I apologize to those who will get two posts in one day, but I felt like I had to split this up. So yesterday I spent part of the morning in Cambria trying not to freeze on the foggy coast, and then the rest of the afternoon/evening trying to stay cool at the Mid-State Fair. So while the Central Coast has been a destination for my family since I was young, I can say that I had never been to this fair. And after last nights visit, I know why. We went to go see Don Henley in concert. We had seen the Eagles in the last year and so my hubby and I were pretty stoked to go. I had not been feeling well that day, and at one point my hubby asked if I wanted to go home. I told him no. If I had made it this far, I was going to see the concert. Since we had been in Cambria earlier in the day, enjoying the cool coast, when we got to Paso Robles we melted. It was a good 30 degrees hotter, and all of the walkways at the fair were in the sun. We were able to find some chairs inside, got cooled down and drank some water. All this helped to get me to a place where I was good. It was then that I got excited about the concert, and was ready and eager to go in when the gates opened. Continue reading “Getting hot in Paso”
So we had to go to Paso Robles yesterday evening for a concert, and since it was just as hot there as it was here (100+) we decided to hit the coast first. I could not be more thankful for the detour. We left temperatures in the 90’s and arrived at the coast to fog and high 60’s. I got to put on a sweatshirt and everything! Since I was with the shutterbug hubby, I decided to bring my little camera and follow his lead. These are a few of my favorite shots.
So I started watching a Netflix program yesterday called Stranger Things. It is one of those original series that they now produce, and I have to admit, I am totally hooked. It is a suspenseful, horror, sci fi kind of series. So basically, stuff I don’t tend to watch. I like suspense, but I stay away from horror, because it is not good for me. This one though had me hooked quickly, and I couldn’t figure out why? I wondered if it was because I so totally related to the setting. It is set in 1980, so I feel like I am looking at my childhood. (or at least Jr. High) The clothes, bikes, cars, homes, music and TV were all so familiar to me. I looked at clothes that I probably wore, and hairstyles that I totally had. In the show, I was in a setting that made so much sense to me. Not like Sesame Street. I know you are thinking, Sesame Street? How did we get here? Continue reading “Stranger things to post….”
Today was a day of encouragement. Some of it I gave, and some of it I received. The events were nothing spectacular, but it is typically the small things that can have the most impact. This morning, I went to the grocery store, and by the time I came out, my car was in the shade. It was a simple thing, but in the heat of the Central Valley, it provided welcome relief even from this morning’s heat.
When I came home, I had to hurry and get cleaned up, as I had a massage appointment to get to. It was only twenty minutes, but after the stress that I put myself through this week, it was like a little slice of heaven. This week my regular therapist was back from a maternity sabbatical, and I was happy to see her. After my massage, we sat and talked for a few minutes. First she gave me the update about the new baby and the challenges of being a new mom. I told her some of my experiences with the boys, and encouraged her to use her own good sense to make decisions. I advised her to not worry about what other people say she should do, but to take the advice and use her best judgement. I then told her that I had quit my job, and that I was working at blogging and trying to “reinvent” myself. It was then that she was able to give some encouraging words to me. It was a great conversation, and I left feeling better in both body and spirit. Continue reading “Right time, right place.”
Viva La Revolution!! And I do not mean some kind of violent upheaval, I mean the spinning around till you get back to the start. That is where I am today, back to getting some tapping done. I am trying to be mindful of everything that is going on in the world, but life goes on. And isn’t that why we continue to address the same issues? Life must go on. I have to work, pay bills, care for my family, exercise, eat right and try to encourage/instruct my children. (still!!)
I was tapping this morning (yikes) and I found that one step was really hard for me, because of one little problem. I was having a hard time with my weight on my heel and bringing my other foot off the floor. It was all a matter of balance. I felt awkward and terribly clumsy, but kept working on it. After thinking it through, watching the video and practicing that one part repeatedly it finally felt better. It probably did not look perfect, but it did feel a little more natural. Continue reading “Tap dance as life.”
So today as I watch the news and watch officer involved shootings, I am…? I am not even sure. I am angry and upset. I am so sad that families will be going through the emotional roller coaster, that is now their new normal. I am tired of seeing the same bad decision making, incident after incident.
I called my son, because I knew he would be angry. As I spoke with him, I tried to work through what I was thinking, while giving him what I hoped would be wisdom. So I told my son that the best way we can do something at this point would be personal. (At this point, I had a whole paragraph of some of the things that I think need to be addressed, but trying to keep opinion out and see what God teaches me through this.) Continue reading “Where is justice?”
So today I am going back to the start. I said that I have typically 20 things going on in my head at one time, so I am trying to clear everything else out and focus on one thing. I have my tap board ready, my shoes and a video of simple instructions. I have to get practicing if I am going to be ready for next year’s National Tap Dance Day.
It has been a couple of weeks since building my board, and trying it out for a fe
w minutes. Why haven’t I stepped back on you ask? Well, this morning I was asking myself the same thing. I thought back over the past couple of weeks, and wondered what happened? What took my excitement away? Where did the drive go to accomplish something new ? I know the whole tap dancing thing seems a little trivial, but it really is a means to deal with other things that are truly not so trivial. Insecurities, health, doubt, fear, fitness and choosing the freedom to live life joyfully.
I look back on the last few weeks, and I see doubt and fear raising their ugly heads. These two monsters have been attacking me with a vengeance. The avenues of attack? It has been finances, writing, back pain and even discouragement. So where is my defense? I got a kick star
t from reading the bible, making props for storytelling, helping my husband and reading some Max Lucado. That is all just to stay afloat. I also listened to an author/speaker named John Maxwell, and he was talking about one of his books, “Today Matters”. There was a lot in it, but my quick take away was if you put something off until tomorrow, it is more than likely it will never get done.
I have been legitimately busy, but I noticed that this was the only thing that I kept putting off day after day. That caught my attention. I always put off doing what I don’t like, is hardest or most uncomfortable for me. It is a pattern. So when I see this, I know I have to attack it. So here I am, ready to wage war on my fear and insecurity through the art of dance. OK, I use the word art and dance very loosely. You have heard the saying, “Dance like no one is watching.” Well I can tell you, I have never been more thankful that no one is watching.
As I closed the door to the office, I wondered if it was a message to me. I had gone there to pitch myself for a job. It was almost exactly two years ago, and I was feeling a pull for something else. What was that something else, I wasn’t sure? So when you feel that pull, where do you go? To your pastor. Or your BFF, your therapist, the dog or maybe even the local bartender. I am a God kind of girl, so I went to the pastor first. I don’t have a dog, nor a therapist and I was keeping the bartender for the end as my method of last resort. They had plans, a new vision. So as I spoke to one and then another, I asked the question to myself, do their plans include me? It was on that second visit that I remember the door.
I was leaving their office, which is located in a converted home. Being the somewhat timid person I am, I turned around and quietly shut the door, as to not make a loud exit. It was then that the door caught my attention. It closed, as doors tend to do. It was then I thought, is this my answer? Even though we had an excellent meeting, the door closing made an impression. We always pray for a door to be closed to help us make decisions. Our problem is when we see it closed, we then try to slide in through the mail slot.
I think of that door often, when I get frustrated. I have a picture in my mind of that day, as I stood there watching it close. I guess that was not the way for me. So here I am sitting, writing and trying in my own way to open my own door.
So I really love to write, and I typically have 20 things going through my head at one time, so I always feel like it should come freely and with ease. The only problem is, most time it doesn’t. By the end, it feels more like child birth than anything else. Times of struggle, gasping for each new line. Then at times there is rest and a moment where new insight is revealed. So for me, it is not always easy.
This morning though, I was really inspired and wanted to just sit and get my thoughts down on paper. It all started when I read a blog, “Fcuk Pretty.” Well the title had me interested, and when I went to read it, the post had me hooked. I enjoyed the writing and honesty, but most of all I loved the commonality. In my own life, I could relate to some of the feelings and statements that she was relaying in the post. What is the best part though? It was her. I looked at some of the information about her, and I knew that I would not naturally be a part of her circle of friends. (influence?) To me though, that is exciting.
Again, we find so many ways to separate ourselves from each other, and I am done with that. It is boring. I want to risk meeting people who are different than me, the ones that I am not “supposed” to talk to. I want to know their story, and how it may have hurt them or brought them strength. I want to hear about the things that separate us, because when I look at them through the lens of eternity, those things become meaningless.
What do you think? Are you tired of being labeled and put in someone else’s box?
Here is the link to the original post: https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/33316213/posts/1045939154
Seems the link may be having issues. Where is my IT guy? Please cut and paste…it will get you there. Sorry for the difficulties….but I do recommend reading it. Thanks!!
Cheryl Mendoza 