Friday, February 17, 2006

Ordinary people... (Feb '06)

Quite often I'm reminded of how we don't really live very ordinary lives. Instead we are ordinary people living extraordinary lives! Regularly I get a sense of restlessness - as if my mind, soul or body is telling me it's time for some change because life has become too routine... too drab... too hum drum.

For instance - twice in the past week my pilot brother has called while strolling through the Dallas-Fort Worth airport.... upon the sightings of some well known individuals. He walked into the bathroom and standing in the corner is Ted Nugent - shoveling a cookie into his mouth. And then just a few days later he saw Jesse James (from the tv show 'Monster Garage' and tattooed husband of Sandra Bullock).

And I am awed and amazed by the lives celebrities must live. And then I wake up the next morning, sometimes having to drag myself out of bed, and come to work to sit down to start the same daily routine over again. But this morning I took some extra time to soak in my surroundings.

Within arms' reach are pictures of my 'nearest and dearest' - these bring a smile to my face - and the unforgettable times flood in. Pictures from travels - from where I sit I see some exquisite sights from Amsterdam (Netherlands), Brussels (Belgium), Florence (Italy), Geneva (Switzerland), Y'voire (France), Boston MA, Portland OR and Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz and San Diego CA. And the memories from these places take over and I realize - my life really isn't so hum drum!


It dawns on me... isn't it all in how you view your world?! The objects in my pictures are everyday sights to the people living near them. But they were, and continue to be, so amazing to me - because I had just witnessed them for the first time. All of this to say - we just need to go about our days doing the best we can with what we've been given and for what we've been called to do in our daily lives - and at the same time keep our eyes open! We just never know what we're going to see!!!

"Life was meant to be lived, and curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn one’s back on life." - Eleanor Roosevelt

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." - Helen Keller

Friday, February 10, 2006

Emotions (Feb '06)

Today is what I call a "sad day".... I don't know WHY I'm feeling blue... I just am. When my husband asks why I'm not smiling more - I don't have a specific reason. It's just one of those days where I woke up sad and I choose to stick it out through these emotions.

Maybe I won't figure out WHY I'm sad... maybe I won't have a great epiphany as to WHAT occurred that is making me feel sad... maybe I will just LIVE in these emotions and let it be... maybe I'm OK w/ the tears running down my face all the way to work... maybe it's OK for me to face the world today without a cheery smile and optimistic outlook.

Does it make me "depressed"? No... not clinically. Does it make me bitchy? No... I'm still responsible for my actions and know when not to speak or act out in anger ... most of the time. Does it make me an uncontrollable, emotional wreck? No... Does it make me a weak human being? No... I'm just living through the emotions... we all have them. So instead of "stuffing" them and pretending that everything is OK and that I've got it all together and that I've got the world on a string - I'm just going to be ME today - and let these emotions run their course.

I know laughter will return at some point today ... it's just a matter of time. I know optimism will creep back in... and the glass will be half FULL again. I know that LIVING IN MY EMOTIONS is the healthiest thing for me to do for myself today.

Carpe Diem!!!

Copyright

All images are © Lori Tisdale, 1990-2011 unless otherwise noted. Images are posted for your personal inspiration only and may not be copied/pasted into emails to share with anyone else, posted on other sites, copied for publications, contest submissions, or monetary gain. I'd have to track you down and who knows what would happen then?! Thank you for being considerate.