The Earth Without Art Is Just Eh

Today I finally finished the two art projects begun during pre-planning: I covered an incredibly ugly door in my classroom with book pages and quotes and created a huge Scrabble board to cover a large blank space on the wall. Can't wait to see what great words are made this semester!

Today's challenge: be creative with one thing. "To live a creative life we must lose our fear of being wrong." 

Maybe We Are Entertaining Angels Unaware

Today felt like a whole lot of potential that never blossomed. I worked hard all day long on a huge bulletin board for my classroom and did the typical pre-planning rigmarole but didn't completely finish any of the multiple tasks I began at work. Leaving this afternoon felt like a bit of a letdown.

After work, I worked on painting the theme Bible verse on the wall in my husband's martial arts gym (a work in progress for a month now) but didn't finish that either. Another frustration.

After running errands, I stopped at the after-hours deposit at our bank and noticed a woman walking down the sidewalk with a Taco Bell bag and wrapped up tightly in an old coat and hat. She seemed to be in her 60's. I briefly considered asking her if she needed a ride anywhere but chickened out thinking the usual, stereotypical excuses: "What if she asks me for money? What if she uses the money on drugs? What if she holds me up or tries to rob me while I'm depositing money in the ATM?"

And then, in the blink of an eye, she appeared next to my car. I swear, one minute she was fifty yards away, and the next, she had walked up the incline and was approaching my car. And she asked for a ride. The exact thing I had felt "nudged" to offer. I only thought a second before agreeing. I know, I know, you can tell me all you want it could have been dangerous or it was stupid, and maybe you're right.

But it just...felt...right. I can't explain it. She looked harmless, she didn't seem drunk or high, she was small, frail, and old. It's 36 degrees currently - how could I say no? She was crying, and one of her arms didn't seem to function properly. After I helped her in the car, she explained how she had lost the function of that arm because she was prone to seizures. She said her name was Tanya, and she was so thankful for how warm my car was. We stopped at a gas station, and I gave her what spare change I had for a drink to go with her dinner.

Then we drove to the house where she was staying. No lights were on, and when I asked if her friend was home, she said yes, but they hadn't had water or electricity for a year. My heart broke. I helped her gather her bag, wished her a happy new year, and she thanked me for the ride.

As I drove home to my warm house, running water, and dinner of leftovers of the bounty God has given me, I said a prayer for Tanya. And I thanked God for the opportunity to do something that scared me, that maybe I wouldn't have done without this challenge, without this desire to change my portion of the world.

Was I able to give her electricity or water? No. Was I able to ease her suffering? Not in the long run. But for a moment, Tanya was out of the cold, off of her feet, and knew that someone cared about her and about her well-being. A fellow human being, a fellow traveler on this long road called life stopped to lend a hand.

Today's challenge: do something that scares you, something out of your comfort zone, something you wouldn't normally do. It might not seem big or important, but it is to the person you bless. Bring someone out of the cold and into the warmth of love.

Whose Schedule Am I On Anyway?

It's always interesting to me when things don't go as expected. I love a plan. I love checklists & timetables. Unfortunately, life rarely goes according to these.

Today was the end of my baby sister's visit. She came down after Christmas to belatedly celebrate her 18th birthday, & today was the day to meet my Dad in Charlotte, North Carolina, (2 1/2 hours north), to get her back for her second college semester. We had a tight time schedule to keep to in order to avoid rush hour traffic and all was going splendidly until, 45 minutes down the road, she realized she'd left her backpack with her phone, wallet, and information for a scholarship behind. We had to turn around.

I had a choice: be upset that we would be over an hour behind schedule & I would be late getting to bed before pre-planning tomorrow or accept her tearful apology, remember how many times I've forgotten something and wanted someone to be understanding to me, and accept that everything happens for a reason.

We had just watched "Signs" last night, & all I could think of was Mel Gibson's line, "Is it possible there are no coincidences?" Getting angry over a forgotten bag wouldn't make it magically appear, & it certainly wouldn't make my sister feel better. Why waste our time with anger and frustration when we could rejoice in a little extra time together to sing to the radio & talk? So my schedule got thrown off - is that really so important when compared to feelings and memories? In light of how short life is, why waste it with anger?

Today's challenge: try to look at the big picture when your schedule is thrown out the window. How can you savor this moment, changed though it is? What memories can you make? How can you better a relationship by responding kindly and graciously to the unknown? Is it possible there are no coincidences?

#ABetter2016 #ABetterMe #WhatDidYouDoToday

Make Just One Person Happy

Today was a slow day what with it being the last day of my baby sister's visit & the day before we start back to work. But there was still time to brighten someone's day.

While on a quick trip to the mall, I stopped for a cup of coffee and could tell my sisters really wanted one too but hadn't brought any extra money. Sometimes brightening someone else's day is as simple as a cup of coffee they don't expect. Both were so grateful & thanked me over and over.

Today's challenge: brighten someone's day. Make just one person happy as Jimmy Durante said. It doesn't cost much, but the reward you get back is priceless.

What did you do today?

#ABetter2016 #ABetterMe #WhatDidYouDoToday

A Little Better Than the Time Before...

Today was an excellent exercise in two things: 1) being confident in who you are, and 2) continuing to better yourself, even in the little things.

We decided to take a quick trip to play putt putt golf, a game that I usually get exasperated by because I play the first few holes cleanly and then I get impatient or rushed or embarrassed and finish in last place. Today, though, remembering my mantra for the new year, I deliberately took each stroke calmly and focused on each task in front of me, and what do you think? Not only did I finish in second place, but I sunk two hole-in-ones!

The second thing I made myself practice today was being OK with who I am and not feeling like I have to constantly appear a certain way or meet society's "perfection" standards to appear in public. My self-esteem usually dictates that I not leave my house until my make-up looks perfect, not because I desire attention but because I feel more confident knowing I look my absolute best. But, today, I thought I would push myself a little out of my comfort zone and work on being confident and comfortable with who I am as a human being, not in my appearance. So, I went out make-up-less (and you ladies know, that takes some doing).

Challenge for today: Be yourself. Just yourself. You don't have to look a certain way, dress a certain way, act a certain way - just be the you deep down inside. The one you hide because you're afraid people might not accept you. The one you guard so people don't put you down or wound you. Show that vulnerability. Be bold. Be brave. You might be surprised who you inspire. 

What did you do today? 

The Journey Begins...Better 2016, Better Me, Better Life

What a fantastic start to 2016!

If the Fates had put their heads together to help get this resolution off to a fantastic start, it couldn't have gone any smoother.

We decided to go to Tallulah Gorge State Park to enjoy a nature hike and the first day of the new year. While there, I faced a big fear I've had for years: the suspension bridge.

There are ten gorgeous overlooks at the park, and at one point, visitors walk 620 steps to a suspension bridge with a tendency to sway and swing and generally terrify me. I usually run across it to get to the other side, but today, I forced myself to walk slowly, take my time, look over the sides, and pause to take pictures. Facing that fear right from the get-go! 2016 can't scare me that easily!

That would have been enough, but as we continued our hike, I couldn't help but notice all the garbage strewn on either side of the trail from careless hikers who had gone before us. In the past, I've noticed trash but haven't done anything about it because I shouldn't have to be the world's cleaning lady, right? That's somebody else's job. 

But then I started thinking: if everyone thought that way, the whole world would fall to pieces! Doing as much good as possible in my corner of the world, right? And if I do my part, maybe I can inspire someone else to clean up their portion of the world too. So, nature hike became environmental clean-up hike...

I found a lot more than this, but by that time, my hands were too full for a picture. 

So, there we go: January 1, 2016 is in the record books, the first page in a 365-page story, and we started off great! 

What did you do today? 

#ABetter2016 #ABetterMe

Not Just Another New Year's Resolution...

2015 was a hard year.

Three people close to me passed away. Two more received life-threatening news. Four more got divorced. Money troubles, world troubles, political troubles...every day seemed like the bearer of more bad news.

But from within the storm of tears and sorrows and fears came glimmering moments of beauty - crystals of perfect moments and memories to take and hold close: celebrating my grandmother's 90th birthday, holidays with family reunited after years apart, surprise visits from old friends. 2015 was a hard year but a good one.

As I thought about what I wanted 2016 to look like and bring, the thought came to me about just how much we tend to expect out of life without necessarily giving things back. Everyone wants a better body, better fashion, better possessions, or even just to become an all-around better person without pouring in the necessary time, self-control, and patience required.

Then I thought of my friends who had passed away or whose futures were uncertain - we're always so certain of another tomorrow, another chance, a "someday," a day for when we finally "get around to it." But none of us are promised tomorrow or this afternoon or this next minute. Why do we constantly put off visiting someone, calling someone, smiling at someone we pass when neither of us know what our futures hold?

What if, I thought, I resolve to do something throughout 2016 that will help make the world around me a better place and, by extension, me a better person in the process? Make my "someday" today. Make today the day I finally "get around to it." Take advantage of each of life's moments by living in each moment. Then I came across this in a friend's Facebook feed:

Confirmation!

Last year, I resolved to count 1,000 gifts (three things I had to be thankful for each day that I would usually take for granted), and I did (1,090, to be exact). The change in perspective it brought was amazing and life-altering. And while I still plan on counting blessings and being thankful this year, I wanted to up the ante a bit. 

So each day of 2016, I resolve to do something to better myself and, in turn, better the world around me. It may be a workout, a new recipe, a new book, spiritual insight, a small accomplishment, or a new experience. It doesn't have to be big to change the world. I will share each day what I've done, and I'd love for you to join with me and share what you've done to change your part of the world that day too.

Live in the moment. Change this moment. Savor this moment. 

#ABetter2016 #ABetterMe #LearningtoLoveMyself