A Bouquet of Gratitude II

Cows grazing in a field near Mama's house.

It's been a rough week, but amidst all the challenges, blessings abounded. Looking back over the last few days, I realize that I have much to be thankful for. I am reminded that I can handle anything as long as I stay present and focus on the moment at hand. In each moment, in the now, everything is fine. Even in great difficulty, especially in great difficulty, God provides what we need to get through that moment, that hour. It comes in the form of courage, grace under fire, self-control, a helping hand, a shoulder to cry on, a good idea, a call from a friend you didn't know you had, a welcome surprise, the beauty of the earth and all God's creatures, even another person's trouble to remind you what really matters.

"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude."

~ Denis Whatley ~

One of God's beautiful creatures.

On the Verge of Something Great

Myra practices deadlifts.
We "made do" with what we had: a big stick and milk crates from the back of my truck.

My sister, Myra asked me to help her get started with CrossFit. Myra is 51. She and her husband, Phil will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary on June 23rd. Myra has spent those 25 years in complete devotion to her family. She has built a beautiful home and life in Athens and has raised up two great children, Abbie and Joseph. But now it's time to focus on taking care of herself and getting healthy. She's married to one of the greatest guys around, and I'm sure he has been encouraging this for a long time. I know he will support her efforts.

This is an exciting time for Myra, and it's fun to think what the next year can bring. Those of us who CrossFit know that it can transform your life if you are consistent and put in the hard work. Of course you will get stronger, faster, more flexible. You will become more coordinated. You will have greater stamina and endurance. You will be able to move your body with greater ease. You will find yourself doing things you haven't thought of doing in 40 years. Running. Jumping. Playing on monkey bars even! You will develop greater confidence. Your mood will improve. You'll find yourself bragging about your new PR on the deadlift. You will start to think about yourself differently; you may even start to feel like an athlete. You are on the verge of something great. I hope you will embrace it and allow yourself to have this. You deserve it!

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For Myra's intro to CrossFit, we worked on the squat, the deadlift, the shoulder press, pushups, and situps. Then we did a little workout using some of what we had just covered:

3 Rounds for Time:

10 deadlifts with dowel
15 squats
20 step-ups
100 meter brisk walk

I gave Myra an out after two rounds. I told her she could stop; the third round was up to her. She chose to keep going and complete the third round. That's the CrossFit attitude!

It's a Tough Job

A gorgeous mophead hydrangea in the trial garden at McCorkle Nurseries.
I can't remember this one's name, but it was a beauty!

I just completed two and a half days of planning meetings with my employer, McCorkle Nurseries. McCorkle grows ornamental shrubs (and some trees) in a beautiful rural setting in Dearing, Georgia, about 30 minutes west of Augusta. The planning meeting was held at the farm in Dearing. I am responsible for forecasting sales for future years and working with Operations in Dearing to plan production crops to meet the sales forecast. We finished the meeting before noon today which allowed me time to tour the nursery to check out the various crops currently in production. I get so excited looking at all the beautiful plants; it's hard for me to resist loading up my truck with one of everything. This time I escaped with just a couple of hydrangeas and loropetalums. I was very disciplined. After touring the nursery, I walked through the trial garden and research center where we test plants before adding them to our offering. The trial garden is fantastic, a plant lover's dream.

Entrance to the Trial Garden
Don't you just want to walk down that path and see where it takes you?

We are testing a wide range of blueberries, and these shrubs were loaded down with fruit. Mike, who manages the research center told me I could pick all I wanted. I had a blast! In just a few minutes I picked about a gallon.

Picking blueberries.
It's a tough job!

These three days at the McCorkle farm working with the McCorkle family reminded me just how blessed I am. Blessed to have a job that suits me so well -- that allows me to work with great people some of the time, and by myself much of the time. I thrive on quiet, calm, and solitude -- so to have a job that allows me to work mostly on my own, from my home, from my cabin even -- well that's a tremendous blessing, and I am grateful. And to work with people who appreciate me for who I am and allow me, even encourage me, to work in a setting where I thrive, well that's about as good as it gets I think. But then to top it off, I work with plants, which I love. So even when I'm crunching numbers all day long, plants are at the heart of what I'm doing. I'm totally justified (even expected) to tour the farm and look at beautiful plants, to sample the blueberries, to walk garden centers and see what the competition is doing, to test our awesome plants in my own garden. I am so blessed and grateful.

It's All Relative

Yesterday started with an 8am workout with Myesha, Jackie, and Christin. I haven't worked out with Myesha in forever, and well, it's been even longer since I worked out with Jackie. It was so much fun to "wod" with them. Christin was there as well. She is someone I had heard about and have been wanting to meet. She's beautiful and fit. And approaching 50. It's great to have role models closer to my age . . . just in case I am tempted to use the age-excuse. So add Christin to the growing number of fabulous 40+ women for me to emulate: Sheryl, Kath, and Christin to name three. I think Denise may be 40 or close to it. She's another great excuse-buster. And don't forget Ann. They are all around me! I guess I will just have to put down the donuts and join them.

Last night I had a great salad at Zaxby's. This is information you need in case you ever find yourself in rural Georgia in need of a reasonably healthy meal. I don't know of a Zaxby's anywhere near me in Atlanta, but I see them all the time when I am outside the metro-area. I ordered the grilled chicken salad, and I've got to tell you it was delicious! So fresh and crispy. It was way more than a cut above typical fast food.

Now it's confession time. There's a Dairy Queen right next to the hotel where I'm staying, and all of a sudden I found myself at the counter reading the menu. I contemplated the sundaes and blizzards. You know you are in big trouble when you are about to order a dessert that has another entire dessert listed as one of the ingredients. That's right. These blizzards contain candy bars and brownies and stuff. Ice cream alone isn't enough; we have to chop up an entire Butterfinger and add it to the ice cream! Aargh! I snapped to my senses. Well, sort of . . . I ordered a small cone and enjoyed every lick. It was perfectly yummy even though I did not find a Snickers bar hidden inside.

A Good Dog Story

Melvin at dog-friendly Jekyll Island

Why do people write sad, tragic stories about animals? Especially dogs! I'm reading this book, Gods in Alabama, and I just finished a chapter with a horrible story about the death of the family dog, Buddy. It upset me so much that I had to get out of bed to try and get my mind on something else. There were two other deaths in the same chapter--a man and a young boy. And the book opened with a murder. (My goodness, this is a dark book! Maybe too dark for my sensitive nature and fragile mood.) But it was the death of Buddy that did me in. Ms. Jackson may be too raw and depressing for me. Not sure if I will be able to finish Gods in Alabama. I'll see how I feel tomorrow and how the next chapter starts out.

For now I'm thinking about my beloved Melvin who is sleeping at my feet in the foot-well of my desk. Anytime I'm at the computer, that's probably where you will find him. Earlier tonight he was resting happily in one of the piles of dirty laundry I had sorted on the bedroom floor. He loves my dirty laundry; I take that as a compliment. Another favorite resting spot is the air vent where he plops down after a walk or game of fetch. And have I shared how he lets me know it is time to play? Almost everyday around 5pm he leaves the office and returns a short time later. "Click, click, click." His nails on the hardwood floor. "Bump-bumpity-bump-bump." Tennis ball dropped and bounced my way. Big smile! Warm heart! I grab the ball, and we head outside.

Now that's a good dog story!

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"I like to think happy thoughts."
~ my grandmother ~

Full of Good Stuff

My Sunday Supper
steak and baked potato
steamed asparagus, tomato & cucumber

Over the last week I worked to get my eating, my exercise, and my thinking back on track. The three go hand-in-hand for me. I am convinced more and more that my depression can be kept in check with good nutrition and strenuous exercise (emphasis on strenuous). So last week I focused on improving my diet without putting too much pressure on myself or beating myself up for the near total derailment I experienced during the month of May. I took a fresh attitude with my workouts too. I decided to focus on the intensity, even if that meant backing off the prescribed workout. That really paid off. By Saturday, I was starting to feel well again. Sunday was even better.

My weekend was long, slow, quiet, and a little bit lonely. But full of good stuff. Stuff like three CrossFit workouts; three walks at Lullwater with Melvin; one trip to the bookstore; two naps; a phone call with Mama; yard work; the same cute guy encountered three different times at Lullwater; one novel finished and another started.

That's a good list. I like that my weekend was full of good stuff rather than stuffing myself full.

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"I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavor."
~ from Walden, by Henry David Thoreau ~

Desiderata

"Metamorphosis of the Leaf Butterfly"

by Duy Huynh

I am a fan of Lark and Key Gallery on FaceBook, and they just published an image of this new painting by Duy Huynh. I love it! I so want to see the original--or at least a print. If I am this moved by small digital images of his artwork, just imagine how rewarding it would be to see his work in person. I simply must visit Lark and Key in Charlotte, even if I have to make a special trip just for that purpose.

I stumbled across the poem, "Desiderata" recently. Of course we've all read it before, but it spoke to me in a fresh way this time. Max Erhmann's rich pearls of wisdom have traveled across the decades from 1927 to touch my soul in 2009. And so I wanted to share his poem with you. I hope you have time to read it and let it speak to you. It's a gem.


Desiderata
("Desiderata" is Latin for "desired things")
By Max Ehrmann
1927

“Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy. ”

For Kenny: Winds of Change

" Autumn on the Horizon"
by Duh Huynh

"Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become."
~ unknown ~

"Change is the only constant."
~ Proverb ~

"To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly."
~ Henri Bergson ~

"Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future."

~ John F Kennedy ~

"All things change; nothing perishes."

~ Ovid ~

"Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine."

~ Robert C Gallagher ~

"Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts."

~ Arnold Bennett ~

"Other things may change, but we start and end with family."

~ Anthony Brandt ~

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Kenny, whatever you choose, I support you. And isn't it great to have choices! Everything is going to be just fine. Love you, friend. Keep me posted.

A Funny Looking Guy

My "Frankly Scarlet" day lilies are blooming!

Last night I stumbled upon a PBS special, Excuses Begone by Wayne Dyer. I only caught a few minutes of it, but it was a powerful few minutes. A funny looking guy named Dan Caro was speaking. My first instinct was to surf right past this strange man. But I heard just enough to realize that he was talking about not making excuses. If anyone could reasonably make excuses, it's this fellow. He had no hands, and his face and head were scarred, almost disfigured. I thought I might be able to learn something from him, so I kept listening. As a young boy he was burned horribly in a house fire. He went on to tell how he struggled as a child to learn to tie his shoes. He described his first attempts in kindergarten, along with the rest of his classmates--who of course accomplished the same goal in short order. And then he recounted the first time he successfully tied his shoe laces. At age 12. Seven years later! He considers this the single greatest accomplishment of his life. He didn't say this, but I think it's because of the persistence and perseverance it took. The believing against all reason that it took. The absolute unwillingness to accept the excuses he may have been tempted to make for himself. Or the excuses others may have offered him. The man has no hands! How does someone with no hands and fingers grasp a shoe lace -- let alone do anything with it? Belief. Hard work. Unrelenting practice. Try, try again.

Turns out that Dan Caro is an accomplished musician. He plays the drums! It was awesome to watch and hear! Just imagine what it took for this young man with no hands to learn to play the drums. Belief. Hard work. Unrelenting practice. Try, try again.

"Never, never, never give up."
~ Wintson Churchill ~