“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

This seems like an appropriate quote with which to start the new year of 2012.

I was reminded of this saying because I have now had over 1000 hits on my blog.  Little did I realize that many folks would go to my blog to follow along with my writings.  I feel honored that you are checking out what I write and returning to it to share in my thoughts.

I am contemplating what I can do to make a difference in the new year.  What single step is there that I can start out the year with…..what steps are to follow?

Actually, I believe there is more than one single step I can take.  I have various areas in my life where I would like to make a difference.  So I am looking at myself both personally and professionally to examine where I need to make some changes.  How can I be more creative?  How can I  connect to people in a more positive way?  What differences can I make in my life?  In the lives that I touch?

These are all important tasks, and also sometimes frightening to look at.  Some things are easier to change than others.  For instance, getting up a few minutes earlier so that I can have a few extra moments in the morning for reflection time, is not quite as hard for me to do.

However, going deeper inside myself and thinking about how I relate to others will take more effort.  We all have our blind spots and these things are easier to see with feedback from others.   It is not always easy to accept the opinions of others.  Then, after accepting the pointers, if I agree, it means that I must take some personal action to make changes.  This year I plan to have a goal of acceptance of these views, at least a mulling over of the views, and then deciding what action I will take to create positive changes in my life.

  So, as 2012 begins,  I will see how 

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

Missing the Boat!!!!

SUNRISE OVER MIAMI FROM THE BACK OF THE SHIP

I can remember my father using the  term, "Missing the boat"!  That saying now has a new meaning for me!  I recently went on a cruise, and would you believe, we missed the ship!

When I made my reservations through a travel agency, I suggested that we fly into the port a day early since we live in Michigan and November has been known to have some severe snow storms!  However, the agent said that was not the way they did it with a package deal, and ample time would be allowed for the arrival at the port!  Thank goodness for travel insurance!

There was no snow in Michigan, so we flew out in a timely manner!  We were set to arrive in Atlanta at 8:35 AM, however, because of fog, our smaller aircraft could not land there.  After flying around Atlanta for an hour, the airplane was diverted to Knoxville, Tennessee to get more fuel, as well as to sit for awhile waiting for the fog to lift!  We eventually did get to Atlanta, but did not arrive at our port until 3:30, which was the latest time we could board the ship!

Lucky for me, I was prepared!  I had my cell phone with me as well as the emergency contacts!  After many phone calls and much patience, I was told that we would be flown to the next port of call and be provided lodging and meals.  We could then board the ship a day late!

Through this I learned the importance of being flexible and patient.  Yes, we did miss 1/4th of the cruise, but we were able to proceed on and enjoy the rest of the vacation! I think they could make a movie out of our vacation that would bring a lot of laughs to the audience!  But, ship ahoy....we finally made it!

Together or Alone?

Swimming is my favorite exercise, and 3 days a week I am at the pool at 5 AM doing laps!    The five lanes in the pool are usually filled at that early morning hour as I swim for sixty minutes.   Last week on one of the days there were only 2 of us, and I began to wonder about the regulars that were missing that day.  I know some of their names, and others are just people I see as we pass in our lanes. 

That means there is a lot of time to think as I swim from one end to the other in the 25 yard pool!  I began to ponder, are we swimming alone or together?  In reality, doing laps is a solitary event.  However, there is some camaraderie as we journey back and forth at that early morning hour.  Each one of us is obviously has a common interest of staying fit.  However, it is not a sport where you can talk to one another!

One time the pool was full when I got there, and I had to ask a gal if I could share her lane.  She told me sure, but could she have the side closest to the edge of the pool.  She explained that she was just learning to swim, and did not know how to swim and breathe at the same time! That explained it!  I had observed her swim many times and she kept stopping after only a few feet!  I discovered the reason for that with this conversation:  she had to stop to get a breath!  I was impressed!  She went to the pool at 5 AM to swim, even though she was just learning!  How brave she is!

I’ve discovered that even though swimming laps is something that I do alone, I can still have some friendships with my pool partners!   Kind of reminds me of daily life:  even though we each go our separate ways, we can still stop long enough to connect with another person!

FARM ON M22

The Changing of the Seasons

I love Michigan with the changing of the seasons. There is beauty everywhere!  When I was on M22 and saw this beautiful scene I was in awe.  Obviously, the farmer had worked very hard to create the breathtaking scene that you witness as you crested the hill.

Today as I was driving down a major street that was bleak with industrial buildings, I noticed the beautiful transformation of the trees.  Even though it is a cloudy day and many of the trees were already bare, there were still some beautiful golden leaves left.  I even saw one brilliant tree that had leaves of green, red, gold and yellow, all on the same tree!  It was lovely!  I was reminded that the transformation from one season to another takes time, and that living in the present is important so that we do not miss what is right in front of our eyes.  Change is a process, and while we may get impatient, the process can help to slow us down. Take the time to just look around you today.  See what is there and don't miss the small things!  They can bring joy to your life too!

I am reminded that there are seasons in life, with beauty and pain in each one.  Relationships bless us, and relationships also bring us pain.  Recently my family spent the weekend at an estate sale of my mother’s belongings.  It stirred up both feelings of joy and sadness.  Joy of the many wonderful memories, and sadness of the loss. But alas, my mother brought us great joy, and it is time for us to work through the loss of a wonderful woman whose time had come, as in the ending of the fall.  Thank you Mother, for all you gave to us!  In remembering all the wonderful times with my mother, I feel the pain of the loss, but I am thankful for all that she gave to her family and the joy that she gave us for over 92 years!  Thus, our journey of life continues with wonderful memories to inspire us, knowing that the seasons of life create change, and all good things must come to an end. 

A FUTURE 

BY TRACY MAY FOUTS

The two-way road sign shows that there is always hope for someone’s future, 

but they need to first make a decision when coming upon a crossroad in life.

And now, we come to the end of the road….or, it is really the beginning?   We have spent the last several weeks exploring the inspirational art of Tracy May Fouts.  This is the eighth in the series of “Taking Action…. For Hope”.   So it is appropriate as we come to this work titled “A FUTURE”, showing a two way road sign to consider the impact this art has on us.   We have been challenged to look at ourselves, to see how we reach out to others, as well as how we open ourselves to those around us.  It truly is a two way road. 

It is up to you to make the choice of which direction you take.  Be aware, if you just look at the sign, trying to make a decision, then you are stuck.  Action is required for a change to happen, for hope to occur.  It is up to you….you may choose to make this the “end of the road”, or you may choose to live your life more consciously making decisions that improve your relationships and  choices that create more hope in your life.  You may choose to make this sign a dead end, or the beginning of something new and enriching in your life.

Sometimes it is a struggle to actually decide which the “best way” to go is, or what the best decision is.  Remember though, that when you come to a crossroad, to make no decision keeps you stuck. It creates a stagnant life. Sometimes it may not be clear what the “correct” decision is; however, making a decision, and trying something new can enrich your life, even if it turns out not to be the “perfect solution”.  Why not make a decision to live more thoughtfully in your life, reaching out to others, and inviting them into your life?

As I end this series of the artwork by Tracy May Fouts, I would like to say a special thanks to this extraordinary young woman.  Her artwork and writings about it have been a real inspiration to me.  She has reminded us that hope is an important element of living, but that it does require action on our part.  We cannot just sit around idly.  It is important for us in our daily life to be thoughtful in our actions and live in the present.  Relationships are critical to healthy living.  It is through others that we learn about ourselves and grow as individuals. Thus it is important to invite others into our lives.

Thank you Tracy May for sharing yourself with us and inviting us into your life! Thank you for challenging us to live our life to the fullest!  Thank you for teaching us that there are many ways that we are called to action!

For those of you who have enjoyed Tracy May Fouts artwork,

 you may check out her website and see much more of her art!  www.tracymayphoto.com

Mail Time!

COMMUNICATION
ARTWORK BY TRACY MAY FOUTS

The mail being sent out shows 
the hope of communication,

 only if the individual first reaches out herself.

In regards to Christmas cards, one of my friends says “You have to send ‘em to get ‘em!”  Now it seems that not as many people exchange Christmas cards. It may be because life gets so busy, or it may be because people communicate more frequently now because of cell phones, email, and facebook!  Some folks enjoy those “family letters” and others find them annoying!  Though most enjoy getting pictures of the family to see how everyone has changed in the last year!

When I was at college in Kansas, my good friend from high school was at college in Kentucky.  We used to exchange letters every few days!  Of course by the time we got the letters three days letter the news was “old”!  But we did not care and we would write pages and pages to one another!  Now we communicate by email! 

In the house I grew up in, there were 3 kids, and we each had two different days to get the mail each week!  I could hardly wait until my days: Wednesday and Saturday!  It was exciting to watch for the mail.  I was always hoping to get a letter from someone!  And…because of that, whenever I would meet new people at camps, retreats, or events I would often begin a “pen pal” relationship!  It was really about connecting with others.  There was the anticipation of getting the letter, responding quickly, and then waiting again for a response! What fun it was!  It was about connecting with others!  I loved not only getting mail, but writing letters! “The times they are changing”….some people have loss the skill of letter writing! 

Now people communicate on a faster pace….emailing, skyping, instant messaging, and checking facebook to see what their friends and relatives are doing!  That can really be great, but sometimes others use facebook or cell phones to connect with others far away from them and miss the person standing right in front of them!  Make sure you have balance:  connect with those both far and near! And remember, if you want to connect with others, you need to reach out to connect with them!

The Dinner Bell

FELLOWSHIP
ARTWORK BY TRACY MAY FOUTS

The individual ringing the dinner bell shows hope of fellowship 

only if the individual chooses to call people to dinner.

The dinner bell requires action:  if nothing is done, it hangs there silently, alone.  If someone decides to ring the bell, others come running to join in the feast!  Inviting people into our lives requires us to do something.
 

Have you ever heard someone say, “No one ever calls me?  I am so alone?”  Truth is that having others in our lives requires us to leap in!  Sitting around and waiting for others  to come our way may very well result in loneliness.   Rarely when someone rings the dinner bell and sounds the alarm do they not get an answer!

I can remember going to summer camp and waiting for the dinner bell to ring!  There was much anticipation and often we would gather around the dining hall before the bell rang!  Yes…we were hungry.  But the hunger was for fellowship, not just food!  It would have been pretty lonely and boring to go into the dining hall alone, and sit there eating by myself.  Take the plunge….see what you can do... invite others into your life and create fellowship and companionship!