SALT CURE

There is little that cannot be cured 

With salt water....

Be it the sea, sweat

Or tears

 Isak Dinesen

Contrast Of Realities

 

The Opposing Realities Of Fall

It never fails. Ever.
Each and every October I find myself both conflicted and challenged by the parallel and opposing realities of this month. October. The change of season of light and dark of harvest and season are obvious to one degree or another in much of the country.  It is especially striking in these hills and farmlands beneath my feet, my own and all the acres around me.

The harvest in true agricultural areas is massive - corn, potato, squash, clover, apples, silage, pumpkins, the last lingering tomatoes, firewood...
If it has a purpose for human or livestock it is accounted for, considered and brought in from the hills and fields. Winter survival for man and beast, for hearth and home, for sale or sharing. The bounty, is remarkable. Always. Hard won by hard work.

Canning and freezing are a happy frenzied obsession. Barns are repaired. Storm windows brought out and cleaned. Soon they will be in place.
A time of celebration. Of preparation.  The land gives so we will eat and stay warm during the months of winter.

Amazing and heartwarming.

And yet there is (for me) a lingering sadness alongside this month of harvest and beauty. The quiet footfall of winter treading ever nearer. The wooded paths that calm and teach me filled with leaves now dry crunching beneath my barn boots.
"Goodbye" they whisper as I walk... goodbye.

The sun grows weak, the wind gains strength.
The season slips towards sleep and for all the beauty and vibrancy there is a melancholy I can't deny in the withering of the sun, the green, life.

Nature sings the same song in her endless cycle ~ birth, growth, life, withering, and ultimately ~ sleep.  Each holds beauty, each holds truth. None can be bypassed nor changed.

October. A mystical, joyous, heartbreaking, confusing conflicted yet favored month in every year of my life....

Honor The Possibilities

There is an undeniable thread of sadness to life. Some is expected (tho none the easier for that fact). Some is random. Some is unthinkable. Time moves forward, unfailingly. Unchallengeable. Unchangeable.

The truth of this leaves each of us, every morning, with a choice.

We can worry, fret and sink deeply into the mire of angst and depression that is woven by worries and fears and expectations. By schedules, 'should-do's' and demands.

Or we can decide to honor the possibility in our days, months, years.

If granted a full life (year count varies) or if we have years stolen (year count varies) we have the same choices.  To dream. To reach. To scheme. To fail (but dance thru the attempt). To reach for both monumental and stolen small moments of fulfillment and worth.

There are no blueprints aside from work hard, be honest, give (always) when you can, have the sense to accept help (when you need it). Learn without ceasing. Dream, desire, stretch. I don't honestly believe it matters what you dream or what you reach for (as long as it harms no other) and lifts your soul....

So many people in every generation perceive honoring the possibility of their life, honoring their dream as an all or nothing proposition. I've come to believe that it's more of a layering, beginning with the idea of what vibrates deep in your soul or mind and carving out any size piece you are able to capture.

If you want to draw or paint - do it. If you don't feel at ease to do it on your own take a lesson or learn from a video. Maybe you'll be horrid at it. At first. Or always. Maybe the first step you take will open some other door. Layers and pieces. Honor the possibility of your dream, your journey by trying.

If you have a week or day or hour or moment to share a coffee with yourself or someone else, do so. Or stare up into the clouds, or take a nap, or call someone you need (or someone who needs you). Perhaps it's stealing only a moment for reflection or indulgence or sharing. A few minutes shared in which you lean or are leaned upon.

The possibility to honor may be simple, sweet, straight forward. Quick and easy. Something you're inclined to postpone, consider delaying because it's small and can be done anytime...

Don't.

Don't delay, don't forget, don't dismiss the possibility of "the small longing" of your heart. Don't avoid the slight detour towards contentment.

Or it may be the only possibility that rattles within your soul is significant, closely held, dynamic and dramatic in what it requires. Timing is everything (as the saying goes) but if the time isn't right for the full immersion I'd bet there's a corner of the dream you could slice for yourself.

If I'd kept count of how many times I've been told (by some very intelligent people) that my plan wouldn't work, my goal was beyond my reach, my idea was flawed I would tell you that number. But I stopped counting a long time ago. In my youth in fact.

Were they right, did I fail? Sometimes. Was I right, did I succeed? Sometimes. But every time, always I learned, grew, gained ~ every layer I dug thru and every piece I tore off honored the possibilities of my life.  Some opened doors. Some closed doors. It's only in looking back the pattern emerges now.

Can I count the times I was advised I was wasting time with a daydream, a phone call, a walk, gathering a basket of apples, baking (you can buy it for less don't-cha-know). Could I have been accomplishing something productive in those half hours, or mornings, or moments? Sure. If I defined 'productive' the same way those observing me define productive. 

Fear is harnessed by resolve.  Stubborn refusal to give up, give way, give in is key. When you follow your heart, your bliss, your muse, your dream it will test you. You will feel at times it'll break you.

Sleepless nights? You betcha.  Mac n cheese for a months at a time to balance the budget sometimes?  Oh for sure. Behind on my housework? (wait till I stop laughing and I'll answer that one)! due to the detours I chose to short contentments that renewed me, that made memories? Absolutely.

But here's the thing....
Whatever whispers to you in the depth of your soul is the possibility (be it based within the structure of: corporate/artist/county/city/designer/dog groomer - it matters not - your dream is YOUR dream). The possibility for happiness, purpose, is being comfortable and content with yourself.

Large or small, dramatic or momentary. Any layer or piece of joy or a dream is valuable. Don't wait for all the stars to align. Don't think it only worth trying if you can have it all. Or for it to be perfect. Or for anyone to understand why you want to "waste time".  Or to feel sure it's emotionally safe. Or wait for everyone (or anyone) to tell YOU it's the right thing to do. It just doesn't (for most) happen that way. 

Small simple moments of happiness and renewal are highly under-valued.

Small dreams are wonderful. Large complex dreams are wonderful. Stolen moments/hours/days are wonderful. If I were to write a list of truths, of where happiness hides the first on the list would be honoring the possibilities of your days....

Welcome and a quote

Finish each day and be done with it.                                                                 You have done what you could.                                                                Some blunders and absurdities                                                                           no doubt crept in                                                                forget them as soon as you can.                                                                         Tomorrow is a new day                                                                you shall begin it well and serenely                                                                              RW Emerson                                                                                           Welcome to each of you here via As Time Goes By                                    You're warmly welcomed and I look forward to reading your blogs!   I love quotes and while life currently has me overwhelmed  leaving little time for proper posting of a new page I thought  I'd stop by to share this one above.....