Writing is not something that I look forward to doing and yet I see value in it. As I write I can connect myself to my family and to others and it can bring all of us closer together as we share experiences that strengthen and encourage one another. Writing also helps me remember experiences and valuable life lessons. I have been contemplating the need to write regularly about what is going on in my life, the things that I learn, and my thoughts. I want to leave something tangible and valuable for my posterity and humankind in general. Expressing my thoughts through writing feels like it would do that. While I have kept a journal consistently at different times in my life, now is not one of those times. I think it’s time for me to start being more diligent with writing what I’ve been up to, what I’ve learned, and my philosophy on life. So with that in mind, I want to share a few of my thoughts. I hope they help you in some way.
Make Time To Do What You Enjoy
I enjoy making things. It might be a simple craft or a larger sewing project. I think that was really emphasized on Christmas Eve day. The day prior we had been looking for Christmas pajamas, and of course, at that point, the selection was very scanty so one of my daughters who is notorious for making amazing things and sometimes making them last minute said, “Why don’t we just make pajama pants?” So that is exactly what we did. We had a marvelous time in the basement sewing. It was not your typical way to spend Christmas Eve but we made a wonderful memory. That evening, we made six pairs of pajama pants. One of our daughter’s boyfriend, who had very little sewing experience even made his own! The rest of us had a kind of assembly line going cutting the fabric, pinning the fabric and handing it off to the seamstress at the sewing machine. One of our daughters even made Christmas Eve dinner so I could keep working on the PJ pants. Talk about nice!! Now while I won’t likely take up a sewing project on Christmas Eve again, making those pants and creating other things recently has made me want to do that kind of thing more. So get going! Do more of what brings you joy!
Look Beyond Yourself
You don’t have to look hard to find someone who is in need of help. The trick is to actually be looking for those in need and then find ways to lift them. There are simple ways to brighten someone’s day- a smile, a kind word, holding the door open for the person behind you, striking up a conversation while waiting in line. By serving others we feel connected to them and we find meaning to life. Service also pulls us away from our own troubles whether they are large or small. It may seem unusual to take on helping another person when you are having a hard time taking care of yourself but by finding even small ways to help others you help yourself and an additional person.
Peace Comes in Hard Times
Sometimes that peace is a long time in coming. Sometimes it isn’t. Recently I have been further strengthened in the belief that God comforts us in times that one would think should be scary and precarious. Shortly before Christmas one of our daughters had multiple pulmonary emboli. We had a physician say that a CT scan like hers was something that is only seen every couple of years. Another physician told us that if she had been old she would have died. The ER doctor told her that on a scale from blood clots that your body can handle to ones that cause you to drop dead, she was closer to the drop dead side of the scale. As we learned what was going on with our daughter we felt comfort and peace and that everything would be all right. And it was. I recognize that some people don’t always get a miracle. Hard things happen. They have happened to me. But we can feel peace in the midst of difficult situations so watch and wait for it.
So there you have it. My first musings of 2025. Make time to do things you enjoy. Look beyond yourself. Peace comes in hard times. I’ll keep musing as I go through this year. I encourage you to do the same. But even better, write them down and share them. That way we can all learn together!
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