by Miriam | Aug 25, 2014 | Uncategorized
I have animals. LOTS of animals. And they can get expensive.
The other day, I was talking to God about how to pay for the things that they need … I was mostly just musing, not really stressing, but I did sort of say, "How are we going to do this, God?" (Because I feel like it was mostly His responsibility to provide in some way – you know – He "cares for the sparrows" and all that).
Anyway, that very day, I had an animal-helper-type-person suggest a trade: something I could do, for what they could do. No exchange of money; just swap skills. Like in the olden days.
Sometimes I have to think about things, but occasionally, it is so very clear: do it.
So I said YES!
Trades are pretty awesome – and more possible than you think. You just have to be open to them.
by Miriam | Aug 24, 2014 | Uncategorized
It is sad, but things are much easier broken than mended.
You can forgive, but usually, you still wear the scars of the encounter and this leaves you generally unwilling to re-engage.
They say it is better to ask forgiveness than permission – which, honestly, I get. I have a very low tolerance for red tape and hoop-jumping.
But in terms of relationships, I think it is better to be careful, to prize your relationship, than to risk grave injury and a rift.
Once the glass is broken, even when glued, it is hard to get it to hold water again.
by Miriam | Aug 23, 2014 | Uncategorized
I had plans for my Saturday. Painting the exterior of the house; preparing the ground for a trencher to put in a water line in the back yard. It rained all night and was forecasted to rain much of the day.
I am not all that spontaneous. I always have a 'to do' list with items in the cue and anything spontaneous has to be planned. :)
But, because of the rain, I asked Jessica if she wanted to drive an hour south and get lunch and go to a store she likes. She was shocked. And pleased. She said yes.
We had a delightful day that was relaxing and connecting. We enjoyed each other's company and got mom-daughter warm-fuzzies.
Sometimes, you need a little rain to create sunshine. :)
by Miriam | Aug 22, 2014 | Uncategorized
Last year, I went to a naturopath out of desperation – the traditional medical community was just not addressing my concerns. For me, this was a leap, because I tend to think along conventional lines when it comes to my health. However, I tried to remain open-minded. In the context of the appointment, I mentioned that eventually, I probably could be persuaded to consider some unusual treatment options, but at the front end, we needed to stick with things like nutrition and vitamin supplements, because I understand these and hold them to be valuable. I have to say, within 6 months, I felt so, so much better and was ever-so-much more encouraged.
So earlier this month, I took my daughter, who is having some issues. I guess I should have been specific with our naturopath and reiterated my reluctance toward things that feel somewhat like voodoo.
My daughter came home with some "mystery drug" that she was to place under her tongue. She was to avoid coffee, chapstick, and something else, which I cannot recall in the moment. It was supposed to "change her energy" and "pull out what was bad" in her – she was told to expect possible bad dreams. This was a "cure" for people who have control issues. When I asked Jessica what the stuff was, she said, "I was told not to tell you, because you might freak out." When pressed, she said, "It is dehydrated and denatured breast cancer."
So here is the deal:
You can help someone grow by stretching them slightly over their edges, just beyond their comfort zone. If you try to make them go too far past, they reject you out right. This is true in counseling, exercise science, spirituality, morality … lots of places.
I told Jessica, "There is no way you are taking that."
It just lands too far out of too many of my ideas and convictions – and here's the thing – maybe it would work, but it feels like a witch-doctory potion to me. So, on Monday, I will call an MD.
If you want to influence people, package your ideas so that they at least sound familiar to your audience. Usually someone can jump just a little bit farther than they're used to; when faced with the Grand Canyon, they just back away.
by Miriam | Aug 21, 2014 | Uncategorized
"When you read stories of great people, it's like being taken into a new circle of friends. You adopt different expectations for yourself …better expectations."
The Guided Traveler – Andy Andrews
Makes me want to read some good stories of great people …
Here's Andy's link to his recommendations of his top 50 biographies.
My top pick for today is:
Viktor Frankl-
When he was a teenager in Austria, Viktor Frankl began developing
logotherapy, a revolutionary form of psychotherapy based on the belief
that humanity’s primary motivational force is the search for meaning.
Unlike most forms of psychotherapy, logotherapy encourages patients to
look to the future and live their lives fully, rather than relive the past.
Then something happened that put Frankl’s philosophies to the test:
He and his wife and parents were sent to a concentration camp. Frankl
survived; his family did not.
I heard of this book from a Donald Miller conference I attended last Spring. I'll let you know what think of it!
by Miriam | Aug 20, 2014 | Uncategorized
I long to be around people who challenge me to grow and ponder in ways that make my inner world richer and somehow, because of them, I bring to others something of value. This morning, as I checked my e mail, I went on a one-hour adventure …
One of my friends had a facebook post that led me to her page. By scrolling down, I followed a year of her life. In addition to grandchildren and children and work-related trips, there were many posts of snippets of philosophers, theologians, world events … I felt like my brain grew three sizes from the half hour I spent "with" her. It was like attending a conference for expansion of the soul.
The daily blogs that magically arrive take me far beyond my IQ:
– a post on the Mystery of the Trinity … an eloquent description of the intimate dance God does with himself and with us – always enjoying and pursuing relationship.
-a post announcing the merger of several small companies with an invitation to meet the new conglomeration. A quick glance at the page told me I will be exploring this site for days to come. So many opportunities here!
-yet another post providing ideas about how to make my writing stronger.
When I was a kid, I wanted to go back in time and hang out in monestaries – because these were the learned people of their era. They had access to the only written books and the conversations that pulled people out of the mundane.
From the time I could read, my mom would take me to the library once a week . I would check out entire sections (like the whole shelf). When I was little, we used a bag, but as I grew older, I found I could get more books if I stacked them. I would check out as many books as I could place one-on-top-of-the-other between my chin and my hands (between 20-24 books!). Then I would read them all, cover to cover, and return, then repeat. All summer long.
Now, the internet is my library. There is a plethora of information that is absolutely provocative. There are so many amazingly cool people out there. It's just a matter of finding them and then hanging with them.
And some of them, I am privileged to know in real life.
Today, I feel so wealthy.
