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