Why Settle

It's seems like in so many areas of life.....our lives in particular.... we settle for what life has given us. Maybe it's circumstances or environment, or maybe it's choices that have been made by us or others.

Hmmmm.....Seems like I've written about this before......

Maybe it's because certain areas of my life have been stuck in a rut, so to speak. I see the changes that need to be made, but I've slipped into the comfortable place of complacency. I like a routine in my life and when that routine is broken, I feel out of sync, a bit frustrated and a bit of an unhappy camper.

I plan the day with new expectations and fulfillment, but slide back into that routine where nothing seems to get done. I settle for another day of the same old same old, wasting another day of opportunities.

I settle..........

I have all the answers as to what needs to be done and what changes need to be made.....but, I settle.......

I blame it on old age or the woes of my body when it's racked with pain and depression......but, I settle.....

I could say that at times I'm just down right lazy.....but, I settle......

I'm settling for a life unfulfilled, a life where dreams are forgotten and plans are left behind.

But why....why do some of us rise above our expectations.....and some of us just settle?

As the song says, "I've Got a New Attitude".... that seems to be part of the answer. But the drive of the heart and spirit, the hard stuff, the getting out of our comfort zone and getting accustomed to being a bit uncomfortable, seems to finish the equation.

So as I write once again, I'm preaching to the choir and I'm the main soloist. It's time to get off of my butt, break my routine, and stop settling for a life of broken dreams and disappointments.

Will I succeed....
Or will I settle.....
What ever the outcome......it's all up to me......


and the Journey continues......

Lord Of All

For some reason I've had this song on my mind a lot lately. I wrote it a few years back.
I didn't have a vocal recording of it but will work on that soon. Here's the computer version......

"Lord Of All"

Lord be the Lord of all I am, and Lord of all I can be
Surround me in love and righteousness, in mercy and truth will You lead
Glory and honor I give to You, worthy the Lamb that was slain
With power and might, in Your holy light
You give life's meaning to me

(Repeat)

Worthy, You are worthy
You are worthy Lord of honor and praise
Worthy, You are worthy
You are worthy Lord of honor and praise

(Repeat)

Of honor and praise
Of honor and praise

copyright 1994 Wynn W. Flaming Publishing

I Choose Life

Seems like a lot of my blogs have been very gloomy lately, so today I offer some Joy.........


I Choose Life.....

I step outside and feel the warmth of the sun on my face
I see the beauty of nature all around with it's splendor and colors
I walk slowly so I don't miss out, taking in all the wonders around me

I breath deeply, feeling the fresh air fill my lungs
I feel the strength of my body
I notice the little signs of age catching up, but I have the joy of feeling those little aches and pains

I catch myself singing, yes singing, feeling that lost passion arise again
I look out and see the woes of the world hidden by the light of God's love
I feel His peace surround me like a warm blanket, shielding me from a cool breeze

I have a roof over my head and food on my table
I have been blessed with friends who care
I live in a town where music is a way of life

I have lost love ones, but have had the chance to have them in my life
I lived a life, blessed with great adventures, journeys and travels
I have dreams and hopes, yet to come, full of limitless possibilities

I know that life is a gift and today, is the first day, of the rest of my life
I can make a difference in this world with my choices, my talents and my heart
I will let God's love shine through me, erasing the darkness

I step outside and feel the warmth of the sun on my face
I breath deeply, feeling the fresh air fill my lungs
I catch myself singing, yes singing, feeling that lost passion arise again
I have a roof over my head and food on my table
I have lost love ones, but have had the chance to have them in my life
I know that life is a gift and today, is the first day, of the rest of my life

I Choose Life.....

Empathy

I don't know if it's possible to have too much empathy for the world around us. Add concern, sympathy and heart and that can lead to a lot of pain in one's life. Thus, I don't know if that's a blessing or a curse.

I tend to let the woes of the world over come me at times, pulling me down, and at times, take the life out of me.

I talk a lot about finding balance in life, probably because that's one of the hardest things for me to do. I look at the world around me and see the woes before I see the victories. I think because of the last few years of pain concerning family situations, it's become my norm. But as Shannon and Lin commented in previous blogs, it's that pain that I have felt that allows me to feel more deeply, the pain of others.

As I look at the political adds, opinions, anger and frustrations, I hurt....wondering why we have forgotten how to be human, show love and compassion and get along.

As I watch the screen above the highways showing 12 more people killed on Tennessee roads today, I hurt.....knowing so many families and friends have lost someone so special in a blink of an eye.

As I watched the couple at the pharmacy, who had walked for miles in the heat from the shelter, only to find that their prescription wouldn't be ready till tomorrow, I hurt....wondering what brought them to that point in their lives and how they must view their world.

As I watch hundreds killed everyday in foreign countries, I hurt.....wondering when will the madness stop.

I realize all these things are a part of life, a part of our journey. I realize we have to take the good and the bad and realize it all makes us who we are.........

But.......
I still struggle to find that balance......
I still struggle to see the joy before the sadness, the good before the bad......
I still struggle to not let my empathy....and sympathy.....and concern.....and heart, take away my own joy and uniqueness, my own purpose and fulfillment, my own hopes and dreams......
I still struggle to see the light at the end of the tunnel, knowing it's there, just hidden by the darkness.

So I continue my quest to find that balance in life, to not let the hurts take away from my healing, to let laughter fill my voice where no tears seem to flow.
I continue on my Journey of Life, hoping to reach out, to make a difference, to share my heart, to dream of better days and to continue to Live my Life......the Best I Can......

A Day In The Life.......Or.....Death

I stepped outside this evening and snapped a couple of photos of some of the out door cats. Smokey Joe, was sleeping peacefully in the porch chair, with out a care in the world. I left for about ten minutes to pick up some supper a few blocks away, and as I returned home.....Smokey Joe, was in the street. I picked him up, his body still warm but lifeless, a touch of blood from his mouth. Just a kitten....but my kitten and you might say one of the kids.

I had just heard on the TV about a young man drowning in a lake near by,  a young man killed in a car accident just a few minutes before.  Then there was the news of O.J. Murdock, a WR for the Tennessee Titans who died this morning at 25 as the result of a suicide.

A day of dying.....
A day of tragedy.....
A day of shock.....
A day of mourning.....

Parents, keep your children close. Nurture them, love them, and help them see each day as a wonderful experience, a gift, a blessing......

Children, love your parents, show them respect, savor each moment with them......

Live your life like there is no tomorrow, for we never know when tomorrow, will never come........

Feelings

We live in a world where pain, death, tragedy and hardships have become common place.  Sure, we've experienced these things through out history, but with the unlimited access from tv, computers, cell phones, iPads, etc, we become aware of what's in the news right after it happens.  With all of our technology, we are bombarded everyday with the world's tragedy, and with the news, it seems like we see more tragedy, then joy. It's as though we've become way too accustomed to it. It's as though we've forgotten how to feel.

My friend, Lin, made a comment on one of my earlier blogs about Mercy.  He said....
"Unless one is in or has lived in a place of pain, has known deep anguish, is not one to forget what it FEELS like, then mercy is in short supply."


Being exposed to so much....stuff.... on a daily basis, seems to have made us a bit numb at times, when it comes to our feelings. When we go through our own pain or joy, and really feel it.....Really Feel It.....we tend to show more compassion and empathy when others feel suffering. Then as time passes, we too seem to forget the deep emotions and feeling we had and become complacent in our own little worlds.

Maybe I'm talking more about me, than you.  We all perceive the world differently. We all deal with our feelings and cope with the world around us in our own unique way. Some of us tend to shut off our emotions in times of stress. Others are able to let the rivers of tears flow, in times of pain, and times of joy.
I tend to shut off more....then shed.

For those of us who are lovers of technology, we catch our minds running a marathon most of the time. With so much going on in our skulls, we tend to forget about what's going on in our hearts. We forget how to feel.

As with most things....good things...in life, we have to make a conscious effort to learn them, to let them grow, to let them become a part of who we are.  As we learn how to expand our minds, we have to learn how to expand our hearts.  We have to learn how to Really Feel, so the other good things in life....Love, Passion, Compassion, Mercy, Hope, Faith and Joy, can manifest themselves more fully as well.

So as I continue on my journey of life, I too have to continue to make that effort to Feel from the Heart, and not just the Head. To enjoy the life that God has given. To accept the things that I can not change and make the things I can better. To give the world my Heart and hope, in a small way, it becomes a better place......


and the Journey Continues......

Music

I've always felt that Music is the Key that opens the Door to the Heart and Soul.....

Music has always been my passion, my release, my escape, my heart......
It's been neglected at times in my life, but every time I find my way back to it, I find that comfort.
Hmmmmm......much like God......

When I sit at the piano...and yep....the piano is so much better than a keyboard, I can let my emotions flow for hours and hours without stopping. When I'm done, I'm drained, but at peace. Whether I'm just letting the music flow or I'm playing with the purpose of creating, it's a time of fulfillment for me.

I'ts amazing how many times I've been deep in the frustrations of the world and forgotten to let the music soothe me with it's healing powers.
Hmmmmm......much like God.....

As Arthur O'Shaughnessy wrote,

"We are the music makers,
And we are the dreamers of dreams"


We've been blessed in life with different talents, some art and writing, some music and dance, some sports or mathematics, some the gift of being a mother or father or a friend, with a heart of gold. That talent or gift, as it seems, comes from a place deep within us, chosen by the God that guides us.  We can either take hold of that gift and run with it, or let it turn to dust by the wayside. We can let our dreams reach out to new heights or become dulled by the mediocrity of our own complacency.

So once again, I return to my music and let it once again become my passion and my joy. I will beat the keys with my anger and frustration, my inner most thoughts and feelings, as well as my victories and dreams. I will let the life of the chords and melodies take me to a place that only they can.
I will let go....
I will create.....
I will begin again.....


and the Journey Continues.......