researched a bit and decided that would make me feel more obsessive. The idea of “worry box” came from somewhere and I googled it. Turns out it is a recommended technique for handling worrying about stuff. You can even buy an App for it. So instead of doing laundry, exercise, shower, or any other sundry list of things I could be doing, I made a worry box. It was kind of fun and took my mind off things for a bit.
My Worry Box
How do you handle your worries? And please don’t tell me you don’t have any, unless your name is Bob Marley. And I love my kids and grandkid very much, but I still worry about them.
Sharing with: Eugenia BrewNSpew Tuesday Chatter
“And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.”―Haruki Murakami
Featured image ‘Storm at Sea on a Monlit Night’ by Ivan Aivazovsky on Wikimedia
I started writing about this idea on Stream of Consciousness Saturday, where I am in my life or the transition from work to not as much work. I have ( finally) made peace with the idea that career/work is not the main and most important part of my life any more. I am now moving past it. I am not wanting a career type role anymore. I do not miss it. And there is life after career life. Just thought I would let you know. ❤
Barbara Bush Rose via wikipedia
Featured image is Sereno, Calm by oznicko on Pixabay.com
You may have noticed, or not, that I have not posted for a while. This is because I have had a flurry of activity going on which was worthwhile but definitely exhausting. I had a small social event at my house this past weekend. This is something I wanted to do and I am glad I did it. I always say one good thing about having a party is that it forces you to clean up the house. I did have the sense to start this straightening up part ahead of time instead of doing it in a last minute frenzy which I have been known to do in the past. This whole event, with the planning, straightening, shopping, and socializing was like a huge energy consuming vortex. I am gradually recovering. Why is straightening up and organizing so exhausting, you ask? Don’t you feel such a great sense of satisfaction after organizing and cleaning, putting everything in its proper place? I wondered about this too. Well, I think I figured out why it does not work so much for me. For one thing my brain likes its piles of stuff. A bit of clutter feels normal and clear, shining, empty space makes me feel edgy. Another thing is, as I sort through all the stuff, I can’t just quickly handle it and make snap decisions on what to do with it. I have to think about the object, where/when I got it, maybe who gave it to me, what it means to me, besides what I can use it for now and where to put it. My husband and I did sort through a lot of stuff and we still have more, but I think I will wait a bit until I fully recover from this session.
Featured image of Retro Housewife by Artsy Bee on Pixabay.com
“If you remember me, then I don’t care if everyone else forgets.”-Haruki Murakami
My valentine gave me violets, after we first met, 43 years ago. Happy Valentine’s Day. ❤
Image of The Walz is a phenakistoscope via wikimedia. Featured image of heart via Pixabay.com
I am not blue about the winter weather in Southern California. I am liking it after 6 years of drought. It is nice to have colder temperatures and rain for a welcome change. I am working on keeping an even keel and not feeling anxiety about this transition period in my country’s leadership. There have been other times during my life that there has been tumultuous and anxious times in my country. The country and its people survived. The featured image at the top is ‘The Umbrellas’ by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1881-86). He used a lot of blue in this painting. The pigments used for the blues were cobalt blue and ultramarine. I am wondering why he chose to use to so much blue . It was a popular fashion color in France at the time. Many artists use color to express a feeling. Could it be that the rainy weather calls for a subdued color pallette. Subdued is a good feeling right now. I would like to maintain that feeling, calm and subdued but not blue.
A short video about the painting by The Frick Collection on You Tube:
JustJotItJanuary is hosted by Linda G Hill. The prompt word for today is ” blue” suggested by John Holton at The Sound of One Hand Typing, https://thesoundofonehandtyping.wordpress.com/.
We are often seeking something outside ourselves but we already are complete.
“To be beautiful means to be yourself.You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself. When you are born a lotus flower, be a beautiful lotus flower, don’t try to be a magnolia flower. If you crave acceptance and recognition and try to change yourself to fit what other people want you to be, you will suffer all your life. True happiness and true power lie in understanding yourself, accepting yourself, having confidence in yourself.”
-Thich Nhat Hanh
JustJotItJanuary is hosted by Linda G Hill. Today’s prompt word is “incomplete” suggested by Cyn K of That Cynking Feeling, https://cynk.wordpress.com/. I decided to write about the opposite. Featured image is of the beautiful Redwood National Park, California via Pixabay.com.
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