Sunday, January 5, 2020

Lay it on me!

"There are years that ask questions and years that answer." ~ Zora Neale Hurston



Another new year is upon us. The older I get the faster time flies. Every single day has 24 hours. We  each choose what to do with those moments. Spend or invest them wisely.

I am of a certain age. I am closing out, while my little great grandsons are just starting out.

My grandchildren in their teens and twenties are finding out, making life discoveries.

My adult children are worn out from the struggles of making a home, a living, a life.

As an early childhood teacher, I frequently observed that adults have higher expectations of highly verbal and intelligent youngsters, those capable of higher level reasoning.

In reality, they have to learn what we already know. Learning experiences and teachable moments occur on a daily basis, and we sometimes overlook an opportunity to share knowledge, provide helpful information, or ask thought-provoking questions to help them do the reasoning.

Merely praising their efforts is a big deal! And remember, punishment should be helpful not hurtful.

Hindsight is always 20/20. If I am overwhelmed, I can think more clearly if I set aside the problem or issue and sleep on it. I awake refreshed, maybe not with the answer, but with a clearer mindset.

Five things I know for sure: 

  • Every single thing works out. Not the way, or in the time frame I desire, but in the end, it all works out.
  • Receiving everything you want is not the same as having everything you need.
  • Struggles and hurdles help us grow.
  • We need each other, no matter our ages. A smile, a gentle touch/hug, a kind word, a little praise and appreciation go a long way, no matter which end of the time line you are on... whether you are giving or receiving.
  • Faith is not a crutch; it is assurance. My church has no walls or doors. My prayers are sometimes spoken aloud, and are often just a few silent words of thanks, or a spontaneous plea for protection of loved ones and those in need. As much as I like to be in charge (or think I am in charge) I know there is a power greater than me at work. I have told my family even if they have left God, He has never left them, and they can always return.

I love the quote in this blog post.
Zora Neale Hurston (January 7, 1891[1][2] – January 28, 1960) was an American author, anthropologist, and filmmaker. She portrayed racial struggles in the early-20th-century American South and published research on Hoodoo.[3] The most popular of her four novels is Their Eyes Were Watching God, published in 1937. She also wrote more than 50 short stories, plays, and essays.

Read more about her at this site:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zora_Neale_Hurston

Will you share with me something YOU know for sure or have learned about life?

8 comments:

Sioux Roslawski said...

Over the years I've learned:

* It's okay to say "no." It's alright to say, "No, I can't do that" because you have another committment that you're more interested in keeping... or you just don't feel like it.

* High fashion, a perfect figure and a fancy house--not important in the big scheme of things. Being comfortable in what you wear and in your own skin--and having a warm and comfy house--IS important.

* Having someone or something (a pet) to love can be life-saving.

Thanks, Linda, for making me reflect.

Kimberly Vernon Rodgers said...

Stress destroys more dreams, more relationships, & more lives than anything. Learn to reduce or eliminate as much of it as possible. If something causes a great amount of stress, ask yourself if it’s worth it. Usually it’s not. Compromise on your ideas of perfection: the perfect holiday meals and decorations, the perfect family gatherings. Relaxed togetherness is better than tense, forced rituals. Love and be gentle with every living thing you encounter. (And I’ve learned that I tend to ramble.)

Trisha Faye said...

At a writers conference a few months ago, one of the authors stated something that I'm trying to incorporate more into my life.
"The word 'no' is a complete sentence."

Kim Lehnhoff said...

Happiness is a choice. Love is a verb. "Good enough" parenting is often good enough. There is no perfection, but there can be progress.

I suffer from poor spousal selection skills, and will not try again. :)

DUTA said...

Indeed, Time flies. What is constant is our Faith and God.
One cannot live without Faith. We can trust only God.

Val said...

I have learned to choose my battles, and that sometimes a tie is a win. A trapped individual will fight back ferociously, so it's best to allow an escape route, no matter how small.

Connie said...

Wise list. The first thought that comes to my mind is something my mom used to say, "This too shall pass." No matter what the situation, whether good or bad, whatever it is, it will pass. So don't dwell too much on bad situations and celebrate and be grateful for the good situations.

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