Friday, April 17, 2009

The Wisdom of an 8-Year Old

In case you don't already know this about me, I am a musical theatre fanatic. I love it. I'm passionate about. It is one of the greatest joys of my life and has been for as long as I can remember.

Yesterday, for some reason, I felt compelled to listen to one of my favorite musicals, Miss Saigon--the raw, gritty, and oh so tragic story of a Vietnamese woman and a soldier who fall in love the night before the fall of Saigon in April 1975. With its beautiful, sweeping melodies and intense emotion, Miss Saigon won several Tony's (Broadway's equivalent of an Academy Award) and stole the hearts of people like me everywhere.

I popped in my tape (yes, tape--the show came out in 1989!) on my way to pick up the kids from school, and, since the very adult songs about marines and prostitution were over, I asked my kids (who I'm cunningly training to like musicals as well) if they wanted to listen to it while we ran some errands.

They agreed, and as we drove I told the story and asked how they were liking it. They thought it was OK--occasionally coming across as song they liked better than others. (Yeah!)

Then we came to one song (one of my favorites) that was particularly sad--a duet called "Please," where our heroine begs a former marine to help her find her lost love and the father of her child: "Please, don't you see we've washed over, as we crossed the wildest sea? Even God wants us together...can I end this journey, please?"

When the song was over, I said to my kids, "Isn't that sad? I love that song. I used to listen to it over and over."

Then my 8 year old daughter said the wisest thing:

"If it makes you so sad, why do you keep listening to it?"

Why, indeed.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

The Most Important Video You Will Ever Watch

Please take 15 minutes of your time to watch this video. It will be the most important 15 minutes of your life. It is my gift to you.

Because you are GREAT! :o)

Monday, April 13, 2009

Every Day a Vacation

Well, we got back from vacation late Friday night. We had a great time--a good mix of relaxing and getting out and about. (For pictures and a description of some of the fun things we did, feel free to visit my family blog.)

While on vacation, I had a significant personal insight: I am my best self when I am on vacation.

In Beyond Freedom, there are two exercises where we write about our ideal: first, we write about our ideal day, and second, we write about our ideal self.

I have completed both of these exercises several times, and each time I write something very similar. I am not on vacation in these exercises, but, as I realized last week, my attitude, my feelings, and my behavior are the same as when I am on vacation.

At home, I am often tired and lazy--too much so to clean up after myself, so the house turns quickly into a disaster. It is a constant battle to keep things neat and maintain the clean, simple home that I say in my affirmations that I want.

Yet, on vacation, cleaning up is natural and effortless. You would think it would be the opposite--now is my chance to be lazy! But for some reason, that's not what happens.

On vacation, I allow myself plenty of time to relax and rejuvenate. I read books I have been wanting to read. I watch little if any TV. I spend little if any time on the internet. I spend a great deal of time appreciating my life and the world around me, soaking up the joyful, peaceful time I get to spend with my family, and avoiding people, things, and situations that would upset me.

Yes, I am my best self when I am on vacation.

So it occurred to me...

Why don't I make every day a vacation?

And that's exactly what I've decided to do. The rest of my life is just going to be a string of vacations. When I am home, I will look at it as temporary (and it really is, isn't it?)--the one vacation spot I return to over and over again because I love it so much.

I won't let in any experiences that I don't absolutely love--why would I want to squander my time or potentially ruin my vacation?

The next time you talk to me, be sure to ask how my vacation is going.

Oh, and one more thing: I have decided to stop doing my Tuesday night Beyond Freedom/Stress Relief calls--I'll be on vacation.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

My Bicycle Crash

So many things to be grateful for in this world! I am still alive, I'm only slightly injured, my bike is fine, I made it home OK, I landed on the grass, I was wearing my helmet, I had my cell phone, I was going up hill not down, the weather was beautiful...and on and on and on. Thank you thank you thank you!!!

Click here for the complete story.

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