Don’t be a “Dweller”!

Dear Reader:

As a child I remember that the term ” dweller” referred back usually to the times of the cave man ….they “dwelled” rather than “lived” in caves. Life was a daily struggle for survival only. And there is a difference I have come to recognize between the two terms still today…we can’t live our fullest if we are simply dwelling in our past.

In the story I am reading now one of the main female characters finds herself brooding over some of the terrible conditions so many people dwell in that she has witnessed time and again…while dropping off and picking up books from the cabins and lean-to’s in rural, impoverished Kentucky Mountains…

Yet…every now and then she finds a family, that despite the hardships and lack of  conveniences most people take for granted…laugh and welcome her with open arms and sometimes music and shared food. In spite of the frugal conditions they find themselves in…they are actually living life…not just dwelling in it.

The rider remembers her favorite aunt once telling her “The best way to get through life is not to dwell on things…past or present.”

As I reflect back on my own life…I realize that one of myown worst faults (I continuously repeat  over and over) is dwelling and over-thinking an incident that continues bothering me…instead of letting it go. When we “dwell” on negative thoughts we unconsciously separate ourselves from the universe and all its beauty.

I love this quote by Marianne Williamson…

We are all in this thing called life together (“a vast sea of love”)…and all of us need “motherly” advice now and then from friends, colleagues and even strangers to remind us that we are all one….sunbeams and waves…we all come from one incredible universal ANCHOR..We are children of God.

So until tomorrow….I pray that everyone had a lovely Mother’s Day…I did…I had brunch with John and Mandy and children… got to see their new deck..we all took a long walk and then I came home and slept most of the afternoon away…waking refreshed and filled with gratitude for all my children. Love you!

Brunch out…a new swing for the children…another massive lego set completed by our lego girl, Tiggy likes to be carried to the end of the street now and then he will walk back…(he is 13 now)…I asked if someone wanted to carry me back too. 🙂

Love watching the grandchildren ride their bikes…

Look at that yummy brunch…and these are the flowers I received…so pretty!

Right before I got in the car to go over to Mt. P yesterday morning…the most adorable little rabbit hopped over…he was not the least bit skittish…he watched me put a few things in the car…I got in and he was still standing there watching me curiously…so I took his picture through the front windshield…it looked like he was posing for it…

I don’t know if it was a glare from the sun on the windshield that gave the photo a strange abstract  look…the grand kids thought I had painted the bunny…what a wonderful gift on Mother’s Day from Mother Nature. (Maybe he wanted the sunflower seeds that scattered on the driveway while I was filling up one bird feeder.)

 

 

 

About Becky Dingle

I was born a Tarheel but ended up a Sandlapper. My grandparents were cotton farmers in Laurens, South Carolina and it was in my grandmother’s house that my love of storytelling began beside an old Franklin stove. When I graduated from Laurens High School, I attended Erskine College (Due West of what?) and would later get my Masters Degree in Education/Social Studies from Charleston Southern. I am presently an adjunct professor/clinical supervisor at CSU and have also taught at the College of Charleston. For 28 years I taught Social Studies through storytelling. My philosophy matched Rudyard Kipling’s quote: “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” Today I still spread this message through workshops and presentations throughout the state. The secret of success in teaching social studies is always in the story. I want to keep learning and being surprised by life…it is the greatest teacher. Like Kermit said, “When you’re green you grow, when you’re ripe you rot.”
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4 Responses to Don’t be a “Dweller”!

  1. Rachel Edwards says:

    We traveled…helped Paul and Stacy in their new home and drove back to Columbia to.spend one last night in their first home whete all 4 babies came home…lots of bdays a d holiday celebrations…and lots of babysitting…emotional time…then we drove back up for a surprise visit with Blake and Emily…the Rona was not going to keep GiGi from seeing her sons…it kept us from being with them on their bdays…we are tired from painting…cleaning…playing and driving…but it eas worth every bit if it. Not only are our 2 oldest grands the same age but our granddogs Tigger and Franklin are too. They have had Franklin 12 yrs…

    Hope to DSV soon….distant social visiting soon…made that up…all the young people have acronyms for everything…love you.

    • Becky Dingle says:

      Love the DSV! :)…Boy y’all did take a trip…but I understand exactly…one can only so long without actually seeing the children and grandchildren again…I just put faith in God that all in the family is virus-free and I would only feel badly if I somehow gave it to family but never regret it if it was the opposite…some things are worth taking a chance to see and be. Love y’all…Give Fred my invisible hugs!

  2. Joan Semle says:

    I think many of us tend to dwell too much on the negatives. That old song was right “Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative”.
    Loved the rabbit picture. It looks like an Anne Peterson painting!

    • Becky Dingle says:

      I had forgotten about that song but loved it…”You’ve got to accentuate the positive
      Eliminate the negative… Latch on to the affirmative…and don’t mess with nothin’ in-between”…written by Johnny Mercer and Bing Crosby sang it….great song and so true! You are right…when I saw how the rabbit photo turned out…I immediately thought of Anne Peterson…it would make a beautiful painting. Have a wonderful, gorgeous day today Joan!

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