Word.

Timing and trying to get some small details from the remodeling finished up, I didn’t put up a tree or the decorated garland this year. Oh, I intended to and I did put up some decorations, and received a great “Merry Christmas” banner from my husband as an early gift, which filled up the peak in the vaulted ceiling beautifully.   I ooohhhed and aaaahhhhed over ornaments in shops, and even purchased a couple that struck me as special in some way.  Now, I have spent the last couple days packing up holiday decorations to be stored away.  I admired each small decoration as I placed it in the tote, saying a silent “thanks and see you later”.  I gave the house a “once over” this morning, my eye searching out that one decoration that didn’t make it back into the tote.  There’s always one, one that you notice in February or so, long after your husband has lugged totes heavy with glitter and pine up into the attic.

 

Originally, this post was headed in a completely different direction, my intention being to write of the holidays, of family, of friends, of celebrations.  But, today, I find myself reflecting on the year a bit differently, and with a different theme running through my head.  That’s the weird thing about writing, it can ~ and believe it ~ have a mind of its own.

 

I came across an advertisement on Facebook (there’s THAT again) for a company that wants you to pick a word as a goal, or an accomplishment or desire and then hammer that word into a metal circle, okay, a washer and then fashion a piece of jewelry. Now I am not big on wearing a washer around my wrist or neck on a piece of leatherette but, the idea is fun, and it’s just that it isn’t my style, not that they aren’t cute.  As I reviewed the ad, I wondered if I had a word.  Some pieces they featured offered the usual “courage” “hope” “faith”.

 

Oh, the word I would choose. I thought about my focus of 2017.  Family? Lake? Grandkids? Joy? All of these.  How many words can fit on a brass washer? Can I really only pick one word? Maybe I need more than one bracelet? After all, the word I choose today may not be my word tomorrow. Then what? Perhaps Procrastination would be a good choice for me.  Indecisiveness.   If Joy was my word for 2017…and I finally sort of narrowed it down to Joy…then my word for 2018 would be – what?

I thought about ALL my words.  I have too many words, woven together over the course of my days and are more like a weaving than a washer. Cloth to make a fine garment, a cloak or cape to envelope me, and to introduce me, and yes, to protect me.  2018 is soon to be added to my weaving, to my coat, and one of the words that will guide me, I hope, is INTENT.

Good 2018 to you.  Make it soar.  

cindiswindowlakeliving

Days of love.

After a particularly horrific national event on October 1 of this year I began posting a “days of love” on Facebook. Pretty much without fanfare or announcement,  I wanted only to post reasons for us to love, to feel love, to give love, to just love.  I have posted pictures on my timeline of kids, dogs, nature, my kitchen, coffee cups, crab cakes.  Everything, from minor to major, of love.

 

A few years ago there was this big push, I think because of something Oprah, or one of her guests, said, to keep a gratitude journal.  Before long, there were journals, books, devotional readings all centered around gratitude.   I wonder how many of us are still keeping those journals? Those lists? Are we sufficiently grateful now, ten years or so down the road?  I occasionally see reflections of gratitude posted on social media, mostly around Thanksgiving, but are we no longer thinking of gratitude daily? Or did we train our minds to center on gratitude so well that now we don’t have to be purposeful? Those that went through that exercise and made those lists are caught up, so to speak?

I have a confession.  I didn’t do a gratitude journal or list, or a page a day calendar.  It’s not that I wasn’t grateful at the time, or that I’m not grateful now…it’s more like procrastination on my part or even (I am reluctant here, but transparent) disorganization, apathy, laziness…a possibility of any one or a number of those traits.

I have never been much of a joiner, or a trend/fad follower.  I have been isolated and independent,  a loner, an observer.  May be because of the childhood traveling thing,  but,  I am not the first to volunteer, or contribute…I am a hand sitter.  So while many were expressing their gratitude and seemingly taking pleasure and satisfaction from doing so, I sat on my hands. 

When the attitude of gratitude campaign was underway, we were not on Facebook.  There was no daily sharing of our item of gratitude that day, so it was very much a personal list.  Maybe we spoke it to each other in conversations; we were also encouraged to express our gratitude of a person to him or her, so we shared it to some extent with each other.

I started posting my “days of love” on my Facebook timeline in response to some awful stuff. I post a picture or comment daily on Facebook because I’ve set myself out there as a writer, as someone who shares. For this non-joiner, non-fad follower to share a post of love, to expose my heart and raise my hand …it is a bit of a big deal.  I appreciate, very much, those of you who have sent me messages of support, of encouragement, and even of gratitude. Thank you. 

facebook.com/cindiswindowlakeliving

Choices.

Things continue to get more and more wonky in our world these days.  I read an article yesterday regarding Google’s intent to hire 10,000 workers, and let that sink in for a moment, to monitor You Tube videos for violent, hate-filled and vulgar content.  They feel they have the need for 10,000 workers for this task.  We need to get it together world.

On the other hand, I read a Facebook update from a friend who is taking a position at a new school.  In an article that links to the school’s announcement was mention of their motto: 'Think Also of the Comfort and the Rights of Others'. Ruminating on these words gave me new inspiration, new hope, new goals. 

I’m throwing in with the Facebook friend on this one.  You? 

cindiswindowlakeliving.com