Living With Consequences

 

 

Hello!

How are you all doing? We managed to get our vaccines yesterday. Today we are paying the consequences. After listening to news reports as, different dignitaries around the country are taking the Covid 19 vaccine, I find that the pain in the shoulder is indeed worse than for a flue shot, and taking longer for me to get over. I am counting the days. My husband doesn’t seem to be as susceptible. The technician said I had really thick skin, and my husband’s is quite thin. What are the consequences? I stay warmer than he does. That little layer of fat makes good insulation. And, I survive the cat jumping into my arms better that he does. Those big black claws leave mighty black bruises in thin skin!

Today I got an email from Ancestry.com with an obituary for my Aunt Inez. I never knew her. My father was five years old when Inez was born, right in the middle of the 1919 flu epidemic. It is interesting to see how many things are the same in the flue epidemic and the current one. For example, many people didn’t think the families in 1919 wore masks, but I have and old picture of my mother’s cousins wearing masks as children. As a consequence of that flue epidemic, my grandmother had to give birth to Inez in quarantine with the midwife outside the window.

Another consequence of having the Covid 19 vaccine, is knowing that in another month I will feel more comfortable leaving the house, and maybe seeing my kids again. I feel like I’ve been held hostage by nanobots, creatures so small they are invisible to the naked eye. I hope you are doing well, staying healthy and staying sane. What have you done to stay sane in the last year? I’ve been writing.

One of my friends in Virginia gave me her ten favorite words to write a poem for her. This is the poem. We had been talking about things we should edit from our lives. What would be the consequence of eliminating some of our faults?

 

Brutal Editing

There is too much stuff
Cluttering my life—
Angry Thoughts,
Words I’ve yelled and wish I could
Take back
Deeds I’ve left undone.
I need to do some brutal editing
And leave some room for sunshine.

Feelings

 

This was sitting on my computer this week and I don’t remember where I got it from. I do feel like it was meant for me though. This last couple of months seems to be filled with anger, hurt feelings, and very disagreeable situations all around us. I wish we could all just take one day at a time to focus on things that we can do to brighten our families, our neighborhood, our country, our world.

Every day get up and say, what can I do in the world today?

I went to bed last night with this little phrase running through my mind, “Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure….” I almost recognized it, but not quite. What was my mind trying to tell me? By the time morning came, I had it.

Its nice that my mind will work things out for me while I’m busy sleeping.

 

Have I done Any Good in The World Today?

Lyrics

1. Have I done any good in the world today?

Have I helped anyone in need?

Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?

If not, I have failed indeed.

Has anyone’s burden been lighter today?

Because I was willing to share?

Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?

When they needed my help was I there?

 [Chorus]

Then wake up and do something more

Than dream of your mansion above.

Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,

A blessing of duty and love.

 

How can we apply this song by Will L. Thompson, 1847–1909, alt.

Have I done Any Good in The World Today to salve the anger of those around us?

How can we soften their feelings?

FEELINGS

 

A man once found a lot of garbage surrounding his family.  Some of it was caused by himself and some by people who passed by. He picked it up and filled a bag with it.  Now, what was he going to do with it? He tried carrying it around with him everywhere he went, but it was too heavy for his shoulders. he tried passing it around to his friends and neighbors to lessen his burden. But his friends and neighbors didn’t like that. Finally, he dug a large hold in his backyard and buried it. And with the dirt from the hole, he built a castle.

 

Go get out your shovel

10,000 Steps

 

Ten Thousand Steps

 

“A thousand steps a day”, she said,

A thousand steps!

“Today, I thought I’d stay in bed!”

“A thousand steps!”

She smiles at me

Eyes full of glee.

The sunrise waits

The camera’s on

The music plays

Winter birds song

She walks into the quiet hills

The view around me gives me chills

Dead branches screen the mountain  tops

The rain from tree limbs loudly plops

Today I’m glad, I walked, I said,

Ten Thousand steps

Happy Thanksgiving During the Shutdown

 

Thanksgiving day! I don't think I have ever cooked a 3 lb turkey before. Its not the first time it has been just the two of us for Thanksgiving. One year we invited the missionaries but they called that morning to say they got a better offer. One year we got into the car and drove to North Carolina from Washington DC. We didn't think about all the stores being closed for the holiday. We enjoyed Thanksgiving in the motel with a cup each of Ramen chicken noodle soup. One year we drove from Virginia to West Virginia. The restaurants in town took turns being opened on Sundays and holidays. Everyone in town was welcome to join at a community dinner at one large table. Small towns are fun. For a couple of years we picked up a turkey dinner from Boston Market and for a couple of years I got out of the hospital on the day before or Thanksgivimg morning. My daughter cooked one year (her first experience)

and my sister in law the other time. Sharing is more fun. The wild turkeys continue to stop by the door to see if we need them or if we have any spare corn. I am thankful for families , children, husbands, and friends who share our lives and experiences with us. Next year I hope to have company and family over, a piece of mincemeat pie, and leftovers. Today we are having a scoop of chocolate chip chocolate ice cream to go with our tiny turkey, mashed potatoes, and corn. Happy Thanksgiving where ever you are and stay safe! #givethanks

It Will Get Better. I Promise

 

Hello,

It has been a very weird nine months hasn’t it. Most likely you haven’t been quite as stuck in the house as I have. It has given a lot of us a chance to reboot and look at, re-evaluate our lives.

Are we content? Do we want to change things in our lives, or the lives of others? Are we at peace as we stretch into the Holiday season? Have we taken the time to enjoy new habits, improve those old talents? Learn new ones? Or have we watched anger swirl into our souls?

Here are some things to think about on the cold dark days of winter. Happy Thanksgiving and Peace to all.

Inner Peace Quotes:

• “Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.” —Dalai Lama
• “Nobody can bring you peace but yourself.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson
• “If you are depressed you are living in the past if you are anxious you are living in the future, if you are at peace, you are living in the present.” —Lao Tzu
• "Peace can become a lens through which you see the world. Be it. Live it. Radiate it out. Peace is an inside job." —Wayne Dyer

Calming Peace Quotes:

•  “Every breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with peace, joy and serenity.” —Thich Nhat Hanh
•  “Sometimes you can find peace of mind by transferring yourself to different situations. They're just reminders to stay ... calm.” —Yves Behar
• “Peace begins with a smile.” —Mother Teresa

Inspirational Peace Quotes:

•  “You will find peace not by trying to escape your problems, but by confronting them courageously. You will find peace not in denial, but in victory.” —J. Donald Walters
•  “No person, no place, and no thing has any power over us, for 'we' are the only thinkers in our mind. When we create peace and harmony and balance in our minds, we will find it in our lives.” —Louise L. Hay
• "Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding." —Albert Einstein

World Peace Quotes:

• “When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.” —Jimi Hendrix
• “Peace comes from being able to contribute the best that we have, and all that we are, toward creating a world that supports everyone. But it is also securing the space for others to contribute the best that they have and all that they are.” —Hafsat Abiola
•  “Not one of us can rest, be happy, be at home, be at peace with ourselves, until we end hatred and division.” —John Lewis
• "When you make peace with yourself, you make peace with the world." —Maha Ghosananda
• “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” —Desmond Tutu
•  
• Stay healthy and happy.