Waves of Life

We are so much like waves in a countless number of ways. Not just in strength, determination & consistency. We embrace and at the same time recoil. We reach out to the white sand and retract as we get there. We know what we want but hesitate along the way.

Have you ever observed a child growing up? They feel safe and begin to explore. They go further until the vulnerability sets in then they return to the safety of their home. Like waves in a rising tide, a little further each time. Stretch. Reach. Achieve. Regroup.

Adults are the same. Some adults choose to live like a tide pool, reaching a bit, then swirling aimlessly without stretching themselves any further. Others are like a tsunami, stretching too far, too hard, too fast causing devastation in their wake.

Life is a beautiful harmony of wavelike motions. Caress the sand, take calculated risks. Don't take your goals by storm then fizzle out to nothing after something gets in your way. Don't destroy those bridges that have gotten you this far! Set goals and reach for them. Regroup. Try again. Stretch.

Fears, insecurities, excuses all hold us back from reaching our goals, dreams & potential. Admit your fear and your dream. Glide up onto the beach. Focus on your dream. Regroup when you go astray. Try again. Over and over, flowing closer to your goal. Up onto the beach further and further toward your goal each time.

Take the opportunities afforded to you and carve your path. Build your own castle grain by grain. Don't give up. Be the waves- relentless and strong! Stretch, reach, achieve, regroup.

Giving Back...

We often hear that it’s good to give back… to humanity, to your neighborhood, to a family member or friend. We’ve been hearing a lot lately about sending donations to Haiti. The devastation there was immense, but then we look around our own cities and realize that there’s also a different type of devastation within our own communities it’s a lot to take in. Where do we begin to right the abundance of wrongs? How do we, as individuals, tackle these hardships? Are the people most affected even helping themselves or do they even want our help? How do we decide which hardship warrants what little extra time, money or energy we may have available to give?

Sometimes we give out of obligation or because of a disaster, and sometimes because we’re offered an incentive or to make ourselves feel good. Life is full of trade-offs and sometimes it’s nice to do something just because. Maybe there won’t be an immediate gratification other than knowing that you’ve done something for someone else who never expected it.

We’ve all seen the folks down on their luck at intersections with signs. In fact, I’ve heard friends tell me that they help those with the cleverest wording on their signs… We’ve also heard that some of those people actually make more money than we do! What should we believe? Should we help? Another friend has limited strength to volunteer, yet donates money to feed people in his community. He believes that the food bank he contributes to is doing its best to help people. He believes in that organization. We never really know if the organization we chose to support handles their donations correctly or helps in the most efficient way. Oftentimes that thought sticks with us when we’re asked to help out, and frankly, that’s sad.

The decision of who to help, or how, has to be something you’re comfortable with. But how can we honestly sit back, do nothing for anybody and complain that the world is not getting any better? Whatever drives you to help someone, follow that inner voice.

However you feel comfortable helping another soul – human or animal, please do so. We chose to help the homeless people that do not try to intimidate us. We usually offer to feed them rather than give them money… this is how we feel comfortable. Maybe that’s too much interaction for you. That’s ok. How about buying an extra can of food at the grocery and dropping it into a food drive bin, or donating your child’s outgrown tennis shoes? There are so many small ways that we can make a big difference.

This weekend we are working for Habitat for Humanity in Maui. We’re looking forward to this adventure. It’s our way of showing our appreciation for a community that always welcomes us and provides us with creative inspiration. It’s not a lot of our time or money, but it will help a lot of people.

What other little ways can we all help people? One little action per month by 100 people will affect more than 1,000 lives each year. That’s a lot for very little.

Technology's Playground -not just for Kids Anymore!

I'm sitting on a 6 hour flight next to a lovely older lady (did I mention older?) eagerly attempting to figure out her DigiPlayer rental. Now, for us whippersnappers, it's second nature to jab at the small circular power button, plug in our headphones, manipulate the screen-based conventional menu choices and voilà! We're plugged into the virtual environment and our surroundings dissolve away. But what about the generation BEFORE ours? Many from the IBM Selectric generation have no interest in exploring the realm also known as cyberspace, with it's limitless virtual capabilities. It's confusing or even scarey for some.

We raise our kids & teach them language skills & nurture their youthful, artistic talents. But you know, it's kind of fun to have the tables turned & be watching the generation before us embark on a learning curve to master a language/art or virtual community that we've been part of for years. We’ve grown up with the latest technologies; however, these technologies have grown after our parents.

There was a point when I can recall my Mother announcing that she & my father were finally willing to bring an answering machine into their home. Up until that point, they'd insisted that technology like this wasn't necessary.

Since that day, I've seen them dive enthusiastically into surround sound, Dolby digital, flat screens & digital cameras. Technology blossomed and with it their creativity. Through their photographs and amazing scrapbooks, we are all included in their adventures- ambitiously trekking the Great Wall of China, bravely swimming with stingrays or even loping on camels in the desert. What amazing journeys to be able to share with us!

So one day with their willingness to embrace Cyberspace, a wirelesss router entered their castle gates and much like the historical Trojan horse, it brought within it a virtual world filled with exciting, and somewhat scary opportunities. Shopping no longer requires long lines, and the probability of finding that perfect, unusual gift was increased ten-fold. Rental movies, pizza & even groceries can be ordered online. Relatives can see & hear each other for live gatherings while being virtually anywhere, anytime. Amazing how my parents, and many others, have gone from answering machine tapes to iPhones in a few, short decades...

I love the good morning text messages that my Mom has now mastered, the "live" camera phone video feed from my father of my daughter's gymnastics... With the revolution of Cyberspace, the possibilities are endless. I love it that previous generations have their own Facebook Groups and online discussions. No one has to be Lonely even if you're alone. You can always have a friend in your pocket, no matter your age!

(By the way, in case you were wondering, we did help the nice gal and she was smiling broadly as she toasted her success with a small bottle of champagne before falling fast asleep to whichever movie she had so laboriously picked out... LoL )