Carpe Diem

learning to "seize the day"...

“There's the stuff you plan — the stuff you work toward, the stuff you aspire to, your desires and wishes. And then there's things that just happen. And the things that just happen are usually of more intricate design and a higher purpose.” ~ Michael J. Fox

The past few months have been filled with plans…some are personal plans involving my work at church and my writing. Others involve our son…helping him plan for his future, his graduation, his celebration party…placement tests, financial aid, scholarship applications…

I admit that I enjoy planning. I am naturally good at it and if there was a genetic element involved with organizing and planning, I would definitely test positive for that gene.

But it is important to remember that, as John Lennon so famously put it, “Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans.” This is, again, where mindfulness comes into play.

When the moment arrives, after all of the plans have been made, you can’t get so engrossed by the process that you don’t fully enjoy the moment you find yourself in…It is a delicate balance, especially when you feel most secure being a “type A” personality.

And there are circumstances that just happen, without any specific cause or reason, that change our path to go into a direction that wasn’t planned and may not have been our choice.

This week I was reminded about that when I watched the Michael J. Fox movie, “Still”. I wanted to watch it for several reasons. I’ve followed Fox’s career since I found myself having a huge crush on him when I was in high school in the 1980’s (does having 54 pictures of him in my bedroom count as a crush?)

I have read all of his books and been inspired by his journey with chronic illness, his dedication to finding a cure for Parkinson’s and, maybe most importantly, I have been drawn to his optimism - despite everything he faces on a daily basis.

The documentary “Still” did not disappoint me. It provided me with, yet again, hope for the future but it was also a stark reminder of the ugliness of severe, chronic illness and pain. It is difficult to watch at times but I think that was one of Fox’s goals with the film.

He shows you what it is like but he also lets his fans see the love he has been blessed with - a supportive spouse, loving children, loyal friends…all making his journey less difficult. The road is bumpy but not impossible. As Fox has said, “I went from patient to advocate in a day. The feeling of being able to serve…to be able to offer up my story as much as it is uncomfortable, it’s a tremendous privilege.”

Towards the end of “Still”, Fox is walking on a beach with his family - all holding hands and literally supporting each other. There is beauty in that scene. There is also a positive message - embrace the moment, count your blessings and whenever you can, hold each other up.

This week’s Smile Video

Austin Perine may look like your average 4-year-old. But once a week, he turns into his alter ego: a superhero set on feeding as many homeless people as possible. Steve Hartman has his story. 

#believe #stevehartman #smilevideos

What I am reading…

This week I had a friend call me one evening and it turned out she was reading my memoir I wrote back in 2011 entitled Leaning Into The Light. She shared with me how inspirational it was and how she had a hard time putting it down. She herself was going through some health issues and she found my story very helpful as she faced her own situation.

We had a great conversation and it motivated me to pick up my book and re-read it. I’m glad I did because this week has been very busy, mostly in a positive way, and I needed a little “God wink” moment to remind me of my back story…where I have been and what I have overcome to get to this moment in time.

Every person has a memoir within them and I needed to go back, read and remember mine…The title of my book came from a quote by Barry Lopez, “There are simply no answers to some of the great pressing questions. You continue to live them out, making your life a worthy expression of leaning into the light.”

Best HS Graduation Speech Ever? (You decide…)

This was the second student speaker, Chase Dahl, at the Weber High School graduation for the Class of 2015 (app. 580 graduates).

The theme was "Leave a Legacy" from Tavis Smiley's quote: "The choices we make about the lives we live determine the kinds of legacies we leave."

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

This month I would like to share information regarding mental health awareness.

We all experience uncomfortable emotions from time to time. What can we do to help ourselves and others manage these strong emotions that interfere with the quality of our lives? Maybe it would help us all to learn the STOPPP technique.

This week’s TED Talk - The lies our culture tells us about what matters --- and a better way to live 

I have watched TED Talks for many years now. I love the wide variety of experiences and opinions TED Talks offer. Here is one I would like to share for this week:

Our society is in the midst of a social crisis, says op-ed columnist and author David Brooks: we're trapped in a valley of isolation and fragmentation. How do we find our way out? Based on his travels across the United States -- and his meetings with a range of exceptional people known as "weavers" -- Brooks lays out his vision for a cultural revolution that empowers us all to lead lives of greater meaning, purpose and joy.

Children’s Corner - Have You Filled a Bucket Today?

McCloud reminds readers of the very important fact that we aren't the only ones carrying a special bucket; and, just as important, we aren't just responsible for our own buckets. We're all responsible for each other’s buckets.

Quote of the week

Until next week. Please remember…Begin and end each day with a grateful heart…and always, always be kind….