Gilded Living

Wherever there is consistent sunshine, the snow has melted...but deep in the woods, where the light barely breaks through, some white remains. I feel like there is a deep life comparison/lesson in here somewhere, but it's been a long week and I'm too tired to think of it. Would anyone else like to offer up some words of wisdom? I'm all 👂s!

Social media is known as life's highlight reel. An accurate assessment, IMO. But I don't think most people are trying to brag or one-up the next guy with their posts. I know I'm not. Most people don't want to bring others down with their heaviness, maybe it's too intimate to share with the world, or perhaps they're looking at photos from last month and reminding themselves of happier, carefree times and posting those as a personal pick-me-up. Lately, I've been climbing my way out of a valley. Yes, I've traveled. Yes, I've eaten good food. Yes, I have an amazing family, husband, and children whom I love more than life. Yes, I have some heavy things going on. Yes, I live my life focusing on the positive while, like a duck, I'm frantically kicking my feet under the surface trying to get my life where it needs to go. And so I go on hikes. To think, to plan, to pray and relax, to breathe deeper, to dream bigger, to remind myself how small I a...

Yesterday, my son and I were driving when we saw a veteran hobbling down the street in a light rain. He suddenly stopped and, supporting himself on his cane with one hand, saluted an American flag with the other. For that moment he stood tall and straight and strong. And then just like that, the spell was broken and the boy who served and gave the most perfect salute I have ever seen returned to a gray-haired man who seemed to struggle to even put one foot in front of the other, walking so. slowly. down the street. I pulled over a block away in the first open spot I could find and said to my son, "I'm going to go ask if I can buy him a cup of coffee or a sandwich." The man smiled at me as I approached. Returning his smile I said, "Sir, may I please buy you a cup of coffee or some lunch?" He laughed a bit and said, "I really appreciate the offer, but I'm OK. I'm just out to stretch my legs and maybe I'll get an ice cream cone later on....

I do my best to focus on the good, to be mindful of gratitude, to keep it all positive. But life certainly isn’t all new boots and mojitos (I know that most people would use “sunshine and rainbows” or “something-or-other and unicorns,” but if I’m being honest, boots and really good mojitos, for me, are pretty sublime). Life can be tough, disappointing, and dreadful; it has been known to make me cry uncle, to wave a white flag, to bring me to my knees. A dear friend told me l ast week she was impressed by how I’m always happy. It was a lovely thing for her to say, but as I walked away I got to thinking, the accolade really isn’t mine. And it isn’t really happiness she was referring to. It’s joy. What’s the difference? Well, to always be happy would mean I’d always feel fortunate and cheerful and lucky. And that’s not true. There are definitely moments/days/weeks I’m not all that happy. Times when I have a lot on my mind, times when I may be quieter than normal, when I’m conce...