Manna

When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed, when you are discouraged thinking all is lost. Count you many bessings name them one by one and it will suprise you what the Lord has done

I learnt this song over thiry five years ago. It can be found in a small hymnal entitled Sankeys Sacred Songs and Solos. I would sing it lustily along with the church members. The adults would sing the refrain over and over. I enjoyed the song mostly because of its beautiful melody.

Fast forward thirty years later to 2009 and I am now living the song. Now I understand why the adults would not tire of singing the refrain.......it had meaning. We are living in tough financial times and there is a lot of fear and uncertainty about the future. Many people have lost the bulk of their assets with no hope of rebuilding.

In theory I know that material things are short lived but it still hurts when there is a loss. I have to remind myself that through it all my family and I are still healthy.

Bringing Simple Back

Nothing is something

..........As a specie we have not evolved from the Darwinian theory of survival of the fittest. It is no longer a rat race but a fight of the Super Dogs. Everyone is smart, educated and hip on their game. It's a matter of who has the bigger bite. The average person works the better part of day light for five days a week. That would be palatable for the short term. But for most of us it is a sixty five year plan and we still end up with minimum resources. There was a time when humans lived for centuries and their daily existence was supplied with basic items. Not so any more. We need to have high end goods to meet our daily needs. Hence we work long hours to supply things that we think are necessary to make our lives richer.

I firmly believe that we were not created to ' race through life at a frenzied pace". Life is a once in a life time event yet we spend so much of our time in a destructive manner. We have evolved into a nation of "must haves" which leaves little room for enjoying life. People look at you strange if you do not have the latest smart phone or video game. It behoves me as to why a cell phone has more features than a car!

I am a proponent of change but I also believe that there should be a limit. People's wants have more than surpassed their need. The concept of 'upgrading' and 'trading in' has done a superb job of camouflaging big spending. The business owners are more than happy to fulfill our desire for more. And we have used our meager earnings to propel them into the class of the uba -rich. We have become a nation of visual shoppers and will move mountains to have the latest technological device. Mindless spending has resulted in a negative impact on our qualitly of life. Here, I must quote the classic cliche "less is more".


The common belief is that we are more advanced that our ancestors but nothing could be further from the truth. Our forefathers did a lot of manual labor yet they found time to enjoy the finer things of life. They wrote poetry, painted masterpieces, sewed hand made quilts, told stories and built strong family bonds. This was accomplished because they had an appreciation for the intangible things of life and they balanced this with exquisite time mangement skill.


Our ancestors knew when it was time to lay down their work tools and go home. Then they would spend time resting and enjoying this thing called Nature which was created by God for humans. In our present century we have tons of time saving device and less time to enjoy the time that we saved with our device.

Utopia Moment -Living a simple life does not mean a poor existence.

Mosquito Knows Best

A few days ago my preteen daughter told me a story about mosquitoes. But before I continue with the mosquito story let me tell you a little bit about my daughter. She is an avid reader who is very good at Social Studies, however she has a knack for the whimsical.

Story - Apparently mosquitoes have a unique ability to determine the stress levels of their human victims and they stay away from those who are highly stressed.

Let me pause again to fill you in on a little more detail. My daughter is aware of the fact that for many years I have been mosquitoes favorite food. But for the past two summers I have not been their meal of choice.

When I received this tid bit on the secret lives of mosquitoes it took me a minute to process this information. Was my daughter sharing an obvious fact with me about my stress levels or was she telling me that I was fortunate to be off the mosquito menu?

What a conundrum!!

M.Y.O.B

The best recepie is the one that you create

from the movie "No Reservation"

Every year I take at least a week off from my 9 to 5 so that I can catch up with myself. This is usually a staycation (vs a vacation) where I stay home and attempt to declutter my surroundings. Two of the values that I am teaching my children is the importance of timeliness and organization. Needless to say I am still a work in progress, however I maintain a framework of order so that we do not fall into total disrepair.

When issues are resolved in a timely fashion it reduces the build up of a monstrous "to do" list. Conversely, I could easily run myself ragged by trying to complete every task once they arise. At times I am walking that thin line of deciding to rest from a long day of work or just fall headlong into the cozy arms of procrastination. This is when I stop and "self collect" so that
I can make the most appropriate decisions.

Over the years I have learnt to constantly "self collect" This is my abbreviated form of meditation which I use as a pick- me -upper to get me through a slump. I can usually self collect while on the run, because if I stop to do a full blown fifteen minute meditation I will fall asleep.

Working moms (in and outside the home) master the art of Strategic Planning so that our time is used efficiently. We have this built in GPS system that we use to plan our day so that we maxamize both time and energy. Gone are the days when we just hit the Mall and stop at any store we please. Oh no, we usually start with a mental note of the physical location of each store and then we "push pin" the order in which we will get to each one. Time of day is usaully a factor, because we have to avoid long lines and rush traffic so that we are home on time to meet the school bus and begin our real job of tending to the kids.

It is a great feeling to have a clean and organized house; the trick is to maintain it during the everyday unexpected events that occur when there are small children around. When my physical surroundings is 'organized" it has a calming effect on my mental state. As I grow older I am learning the value of taking time to "mind my own business" This is when I actively review and create a POA for my self and my family.

Utopia Moment - There is a German quote that says - "Too soon old, too late smart" I am a living testament to that quote because the older I get the wiser I become but alas, I am too old to make good use of my new found wisdom. The next best thing is to pass on that wisdom to my children and maybe they will learn a thing or two.

A Baby and a Brain

Women were born to seve but we are not the main course

Christiane Northrup

Who knew that the fastest way to start loosing your mind was to have a baby. Years ago when I was expecting my first child I read one of those "mommy books" and in it they said that one of the side effects of being pregnant is memory loss. I thought the author was going a bit overboard, but alas ........she was right! Not only did my memory become sluggish, it just got up and walked right out the door.

When I had my second child I would joke with my friends and tell them that at each child birth I lost brain cells with the expulsion of the placenta. Guess what? They totally agreed because they felt the same way. I was not alone.

Now that I have kid number three, I have diagnosed myself with Junior Alzheimer's. The prognosis is not good because as the kids get bigger my memory gets weaker. Each day I have to make a conscious decision to "think" Its very similar to pusing a car, the car is moving not because the driver is sitting behind the wheel and operating the car; but he is behind the car with his hands on the rear bumper, pushing. Yep, that would be me and my brain. I am constantly trying to jump start it.......without cables.

The perfect solution would be for expecting moms to grow a brain during the nine month gestation period. This new brain would service the needs of the new baby while leaving the original brain free. We all know that is not going to happen. Not to despair I have found a solution, I use the kid's brains. They are the reason why I am in this sad state of desrepair anyway. I usually say, Tommy remind mummy to do so and so. Guess what, he does.

Utopia Moment : Seriously though, my life has changed since having children. There are more good days than bad but it takes proper planning and a lot of flexibility in order to remain sane.

The List

A great discovery does not issue from a scientist brain ready-made like Minerva springing fully armed from Jupiter's head; it is the fruit of an accumulation of preliminary work.

Marie Curie

Similar to moms everywhere, I lead I very busy life with various roles. On any given day I transition from being a wife, mother, daughter, employee, friend, sister,cousin etc. Some days, I am so exhausted that my brain goes on strike and refuse to work anymore. Its amazing to know just how many people are trying to control my time. This is not a deliberate control: but takes the form of soliciting assistance or receiving companionship. I experience extreme stress just trying to maintain a modicum of sanity. There is so much to do and so little time.


For a long time I have toyed with the idea of making a list of all the things that I do so that I could reorganize my schedule. A few days ago I finally made the list. The result was a huge job description that would require the services of a small army to complete all of the tasks. I was completely blown away. I know that I did a lot of stuff; yet I had no idea I did that much. No wonder I was always in a state of stress!


Strangely enough I felt a sense of relief because this list was proof that I was not overreacting about my high level of exhaustion. I had spent so many years berating myself for not being good enough; of course not, I was overloaded. On a more serious note, this list was a wake up call for me to consciously make some lifestyle changes. From now on I have to hone my skills at delegating and constructive procrastination. More importantly, I will create more white space on my calendar.

Utopia Moment - I am taking back my power from all the sources to which it has been dispersed. This is not an attempt to be selfish or insular but to become more focused. I have learnt that I cannot control time but I can control my energy.

Thank You

Let everything that has breath Praise the Lord

Psalms 150:6a

Many people doubt the existence of God . Others believe in the existence of God as the creator. This is not the place for a great theological debate; but one thing I know for sure is that the daily orchestra of nature does not happen by chance.

Every morning I drive eastbound to get to work. More often than not the rush hour traffic snarls along the highway not because of an accident but because of the bright sunlight emanating from the morning sunrise. All the drivers are forced into a pause.

I am awestruck at the vast array of colors that extends across the sky. It is poetic, serene, majestic and totally untouched by human hands. I usually take this moment to reset my brain and give thanks for a new day. Each sunrise is a new beginning that does not happen by chance.

Utopia moment - Use the model of daily sunrise to reframe thought. Shed new light on situations that have been frozen in the dark of night. Remember that God's plan for us includes rest in the form of sleep and rejuvenation; culminating into a fresh new day.......every day!

Parents First - Know Yourself

Take a day to heal from the lies you've told yourself and the ones which have been told to you

-Maya Angelou

In a previous post I wrote about parents being role models for their children. But first we have to know ourselves. Sometimes it is relatively easy to look at others and assess who they are by the words they say and by their actions. When we go for a job interview the interviewer immediately makes an assessment based on how we walk into the room, our appearance and our opening remarks. A simple handshake will tell the tale as to whether we are a go- getter or merely there to get a job.

The reverse is infinitely more difficult to do; looking inward at our self ( Introspection) One way to pass on value to our children is by first knowing what our values are i.e bringing to light what is at the core of our being. I am not suggesting that we all rush out and see a therapist, instead lets take the time to look inward at ourselves. A practice of self talk would be a great place to start.

Self talk allows us to forge a relationship with ourselves. We should aim to identify our -

• strong points


• weak points ( challenges)


• frustrations


• goals/passions


• personality type

During our self talk we must take a honest look at our childhood. For some of us this may be painful but it is a necessary step in "fleshing out" our true self. Our past experience has a major impact on how we live our lives today. We cannot change the past but it can be used as a stepping stool to moving forward. Without knowing it, we live or present lives by responding to situations from our past. I am not referring to only negative experiences but most times this takes pre- eminence which shapes our daily thought processes. Finally, the goal of self talk is to lead us to personal development. This is not a destination but a process; one that will provide great assistance to us in our role as parents.

There are numerous resources to assist us along the journey of self development. We can go to a therapist, read books, keep a journal, self talk etc. Whichever method (s) that leads to a sustained inward look into our core is far more beneficial that living our lives by rote. I am not advocating perfection because that is unrealistic and will only add more pressure to our busy lives.


Utopia Moment -:The new craze is to de-clutter our homes. I would like to suggest that we step back for a minute and first perform a mental de-clutter. Let us strive to recreate our mental environment so that we can maximize our present lives and inadvertently pass on a new legacy to our children.

Destination

There are no shortcuts to any place worth worth going.

-Beverley Stills


My pastor's wife is the ultimate facilatator. She is very creative in guiding us through thought provoking exercises. At times Sis H conducts meetings that challenges us to reach deep down into the far recesses of our minds. We come away with plans and ideas that would not have seen the light of day if it were not for her unique approaches.



During our first service for the New Year (09) Sis H had us do an exercise about starting over. The phrase for consideration was " If I could change the years I would ............." True to form we all had tons of grand "coulda shoulda wouldas"



Of course we cannot reach back and change the years so the real gem was to follow. "Since I cannot change the years I can still ............." You could actually see everyone minds churning as they thought about this new phrase. The challenge was to think about what we could realistically do within the confines of remaining true to ourselves.



I came away from this exercise knowing that the only way to avoid starting over every New Year was to not let myself become bound by the hands of time. I have to commit to do the every day practical steps that will allow me to attain my goals.



For the year that lay ahead lets make the words of Ralph Marston apart of our daily lives -:



In order to make progress, you must know exactly where you intend to go. Choose a clear and specific destination, and then you can get busy going there.
Having a vague idea of where you want to go is not going to do you any good. Know exactly where you desire to be and you're already well on your way there.
The dreams that are compelling are the dreams that will motivate you to take whatever action is necessary. And the most compelling dreams are the ones with rich and meaningful details.
The goals you will achieve are the goals you can fully describe. Give real life and substance to your goals and you'll quickly begin to realize them.
You can choose any destination you wish for your life. So choose one that thrills you and compels you to be the best you can be.
Delight in the rich details of where you are headed. And you'll work your way steadily there.
-- Ralph Marston

Parents First - Just for Moms

Moms have feelings too. We must learn to mother ourselves-Christiane Northrup

We bear children which makes not only our bodies unique but also our mental psyche. Ladies tend to wear their emotions on their sleeves. Within a matter of minutes our emotions can run the gauntlet from being openly ecstatic to totally withdrawn.

On a good day a mom's journal entry might read -

Today I feel empowered to take charge of my life. I feel rather
tranquil and mellow although I am surrounded by chaos. There is stress,
clutter, confusion and much to do, but for now I feel calm. I am not sure what
my calmness means but I'll take it! I feel mentally strong and I will
continue to build on that strength by incorporating timeliness and organization in
my life. Having quiet time allows me to rest and I am able to clear the fog from my brain.

The reverse is also true. On a bad day or series of bad days the journal entry could read...

Since last week I have been feeling horrible. It's an ongoing brain saga of PPD, PMS, overtired, overworked, hating my job, busy with the kids, no time for husband, messy house syndrome. Being a full time working mom is a travesty. How can one person be expected to do so much and remain sane? I am swimming in working mom's guilt. My brain feels like its being dipped in hot oil and then put in the oven on slow cook. I would like to sleep for a week without interruption from the outside world. My days are like run along sentences that is never ending,
doing a lot without a functioning brain. There is no time to transition from one
crisis to the next!!!

These two contrasting journal entries are ones that moms experience on any given day. They are both real and honest. The confusion comes when we try to negate the second entry and force ourselves into believing that we should always be living in entry number one. At our core, the first entry is what we know to be factual and nothing will change that. However, we have many days where we experience the daily frustrations outlined in the second entry.

How do we reconcile the two experiences? By understanding our mind body connection as females. A few years ago I read Christiane Northrup's book entitled, Women's bodies, women's wisdom and it was a real eye opener. This book was more than an "Aha Aha moment, it was a revelation of unspoken truths, the answer to many unanswered questions. It provided the missing link between the how and the why of our emotional experiences.

Utopia moment - A major step in being a mom is first accepting ourselves as females, Next understanding what it means to be a female with a myriad of hormones and emotions that shape our everyday experiences.

Anne Marrow Lindberg says it best -

Distraction is, always has been and probably always will
be, inherent in woman's life. For to be woman is to have
interest and duties, raying out in all all directions from the
central mother-core, like spokes from the hub of a wheel. The
pattern of our lives is essentially circular. We must be open to all
points of the compass; husband, children, friends, home,
community:stretched out, exposed, sensitive like a spider's web to
each breeze that blows, to each call that comes. How difficult for us,
then, to achieve a balance in the midst of these contradictory tensions,
and yet how necessary for the proper functioning of our lives. How much we need, and how arduous of attainment is that steadiness preached in all rules for holy living. How desirable and how distant is the ideal of the contemplative, artist or saint-the inner inviolable core, the single eye..............

The bearing, rearing, feeding and educating of children;the
running of a house with its thousand details: human relationships with their myriad pulls-woman's normal occupations in general run counter to creative lives, or contemplative life, or saintly life.......... the problem is how to remain whole in the midst of the distractions of life, how to remain balanced, no matter what centrifugal forces tend to pull one off center; how to remain strong no matter what shocks come in that periphery and tend to crack the hub of the wheel.

What is the answer? there is no easy answer, no complete
answer.......the first step is in simplification of life, in cutting out
some of the distractions. But how? The solution is neither in
total renunciation of the world, nor in total acceptance of
it. I must find a balance somewhere, or an alternating
rhythm between these two extremes: a swinging of the pendulum between solitude and communion, between retreat and return.