Friday, November 25, 2011

Ocean Tranquility in November

The ebb & flow of the tide .. waves endlessly rolling into the beach, eventually crashing .. constant breeze, a bit chilly at times, but fantastically alive & breathing & salty.  And the stars .. there's so many in wonderful patterns of constellations that I wish I could remember the names of all of them. Yep, the drive is longer than I'd like, but the reward of this wonderful semi-desolate isle in late November is always worth much more than that. There's something about this place that makes everything else that's harsh or difficult or stressful simply fade into the distance.  A deep breath of the wonderful air in .... and exhale ... peace. Perfect. 

~ The Girl In The Little Black Dress

Lists Aren't Just For Christmas

The Thanksgiving holiday tends to cause people to muse over the things in their life that they are most grateful for.  Here's my list in order of how it hits my brain ... not necessarily in order of importance, but in some instances that will be the case:
  • My Children - I learn something from them everyday .. about myself, about life, about the world around us.  There is no way I'd trade having exactly who they are for one second.
  • My Family - The ones I'm related to by blood may drive me crazy at certain points, but when push comes to shove they are solidly there without question.  Can't beat that with a stick.  I also have friends that I consider family.  There is seriously no stronger bond.  Period.
  • Health - enough said.
  • Friends - Would we truly be who we are without the people that we've met and have in our lives?  Think about it .. about the acquaintances that we've had throughout the years and the friends that we've had for long or short times.  What did we learn?  What were we introduced to, or kept from?  The experiences and lessons make us who we are, and those would not be the same, or have had the same result, without those people.  Life may not be perfect, but life would not be as great without them.
  • Stubborness - It keeps me from lying down and giving up ... I've needed that more than I'd like to admit!
  • Creativity - It keeps me sane, allows me to look at situations from multiple perspectives, allows me an outlet with artistic endeavours, keeps me trying to find a solution to whatever I'm facing .. I'm not me without it.
  • Humor - If the funny side can't be found somewhere, somehow in a situation ..... well, life just becomes way more difficult.  There's something amusing in everything.  You just have to be looking for it!
  • Open-Mindedness - We all can be close minded about things that we're passionate about .. even if we shouldn't be.  The fact of the matter is that when it comes right down to it, making the effort to stay open minded and not judge on first sight is seriously important.  It allows us to open our minds and our lives to people and options that we might learn from, might be good for us, might assist with a situation, might enrich the life or moment for someone around us.  The possibilities are endless, but they all begin with being open minded, even if just for a moment.
I know that if I sit here and ponder, there will be dozens more, but this hits the highlights.  Be grateful for what you have, try not to obsess over what you don't, and give huge hugs (physical and/or virtual) often to those that mean something to you.  Most of all, enjoy YOUR life.  It's the only one you've got!  Happy Thanksgiving!

~ The Girl In The Little Black Dress

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Puppies vs. Kids - Ahhh the Similarities!

We are currently "babysitting" a dear friend's puppy for the week.  Lucy (the puppy, not the friend), is an absolutely adorable 8 month old golden lab.  She's playful, jumps up to give you "hugs" when you enter the house, likes to hang over the back of the couch to give "kisses" to anyone sitting there, and is generally a sweet entertaining houseguest.  She has also decided that I personally am no longer allowed to go anywhere alone while at home.  It got me thinking, puppies and small children are not so different.

I remember when my kids were toddlers.  They literally followed me everywhere.  Seriously.  To this day, going to the bathroom without being interrupted by a child needing something is somewhat of a luxury, but back then it was a pipe dream to do so!  The puppy has now brought me back to that pipe dream.  More examples:  You think you're the only person standing at the sink rinsing a dish, turn around to put it in the dishwasher & Ooops, you just stepped on a child!  The same thing now happens with the puppy.  You attempt to take out the trash, and as you walk back towards the door you hear the whining dulcet tones of "mommmmyyyyy" from the other side when you've only been gone 15 seconds, and open the door to find the child hanging onto the other side.  Same thing happens with the puppy (except it's just whining doggy ... not actual words ... obviously).  You drop a small object on the floor and can't find it, but the child does .. within 5 seconds ... and immediately attempts to eat said small object, to which you quickly reprimand them, which subsequently causes the small object to be dropped upon the floor again ...Yep, the same thing happens with the puppy.  When my children were toddlers, they were curious about everything, wanted to smell and taste and touch absolutely everything they came across ... no matter how inappropriate or disgusting that thing was.  Puppies have, apparently, the exact same tendency.  While the kids were potty-training, it would occasionally happen that they would wait too long to tell anyone they had to "go", then walk all funny and hurriedly to get to the bathroom but not quite make it there before they inadvertently "went".  Same thing with the puppy!

The moral of the story is this, unless you simply wish to have a small human which will eventually talk back to you in your chosen language, a puppy is a good solid investment that will give you almost the same experience!  Enjoy!  ;)

~ The Girl In The Little Black Dress

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Waiting ......

Waiting.  Patience is not generally a virtue of mine, yet it seems that when one has the most to do, or the need to get swiftly to a different place, or even just want to get to the fun stuff, that's when waiting occurs.   We wait in traffic,  wait in line, wait on test results and car repairs ... we even sometimes have to wait for others to simply get off their ass & handle their responsibilities so we can get on our way to the next moment in life!  But what if the waiting is important?  What if it can be learned from?  What if, something really spectacular is going to be right under your nose but you'd miss it if you didn't happen to be there waiting?  New resolve:  take a deep breath & pay attention .. waiting might just prove to be a good thing.

~ The Girl In The Little Black Dress

Monday, November 14, 2011

The little white lie

Is it really a bad thing?  To tell a small lie that saves the stress levels of those you hold most dear until you can give them concrete answers?   I don't think so.  BUT, why does it make one feel guilty if its ultimately a good thing?
Just questioning.  I have no answers.  I welcome thoughts upon the subject. 

~The Girl In The Little Black Dress

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Thoughts upon the literal

Relationship. A ship of relations.  So basically this word, when broken down literally, means: an enormous watercraft filled with multitudes of others that one has ties with.  Fantastic!  How random is it that this particular word, which has so many joyous or horrid or ecstatic or depressing meanings to so many, has such a ridiculous, unnerving literal leaning?  Hmmm ......Unfortunately, that may actually explain a lot!

~ The Girl In The Little Black Dress

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Fear Musings

A wise man once said "the only thing we have to fear, is fear itself".  While I do agree with the statement's obvious nod to the ultimate fear, fear of the unknown, I have to wonder if there aren't some fears that are more real and immediate that are equally valid.
But, what if we're misunderstanding the meaning of the word "fear" in that statement?  Sometimes, when we may feel that our worlds are crashing down around our feet, or even simply a consistent dark and dreary existence, the thing that seems the most "scary" is what is immediately in front of us.  That which creates misery and seems unending can seem more life-sucking and fear-inspiring than anything that Hollywood could ever cook up in the most warped of horror flicks.  And many times, the thought of facing those dark things is harder, more exhausting, scarier than any of them in actuality.
In retrospect, that "fear itself" phrase is much deeper than surface level.  Fear of the unknown, on any level, encompasses every ounce of every uncomfortable or sad or lonely or painful feeling, every situation possible.  It can cause tears or chest pains or blind flailing adrenaline, that without the ability to harness that energy and turn it around on the issue, the negativity and fear can completely take over, and imagination running wild with the worst case possibilities will ruin you.
Fear itself.  Maybe that is the fear of all fears.

~ The Girl In The Little Black Dress