Doctor: So you have this aortic aneurysm that is descended.
Me: Ok. (Wasn't expecting THAT.)
Doctor: No wait... You're not Sheldon.
Me: Nope.
It turned out that my radiology report showed no issues at all, but that the department had accidentally sent the wrong report to the doctor. When I was leaving the doctor smiled and said, "Glad I was able to take care of that aneurysm for you."
Me too.
Sometimes, when things don't seem to be going my way, I have the presence of mind to stop and think that maybe it's for the best anyway. Sometimes not. Thankfully there are moments when I realize that there are probably all kinds of Blessings I am not even aware of. Like maybe when I'm running late and everything seems to be slowing me down, it's so that I miss a traffic accident that might've been if I had been on the road a few minutes earlier. When I'm on the right side of gratitude and faith, I might feel keenly aware that the Universe is taking care of all kinds of things for me.
Thanks for taking care of that - and thanks for the reminders.
"You have been given a gift worth more than any material gift ever bestowed."
- Joan Goss
Thanks also to Joan Goss (ordained minister and longtime student of A Course in Miracles - http://acourseinmiracleswithjoan.com), whom I heard speak and who reminded me of the power of the mind. The next time I feel like complaining, I'll try to remember to be grateful for all the ways I'm being taken care of.
I was in a bad mood when I got to physical therapy and the chipper young assistant asked me, "How was your week?" all cheerful-like and smiley. I felt like launching into a tirade about everything under the sun that was aggravating me. I kept my answer short, and complaints to a minimum, as I took up my place on the elliptical machine. Shortly afterward as I was doing my table exercises, an elderly client came in and began her routine on the table next to mine. When asked how she was doing, she replied with a happy and upbeat spirit that she was well. Her exercises were more basic than mine and they seemed more difficult for her to do. I felt sorry for my bad mood. I thought that if she had nothing to complain about, neither should I.
Soon everyone began talking about the house directly outside the second story window that we all look out at. There's only one house out there. It's surrounded by parking lots, multipurpose buildings and condominiums. It stands out not only because it is the only single family home in sight, but because it can be referred to as a "blight." There are piles of rocks and debris along one side of the neighborhood eyesore. It is in need of paint and some other repairs. There are mismatched containers of various sizes littering the backyard, filled with what seem to be dead plants and dirt. Odd toys, bikes and other clutter dot the cracked cement patio along with the weeds.
A few weeks ago, we noticed that some people seemed to be cleaning it up, but that was just one day and nothing really changed in the overall appearance. The elderly patient commented that the owners could be fined by the city. One of the assistants said that the house reminded her of the Disney movie "Up" which features a house like that. She said that in the movie, the house flew up and away on an adventure. Without missing a beat, the elderly lady said with a smile, "Maybe THAT'S what will happen!"
It made my day. I thought about it all weekend. She didn't even hesitate at the idea that the house in question could just up and fly away. It was reflective of an "anything is possible" state of mind. It was delightful and she lifted me up - for sure.
Here's hoping that THIS week... I might lift people up and not be a blight. ;)
A Blessed week to us all. xoxo
When I looked up “History of the Easter Bunny” I found a whole lot of information on the goddess Eostre or Ostara, but one article in particular jumped out. It said that there was only really one reference to Ostara by an 8th century monk, Bede, and that he may have actually made her up (invented her). Interesting. This could be fake news from the year 725? Meanwhile, secular Easter traditions occur all over the world in 2017!
“Lore” of this ancient goddess includes her association with
a hare and her banishment of said rabbit to the sky (where he exists as a
constellation) and how she allowed the animal to come back once a year with
eggs. Many articles indicate that early Christianity, while trying to compete
with pagan traditions, set holy days to correspond with those traditions in
order to gain more converts by easing the cultural transition in this manner.
In our family we usually go to an Easter morning Mass, but this year Russ had to travel that morning. We went to the Saturday evening Mass instead and I really had no idea
that it would be two hours long and include a baptism and a confirmation, or that
the baby would patiently and quietly sit through the ENTIRE MASS! #Amazing. The
ladies behind us said I must have fed him holy water.
The priest spoke (jokingly) about some people being anxious
to resume the activities they gave up for Lent and that it might be better if
we let go of things that weren’t good for us anyway (gossiping, too much sugar, etc.). I totally stressed out trying to accomplish all kinds of
extra traditions – baskets from the Easter Bunny, egg coloring, family pictures, fresh flowers, and the meal after church. The stress of trying to get it all done brought me to tears and exhaustion. Why? What would be the big deal if we didn’t get to the
eggs? Or the baskets? Or the fresh flowers on the table? Or anything?
I can see the significance of Spring and rebirth with the
presence of bunnies and eggs. I appreciate the gratitude and newness that the
season brings and the Easter traditions that support and reinforce those
positive vibrations. So what of the origins if they create a positive experience?
Right??? There can be great comfort and joy in continuing family traditions and creating happy memories. But then… what about the stress of them if it all gets to be too much? How about letting that part go?
Hare’s to keeping all that serves us well, and allowing all
that does not serve us anymore to fall away like dead leaves. Here’s to the
rebirth. Here’s to the newness of spring and the clearing away of dust, clutter and that which weighs us down or stresses us out. Let every day be filled with new ideas, creativity, and new life.
Namaste,
T
Here's to honoring our traditions. Whatever they might be. xo
"You may ask how did this tradition get started? I'll tell you. I don't know."
So much going on! First road trip with the baby... There was a trailer, a thousand trips to the store, two diaper bags, two dogs, doctor appointments, unexpected schedule changes, a testy exchange with the lady behind me in line at Bed Bath & Beyond when I was taking too long to find my coupons, unexpected visits, a back strain and a 12 hour drive that might have been six and a half hours if I were by myself. Church sermon was about miracles, hope and freeing ourselves from our darkness - or whatever it is that entombs us. I HAD a good blog idea that included NONE of these things and I can't even remember it in the midst of all this chaos. Then I was shown this picture of vehicles for sale at a used car dealership:
HA! That's it. That's what I'm going with this week. #Simplicity. I'll take the Amish buggy on the end, please and thank you!
This song was playing at one of my stops this week and just made me happy (simple, fun):
I was disappointed when Russ had to work early on Sunday. I had been planning on going to church and looking forward to it after my Saturday plans had completely fallen apart. If you read my last blog, you're familiar with my routine and understand why the thought of taking "little man" out to church by myself was so daunting, I didn't even consider it as an option. It was my mother who suggested I take him after I complained about not being able to go.
I hadn't attempted to take him out by myself yet. There are the dogs to take outside and get settled beforehand. There is the fact I have to carry him and the car seat down the stairs (I am currently in physical therapy for an abdominal condition/injury as a result of pregnancy), and the idea of getting myself, him, and the diaper bag ready all at once is pretty overwhelming.
I'd have to sit near the back of the church. I'd have to sit on the end. I'd have to get there early and be prepared to get up and leave quickly if he started screaming (he does that sometimes when he's wet).
I managed to shower, dress, change him, dress him and get the dogs squared away. I checked the time. There was 15 minutes left to get to the church - away we went.
He started to fuss in the car when we were still a block away and I said out loud, "This is not a good sign. We're not even there yet." I started to sing:
"Gets me to the church on time,
(church on time) terrifies me
(church on time) makes me party
(church on time) puts my trust in God and man..." (From David Bowie's Modern Love)
He settled down and we even got there in time! To my amazement he sat quietly all the way through the mass (even after the Gospel when I knew he had dirtied his diaper). The priest Blessed him when I brought him up to communion with me.
I had been fairly self conscious the whole time. I didn't notice any other infants there. It was a new church I'd only been to a few times. Maybe they didn't bring babies here. No one seemed to be giving me odd looks. I didn't want to shake hands during the Sign of Peace because I had to keep my hands sanitized in order to keep putting his pacifier back in his mouth and the lady behind me kept coughing. What would people think of me when I just nodded and said "Peace be with you" instead of extending my hand? He was seated in his carseat in the aisle next to me and I wondered if people would judge me for that. Maybe there was some section for children that I was clearly not in. The funny thing is that the Gospel and Homily were all about not judging a book by its cover. (Smile) The priest told this story about an Indian king who was snubbed at a Rolls Royce dealership while dressed in plain clothes and his reaction, and he encouraged us all to better manage our blindspots:
After mass, a lady came up to me and asked if I needed a ride home. I said, "No, that's ok - we drove." She said she had noticed the baby all bundled up and that I had a backpack and thought I might have walked. I explained, "No, it's just the first time that I'm bringing him anywhere by myself and so I brought everything." She smiled. She had three boys of her own and by the third one, she "only brought the bare minimum of essentials." Too funny! I was all worried about what people would think, the Homily's message was all about not judging, and the nice lady asked if I needed a ride.
It's true. We all do it. What if instead of judging, we ask questions (like the nice lady after church). What if we get to know other instead of just going with our assumptions?
