Discerning

It occurred to me that something I value highly is insight. I seek first to understand, then to be understood. I feel I am not truly alive unless I am seeking insight into some aspect of living. That is just who I am. 
I also aspire to having good judgment. Paradoxically, in my view having good judgment entails not judging others. Or, at least, judging others with  kindness and mercy. We're all God's children.

Capable

There really is no end to my abilities. Yes, I know I will never be a ballerina, and it's unlikely I could climb Mount Everest. Honestly, one great thing about aging is the discernment we bring to bear on our dreams. We don't stop dreaming, we just (hopefully) choose more wisely. In the end, I am capable of achieving my dreams. I simply need to choose my dreams wisely.

Bountiful

There is so much abundance in my life. I am so very grateful for all of it.  Let me now take a moment to thank God for all of it. Even the "bad" stuff, for that is where I find my greatest learning opportunities. And where would I be without that?

Alert

I love waking up in the morning! I awaken each morning with fresh hope for a good, God-given day.
Generally, once I wake up, that's it, I'm up for the day. I rarely turn over to snooze. I can't wait to get the day started. Sure, there are exceptions to this. But usually, I am happy to get out of bed and get going. Maybe that's because I am blessed with an easy, happy lifestyle at this stage of my life. In that case, I am aware of how lucky I am. Still, I have always been more of a lark than an owl. I am alert in the morning.

Love, Me

To love one's self is a lifelong journey. It is a skill, and it is an art. There are myriad opportunities for honing this skill. We ignore the opportunities at our peril. There is a self-fulfilling aspect to it as well. For, as we practice loving our selves, we are more able to give love out to the world. And that, in turn, brings love back in to our selves. I don't mean on an individual basis; that is, I don't expect love in return from the person to whom I give love. It is Universal Love of which I speak. Just as goodness is its own reward, the "reward" for loving others is ......more love for our selves. Get it?

Wednesday Hodgepodge

There is a link to the originating blog to the left.

1. What is more important-doing what you love or loving what you do?

'Loving what you do' holds more importance for me. I believe in being present, in giving attention to the task, no matter how small. I aspire to live that belief, although I may not always achieve it. 'Doing what you love' is wonderful, although not always practical. Better to learn to love what you do.

Also: "Before enlightenment, carry water, chop wood. After enlightenment, carry water, chop wood." Bringing your awareness (love) to any endeavor can also deepen your experience of living.

2. Do you like bleu cheese?

Yes, please, the 'stinkier' the better!

3. What is the most difficult emotion for you to handle?

If you define emotion as 'feeling in motion,' then I would have to say fear is the most difficult for me. I think that is mostly because fear tends to paralyze me. My fear stops me from doing things I want to do. Ultimately, fear is the one thing holding me back from living out my greatest dreams. 

4. Fresh flowers or a box of chocolate? 

Fresh flowers are a feast for the heart.

5. What's a song you love that has the word 'love' in its title? It doesn't have to be a 'love song'. 

Oh! I was just thinking of this song the other day! 

"Let's Fall In Love" 

6. Are you the person you wanted to be when you grew up?

No. See #3 above.

7. Any special Valentines Day plans?

My family and I will be on a mini-break in Iceland! We're excited about exploring a bit of that beautiful place. I think we'll be spending the day taking a super-Jeep tour of the glaciers and waterfalls in the area surrounding Reykjavik.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

With God, all things are possible.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

There is a link to the Wednesday Hodgepodge, whence these questions came, to the left.

1. Would you rather be seen as a person who did their duty or forged their own path?

I subscribe to the thought "Seek first to understand, then to be understood." Thus, in any given situation, what matters more to me than how others see me, is whether I understand the rightness of my choice to either do my duty or forge my own path. In any case, I also don't think the two are mutually exclusive. On the contrary, I often feel it is my duty to forge my own path! (Have I successfully wriggled out of giving a straight answer on this one?)

2. This week's Wednesday Hodgepodge happens to fall on Groundhog's Day. In keeping with that theme, if you could have a do-over of any one day out of the last seven, which day would it be and why. If you haven't seen the movie Groundhog Day this question will make absolutely no sense but that's okay....you can answer anyway.

Hmmm...if I had a do-over, I would have skipped going to London's largest shopping mall last Saturday. I am not a huge fan of malls anyway, and it was just way too crowded. I spent the whole time feeling vaguely irritated and slightly claustrophobic. And the store which was our destination was closed for renovations!!


3. Hot cocoa...yay or nay on the marshmallows?

Yay!

4. Do you wear makeup every day? What are the top two must haves in your daily makeup routine?

I do not wear makeup every day, although I probably should. I just can't be bothered, and where I live, there is slim chance I will run into anyone I know!
I usually wear it on the weekend, when my husband is around, so I look pretty for him.
The top two must haves? Moisturizer with SPF, and lip gloss!

5. Is it more important to you in a relationship to be loved or understood?

Another quote: "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return."
I think the two go hand in hand. That is, love encompasses understanding, as well as transcending it. Even so, my husband doesn't have to understand why I like things "just so," but it helps that he loves me, including that part of me that likes things "just so."

6. Parsley sage rosemary or thyme... your favorite?

Nice question! My favorite for cooking is thyme, but my favorite for rubbing and then smelling my fingers is rosemary!

7. What do you do when you feel angry?

Depends on the situation. Usually I give myself a time-out, in order to calm down and deal with the anger in an appropriate manner.
That sounds so mature. Sometimes I just yell.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

My random thought is a prayer for the healing of a person I don't even know, but whose blog I was introduced to recently. She is a 38 year old mom of two who suffered a stroke last month. You can see her blog here ....