People whose actions do not match their words are very frustrating to deal with on a personal level. I do not like dealing with those that do not follow through — whether it be in word or deed. grrr… If you say you’re going to do something, do it. “Say what you mean and mean what you say” is a very simple concept.
:: le sigh ::
I am probably horribly guilty of this very same trait since it irks me so. I guess I’ve stumbled across my “Heart Lesson” for today. Kind of humbling when that happens, isn’t it? But it definitely takes the edge off my irritation.
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Happy Friday, folks! I’m going to be right over here, learning my lessons, staying humble, and most of all making sure that I’m following through on all that I’ve promised. After all… compassion, “following through,” and CHANGE starts at home… with me.
There were two of them. One blonde and the other brown. Newly born, the baby kittens and their equally tiny Mother were stranded in the middle of a rushing stream. Helpless and afraid – the earlier rains surprising her with a sudden flooding – the tiny Mama Kitty was stranded and loudly mewling now for help. I was amazed that such a loud voice could come from such a small body. Splashing through the rocks at the shoreline and fording water up to my hips, I finally reached the shivering little family. As I scooped them up one by one out of the freezing life-threatening water, I held them close to my bosom, cuddling the whole squirmy bunch warmly in my towel.
And then I woke up…
That was this morning’s dream. No doubt at all but that this was about my oldest daughter, Stephanie, and her little ones. I’ve come to know a few things over the years about dream interpretation and rushing water, generally, means emotions. Yesterday, my Stephanie was in her first car accident. As she sat at the red light waiting to turn left, a man – high on something – struck her forcefully from behind. He was going fast enough to shove her car across the entire intersection totaling her company’s vehicle in the process. She was taken by ambulance to the local Hospital Emergency Room as he was being arrested for drug intoxication. Talk about emotions with a capital ‘E!’
My daughter lives 800 miles north of me. She is 31 years, 1 month, and 5 days old. Last week… she had her very first cast removed from her very first broken arm. And now this? Oy vey! She is going to be right as rain though because Stephanie is the strongest woman I know. Despite the recent broken wing, my angel bounces. She does not break.
As for me though, I feel… Well, have you ever wanted a ‘Mulligan’? A do-over? Well I want one. I think we should just give May another go-around. So… I want a Mulligan. Moreover, I want to go see for myself that she really is okay. And a warm towel to hug them close when I get there.
I do hope the man that hit her finds a lighter path to follow.
I learned of Maya Angelou’s passing this morning while in the waiting room of the doctor’s office. It was at that precise moment in time when I realized just how much this remarkable woman meant to me. I never had the pleasure of meeting her in person. Maya Angelou was a stranger to me. And yet… I immediately began to cry.
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
There was a long wait in that waiting room this morning (they are called that for a reason) so I had quite a bit of time to wipe my tears and reflect on this amazing woman. I had time to think about her beautiful spirit and the strength of her wisdom; I had time to remember her lovely poetry and inspirational writing; I had time to remember the peacefulness of her serenity and the strength of her femininity. I had time enough to know that I am feeling this loss personally.
I look around my office and I feel her presence everywhere. I see her quotes on my wall and in the books on my shelf. I see her name in the tags attached to my blog and on this post. My fourth post on WordPress was one of the quotes taken from her book, “Letter to My Daughter.” [Be a Rainbow in Someone Else’s Cloud posted on 04/11/2014] Her name is on the news, on your lips, and in my head. I feel her everywhere but, most especially, I feel her in my heart.
Maya Angelou taught me how to be a strong woman. Her words have lifted me on days when I didn’t even have the strength to raise my eyes in prayer or close them in meditation. In her writings, I have found the will to go on for just one more day and to love again even when all hope was lost. Maya Angelou taught me to find the joy in Life and in who I am — as a person, as an artist, as a woman, and as a Mother. Through her, I’ve learned the true definition of success.
“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”
Maya Angelou taught me how to be a creative writer and a hell of a lot about being a strong confidant woman. Maya Angelou showed all of us, though, how to be a compassionate, loving, wise, and supremely beautiful Human Being. What an incredible legacy.
As is our wont, the Hubs and I took in this morning’s sunrise. What an absolutely glorious start to Good Friday!
It occurred to me this morning – and not for the first time – that I have seen more sunrises with this man than I have seen in my entire life. It truly makes my heart sing with love to be able to share these precious waking moments with my best friend.
Maybe it’s just this current stage of life I’m experiencing where 5 AM isn’t an unreasonable waking hour anymore. (Hello! 50th birthday in a mere 4 months!) Or perhaps it’s simply the nature our life together. I’m sure living at the beach has something to do with it, that’s for sure!
No matter what it is that’s wrought these circadian changes though, waking up early has simply become the most special part of my day and a truly wonderful addition to my life! Besides… I like knowing that the birds start their songs 5 minutes before first light. I truly learned this recently. Isn’t that the coolest? Almost 50 and still learning.
Allow me to introduce my DH, Chuck. Make no mistake about it… there *will* be consequences. My DH takes a perverse delight in startling me so this Huffington Post article/video provoked sheer terror in me and paroxysms of evil giggling in him. So just in case we’re in the news later… you know why.
The Serene One 