Shadows on the road
are like those moments in the future
you cannot yet see.
Nature’s Forecast
What are we doing?
A young friend, who is a talented musician and new father, shared his disappointing Christmas with me. When asking his brother if he would like to hear the latest song he recorded, his brother’s response was, “Sorry man. I can’t. I have 10 seconds until the tournament starts.”
My friend then revealed to me that his brother is addicted to gaming. “He’s usually stockpiled in his room, stacking empty dishes of food my mother brought him because he can’t tear himself away from the game. I’ve told him he’s disgusting, often not showering for three days,” my friend said. I shudder in the realization that this technology problem is much bigger than I surmised and a grave concern to what we are doing to our society. Isn’t the opiod crisis enough?
My young friend continued, “You remember Jack at my wedding? We use to talk on my drive home from work and had big plans for recording together. Then he told me he bought a gaming system and wanted me to get one too. He doesn’t return my calls anymore. He won’t even pick up the phone. I know he’s addicted to gaming too.”
My friend, at age 30 is already a wise old soul. I was proud of him when he announced he gave up his cell phone because he was texting while driving. And when he fired the babysitter because she placed an I-phone in his infant’s hands, I felt more pleased. “I want my son to experience life,” he said. “I want to take him cross country to see the beauty of the land and meet different people.”
I then shared with him a startling conversation I had with my older and over-weight brother in-law during the holidays. His wife (an I-phone and Candy Crush addict) proudly told me she could start her oven with her I-phone. “Why would you want to?” I asked. My brother in-laws response? “So you don’t have to get off the couch.” I felt stunned. We already have an obesity problem in America and now technology is helping people stay inactive, indoors and isolated. What are we doing?
I understand gaming rehabs are some of the most expensive and that a gaming addiction is as difficult to treat as bulimia. Drug rehabs are big business and a revolving door of profits. When will humans wake up to realize they are giving up free thought and subsequent health under the guise of convenience but the truth of corporate profit?
Addictions — whether drugs, technology, gambling, food, shopping, etc. — would doubtfully be so overwhelming if people tempered their device with the wisdom and beauty of Nature. Nature is free and it’s everywhere, reliably standing by, willing to offer peace and insights for living life. Take a hike. Plant a garden with your child. Walk the dog and say hi to the neighbors. Get off the couch to cut your own grass, and turn on the oven yourself.
It all begins with one conscious choice.
Daily Prompt: Meager
There they were, in plain sight — my car keys laying on the driver’s seat and cell phone plugged into the charger. In the midst of holiday shopping, with several more stops to go, I wanted to get home before heavy traffic stole more time. Oh well.
The biting cold stung my uncovered ears and head — my hat lay on the passenger seat too. Walking back into the dollar store, I asked the cashier if I could use the phone because I locked my keys in the car. The skinny, high-school looking girl asked her manager if I could use the phone. I dialed home. Busy. Now what?
Reading my anxiety over tieing up the store’s phone and her time, the girl’s colossal black olive eyes looked up at me, “Do you have Triple A?” she asked.
“No. No, I don’t.” I didn’t tell her I gave it up years ago when the price kept increasing and they appeared more interested in selling travel plans than providing road side assistance. Instead, I’d obtained the same service through my car insurance but alas, that information was also in my locked car. Sigh.
“Well, I do. You can use mine,” she said while reaching for her purse under the checkout stand.
“I don’t want to get you in trouble.”
“It’s okay. I’ve been through this. I know what it’s like,” she smiled, her teeth jutting from sunken cheekbones confined by strands of fine hair barely warming her bony shoulders. Pulling out her AAA card, she showed me the account number and phone number to call. I felt surprised and relieved all at once.
Someone finally responded at Triple AAA and after I provided the required information, told me they would arrive in 45 minutes to an hour. The young clerk told me to just sign her name when the serviceman arrived but that I should wait inside the warm store. I don’t know if I was more stunned by her blind trust in me or her thoughtfulness in today’s self-involved world.
“Thank you. Thank you for your kindness. I so appreciate it,” I said. She waved off my offer of a $20 bill even though she most likely earns a $7.25 minimum wage. I insisted, “Please. You’ve been so generous in helping me.” Her wide smile reappeared, and I walked away thinking…
Isn’t life interesting how our needs are met?
via Daily Prompt: Meager
Featured image: unsplash-logoMitchel Lensink
Original image (modified) of girl:unsplash-logoAlexander Mils
Daily Prompt: Coincidence…
…is a word I’ve replaced with synchronicity mostly after working through Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way book. Before that, I viewed coincidence in the sense that there are no coincidences, meaning God has a hand in everything. And I’m not referring to God of any particular religion but God as in a Higher Power.
When my thinking evolved toward synchronicity, I continued to view things in a spiritual way. Like manifesting my dreams. I became more aware and more in tuned to the little things that were helping me along my way.
My most recent synchronistic experience relates to my lifelong dream of visiting Scotland, along with some other recent nudges. Since practicing Qigong the last few years, my thoughts of God and the Universe are directed toward nature which has led to an interest in studying the Tao. Participating in World Tai Chi & Qigong Day (WTCQ) has also been on my list but scheduling conflicts prevented me from taking part in this annual international event. (It’s always held at 10AM on the last Saturday of April.)
But, this year I was free to drive an hour-and-a-half to participate in WTCQ Day with a group of seeming strangers in a lovely rolling green park dotted with blooming cherry blossoms. (A favorite springtime site that takes my breath away.) Imagine my delight when I heard the announcement, “We have a monthly discussion group on the Tao. If anyone is interested please see me for details.” Wow! Did I hear that right? Two dreams come true via one event.
A month or so afterward, while perusing Dr. Elaine Aron’s website for Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs), she discussed spiritual pilgrimages and the varieties to choose from. Hmmm. I began rethinking my trip to Scotland. I never travel as a typical touristy tourist and having a loose framework of where I want to go, this concept appealed to me.
Then, when I first attended the Tao discussion meeting in July, I learned that one of their mutual friends runs sacred travel pilgrimages in Scotland. Woo hoo! Synchronicity at it’s finest, I’d say. A week later I ran into a fellow yogi I hadn’t seen for a while. “I just got back from Scotland yesterday,” she reported. “Already I can’t wait to go back!” She smiled and I smiled too. Another confirmation the Universe was guiding me toward satisfying this long time desire.
Coincidence and synchronicity are mystical experiences for me. My thinking has changed over the years from too good to be true to believe in the magic. Awareness is the key for so many things, and particularly for unlocking the gifts of this phenomenon. I believe synchronicity is happening all the time, I only need open my eyes and see. Then, I open my heart in gratitude and smile wide.
She’s So Fine
Driving home this evening with the moon roof open and windows down, I was still savoring a glorious day with an old friend. Kicking off the afternoon in her favorite gardening center and seeing new varieties of trees and plants made my spirits soar.
I learned that the tree I noticed on my walks this week is a Limelight Hydrangea — absolutely beautiful! In the next row I discovered a Firelight Hydrangea sporting white to pomegranate colored flowers all on the same shrub — delightful! A Dappled Willow caught my eye then the frost white needles on the Korean Fir...and flowing heart-shaped leaves on the Alley Cat and Ruby Falls Redbuds — heavenly! Kalmia Latifolia Minuet (Mountain Laurel) surprised me while the Tricolor Beech tree was deceptively interesting. Manhattan Euonymus and Pulminara Moonshine’s brillance drew me in and I’m already envisioning it gracing my entryway.
Thankfully, the humidity that stole Summer thus far was absent today. I drove home in laid back contentment, drinking in the beauty of the mountains and luxuriating in the 72 degree breeze kissing my skin while gently tousling my hair.
But, rounding the corner to a glowing sunset on the lake overwhelmed me with gratitude for the ability to see Nature’s exquisiteness.
