Life and other distractions

Greetings my friends!  I must apologize for not posting for a while.  The nerve of mundane business and fun dragging me away from my sharing.  I do hope you'll stay with me, even when I disappoint at times.  We all know no one is perfect, but we seem to look for that in others, perhaps believing we can do the same.  Oh, we don't blame others for their failures, especially the little ones.  Still, we hold on to those who are most consistent, strong in character, unfaltering in faith and determination.  Self-help gurus encourage us to surround ourselves with positive people, solid and simple advice.  Ah, that we could be the positive people others seek.  Now that's what I call a GOAL.  Alas, we cannot do that for a living (although some have tried), but selflessly, we could inspire others to realize great success.  Wait, if surrounding ourselves with positive people will lift us to success, being a positive person must put us on the fast track to that same success.  Oooooo...and we'll be those people others want in their personal space.  Sounds like a vicious cycle to me, a deliciously vicious cycle fueled by the joy of consistent accomplishment and the confidence of support and inspiration in times of need.  With the vision of a challenging double-Dutch, neverending jump-rope session, I'm going in, my friends.  Join me?

The Examined Life

In traditional form, my classes prepare for exams by thinking about hope, about ways to refresh the spirit when the world weighs heavy, oppressive, daunting, even dark and depressing.  I love these discussions, filled with revelations and discovery.  Oh sure, some scoff and roll eyes, but in the end, everyone has a moment whether he or she realizes it or not.  Guess it all comes from so many moments in my own life, especially once I realized how I could tap into that happiness, that pleasure, that saving grace simply by closing my eyes and remembering.  Oh yes, I use personal examples and literature (from "Tintern Abbey" to "Birches") to prime the pump, to fire up the brainstorming, but soon unique bits and pieces of real life fly through the air and meet with puzzlement and wonder and most of all, affirmation and connection.  Even those who don't speak up find their wheels turning, their wills bending, their resistance fading.  They may not give in or even embrace the concept today, but the seed, the seed nestles into that safe, fertile corner where the mind and heart converge.  One day, hopefully, when they need it most, that seed will blossom forth and yield that fragrant flower of hope, of refreshment, that welcome subtle perfume wafting through on second wind they didn't think they had.  If only a handful come to that realization, what a difference an insignificant (in life terms) Comp exam could make!  Kipling captured it:  "If you can force you heart and nerve and sinew / To serve your turn long after they are gone / And so hold on when there is nothing in you / Except that will that says to them, 'Hold on!'"  We all have that capability in us.  Sometimes it just happens, but how nice to know the button to push, the key to turn, the password for access, and if we want, we can collect an arsenal of glorious weapons that not only do no harm, but keep us safe in the light.  Lay on, darkness.  You are no match for us.  Funny, just as I prepared for this lesson, the end of a "House" episode lent me yet another petite parable.  The story concerned a lotto winner who promised himself he would not end up tabloid headline.  He stayed true to his ways and searched for a long-lost love to share his wealth.  Now, even his best friend tried to dupe him, but in the end, he kept his faith and it paid off.  House, the ever-grumpy and cynical comments:  "He'll still lead a miserable little life."  His colleague counters, though:  "No, he'll always be hopeful, so he'll always be happy."  Not only do I agree with the latter, I live it.  No, I'm not happy every moment of every day, but I KNOW I will be...soon.        

Not to worry

Oh my gosh.  I must tell you, my friends, that I had most of a wonderful entry typed and saved, and one little stray keystroke erased all!  Now, I could throw up my hands and say "It wasn't meant to be," but I think the universe was testing me.  The post is about refreshing the spirit and keeping hope alive.  Now, you would never know if I didn't tell you, but how would that look if I just gave up posting this morning?  Soooooo, I'm giving you this for now, and I'll be back with the full post soon.  Nothing like an actual happening to make a real point!!