A Gentle Ripple

So, I think I'm a good person. I try very hard to make wise choices and to inspire those around me to be a better version of themselves. Not because people are bad, but because I think that we forget we are good.

It's important to me to treat others fair...to be kind and to always put others' needs ahead of my own. I am a believer that you learn to truly love when you serve.

There are times that I wonder if I have made some kind of an impact. Not in a sonic boom sort of way, but more of a gentle ripple in the hearts of those with whom I come in contact.

When doubt flits through my mind, I think of my kids. I think of how generous they are. How they are strength to their friends and how they are willing to help anyone - friend or stranger.

Then I know that I have accomplished all that I have set out to do. I did make a ripple. I taught my family that others matter and that they should always fight for those who can't fend for themselves. I'm proud of them. I'm proud of who they are, who they have been and who they are to become.

With Abandon

I recently attended a wedding for a friend of the family. Cute girl marrying a cute guy. In love. The world at their feet. Etc. Etc. Etc.

The wedding was an outdoor event held at a church pavilion in their neighborhood. Yellow ribbon rippled everywhere.  I showed up at the tail end of the wedding; when everything was winding down and the wedding party was properly exhausted from greeting friends/family.  Perfect time for everyone to let their hair down and just "be".  


I've become a peeper. I stand back and watch people when I (hopefully) don't think they know they are being watched.  (Sidebar:  I've always wanted to do a coffee table book filled with photos of people doing everyday things in their everyday life. We are so interesting when nobody is watching.)  I think we are a beautiful species when we allow joy to surround us. And what's more joyful than a wedding?


There was music and dancing for those who wanted to give it a swing on the dance floor.  There's a secret dance star inside of all of us. We feel a beat without thinking about it. We tap our feet, or bob our heads. We sway to the music and feel the rhythm. Although, some are more capable of bringing that beat to life, each of us at least feel it.


I was sitting at a table, picking at a cupcake and watching the dance floor. There were probably 10-12 kids (I call them kids but they were probably 18-20 years in age) on the dance floor cutting it up with moves and grooves that would put Michael Jackson to shame. Okay - not that extreme but THEY thought they were bringing it on.


As I watched them, I felt their abandon. Freedom from life's weight. They spun and twirled with ease and grace. They watched each other, tried new moves; laughed when they maneuvered gracefully and laughed when they didn't. 


It made me smile to watch them. I think it was an important lesson for me. A lesson without a teacher standing before me with a life changing lecture. Yes, it's something we see daily (or at least I'd like to think we get to see it often.) It was simply something I needed to be reminded of. Live life with abandon. Don't get old and develop fear because of past failures. Dance. Laugh when you're good and laugh when you're bad. Just dance. And do it all with abandon.

It's All In The Name

My daughter, Shelby, started a blog. I laughed at her. I rolled my eyes and told her I couldn't believe she was doing "that". I went to bed that night and wondered what in the world she was going to write about. Then I really thought about the whole blogging craze and realized that maybe it was some kind of connection to others in these busy times. Maybe I, too, might have something that I want to say.


I have never been big on journals. I wigged out when I read my childhood journals. I was so dismayed over my "stupidity" that I disposed of them (quite properly) in the wood burning stove. Yeah, they weren't something I was about to hand down from Goof,to Goof, to Goof. I thought that maybe I could write some of my thoughts and if I have a small inkling that someone in this big universe might be slightly interested in reading this, I might not write things that would:
 a) embarrass me or anyone close to me, or
 b) keep me from being President of the US.


I couldn't believe the anxiety involved in finding the name of my blog. I wanted to "wow" my audience. I wanted people to say "why didn't I think of that." It needed to be inspirational, joyous, simple, fun, empowering, strong...ETC...all in three to five words (remember I wanted simple).


I thought of a movie I recently watched. All About Steve. Sandra Bullock plays an eccentric crossword puzzle creator who is convinced that this CNN camera man is her true love. This girl knows her English language. She uses words really well. She is smart, funny, kind, cute (in her own way). She totally freaks Steve out.


Nothing gets this poor girl down. She doesn't "get it". She remains naive to all criticism until a point in the story where she begins to break. She yells (more to herself than anyone) "They're words people. There are meaningful words. There are useless words. And there are words that hurt." 


I'm just going to write words. They might make sense, they might ramble, they might be insignificant and small or, they might just matter. The most important part to me is that they'll be MY words.