Dear TSJ Friends,
It is Wednesday – time for us to sit back and spend a few moments together! It gives me warm feelings to think of you and ponder your notes and think about your lives. Mr. Wisdom Muse, Solomon, likes Wednesdays. Together we decided to keep things pretty upbeat with a bit of review of simple strategies to help in tough times.
If there is one thing we know right now it is that we don’t know what the future will bring! We have always known this of course. But now we know it experientially from almost any walk of life one can think of.
At this time on my own life journey on Planet Earth I am noticing several inner shifts . . . some positive and others under construction.
So Solomon whispered in my ear and said to offer a brief review of six of the phrases I have either written about or shared with TSJ fellow travelers of late. They seem to be like booster shots for my own heart and mind.
I have always enjoyed short sayings of thought provoking wisdom but rarely can remember them. I am much better at remembering a story than a saying, no matter how great I think it is. So it surprises me that this is what I seem to be leaning into these days. Even so, they have to be simple, easy to put into practice and useful under many different kinds of circumstances.
The other day I received the card in the picture from a dear TSJ friend. And regular readers will remember my blog about this a few months back when I swear it was the first time I ever heard it! Several of you wrote that you have this saying in your home or offices.
So let’s start with this as our first saying reminder or review.
IT IS A GOOD DAY TO HAVE A GOOD DAY
I am thankful for the card. For now, it is on my desk which is where I come each new day in the morning. Its truth warms my spirit even when it is barely awake and I am still stretching out some aches and pains left over from the night or the previous day. It sets the tone. I also have used it for night time! When restless I will sometimes say to myself, “Self, it is a good night to have a good night.” Sometimes it works.
“LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED; NEITHER LET IT BE AFRAID”
Perhaps you will remember that when John and I went on our first cruise ever, it was the last week before the coronavirus shut down. Nearly all of us were troubled on the ship wondering if we would be allowed back into Fort Lauderdale. During a Sunday morning sharing group one lovely woman shared that this bible verse had carried her through troubled times. And if Jesus said it, you can be sure it is worth holding as a treasure in your heart. I was troubled at the time and the world has been pretty troubled since. So it is calming to remember God is in charge and we need not stay troubled and afraid because God is with us.
DO ONE THING
Often we feel overwhelmed and carry a long “to do list” in our heads. It is helpful to have a “One thing goal” each day to reduce perfectionism and overwhelm. It might be as brief as to make one call or write one email each day. That way when the day runs away from us we can look back and say. “At least I did one important thing on my list. This has helped me when I allow myself to step back, take a breath and gradually and lovingly accept what is and do what I can during the storms of life.
BE ON THE LOOKOUT
Recently I wrote a blog about my experience of losing some money and how that got me attuned to the whole idea of being on the lookout for something and how it changes your focus. My goal is each day to be on the lookout for God and Good in each day.
It has been amazing how often I have found unspeakable blessings by being on the lookout for them. The other day when we were sailing on Lake Ontario I realized how often I watch for where the lighthouse is to keep my orientation. Goodness comes from God and each day finding goodness is like finding little treasure we might otherwise miss.
“IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A KEEPER”
This is one of my newer favorite quotes!
It came out in conversation with another TSJ friend. She is an artist who sews and quilts beautiful pieces and has naturally high expectations of herself. And when I was sharing the journey of writing failures she understood the process. She mused, “Sometimes I have to remind myself that not every piece will be a keeper.”
My heart skipped a beat. I needed that reminder!
The moment she said that, I heard it as a quote for all of us. When we are too self critical it can take away the joy of simply creating something for the sake of creating it!
“HANG ON AND LET GO and DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN AND AGAIN”
Like each of these sayings, this is familiar to all of us. But I heard it again when listening to the Today Show this morning. These words were offered as comforting advice for parents and others coping with so much togetherness since COVID -19.
Here I would love to write a lot because it is a topic that we all struggle with. But for today, I offer just a few words from other professionals for us to ponder.
Special Note to Parents (About Hanging on and Letting Go!)
“Having children is such an intense experience that we will spend the rest of our lives learning to let go.” (from The Biggest Job...)
I think I hear a universal “Amen” to that quote!
Recently, I pulled out one of my favorite parenting books from my collection. I purchased this one several years ago and I liked it because the writers talk more about the “principles of parenting” than “how-to” approaches. I find pondering and living out principles is useful on many levels and takes into account many perspectives and values which influence us.
The book? The Biggest Job We’ll Ever Have by Laura and Malcolm Gauld.
When I looked in it today to share some things with you, I noticed they have a whole chapter on “Take Hold and Let Go.”
Since that topic is what I heard on the morning show I thought I would share it with you.
“As parents we face an ongoing dilemma: When do we step in to take action and when do we step away from it? We often want to step in and take charge when we most need to listen and step back. Likewise we can’t be afraid to take action when ‘our gut is churning’ and we are unsure about the outcome. How do we deal with this inevitable confusion as we parents attempt to balance the seemingly opposite concepts of taking hold and letting go?”
For All of us . . .
Here are a couple of quotes from that chapter that struck me for all of us.
~ ~ “Sometimes when we hang on to the ‘ideal,’ we are prevented from appreciating some valuable moments.” (p214)
~ ~ “Perfection is a word, a state of mind, an image of family life that seems to get in our way so often that some of use need to constantly let go of its seductive veneer.”
Finally, the authors remark that taking hold and letting go can be seen as “a way to work through issues, both large and deep as well as minor and routine. —–They are “not separate actions but are fluid and connected.”
It seems like it fits into the fact that most of life is a “both/and” event or process!
(I do not get a commission from Amazon but I did check and it is still being sold.)
I also found this brief video you may want to check out. Just click on the word video as it will take you there.)
We hope that these little reminders may be useful to you as they are to us. Sometimes a reminder can bring up new thoughts and keep us curious.
May you have moments of joy discovering the Good in each day, holding onto what is essential and letting letting go of perfection and a troubled heart when you can, doing one thing important to you, and remembering to keep creating things that bring you joy just for the sake of it!
All of this because, This Day . . . Now . . . is ” a good day to have a good day!!
Margie and Solomon
