What to do? What to say?

What to do? What to say when you feel like some things in your life are working out, yet others seem to be at a stand still. Worse yet, certain things are in what appears to be  permanent state of "I feel like I am talking to the wall" state. Unfortunately for you, you get a feeling that you are starting to hear the wall talk back to you: "honey child, for the upteenth time, don't knock on this door! We don't want what you are selling...ever."

What to do? What to say? Well, you can complain about the items in your life that are not quite where you want them to be, or how you had visualized them. Better yet, you can celebrate those deliciously joyful circumstances in life when love, family, support and accomplishment, all miraculously intertwine and make a gorgeous multicolored braid to add to your hair extensions... Sorry boys, that one was for the girls... or gal pals who like to wear braids- you know who you are! ;)

We can dwell in the annoying nuanses of winter. The cold and bitter wind that came in through our not-so-well insulated windows committed to make our living and breathing self miserable. Or how about the explosive water pipe that froze and flooded our basement just a few days before the thick sheet of ice slid and covered our windshield, leaving us with 0% visibility and completely disoriented, only to attempt to get out of a busy intersection and getting t-boned by a car... on YOUR side. Yeah, true story.

What to do? What to say?

A little boy smiles and glows every time he hears of upcoming adventures on a trail, a future camping trip or anything related to water, is mentioned as part of the morning routine and conversation. The smile. Yes, the smile means more than anything else money can buy-except perhaps the very expensice toy the kid wanted for Christmas. :) No matter, it is still joy to see. What makes it even more meaningful, better than any store-bought toy could? The walking stick he was handed, personally carved after being discovered on the trail. Fresh, raw, begging to be taken on the next adventure the boy was going to embark on. The smile on, the stick in hand, the kid turns to the adults and yells "ONWARD!" 

Rains are here. Wind is blowing hard and I can hear it all around the house. Might Spring be around the corner? My I hope so...But, what to do? What to say in the meantime.

When some things in life don't seem to be working out quite as you wanted them to,  going "unplugged" is perhaps the best thing to actually do. Unplug, disconnect, log-out, shut down. Just be...  A hike on a trail, breathing fresh air, even while it is 30 degrees outside, may just what you need. Who knows... maybe you will stumble a majestic frozen waterfall, literally frozen in time, while you can hear the water running directly behind it, or inside it, in a Narnia-like wonderland hoping to remain in a deep freeze eventhough the sun threatens to melt it away. Fresh air. Maybe birds will be migrating back north and actually singining. A tiny flower bud might even be peaking its petals, slightly open, almost afraid to let go and be. A canoe, raft or kayak could also be docked in the shore, or stored in a garage waiting. Vessels that can transport you in water not only serve to take you from one place to another... alone, or in good company, especially when someone you love, these "boats"  show support, protection, safety and security, are fun and they help you  float.

What to do or what to say when some things in life aren't falling into place the way you want them to... sometimes the best thing to do is get on, get out, and float... you'll get there.

You are stronger...

Ever wonder what some of us do when there is a snow day, or delay? Some go back to bed, others clean, do laundry, workout, watch lame morning news shows. Somewhat reluctantly, but fully embracing to partaking in all these rituals at one point or another, staying home on a snow day also allows me the time to think... Ah, time, often a commodity we take for granted, often a something we have way too much of and struggle to fill wisely.

Time this morning has allowed me to reflect on the last few weeks of hellish winter weather, that has only solidified the mere fact that I am an island girl and will always be; warm blooded, hose/tights wearing hater, who rather bake in the sun, then freeze in this tundra. Oh well.... if 20 years of living in the Midwest hadn't convinced me that I wasn't born to hibernate, this January surely took care of it.

No, this is not a winter- blast whiny post... On the contrary. What happens when you realize you have tackled crazy weather conditions and lived to tell about it? You realize you are stronger than perhaps you realized. When you balance multiple balls in the air and almost lose one but quickly react to catch it and not let disaster happen, you are stronger.

Today's a-ha moment came as I processed a conversation with a loved one about life, decisions, balancing what needs to happen with what should happen, along with what we want to happen... Easy enough, right? Well, depends on how you look at it. I have to believe that in the midst of life's challenges we as humans, who think and feel (not necessarily equally and in that order!), are programmed to stare right back at life and take it in the face. Take what, you ask... Take whatever comes; good and bad. We are strong. I took it in the face when life brought me joy, love, a son, life-long friends. Hell yeah, I took it in the face! And it made me stronger.

I took it in the face when I was given grief, death, loneliness, heart-break and disappointment. I took it in the face, but I am stronger.

When life's paved streets, dirt or yellow-brick roads take you to a crossroad and there's no scarecrow to point in the right direction, you pause, think and walk... whatever direction, it is yours to make and to own. Key word: OWN. You are stronger.

When you look back and realized you are just fine after being sucker-punched in the stomach because you endured and took it in the face, you are stronger.

If you can still laugh at the absurdity of behaviors that perhaps at one point where directed at you, you are stronger.

If you see, feel, know and love with all your heart and what you see, feel, know and love is given back to you freely and unconditionally, you are stronger.

Once you see all the options, decisions, directions you and your life can embrace and clarity makes a loud and triumphant entrance to give you that final strong hold and support to again, take it in the face, you do... and you are stronger.

My friends, if we think we have hit rock bottom, fallen off the wagon, hit our lowest, then come to grips with the fact that we are still here, we are smiling, embracing life and taking it in the face... We are stronger.

Stay strong, no matter how cold it is out there. xoxo ;)