Spring has Sprung!

It’s the first day of Spring and it is glorious. I’ve always been one who acknowledges, welcomes, and is energized by the changing seasons. As you may have guessed by my frequent dismay over a lack of winter, I am one who enjoys the slow and noticeable progression into the fullness of the seasons. Our week of temperatures in the 70’s and near 80’s has not had much subtlety.

Yet, it’s officially Spring and everything is in bloom and is beautiful and warm and green and full of possibility.

Our bodies, I believe, are made to be in –tune with the seasons. It is heartening for me to notice parents and children, college buddies, and anyone with a couple of gloves and a ball outside playing a game of catch. ‘Tis the season. We are spending more time near lakes and rivers, rowing our boats and skipping rocks, and casting our lines. Folks are putting out the porch furniture and having dinner on the deck and staying outside longer because the light and temperature allow it.

I’m working to find and to name and to live into and through the current season of my life. I’m not sure what that season is, yet, I know I am moving toward something I need to be deeper and newer; a place of peace and purpose.

Where do you find yourself this start of Spring?

Wherever you claim and name and to be, may it be a place of warmth, of blossoming, of newness.

Blessed be.
sj;

Got balance???

Yowzers and double yowzers!

There has been a significant slog to the blog.......goodness!

My apologies blog fans it is as true a witness to my being out of balance as is my cluttered desk and lengthy need-to-do-list.

All I can do is admit...amend....begin again.

Growing up, one of our frequent family past times was to hike in the woods and often we would fill a pack-basket and cook out --- this was my father's version of taking the family out to dinner. I loved those times of being outdoors and romping through the woods. I wasn't big on the whole tree climbing enterprise, instead I preferred the balancing act of log-walking which was made even more enticing when the log was leaning off of the ground a few feet. Even today, when I spot a log I feel compelled to test my balance by walking across it.

Getting and maintaining life balance is a far more challenging effort and it is greatly needed. Personally, I most easily get out of balance in terms of work. I am fortunate that I carry a passion to what I do and really enjoy working with and advocating with and building with persons too often on the margins; give me a justice issue and I am good to go. Unfortunately, without proper balance, the to-do list gets longer and unmanageable and I become frustrated and too critical. Not good for anyone involved.

Like walking on that log, I need to set clear, reachable goals; I need to breathe and take time to center myself, and, most importantly, I need to be where my feet are.

With this blog, I like to say I'm back from the land of the lengthy to-do lists and long work days. Better than saying it, however, I want to show it by living a more balanced, whole life. May each of us and may we help, support, and journey one another along the way. You'll know how I'm doing by the daily blog.

sj;

TIME PASSAGES

As I’ve mentioned several times before, I am living in the “Maam” stage of life. When out at a restaurant, at a hotel, or shopping, I no longer (nor have I been for some time) am referred to as “Miss.” Nope. It is now “Maam.” I tried to reverse the trend by calling everyone, even those wait staff and clerks whom clearly were older than I, “Miss,” yet that fooled no one nor did it entertain, nor did it reverse the “Maam” reference….sigh…..

I am old. I know this because they have started to do re-makes of the movies that were major films in my youth. This summer’s re-make of “Footloose” stung. I refused to see it.

I now do trainings by using the phrase, “those of us of a certain age will remember….” The interns at work have never known a time when there were not computers, microwaves, and when there were only 4 television channels.

Now is the time for wisdom, to be able to make connections between how it was and how it is and know where is found the better way.

Now is the time to reflect on how far society has journeyed and to share these mileposts with the younger generation. For example, fifty years ago a woman needed her husband’s approval to apply for a credit card….yikes!

Progress is a good thing and often the wisest woman in the village is she who has grown up with how things used to be and lives now in how things are and is able to have the knowledge of both and the wisdom to discern the better way.

Just to make my point, I decided to wear a sweater vest while writing this……

sj;