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Physical, Emotional Sustenance (part 1 of 2)

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“Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”  ~ Ben Franklin

Are you taking good care of yourself? Or maybe you need to take a little time out and assess the general state of your physical and emotional health? Are you starving and need to eat…truly nourish yourself?

I invite you to stop, look, and listen…

To self…

I did.  I had to. Because the other night I received a vivid reminder that I need to breathe deeply, take a step back, drop some of this heavy baggage I’m carrying, and grab hold of one or two things that nourish me…

In a dream the other night, I felt compelled to get on a sewing machine and make myself a dress and a skirt. Yes, the dream was that specific—sew myself a dress and a skirt.

I understood the message. I used to make all my clothes. Used to knit sweaters for Bill and others too. It wasn’t just a fun hobby. Nor was it necessity. Sewing and knitting felt relaxing and rejuvenating for my body and mind. I could relax and create something of value. That’s always been important to my spirit. My spirit rejoices in endeavors that create value.

But it’s been years ago. I stopped knitting and sewing when computers and the Internet became all consuming. I bet you can relate to that, can’t you?

Know what I would do to relax in recent years? Play solitaire on the computer. Yes, it works. Playing solitaire does clear my mind and relaxes me. But playing solitaire creates nothing of value. And it’s clear that my spirit has suffered accordingly.

So, I’m stepping back…grabbing that true sustenance I need!

I no longer have a sewing machine but I do have a couple of just-started-knitting sweaters in the back of the closet. I’m gonna pull them out and get back to those basics. Yes!

I’ll keep you posted on my progress with my truly sustaining “food.”

In the meantime…tell me…what nourishes you? Is it:

  • Dancing
  • Singing
  • Painting
  • Skating
  • Fishing
  • Running

I’d LOVE to hear from you! Please share! Thank you…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Elder Wisdom (part 2 of 2)

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“Be proud to wear you.”  ~  Dovinsky

I have long been a dreamer…literally. My paternal and maternal grandmothers and aunts were fascinated with dreams. Dream analysis holds strong tradition among my rural Arkansas born and raised African-American female kin.

During my childhood visits to their farm, our dreams were a favorite conversation with my Grandmothers Queen and Bertha. They’d ask me, “Honey, what did you dream last night?” Great-aunt Sylvia declared, “Dreams are God’s Whispers.”

And so it was…four years ago, the following dream gave me the validation I needed to dispense with my desperate ruminations about my value in the world. I was able to let go and embrace confidence and respect for where I am, my talent, and how I move through the world…

I walked into my kitchen to find my four grandparents sitting around the table. Their heads were bowed as if in prayer. I sat down knowing that they were at my table to pass on some important wisdom to their granddaughter.

 Now my grandparents are deceased for many years. Three were born in the 1890s. I felt awe and anticipation.  I waited for them to speak to me.

Grandmother Queen slowly raised her head and looked me in the eye. “We have a confession to make.” The bowed heads were actually embarrassment and shame!

They shared humbling stories of youthful indiscretions (100 years ago?) that still generated shame. The four were also having serious marital disagreements and wanted current info about how to better get along with one’s spouse. They were serious!

Huh? Wait a minute…I’m the granddaughter. You are the wise elders. You want to confess…to ME? The ancestors seek my counsel? In the afterlife?

I was flabbergasted.

I awoke. I felt a calm and connection in that experience that welled water in my eyes.

The ancestors, the people who gave life to my body, are passing the baton to me. Time is not “running out” for me. My aging is a positive passage. Now I am perceived as wise one, an inspirer, a connector, and an elder for my family.

Some of you might think this dream is symbolic and not “real.” That’s OK —you could be correct.

But does it matter? It changed my life. Stopped my self-shaming—cold.

The world may think my talents lack razzle/dazzle. My grandparents and I are one, and my grandparents think that who I am, the things I do that make my heart and other’s hearts sing, are just about priceless.

That’s good enough for me now, too.

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