Balancing

Today I reached out to a friend whom I have not seen or heard from in two years.  Unfortunately, I allowed distance and time to work their negative magic, and there is truth to the saying “out of sight, out of mind.”  Yet, several times in recent days, I suddenly had thoughts of my friend and finally I took the effort to write a letter.

Why do we fall out of touch with people we were once close to?  They simply get lost in the hustle and bustle of life.  Work all of a sudden gets crazy and stressful, extra hours are worked, and what’s left over is filled with family and numerous other obligations.  I go to bed exhausted, only to repeat the drill the next day.  Perhaps it isn’t work, but a family member becomes ill and requires extra care.  There are many other reasons, excuses. 

It is important to balance all the important aspects of our busy lies: career, family, finances, friends, leisure, spirituality, and personal health.  If I am healthy and mentally sharp, I will perform better in my job, be a better friend, act in ways to make family stronger, be closer to my Higher Power, and be more relaxed.  Yet, all of this is easier said and done, and balance can often be a struggle.  I’m responding by shifting some priorities, putting work in its proper perspective, and making sure I get plenty of rest, exercise, and quality time with family and friends.  In the balancing, I have found more time to do some things I enjoy doing but have not taken the time to do.  Like write…..and reach out to old friends.

 

 

Photo: Ridley Creek, taken by author

Diary of a Runner (2)

Today I was running in the park on a cloudy day.  The sky was gray; the park was a combination of dull winter colors - browns, grays, and greens.  A rather dreary day; however, it started snowing and the dancing snowflakes started to paint the landscape white.  The snow affected an amazing transformation to the park, and in so doing, it raised my energy level as well as my spirits.  Snow has an amazing ability to reflect and spread light so that everything around it looks brighter.  Just as does the snow, we have the ability to shine and spread the light within us, even during the darkest moments.  So be the light…it will brighten everything, just as the snow brightened the park.

Photo credit: Cousin Dawn

Running the Same Path

I go for a run in the park every weekend.  It is amazing how many new things I see and new experiences I experience even though I am normally running on the same trails.  Except for perhaps today, when the trail was covered with ice and I had to concentrate on my footing!  Yet, the seasons change, there is different wildlife present, and different people are doing different things.  I find the variety exhilarating.  So it is in life - even if we walk the same path, if we pay attention to our surroundings, the experiences will be new, different and potentially exhilarating.

The First Snowfall

Eagerly anticipating the first winter snowfall

Watching the clouds cover the sky

Smell of winter in the air

And then the first snowflake flutters by

Then another, then two, then twenty

Then thousands as far as the eye can see

Dancing and frolicking in the air

Out of the millions and millions of sprites

Wonder if any two are a perfect match

Perhaps the beauty is there are no two the same

Mesmerized by the sparkling display

Out of the billions of scintillations

See one beautiful snowflake circle by

And yet another draw in from beyond

Although not perfect matches

They are perfect mirror images

Drawing closer and closer

And adjoining arm to arm

The pair even more beautiful together

Sailing among the other snowflakes

Finding completion

 

Photo credit: morguefile.com

Writer's Block

After an incredibly busy week, I finally found some time to relax.  One of my ways of relaxing is to write, so I start up my laptop…..and my mind goes completely blank.  Nothing.  No words.  No ideas.  No strong feelings to invoke writing ideas.  Mind you, I felt at peace and my surroundings were calm.  I was relaxed, well, at least as relaxed as I ever am.  But when trying to write, nothing means no words.  After staring at the screen for a few minutes, I realize I must be suffering from writer’s block, and attempting to write something would be a waste of time.

For a writer, writer’s block is a serious problem, especially for someone who makes a living writing.  Fortunately, my day job is as a research scientist.  Even so, it is disconcerting not to come up with an idea for a piece, an article, or a poem.  When thinking about the reasons why I might have writer’s block, I realize that I have been intensely focused on work.  I have put a lot of pressure on myself to help further our research and develop new products to counter a competitive threat.  Although exhilarating, it has been stressful.  A high degree of creativity is required to be successful in research.  And I have focused my mind on attempting to come up with new ideas, yet mining ideas is not something you can force your mind to do.  In fact, the best thing to do is to relax, keep your mind clear and open, and often the very idea you need pops into your head.  So how is this different from writing?  Well, it isn’t any different.  So could the fact that I am focusing my creative self on work be keeping me from coming up with writing ideas?  Or are the long hours and intensity at work requiring me to find different forms of relaxation?  I imagine both are true.  So besides potentially not having an original piece for my blog this week, my writer’s block is merely a minor annoyance, not a catastrophe.

Sometimes writing ideas can be really subtle.  Perhaps if I divert my mind off of work and the other demands on my life for just a short time and attempt to still my mind, those elusive writing ideas will come flooding through.  And my writer’s block will be cured.  Until then, I will attempt not to worry about it and enjoy some of the other things I enjoy doing.

 

photo credit: HurwiczRocks (Wikimedia Commons)

Man's Best Friend

Tens of thousands of years ago, the species Homo sapiens crossed paths with the species Canis lupus.  Man’s life would never the same again; in fact, it was to become much better, for man had made a lasting friend.  Dogs have great attributes.  They are loyal, playful, hard-working, and they love unconditionally.  They are happy just for us to be in their presence.  When we need a friend, they are there.  They will follow us wherever we go.  They join us in work, recreation, and relaxation.  There are countless stories of heroism where a dog through their intelligence and actions saved the life of a person or kept a person out of harm’s way.

Dogs provide a great role model for humanity.  Imagine if everyone adopted the behavior and emotional mindset of dogs what a force humanity could become.

 

Personal photo

A Deer in the Headlights - Epilogue

And the dear jumped out of the headlights of the oncoming car just in time…only to be surrounded by darkness.  Momentarily blinded, he stumbled around and became lost.  After wandering around aimlessly, he finally realized that he must regain his senses before trying to go anywhere or do anything.  He sought calm and slowly regained his composure.  That allowed him to use his keen nocturnal senses to find his direction and ultimately his way home.  As he walked home, he realized how thankful he was for the blessing of life.  When he arrived home, he realized how closely he came to losing that gift.  In gratitude, he promised to live his life fully, give of his talents unconditionally, and make a positive impact.  For life is a fragile, but amazing thing, and there is only one chance to live it.