Gratitude Journal - August 12, 2018

A dear co-worker of mine challenged me one day to reflect on ‘what I think about what I am thinking’. Wow….if that isn’t deep, I don’t know what is. And so, ever since that day I’ve been thinking about what I’m thinking.

In the process, I’ve learned that it really prompts me to:

• purposely examine my thoughts to entertain new ideas

• challenge old ideas

• uncover potential unconscious biases, and to always

• step back and look at the big picture

For many years, I’ve filtered my daily life with gratitude for the experience, and the consideration of whether the immediate concern will matter or even be remembered in five days, five months or five years.

We live in a land of opportunity, and are in control of our own lives. I challenge you to focus on only gratitude in any given situation, and know that it will make a difference in your life.

Give it a try, it’s free!

Gratitude Journal - June 21, 2018

On the anniversary eve of you leaving your earthly body to claim your rightful place amongst the angels, I remember our nights and days as we laughed and played, and cried and prayed. 

"We have a good life baby", you remarked as we laid out our ten year plan to return to the land you cherished. We only had 3,646 left to go.....

I can't get the song, The First Time out of my head and it reminds me of the first photo we ever took together. No selfie sticks or camera phones back in 2003, so it was a tripod and film camera.  

The first time ever I saw your face 
I thought the sun rose in your eyes 
And the moon and the stars were the gifts you gave 
To the dark and the endless skies

The first time ever I held you tight 
I felt your heart so close to mine

And I knew our joy would fill the earth 
And last till the end of time my love

As I keep looking up to the night skies and see the twinkling stars above, I can feel your presence as you keep watch over your Ohana myDarlin' Robert.  And I know that our love transcends all that ever was, is and will be. 

Gratitude Journal - July 21, 2107

The Drive Home

Monday through Friday, I drive the same way to and from work. So, why did seeing Ken's Corner Grille on Atlanta Road conjur memories for me today? It took me back almost ten years ago when Robert and I took our dear friend Laura Rossiter for a midnight dinner after an evening at Crystal's on the Square. 

I met Laura when i wandered into her shop Alchemy while on a shopping adventure in the Marietta Square. She was so knowledgeable about different stones and metals, and had the best unique jewelry creations by local artists. Laura was such a unique lady, warm and engaging to all who entered her doors. One of my favorite things about Laura's shop is that she always kept a 'Wish List' for her customers to help make the selection process by husbands or significant others easy as pie! (Now that's a smart business lady!)

It was Laura who hired Robert's first band Premonition to play their first gig during a First Friday on the Marietta Square. I wrote about it all of those years ago on another of my blogs. Click here. She was so kind to all of us and I declared her to be my very favorite shoppe on the Square. 

As many know, it is challenging to maintain a small business, even on a fabulous location such as the Square. After moving her business to another location, she eventually closed shop. I saw her once after that at another mainstream mall store, and wished that I would have done a better job keeping in touch. 

And so I searched Facebook for Laura, and got excited to find her. I hurriedly clicked 'Add Friend' hoping that I could catch up with her soon. I scrolled down the page.... I couldn't believe my eyes.... 

It is with deep sadness that I must say that Laura passed away on Friday at about 2:30 PM. There will be no service.

I am sorry dear friend.  I pray that your days were happy. You were a light in this world whose memory will live on. 

Click here to read Facebook comments. 

Gratitude Journal - July 16, 2017

Wandering through Life

Many appear in our lives for a moment, years or a lifetime. 

In most cases we won't know until later how long a person is destined to travel alongside us on our journey, but on occasion it is crystal clear. And that was the case when I met Adam - a self proclaimed 'wanderer'. 

As I wandered through Little Five Points with a group of photographers, a guy carrying a hard back book and small plastic bag seemed to gravitate to us - not speaking, but appearing to want to be seen. 

"May I take your photo?" I asked as he was quite an interesting character. 

"I'm tired of people just wanting to take my photo." he replied 

"I respect that. My name is Sheri and yours?"  

"Adam" he said. 

"Nice to meet you Adam. Do you live here?"

"No, I don't live anywhere." 

"Oh, are you homeless?" I replied out of curiosity.

"No, I am a wanderer." 

 And that was the beginning of a very interesting conversation with a man who clearly wanted to be heard and not only seen. I proceeded to ask him about his life and his way of life as it is foreign to me other than reading other's accounts. 

Adam's plan is to have no plan, to take everyday at face value and go with the flow. With few personal belongings, he rides the rail cars from town to town. It is, as he described, a way of life. Admittedly, it is one that intrigues me but not one that I would willingly embark upon. Nonetheless, I admire people that are willing to embrace living a life that fulfills them. 

I asked Adam what he does to secure money for essentials, and he unashamedly said that he panhandles and works intermittently as a cook if he needs to. He has a network of friends in towns connected by the railways who are always there for him. 

I am reminded of my younger sister Mary who worked in Alaska during summer months, and traveled during the winter to different cities and countries in which she had created her own network of soft places to land with friends.

I asked Adam how he communicates with his friends to let them know he will be coming to town, and found that he doesn't own a phone but rather uses the computer at the library to connect. 

While Adam and I are talking, another photographer joined the conversation and asked to take a photo. The smoke curled through the air against a backdrop of a graffiti and others sleeping on the hard concrete.  It is clear that this street photographer has a way of immediately connecting with others. 

As I write this entry, I realize that it is long - however my interaction however brief - was impactful to me, therefore feel the need to document it for myself, and Adam. 

People judge others, regardless of how we may not want to admit it or even realize it. We have unconscious and conscious biases based on our experiences, beliefs and values. 

You see I judged Adam by assuming that he was homeless, only to find that what I may consider homeless isn't always the case. 

And Adam judged me as just another older (ouch even if true!), upper middle class woman who values possessions more than life experiences. I began to try to unravel his assessment of me, however was more interested in learning about him.

Adam shared just a glimpse of his past with me, alluding to his Father not understanding but ultimately accepting his way of life. And he felt it important enough to let me know his Father was not his biological, but rather someone who stepped into that role for him. He volunteered that he didn't want to talk about his real Father even though I didn't ask. 

The library book he held in in his hand was 'The Wild Truth' by Carine McCandless. (This is the only photo I took during our conversation) He told me that Christopher McCandless, the subject of 'Into the Wild' by Jon Krakauer was his hero. After looking both books up, I think I may be living under a rock as 'Into the Wild' is evidently required reading in many school systems today. 

Is Adam looking for his truth? Is his plan to have no plan trusting the universe to deliver the truth in the natural timing of predestination?

During my conversation with Adam, we identified commonalities in our differences. 

We all live by our core set of values. 

Experiences shape who we are today. 

Beliefs and aspirations will shape our tomorrows. 

Raw almonds rock! (I gave him a bag I had brought along for a snack) 

We have differing opinions on the value of Yoohoo drinks. 

There is a higher power. Mine is God, and his lives within him. Wait! So does mine!

That was my moment with Adam. It is highly unlikely that our paths will cross again, but I am better because of our conversation. 

Thank you Adam.

And so goes this journey called life. 

Check out FB comments on this post here. 

Gratitude Journal - June 26, 2017

Today started out as just another ordinary day, but then I paused to get a closer look and it turns out to be quite extraordinary.  I am blessed to have so much more than I could ever deserve, and know it is a higher power (I choose to call him God) who provides. 

Our weekend was so packed full of celebration, Ohana, food, music and chores that it felt as if I was returning to work from a vacation. And I am ever so grateful to make a living where I also make my life. Conversation with a dear co-worker caused me to reflect deeply. Explore the depths of your heart in order to trust that your journey is perfect, even with all of your imperfections. Thank you for sharing....

LISTEN

I drove the usual route home, and might I also mention that it was daylight! My foot kept getting stuck on the brake and I was fearful that something may have gone awry. I stopped for gas and upon closer inspection, I found the floor mat had moved to the point of almost obstructing the brake pedal. Stop Sheri... look closer.... small shifts unchecked can have a large impact. 

LOOK

I pulled into the drive, gathered my things and checked the mail before heading up the walk. With the digital age that we live in, I rarely receive mail of any value. Normally it is advertisements or political flyers, but today was different. I tore the envelope open and pulled the cover letter and documents out to read the words I had prayer for come true. An issue from October of 2013 is fully resolved with no further obligations required from me. Yahoo! Three and a half years later, I can put that chapter to bed for good. :-) 

BELIEVE

And I saved the best for last..... I used to journal using an online app called Day One. It been almost three years since I accessed it, and was heartbroken to find that my account didn't exist anymore. Fortunately for me, the folks who monitor the Day One FB page helped me to retrieve the content - all 247 pages...  Praise the Lord and pass the biscuits! I am one happy girl! 

PRAISE

And so my Ohana, I leave you with a prayer for our Lord to bring goodness into your life as he has into mine. 

Gratitude Journal - June 22, 2017

They say time flies....
and I believe it to be true
on the wings of angels.

I sit at the desk of my long since gone ancestors,
fingers hovering over the keypad
instead of the antique typewriter
now relegated to only be a piece of decor...

Three years have slipped through my fingers, but never my memory.

We would be waking in a few short hours to spend one last extraordinary ordinary day together. The kind
of days that when strung together, were the makings of a wonderful life lei.

After you played on your last morning, we said a prayer aloud to and for each other. You prayed for God
to give me strength and understanding. And I prayed that he would continue to use your life to bring
others to him.

Did you know it was time myDarlin? Was it you or God speaking to me that day? I know that all I did was
to open my mouth, and the words rolled off my tongue and through my lips without any forethought on my
part. They weren't my words, but rather his. I thank God every day for his word, for bringing you into my
broken heart and me into yours.

I cried out that it wasn't time for you to leave, you still had work to do. After all, it was the prayer I had just
prayed. What I didn't know at that moment in time, is that he would continue to use your life for many
years to come in both physical and spiritual ways.

And here we are myDarlin' Robert.... three years later. So much has changed, but so much is still the
same. God has provided strength and understanding just as you asked that morning three years ago.

Mahalo for forever changing my life and always reminding me to keep looking up.

Gratitude Journal – December 26, 2016

Aloha Ohana (yes, that’s you….) It’s been way too long since I’ve taken pen to paper, or should I say fingertips to the keyboard? Still, in the absence of my trail of thoughts, life goes on. Babies join this big crazy whirled of green and blue as if jumping onto a merry go round in the playground of life, while others take refuge in our Lord’s arms.  Until we meet again.

Tears of joy flow into the same of sorrow… building… until they spill over the edge of our eyes and down our face…. Yet, it’s only water and isn’t that what life is made of?

Thirty months ago, we dreamed of a ten-year plan to go home. One of ridding ourselves of ‘stuff’ and moving to paradise, more commonly known to us as Kona. And as I lifted my suitcase on the conveyor I realized that we are unexpectedly ahead of schedule by seven and a half years. This wasn’t quite the way I imagined it would be, but am comforted that we were able to take this one last important trip home together myDarlin’.

As we gathered on the rocky volcano shoreline of Kona, the peaceful breeze caressed our tear stained cheeks.  And one by one we said Aloha to you and your brother as you drifted away on gentle ocean waves into the sunset. 

Aloha myDarlin’, until we meet again….