Someone noted:  “In mothering, if you do it right, you work yourself out of a job.”  Thanks to social media, I was blatantly reminded of this fact early this morning, and while I never claim to do anything right, I evidently did this “well enough” to find myself jobless.  I did it “well enough” for us to have a daughter on each coast in fact, creating interesting and fun travel to say the least.

You see, once they hand you the little bundle of JOY you miraculously nurtured in your womb, they never tell you how long the days of raising are or how fast the years fly past.  No instruction manual to read either.  Time, the constant companion on this journey of life, reminds us to cherish each moment because it never comes again.  It’s so challenging to do during the “raising” part of parenting.  In hindsight, we do the best we can in each moment; some are stellar and others, not so much.

As anticipated during this time of year, I quietly ponder and reflect on our family traditions.  Our traditions are those precious family stories we write together.  Although the collection is impressive and unique to each family, everyone can relate in our own way.  Think about your family stories.  What’s one in particular gratefully bringing JOY to you today?   

And to my extraordinary and beloved “little women”… It’s not what you’ve achieved or accomplished so much (though your individual lists ARE impressive), it’s who you’ve become with what’s in your heart and soul.  Our background and circumstances may sometimes influence who we are, but we are responsible for the person we become, and I couldn’t be more proud of you two.  You continue to think deeply, speak gently, laugh lots, work smart, give freely, show kindness, and love much.  As always, you remain my favorite hello and my hardest goodbye.  I’m simply excited to know we are still writing our family story, using new traditions mixed-in with some old ones, while humbly and gratefully being simply, your “ma.”   🙂

“‘Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free. ‘Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be; and when we find ourselves in the place just right, ’twill be in the valley of love and delight. (Chorus:) When true simplicity is gain’d, to bow and to bend we shan’t be asham’d, to turn, turn will be our delight; till by turning, turning we come ’round right.”

You’re humming it now, aren’t you?  Penned by Elder Joseph Brackett (1848) while he lived in the Shaker community of Alfred, Maine, these original lyrics were a one-verse song with chorus.  Multiple versions, from Sydney Carter’s hymn entitled “Lord of the Dance” in 1963 (also used in Michael Flatley’s dance musical of the same name) to Aaron Copeland’s adaption of the melody in the music for the ballet Appalachian Spring, have popularized the tune and lyrics through generations.  Many songwriters, recording artists, instrumentalists, and poets share versions and interpretations as well.  But to me, this piece powerfully speaks to the gift of gratefulness…helping to grow our soul, become less trivial and more loving, kind, fearless, peaceful, gracious, and hopeful.  Living with an open, grateful heart creates a spirit of JOYfilled expectation in everyday life because gratefulness is a stunningly simple gift…

Simple, just not easy!  It’s NEVER easy!  What I do know from brain research is how gratefulness creates positive feelings and emotions.  Gratefulness gives birth to the positive around and within us.  Negativity simply cannot occur in the brain at the same time as gratefulness.  I test this theory daily with daddy; my research is overwhelmingly positive (even if my statistics are not).  So…

What are ways we can help each other practice and cultivate gratefulness in simple ways each day?

Simple, just not easy!  My sincere hope in sharing personal reflections is for us to help each other continue seeking real, meaningful inspiration in the practice of living from a simple, grateful heart.  Yes…simple, just not easy, my friends! 🙂

Be kind. Be kind. Be kind. Be kind.

What will you do each day to spread kindness?

There is power in kindness because, I believe, kindness is a personal choice gratefully coming from incredible strength.  Kindness is a gift we can easily afford to give daily.  So on this World Kindness Day (as I wear my version of a “Mr. Rogers” cardigan), let’s overwhelm each other in the two things never wasted in this lifetime…love and KINDNESS!

My sister and I were talking on the phone recently (via bluetooth, of course) while each of us were alone in our cars stuck in traffic in two different cities; trust me…her traffic in Boston is much worse than mine.  In typical big-sis fashion (and to illustrate a point with something on her mind), I waxed eloquent on a story first shared by an educational mentor of mine nearly 40 years ago.  Mrs. Kathleen Bailey (I miss you still), on my very first day as a “baby teacher” offered this powerful analogy on a balanced life…

Imagine your life is a game whereby you juggle five balls constantly.  The balls are work, family, health, friends, and faith/spirituality.  You work relentlessly to keep all five balls in the air.  One day, you come to understand work is a rubber ball; if you drop work, it inevitably bounces back.  The other four balls are made of glass.  If you drop one of these, it is scuffed, damaged, or even completely shattered.  You have the beginning of a balanced life when you authentically accept the lesson of the five balls.

What’s a story or analogy from your experiences you gratefully acknowledge as a compass for balancing all the parts of your life?  

I am so thankful to have spent 34 years in a career I genuinely loved.  Even though there were days I absolutely didn’t like and definitely never-ever wanted to repeat, the lesson of the five balls was my saving grace.  Here’s hoping we all keep juggling while kindly helping each other…and by the way, all the balls I juggle now are beautifully stained glass.  🙂

In Flanders fields the poppies grow
Between the crosses, row on row,
  That mark our place; and in the sky
  The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
  Loved and were loved, and now we lie
      In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
  The torch; be yours to hold it high.
  If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
      In Flanders fields.

The first time I heard the words to this powerful poem, my father-in-law, John Van Amburgh, was quietly quoting them from memory.  He shared with me how he first heard the poem while serving overseas in the Army during WWII.  The poem, written by Canadian physician, Lieutenant-Colonel Dr. John McCrae in 1915, describes the haunting loss of a friend and fellow soldier who died in the Second Battle of Ypres during WWI, the war to end all wars.  Dr. McCrae’s poem is one of the most quoted from the first world war, and its reference to the red poppies growing over the countless graves of fallen soldiers resulted in the Remembrance Poppy becoming a recognized memorial symbol for all soldiers lost in conflict.  Poppies were considered the battlefield flower because they were the first to grow back after war destroyed the landscape.

So on this 11th hour of this 11th day of the 11th month of this year, I take a moment to gratefully salute Poppa Van and all who bravely gave time, talent, and service to our country.  With profound gratitude we honor those living who served and those who currently serve, as well as their families who courageously “press on” during the long absences of their loved ones in service.  We all know someone…so…Who will you take a moment to reach out to and gratefully thank? 🙂 

When I’m worried and I can’t sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep counting my blessings…

These lyrics from Irvin Berlin run through my head as I open another of her journals to read once again.  My maternal grandmother, Beulah (Granny B), would sing them to me as I drifted into sleep under my favorite quilted stars in her home.  I spent a great deal of time with Granny and Grandpa Brock through my formative years as they both were very present in our activities and in our lives.

Three years ago, I stumbled across her stack of written jewels while cleaning out my parent’s home.  Granny B recorded the general goings-on of her days in notebooks and small journals throughout most of her life.  Sometimes pouring her heart out or sometimes simply sharing what she did or ate on any given day, her recollections painted a vivid picture in a very matter-of-fact manner. While I’m not certain mom ever read them, they certainly gave my sister and me clearer insight into the relationships, relevance, and longings of a highly talented, but deeply-struggling artistic soul.  And like her recipe cards and some letters, I’m so grateful to possess these brief written snapshots of her life, and in her own handwriting to boot!

So on Day #10:  What’s a treasured blessing from the past you possess and what does it signify for you?

Here’s hoping we all take a little time during this season of thanks and giving to dig a little deeper into those grateful treasures we possess.  🙂

Imagine waking up without your sense of smell.  Perhaps you have a bad cold or some other temporary reason – or – perhaps your keen sense of smell is just gone.  You can’t smell the morning coffee brewing, the biscuits baking in the oven, or the seasonal spices brewing on the stove.  The calming effect of certain smells like lavender or bergamot are obsolete.  A fresh batch of homemade cookies right out of the oven doesn’t smell like anything, when normally, your mouth starts salivating for a taste before they’ve cooled.

Our sense of smell is strongly linked with our emotional response system, thus affecting mood and so much more in our brains and bodies.  Smell is also linked to our taste buds since it contributes to each flavor’s response and impact on our sensory system.  When smell is lacking, so is taste.

I busted out the seasonal spices with some cut-up fruits to simmer together late this afternoon.  It’s really remarkable how something so simple can create a warm, rich aroma for a cozy, grounded feeling on a blustery day.

If you could smell just one scent always, what would you choose?  

How often do we take our sense of smell and taste for granted?  For today, I’m simply grateful for both working together to enrich life’s journey.  🙂

Today, I’m grateful to be given a crown…two of them in fact!  Oh no, not the kind lovingly placed upon my head mind you, but the ones sitting straight inside my mouth. This caps off (HA!) another part of my medical pathway this year and I’m sure my bank account will take quite a while to recover.  There’s a joke in our family about the fact my dental woes occurred shortly after St. M and I married.  Daddy always tells him, “Well, you should’ve checked her teeth first before marrying her, you know!”

Modern dentistry is truly a miracle of science never ceasing to amaze me and I’m certainly grateful for local anesthetic medications used during the process.  While I’m not particularly squeamish because of years of dental issues, doing a two-fer on the same day is a new experience.  Having a dentist who meticulously explains her process is helpful…and so is breathing.  In fact, I consider breathing the root of any problem I might have during a dental procedure.

Consider this:  Inhale. Exhale.  Most of us are grateful to breathe up to 30,000 times a day on our own because our breathing is instinctual.  During a dental procedure, I sometimes have to work for sustained, calm breath since there are multiple instruments, overactive salivary glands, and a deadened tongue going ballistic inside my mouth all at once.  If my nose is stuffy, this experience exacerbates the situation.  I forget to quietly relax into the inhale…exhale with that drill literally buzzing in my head.

Life is like this too.  Some days are gratefully quiet and breathing commences peacefully as expected; other days are a struggle to catch a cleansing breath.  So today, I’m simply grateful for new crowns in my mouth and the breathing used to endure the procedure, a most vital part of my continued existence.

Day #7:  What “vital” things are you grateful for today?

Breathing sustains the body, mind, spirit, and soul.  A strong cleansing breath or two can help us reboot and gratefully sustain anything, including a couple of new crowns. 🙂

Let’s talk science just a moment… Did you know our bodies have over seven octillion atoms, create seven miles of new blood vessels for every new pound added, and the femur is stronger than steel?  For every step we take, we use over two hundred muscles and our small intestines can measure over twenty feet.  On top of this, our hearts beat around one hundred thousand times a day…WOW; just WOW!  While we are mostly unaware of what our body and its systems accomplish each second of our lives, it’s quite remarkable really.  We go about our busy schedules expecting our bodies to simply keep up…until they don’t.  Unless there’s a difficult diagnosis, a broken bone, or the whole family contracts the stomach virus, we often don’t think much about the miraculous gift of our bodies.

With a heart episode earlier this year, I finally joined the millions now wearing a Fitbit full time (and yes, I might even cuss a little about it too).  The Fitbit allows me an easy way to consistently monitor my heart rate and other active situations as I go through my day, even though it occasionally creates angst.  A touch of personal background…my physical self has a definitive history of stranger things and complications (but really, who doesn’t?).  From multiple abdominal and reproductive issues to years of cancer treatments, my body has repeatedly challenged me with physical issues. Yet, doing everything right is no guarantee to complete health either, thus I’ve learned to let go (AND let God) of my wanting it to be physically perfect; it is what it is.  Don’t misunderstand; I’m grateful for the affirmation and good medical reports when they occur, but more importantly, I’m learning how much I can still contribute even when going through another health crisis.  The “blessing in disguise” of the difficult situation may be invisible and will eventually surface when we least expect it!  I’ve come to see how gratefulness is an all-out, committed life practice and it’s considered cheating to be only be grateful for the good while shunning the bad.  NONE of us want the bad things to happen, but we must meticulously seek gratitude for the soul lessons inherently placed in our path on this life journey.  We progress when we find ways to use the hardships of bad things and experiences to become more patient, more kind, more present, more fun, more loving.  Not surprisingly, nothing affects every system or each area of our body, mind, or soul more than gratitude. Digging a deep well of JOY, peace, and contentment for any situation allows gratefulness to sustain each of us during the dark times.  A favorite yoga teacher even challenged me to practice gratefulness for my body parts as I maneuver each pose, meditating in my mind a blessing for what each one can do in that moment; no wishing or hoping (or cussing) allowed for anything to be different.  Being the expected calm, Zen-guru, she also gently reminded me, “Never question why the suffering comes for you; listen for what the suffering can teach you. Be willing to see the gift in each experience when it is revealed so you are stronger and better in this life.” 

On Day #6:  Since we all tend to be so very critical of our bodies, what is something about your physical self you are incredibly grateful for today?  How will you honor it?

Here is what I unexpectedly know to be true:  Gratitude and gratefulness, like interest on my credit card, compounds.  The daily practice of consistent and purposeful gratitude creates clearer vision to pay closer attention and seek particular reasons to be grateful in the face of uncertainty. Attitude is mandatory and daily effort is non-negotiable on this gratefulness journey.  So when my head hits the pillow tonight and I awkwardly stretch my weary limbs under the cozy covers, I’ll say a prayer of thanks, awe, and gratefulness for this aging body and its daily miracles…here’s hoping you join me in this grateful ritual as well.

PS:  Thanks, St. M, for gently encouraging my Fitbit journey each day; I do indeed relish those rare times my final daily step count exceeds yours after all. 🙂