Dear Reader:
Yesterday I was doing some research on a cool sculpture I read about in a novel and somehow ended up going from sculptures to wooden plaques? Suddenly there it was: “She designed the life she loved.”
I call these unexplained internet mystery links “Blink links” because it seems that I blink and suddenly find myself in a new genre discovering something more fulfilling than my original intent.
Immediately I felt the epiphany as I re-read the engraved wooden quote…”She designed the life she loved.” “That’s me, I realized, in a nutshell!”
For the past twelve years I have consciously, and unconsciously, been re-designing the life I want to live for the remainder of my life to be… I have paved new paths off old roads while discovering new adventures.
I have never taken the time to actually sit down and make a “Bucket’s List.” And if I ever do….I won’t call it a Bucket’s List…I don’t really like that term. My life list will be called “Desiderata” from the beautiful poem by Max Ehrmann.
The last three stanzas are my favorite and verbalizes the way I see my life unfolding.
…You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.
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This past decade plus two, however, has provided me the time to see life in a different light, grow closer to my Creator, and understand my purpose in life. Those are three powerful change-agents. These changes have morphed into home renovations, a garden peace center and a daily blog.
I can’t imagine my life without my garden today…my sanctuary. It has provided me the space that I need to converse with God, which I do casually on a daily basis, the beauty surrounding me in God’s Creation, and my blog with which to share my story…my journey to you loyal readers and supporters.
Today I have the most amazing friends one can be blessed with, a supportive, loving family, a mostly renovated home, a magical garden, and hard-earned pensions that provide adequate financial resources…enough to live on and enough to save on for surprising and spontaneous opportunities that makes me shout, “I am a child of the universe and I have a right to be here and be happy!”
So until tomorrow…Never forget to daily take time to thank your Creator for life…the most precious gift!
“Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh
My hibiscus bush is loving this semi-tropical mixture of showers and sunlight inter-mixing on and off…the blooms are gigantic! *Still waiting on Hibiscus # 2 to bloom to discover its color.
I ordered an old tin plaque that had the name of the year the garden was created so I wouldn’t ever forget it again. It came two days ago…still trying to decide where it should go…might wait until Jeff comes Monday to nail it in…but I love the words on it…
“Boo’s Garden
Blooming Love
Since 2013″
ichaseferalcats
John Turner
Legally Ohm
Becky Dingle
And your life has touched so many others…your goals reminded me of a song fro. Ny teenage years…”Dear Lord these things I pray…to see Thee more clearly…love Thee more dearly and follow Thee more nearly”…it popped up in my memory when I read your words…love you. Please say a prayer for Suzy..
Her symptoms have appeared again and she has had more tests…will get bloodwork back today that will show if she has tumors in her pancreas and then more tests next week in Charlotte….has been through lots of bloodwork…scans…3 endoscopic exams and surgery but still gets jaundice…and coughing up blood….would appreciate your prayers.
I am so sorry…this is happening again…you are right…it is too much repeatedly…pray they can get to the bottom of the cause of the problems this time…know Suzy must be as tired going through medical procedures as from the physical symptoms themselves. So sorry…will keep Suzy in my prayers.
Surely will put Suzy on my prayer list. I don’t know her, but she surely seems to be having a terrible time, and the symptoms are not good. Becky, I read your posts every day , and every day I am blessed by them. One of your plaques really made me stop and think. Although I had read that before and try hard to thank God for every blessing,( which is impossible by the way), “What if I woke this morning with only the gifts I thanked Him for yesterday?” Hmmmm! Even though, I start my prayers with a series of thank yous, I soon get into the requests which are many especially for the sick and members of my family. Of course, right now I am talking with Him about some type of medicine that might be more powerful than this Covid-19 and lessons we might learn from this. Maybe like you thought of a different name like little c, we need to find a new name for this virus which is changing the whole world. We still know that God is holding His world in the palm of His hand, and He has told us many times not to be anxious or fear. One of His promises I like is found in John 14:27. And for that peace, I thank Him.
I agree with you Jo…If I thank God for an inner sense of peace every day through all the multi-layered challenges coming at us faster than speed ball across home plate…then I hopefully will have the strength to keep fighting the domino effect challenges that keep popping up daily. Have a beautiful day filled with peace Jo!
Blink Links? Cool… That’s exactly how I first came across your blog!! 😁😁
And I am so thankful you did…God Winks…followed by “Blink Links” brought you into my life and for that I will always be grateful Ambika…watching you and now your adorable family grow stronger and stronger in life and faith!