The following articles have been published in The Suburban Newspaper at www.thesuburban.com.
My Column is called: Living in the Now
When presented with a glass which is half filled with water, I’m asked, “Is this glass half full or half empty?” For me, it’s neither. I see the glass entirely full to the top! The glass is filled with water and air, both which are required for life. If the water is clean to drink, and the air is clean to breathe, and the glass is clean to drink from, the glass is wonderfully full of hope!
OP/ED – With all the advanced technologies, discoveries, and theories why are we not better at being humans? If we can put men on the moon over 49 years ago, why are we not more intelligent? As humans we should have become more intelligent over those 49 years, yet now people are being killed in churches, synagogues, and schools… friggin schools!!! Is there no place of peace anymore?
But one school is not enough. Team Frank Africa is building its second pre-school in Gottenburg, South Africa. Kimmy is determined to build many schools and in doing so, she hopes to also build happy, educated successful lives
She was spewing meaningless questions. So many that he got uncomfortable. Since when do people have the right to so much personal information? Is this the new normal with all the sharing that’s currently happening in our digital social media world? I wonder?
There were only a few differences between my jumpsuit and Elvis’. The buttons on my suit were plastic and his were metal. The weight of my suit was somewhat lighter than his. Elvis’ suit was much tighter to his body than mine. I also added the cape and some red satin lining for image effect. However, at the end of the night, my body was exhausted from wearing such a heavy suit. I didn’t dance and sing under hot lights in it. I didn’t sweat like crazy in it. I didn’t perform in front of 30,000 + screaming fans in it. I just wore it and walked around smiling. The next day I needed Advil every four hours to deal with my shoulder and back pains. My knees were also aching from the platform boots. I couldn’t imagine wearing this jumpsuit night after night…
My paper love affair came to an abrupt halt the other day. I was making an appointment in a Doctor’s office. I pulled out my bright red agenda book (which also has gorgeous paper to write on), when a friend announced, “Sue! Are you still using an agenda book? Why don’t you just put your appointments in your cell? Sue, you’re ancient!”
Just when you think everything you planned is going to go this way, it goes that way. Sometimes that way is the better way. Sometimes it’s not. Bottom line; be prepared for the unexpected. I’m not a travel writer, but here’s a story about a trip I went on. Here’s a little backstory, I was not prepared for the unexpected!
At the end of one of my creative writing workshops, a student got up from her chair, stretched and said, “Ahhhhhh! That felt like I was meditating!” Her comment took me by surprise! Students say many things to me after a class or workshop. Mostly, they ask questions about the course materials and content. This was the first time a student compared a creative writing workshop to meditation.
The question, “How did I get here and where am I going?” is always a present thought. Is this random, chance, or prescribed? Is my tale already set in stone and I’m simply following along a controlled path? Does someone or something have the game controls of my life? I wonder…
He continued to walk with his head slightly down. I watched him walk away. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. He walked up the hill onto the football field. At the top of the hill, he stopped, waved then walked behind some trees. At that moment, I lost sight of him. I covered my mouth and started to cry tears of joy, of gratitude, happiness and a drop of grief.
Now, I feel like a seasoned old hen! Older and somewhat wiser, but still not able to spell well. The old lesson I grew up with now has a new attachment to it. New Lesson: If you want something really badly, then work super hard for it and you will earn it. However, if obtaining it is completely out of your control…
When I think back to my youth, I was fascinated with plants and growth. How a little bean when planted grew into a stem, into a strong bean plant, and reproduced beans of its own. The life cycle of the bean was incredible to watch.
My desk is full of papers. I have dozens of emails waiting for replies and regular mail to open. The magazine and newspaper pile has significantly grown. The “To Do” list is very long and also needs my attention. I’ve got a lot of stuff to do…
But…I don’t care. I’m pleasantly in a fog. A glorious fog in fact!
I used to be able to work in the garden all day. I still work in the garden, but I need to take into consideration my achy back and stiffer knees. I also need to eat, drink and pee more often. Now, I cover my skin entirely to prevent sun damage and skin spots. I usually stop my gardening activity when my back can no longer tolerate the bending over. BECAUSE I’M OLD! It’s getting easier to say it.
Astronaut Chris Hadfield said it best, “I’m an anti-bucket list guy. I don’t like bucket lists. That means that for almost your entire life you’re carrying around visual evidence of your own failure. Why do you do that to yourself?” Good question Chris!
For some, a great day might be a day without pain. For others an excellent day might be spent on a gorgeous beach in paradise. Some people might say a perfect day is spent at home, alone in a quiet peaceful place. Others might say their best day is every day as long as they are healthy and well.
During a gorgeous hot summer night, I was out walking with a couple of girlfriends. While walking the girls started to vent! To vent means to get the steam out. To discuss everything that is causing psychological, emotional, or physical distress. In some cases, venting may cause your arms to swing, feet to stomp, voices to yell, and hair to be pulled. Actually, it may look like a visual display of madness.
Everyone has a special talent within them. It might take years to uncover it, but it’s definitely there. The key is to unlock your talent and utilize it to its maximum potential. When I was younger, I didn’t know I would be a writer. I knew that I needed to write in my diary every day. I didn’t know this passion would become a profession. It took years for my writing seed to germinate and grow. I suppose the seed was always there inside of me. I just needed to harness and develop it. Some people have innate talents, which are completely a part of their landscape. No lessons are required to hone their skills — they just got it!
I wasn’t a lost person, always looking for themselves. I knew who I was early on. I felt connected to my world and work quite quickly. However, now I would love to talk to my 20-year-old self and say, “Hey, it’s ok to say NO – often. It’s ok not to agree. It’s ok that people won’t like you for being you. It’s ok to be independent. It’s ok to live along your own path even if it’s unpopular. It’s ok to simply be you!”
And… What profession am I talking about? How do you get paid in LOVE? Is actual LOVE the currency? Am I talking about matchmaking? Am I talking about a form of Professional Love? Also… What type of love am I referring to? The love people have for each other, or for animals, or for inanimate objects? Tell me! Which profession pays in love?
Author / Writer / Columnist / Educator
