I was sitting at lunch with brother and bestie yesterday and we were reminiscing on one of our favorite childhood memories. One day after school the t.v. was on in the kitchen when we were getting snacks. The Maury show was on and he was making guests confront their fears. We died laughing when this guest, Fifi, was forced to be in the same room with a cat. Her reaction was so memorable we continue talk about it all these years later. I think the most interersting- coincidental part of the whole episode is the fact that her name is Fifi! Something I would most definitely pair to a cat.
It got me thinking about if I have any phobias. If I would act that crazy at the sight or sound of something. Indeed I do. Roaches. I detest them. Detest. I have a fear of them but an even bigger fear of killing them. I hate the sound it makes, the way it squishes. SICK! I hate everything about them. When I see them I scream.
As many of you know I also hate New Years. I guess you could say fears are heightened for me around this time. With the seconds ticking to the close of 2010 I am reminded of my accomplishments but also my failures with each echoing tick. My fear of not meeting a goal for the year bolts to the front of my mind as time runs out. Anxiety sets in as I evaluate the quality of my year. Was it everything I had hoped it had been? Did I take full advantage of everything I was in control of? Did I try to control too much of it and lose sight of my main focus? Which ball did I drop?
I heard this somewhere. Life is a game of juggling 5 balls, family, friends, faith, health and work. Work is a rubber ball and if dropped will bounce back up but the other 4 are glass. If any of the other 4 are dropped they can be permanently scuffed, marked, cracked or even shattered making repair difficult if not impossible.
I know this year I have been exhausted for a good portion. Looking back during that time my juggling was off. I was running around trying to catch each ball from falling before it was too late. Sometimes even diving to catch a ball. No wonder I was exhausted!
All of the 5 have a strong connection with each other and the loss of one affects the others. Look down at your feet. Which of your life's balls are on the ground? Look in the air. What balls are you juggling? Are there balls at your feet because you have added balls to juggle? Are you fighting to keep a 6th or 7th ball in the game?
As we start this New Year instead of resolutions and goals, I just want to be more aware of my game. How's my juggling skill? The better I get the more balanced my life will be.
So Happy New Year to you and yours.
May God bless your 2011.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” - Isaiah 9:6
aaaaaaaaaaaaand somewhere along the way in these past 2000 some years we have associated His birth with the decorating of trees and hanging of stockings.
(Pictures of my house in Austin with Instax)
Im at the farm this weekend spending time with loved ones :)
The months of October and November had me bolting around the country (or mainly just to Dallas) like a rockstar every weekend. Which is why I was looking forward to a weekend in Austin exploring this fantastic place I call home.
Today Abra and I escaped the hustle and bustle to a quaint little town an hour or so outside of Austin in Wimberley, Texas. Our "work mom" took us to Market Days which happens the first weekend of the month from March to December. Located in the hills outside of Austin it was a very refreshing morning with two of my favorite people.
Among the treasures there undoubtably has to be those things you see and say to yourself "WHO would buy that?!!?!" Which is exactly the conversation we had when we saw these
Either Im too busy or too boring to keep this blog alive.
Starting this blog while living abroad is a hard act to follow. My days may not seem as exciting as London or as breathtaking as the Egyptian pyramids but in actuality they are. Today I was reminded of the beautiful world God hand picked me for in my windowless office Rm ###. An office with green walls decorated with original artwork with original signatures. An office where I conference 5 times in the workday with 113 of my employees. An office where the Glee soundtrack is background noise. An office where specific hand gestures are required passwords to enter and leave the room. An office where my business changes the future.
My office might not be as architecturally divine as the Duomo in Florence, or as stunning as the Eiffel Tower...but to me its more. My classroom walls are adorned with original student work with original student signatures. After a "conference" my students pack up their things and leave most chairs pushed in, some chairs not.....some chairs sideways. Silent students working, on task, with lights dim while Glee whispers melodically from the corner. Quizzing students at the door on their hand gestures learned to remember heat transfer is a genius trick for any bouncer.
A room filled with opportunities.... yeah to me this world is breathtaking, awe-inspiring and 100% perfect.
Its tough to have an explorer's soul. Always wanting to be somewhere else, discovering life in a new place. To have a deep passion to see the wonders of the world. But today I was reminded that one of the greatest wonders of this brilliant world is found in my office, everyday. I get it all to myself and I get to see it every.day.
Children laughing, children learning and Issac Newton and his attractive beard on the board.
