Dear Reader:
The other night as I was just drifting off to sleep…a sudden epiphany came to me with such clarity…I actually sat up in bed and then started smiling.. actually chuckling to myself.
After all the thoughts, readings, and conversations about life that I have participated in with others and myself over the years.. while trying to get a handle on what life is all about…I shook my head (trying to knock the cobwebs out so I could go to sleep) and said aloud “I think I am supposed to just “keep on, keeping on.” Period!”
I didn’t hear trumpets go off or anything remotely close… but the thought came to me that the best eulogy to sum me up would be simply: “She Kept Going.” (Now everybody can go home and get back in their comfy jeans!)
The God’s Wink didn’t come until yesterday, however. I had seen some really heart-felt good-humored empathy cards for people at a shop on vacation one year and I wanted to order some more. I couldn’t remember the artist so I simply typed in….good-humored empathy cards and up they popped.
As I read sample note card after sample note card I found myself laughing until tears came down…(though some of them came from the heart and not just the eyes.)
I have had several people who have been on my mind lately…but I find myself putting off writing the cards I know I need to send because I simply haven’t known what to say?
Ever felt like that?…And then suddenly while perusing Emily McDowell’s website with her amazing note cards…there it was…along with my God Wink…”Kept Going.”
The first card says: “I’m really sorry I haven’t been in touch. I didn’t know what to say.” And then my God Wink…a “foiled” badge of honor card that says…“Kept Going.”
That pretty much sums it up doesn’t it? Eventually life comes down to two types of people….the ones who give up and the ones who keep going. If nothing else…I want to be remembered as a “Kept Going–er.”
I certainly want to do my part to give Emily McDowell her due because her story behind this creation is pretty powerful. In an interview I pulled up on her ‘story behind the story’ …I discovered this…
“Los Angeles–based designer Emily McDowell was diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkin’s lymphoma at age 24, enduring nine months of chemo and radiation before going into remission.”
The 38-year-old designer has been cancer-free ever since. But the emotional impact of the experience lingered, inspiring her to design a newly -launched series of Empathy cards—emotionally direct greeting cards that say the things she wanted to hear when she was ill.” (“The Eye” Kristin Hohenadel)
……………………………
McDowell knew that there had to be a “better, more authentic way to communicate about sickness and suffering…cancer, chronic illness, mental illness or other hardships…a way to be good-humored without false cheer.”
Today her diverse cards cover just about every situation in life that we mortals can confront… but not just typical birthday, graduation, congratulations, get well, or sympathy cards…but “frame-able” gifts in the form of a card.
Here are samples I want to share with you…to show just a little of the diversity she has created. I ended up ordering several of her cards off her website.
Tommy and Kailtyn…I wish I could have sent this card to both of you when our little Rudy died…it says it all.
So until tomorrow…
“Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh
ichaseferalcats
John Turner
Legally Ohm
Becky Dingle
Wow…she hits the nail on the head…very profound and staight from the heart and her head…so often when I send cards I don’t know what to say…but I just want the person to know that they are in my heart and mind.
Hope you hot my message the other day about Mother’s saying…”well you can’t stop in the middle of the road”…used to think it was a crazy saying but it was her way of saying you have got to get up and keep going…and she suffered from depression her whole life…only her close family members really knew bc she got up abd went to work everyday and was the life of the party …but then would come home and crash. ..
Miss you…and put time for another gathering…have been on the road a lot…Love you.
On Aug 26, 2017 6:12 AM, “Chapel of Hope Stories” wrote:
> Becky Dingle posted: ” Dear Reader: The other night as I was just drifting > off to sleep…a sudden epiphany came to me with such clarity…I actually > sat up in bed and then started smiling.. actually chuckling to myself. > After all the thoughts, readings, and conversa” >
Your mother was amazing…that is the sad part of people living with depression…the mask they put on each day must get heavier and heavier while they charm others through life with wit and candor….only to return to the dark shadows of depression when alone.. What courage your mother had! How proud of her you must be! She was a keeper-on’er!
Becky, I have commented twice and keep loosing it so…Thanks for sharing this. I think I need a nap. lol
Kind truth goes a long way towards healing the heart and soul. Thank you for taking time to comment and support the blog post… Now go take your nap!
Not my mind getting lost…the comment just disappears. lol