Mark 12:30-31 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: 'Love your neighour as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
I was watching Oprah one day (oooh, the evils of Oprah) and she was interviewing these men who were on her show 20 years earlier. They were skinheads back in the day and they were speaking absolute hate and prejudice in their first appearance on the show. But when they came back on, they were different people. They were weeping, apologizing, and talking about how ashamed they felt about their former life. Oprah asked one man what made him change. Here is what he said in a nutshell.
After he did the first Oprah show, he ended up going to prison for burning down a synagogue and assaulting some black men.
While in prison he was assigned to a group of guys who was doing manual labour. Every single man on that team was black. He was the only white guy. His back was covered with tattoos of swastikas and racial slurs. Every man in that group knew he was a white supremisist. And yet, all those men accepted this guy, befriended him, and treated him with respect. Their act of love broke that man's heart and changed him forever.
This tore at the fabric of my heart. Here was this group of black men. They knew this guy was in complete opposition to them. They could have beat him up, shunned him, condemned him, judged him, told him that he was wrong, argued with him about the truth. But instead they just loved him, accepted him and treated him as they would want to be treated.
The concept of loving my neighbour has been mulling about in my mind lately. The Bible says that this is the greatest commandment (along with loving God). The Word of God says that the entire law is summed up with this command (Gal. 5:14) and it is also described as the royal law (James 2:8). God makes it very clear that loving our neighbour as ourselves is the one thing He wants us to fully grasp and practice.
Are we actually doing this? We say we are. We claim to be appalled by the history of Christianity that is bathed in the blood of the crusades and the hate of the religious war in Ireland. We are ashamed that the KKK claimed to be a bible based organization and feel so thankful that we have a better grasp on scripture than that. Do we?
What does loving our neighbour look like? Does it look like a inviting someone over for dinner just so that we can preach to them? Does it look like protesting abortion with signs like, "you are a baby murderer" as desperate women grasp at solutions? Does it sound like us preaching vehemently against homosexuality? Does it involve taking new Christians and laying down a set of laws about what they can wear to church, what language they are no longer allowed to use, and how they must immediately stop drinking, smoking, dancing, and having premarital sex?
I am disgusted with the church today because although many of us would say that we are loving our neighbour, we are not. Somehow we have interpreted Jesus' words to mean that our job, first and foremost, is to convert people and then bring them into our set of rules. Frankly, this makes me sick. Our job is so very simple and yet we complicate it so much. We are asked to love God and love people. It is not our job to change people. It is not our job to hammer them with rules that they don't buy into. We simply need to love. We simply need to show people who Jesus is.
Is it true that God has given us guidelines and boundaries for our lives? Oh yes. But we have messed that up as well. You see, our mission is to show the love of God to people. It is HIS job to change their hearts. And when He changes their hearts, he gives them a desire to be more like Him. And when they have the desire to be more like Him, they begin to make choices that align with those guidelines. This is God's process, not ours. This is His mission, not ours. We have screwed it up time and time again.
So maybe loving our neighbour means we invite someone over for dinner to just love them and bless them. Maybe instead of protesting abortion we can be a support to these women before they make their decision and, heaven forbid, after they have gone through with it. Maybe loving our neighbour means that we start to see homosexuals as people instead of freaks. Maybe it looks like showing new Christians how to have a relationship with Jesus and realizing that this process is long and messy and it will take months or years for their choices to fall in line with God's heart.
Sorry about the rant today, but I think we are doing this all wrong. Those African American criminals in the prison knew how to love their neighbour. They didn't yell at him and tell him he was evil. They didn't force their beliefs about equality on him. They just loved him. And you know what happened when they loved? That man's heart changed and his entire life was transformed.
Let's start loving people. That's all. And let's leave the changing part up to God. And let's allow Him to start with us.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Friday, October 07, 2011
The Dangerous Blog Post
I am fully aware that I have not blogged in a while. It's not because I forgot, it's simply because I wasn't sure what I wanted to blog about. Usually I have something bubbling out of me that finds its way onto the screen with almost no effort. And you'd think with all the stuff that is going on in our lives (or not going on, depending on how you view it) I'd have tons of stuff to share. Problem is, I think I have too much stuff going on in this scrambled brain of mine.
So, I decided today to sit down and see what ends up on the screen. I literally don't know where this will go! This is very dangerous because my mind is a vast expanse (ok, maybe not vast) of thoughts, opinions, ideas, and out-of-the-box views of life. I am fully aware that my mind often goes to extremes and those extremes end up finding their way out of my mouth at the most inappropriate times! Just one concept can cause one person to jump for joy and another person to be deeply offended. And as hard as I try, I cannot conform to normality enough to just please everyone.
But let's face it: I have never been one to conform. I have a non-existant desire to please people. It's not something I strived to become. It's simply in my DNA (I would like to take this moment to thank my father for this very freeing, although somewhat offensive trait). It's important to note that the "non people pleaser" gene is not attached to the "self-centered" gene. Those are two separate traits and I would like to think that I only missed out on one of them!
My lack of desire to conform can be frustrating at times. I think my life would be so much simpler if I just lived life like everyone else and I just absorbed the opinions of others in my society. But just thinking about that makes me throw up in my mouth just a little bit. Nope. I walk a different path with some pretty different views. I think that is why I am so often in spaces where my next steps look a little freaky... like right now.
I have decided not to go into details about the space I am in right now and some of the decisions that Kenny and I need to make. A blog is not a place to spill all of the "what ifs" when choosing our next course of action. What I can say is that we are making decisions right now about my future job, our future ministry, and our future dwelling place. Here is what I know to be true: in my quest for a job that works for me, I will go against the grain and wait for one that fits into my calling to be a mom even if that means I say "no" to all the jobs that seem perfect in the world's eye. In our quest to be in full time ministry, we will choose a path where we can live out our faith by loving others deeply, not in religion (yes, those are two different things and I hate religion... just another offensive thing I happen to believe). In our quest to live a simple life, we may choose to ditch the bigger and better mentality and just go for smaller and cozier.
I can honestly say that I do not know at this juncture what direction God is taking us in. It may be scary, strange, against the grain, or even a bit crazy, but it will be exactly what we need to do in the exact moment that we need to do it! And as soon as I know what our lives will look like... I'll be sure to fill you in!
So, I decided today to sit down and see what ends up on the screen. I literally don't know where this will go! This is very dangerous because my mind is a vast expanse (ok, maybe not vast) of thoughts, opinions, ideas, and out-of-the-box views of life. I am fully aware that my mind often goes to extremes and those extremes end up finding their way out of my mouth at the most inappropriate times! Just one concept can cause one person to jump for joy and another person to be deeply offended. And as hard as I try, I cannot conform to normality enough to just please everyone.
But let's face it: I have never been one to conform. I have a non-existant desire to please people. It's not something I strived to become. It's simply in my DNA (I would like to take this moment to thank my father for this very freeing, although somewhat offensive trait). It's important to note that the "non people pleaser" gene is not attached to the "self-centered" gene. Those are two separate traits and I would like to think that I only missed out on one of them!
My lack of desire to conform can be frustrating at times. I think my life would be so much simpler if I just lived life like everyone else and I just absorbed the opinions of others in my society. But just thinking about that makes me throw up in my mouth just a little bit. Nope. I walk a different path with some pretty different views. I think that is why I am so often in spaces where my next steps look a little freaky... like right now.
I have decided not to go into details about the space I am in right now and some of the decisions that Kenny and I need to make. A blog is not a place to spill all of the "what ifs" when choosing our next course of action. What I can say is that we are making decisions right now about my future job, our future ministry, and our future dwelling place. Here is what I know to be true: in my quest for a job that works for me, I will go against the grain and wait for one that fits into my calling to be a mom even if that means I say "no" to all the jobs that seem perfect in the world's eye. In our quest to be in full time ministry, we will choose a path where we can live out our faith by loving others deeply, not in religion (yes, those are two different things and I hate religion... just another offensive thing I happen to believe). In our quest to live a simple life, we may choose to ditch the bigger and better mentality and just go for smaller and cozier.
I can honestly say that I do not know at this juncture what direction God is taking us in. It may be scary, strange, against the grain, or even a bit crazy, but it will be exactly what we need to do in the exact moment that we need to do it! And as soon as I know what our lives will look like... I'll be sure to fill you in!
Saturday, August 06, 2011
Unintentional Parenting
The future of our world scares me every time I look at children and youth these days. The sense of entitlement, the apathy, the selfish ambition, the outrage over consequences... it's terrifying. It often makes me look at how we are raising kids these days.
I am extremely passionate about parenting. More specifically, I am passionate about raising our children with the intention to release good, moral, responsible, and ethical people into this world. I think all parents want the same thing as I do. No parent says to themselves, "I hope that one day my child ends up fired from every job they have, or become a social outcast or a criminal." And yet, the parenting of this day and age seems to be an "in the moment" style. There is little forethought or intention in much of the parenting I see today. In a moment of frustration a parent utters a threat, "Do this or else..." but when the kid doesn't "do this" there is no "or else" because the parent doesn't want to cause a tantrum or fight. This kid learns that there are really no consequences to their actions. A kid wants something, whines for it, and to avoid an issue, the kid gets what they want. And they learn that they are entitled to whatever they want.
Parents don't mean to do this. It's unintentional. It's what I call "unintentional parenting." Just doing whatever to get by in hopes that it all turns out in the end. But all of our unintentional actions and reactions end up producing patterns, thoughts, and beliefs in our kids. After all, we are not raising children, we are raising adults, yes?
Some examples to ponder:
- We let our girls listen to Katy Perry on the radio and then wonder why they are suddenly over sexualized
- We allow our sons to play Gears of War on Xbox and wonder why they are always angry and become aggressive so easily
- We see nothing wrong with our teens watching Much Music or other videos on the internet and wonder why our daughters are dressing in provocative clothing and our sons view women as objects
- We don't follow through with a consequence when our kids don't listen and we wonder why they get fired from their first job because they didn't listen to their boss
- We don't teach our kids independence but rather do everything for them at home, and wonder why they are young adults who still live at home and won't pursue an education or career.
- We preach religion and rules to our kids but don't give them the opportunity to embrace faith for themselves and wonder why they walk away from the morals we have taught them
- We diet, work out, diet some more, and count calories and wonder why our girls are anorexic and our sons expect a woman to have a perfect figure
- We buy, spend, rack up credit, and spend some more and we wonder why our kids have no clue how to handle their money
I have a theory: If we all started practicing "intentional parenting" instead of "unintentional parenting" we would change our world. I truly believe that the day I became a mom was the day my calling changed. I became a shaper of people not a worker of the world. My every action and reaction is teaching my kids something about life, the world and themselves.
Woah, heavy, I know! But like it or not, if you are a parent, you are in the same boat as me. You are a shaper of people. Being a people shaper is more important than the career you have, the friends you want to spend time with, or the TV show you want to watch.
So next time you are just taking the easy road for the short term, remember that you are shaping the lives of our future leaders or future followers. Ask yourself this question every time you are faced with a parenting situation, "What is this action or reaction teaching my child about life?" This one simple question takes unintentional parenting and turns it into intentional parenting in a heartbeat. But this one simple question alters who your child becomes and how they view the world.
Worth it, don't you think?
I am extremely passionate about parenting. More specifically, I am passionate about raising our children with the intention to release good, moral, responsible, and ethical people into this world. I think all parents want the same thing as I do. No parent says to themselves, "I hope that one day my child ends up fired from every job they have, or become a social outcast or a criminal." And yet, the parenting of this day and age seems to be an "in the moment" style. There is little forethought or intention in much of the parenting I see today. In a moment of frustration a parent utters a threat, "Do this or else..." but when the kid doesn't "do this" there is no "or else" because the parent doesn't want to cause a tantrum or fight. This kid learns that there are really no consequences to their actions. A kid wants something, whines for it, and to avoid an issue, the kid gets what they want. And they learn that they are entitled to whatever they want.
Parents don't mean to do this. It's unintentional. It's what I call "unintentional parenting." Just doing whatever to get by in hopes that it all turns out in the end. But all of our unintentional actions and reactions end up producing patterns, thoughts, and beliefs in our kids. After all, we are not raising children, we are raising adults, yes?
Some examples to ponder:
- We let our girls listen to Katy Perry on the radio and then wonder why they are suddenly over sexualized
- We allow our sons to play Gears of War on Xbox and wonder why they are always angry and become aggressive so easily
- We see nothing wrong with our teens watching Much Music or other videos on the internet and wonder why our daughters are dressing in provocative clothing and our sons view women as objects
- We don't follow through with a consequence when our kids don't listen and we wonder why they get fired from their first job because they didn't listen to their boss
- We don't teach our kids independence but rather do everything for them at home, and wonder why they are young adults who still live at home and won't pursue an education or career.
- We preach religion and rules to our kids but don't give them the opportunity to embrace faith for themselves and wonder why they walk away from the morals we have taught them
- We diet, work out, diet some more, and count calories and wonder why our girls are anorexic and our sons expect a woman to have a perfect figure
- We buy, spend, rack up credit, and spend some more and we wonder why our kids have no clue how to handle their money
I have a theory: If we all started practicing "intentional parenting" instead of "unintentional parenting" we would change our world. I truly believe that the day I became a mom was the day my calling changed. I became a shaper of people not a worker of the world. My every action and reaction is teaching my kids something about life, the world and themselves.
Woah, heavy, I know! But like it or not, if you are a parent, you are in the same boat as me. You are a shaper of people. Being a people shaper is more important than the career you have, the friends you want to spend time with, or the TV show you want to watch.
So next time you are just taking the easy road for the short term, remember that you are shaping the lives of our future leaders or future followers. Ask yourself this question every time you are faced with a parenting situation, "What is this action or reaction teaching my child about life?" This one simple question takes unintentional parenting and turns it into intentional parenting in a heartbeat. But this one simple question alters who your child becomes and how they view the world.
Worth it, don't you think?
Monday, July 25, 2011
The Other Side of Vacations
I grew up in Calgary. A cold, brown, noisy city. I know many people who love Calgary. That is just fine. But for me, I counted the days when I could leave it behind and move to what I considered the "promised land," AKA British Columbia.
My love for BC came to me honestly. Since the time I was 1 year old, my parents had swept me away from the doldrums and summer snow storms of Calgary to the hot, sunny bliss of BC. Lakes, mountains, green everywhere. Sun, sun, and more sun. Each summer our family spent 2 carefree weeks on the shores of Shuswap Lake. I was so enthralled with the beauty of BC that I actually saved a jar of Shuswap water in my basement all fall, winter, and spring in anticipation of my summer vacation!
That was many years ago... a lifetime ago it seems. And now I have been a BC resident for 17 years. And even better than that, I have been living in the very place I used to vacation all those years ago: Salmon Arm. A dream come true! I must say, living in paradise has its perks: no more water in a jar because I have the whole lake a 5 minute drive from my house, mountains out my kitchen window, the smell of cedar and pine all year round, and the heat of that Okanagan sun from May to October.
However, living in paradise has one major drawback: It is still the vacation destination for all Albertans, Lower Mainlanders, and a large portion of Saskatchewan dwellers. My small, tranquil town morphs into a monster just before the May long weekend and rears its ugly head until Labour Day. It's an invasion of the grandest proportions. And the visitors are completely oblivious to the chaos they have created. I used to be one of those vacationers, so I know what it's like to be on that side of the coin. Like I said earlier, it's pure bliss.
So, from the viewpoint of a resident of heaven on earth, here are just some simple, yet highly important tips for my vacationing friends to consider before entering paradise:
1. Salmon Arm is a year round city. It actually exists before you come, and also after you leave. I know, it's a strange thought. But don't listen to the folklore out there telling you that vanishes in a poof of smoke on Labour Day only to return in mid May.
2. Some of the other drivers on the road are not on vacation, but simply trying to get to work on time. Yes, this is a hard one to grasp. Driving down Lakeshore can be so distracting with the panoramic mountain views and breathtaking lake views. And I can see why going 30 km/hr would be reasonable to you so you can see the beauty of creation and drive all at the same time. But remember that the person behind you would actually like to go the posted speed limit of 50 km/hr so she doesn't miss her dentist appointment or her JOB!!
3. Even here in Salmon Arm, the traffic laws are the same as where you live. For instance, when pulling a gynormous trailer or boat behind you, it can be difficult to judge how enormous your total vehicle length is. However, it is NOT OK to block the intersection just because you are visiting.
4. The roads are full of hills and bends. Very different than the prairies. Prepare in advance for this. Practice in parking lots after hours if need be. The more you practice the more you will realize that corners and hills don't need to be taken at a speed just slightly higher than a full and complete stop!
5. Feel free to use our grocery stores at your convenience. They stock more food in the summer to accommodate you. However, please remember that not all of us want to see you in your string bikini while waiting for your turn at the check-out. Frankly, this is just sick.
I hope these few points help you out as you navigate through our beautiful city. You co-operation is greatly appreciated and will allow all of us Salmon Arm residents to crawl out of the holes we are hiding in and carry on with our summer!
My love for BC came to me honestly. Since the time I was 1 year old, my parents had swept me away from the doldrums and summer snow storms of Calgary to the hot, sunny bliss of BC. Lakes, mountains, green everywhere. Sun, sun, and more sun. Each summer our family spent 2 carefree weeks on the shores of Shuswap Lake. I was so enthralled with the beauty of BC that I actually saved a jar of Shuswap water in my basement all fall, winter, and spring in anticipation of my summer vacation!
That was many years ago... a lifetime ago it seems. And now I have been a BC resident for 17 years. And even better than that, I have been living in the very place I used to vacation all those years ago: Salmon Arm. A dream come true! I must say, living in paradise has its perks: no more water in a jar because I have the whole lake a 5 minute drive from my house, mountains out my kitchen window, the smell of cedar and pine all year round, and the heat of that Okanagan sun from May to October.
However, living in paradise has one major drawback: It is still the vacation destination for all Albertans, Lower Mainlanders, and a large portion of Saskatchewan dwellers. My small, tranquil town morphs into a monster just before the May long weekend and rears its ugly head until Labour Day. It's an invasion of the grandest proportions. And the visitors are completely oblivious to the chaos they have created. I used to be one of those vacationers, so I know what it's like to be on that side of the coin. Like I said earlier, it's pure bliss.
So, from the viewpoint of a resident of heaven on earth, here are just some simple, yet highly important tips for my vacationing friends to consider before entering paradise:
1. Salmon Arm is a year round city. It actually exists before you come, and also after you leave. I know, it's a strange thought. But don't listen to the folklore out there telling you that vanishes in a poof of smoke on Labour Day only to return in mid May.
2. Some of the other drivers on the road are not on vacation, but simply trying to get to work on time. Yes, this is a hard one to grasp. Driving down Lakeshore can be so distracting with the panoramic mountain views and breathtaking lake views. And I can see why going 30 km/hr would be reasonable to you so you can see the beauty of creation and drive all at the same time. But remember that the person behind you would actually like to go the posted speed limit of 50 km/hr so she doesn't miss her dentist appointment or her JOB!!
3. Even here in Salmon Arm, the traffic laws are the same as where you live. For instance, when pulling a gynormous trailer or boat behind you, it can be difficult to judge how enormous your total vehicle length is. However, it is NOT OK to block the intersection just because you are visiting.
4. The roads are full of hills and bends. Very different than the prairies. Prepare in advance for this. Practice in parking lots after hours if need be. The more you practice the more you will realize that corners and hills don't need to be taken at a speed just slightly higher than a full and complete stop!
5. Feel free to use our grocery stores at your convenience. They stock more food in the summer to accommodate you. However, please remember that not all of us want to see you in your string bikini while waiting for your turn at the check-out. Frankly, this is just sick.
I hope these few points help you out as you navigate through our beautiful city. You co-operation is greatly appreciated and will allow all of us Salmon Arm residents to crawl out of the holes we are hiding in and carry on with our summer!
Monday, July 11, 2011
Back from Sabbatical!
First things first... I AM SORRY! I noticed the date of my last posting and realize that it was 2 years ago! Oops, my bad. My, my, how time flies!
Second, I had no clue my blog was providing weekly or monthly entertainment for so many of you. Honestly, I started this blog to keep my far away family and friends up to date on our lives. I had no clue that my random ramblings and rants were being read and enjoyed by so many of you!
Since I took a blogging sabbatical I have had frequent (and very polite) requests to blog again. Oh the pressure! I don't know if I can perform up to your standards! Just kidding! Those of you who know me, know that I don't live (or blog) for others' approval. BUT... if my blogging happens to bring a smile or a new thought, then I feel truly inspired!
Third, I actually have a partially good excuse for not blogging. I have been re-inventing myself a bit. The re-inventing process was a little messy and chaotic at times so blogging fell to the wayside. It's sad, but true.
Although I know the process of finding a new me is not yet complete (nor should it ever be or else life would be so stinkin boring), the part of the process that felt like an unorganized disaster is now over. The rest of the process will be wonderfully documented on this pretty orange page!
Now for a quick summary:
- I started a cleaning business in 2008. Don't know if I mentioned that before. It took off quickly and has been awesome
- Cleaning is really hard work. My hips and back have been yelling at me for the past 2 years. I realized that if I kept on cleaning, I would be in a wheelchair by the age of 50
- I had to find a way to make a bit of extra money, do something that I am good at, and still fulfill my calling... which is, of course, to devote myself to raising amazing kids.
- I am good at administration. I need to be available for my kids when they are not at school. How do I mesh these two things together?
- Solution: work an office job in a place where the hours are either flexible or the same as the school... ah yes, work in a school office!
- Oh wait... to work in a school office I am required to have a college certificate in office administration. WHAT? Ok, glitch in the plan
- Off to school I go! Online college courses, that is. I started taking courses in October of 2010. I finished in June 2011. Don't ask me how I ran my business, ran my household, and finished this program all at the same time. It's a blur and I there are blank spots in my brain because of it!
- Here I sit. Waiting for my certificate in the mail so I can apply for jobs.
I am so curious to see what my future looks like now that I can think straight enough to think about my future! Where will I be working in a year from now? Where will I be living (that is a story for another post)? What new adventures lie ahead?
We should all ask ourselves that question from time to time. Life gets so boring without a little change, a risk or two, or a challenge. My life tends to have an overload of these things! I have a love/hate relationship with this fact. But mostly, I love it. Change makes me better. It keeps me from getting stuck in a rut. It challenges my character. It makes me stronger.
We all need different amounts of risk and change in our lives. But we all need some of it. I happen to have a lot. How much do you have?
Is it time for you to challenge yourself, to risk a little, or make a change? Go for it!
Second, I had no clue my blog was providing weekly or monthly entertainment for so many of you. Honestly, I started this blog to keep my far away family and friends up to date on our lives. I had no clue that my random ramblings and rants were being read and enjoyed by so many of you!
Since I took a blogging sabbatical I have had frequent (and very polite) requests to blog again. Oh the pressure! I don't know if I can perform up to your standards! Just kidding! Those of you who know me, know that I don't live (or blog) for others' approval. BUT... if my blogging happens to bring a smile or a new thought, then I feel truly inspired!
Third, I actually have a partially good excuse for not blogging. I have been re-inventing myself a bit. The re-inventing process was a little messy and chaotic at times so blogging fell to the wayside. It's sad, but true.
Although I know the process of finding a new me is not yet complete (nor should it ever be or else life would be so stinkin boring), the part of the process that felt like an unorganized disaster is now over. The rest of the process will be wonderfully documented on this pretty orange page!
Now for a quick summary:
- I started a cleaning business in 2008. Don't know if I mentioned that before. It took off quickly and has been awesome
- Cleaning is really hard work. My hips and back have been yelling at me for the past 2 years. I realized that if I kept on cleaning, I would be in a wheelchair by the age of 50
- I had to find a way to make a bit of extra money, do something that I am good at, and still fulfill my calling... which is, of course, to devote myself to raising amazing kids.
- I am good at administration. I need to be available for my kids when they are not at school. How do I mesh these two things together?
- Solution: work an office job in a place where the hours are either flexible or the same as the school... ah yes, work in a school office!
- Oh wait... to work in a school office I am required to have a college certificate in office administration. WHAT? Ok, glitch in the plan
- Off to school I go! Online college courses, that is. I started taking courses in October of 2010. I finished in June 2011. Don't ask me how I ran my business, ran my household, and finished this program all at the same time. It's a blur and I there are blank spots in my brain because of it!
- Here I sit. Waiting for my certificate in the mail so I can apply for jobs.
I am so curious to see what my future looks like now that I can think straight enough to think about my future! Where will I be working in a year from now? Where will I be living (that is a story for another post)? What new adventures lie ahead?
We should all ask ourselves that question from time to time. Life gets so boring without a little change, a risk or two, or a challenge. My life tends to have an overload of these things! I have a love/hate relationship with this fact. But mostly, I love it. Change makes me better. It keeps me from getting stuck in a rut. It challenges my character. It makes me stronger.
We all need different amounts of risk and change in our lives. But we all need some of it. I happen to have a lot. How much do you have?
Is it time for you to challenge yourself, to risk a little, or make a change? Go for it!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Beach "Small Man Syndrome"
We've all heard the term "small man sydrome". You know what I'm talking about: That little scrawny man who drives a Dodge Ram to try and make up for his smallness. I always thought small man syndrome showed itself in the vehicle one drives, the house one lives in, the tools one owns, the boat one drives.
It wasn't until this summer that I realized that small man syndrome is also painfully obvious at the beach. Perhaps once I explain myself you will see what I mean.
We went camping in July. Our favorite thing about camping (besides the campfire which we were denied since BC is a raging inferno) is spending all day at the beach. A beach day for me consists of laying on my blanket reading, eating Pringles and Twizzlers, taking periodic dips in the lake, and people watching.
While people watching one day, Kenny and I noticed something very disturbing. Umbrellas. Lots of umbrellas. Umbrellas everywhere. So many umbrellas that we had to physically move to a different location on the beach just so we could supervise our children in the water without an obstructed view. Some people were so motivated that they brought their entire gazebo to the beach. Wow.
One of the other things I love doing at the beach is floating out to the buoys on an airmatress and just laying there. So, during my umbrella trauma I decided to float out to the buoys and count all the umbrellas on the beach in our particular area. I counted 57. Seriously. That's a freakload of umbrellas.
And as I floated there, stunned, I began to notice something else: The excessively large number of floating paraphanalia on the beach and in the water. I kid you not, one guy brought an inflatable dock that must have been about 18 feet in diameter! SERIOUSLY! The whole beach could have been floating on that thing! It was the largest floatie I had ever seen. And it spurred on my thought about the man who owned it and how small he was.
Then I started looking around at the other small men and their floaties. There was your typical dingy being rowed around. Then there was the floating alligator, dolphin, and inflatible jet ski. But I also noticed weird stuff. Like really weird stuff. A giant lobster, a 3 person ride-on dog, a strange corkscrew floatie, a dinosaur, an ogopogo type thingy, a killer whale, and a huge blow up fish kiddie pool that some small man was using as an air mattress.
Why do people buy things like this? Are they standing in the store watching the guy next to them purchase an inflatable dog and they think to themselves, "Inflatable dog, eh? Well I can top that. I'm gonna get myself a giant floating lobster. No one will think I'm small anymore!" What frame of mind must one be in to purchase an 18 foot floating dock and think that's a great thing to bring to the beach. What does one hope to do with an inflatable corkscrew? It's all so strange to me.
And in my confusion I searched for answers to my questions. The only thing I could come up with was a beach version of small man syndrome. And let me tell you, in the Shuswap this summer, it's an epidemic!
ps: there is a lovely floating swan currently available at The Superstore. I think you'd make a wonderful statement bringing that to the beach!
It wasn't until this summer that I realized that small man syndrome is also painfully obvious at the beach. Perhaps once I explain myself you will see what I mean.
We went camping in July. Our favorite thing about camping (besides the campfire which we were denied since BC is a raging inferno) is spending all day at the beach. A beach day for me consists of laying on my blanket reading, eating Pringles and Twizzlers, taking periodic dips in the lake, and people watching.
While people watching one day, Kenny and I noticed something very disturbing. Umbrellas. Lots of umbrellas. Umbrellas everywhere. So many umbrellas that we had to physically move to a different location on the beach just so we could supervise our children in the water without an obstructed view. Some people were so motivated that they brought their entire gazebo to the beach. Wow.
One of the other things I love doing at the beach is floating out to the buoys on an airmatress and just laying there. So, during my umbrella trauma I decided to float out to the buoys and count all the umbrellas on the beach in our particular area. I counted 57. Seriously. That's a freakload of umbrellas.
And as I floated there, stunned, I began to notice something else: The excessively large number of floating paraphanalia on the beach and in the water. I kid you not, one guy brought an inflatable dock that must have been about 18 feet in diameter! SERIOUSLY! The whole beach could have been floating on that thing! It was the largest floatie I had ever seen. And it spurred on my thought about the man who owned it and how small he was.
Then I started looking around at the other small men and their floaties. There was your typical dingy being rowed around. Then there was the floating alligator, dolphin, and inflatible jet ski. But I also noticed weird stuff. Like really weird stuff. A giant lobster, a 3 person ride-on dog, a strange corkscrew floatie, a dinosaur, an ogopogo type thingy, a killer whale, and a huge blow up fish kiddie pool that some small man was using as an air mattress.
Why do people buy things like this? Are they standing in the store watching the guy next to them purchase an inflatable dog and they think to themselves, "Inflatable dog, eh? Well I can top that. I'm gonna get myself a giant floating lobster. No one will think I'm small anymore!" What frame of mind must one be in to purchase an 18 foot floating dock and think that's a great thing to bring to the beach. What does one hope to do with an inflatable corkscrew? It's all so strange to me.
And in my confusion I searched for answers to my questions. The only thing I could come up with was a beach version of small man syndrome. And let me tell you, in the Shuswap this summer, it's an epidemic!
ps: there is a lovely floating swan currently available at The Superstore. I think you'd make a wonderful statement bringing that to the beach!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Revelations from the Cleaning Lady
So about a year ago I started up a cleaning business. Not because I love scrubbing other people's poo off their toilets. Simply because I could make my own hours and be around for the kids when they needed me, and still make more money than your average stay at home mom could make.
Let me tell you. I have learned a lot since then. I have many hours to think, ponder, and hypothesize about human nature as I clean up the mess that other people make. I have come up with some deep thoughts that I hope change your life for the better.
1. Men do not aim when they pee because they don't have to be the one to clean it up.
The men's bathroom at our church (yes, I clean our church) REEKS like urine and the woman's bathroom smells like soap. The strangest thing about all of that is that women pee more than men do. So, logic would say that our bathroom should be the pee infested one. Not the case. So, my question is this: if men don't aim, what the heck are they doing when they go pee? Staring at the ceiling? looking at themselves in the chrome on the urnial handle? Pretending to be a fire fighter? WHAT IS IT???
2. Kids wipe their boogers on the walls when their parents aren't looking.
Mothers, it's true. Go around and check out your walls (at knee height). Or investigate the walls around your child's bed. It's gross, but true.
3. Flies pee. Flies pee on windows. Fly pee is hard to get off of windows.
When I first discovered the fly pee I thought that someone in the house had been gazing out the window and sneezed with coffee in their mouth. Hence the creamy dots all over the window. But then when I found the coffee sneeze at the next house, and then the next house, I realized it was fly pee. Why do these people allow so many flies in their house? Do they not believe in screen doors? Don't the flies annoy them at night? This is all still a mystery to me.
4. No matter how much money you have or how dignified you appear, I realize when I lift up your toilet seat that we are all the same. Your splatter looks the same as my splatter. That begs the question, does the queen leave splatter? What about the pope? What about the Dalai Lama?
5. The human body was not created to scrub toilets and floors every day for years on end. How some women do this job for 10, 20 or 30 years is beyond me. It is perfect for my life right now, but in the next few years I will have to hang up the mop before my knees and hips hang up on me!
6. A house cleaner needs a house cleaner. At the end of the day I walk out of a perfectly spotless house (not my own) and walk into a disaster area (oh, that's my house). Sigh.
Yes, my thoughts go deep and profound while I clean. I hope one of my revelations impacted you greatly today and perhaps changed your life for the better. I know I am a better person for discovering them!
Let me tell you. I have learned a lot since then. I have many hours to think, ponder, and hypothesize about human nature as I clean up the mess that other people make. I have come up with some deep thoughts that I hope change your life for the better.
1. Men do not aim when they pee because they don't have to be the one to clean it up.
The men's bathroom at our church (yes, I clean our church) REEKS like urine and the woman's bathroom smells like soap. The strangest thing about all of that is that women pee more than men do. So, logic would say that our bathroom should be the pee infested one. Not the case. So, my question is this: if men don't aim, what the heck are they doing when they go pee? Staring at the ceiling? looking at themselves in the chrome on the urnial handle? Pretending to be a fire fighter? WHAT IS IT???
2. Kids wipe their boogers on the walls when their parents aren't looking.
Mothers, it's true. Go around and check out your walls (at knee height). Or investigate the walls around your child's bed. It's gross, but true.
3. Flies pee. Flies pee on windows. Fly pee is hard to get off of windows.
When I first discovered the fly pee I thought that someone in the house had been gazing out the window and sneezed with coffee in their mouth. Hence the creamy dots all over the window. But then when I found the coffee sneeze at the next house, and then the next house, I realized it was fly pee. Why do these people allow so many flies in their house? Do they not believe in screen doors? Don't the flies annoy them at night? This is all still a mystery to me.
4. No matter how much money you have or how dignified you appear, I realize when I lift up your toilet seat that we are all the same. Your splatter looks the same as my splatter. That begs the question, does the queen leave splatter? What about the pope? What about the Dalai Lama?
5. The human body was not created to scrub toilets and floors every day for years on end. How some women do this job for 10, 20 or 30 years is beyond me. It is perfect for my life right now, but in the next few years I will have to hang up the mop before my knees and hips hang up on me!
6. A house cleaner needs a house cleaner. At the end of the day I walk out of a perfectly spotless house (not my own) and walk into a disaster area (oh, that's my house). Sigh.
Yes, my thoughts go deep and profound while I clean. I hope one of my revelations impacted you greatly today and perhaps changed your life for the better. I know I am a better person for discovering them!
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