2/5/2016 3 Comments With Memories AttachedI was chatting with a friend on the phone this morning about random things and she suggested an idea for a book. She has been confined to her bedroom pretty much for the past week or so after a surgery so has had lots of time to think. She said she was looking about her room at the various things she has display on the wall, on shelves and on her dresser. It occurred to her just how each item had some memory attached to it. "Wouldn't it be a great idea to take a tour of your house and write down the story behind the items that have some special meaning for you? How did you acquire it? What is the story," she asked, "that is attached to it?" I told her it was a great idea and she should pursue it. She said she no writing ability, but that it would be a great idea for someone with writing talent to something like that. Although I truly believe anyone as the ability to write if they just find their voice and tell their story, I agreed it was something that would be rather interesting. I actually had this same idea a while back. There are so many things with so many stories attached to them in my house that I am sure I could fill a book. Or a blog. Or whatever. So I think I will see about doing just that. I am creating a new page for this site called "With Memories Attached". On it I think I will blog about the things I have kept and display in my house. I know they are really just things, but they have memories attached for me that bring me joy* when I look at them. I think it will be an interesting journey. I'll let you know when I begin to post to it. ***************************** *"First, put your hands on everything you own, ask yourself if it sparks joy, and if it doesn’t, thank it for its service and get rid of it. Second, once only your most joy-giving belongings remain, put every item in a place where it’s visible, accessible, and easy to grab and then put back." ---Marie Kondo in her book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing.
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2/3/2016 1 Comment Wonder Working TherapyFor the past few days I have been working out in my yard during the day for several hours. Trimming back bushes, pulling weeds and unwanted grass, etc. As I was working it suddenly hit me that I was getting some much need gardening therapy. It felt so good! I love being in touch with the earth under the warming sun. And everything is ready to start its annual spring blooming. What could be a better way to spend your time? That's when it occurred to me that this might be a result of my own version of the Puritan Ethic. The Puritan Ethic is the concept that hard work and frugality is your path to salvation. Hmmm. I thought I was doing it because I enjoyed it. So I wondered: should I feel guilty for enjoying this work? Does my soul need salvation? Can I really work my way into heaven? All this as a result of what had probably been instilled in me as a young kid growing up in the midwest. And this answer was "not really" on any of these questions. So now I have come to the conclusion it is good and just to pursue our bliss...even therapeutic! Whether it be in our gardens or with pen in hand or with a camera to one's creative eye, that is what brings salvation. That salvation is of your spirit. It is a balm against the stresses and strains of daily living in this crazy world. Puritan Ethic or no, I just know we pick our own paths to salvation, whatever that means to each of us. So its here! The eve of one of the most important holidays of the year. Well, maybe not one of the biggest, but certainly one of the most fun. Yes, I know, it is not a close the bank, stop the postal deliveries, don't have to go to work or gift-giving with good food and libation sort of holiday, but it is, well, its Ground Hog's Day. Come on now. It's the day when the whole world waits breathlessly...well maybe not breathlessly..but with keen anticipation....well, maybe not keen, maybe not even anticipation...but I think I lot of people wonder and tune in to see if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow. There's a whole festival devoted to it, for heaven's sake! For more info click here: Groundhog Seriously, every year I wonder if it is whether the groundhog sees his shadow that means there will be six more weeks of winter or it is that he doesn't see his shadow? And hey, isn't it just about six weeks until the first official day of spring (on or about March 21)? And, oh heck, who really cares? It's all in good fun. "The celebration of Groundhog Day began with Pennsylvania's earliest settlers. They brought with them the legend of Candlemas Day, which states, "For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day, so far will the snow swirl in May... Punxsutawney held its first Groundhog Day in the 1800s. The first official trek to Gobbler's Knob was made on February 2, 1887." And there you have it, so get up early tomorrow and celebrate!! |
Rob McMurray,
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