Life for me was a stern task master. It had things prepared for me to do which I never bargained for. All I wanted for myself was a happy contented life --- didn’t aim for money or wealth. I was happy to have an education, a job, help my parents, and coast along. But as I‘ve said things didn’t happen as I hoped it would. Far from my small and humble expectations I got something else. Looking back at it now I can wisely say Life was right all along – it was what I needed.
So my journey continued through the worn beaten path in my twice worn beaten shoes. I will not dwell on the harshness of the journey of those years now. Instead, I’m going to share about the stops I made along the way to gather flowers, sunshine, smiles, and pearls for my weary heart and soul.
By the way, there were many gathered and won’t be enough to put into a single page -- ‘Might take a whole book Lol!! ? So let’s take on a few random pearls for this writing.
P.S. I've added a post (a Tag) at the bottom. I owe this to Busybee and Maya. :-))
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WAIT OUT THE SILENT STORM - Oh yes, there were those times when nothing seemed to happen, when it seemed that life suddenly stopped and time abruptly stood still. And it did at a point I wished it didn’t. I wasn’t going anywhere; nothing I ever did budged me into the direction I wanted to take. I felt so alone, helpless, caged-in, frantic, confused, and desperate. The very reasons which motivated me seemed to have disappeared. I would frantically ask myself “What in Jupiter’s name is happening?! “
Now I know – so this was the so-called ‘silent storm’. It creates havoc to your peace and calm and derails what determination lies in you, throws it out to the wind. So what does one do with it?? Wait it out -- Just like you wait out a weather storm. It will pass. And as sure as the sun rises in the morning, the silent storm will pass and you’ll get your old self back again. But … it will help if you wait in prayer. Because prayer energizes your faith, hope, and trust in a mighty God who definitely knows what He is doing with your life.
ROTTEN APPLES IN THE BASKET - Oh, I get to meet so many different people in the journey... So lucky to have acquired good people and formed lasting friendships with them. It can never be disputed that wonderful friendships bring wonderful joys. And yet neither is it argued too, on the other hand, that one does get some rotten apples intertwined somewhere there in the basket -- oh yes! A small number have managed to make life miserable for me --- behaved in a manner which caused me pain, hurt, and suffering. I can’t say that I haven’t been affected by these jerks because apparently I was and have tiny scars to show for it, sadly.
But I couldn’t let the few rotten ones ruin the rest of the good apples in my basket or snuff out my enjoyment of a basket fully laden with good fruits. What to do with them? Lift the rotten ones out from the bunch and throw them far out to sea. Lol!! Well, what I really mean is junk them – but take the lesson or lessons such unpleasant experiences bring. Enjoy and treasure those which give better meaning to relationships. Appreciate and celebrate good people and friends. They are part and parcel too of life’s many treasures.
I AM FLAWED - “Aww, isn’t she such a sweet little girl!” was what I’d hear from my Mom’s friends every time she shows me off to her ‘amigos’ or friends. Yeah, my aunts would tell me that I was a gentle, reserved, silent, passive little girl…Nice but that which almost always was passed over for good opportunities or better parts in school programs or forgotten for anything worth noting for in class. The traits I was so admired for turned out actually to be a character flaw --- Because my classmates more aggressive, active, and outgoing than myself got all the fun, recognition and adulation. And I haven’t been sweet most times. At odd times I found myself selfish, harsh, bitchy, bitter, furiously angry, or just plain unreasonable --- Scary, huh? Yeah. But Mom would simply smile and say “You’re still a work in progress, little girl.” And she would patiently and lovingly ease me through the process.
And she was right then --- and now, although she’s long gone. I’m still flawed, but I have a better understanding of how it works. God sends out things and people to help polish up my act and I’m supposed to help in that process, too. So I’m flawed but so is the rest of the world. Each day me, you, everybody is given the opportunity to work at becoming better persons aiming for the best though not necessarily perfection. Excellence would be a nicer name to it. After all, perfection as I understand it is solely God’s work. Ours is to work excellently in the tasks He gives us to do. Doing excellent work makes us better persons in the process.
SMART IS NOT ALWAYS SMART - Wondering why I say that? Because it doesn’t always work the way you expect it too. So okay, a person dresses smart, talks smart, thinks smart, does everything smart in perfect consonance with what most people consider perfect and acceptable. You’d think that he’s got it all – brains, education, money, looks. But have you ever thought what effect it has on those around him? Not necessarily his business associates or family who can understand him better than most. What about the ordinary people in his or your ordinary regular day? Do you think that being your old smart self would impress them or impact them in the same way it does your colleagues or tight circle of family and friends? ---------- Not always. People who have a lot less than you may have a lot of insecurities working in them. When you flaunt your good fortune, maybe unintentionally, it succeeds only to rub them the wrong way. --- Because it highlights the ‘nothingness’ or void or emptiness in their lives. It bites at their failed hopes and dreams for better things in their lives. It revives the deep and silent resentments they may harbor for not bagging the opportunities they think they deserve too. Looking at you so well-placed, successful, smart, enjoying the perks of a good life brings all these negative feelings out to the fore. And to avert attention from their ‘failed’ lives, they will try to heap upon you negative labels such as calling you--- ‘snooty’ ‘stiff’ ‘proud’ ‘aristocrat’ ‘condescending’ ‘big headed’ ‘conceited’ ‘arrogant’ among other things. Making you look bad, for them, does its bit to assuage or salve their feelings of insecurity and inferiority, Weird, huh? --- Not at all. It’s human nature in action -- A sort of defense mechanism which tries to protect the person from hurting some more. ---------- What to do with it? Be attuned to your surroundings – people, places, things. One behavior doesn’t fit all. Flexibility and adaptability will get you more mileage than trying to be smart all the time. Besides in the real sense of things, people are what matters…not you or your image. You simply can’t go about making people uncomfortable in your presence or embarrassed. Use genuine compassion to connect because it is the heart most times which succeeds to bridge all gaps, imaginary or real. You see, sometimes brains - flaunting it intentionally or not - is a big turn-off. Smart is not always smart, if you’re not careful.
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This long enough?? :-)) Okay, let’s end up here, least I run the risk of boring you. lol! See you in the next installment. God bless everybody.
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DO READ ON, THERE'S MORE...........
Hey, guys, I'm going to do a double here -- meaning two posts in one sitting. The following is a tag sent me by BusyBee and Maya. It's long overdue so I thought it best to do it now. Here goes.... :-)) all in good fun! ............
TAGGED BY BUSYBEE and MAYA - MAROONED ON AN ISLAND WITH A CHOICE OF FIVE THINGS AND... A PARTNER!
Okay, so I am asked to ‘prepare’ to be marooned on an island Lol! …and allowed only five (5) things to bring with me, plus a companion! Assuming that I still have time to gather ‘props’ and ‘resources’ from the imaginary shipwreck, I’d swiftly run to the ship’s kitchen or restaurant whichever is closer at that point and gather…….
A MATCH
A COOKING POT
A SHARP KNIFE
A BEDSHEET and
A BOOK (the last two from my cabin)
Now the why’s for taking those items above ---
--- the match to build the fire for cooking, for warmth in the cold nights, and for creating a big bonfire that could attract passing ships from afar. (of course, I want to be found! Can you imagine no music to listen to? Ugh!)
--- the cooking pot to cook a catch of fish or something, or boil water for drinking. (if the island is loaded with trees, there wouldn’t be a problem for food. Mother Nature is a good provider in many odd ways.)
--- the sharp knife to cut down wood to make into a raft or firewood for the giant bonfire I would be definitely positively surely be building. (Ugh!! I got to have my music Lol!)
--- the bed sheet cut in half, one part for my shawl against the cold (I’m a tropical person—cold is my foe), and the other half tied up to a pole planted on the shore...Some shreds leftover to tie the raft together with, of course (so you think I’d forget that?! hahah)
--- the book to still my mind from worry and stress, naturally. (it will probably be “The Road Less Traveled”. I always have it in my tote bag anyway Lol!)
And now for the delectable part, who am I going to take with me? Let’s see…..
Brad Pitt - he’s yummy but can he make good conversation?
Tom Hanks - brainy but he could be boring
Jim Carey - funny but can he build a fire?
The Rock - now I could use that muscle! And I’ve read that he can cook.
Hmmmmm…
:-)
Oh changed my mind, I’ll take Lucky with me! We’d surely run down the shores playing catch-and-tug, turn up every stone on the sandy shore for small crabs, hunt the bushes (if any) for imaginary prey, or simply sit on the shore with her head on my lap while I stroke her long brown fur. And at night, she will be so nice to hug in the cold and she would snuggle close to me like she would always do, content and happy. I won’t change her for any gorgeous hunk – brainy funny or cute! :-) :-) :-)
Who to tag? It looks like the people I know have already been tagged. So anyone who’s game to take off from here is welcome to it. Thanks for the tag, BusyBee and Maya, this was fun. But maybe a wee bit straight and boring for our youthful o3 readers? Lol! :-))) Bye. God bless you all!
posted on Monday, November 20, 2006 3:04 PM
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