Monday thoughts:

It was bitter cold outside on a wintry February day.  A friend had just posted on Facebook reminding us to be thankful for all who are working outdoors in negative temperatures.  I was enjoying the posts of another friend who drives a truck that picks up and empties trash containers.  He loves his work and is happy in his days.  He’s been featured on the local news in the midst of his work because of his wonderful attitude.   I am certain, this particular day that he was continually reminding himself that he likes his job as it was negative five degrees outside.  So, I my thoughts of being thankful turned to:  *The police and fire who are always at the end of the phoneline should I need them.  *The trash removal people  who haul our bags away and keep our community clean and free of critters rummaging though garbage.  *Those who deliver our mail with the motto, “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor…”.  As a result of the post of the first friend mentioned and a subsequent comment regarding remembering those who deliver the mail, I was prompted to swing into action and put my nifty printer to use.

Now, I had other things to do that day, as we all.  But I have learned (and continue to learn) not to miss those moments…not to put off until later something, that once the moment has passed, won’t matter.  As I got busy creating my postcard and package of tea bags, the mail truck pulled up outside my window.  My girls were laughing at me as I was running through the house trying to get my little project finished and hung on the mailbox before our daily delivery came.  SUCCESS!  If I had put off for just five minutes what I had been prompted to do, I’d have missed the moment.  As I said, it was negative five outside.  It would have lost its much of its original intent had I waited until the next day when the temperatures bumped back above zero on the thermometer…and the likelihood that I would have forgotten altogether is highly probable.  JOY – I would have missed both sharing it and receiving it for I couldn’t resist peeking out the small window in the door when she arrived at our mailbox (which is on the wall by our front door).  Her mouth and nose were covered by her hat, but in her eyes I saw her smile!  

And so, my thoughts to communicate this week are making good on our intentions, making sure there is life in our days, and seizing the moments.  I just can’t wait to have my coffee with you each morning and share!

Tuesday thoughts:

So, why the gravestone you ask?  Well, my topics of Good Intentions, The Dash, and Carpe Diem will all reference one.  Years ago, I became concerned that the epitaph on my gravestone someday would read, “She had good intentions.”  I had had many of them but my follow-through was lacking.  Hence, my immediate call to action to create my mailbox package.  Had I not acted on it at the moment, I most likely would not have at all.

Much of my motivator to create an organized existence in my home is so that when moments come to capitalize on, I am not torn thinking I need to be doing something else.  If life in general can stay fairly in order, be as simplistic as my enjoyment of “things” can allow,  then I am free to think and free to act.

One of my favorite memories was when a dear friend called who was really struggling.  She didn’t have time for a visit but was feeling lonely in her “stay at home mom” day and discouraged in general.  I loaded up my young babes and made the forty-five minute drive to her front door.  I told her I was only there to give her a hug so that she could keep pressing on in her day.  I did just that and returned home. My logical self, who strategically plans her outings to make good use of her time and gas, would never had done that.  But everything in me told me that was how that next part of my day was supposed to be spent.  I am so grateful to this day that I listened.  It made a difference.  It brought a smile.  And…nothing we do ever returns void.  That moment in time serves as a reminder to me when I am inclined to let my logical self trump what I know deep down is of value to do.  Regrets…I sure want to avoid as many of those as possible and I don’t want to look back on my days as having only had good intentions.

Wednesday thoughts:

There is a poem out there called The Dash.  It is well worth taking the time to read and ponder.  http://www.linda-ellis.com/the-dash-the-dash-poem-by-linda-ellis-.html

I am spoke at a moms of young, preschool aged kids group last spring.  My topic was Organization but this gem of a poem needed to be recited that day.  It is all to easy to get caught up in the day to day tasks.  I was hopeful to lend some helps to create more order in their days and yet I would have been remiss not to tell them how quickly this time will pass.  I remember, the time of preschoolers gracing my home moved slowly but looking back it seems as though I blinked and found myself  embarking on being a mom of teens.  

My hope is that the dear group of moms I got to share with that day choose spend this segment of their dash…this time as a mom of a preschooler(s), getting down on the floor and playing, taking long walks, jumping in the puddles after a rain.  In the words of fictional Downton Abbey character, Mr. Carson, “The business of life is the acquisition of memories. In the end, that’s all there is.” Well said, Carson, well said.

Thursday thoughts:

CARPE DIEM!  SEIZE THE DAY!  After my first viewing years ago of what would become one of my favorite movies, Dead Poets Society, carpe diem became my favorite latin phrase.  Actually, it was my only Latin phrase and not sure that it is a phrase or just two words or… I have since added carpe momentum to my vast knowledge of Latin – seize the moment. Isn’t that just a call to action?!

In this movie, Robin Williams portrays a boys’ prep school professor.  He encourages them to find the beat of their own drum to march to.  He is a fan of Walt Whitman and I was recently delighted to hear an advertisement for Apple that has borrowed Whitman’s words and William’s recitation of them.   The theme of the movie is to live life to the fullest…borrowing from Thoreau, a character delivers the words, “I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life.” So, today I ponder, what more can I do to contribute to my “dash”…how can I positively impact the world around me and those I share it with?

We can become so ingrained in what is expected of us, what is next on our “to do” list, that we forget we have dreams and passions. In our pursuit of living our days, how do we swim against the tide of the mundane and find the waves that need to be caught? How do we intersperse the wonderment we had as a child with the responsibilities of adulthood?

Here’s a movie clip for you:

So, as Apple and me seek to inspire you this morning (or perhaps Apple is just seeking to sell you a new gadget?), I pose Walt’s question to you…”What will your verse be?”

Friday thoughts:

This living with intentionality thing is pretty great.  It makes one think.  The beauty of the moments begin to come more sharply into focus.   Life is not for the faint at heart, is it?  Even the simplest of endeavors can seem daunting at times.  Whether one shares the day with a toddler, rises early to get to a job, diligently pursues a college degree – life is full and busy and, at times, just flat out difficult. But, as one takes a moment to look in the rear view mirror of life, we need to check for a plethora of meaningful memories to flood our minds.  If the quantity and quality are not what we’d hope they’d be, it is time to make a shift.  Our dash is all we have in our time here on the earth…may we spend it well.