It started with dreams of a bigger world, explorers seeking land and new territories for their mother countries. It was soon followed by a brave little group of puritans seeking religious freedom to live and worship God in their own way. Then there was the dream of
You can pay people to cook for you, to clean for you and do all of your shopping for you- But nobody can sleep for you....
Your mother wiped your bottom for you, your nose for you and she washed all of your clothes for you- But she never could sleep for you...
Nobody can really eat for you but they can turn your meals into quick pills, drinks and bars for you- But they cannot give you sleep...
They can give you supplements that stimulate being awake for you- But this is still not sleeping for you....
Your secretary can fax for you, tax for you and write letters and pay bills for you- But she cannot sleep for you....
You can hire a nanny to raise your children for you or a dog walker to walk your dog for you- But there are no substitute sleepers...
Your friends may have dumped your girlfriend for you, lied for you and maybe did you homework for you- But they couldn’t sleep for you...
The internet can find dates for you, find answers and interests for you, tweet for you and poke for you- But it cannot sleep for you...
Sleep requires time, it’s priceless and valuable and nobody is exempt, it’s a fact of life that we all need to plug in and recharge...
Sleep requires you and only you to take care of yourself and sleep- because nobody can do it for you...
Have you tried this? Drinking upside down, through a paper towel, a spoonful of sugar, holding your breath or somebody jumping out to scare you? Hiccups are the strangest thing...
The average hiccup spell can last from a few minutes to a few hours, but some people suffer from extended episodes that last days, months or even years. Hiccups that last longer than 48 hours are called persistent hiccups, and if they've lasted more than a month, you have intractable hiccups. Both types can cause serious health problems and, in some cases, even death. For many of us, hiccups begin in the womb. The recapitulation theory proposes that fetuses use hiccups in respiration before their lungs are fully developed. This may help explain why premature infants spend up to 2.5 percent of their time hiccuping -- more than full-term babies. As we get older, bouts of hiccups decrease. The most likely time to hiccup is in the evening. Women can hiccup more during the first two weeks of their menstrual cycle, so pregnant women tend to hiccup far less than their nonpregnant counterparts do.
We know what happens during a hiccup. During normal breathing, we take in air from the mouth and nose, and it flows through the pharynx, past the glottis and into the larynx and trachea, ending in the lungs. The diaphragm, a large muscle between the chest and abdomen, aids this airflow. It moves down when we inhale, and then up when we exhale. The phrenic nerves control the movement and sensation of the diaphragm. Any irritation to these nerves induces a spasm of the diaphragm. This spasm causes a person to take a short, quick breath that is then interrupted by the closing of the epiglottis (a flap that protects the glottis, the space between the vocal cords). The sudden closing creates the sound we all know as a hiccup.
So, hiccups are the result of diaphragm spasms. But what causes the irritation that leads to the spasm? There are only a few culprits for common hiccups, which usually disappear within a few minutes. One of the main irritants is a full stomach -- a result of swallowing too much food or air. A distended stomach pushes against the phrenic nerves of the diaphragm, increasing the possibility of irritation and, therefore, hiccups. A full stomach of spicy food can do double damage -- hot foods can be especially irritating to those nerves. As any smoker on a bender can tell you, excess smoking and drinking alcohol can also cause hiccups. A rapid temperature change outside or inside your stomach, from a cold night or a hot beverage, can be irritating enough to induce hiccups. Finally, emotions -- shock, excitement and stress -- can also trigger a hiccup fit.
Persistent and intractable hiccups can have more serious causes. There are hundreds, from hysteria to heart attacks, but most fit into one of five categories: central nervous system problems, metabolic problems, nerve irritation, anesthesia or surgery, and mental health issues. Because these causes are so varied and potentially serious, anyone suffering from hiccups for more than 48 hours should head straight to a doctor.
Is it half empty or half full? We have all probably been asked this question about how we see the glass? They say it’s a test to find out if you are an optimist or a pessimist. Sometimes I think it might just depend on how “thirsty” you are? How bad you want something, how long you have been waiting, if you ever had it and now it’s gone or perhaps you have always been in want. I admire those people who really appreciate their lot in life, those who are content with the circumstances that they were given. There are always two ways to see something, usually more, so we do have a choice. It’s cliché but true that you can’t always choose what happens to you but you can choose how to react and what actions will follow.
I don’t know if it’s possible to crave a city... but today I am most certainly craving
Some memories really stand out and I thought of this one today as I ate a little “biscuit”...
The sun was shining, the air was humid and salty and it was the most crowded beach I had ever seen, the towels and blankets and chairs were all side by side as though everyone in the whole town was set up to watch a movie at the drive-in all the way down the beach as far as I could see. The people sounded different, we were in
Perhaps it was that Valentine that you received in the second grade that said, “you’re beautiful” or it was the time that you didn’t get picked for the soccer team with all of your friends, or playing the lead in the school play, or the time that your teacher told the whole class that you got the high score on the test, or the day that you messed up and got stage fright in your piano recital, or the bully that called you the poor kid, the fat kid or the stupid kid, or that moment that you realized all of the power that came along with being “popular”, or that time when somebody invited you to play and it made you feel special, or how you felt when you got ditched, or that time when you saw somebody picking on your best friend and you stopped them, or when somebody said thank you for something so simple as sharing, or the person who caught you stealing, or when you lied and got away with it, or that day that you made your mother cry, or when you blamed your sister for something you did, or feeling forgotten when your parents were hours late to pick you up from practice, or the angry face you witnessed you saw your first fist fight, or that pit in your stomach when you heard your friends talking about you behind your back, or that butterfly moment when you found out that the boy/girl that you liked- liked you back, or that time that you listened to somebody else’s problems and learned something about yourself, or that person who judged you and you felt misunderstood, or that teacher that filled your brain with crazy ideas that contradicted everything your parents taught, or that friend that you knew was a bad influence that you hung around anyway, or that smart kid who always gave you something to work towards, the president your did a report on in the fifth grade, or that teacher/coach that really encouraged you to new levels, the person who caused your first pang of jealousy, the weird kid who took you to the Prom, the person who really helped you to know that God is real, the character in your favorite book, the people who loved you, the people who sometimes knew you better than yourself despite your willingness to admit it, your mother, your father, your brother or sister, aunt or uncle, cousin or grandmother, or the grandparent you never met but everyone said that you were just like him/her, or the dog that was your best friend and confidant, your first love, the heart that you hated to break, your greatest competition, that friend who would always listen, that person who you knew could understand you, that person who bugged you so much that you did everything opposite just to ensure that you were not like him/her, the friend who moved away, the people who loved to put you in a box, the people who won’t let you grow up and make changes, the people who let you free and who let you learn and be who you want to be, the people that you watched and learned from without them knowing it, your children that taught you a whole new meaning of love, sacrifice and selflessness, the person who saved your life, the person you lost who made you stop taking life for granted, the people who watched and followed you without you knowing it, your first boss, the coworker you despised, envied or admired, the raunchy waitress who tried your patience, the person who held the elevator or picked up your glove and reassured you that there are still good people in the world...
People, and our interactions with people, how we view people and how people view us, the way we feel about people and how we react to people and the little moments and experiences with people that we hold on to, are all an influence in who we are... So many people take part in creating you and me both. And we are each helping to create the people around us whether we realize it or not. Through what experiences among the people in your life have you become who you are? Who has been and who now is part of creating you?
Perhaps the confusion started with the final scene of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, the part where Holly Golightly is wearing her khaki trench coat running through the alley yelling for Cat and getting soaked in the rain. There is a certain timeless look that I love about these coats. The original design is attributed to Burberry, created for the men in WWII. It became a popular style for men and women soon after. There are now hundreds of versions of this coat in all price ranges and qualities and styles. I have even owned a couple of versions myself (sadly leaving my first one in the airport a few years ago) but it wasn’t until this year that I discovered something else… A real raincoat, I mean one with a hood! It’s actually quite ridiculous that I never owned one before. And that I fell for the ads, mixing up “trench coats” for “raincoats” because they certainly are not the same. Trench coats are just really cute coats that advertisers like to put on models holding umbrellas and call them raincoats just to confuse us- often times they are not even water resistant. I know it’s not as cute or fashionable but this rainy winter in
I was thinking the other day about two kinds of people- those who like to fit in, and those who don’t. And how the two seem to always be at odds with each other. It’s kind of a complex little world of social phenomenon that comes into play. … Let’s just say you have a small town in the Midwest… you have a group that has been there forever, doing what their parents did, and what their parents’ parents did and so on…Going to the same schools, living in the same areas, enjoying the same hobbies, cheering on the same teams, and mingling with the same crowds… these are thick legacies not to be broken. They are living that same life that they saw modeled for them- it’s comfortable and familiar and they know what to expect and it’s probably a pretty good life. There is nothing wrong with this. It would probably be quite a little Utopia if it weren’t for that “other type” of person… These are often called the “black sheep”, the “rule-breakers”, “outcasts” or “outliers” or “misfits”… (Ha- “misfit” perfectly defined as “one who does not fit in.”) These are the people who like to be different and have a natural instinct against conformity of any kind. They relish in their uniqueness. It’s the classic story about the son or daughter born into a family from the “Fitin” group who feels restlessness with the world around him/her because he/she feels more akin to the “fitouts” and wants to be different… There is a conflict of interests that follow, the social pressure from the Fitins make it difficult because once you become a Fitout it’s difficult to go back because now you have already done something “different.” The Fitins are not usually very accepting of the Fitouts because they are unfamiliar, unpredictable and just “different”. They talk amongst themselves about how weird or bizarre they are and about the unimaginable or peculiar things that they do. And although the Fitouts do not seem to be so consumed with the Fitins and their predictable ways, they too are guilty of critiquing their lack of originality and sometimes shallow focus. They are usually cordial but the bottom line is just that they don’t understand each other. It’s funny though because sometimes you might have a Fitout that just doesn’t like the Fitins in their area because they just don’t have the same interests… so they break away and find a new area, a new group where they “fit in” and soon this new group with common interests and histories create a new generation of Fitins. It goes both ways because life always does. Sometimes you have somebody who is a Fitin, they actually like the life, the style and the people and everything that all of the other Fitins like in their circle… but this Fitin wants to feel different so they go among another circle with a different history/culture and ways but they hold to their roots rather than changing and relish in the fact that they are different now but they didn’t have to change who they were, just where they were because they are still just like everyone else where they came from but their new circle doesn’t really know that. And there are so many Fitouts who are actually Fitins but they won’t admit it, because sometimes people do something “different” just to “fit in”- it seems a little contradicting but it’s surprisingly common. So often people are trying to fit in with one crowd while trying to fit out or make a statement against another…. So maybe we are not all one or the other but a little bit of both at different times and places and social circles. It may depend on who and what you are exposed to, and most people don’t realize that these things alter their choices and can define who they are. So many people say that they “don’t care what people think” because they care the most- and say that just because they want people to think that they don’t care… which clearly means they really do care if they make such a big deal of saying it all the time. People like to talk and point fingers and make judgments and make up silly unwritten rules to place each other in categories- just to make it easy for them to typecast one another rather than getting to know each other. Nobody is all or nothing and no two people are exactly alike even if they try to be- we see and feel and taste and think and hear and imagine different things, different colors or angles or pitches or tones or flavors or temperatures or emotions… we are each uniquely crafted as individuals from the moment we enter this world. If only we could embrace it, and embrace it in each other and realize that it’s that very individual uniqueness that is the one commonality that can help us understand one another.
Every word ever written was because somebody felt that they had something to say. Perhaps they felt the need to record a notable event, a family history, an emotion or a discovery. Or perhaps they wanted to make sure that certain knowledge was not lost, or they just had to write it because there was nobody to tell and they wanted to release that burden from their heart or mind. And by writing they found that little burden lifted. Sometimes it is just releasing the weight of your memory, if you write it then there is a back up so you won’t worry about forgetting. It’s amazing to think of all of those words or pictures that have been scribbled in books or on walls or post-its. Think of the millions of books in the library of Congress and the notebooks that are filled in classrooms each day, and all of that mail passing through the postal service world wide. Words, some of them now cherished and preserved, others sleep in attics and so many are now but ashes. And that isn’t even the whole of it- what of all those words not written? The ones buried deep in the hearts of the wounded and weary that they cannot share? Words that have caused tears and laughter, and one step further there are all of those things that words just cannot describe and those moments where you just can’t find the words…
When things go wrong, people immediately look around to see who/what is to blame, everyone starts pointing fingers and creating alibis. No matter what happens it must always be somebody’s “fault.” Ironically it is the opposite when something goes great, hands are raised to claim the credit, shouts of “Me”, “My idea”, “I did it!” This is partially why the entire legal system exists… it’s all about deciding who takes the blame/credit for what happened or pre-deciding who will take it if x, y, & z happen… Or who is responsible for what and what is tied to it- who gets the credit, who carries the responsibility? They try to foresee all of the potential outcomes and define ownership & responsibility and set up preventative measures. But life isn’t very predictable so there is a lot of sorting through the mess after the fact. And where people are concerned, there’s always “human error” and several versions to each story. The justice system is deeper than just figuring who everyone can agree to point their finger at… people want justice in the form of punishment/penalty so the guilty must suffer as the afflicted. For example, take that horrible situation with the
I give in... My husband has been singing this catchy little tune for a while now and finally showed me the original. I'm sure many of you have already seen it but I thought I would share this memorable performance! Beware it gets stuck in your head and it's a little weird to be caught singing it...
I have so many things on my mind that I don't know where to begin and maybe I'll come back to this thread again later to elaborate but for now I can't seem to narrow in on just one thing so here goes another ramble... Yes, the "New Year" of course this is a time of reflection and yet looking forward with hope. It's a time of resolution and wonder of what is yet to come and yet leaving things behind. But it's also just a little mile marker on this very long never ending road of existence. The mile marker is actually rather insignificant other than acting as a time reference... Oh yes, and the holidays- I do indeed love the build up to Christmas and just the whole feeling that surrounds Christmas... but I continue to hate the let down of New Years. I don't know why people insist on making New Years Eve into a big deal, everyone would enjoy it so much more without the ridiculous hype. People expect too much and are forced to stay up late until they are grumpy or wasted. On another note- I think people just wear me out. I was so exhausted after spending over a week of being social every day. This must have something to do with me being awkward, or being an introvert because I really do need my down time. Perhaps it's not the people that wear me out but more likely the fact that my brain and emotions can't keep up. There are always so many unfinished conversations and thoughts that my subconscious is trying to remember among all of the new information and details that I am trying to process and file away as well. And then there's the exhaustion that comes from their questions and speculation, and I think it's worse when you don't actually have answers... Like what happens next? Where will you live, what job will he take, when will you have kids...? Come on people- We are not keeping secrets- we just don't know! And boy would I like to know more than anyone else! Life is kind of funny like that, there is all of this figuring out the future business that seems to distract us from enjoying the present sometimes, and yet it one cannot ignore the importance of the future and just enjoy the present because that could make for an unfortunate future present. Once again- Life is just a balancing act! I also wish I understood more about God's role in our lives. Supposedly he already knows what we will do because he knows us so well. But I wonder, are things really "supposed to happen" any particular way? This is a long and tangled topic that I do not have the energy to explore right now... Another thing that I might as well add to these thoughts is- Why are there never any great guys to set up with all of the many wonderful girls that I know? Perhaps I am biased but I really think the quality of men is on a slippery steep slope these days, so when you find a good one- then he is probably worth hanging on to! When you think about it, Love really is quite a little miracle- of all of the people in the world, what are the odds that you will actually meet somebody that you are attracted to, who you enjoy being with, with whom you share beliefs, who you like, and who actually likes you back, who is willing to commit.... unfortunately- it's not all that likely so it's pretty amazing that it seems to happen all the time. Ok- another subject... Love-handles. Yes that wretched tire/extra layer that surrounds the mid-section of my body. I don't think it's natural or supposed to be there. Back in the day people were active all day long, they didn't "work out", exercise was just part of their day, imagine how hard your abs would work bending over picking from the garden, tilling the earth or cutting fire wood... imagine walking everywhere and carrying goods around... All I know is that it is not natural to sit behind a computer screen all day, with food prepared and delivered and somehow still be exhausted at the end of the day! Again- I have more thoughts on this subject but I'll move on to the next but since I mentioned work, I am kind of amazed how much of life comes back to one's occupation and ability to make money- why must we have money to survive in this world? Aren't there better things we should be doing with our time? But we don't because you can't get paid to do those really important things in life. Ha- once again, that balancing act of life comes to mind... Anyhow- I can see that this post is starting to make me look like I have a chip on my shoulder or something. I promise that I am not all doom and gloom, I am just trying to figure a few things out and I am kind of fascinated by the ironies of life and perhaps even more so by the ironies of humanity. Isn't it kind of amazing that no two people are ever really the same- I think I am repeating myself- but nobody has seen and heard and felt all that you have. Your perspective is unique to you. It's too bad that we don't all understand each other a little more. It seems that the challenges of life allow us more compassion on others because we start to understand what others may have gone through, or why sometimes people can do unreasonable things and hopefully this reminds us not to judge others. Okay- this is kind of one of those long boring posts that could go on forever because it is about nothing and everything... so I'll call it a wrap for now...
Tired of being socially awkward? Can anyone relate? Not knowing what to say and sometimes saying things you probably shouldn’t or something just so random or irrelevant that it’s just awkward? But it makes sense to you because your train of thoughts led you there- but that’s just more random and weird to explain. You kind of feel out of place no matter where you are or who you are with. And even though you are among “friends” something just makes you feel like the odd ball. And most of this is what goes on in your head while everyone else couldn’t care less because they are so consumed in themselves too. You get nervous to go out and be social and any inkling of the spotlight makes you more uncomfortable. You want to go unnoticed but you also know that you must engage. Perhaps you can just watch and observe from the sidelines. But then they will think that is weird too…You are interested in other people but don’t know how to react when they show interest back because it’s difficult to decipher their sincerity. This is part of the problem, the overly confident, drama queens and gossip lovers make you especially uncomfortable because you know that they cannot be trusted and yet they are the worst kind to cross. But your better self will not allow you to become one of their followers. So you are just awkward. It’s a lack of confidence, insecurity and downright shyness that you have dealt with all of your life. And so you are awkward without meaning to be, partially because you don’t know what it is that you actually mean to be. You are not really sure of how to portray yourself because you fear overexposure but on the other hand have nothing to hide. All of the unwritten laws about social interactions are unnatural to you; these very laws are what make you feel so out of place. Because you naturally walk to the beat of your own drum, not theirs. But you live in their world and are told to play by their rules. So you seek a place between not breaking them and not abiding by them and there you sit in your awkward little bubble probably over-analyzing and thinking too much about all of it and then kicking yourself over the wasted thoughts of such trivial matters. They don’t understand you because you don’t fit any of the molds that they have premeditated. But one on one, you can usually fare just fine. Not great- but fine because you can explain yourself and give more context. It’s the large groups that you dread. Most people say you could use a drink to loosen you up. Extroverts will never understand introverts like you. Bottom line is that you are weird and awkward. The very word “Awkward” is awkward…it never looks right does it? And so you get the idea that I didn’t know how to come right out and say and I am tired of feeling socially awkward all of the time. It really is exhausting. So those of you who radiate natural charisma… don’t take it for granted. Please don’t judge me for this awkward rant, but these are often the thoughts of your awkward friends I’m sure. So don’t judge your awkward friends when they play hermit and opt for staying home to read a book, the very thought of socializing can make us tired and awkward all at once.
Never Tell a Lie
My teacher told me I should never tell a lie
Because a lie will bring you trouble sure as pie
It's an awful thing to do, and it's true as true as true
You'll get caught and then you'll start to cry
You'll have a horrid, painful pounding in your head
And then you'll feel your face get hot and turn bright red
Then your heart will start to thump
In your throat you'll get a lump
And you'll feel so bad you'll wish that you could
lie right down and die
You're just better off to never tell a lie
Not even sometimes!
Remember, never, never, never tell a lie!
This little song got stuck in my head the other day but I couldn’t remember all of the words. These are the lyrics I found online. It takes me right back to third grade singing time in the Kiva. It’s a good little message to consider.
This morning my thoughts are turned to a legacy of wonderful mothers. I was feeling a little discouraged about some things this morning and I opened up my email to see a sweet note from my Grandmother just to say that she was thinking of me and hoping the best for us and missing us over Thanksgiving etc… First of all, I’m lucky to have a Grandmother who knows how to use the internet and email- that is impressive! Second, my grandmother gets it. She understands life and the ups and downs and she can relate and listen and understand as a dear friend. And third- She is in tune, she always seems to know when a phone call or an email or a meal is needed. I am grateful for my sweet grandmother and I have thought a lot about the legacy of good mothers and I have some big shoes to fill. But one thing that I think has created this legacy in our family is the friendship from mother to daughter. I have heard my Grandmother speak so endearingly about her own mother and I know that their friendship ran deep. This has continued in the relationship between my mother and Grandmother as well. There is so much more than just passing on great cooking tips and recipes, it is the love and support that is offered to family. Never seeking recognition for their hard work and selfless acts, these women give so much more than we will probably ever realize, not just in acts but in thoughts and prayers and love too. There is also much laughter and a great sense of humor necessary where great mothers are found. My mother has always been great at laughing off the most frustrating moments and turning them into great memories. And great patience, I don’t know if this grows with age but these women have great patience, and with it great faith and trust in God. I am grateful for such wonderful examples and this legacy of mothers in my family. I am grateful for the friendships that we share and the opportunities that I have to learn from them. Such a friendship can be greater than just mother to daughter, because it transcends these stages of life, and really shows that we were and will be friends in the eternities. I hope to be like them and fulfill this great legacy of mothers and I hope that someday I will have a daughter to carry it on too.
Clearly this is no surprise to anyone. There is plenty to be said about this crazy horrible economy that we are wading through. There are the many theories of causes to discuss, each with a little truth but nobody really taking all of the blame. There are manipulating antics of the media that are driving me crazy… The mixed messages that we hear on a daily basis “It’s getting better, buy buy buy….” But do we only hear these things because they are trying to get a little more cash flow into the economy to bring truth to their claim… but then we hear more accurate reports that say, “It’s not over yet, save, save, save…” All around I know that what we are experiencing now is not normal. Everything is out of balance. It is far reaching and very real. We are each feeling it in different ways, some through the weight of depreciating home values, job losses, or retirement losses… It may be you, or a family member, neighbor or friend. People are silently suffering these additional stresses, trying to make ends meet, planning and preparing for the future. As I mentioned, there are a lot of avenues and perspectives and opinions to discuss about this wallowing economy and these are but a few. Something in particular that discourages me personally is the job market. As I have watched both friends and family and co-workers close to me look for jobs I have realized how desolate it really is out there. And if you don’t believe me then take a look for yourself! The entire job market has really been transformed… it’s dying. It is much deeper than the unemployment stats that you are seeing, and the mass layoffs you read about. People just aren’t hiring and at least one in five people are looking. And the few that are hiring, are taking their sweet time, increasing demands on experience, and lowering pay- just because they can! I have seen this happen too. Over 500 resumes for one position is not unusual, and that is without using any recruiters as used in years past, because who needs recruiters in this market? They are almost more desperate than those they are trying to place. Resumes and applications are flooding the internet. It’s overwhelming for everyone. Fewer jobs and more and more jobless each day.... I read this article in BusinessWeek last month which has made me even more discouraged for my peers in particular and the long term effects of this economy on my generation. I have been watching it happen. Recent graduates are struggling to land a job, and those with only a couple years of experience who are laid off or forced to start looking just can’t compete with those who have more experience. And those who are lucky enough to get an entry level job, are getting significantly underpaid which is a consequence that will linger into his/her career long term. Others are staying in their current jobs, underpaid, overworked and significantly undervalued without hopes of promotions or raises… just because they can’t find anything else and are desperate to keep paying the bills. Very capable people are being hindered from success and growth. Employers clearly have the upper hand right now, and too many of them know it and are starting to abuse it. But who can blame them, they have to watch their bottom line too. It really is a rotten job market and a sour economy. And nobody really knows where it will go from here, despite the many predictions. And it’s only a matter of a couple of years really… Just a few years ago recruiters were fighting for top talent and young graduates could expect a few competitive offers, young families were dashing out to buy their first homes and fulfill the American dream and kids were still writing to let Santa know that they would be in
I know that women often joke about needing their “beauty sleep” but I actually think it’s more than just a saying. There’s truth there. Something biologically wonderful happens when we sleep. It’s like a mini makeover each night that we take for granted. But you can really see the difference when you don’t get it. When I am sleep deprived my body starts falling apart. My skin gets flaky or oily without the much needed time to regenerate. I break out and I swear my stomach gets fatter and my appetite is all out of wack. My eyes are either puffy or sullen. Everything is red and sensitive and uneven. Lack of sleep breaks down my immune system and weird things happen like styes and cold sores and swollen lymph nodes or whatever else feels attacked by a weakened lack of white blood cells. When you are tired and sleep deprived it not only shows in your physique but in the energy that you radiate, or lack there of. Your brain is also dysfunctional and emotions can run amiss so it hurts your “inner beauty” too! Sleep deprivation seems to always be on the list of potential causes to any illness, always listed next to its good friend stress. I don’t really know how it works, but just like you and I can’t take care of our homes, clean and cook and make necessary repairs around the house until we are home from work. Our bodies are too busy working too, walking us through the day thinking and moving and talking. Then when we are finally still and fall into our sleep our bodies can take care of the cleaning and repairing ‘around the house.’ So there is something real behind “beauty sleep,” for both men and women alike. Children too need their sleep to grow. As we break down and use up our fuel each day, we must rebuild and recharge each night. It balances us out. Certainly a little beauty sleep never hurt anyone.
Once upon a time...
I’m sorry… I feel like griping and then I will feel guilty after doing so and set myself straight again to count my blessings. But I can’t wait anymore. I feel like I am sitting on a ticking time bomb. I have been sitting on it for way too long and all of that ticking is making me crazy. It is not a deadly bomb, in fact there may very well be a party inside but I don’t know. I almost don’t even care what’s inside anymore, I am ready. Bring on the explosion! Endless ticking is the worst alternative. The challenge for me is not knowing when the explosion will be and when the ticking will stop. Please stop. Please let me move forward with my life. I can’t do anything about it, I just have to wait. And if I knew where all of the pieces would land then perhaps I could plan and prepare while I am waiting… but I can’t because I don’t. There have even been a few times when the ticking gets faster so I think it’s about to go… and then it slows again back to a steady “tick, tick, tick…” I am anxiously, anxiously awaiting answers… antsy as can be. I have heard that “patience is a virtue.” But it is certainly no virtue of mine. I should work on that but I’m not sure how. It’s like getting in a line and not knowing how long the wait is because you can’t see the beginning and you don’t actually know what you are waiting for anyway…Who would do that? Crazy people- that’s who. That must be why I am going crazy. Too many unknown factors are making me idle- I like to work, to progress and move forward- but everything is on pause. I know, I know- when the bomb finally booms I will be so busy and so exhausted running around that I will wish for a pause… but maybe not, I am much better in motion! I know all of this talk of waiting is vague- but you get the idea and I imagine you have felt it to some degree too- and you know how unsettling it can be. Of coarse I am still far from “rock bottom” in life, but my sanity has taken a beating. A rollercoaster ride of excitement and possibilities followed by disappointments and let downs but worst of all… more waiting. Tick, tick tick…and more ticking.
In
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In
— Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872 - 1918)
I don’t think that we remember enough the sacrifices made by those who have gone before us. Those who fought for our freedom and those who made great sacrifices for our lives to be what they are today. War is real and present and has been since the beginning. It causes heartbreak and sorrow that most of us will never fully understand. It is too casually overlooked as a news headline. Too many have lost their lives, so many have lost their loved ones and others have survived the battles but lost their innocence and happiness. I have walked and wept over the trenches of the Great War where my own great grandfather fought in
I was talking with my friend from
