Family is a Treasure

My family is my treasure! My husband and my children are my life, my mother is my best friend, and my brothers hold a place deep in my heart. My grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws and even steps are precious gifts as well. Every day I give thanks for the moments spent with my family … the yesterdays, the todays, and the tomorrows … the good times and the bad … the thick and the thin… the laughter and the tears. I wouldn’t trade a moment! As long as I live I will remember the past, cling tight to each present moment and long for just one more day. I am well aware that we never know what tomorrow may bring. We’ve each been given just one lifetime and one family. Families were meant to be together, for however long God will allow, and we were meant to make memories and bonds with each other to cross generations and lifetimes for years to come!

Therefore, it breaks my heart to pieces when I see other families throwing away their present moments for no better reason than the sake of old grudges. There is nothing in this world worth breaking apart a family! We all have our issues … annoying habits and difficult personalities to ignore. We all make mistakes … say things we don’t mean and do things we can’t take back. But burned bridges actually can be rebuilt; and wounds, though they may scar, do heal in the end. Remember that no cut is too deep … it is the bloodline of a family that runs deeper yet! There are far too many things breaking families apart that are beyond our control to waste one moment waiting for those things to arrive.

So I tell you with urgency and a tear in my eye … Whether you are someone who needs to forgive or the one who needs forgiveness; whether you think you are right or the one that is wrong ; whether you are the one who should make the first move, the one to encourage, or the one who needs to step aside and allow a loved one to make a mends … perhaps you have even forgotten what the fight has been for. Whoever you are … LISTEN to me today. Lay down your swords. Let go of your pride and let go of your fears! Shed your resentments, your envy, or your shame. Step aside … do your part … forgive … forget … and damn it, get on with it TODAY!!

Perfection is Not a Requirement

Last week, outside my daughter’s dance class, I waited in the quiet of my van, surrounded by the groceries and Walmart bags I had collected on my weekly errand run.  As I waited, young girls of various ages came in and out … going to and from their dance classes.  I was intrigued by each young girl …  I’ve seen toddlers in their tu-tus clinging tight to their mothers’ hands; while others run eagerly ahead as their mothers caution them to not run into the street.  I’ve seen elementary and middle school girls struggling to find their bags and their shoes and excitedly telling their mothers about the things they learned in class.  I’ve seen teenage girls nervously playing with their phones while other girls are giggling and whispering and gossiping about “friends” they may secretly envy.   I’ve seen shy, quiet girls steadily gaining confidence as they become more poised and graceful with each class.  

As a woman who has recently crept into my forties, I am thankful to be beyond those years … grateful to be comfortable in my own skin and happy to be who I am (despite my flaws).  Of course I have “bad hair days” when my flaws seem more apparent than others, but somehow I can usually find a hair brush and an iron and manage to get my attitude combed right back into place.  

Self esteem can be an issue for some … especially for women … and particularly for teenage girls.  There will always be people who have “better hair” … those who are thinner or in better shape, have more money -- wear name brand jeans or drive nicer cars, have more talents, more luck or more time, and those who are more successful, etc… but that is okay! 

The grass will always be greener on the other side of the fence … and others’ hair will always seem to be a little curlier or straighter or not quite as gray … but we never truly know what lies at the roots … what truly goes on inside another person’s heart!  The woman with the fancy house may wish she had a family to share it with; the family in the tiny home may be content just to have each other ... the person who is the life of the party may feel lonely despite the crowd; the person who often spends time alone, may gain strength in her moments of solitude … the girl who is tiny may feel she is fat while the person who is heavy may simply want health ... the student who gets an A- may feel she could have done better while the student with all C’s may be ecstatic that their efforts paid off.  

Self esteem is NOT a realization that we are better than others … or even a realization that we are similar … we are all different!  We have different personalities and ideals.  Self esteem is simply an acceptance of ourselves … our talents and our flaws.   Of course, we should always strive to better … if it is something we deem as important … but not as a way to impress someone else.  Perfection is not a requirement.  Comparisons are a hazard!   Life is not meant to be a competition … or a popularity contest … we do not need to prove ourselves to others -- they will be too busy fixing their own hair to notice anyway! :-).  So join me today in quietly acknowledging and accepting our own flaws (and successes) and lets go ahead and give someone else a compliment or a smile ... you never know the kind of "hair day" they may be having.  

 Now if you’ll excuse me …I’ve got to run … it’s been an enjoyable and busy day at home … and I haven’t even had time to do my hair!   :-)   

"Woo Hoo! What a Ride!"

Wrapped in a blanket of December snow, 2012 came to a close while 2013 eagerly skated in on the blades of a January chill. I hope all of you enjoyed the holidays - I know I did. My end of the year was filled with family from both near and far; giving and receiving of special gifts; smiles and laughter; lots of good food and a few quiet moments as well. I received a number of special gifts during the holidays but the one that sums it up the most for me was the framed quote that my mother gave me which states "Life should not be a journey to the grave with intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body; but rather to skid in sideways, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'Woo Hoo What a Ride'!!" … I believe it was George Carlin that made that statement … but I couldn't have said it better myself! And what a ride 2012 turned out to be! Hopefully you all had a successful year. I know I am proud to say I accomplished a number of items on my bucket list.

Just this year I managed to:

1. Start writing a blog

2. Attend a Blue Man Group Performance

3. Experience a Hibachi Grill

4. Attend a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game.

5. Attend a Kansas City Royals baseball game.

6. Publish my first book

7. Watch my first volleyball game -- thanks Karissa for playing

8. Become a Notary Public

9. Spend many quality moments with my family

10. ... and a few other things.

Not bad, if I do say so myself... However, I have many things I still need to accomplish ... So thank God for the New Year!! It is time to start again on a whole set of New Year’s Resolutions and action plans for bucket list items. Last year when I started this blog, I created a number of "Pages" on the right hand side of the screen regarding bucket lists and the approach I recommend. So, whether you are new to my website or just need a refresher, please review the pages on the right.  (So what if you haven’t made (or kept) a New Year’s Resolution in years … this may be your year!)  Personally, I hopped on board right away again this year and got started on my list. Although it is only January 5th, the tickets to one of the three baseball games/stadiums my family and I plan to attend this year have already arrived.  (Before the end of the year we will be a third of the way to reaching our family goal of attending games at all of the major league baseball stadiums ... we are excited!) We are also hoping to check out a show on Broadway this year; and so far I have managed to drag myself onto the treadmill each  morning of 2013.

So whether you plan to take this new year by treadmill, speed boat or roller coaster, please join me as I hop aboard and give the new year a ride .... are you with me? Let me hear a "Woo Hoo!!"