Priceless Burden was written for a class assignment on mind mapping. The assignment take a random object - mind map it and create a poem about the object without using the object name.
Priceless Burden
Plastic,
way of the world.
Priceless.
Never leave home
Without it.
Without it,
Never leave home.
Freedom False
Indebted Burden
Interest
Interest
Interest
Compounded
By interests
Outside my means
Those who don’t need
Get
Those who need
Get screwed
Trickle
Trickling
System
Working poor
Working hard
Working for nothing
But false security
False hope for “0” balance
False pride
Truth, Rip-off
Rip-off charges
Rip-off fees
Rip-off plastic numbers
Identifying me
So easy to use
Way of world
Priceless
Never leave home
Without it.
Without it,
Never leave home.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Ah ha moment revisited
In May of 2006, I wrote a bit entitled "Ah Ha Moment" about accepting that my values were above worrying about the extra 10-20 pounds I was carrying around with me. Well, I am still carrying the extra weight. This might be seen as a failure to some, but to me, I realize that I may have kept the weight, but I also finished a bachelor's degree, started on a new career path, engaged myself in my new work, started a Master's degree program, finished raising my sons - who are both independent strong men, and maintained a twenty-year happy marriage.
I can either focus on all the things I've done right - or I can beat myself up for still carrying around the 10 pounds.
What if it was reversed, what if I was still longing to have a degree, still longing to find a career or even a job I loved, still looking for work that was engaging, still believing that a Master's degree was not in my future, still worrying about my son's futures and my son's in general, or wishing I had a good marriage or was floundering looking for love and fulfillment outside my marriage - But I was 10 pounds lighter?
Not a good trade.
I'll take the blessings and keep the 10-20 pounds thank you.
On second thought, instead, I will also remind myself that if I can accomplish all the things I have accomplished through hard work determination and a belief in myself and my abilities, then I can certainly manage to exercise, eat right, and drink plenty of water. Which would enable me to get rid of the extra weight I carry.
Let this be my declaration, I am done. I refuse to carry any more weight, baggage, and abuse than is absolutely necessary. I am 5'4" tall and am small in stature. That means I should be about 135 pounds but I'd be satisfied at 145 pounds.
As long as I don't have to give up any of my other blessings...
I can either focus on all the things I've done right - or I can beat myself up for still carrying around the 10 pounds.
What if it was reversed, what if I was still longing to have a degree, still longing to find a career or even a job I loved, still looking for work that was engaging, still believing that a Master's degree was not in my future, still worrying about my son's futures and my son's in general, or wishing I had a good marriage or was floundering looking for love and fulfillment outside my marriage - But I was 10 pounds lighter?
Not a good trade.
I'll take the blessings and keep the 10-20 pounds thank you.
On second thought, instead, I will also remind myself that if I can accomplish all the things I have accomplished through hard work determination and a belief in myself and my abilities, then I can certainly manage to exercise, eat right, and drink plenty of water. Which would enable me to get rid of the extra weight I carry.
Let this be my declaration, I am done. I refuse to carry any more weight, baggage, and abuse than is absolutely necessary. I am 5'4" tall and am small in stature. That means I should be about 135 pounds but I'd be satisfied at 145 pounds.
As long as I don't have to give up any of my other blessings...
Monday, February 15, 2010
Blogging Lesson
Today, before leaving my desk for lunch, I grabbed a book off my bookshelf at work so I would have something to read while I ate. I picked Deepak Chopra's the Seven Spiritual Laws of Success. I only read a couple of pages but at one point I read something that I wanted to blog about - I didn't have a notepad or pen with me and figured I would jot down my idea once I returned to my desk.
Never happened.
I returned to my desk and disappeared into my work.
Now, at the end of the day, my wonderful insight is no longer an insight...it will have to shine its light on me another day.
And I'm sure it would have been life changing!
Oh well, change will have to wait for another day.
Never happened.
I returned to my desk and disappeared into my work.
Now, at the end of the day, my wonderful insight is no longer an insight...it will have to shine its light on me another day.
And I'm sure it would have been life changing!
Oh well, change will have to wait for another day.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Broken China
I am a firm believer in burning decorative candles and using your good china as often as possible; that means for everyday occasions not just on holidays. This morning, after savoring a couple of cups of coffee, I decided to load the dishwasher. By the time added the china cup that I had been using for my morning dose of caffeine to the mix, my hands were soapy and wet and the cup flew out of my hand. After colliding with a low-ball glass stained with almond milk the handle shattered in three pieces. My first reaction - I cursed. I believe the word began with an F.
The expletive summoned my husband of 20 years to the room. The moment he saw what happened I heard him growl. The growl began as the word "No" but then rumbled into the deep guttural sound of frustration and disappointment.
I gave him the only response I could. I said "I know" while doing my best to match his primeval snarl.
The china, a gift for our two decade long anniversary, complimented my mother’s china and my grandmother’s china perfectly. On special occasions I mix and match the three patterns for a stunning effect that would make Martha Stewart proud.
As I dug the handle pieces out of the back of the dishwasher I heard my husband conclude, “This sucks but it is only china.”
Serendipitously, we had had an earlier conversation of the value of things verses the value of the people in our lives.
“I enjoyed it while I had it,” I added attempting to calm my own feelings of despair.
I finished the kitchen and returned to a pile of papers I was sorting while keeping up on my Facebook page. I came across a post from a friend poetically sharing her feelings about her grandmother’s death this week. The post said she was happy she had the memories of her grandmother and I was instantly reminded that I don’t cherish my grandmother’s china or my mother’s because they are complete sets (which they aren’t) but because when I use them I am reminded of the strong women who came before me.
Women who honored family and time spent with family and friends and who were afraid to use the dishes they loved so much. I immediately poured myself another cup of coffee in one of the three remaining glasses of my own set that one day will be handed down to my son’s wives (when they have wives).
I hope my future daughter's enjoy them.
I hope they use them – slippery hands and all.
The expletive summoned my husband of 20 years to the room. The moment he saw what happened I heard him growl. The growl began as the word "No" but then rumbled into the deep guttural sound of frustration and disappointment.
I gave him the only response I could. I said "I know" while doing my best to match his primeval snarl.
The china, a gift for our two decade long anniversary, complimented my mother’s china and my grandmother’s china perfectly. On special occasions I mix and match the three patterns for a stunning effect that would make Martha Stewart proud.
As I dug the handle pieces out of the back of the dishwasher I heard my husband conclude, “This sucks but it is only china.”
Serendipitously, we had had an earlier conversation of the value of things verses the value of the people in our lives.
“I enjoyed it while I had it,” I added attempting to calm my own feelings of despair.
I finished the kitchen and returned to a pile of papers I was sorting while keeping up on my Facebook page. I came across a post from a friend poetically sharing her feelings about her grandmother’s death this week. The post said she was happy she had the memories of her grandmother and I was instantly reminded that I don’t cherish my grandmother’s china or my mother’s because they are complete sets (which they aren’t) but because when I use them I am reminded of the strong women who came before me.
Women who honored family and time spent with family and friends and who were afraid to use the dishes they loved so much. I immediately poured myself another cup of coffee in one of the three remaining glasses of my own set that one day will be handed down to my son’s wives (when they have wives).
I hope my future daughter's enjoy them.
I hope they use them – slippery hands and all.
How cool is this!
I am getting better with this online networking and living - I Facebook and I've become pretty good at it. I am staying in touch with people I care about while getting to know new people.
I have a few more networking pages such as linkedin google etc. I have even tweeted a few times.
Then I remember Blogger, signed in and wham - I'm looking at things I wrote in 2006! I am so glad this is still here.
I have a few more networking pages such as linkedin google etc. I have even tweeted a few times.
Then I remember Blogger, signed in and wham - I'm looking at things I wrote in 2006! I am so glad this is still here.
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