Whirling as She Goes…

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of working on our little house in the country, working through my father’s estate aftermath of his death, and tending our son’s new family at home. I know the world is round for it seems to keep spinning. The joy is though, that when life serves unsettling news on an ongoing daily basis, a season of locust I like to call it, the decision to exist in peace is a choice. It is funny as I work through the renovations and work with other folks who are in that process as well, it is another example of how our perspective changes everything.  I’m the kinda girl who loves well done things as well as bargains that are well done.  In our budget there was a decided upon budget for the house, the renovations and our whims.  The only betting I do in life is on my own shopping.  I’ll believe all day long that I have favor to find whatever we need for a bargain price, and if words bring things to life, my life has been blessed with that concept.  I’m a little stuck on a few items for the house that are not or were not in the budget, so I believed I could find a way through creative processes.  Perspective is everything.  I worked with another lady in the store the other day who could only count her renovation as wonderful if she paid full price and purchased high end everything.  She then proceeded to share that she hated complexity and longed for appliances that were simple to use.  I shared that I had chosen to go to Craigslist and a builder or two to purchase contractor level things that were being tossed out as a home was upgraded for bargain basement prices, that I had ended up with a cooktop for $25 and a wall oven for $100.  You see, I believe that people throw away things every day that others cannot afford. I’ll take my two frigidaire products every day at $125 with a refrigerator for an additional $350 every day over $2700 the package was brand new.

What makes your days “good enough” to find comfort, ease, and pride in your environment?  A friend is visiting our home this week. She’s the kind of friend who comes in, rolls up her sleeves, and lends a hand.  (Aren’t I blessed!!!)  Her attitude was order would provide calm in the work this week, so she came in and in two hours had my home kitchen and dining space shining and cleared countertops. (no small feat, did I mention she has wonder woman capabilities?)  Her perspective that was in 3 hours a difference could be made that would fuel the week’s mornings with peace.  My perspective had been “ain’t no way no how this is going to work in 3 hours with all the boxes we have to go”  I defeated myself before I even began.  Two hours later the house thanked her profusely for returning its beauty.

What are you telling yourself that just isn’t so?  Personally I am working on self talk as a narrative these days.  Too often my under the radar narrative went something like “you could be so much more” which was echoing the words of several of my friends who are, indeed, so much more financially, much more in the public eye and very involved in things that matter.  However, the life I am choosing is a quiet one, a contented one, one that most days I love to live, I am not a rawk star of public audiences, nor is my name a household one, but I get to do what I love and live what I do.  It is enough.  Last fall I told my dear friend that I would be creating a perch soon.  I find that bright women need a nest to fly home to from time to time. I am privileged to work with amazing entrepreneur women who all are eagle type fliers, but how wonderful when we gather to perch a while together.  The perch was affirmed when I went to Mentone, Alabama last year. The time spent in a beautiful little cottage on the mountain affirmed that sometimes just being in a peaceful, pretty place, matters.  Seven months later I find myself about to complete the first phase of our own perch on a hillside mountain in Alabama. It is one of the most wonderful experiences, for I had dreamed of doing so for over twenty years.  Is it mansions and millionaires materials? Uhm…no, but it is success to my heart, affirming that what was important to me is important enough to do, to enact in my life.  I had promised myself before I was fifty such a place would exist…and low and behold that long held goal is now held in reality. Hallelujah for provision and unexpected favor in things as simple as a cooktop.

Some folks imply I am a rose colored glasses girl. Perhaps that is true, I believe each day is a gift that we far too often take for granted.  I have personally buried a nephew during teen  years, buried my father and mother much too soon from illnesses that stole from them healthy days in retirement.I have suffered as close ones committed suicide and chose to destroy that which was so worthwhile by focusing on the lack not the abundance in their lives. I am aware of comrades of my husband who didn’t come home themselves or at all from protecting our country.I have sen the loss of marriage and know the pain of suffering loss personally.  There is not a day I take for granted that this marriage of mine is happy after two failed ones early in life, that my children are healthy and precious, I have lived long enough to see my grandchildren and children grow, and that chocolate exists. I love beauty in all its forms and I am determined to live this life, not simply exist. Our gifts are for others, the gift to our Creator is to employ them so that in our doing and being our gifts of engagement not only empower others but engage our hearts and minds in ways that our living is a gift to ourselves.

Where are your perches in life? Where do you go to find space to think, to share, to let down your hair with friends or family and listen to your heart? When do you take time for you? This week, my friend and I will work on the tacky brown house and take time outs for beauty. The beauty of friendship, of sharing, of creating together a day in which we will cherish living.  What will you cherish this week?