Life is NOT Drudgery or Something to Endure

"We don't water a flower IF it blooms; we water it SO IT WILL bloom. It is not our job to shape people, but to nurture who they already are."
~~Naomi Aldort

Thanks to mindful, home schooling journey, our children and I are close. We agree. We disagree. We argue. We press each other's buttons. All that occur naturally...but everyone treats one another with respect and trust. At the end of the day, we did not choose to be in each other's life. It was a gift to be a family. We have plenty of time for FUN! Our trust in each other may have been challenged--but always rebuilt--and we live joyously. We relax and snuggle sometime during the day…everyday! This is my definition of a good life.

I know there are a lot of people out there who think lives not about fun…I disagree! I don’t want to teach my kids that life is drudgery, something to endure. Life is a journey, along the way we love, learn, cry, no matter what life is gonna happen! Life has much to offer and--no--it’s not all fun, but we do have a choice to how we react to it. If we react with an open loving heart, all is well…no matter what! If that’s the one thing I teach my children, I’ll be happy.

Let's raise children who won't have to recover from their childhood.

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We’re into April already...how did that happen? Like many, I am too anxiously awaiting Spring (which has sprung briefly)...This year, law enforcement declared we may have our studded tires on 'til April 5. So, on Friday morning, hubby took the van in for tire swapping. Guess what...snow blizzard returned uninvited that afternoon and some yesterday too. We never time it right! Forecast has been saying Spring is coming by the end of the week. I hope so...we are heading to Eugene on Thursday, then Portland for a long weekend, and I dread driving in the slush and ice.

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I am really enjoying my diverse knitting group and newfound friendships. I continue to be impressed with creative and inspiring projects that are flying off everyone's needles. It's thrilling to see new creations and techniques learned and shared.

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Don Miquel Ruiz's FOUR AGREEMENTS and one of his lessons resonates with me. So, here is my intention in April: "It's not personal"--how one's actions/words are about his/her world, illusion, and experience and have nothing to do with one's own...it’s that ol’ ego gets in the way--"I’m right" or "I’m MORE right" and "You’re wrong." I intend to focus on the open heart. Maybe that will calm the crazy making mind. When someone else’s behavior strikes at me somehow, I want to remember that it’s really a combination of their karma and mine. It’s not personal. Maybe equanimity will result? We’ll see!

Besides knitting like crazy, I started a new mindful exercise this week: Sitting for a minimum of 5 minutes every day observing a picture, a scene, a verse/quote without judgement...just mindful and be in the moment.

Ready for something new and fresh and living? I am.