And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt. ~Sylvia Plath

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Want or Need.

I read a lot of posts on facebook.  I know, I have nothing better to do with my time than to read facebook posts, but I don't think anyone out there is judging me because you have nothing to do better either do you??    Reading all these posts made me start to think, and eventually I started to take a poll.  Not just on facebook, but in general.   What do people need?  And what do people want, but they think they need?

I know it seems confusing in today's world.  What do we need?  There is the basic answer of water, food, and shelter.  We all need these things, but I am willing to give people a little bit more leeway than that.  I don't bat an eye when people say I need to have a car to get to work, or I need a new shirt. (Even if you probably have another 10 shirts at home and don't need another).

I started to notice so many things that are off with everyone, myself included. A friend who needs to have salad every night for dinner, people claiming they need to get a bigger house, a newer car, they need to have a specific kind of cereal, air-conditioning in the car.  I have seen people say I need for some crazy things.   Well, no sorry you don't NEED a bigger house or a newer car.  But I do get that you want those things.

One afternoon, I said to a girlfriend that I hate the bedding that we have.  Bill bought it before we got married, and it is very masculine, and not at all my style.   She responded "Oh yeah, I don't like that either you totally need to go get new bedding."  This struck a chord with me.  Did I want new bedding?  Yes! It  would be nice to have bedding that we both liked, but did I need it?  Of course not.  The bedding, while not my style, is still really nice bedding.  The bedding fills its purpose.  It keeps me warm in the winter, and I can kick it down in the summer.  No, we didn't need new bedding.  I just wanted it.

So, why does it matter?  Who cares if people say want or need?  I guess what I have been thinking the most lately is about my kids.  Do my kids understand that we are among the top 5% in the entire world just because we own a house and a car?   Do they understand that they don't need ipads, or ipods or laptops?  We don't need cable tv, or air conditioning in the car.  Do they really understand the difference about what is important in life?  Do they understand the difference between what they really need and what they want?

Are we living open-handed?  Are we not taking the things we have for granted, and spreading love and wealth wherever we can?  Am I setting the right example and really teaching them what is important, and what is not?

I guess I better watch the example that I am setting for my kids.  


Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Ponderings



The past week or so has flown by in a crazy, hot, summer-filled blur.  I would like to say I have been stopping to "smell the roses" but it has all been go, go, go.   I have been enjoying having all the kids home, and finally being able to go back outside.   I have so many things running through my head that this blog is going to be list-style!   

1.   Claire had her first official swim in the pool yesterday, and it was adorable.  She was batting her little fists around and laughing at everything around her.   She actually protested when I took her out after 20 minutes because I didn't want her to get too cold.   She is also 6-months-old today.  How did that go by so fast?  I cannot believe we are half way through her first year already.  I feels surreal.

2.  Apparently they are making gyms now that ban skinny people?  Why can't we all just get along?  Why do we need to ban people from things?  Now, I realize I am saying this from a single point of view.   But is there really a reason to ban people from working out because they are skinny or fat?   Shouldn't the overall goal to have everyone be fit and confident?

3.  I have fallen behind on my novel.  Well, not technically behind since I edited 30 pages in the first week, but I am not on week 3, and I have edited exactly another 3 pages.  My original goal of 10 pages a week is being met, but I really should try and focus this week.  I have hit one of those points in my book that is really difficult to edit.  The emotions are raw, they feel very real, and I am the kind of writer that has to totally invest herself in the character to write the emotions.   I think it is time to take a breath and just dive in.

4.  We cancelled cable.  I know crazy right, but we don't need it.   We have netflix, and we have the computer.  I don't think we are really even going to miss it.  It will also limit what we have available which will promote more activities that don't involve television.  I like all of that!

5.  I have a huge list of new recipes to try.  Recipes that involve things like quinoa (my new favorite breakfast) and they look delicious.   My family thinks I am insane.  And I am pretty sure Bill thinks I am trying to kill him by making so much healthy food.

6.  In my devotions lately I have been obsessed with 1 Corinthians 13: 7-8:  Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.  I know that this is normally used in weddings, but if you research the meaning of the word that specific love is "agape" love, or divine love.  It is the way God loves us, what he does for us.  I would suggest rereading the passage and really focus on that thought.   Wow!


Ok, those are just 6 little thoughts from me.  The baby is about to wake up and I know I can edit a few pages.  :)