The Roller Coaster Ride of Life

For the past week or so I've been caught on the roller coaster of life and while I've been doing plenty of smiling, my blog has been languishing. So let me bring you up to date on some of the things that have been contributing to my happiness of late:

My mom and my step-dad are here from Illinois and having family here makes me very happy. I love sharing this wonderful community I live in with them. I love falling into a natural routine when they are around. I think it’s awesome that my son can spend time with the grandparents he adores. They’ll only be on the island a little while longer, so I’m trying to make the most of the time they’re here.

The sun and warmth have finally arrived and it’s clear that Spring is around the corner. The bright, clear skies and promise of azalea blooms energizes me and lifts my spirits every day. Weekend mornings begin with a walk on the beach and afternoons often end up in the park. We are well and truly blessed to live here.

Rewarding work will always put a smile on my face. I handled a story that dealt with a very controversial issue over the past week. I had a lot of information from people who could not speak on the record and plenty of secondhand knowledge from others. After muddling my way through what could or could not be said, I found my own way to focus on what I thought was important. I got some very positive feedback about the story and the approach I took to it today and that made it well worth any frustration I may have had during the writing process.

I am surrounded by supportive friends and wonderful, generous, creative and inspiring people every day. I am part of a community in the truest sense of the word, and again I must say that I feel well and truly blessed.

I’m content just being me. I’m not perfect. I have faults and flaws, wrinkles and scars, and I’m okay with that. Those things are part of what make me the person I am, and I like the person I am. I can’t be everything to everyone and I can only do what I have the ability to do. Self-acceptance makes me very happy.

The ringtone on my phone is Kid Rock’s “Roll On” and it’s my take on life these days: “Roll on, roll on, roller coaster. We’re one day older and one step closer. Roll on, there’s mountains to climb. Roll on, we’re on borrowed time. Roll on, roller coaster. Roll on tonight.”  Life is indeed a roller coaster ride. It is an unbelievably short, fast ride that is filled with unexpected twists and turns, mountains to climb and steep drops too. Grab those moments of happiness when they present themselves because they may be just as fleeting, and you never know when the next hairpin turn will come or when the ride will end, so enjoy it while you can. “And,” as Kid says, “always have a good time. It’s all love and good times. Let’s all have a good time. Yeah.” 

 So, until my car comes to a complete stop again, you all enjoy the ride. And keep smiling!

A Valentine's Blog

There's not really much on my mind tonight. I've enjoyed two gorgeous days of sunshine, walks on the beach, time spent with family and friends, and all is well in my world. Tomorrow begins a new week and who knows what it will bring.

And speaking of tomorrow, it does happen to be Valentine's Day. Whether I've been in a relationship or not, I've always been a bit of a cynic about this "holiday." It seems such a manufactured thing to chose a day to celebrate the people you love. To me, you should show the people you love how you feel about them every day, not just on February 14. And showing someone you love them is not really about cards, flowers, chocolate, jewelry, or any other tangible item. True love is doing all those little things that tell them you care -- listening when they speak, performing small acts of kindness, sharing special moments, and making memories together.

So tomorrow, make the ones you love feel special, but don't forget to do that on all of the other days of the week too. I promise you it will bring you joy every time. And don't forget to love yourself too. In the wise words of Lucy Van Pelt, "All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt!" Peace, love, and Lindt truffles to you all.

Sleep, Blessed Sleep

Of late I have been plagued by restless nights of fitful slumber. Those awful nights where you wake up every couple of hours or can't get to sleep at all despite the fact that you are dead tired. Thankfully, those nights have finally passed and I am once again sleeping soundly. (I have had an occurrence or two where I have woken in a complete panic because my legs were pinned and I could not move, but quickly realized that having one 70+ pound dog sleeping on each side of me was the cause of this temporary paralysis.)

I generally blog right before I head to bed, so the return of blessed sleep actually caused me to miss a blog or two. Now, feeling fully rested, I will dedicate an entry to that wonderful state of unconsciousness: sleep! A good night's rest definitely makes me smile. I love a night filled with rich, colorful dreams that end only with the musical tones of the alarm clock in the morning. I cherish the mornings that I don't feel tired, but refreshed and happy to start a new day. I find I take sleep for granted and don't really feel thankful for a good night's rest until I have started to experience nights without it.

Aldous Huxley perhaps said it best: "That we are not much sicker and much madder than we are is due exclusively to that most blessed and blessing of all natural graces, sleep." And so, with that thought, I bid you all good night.

The Power of a Hug

On Monday, when I dropped Declan off at his classroom and turned to walk back down the hallway I was greeted by the wide open arms of a boy named Alexander. Alexander was in Declan's Kindergarten class and is a sweet little boy with a wonderful family. He has always come to me for hugs and I quite willingly give them. My face lit up to see that when Alexander glimpsed me from all the way at the other end of the hallway, he stretched his arms wide and came walking straight toward me. There is nothing I like more than extra hugs from children who aren't my own to start my day! 

So imagine my surprise when, upon seeing Alexander approaching me with outstretched arms, another little boy in the hallway -- this one I don't know at all -- also put his arms out and made a beeline to where I was crouched over to give Alexander his hug! I quickly opened my arms wider to encompass both boys and exclaimed, "Wow! Today I get two for one! What a deal!!" These two adorable little boys, full of unconditional love, made my day. I was delighted that I was the object of their affection that morning and I couldn't stop smiling. Even thinking about it now brings a smile. 

We do a lot of hugging at our house and I say share the love! Hugging is such a wonderful thing. It conveys joy, sympathy, understanding, love, and a myriad of other emotions without the need for words. Just to embrace another person's body in your arms is to share your heart for a moment. 

I will leave you with a poem about hugging written by Shel Silverstein. It says it all.

Hug O' War

I will not play at tug o' war

I'd rather play at hug o' war,

Where everyone hugs Instead of tugs Where everyone giggles And rolls on the rug, Where everyone kisses And everyone grins And everyone cuddles And everyone wins.

 

The Legend Still Lives

On February 6, 1945, in Jamaica, Robert Nesta Marley was born. He was only 36 years old when he died in 1981. It wasn't until I was in college that I discovered the music and wisdom of Bob Marley. The man who sang "One love. One heart. Let's get together and feel all right." had the right idea.

"Life is one big road with lots of signs.
So when you riding through the ruts,
don't complicate your mind. Flee from
hate, mischief and jealousy. Don't bury
your thoughts, put your vision to
reality. Wake up and live!"

I remember returning from school to my family's house during one summer break and my younger brother coming in to my room where Bob Marley played on my CD player. He told me he didn't mind the reggae, but he really didn't like the way Marley had ruined a perfectly good Eric Clapton song. The poor boy had yet to learn. Perhaps Clapton's version of "I Shot the Sheriff" was more successful or well-known, but it was still a cover of Marley's great song.

Bob Marley's music and his message were healing and unifying. He was a bright shining light that was lost too soon. His "Three Little Birds" is one of my very favorite songs to play to instantly cheer my mood. So, on the anniversary of his birthday, I pay homage to this remarkable man.  Happy Birthday, Bob.

Tell Me a Story

Raconter - "to tell a story" was the French word-a-day from my favorite blog this week and I've been doing a lot of writing both professionally and personally over the past few days, so it's got me thinking.

There was once a photo somewhere out there of me as a little 4 or 5 year-old girl, sitting in a big chair, reading to a group of other children at the pre-school I attended. The school used it to advertise. It is perhaps one of the earliest images to capture my spirit. I am a storyteller by nature. Whether reading stories written by others, discussing my own experiences, or sharing information, this is a gift I have been given. 

I love to tell stories. It's what I do on the job. I take information that I learn and turn it into something that someone else might find interesting to read. I also tell other people's stories. I meet people and turn the information that they share with me into a story about them. Storytelling is an art. There is a rhythm to it, a fluidity of words, and a lyricism of language. I love everything about it.

In my personal writing, such as this blog, I do the same. I relay the events in my life or my moods and emotions in a way in which other people can relate, rather than a catalog of activities or feelings. I enjoy choosing the perfect turn of phrase. I want my reader to have no doubt as to what is being expressed and I want to use language that draws the reader in. I want my words to make you feel. The seamless transition from the mind to the page is something very alluring to me.

As a reader, my attention can be captured by a great story. Great writing captures my heart. So, you want to seduce me? Tell me a story . . . and make it good. If you're lucky, I might tell you one too.  

The Eyes Have It

"Look at me."

This phrase immediately grabs your attention and draws your eyes to those of the speaker. Perhaps it's to confirm that you are paying attention. Maybe it's to gauge a reaction. At times it's to convey the severity of the situation. In any case, what is sought is a connection -- an exchange of emotion through the meeting of eyes. How powerful!

The human eye is amazing. It is said that the eyes are the windows to our soul. Think about how much information and emotion we convey with merely a glance! We are able to express frustration, joy, anger, sadness, disappointment, amusement, excitement and so much more without ever uttering a word. It can be subtle or obvious. It may even be unintentional. How many times have you rolled your eyes in frustration or shot a quick look of irritation at something or someone before your brain thought to control that emotion? My laughter often hits my eyes before it bubbles out. Our eyes hold our most immediate reactions and perhaps the most honest.

"No one can lie, no one can hide anything, when he looks directly into someone's eyes." -- Paulo Coelho.

Don't underestimate the importance of eye contact. When someone says, "Look at me," they are telling you to read what is in their eyes or seeking answers in yours. Sometimes the information conveyed in that look can be more powerful than any words that can be spoken. Wow. Are you paying attention? Have you learned to listen with your eyes as well as your ears? Have you thought about what your eyes say?

I love watching people's eyes. Watching the array of emotions that play there from the glint of amusement to the flare of passion, the spark of understanding to wide-eyed disbelief is so interesting. Text messages with winks and silly icons can't come close to conveying what we say without a word. As for what my eyes have to say, I'll leave that to you all for your interpretation. Suffice it to say that they are never silent.

The Lullaby of the Rain

It was gray, dreary, and cold today. Little showers of rain occasionally, but mostly just a dismal-looking day with a damp chill and the threat of rain. When there's a day like that, I just want it to go ahead and rain. If you're going to take away my sunshine, there should at least be something pleasant to replace it. I don't mind rain at all, it's the gray skies that accompany it that bother me.

Now, tonight, I hear the rain on my roof and against my windows. Because it's nighttime I don't have to look at dreary clouds, so it can rain and rain without me being the slightest bit upset. In fact, I love the sound of the rain when I go to sleep. There's nothing quite like that noise, and even the distant rumbling of thunder, to lull me into the land of dreams. And that's where I'm off to now, so I'll leave you with a lovely quote from Langston Hughes: "Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby."

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

Today I'm happy that I'm not in one of the many regions that are being hit by Blizzard 2011. Unfortunately, my friends and family in the Midwest and East Coast are not as lucky. It seems the Chicago area is one of those who get the brunt of the system. I hope everyone stays safe and snug until it passes.

I've been berated for posting what a beautiful beach day we had on Sunday while this storm was looming over the heads of my dear ones. So, sorry guys, I got a little excited about the first really nice day that I could go walk on the beach and forgot what it feels like to be someone who lives with Winter. Remember I've only been here for 4 1/2 years, it's still kind of novel to me.

I assure you, I feel your pain. I spent years scraping ice off of cars, driving in salty slush, shoveling driveways and front walks, and bundling up so not an inch of skin would be exposed. I get it. I remember days walking across "The Tundra" to class in college, when the cold wind would freeze the tears it forced from your eyes. I remember a very scary life or death moment in a car that hit a patch of black ice on a highway and spun to face oncoming traffic. I remember whiteouts, windchill factors well below zero, and ice storms that weighed down trees and power lines. I have lived through many a snowstorm, and some were indeed called blizzards.

So, I apologize if it rubs you the wrong way when I celebrate the glorious weather I'm experiencing on a little barrier island in South Georgia. I understand, but I did my time and nothing makes me happier than not having to deal with snow in the winter anymore. If it makes you feel better, you can all tell me how lovely it is in the summer when I'm complaining about stifling heat and bugs. Right now, though, batten down your hatches and stay warm!