Monthly Archives: November 2011

Raindrops on roses, and whiskers on kittens

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You know what they say about the best laid intentions … {sigh} … today did NOT go as I had planned. But even so, it was a *great* day.

Even though it was derailed, well nearly from the beginning, as it unfolded, I decided to just roll with it. It may be cliche, but attitude really is everything. So, in spite of not accomplishing what I had thought I wanted to, turns out I couldn’t have planned it better. What happened that I couldn’t script was a day brimming with wonderful, from-the-bottom-of-the-gut-makes-your-cheeks-hurt giggling. Oh, and several new inside jokes with colleagues. These are a few of my favorite things.

Here are a few more:

 

 

 

 

Family Bonding

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My family has always bonded over manual labor. Not sure why, exactly; it’s always been that way. It’s something that just is… When I was little, it was never a question of “if” but rather “what” chore you were going to do. Although, I always had a choice. Did I want to clear the table or wipe the silverware? Did I want to dust or vacuum? Haul wood or … well, you get the idea.

And a holiday weekend, with “daylight burning,” is no exception.

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There are definite disadvantages and advantages to being the young, flexible one. My mother is 62; the other two in my immediate family circle are 72 and 76. Which means I get volunteered, or commandeered–however you want to look at it–to climb down/under stuff or up/over stuff at the farm. Which isn’t usually *so* bad. Usually. I’m fine with tight spaces. Dark spaces, um, not so much. So you can imagine how much I like crawling under the house to say, clean out the dryer vents. Not my favorite job–even if it IS a good ab workout. There aren’t as many spiders under the house as I thought there would be … but I know where the field mice go to die.

Even though it revolves around manual labor–this family bonding, and I don’t think I’d trade it for anything. I’ve had such amazing moments with my “old people.” Like a few years ago when Clay and I framed in the second bay door in the shop. He complained the whole time about how I hammer like a girl. I kept reminding him I was working with an old man, what did he expect?? Or the summers earning my PhD (post-hole digger), fixing fences, and learning how to use the cowboy hammer. Or making Grandma Littlejohn’s tea with Arlene. Or trying to learn the recipe for potato fudge (that’s never been written down–even through 4 generations). We squawk at each other and squabble in good humor. But we get a *lot* done. And more than one family legend has been born over the years 😉

But, I digress.
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I trimmed the butterfly bush yesterday, and got the burn pile started. I don’t mind admitting I love burn days. There’s just something about watching open flame. I heart fire 🙂

The other chore on yesterday’s list was, yay for me, an “up over” one, not a “down under.”

I got to scramble up to the top of The Bus to replace the refrigerator vent cover. (Clay got a wild hair a few years ago to trade in the travel trailer on an A-class motor home.) After the cover repair was finished, I decided it needed a bath. Which is the point I started out to make. I heart the pressure washer only slightly less than playing with fire. Only *slightly* less. And because I had to drag it to the roof, I didn’t have to share. 🙂 All told, I think it took me a good 3 hours to finish hosing the lumbering, monstrous beast down. But I’m pleased with the results.
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There is something cathartic about tangible progress in a project; to see a material change from one state to the next. I think that’s why I enjoyed yesterday’s chores so much. I know, “enjoy” and “chores” in the same sentence. I chalk it up to an overdose of chocolate (fudge > pie > cake). Pruning, fire, pressure-washing: what I did today made a difference.

As my grandpa used to say, “there’s satisfaction in a job well-done.”

How does your family bond?

Dripping

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There are so many things worthy of mention on this, Thanksgiving Day.

Yet when I look out the window and see sunlit blue sky on a crisp, autumn day, it occurs to me the simple things are really the most important:
– Family that loves me without condition
– Close friends that support me, no matter the situation
– Four-leggeds that remind me there is joy and adventure in the most mundane tasks (even
taking out the trash)

I am thankful for God’s provision and blessings. My cup truly runneth over.

Gratitutional

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In keeping with the reflection theme, I revisited this list I started 2 years ago. At the time, I found myself struggling to not sprint my marathon … to slow down enough to experience life as it happened instead of just rushing crazy mad from one thing straight to the next. It’s too easy to let important things we know we ought to do fall by the wayside. Like telling someone when they do something we appreciate, for example. Life is too long not to appreciate the appreciable. And life is too short to live without an attitude of gratitude.

Among other things, I am thankful for…

… lazy evenings
with nothing planned but curling up on the couch with a movie or a good book.

… sunrises
no matter the size of the hairy beast you battled the day before, chances are pretty good it won’t look so fierce in the brilliant light of a new day.

… a good book
a thick one with great characters and a believable plot; one you can get lost in on a rainy afternoon.

… rainy afternoons
to curl up with a fuzzy blanket, cup of hot chocolate, and, of course, a good book to get lost in.

… napping
my favorite sport.

… old-fashioned letters
LOVE getting mail that isn’t a bill or credit card solicitation. A hand-written note means the author really put some thought behind what they wanted to tell you. There’s just no easy way to edit/copy/paste when composing a letter.

… puppy kisses
dogs don’t care what you’re wearing, if you’re having a bad hair day, or what other people think; they love you simply because you’re you, and you came home to them.

… blustery October “Winnie-the-Pooh” days
when it’s still warm, but the wind is gusting just enough to whip the leaves around.

… heated seats
makes the early morning travel to practice so much more bearable.

… forgiveness
We’re none of us perfect. We make mistakes, fall, pick ourselves up, hopefully learn something, and move on. I’m so thankful that God’s grace flows freely and that He bears our burdens.

… kids
they’re so innocent and full of awed wonder, not restricted by bias or tradition; they giggle at anything that strikes them funny, and they’re generally dispositioned towards fun. They live life with gusto, totally spent at the end of each day. They don’t sweat the small stuff, but find infinite joy in simply being alive.

… gray hair
it’s genetic; a subtle reminder that some things just are outside your control. Ya gotta buckle up and hang on, because life is a wild ride. But instead of obsessing about trivial things, look at the big picture and concentrate on the stuff you CAN influence.

… grandparents
they keep family history, hope, and traditions alive. They tell you about all the crazy things your parents did when they were young. They’re the hub that keeps everyone connected. I miss mine.

… moments
the stuff grand memories are made of.

… 2 am friends
they take your middle-of-the-night crisis calls and have your back, no explanations necessary. They walk beside you on the adventure through life’s trials and triumphs, tolerate your foibles, laugh at your antics, understand the complexities of your character, and protect your vulnerable parts. AND, they claim you in public. 🙂

What would you add to the list?

Rear view to the future

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I participated in a MasterMind group in late 2009; the focus was productivity. At the time, I thought, “Wow. This is good stuff.” Our coach gave us practical strategies, and useful tips. She didn’t try to change our behavior(s), but instead had this way of asking [mostly] gentle questions that challenged our assumptions about why we function the way we do. I learned some things about myself that I already knew, but had forgotten. 

And I learned some things I didn’t know. Now, nearly two years out, I’ve seen my productivity—or more accurately, how I discipline myself—increase. On reflection, I think my biggest take-away was that I gave myself permission to operate in just one “life” and not try to maintain a work life and a private life. It’s all inter-connected.

One of the activities our awesome and fantastic coach (Tara Rodden Robinson) gave us was the VIA Survey at www.authentichappiness.com. The outcome of the survey is a list of your top 25 Character Strengths. Here’s my top 5:


1. Gratitude
You are aware of the good things that happen to you, and you never take them for granted. Your friends and family members know that you are a grateful person because you always take the time to express your thanks.2. Spirituality, sense of purpose, and faith
You have strong and coherent beliefs about the higher purpose and meaning of the universe. You know where you fit in the larger scheme. Your beliefs shape your actions and are a source of comfort to you.

3. Curiosity and interest in the world
You are curious about everything. You are always asking questions, and you find all subjects and topics fascinating. You like exploration and discovery.

4. Humor and playfulness
You like to laugh and tease. Bringing smiles to other people is important to you. You try to see the light side of all situations.

5. Appreciation of beauty and excellence
You notice and appreciate beauty, excellence, and/or skilled performance in all domains of life, from nature to art to mathematics to science to everyday experience.

I’ve taken it again—to see if anything has shifted in two years—and find my top 5 are consistent.

Sometimes it’s been in fits and starts, but I’ve found ways to incorporate more of each into every day. I’ve made an effort to tell more people more frequently when I appreciate something they do—and celebrate what they bring to my life (Gators to you, Conroy). I’ve grown in my faith; that affects the lens through which I view and interact with life in a positive way. I said “out loud” that I wanted to see more _____ (art, theatre, sunrises, random trips to nowhere), and my friends have obliged by helping me fill my social calendar. I’ve explored more and taken up new hobbies. I’ve laughed more. A lot more. I’ve stacked my “inner sanctum” with brilliant people who are smarter than me—makes me bring my “A” game.The relevance here is that I’ve been spending some quality time working through the strategic planning process at work. This week has been about updating progress on goals from last year as the foundation for setting next year’s goals. Since it’s all one life … it makes sense that I start doing that in the rest of my life, too. So, here’s part of my rear-view on last year(s) as I look forward to the opportunities of next year.


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VIA Survey of Character Strengths
http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/default.aspx 
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