We all get caught up and ensnared in the storms of life at various times. We get pulled in by the whirlwind of life's difficulties and try to ride out the storm the best we know how. We implement life learned strategies and attempt to get control of the ongoing situation. It is similar to going surfing, trying to ride out the big wave without tumbling from our surfboards. We use various maneuvers to prevent ourselves from toppling overboard. Often, the wave is just too large and powerful to ride out or overcome. And so we end up falling helplessly into the rushing water and try desperately to keep our heads above water. We paddle for our lives in the thrashing waters and are often pulled in by the velocity of the powerful surf. We come up … [Read more...]
Chaos Has Become Our Normal
Chaos has sadly become our new normal. When we have times of quiet and solitude we often feel uncomfortable with it. It feels foreign to us. We tell ourselves, "I need to be doing SOMETHING!" This is because it doesn't feel natural to just be in the moment, because we are so used to rushing around, running here and there with our endless "to-do" lists. I think the chaos absorbs our lives and minds so much that it becomes a part of us. We identify being busy with accomplishing things which then allows us to feel accomplished as individuals. It's as though we are somehow better, or that we then matter, because we knocked off a huge "to-do" list. This has become the mind set of many of us. I've found myself bragging about all the details … [Read more...]
The Gift Of Our Presence
Each and every year at Christmas I find myself getting wrapped up in the presents, instead of being present. I get swept away in the flurry of the "to-do's" and the "have-to-get-done's", following a lifetime of traditions. The decorating of the tree, hanging the lights, writing out Christmas cards, baking Christmas goodies, and buying that "perfect" gift for that special someone. Every year I say, "This year is going to be simplistic, this year I am not going to do all the things I normally do because it is expected. I am just going to celebrate the reason for the season!" And yet another year passed by that I didn't follow my true hearts desire. Instead, I got wrapped up in the presents and didn't remain in the presence of loved … [Read more...]