Words

This week, as I began my internship with United Cerebral Palsy of Central PA, I pondered where an individual’s gift of words originates; to still or move the heart by the written language.  Why are we so captivated by the art itself?  A little word can have so much impact, beyond the word itself.  I’ve always been intrigued by this question and impacted by this even as a little girl.  Even as I write this blog, I choose my words so carefully, so succintly.  I feel the impending excitement, as I did last summer, that I hold the power to captivate just by the pressure of my toe, striking each key, and I thank my audience for putting this all at my “feet.”  For that, I am truly grateful!

Have a great weekend!

Robert Frost

Today, I read some of the poems of Robert Frost and remembered that I wrote a poem in a reflection of one of his.  I thought I would post it for you.  Enjoy!

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I –

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

--Robert Frost, Excerpt from “The Road Not Taken, Mountain Interval, 1920”

View of “The Road Not Taken”

So many years have passed.

Life eternally presents many roads to travel by.

Youth pretends to be our friend,

displaying all the splendors of life

before our very eyes.

Then, one day we have to choose;

win or lose. 

Yes, the ‘one less traveled by’ is

the one, excluding much fun.

Are we happy with this plight?

Yes, because we know what is right and wrong,

thus, we do what is right.

Grace

Today, I wanted to do a little commentary on a movie I saw over the weekend.  Amish Grace is a moving testimonial of the Amish school shooting that happened near home a few years ago.  The movie represents the omnipresent faith and forgiveness these individuals posses, yet shows the human side of them as well.  As I watched the movie, I pondered my own faith and the ability to forgive, and like everyone, sometimes I fall short of this act.  I came to the realization that the mere thought of forgiveness is a way to cleanse the mind, but allows errors and us to be human.  What a revelation!

The Mennonite Way

Yesterday, I encountered a truly amazing experience.  I had the opportunity to visit with both of my friend Alta’s grandmothers.  It was a perfect afternoon for a ride and and I leapt to get a glimpse of this different and fascinating world.  All the way in the car, I anticipated what conversations we would have; whether I’d be confortable or not.  I already met the one grandmother, but hadn’t the other.

While I visited with one grandmother, then the other, it struck me how our minds conjure misconceptions without even our knowledge.  As long as I remember, I have vigorously fought people’s perceptions of me and tried to display my true nature.  Yesterday, I realized I was guilty of the transgression of labeling individuals.  To my pleasure, I found myself completely comfortable with both grandmothers, even enjoying myself.  Ultimately, they accepted me and I them.  What a refreshing concept!  The world, I think, would be a better place if we followed the Mennonite way, with total acceptance of others.  Maybe someday, that will become our inherant nature.  

World CP Day

World CP Day is two months away, but today, my brain worked overtime and I came up with twenty-five items that would better my life greatly.  If you have any ideas to add to the list, please post.  Have a good weekend.

1.     Ability to text—telephone—eye scan

2.     Joystick or eye controlled ipod

3.     Eye scanning keyboard

4.     Eye scanning mouse

5.     Absorbing designer clothing

6.     Mini toe keyboard pointer

7.     Eye scanning computer screen

8.     Eye activated VCR \ DVD player

9.     Toe activated VCR\DVD player

10.  TV touch screen remote (separate from actual TV)

11.  Eye activated lights (on and off)

12.  Eye \ toe activated window blinds (up and down)

13.  Eye \ toe activated radio

14.  Eye \ toe activated CD player

15.  Eye activated keyboard

16.  Powered wheelchair to go on the beach

17.  Eye / toe activated beach umbrella

18.  Eye \ toe activated sun screen dispenser

19.  Eye \ toe activated temperature guage for shower

20.  Eye \ toe activated stair lift chair

21.  Automatic shampoo dispenser

22.  Automatic shower head (one that moves by eye or foot)

23.  Automatic night light (one that moves by eye or foot)

24.  Eye volume activated speakers for the computer

25.  Automatic printer page sorter (one that moves by eye or foot)