A Journey of A Thousand Miles

Invictus
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
William Ernest Henley

Although I am blessed beyond belief, these words inspire me. One of my favorite songs has a similar theme. When I hear Lose Yourself, by Eminem I can't help but sing out:
"You better lose yourself in the music, the moment, you own it, you better never let it go. You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow. This opportunity comes once in a lifetime!" 
Each of us has obstacles to overcome. It is our personal mission to triumph over them. Seize the moment, right? It's difficult, though, being in a transitional phase. I am attempting to manifest my opportunity. I am the skipper of my soul. I feel like a traveler waiting for a train. My destination is clear, the train's arrival is imminent. But the exact time is uncertain, and patience has never been a reliable traveling companion. Should I book a flight instead, or maybe just take the bus? I can't help noticing this station is quite nice. I could hang out here for a good long time. No, something tells me that the journey will be well worth the wait. Lord, let me be in the right place at the right time, and don't let that train pass me by.

It's All Good

According to an article written by Scott Hensley for NPR's health blog, Shots, "more than 1 in 5 women ages 40-59 are taking an antidepressant, the highest rate for any group. Overall, women and adolescent girls are 2 1/2 times more likely than men and adolescent boys to be taking one of the pills." Depression and anxiety go hand in hand. Those two besties aren't satisfied just hanging with eachother. They want you in their clique. They will spend hours whispering in your ear, taunting you, luring you into their fog of uncertainty. They'll convince you that you need to obsess to be in control. So, we worry. About everything, except for....no-we worry about everything. We are not willing to accept that there are events we cannot plan, and we cannot foresee. We let our imaginations run rampant when it comes to 'what-ifs'. I catch my mind launching into very traumatic and violent scenarios several times a day. This is  mentally and physically taxing, and frankly, I do not have time for it. 
I have found only one remedy for this destructive habit. I force myself to let go. Let go of the fear, and trust in God's perfect plan. Let go of preconceived notions. I don't know what His plan is, but I know that it is good. Let go of expectations for how anybody else should think or behave. The only person that has to love me is me. Just let go and live in the moment. Whatever comes is for the best. Let go. Oh, and cut back on the caffeine.  

Grow Up -or Out. Grow Any Way You Can

Old people make me smile. It probably started with my grandparents, because I was lucky enough to have known 3 of my grandparents, and 3 of my great-grandparents. They were all very different people, running the gamut from quiet and soft-spoken Great-Grandpa Buck to the somewhat demanding Great-Grandma Mandy, (affectionately referred to as 'Madame Queen'  by her daughter). The one trait they all shared was their unconditional love for all of their grandchildren. Grandma Schneider was very outspoken about how talented, amazing, and perfect-in-every-way each of us was. Her love and admiration still empower me today.
I don't have any idea really how most people feel about the treasure trove that is our senior population. As a society, we don't seem to have any regard for them at all. What a shame. I realized early on, that if I were lucky, one day I would be one of them. As I move further down the spectrum from young to old, I am making diligent mental notes. I see that it is possible to have joy, peace, and abundance in our final years. Encountering those who are 'growing' old as opposed to 'withering' old, is so uplifting. I hope to always continue learning and loving to the best of my ability. There are so many ways to grow, and 'old' is inevitable. Let's find our own ways to grow over the time that we are blessed with.

Home Is Where Your Heart Is

I'm back from an amazing vacation with my family. I find traveling to be bittersweet in that the experiences are so breath-taking, and yet, for all my studies in communications, I sadly realize that I cannot adequately convey them to friends and loved-ones. So many sacred moments pass by in a heartbeat, forever cherished by the lucky few who share them. I'm sure that's why I hear myself actually whining when I hear other people are taking a vacation "you are?...that's so awesome...lucky!"   
While on vacation, we all try to toe that line between luxuriating in the freedom from our daily duties and being ever mindful that every passing moment brings us closer to the end. We all consider, in varying degrees of seriousness, not returning home at all. Hopefully, when it does inevitably come time to pack up and return to the real world, we do not return empty-handed. Along with our souvenirs, sun tans and stories, we have a new perspective. The earth seems smaller, and God seems closer. Best of all, we have a broader definition of the place we call home.