Enjoy The View

I grew up on a farm. I don't believe until the last two weeks I have ever appreciated or even comprehended the work of a farmer, the iron will of a farmer, the tenacity of a farmer...and the sheer exhaustion that a farmer endures year after year after year.

I suppose some years are better than others for a farmer, not much different than how life is better some years more than others. When true understanding takes place, there is pain that is just part of the road. When that pain seeps into every sinew of our mind, body and soul, well, then it is enlightening. Pain is a teacher. Necessary at times, and also unnecessary at times.

On our farm there was a mile country road from our house straight West to the church. It was a dirt road when I was a little girl, then it was paved, and then every few years they would gravel it. When I was little I loved walking down "the lane" (that's what we called it). My favorite time of year was just before harvest, the corn stalks were so tall on both sides of the lane.  It was a farmer's daughters enchanted forrest, and I loved it! It is hard to estimate how many times my family and I walked up and down that lane, together or separately, the simple walks each time brought a new experience.

A canal ran diagonally thru the lane and although I was told not to play in the canal, we (meaning my friends, cousins and my brother), would do it anyway. What great memories we have of that slimy canal, tubing, water skiing (motorcycle acting as boat), and swimming along with the slow current.

My parents biggest fear would be that one of us kids would fall in the canal and drown. Drowning was always the one death I feared more than all others, but I was a pretty good swimmer and often times my brother was around. I always knew if I got into a tight spot he would save me. I also knew he would get in more trouble for what ever mischief we were causing from my dad, the iron-man farmer.

I am now 50 years old and if I wrote 5 chapters of my life it would go something like this:

Chapter 1: I skipped down the lane. I fell in the canal. It wasn't my fault, I didn't even see it there. I got out.

Chapter 2: I ran down the lane. I saw the canal and fell in it anyway. It wasn't my fault. I got out.

Chapter 3: I raced down the lane, oblivious to the beauties around me. I saw the canal, fell in. It was my fault. I got out. I didn't even realize someone was there to help me.

Chapter 4: I walked down the lane, seeing some of the beauties around me, but I did not appreciate them. I saw the canal; and I went around it. I didn't realize the wisdom of what looking into the canal without falling in would bring me.

Chapter 5: I haven't walked down the lane yet, and in fact, rather than walking down the lane at all I would rather fly high up above, take it all in, that sacred land I grew up on, and just enjoy the view!

My story Vs. Your story

So we all have a story to tell.


What if we were both at the same event, but when asked about the event, you saw things very differently than I saw things. That does not make either of us right or wrong, bad or good. People just interpret, or receive things differently. I suppose this is why we need a court of law and several witnesses to get to "the truth."

Relationships can be similar in a way. We have our story in our minds as to how the relationship “is” or “should be." Whether it is a friendship, love relationship, parent-child, work associate, we have created this image, but it is OUR image, not theirs.

Interesting concept isn't it!?

I was asked the I-beam question 26 years ago while in college...I've never forgotten it.

"If you had to risk your life to cross an I-beam 1,000 feet in the air, what would be worth crossing for?"

It certainly was not worth the risk for money or things, but for people I loved that were in trouble there wasn't a second thought.

So relationships are worth risking for...but how often do we get the other persons side? How often do we even know if they are in trouble?

If we want to have better relationships maybe we need to know both sides of the story....

Or maybe we put all the stories aside and listen to our hearts and get to know theirs.




THIS HERE --------------->
Looks like a hack job to me.

The Soundtrack

Oh,one more thing, and then I will shut up about Grey's Anatomy. The Soundtrack. Every good story, movie, maybe even in life we need a Soundtrack. Do you have one? I don't. But maybe someday I will. I think it sounds like a great idea!


I'm not really sure about this but I believe this is the theme song, if not, it sure goes well with my theme this month! Check it out--The Story by Brandi Carlile...


Exquisite.

A Grey Tale

My son once said, "The DVR is the greatest invention of the 21st century." I am beginning to agree! ;)

For sheer enjoyment I record 3 hours of Grey's Anatomy every weekday and then watch it when I can. For several years (when Grey's was in the height of its glory) I did not watch TV at all. For now, aside from anything with the last name "ball" or anything having to do with "man stuff", Grey's is pretty much the only--girl drAaaama on our boob tube. I’m out numbered 4-1 by men.

My husband joins me quite often to watch an episode or two of Grey's Anatomy. His niece works in a hospital and he asked her the other day how close “Grey's” is to the real thing? She actually said, “real close”! I know this girl and she is NOT a drama queen. Huh? Which part is close? The emergencies, the heroic saving measures, the death, the sex, the inter-personal relationships?...It leads one to wonder?

Ok, so here is what I really like about the show...the beginning and most of all the ending NARRATION that promotes an overall message for you to think about. If you're a Grey's watcher and you miss it, you are missing out on a lot!

Example: Meredith Grey speaking,--from the episode, Scars and Souvenirs 2007.

"What's worse? a new wound which is so horribly painful or old wounds that should have healed years ago and never did? Maybe all wounds teach us something. They remind us where we've been and what we've overcome. They teach us lessons about what to avoid in the future. That's what we'd like to think. But that’s not the way it is, is it? Some things we just have to learn over and over and over, again.”

Profound, I’d say.


I love novels that have quotes or passages or diary inserts at the beginning or ending of chapters. I love those little quips that have a deeper meaning or a personal expression in them that make you think… just a little bit, ooorrrr maybe a lot.


In my world everything is not so black and white, there is a lot of grey matter; at least according to the tales I've seen, and heard.

A Chapter in a Story

Stories, I live stories. A biography or auto biography... Love 'em!

And how about the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves? We act out our stories all the time, and don't even know it. This is wherein lies the problem, or so those who are working towards "awareness" or "enlightenment" would say. I would have to concur.

I have stories. I have stories about many things. These stories justify me, explain me, excite me, sadden me, but are they me? I ask myself?

Carl Jung said, "He who looks outside dreams, he who looks inside awakens."

My stories are my own, and I have a few. Some of them have been real self destructive dramas. Some I've told to myself too many times and I almost believed them, and they just weren't true, oh yes, it's easy to lie to yourself.

I've had fairy tales, and comedies, and a few horror stories played back and forth, but are they real?

Yes and no. Our thoughts are us. But only so much as we allow them to be. And only so much as we are aware of them. Being present in this moment as to who we are is a challenge for most of us every single day.

I am trying to figure out what chapter of my story I am living in and whose lives I am affecting for the good! I believe I am just beginning or awakening in Chapter 4 of my story? I expect it to be good.