The Beautiful

The dictionary defines beautiful as possessing qualities that give great pleasure or 

  satisfaction to see, hear, think about; delighting the senses or mind.

Do we all perceive beauty in the same way? Is one person's perception of that which is beautiful the same as another's?

I believe that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and beauty is seen in different ways by us all. 

Yet there are those who reside in an elite class who are beautiful to everyone. They possess a uniqueness, a perfection, an aura that captivates all beholders. It is to these people that doors open wide.

Many years ago I came across a book that addressed the topic of how human beings, even as infants, respond to beautiful faces.

Beautiful people, many times unknowingly on the part of the other, incite 

more smiles,

better service,

kinder responses,

more attention.

are given more opportunities.

To know this type of beauty is a gift. To see it fade with age is a burden. 

Time is the master who gives no quarter.

Physical beauty does not last forever. Even the beautiful wrinkle and the attention born of their beauty pales and they become invisible.

The new beautiful are born.

It is best to remember that

it is the beauty of the soul that transcends time.

Find Joy in the Ordinary

Most of our time is spent in a state of the ordinary; doing those things we have to do to get by.

It is here in this place that we should find our deepest joy. Living for extraordinary moments to come to find that joy would be such a waste of life.

Yesterday morning as I drove to work along a hilly, isolated road, enveloped by the predawn darkness, brisk cold and falling snowflakes, I thought, "how beautiful is this moment?"

I was alone yet so connected to life.

A smile from a student, a greeting from a coworker, a hug from your children, a cup of coffee waiting at your desk, these are moments of joy.

Knowing that you are where you were meant to be, pursuing a dream, 

being loved by others, all moments of joy.

Joy comes from knowing that somehow, even in the smallest measure, you have made someone's life richer.

Perhaps the greatest joy comes simply from being alive and being connected to that which makes you you, your spirit.

May your journey be blessed as you find your joy!

Tell Me Something Good!

Wouldn't it be wonderful if a more that a fleeting segment of the news was dedicated to uplifting human stories?

Mankind needs that.

Every time I watch the news I'm bombarded with atrocities, devastation, natural disasters, the depravity of men.

Surely there is so  much more to the human condition than this.

Tell us good things, show us images of God's landscape, infuse our minds with hope.

If not then what is the purpose of life.

We should not live in fear but in grace, appreciating that the majority of people are good.

Do you Belong Here?

From the minute we are born we are seeking to belong in this world. Finding our place among men is not easy. And if we are not round pegs then the difficulty of this journey is magnified ten fold.  

One of the most challenging things to accept in life is that we will not always be welcome at everyone's table. 

The group of girls in the playground  may not like your hair and so they turn you away.

The cool clique in high school may think your clothes are dorky so they turn you away.

The people in your office think you're too smart, too good looking, too ambitious so they turn you away.

The academics snub their noses at your many years of experience so they turn you away.

Family members forget to call you, your supposed girl friends lose your number, professionals ignore your success and never acknowledge your work.

Your space at their tables is reserved for another.

And for awhile these people may defeat your spirit.

And then one day in a moment of pure clarity you see the truth.

They don't deserve to have you at their table.

In that moment you are freed.

So set your own table and invite only those who respect you, love you and appreciate you for the gift that you are.

And use a checkered table cloth :)

Have a great day!

Begin Anew

Begin Anew

It's a New Year, a New Day, A New You!

We don't have to wait until the clock strikes twelve on December 31 to make new commitments to ourselves do we?

Maybe we do. 

Somehow this one night has that kind of effect on many of us. 

It gives us the opportunity to reflect on all that has come to pass in a year and to move forward and hopefully make some improvements.

What did you promise to do:

lose weight, travel, write a book, bridge a broken relationship, take care of your health...

There are so many choices.

I offer this.

Perhaps this year you can take your soul out of the box and stop living your life according to what people expect of you. Haven't you done enough of that?

Each life is just a whisper in time.  None of us comes out alive so be true to yourself.

Live each day like you're going to a party. Celebrations only come once in awhile but life happens everyday.

Dress and look your best. 

Speak kindly to others. Words are inexpensive.

Smile

Give freely

Love abundantly

Ask for what you what

Be fearless

Each day do one thing that feels right to you.

Nothing stays the same forever so embrace change.

And no matter what your faith, gives thanks for your blessings.

Looking Back

How often do we hear someone dish out advice like a heaping spoon of gravy,
 ``The past is in the past; move on, forget about it, it`s over, what`s done is done...`
All true.
Yet, sometimes we have to look back to move forward.
Finding closure is the key.  We cannot change what happened but certainly we can use it to make wiser decisions. This gives our lives new meaning.
We are not perfect creatures.
We are fallible.
It is in accepting and changing our imperfections that we define ourselves.
It is in forgiving that we are forgiven.
This Christmas season heal an old hurt, bridge a broken road, forgive and find peace.


Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.
Kurt Vonnegut

The Kitchen Table

Most of my fondest memories of childhood float around the kitchen table.

This one simple piece of furniture is the keeper of our families dreams, sorrows, joys, accomplishments, tales... How many have we shared gathered around this table?

Imagine the weight it bears; breakfasts, lunches, dinners, holidays, birthdays, homework, adversity, discourse and even arguments!

It is a homes most treasured possession.

Families are bonded around these tables; nurturing

 not only our bodies with the food they hold but our souls.

Life was simpler growing up in the 60's, 70's and 80's.

We were never rushing off to sports, tutors, after curricular activities. 

We went to school and we came home.

We helped to prepare meals, did our homework, ate together and kept our traditions.

Weekends were for visiting family and being a family.

No one lived too far and we were never too busy.
We cared to be together.

When my own children were little, Sunday's were reserved for visiting Grandparents; enjoying home made pasta!

It was our tradition; one small treasure in the midst of a mad world!

We never broke from our routine.

As they grew older, the bustle of life took over and were were pulled into the vortex of running around from rinks to soccer fields and the weekly Sunday visits became monthly ones which sadly became reserved to special occasions and occasional visits.

In retrospect, as a mother that was my biggest mistake; not holding my children to those visits.

I am the one who now waits for them to come for those Sunday gatherings around the kitchen table!

 If I could go back in time, I'd gladly exchange the rinks and fields for more gatherings.