encouragement – Page 3

The starting line and more questions

August 4, 2018 by Jo Leave a Comment

Ever since I was a little kid, participating in end of school year races, officially called Field Day, I wanted to win. Somewhere there was (is?) a photo of me on my 10th birthday, my mom had baked 4 sheet cakes and made me this giant birthday cake for all the 4, 5, and 6 graders. It was embarrassing and awesome all at once. I won a lot of ribbons sprinting. I was probably good at it because most of childhood included hours chasing, and running from, my brothers.

Question 1: Ever spent hours down THAT rabbit hole searching for the one perfect picture, only to surface hours later empty handed, head swimming in the past?

Question 2: Turning double nickels this last spring, I find sometimes it is hard to admit that I don’t have answers to all the questions I hear internally and externally. Is it a personality trait or stubbornness or just human nature?

And still, there is a starting line. I find myself over and over again, right toe forward smudged into the chalk line drawn in the grass, shoulders leaning forward waiting for the beginning, only to realize that I am always at the beginning. Right here, right now I have a new start. I am anxious and nervous to remind myself, “I am a beginner. This is a new situation with the individuals in front of me, it is ok that I don’t have answers to the questions swirling in my head. There is always room for a new 1st time.”

I can be a beginner.

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Family dinner and saying “come on in”

June 11, 2018 by Jo 1 Comment

Hospitality is not a house inspection, it’s friendship, it’s family.

Struggle is real. I often run through my childhood memories to understand reactions and feelings of current experiences. For many years after Honey and I were married I was so nervous having people over. Ask Honey, I would kind of freak out if someone was going to drop off a book. He would mention someone was stopping by and I was clearing counters, checking the bathroom for cleanliness and sometimes even mopping the floor. Just so someone could stand in the front entrance and I would feel comfortable, but not comfortable at all.

What I realized is from about age 10 on, my mom and dad mostly quit inviting people into our home. More on that another time and the brokenness inside the walls of the home I grew up. I just did not learn how to welcome people into my personal space. Even having family over felt like I had to prove something and have everything perfect.

Anyway, what I learned after we starting having groups in for a get together, that it is pointless to mop the floor before everyone arrives. Sure, pull out the broom and sweep. But full on water bucket and mop might be pointless. First, no one ever comes in inspecting how clean the floor might be: instead they are wondering about where to set their purse, If they should take their shoes off, where the plug-in is for phone charging, checking out the snacks on the kitchen counter. For the record, I am kind of a neat-nick and most likely the floor is pretty clean anyway.

And then I saw my mom-in-law, sister-in-laws, family, extended family, girlfriends saying come in, come over, stop by. And I wanted to be that person.

And ALWAYS the floor needs to be mopped the next day.

or, she thought maybe she could, so she did

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Making a list, checking it twice

December 17, 2017 by Jo Leave a Comment

When our daughter was born, one thing I most looked forward to was building lasting holiday traditions. I had visions of passing on the myths of Santa filling stockings, the Easter Bunny leaving a basket of treats, sewing Halloween costumes. In my own childhood, our family patterns shifted as older brothers left the house.

Looking back now, I think my mom was just tired; tired of feeding a large family, tired of load after load of laundry, tired of getting out the paper bags holding the gold tinsel garland, all while working full time. I don’t think she realized my childhood was lacking in continued traditions as she mentally checked out and physically stopped participating in the joy holiday customs can bring. She had to have been tired.

There is something to envy about a dog’s life, Benny 2014

How about you? Are you tired of a long list and maybe feeling under appreciated? You know, if you have not ordered those Christmas cards yet, don’t; don’t feel obligated. I have always enjoyed making and sending cards but a few years back I lost the energy for it. We had been traveling in early December and though I had a plan, the thought of cutting and taping and gluing 75 handmade cards, well…I.just.could.not.do.it.

But guess what? When I announced to my family it wasn’t happening, they rallied. They made what had felt like an inconvenient task fun again. My Honey worked the paper cutter like an expert, my girl tied ribbon bows and my then future son-in-law helped with the assembly. Why didn’t I take that Christmas photo? It is a favorite December memory.

Side note: Over the years we have captured pictures and videos on a variety of cameras and camcorders. I won our first camcorder, which was roughly the size of a loaf of bread, in a raffle. Turns out that’s kind of a super power of mine. I also won our first phone answering machine.

Anyway, I learned a valuable lesson that year: let your people know how you are feeling. Together we looked at the list and decided what was important. Sending a holiday card? Check. Building a gingerbread house and decking it out with 3 pounds of bulk candy? Nope, we drew a line through that item. Turned out the only thing my daughter really liked about that holiday chore was… the candy. #sweettooth

Take a moment and review your list. Is there something you can cross out instead of check off?

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Breakfast of Champions

November 30, 2017 by Jo Leave a Comment

When I first started making fruit and veggie smoothies, it was to add more of both into my life. At the time I was eating a bowl full of ~~shredded wheat~~ sugar every morning for breakfast. When I look at the photo now of my breakfast, with a couple of handfuls of spinach included, I am proud of myself. It took a couple of years to build this into my mostly daily routine and there were growing pains along the way. A co-worker once commented that it looked like I was drinking baby poop. Yum. That’s appetizing.

Now it’s kind of a family thing: I share with Honey what he affectionately calls sludge. Some days it tastes better than others. Have you ever burped cucumbers after breakfast? Yeah, I don’t add those to the blender anymore.

Don’t be afraid to fail. Moving forward has a lot to do with just getting started, over and over again.

Even Hank gets excited when the blender comes out because he enjoys a crunchy carrot!

If you have a goal to improve your eating habits, follow Nike’s encouragement and just do it. Don’t wait for the holidays to be over. Don’t wait for January 1st. There will never be a ‘perfect’ time.

Thinking about Wheaties and Nike’s unforgettable slogan makes me think also about hamburgers; specifically one with 2 all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun. Yep, every once in a while I still have to enjoy one of my ultimate comfort foods, a Big Mac.

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