Saturday, May 26, 2012

Rip Tide of Life

Art credit: http://www.mysafetysign.com/
Sometimes life can be like a rip tide whirling and pulling you swiftly away from the safety of the shore. 

Lessons for surviving a rip tide aren't unlike lessons for surviving crisis in your life. 

When you get caught up in a rip tide the worst thing you can do is panic. Many times it happens so quick you don't even know that you've been pulled out so far. 

For many people their first instinct is to start swimming toward the shore. The tide is so swift and it makes it impossible and in most cases just pulls your body out further. 

Panic and swimming against a fierce current just wastes your energy. 

The way to swim out of a rip tide is to look toward the shore and swim parallel to it. You might feel the current still pulling you but if you keep paddling gently you will begin to swim out of the current. 

Once your out of the rip tide you can swim back to shore. If you're in the ocean you can even just relax your body and let the waves swoosh you back to shore. 

If you're in the rush of ripe tide of life I wish you peace. It might be your first instinct to panic but try, try, try as hard as you can not to flail about in panic. Find your shore, your center and instead of racing toward it swim along side of it. 

Just as swiftly as life was pulling you into chaos, you can release yourself of trying to push against a current. You'll find yourself floating effortlessly. Finally buoyantly you can float with the natural order of the flow and be gently drifted back to the safety of the shore. 


“The secret of success is to be in harmony with existence, to be always calm to let each wave of life wash us a little farther up the shore.” Cyril Connolly









Sunday, May 20, 2012

Apples Don't Fall Far From the Tree


It seems fitting that Grannie and the GoGo Boots is my all time most read post. It's been a year since my grandmother passed away and I think she'd be pleased that her story is taking top billing.

I found out the icky way that sometimes when you follow a link back to a site that's referred to your blog it's not a good thing. It's a despicable practice that perverts do and it's upsetting because they target cancer blogs, grief support blogs. My grandmother probably would've said, "Don't they have anything better to do with their lives?" I think probably not. 

There was a link to a homework page for an Honors English course. I found this kind of funny. Falling With Grace was under the category of new forms of writing such as blogs. I think Grannie would just love that other kids were reading the story and maybe getting something from it. 

I loved my Grannie and her zest for life. During the last months of her life she would often comment about having regret about not traveling to Ireland. 

My mother and aunt decided this year that they didn't want that same regret and agreed to go tour Ireland together. They left this week to fit in a toast to Grannie and to celebrate my mom's birthday. 

Remember the story about how my grandmother left one weekend to drive to the very southern tip of Texas? She didn't tell anyone where she was going and it made my mom furious. Apples don't fall far from the tree. 

This week after not hearing from my mother my sister and I were a little upset too. We figured that she was off having a great time and just not taking the time to at least let her daughters know she made it safe! 

We posted funny pictures and comments on her Facebook page...
Have you seen this woman? If so, do not, REPEAT DO NOT approach! She should be considered dangerous...and armed with a fanny pack consisting of kleenex, Nitro patches and a cellphone (powered off....)
 


When day 5 arrived and there was still no word we were really worried. She didn't even check in to see how her precious cats were. This was just not like mom. 

When did that happen? When did we become the worried ones and she became the one hooting it up from pub to pub? Hmph. I don't like this. I don't like it one bit. 

We finally did hear from her. She was having cell phone issues and finding another phone was an issue. 
"They don't have phones at the bed and breakfast?" I snapped back as if I might have heard that myself occasionally. My mom quickly changed the subject. I taught her that move. 

I can't help but picture Grannie along for the ride over there. She'd be an awful back seat driver though. 

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

You Have Permission



I'm writing today from my patio as it's an unusually mild spring day here in Dallas. I'm taking a break from everything hectic and declaring time to myself just to breathe.

I have yet to figure out who conspires to make things as crazy as they are this time of year. So much gets crammed into a few weeks. So much is due, time seems at a negative balance and life just seems to run us all over. 

Not today. I'm giving you permission to take time to breath. OK, perhaps one more sip of coffee but THEN breathe. 

Are you finding it hard to catch your breath? It's sometimes difficult, I know. I'm not sure if you even think about it unless yours is labored due to illness. 

Breath is the root to meditation and yoga. Here is the cool thing though-you don't need a yoga mat or soothing music to find your breath. It's amazing how our body responds to some quick, deep breaths. I'm not sure of a quicker, cheaper way to aid our body than to take some deep breaths. 

Try it. Go ahead. If you're reading this on your smart phone, tablet or computer just take in a big deep breath. Hold it...hold it...now exhale slowly. Now again only this time feel how the air sort of cools your nose as the air passes through. Breathe in............hold it...hold it...now let the air pass through your lips. As your lips tickle from the warm breath can you feel your lungs empty? 

If you're still having a hard time noticing the effect of your breath imagine that you're blowing into a pinwheel. This is a great tool that you can pick up at the dollar store even. (or swipe from the Geico pig) 



If you're pressed for time I bet that you can spot a dandelion outside. Pluck one out of the grass (don't forget to make a wish) and send those little seeds flying along with your troubles, aches and worries. 


For more on benefits of breathing exercises check out: