Progress

Well looky there. I missed a day of NaBloPoMo and the world did not fall apart. My computer did not blow up. My blog is still here where I left it. And even in the face of imperfection, I am not abandoning the blog. I am back for another day. Chalk up one for breaking the all or nothing cycle one insignificant moment at a time.

And that's all I got.

Time Marching On to the Beat of a Traumatic Drum

11:27 pm and still no inspiration for the day. I decided to head over to NaBloPoMo headquarters to scoop out a topic for the evening. Today's topic -"Has anything traumatic ever happened to you?"

Well. As a matter of fact, this very evening, a little interaction between my dear husband and myself may just qualify to fit in the trauma department. We were occupying ourselves with a little evening television when a commercial came on. It was one of those banking, or insurance, or future investment sort of deals where a father in his fifties was yearning for an early retirement and ease of living as he juggled the financial burdens of his busy family. You know the type. They are the ones I usually fast forward.

So Harv throws out, "Hmmm. 50. That is eleven years from now."

At first I chuckled...thinking that he was teasing me. Somewhat like he does in late spring after the long loooooong winter when he points out a yellow leaf and informs me that the fall season is dawning.

And then I did the math.

Eleven years! We have been married 11 years! It has gone by in a blink. That means one more blink and we are the people in the commercials, checking out our portfolios and wondering where all the time went.

Am I the only one that feels like just yesterday I was a kid, and that tomorrow I will be applying for the nursing home?

Speed of life. Trauma. I think I need to lay down.

Choices, Choices

Today I had a choice. Post on my blog, or watch TV with my hubby.

Guess what I chose?

And how 'bout this one?

Another picture.

Worth another thousand words.

That can best be summed up in two...

CUTIE PATOOTIE.

Maybe I can keep up the NaBloPoMo.

Obstacle #367

So how does one stick to a daily writing commitment on a night like tonight when I have been busy all day, a house full of stampers all evening, overnight guests, and a clock that is almost showing midnight?

How about this?

They say a picture is worth a million words. Man I love this kid.

And how are things with YOU? Part II

Many years ago I knew a girl who lived her life in a “glass half empty” sort of way. Negativity replaced any joyful expression and if there was something to complain about – she was on the job! I remember hearing others whisper about the negativity. Let’s not invite her – she is such a complainer. She is SO negative.

I think hearing those comments had a profound effect on me, even to this day. I feel like I am always keeping myself in check. I want to share with others how I feel about things – but I am always on guard to not come across as TOO negative. Balance every downer comment with a couple of positive. If expressing how hard the adjustment to parenting has been, make sure to follow with about 10 loving statements of how much I love my child (which I do by the way). Be careful how you are coming across on all your Facebook status. Have a blog that is real and to the heart of how things are, but not too real, because what would people think?

I was told a while back that I was a bit of a drag. I guess I was not working hard enough to keep myself in check. I will do better next time. But what if I don’t want to? What if I just want to be who I am?

And this once again brings me to the question, when people ask “How are things with you?” do they really want to know? Do people REALLY want to know the real, day-to-day life stuff and struggles of others around them? Or do they want to hear just enough to feel like they had a “good” conversation with you, without getting their hands too dirty?

What if when asked “How are things with you?” we could answer freely without any editing?

What if people could just be who they are?

What if God intended the glass half empty people to balance out the glass half full people? Wouldn’t two halves make one full cup?

Wouldn’t we all breathe with a little more freedom if we didn’t have to think so hard? Would the question of “How are things with you?” be met with a few less blank stares and a little less panic (for me at least)?

When I ask you how things are with you I hope you find a free place to share from the honest depths of who you are - because that is what I am really hoping to get back from you in return. So let’s raise our glasses – whether half full or half empty and toast to living life with more honesty and far less editing.

And how are things with YOU? Part I

The other night Harv and I were doing a little visitation supper with a couple from our church. It was a pleasant evening and we were catching up on their lives. How are things with work? How are the newlywed children? I hear you are going to be grandparents! And so on and so forth. Half way through the evening the couple looked at us and said. “We have been talking all night about us. HOW ARE THINGS WITH YOU?”

Blank.

I looked at Harv.

Harv looked at me.

"Good. Good." I said a little nervously. Do they mean how are things going with the church? Do they mean just our lives in general? Do they REALLY want to know? Do they really want to hear about the thing that consumes our entire life – parenting? Man I wish I would have prepped for this question ahead of time.

I am not good at “How are things with you?” If I could keep you talking about yourself all evening with engaging questions and conversation starters, I would do it. Maybe I am unsure if people REALLY want to know how things are going, or if it is just the polite thing you say. I answered honestly a while back. I said. “Not great.” I was met with an awkward, stunned, deer-in-the-headlights sort of look.

Maybe I misunderstood the question.

Obstacle #2 to regular blogging – do people REALLY want to know? Not sure I want to hear the answer to that one. Maybe let’s talk about you for a while instead. How are things with YOU?

Why Decide Today What I can Put Off until Tomorrow?

Do you know what my new definition of crazy is? Someone who has written a total of 1 post in the last 6 months committing to post every day for the month of November. Crazy. But, it does seem to fit in nicely with the flow of all or nothing that I have patterned my life after. I am not even sure if the whole idea of NaBloPoMo is even possible right now. I mean physically possible, as I am unsure if I can remember my blogger password. But I guess if I managed to post this, then that is one hurtle overcome.

One hurtle. 30 more to go.
Or not.
I think I will decide tomorrow.