Ocean Thoughts

Although it is snowing today, my thoughts seem to be drifting towards the warm, sunny sky and the crashing waves on the beach’s shore.  Wishful thinking, right?  However, as I thought of this, a familiar JFK quote popped into my brain and I knew it would make good blogging material.  And so, here it is…Wisdom from President Kennedy, so many years ago.

Enjoy the snow!

“We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch - we are going back from whence we came.”

John F. Kennedy

Life Lessons

Here is a quote from one of my favorite poems.  I believe it sums up life quite perfectly!

“I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.” ~T.S.Eliot, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Vacation…Again

Hi!  As you see, I’m posting earlier in the week than I usually do because tomorrow I’m off to New York for another mini vacation.  I wanted to thank you all for following my blog.  It means more than you ever know!

Continuing the Journey

I’m back at Messiah College for my final semester.  I can’t help but to feel a spark of excitement as I continue on this on-going journey.  Even though I know this the beginning of the end of something special and unique, there is much more ahead of me.  I’m reminded of the old adage, “a door never closes unless another opens” and I truly believe this.  Life’s road has many potholes, but in the end, it is all worth it! 

It Couldn't Be Done

A friend recently read this to me and I thought it blog material.  As always, I hope you had a good week.  Thank you for your continuing support.  It bolsters me as I go through these college days :)  I hope you enjoy the poem by Edgar Albert Guest.

Everyone have a good weekend!

It Couldn't Be Done

 Somebody said that it couldn't be done,
 But he with a chuckle replied
 That "maybe it couldn't," but he would be one
 Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried. 

 So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
 On his face. If he worried he hid it.
 He started to sing as he tackled the thing
 That couldn't be done, and he did it.

 Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that;
 At least no one ever has done it;"
 But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
 And the first thing we knew he'd begun it.

 With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
 Without any doubting or quiddit,
 He started to sing as he tackled the thing
 That couldn't be done, and he did it.

 There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
 There are thousands to prophesy failure;
 There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
 The dangers that wait to assail you.

 But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
 Just take off your coat and go to it;
 Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
 That "cannot be done," and you'll do it. 

 

Summer’s End

Today, I sadly admit is the last day of my internship with UCP.  I thought I’d celebrate with a poem.  Again, thank you for your support.  I'll return to my Friday schedule next week, so keep your eyes peeled for more of my ramblings!  And now, my poem!

The wind in the trees tells of summer’s demise,

like a long-lost-friend beckoning to come home again—

I pause, knowing this is the end—

the end of a mystical, magical time—

I try to grasp harder, try to get a better hold of it all—

but time, time in its infinite wisdom says it is all for not—

I grasp to no avail—

“Was it “A Midsummer Night’s Dream?” I ask, slightly confused—

No, I realize—

it’s that brief time when everything’s right in the world—

a utopia of sorts—

soon to be gone—

Only to be spoken as myth to the young—

To be forgotten—

A brief time, indeed—

Never to be rediscovered—

To be remembered as a time in the sun—

There’ll be other summers certainly—

But this, this one is etched on my mind

For all time—

Eternity—

The winter wind will not erase the joy

felt in my heart—

My very being—

For this brief time

Indeed, summer will come again!

A Journey to Remember

This weekend, after hearing about the passing of an acquaintance, I began to consider how precious life is and how we take some things so for granted.  At times it seems to me, at least, life is an unending road, fraught with challenges and decisions.  I know I have a tendency to become caught up in these very quickly and think all are life-altering events.  I’ve discovered, though, they are mere blips on the horizon, soon to be forgotten.  So, in the past few days, I promised myself to enjoy the passage, and yes, life’s road does end, but it is how you live the journey.  That’s a lesson we all need to remember, in the good as well as in the darkest times!

Letting Go

This week, as I perused articles that were of interest, I came across one that spoke directly to me.  A mom who had an autistic son wrote a fabulous article describing how she and her husband grieved for the lost opportunities their son would never experience.  She explained the sadness they felt watching their son grow.  In the grieving process, though, she recognized the grief took on a life all of its own, robbing her of living in the present moment and enjoying her son for who he was.  Reading this article caused me to draw parallels in my own life.  In my teenaged years, I dreamed what my life could have been, minus the Cerebral Palsy, so completely that it led me down a dark path; so dark I was afraid it would engulf me.  After traveling this path for a little while, I recognized I grieved for the might-have-beens and that robbed me of everyday life.  I can now say I lead a happier life now that I’ve let go of that image; that fantasy.  Letting go of might-have-beens is hard, but is worth it in the end!

For those who are interested in reading the article, it is http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jamie-krug/grieving-for-the-other-owen_b_3526763.html?ncid=webmail10 .  It’s certainly a good read!

Summer Days

Today, I reflected on the significance on summer and its meaning.  As a young child, I loved to sit out in the sun, basking in its glow.  I still love to do this, but summer has a deeper meaning now.  As I look outside my window, I notice everything is in bloom.  I liken this to my mind, fully in its glory, the sun giving it energy and welcoming me to convey my innermost thoughts and feelings to the world, if I am only willing. 

Have a good weekend, everyone!

The Perpetual Flyer

Here is a blast from the past.  This is a poem I wrote over ten years ago, but I thought you would enjoy reading entitled The Perpetual Flyer.  It gives me pause to think I could write so well at an early age, as I prepare to embark on my second internship with United Cerebral Palsy.  I’m so excited.   

Have a fabulous weekend!

Sometimes in slumber, one dreams that all bodily limitations are cast away with the wind.

Feeling no physical restrictions that inhibit the body in the waking hours, the mind is free

to float through a labyrinth of uninhibited passageways all through the mystifying trance

of sleep.  One cannot describe the exhilaration.

that one feels actually flying.

It is as if the soul is free from any bondage it encounters in life.

Air whistling close to the ear, the cool sensation of air flowing over the body and the

overwhelming sense of freedom is all part of this fantastic experience.

Free from the body garb that hinders one in waking hours, one can feel what it is like to

be so alive in spirit.

It is a refuge from daily physical barriers that one encounters.  This feeling is to be locked

away deep in the heart of hearts and cherished for a lifetime.

--January 2, 2002

A Heartwarming Moment

Hi All,

I just found a video that really inspired me.  It’s these little things in life that feed the soul!  I hope you all enjoy this clip as much as I did. 

Have a fabulous weekend!

Gifts

As you may already know, new adventures entice me, especially if it involves a different way of life.  This week, I had the privilege of visiting a Mennonite school, where my friend, Ann, teaches.  I have to say it was the most refreshing experience I had for a long time.  Ann teaches a special class, and her kindness and patience with her student amazed and even caused my heart to sing.

After leaving Ann’s classroom, I visited another, and to my amazement, the teacher displayed the same attitude as Ann.  Pondering my own primary school experience, I wondered if my educational quest would have been a more positive journey if the same attitude prevailed.  Leaving the school, I discovered a revelation, maybe one that I knew, but never put it in words.  The acts of kindness and patience carry a special gift to both giver and receiver.  It is a chance for a giver to watch seeds of kindness grow and take root, and the receiver gains the gift of faith, faith to show the world their inner self!  What precious gifts!

Year-In Review

It’s Friday—that time of week again.  After a few days of contemplation, spending time with family and friends and reviewing the past year’s events, it amazes me how far I’ve come in only a short time.  The highlight of my year, I must admit, was my summer internship with United Cerebral Palsy of Central Pennsylvania.  My time spent there reinvigorated my quest to do well in my classes as a college student so that I could make a difference in individuals’ lives, and even hearts.  In my blog and other materials written for the company, I saw my words and actions impacted the lives of such a vast audience; it was an awakening for me to strive harder.  I, again, thank Lynda Bowen and the rest of the UCP staff for seeing my potential and wisdom for signing me on as their summer intern of 2012!  It was an exciting journey.  Merry Christmas to all and I hope your dreams and wishes come true this holiday season as mine did this year!

Christmas Thoughts

It is Friday again.  The weeks seem to fly!  During this holiday season, we, including myself, become so caught up in finishing that last project or test; we forget the reason to celebrate this holiday season.  For me, Christmas is a time for having that extra joy in my heart and to anticipate the upcoming year; a time for renewal and growth; something to remember as I complete these final weeks of this semester.