No Words

Stunned, Judy and I watched the news from our hotel room in Chicago as the story unfolded of the terrorist attacks in Paris on the heels of an attack in Beirut. It was the night before our flight home from the Midwest. We’d been on a lovely ten-day jaunt to visit friends and take in some of Springfield’s Abraham Lincoln sites. That evening, we watched  --  wordless, wide-eyed, and heart-sick.

I have no words to describe my disbelief of the terrorists' boldness. I have no words to convey the anger that welled up inside as I thought about their inhumanity. I wondered how these people could come to this place.  How could wreaking destruction on their fellow man be the thing that fills them up

.

But, The DayMaker is meant to uplift. So I have no more words about THEM.

These words are about US: Love and Hope. 

What we can do in our lives is spread love rather than hatred. Hold the individuals accountable for their actions, but extend love to the rest of the folks on our planet. That includes the “real” Muslims, the true believers, to all people of good will, and to those who seek peace and refuge.

We can spread hope. Teach and show our youth there is hope for them for a good life of their making. They don’t need to give over or place misguided trust in radical propagandists. Make sure they know they are valued and prepare them to offer their talents to the world in a positive way.

Kindness. Tolerance. Acceptance. Hope. Love. Peace. Words to incorporate in our vocabularies and in our hearts and our deeds.

~ xoA ~

The Gem Amidst the Junk

Feng Shui and clear-the-clutter books warn against reading while purging. The 18-year old grad school psych note I wrote about de-cluttering resurfaces every now and then. Number two on the list: “Keep going. Don’t stop to READ the papers.” But, that 3x5 card was stuck in another drawer that I needed to empty.

So, I did it. I stopped to read handfuls of torn scraps of paper, saved birthday greetings, faded notes on the backs of business cards, and glossy guarantees for luggage bought long ago.

That’s when I re-discovered a Chinese proverb I’d scribbled onto the back of a list of questions to ask my doctor at the next appointment. The proverb must have struck me when I wrote it down, probably a dozen years ago. Its message strikes me again today.

That the birds of worry and care

Fly about your head,

This you cannot change.

But that they build

Nests in your hair,

This you can prevent.

For sure, there is plenty to worry about in this life: our children (no matter their age); the drought, floods, earthquakes; what’s for dinner; our knees and whether we can keep putting knee replacement surgery off; our friends moving away to be near their grandkids; making it through airport security without a hassle; whether the car will last another year. The list is interminable.

So, the Chinese proverb is right. The worrisome stuff will show up. But we don’t have to let it consume or paralyze us. Especially if it’s something we cannot control. Let it come in, give it a little time, and let it fly away.

Let’s say “no” to over-worrying and say “yes” to ourselves. Allow issues to float away so we can experience the joy and positivity the world has to offer. So we can return to doing some of the things we love to do. We can’t let worries use up today.

What worry might you let go?

~ xoA ~

Image from thinkstockphoto.co.uk