No Mess, No Stress, Just Blessed

Last night, after a long day and an even longer commute home, I finally arrived home and found a pair of fuzzy socks to put on (my new fav thing to do to relax - don't know why).  I watched a bit of TV, had a quick bite to eat and intended to either write or edit an existing story that I've been procrastinating on for a few months now.  But I decided to catch up with a friend instead and I was emailing back and forth for all about twenty minutes when sleep took over and I had to call it a night.  I woke up at 5:30 am this morning and tried to use the sweet sounds of rain and the cool rush of early morning air slipping in through my window to lull me back to sleep.  Nope. Didn't happen.

So, I started reading FaceBook posts, news articles, gathering my gear for work and organizing a few things.  I began to putter around the house and then was about to do the prep for the turkey when I just realized that I don't have a container big enough to brine this turkey.  So now, I'll have to go buy something for it later after work.  I won’t be able to brine it for the entire 24 hours.  I’m making all the desserts tonight. That means that I’ll be up late and fighting NOT to eat everything before tomorrow (for my family members reading this, if the desserts arrive in a box from the supermarket bakery, you'll know that I failed miserably).

There are work projects (all the fun and none of the glamour of being an executive assistant), writing projects (sneaking in this post and doing the editing I was supposed to have done last night), the church brick project (review and approval of changes to the website and the brochure) and the Jan/Feb projects (planning for a possible a party and a music event) that all require updates.  Yes, LOTS to do today. 

It used to be that stuff like this would have me yelling, stressing and cussing and fussing.  But I am not worried about it because it will all either get done or it won't.  I don't stress nearly as much as I used to. Now, I kind of just re-work the plan and take a different approach.  Part of it is my continued relaxation through my journey of faith. I meditate, pray and do some Yoga.  Now, I know some devout Christians may associate meditation and Yoga as blasphemous acts. Personally, I think that expressing my gratitude through controlled breathing and/or humming a hymn while moving through a sun salutation is conducive to having a spiritually healthy start to the day.   It also goes a long way into stretching (pun intended) that calm feeling all the way through to the night.  If, during the middle of the day, I feel the need for a quick refresher, I will often stretch and whisper a short meditative prayer to reset my frame of peace.

All too often, in our attempts to be the host and hostess with the most and mostest, we let the hustle and bustle of the preparation for an event to deplete our physical, mental and emotional wellness reserves.  We don't stop to replenish our "batteries".  We neglect to allow ourselves to re-charge our spirits.  When that happens and the actual event is finally underway, we are too tired to partake of the joy.  At least, that is what I found to be true for me and also with some of the family members and friends whose homes I've gone to for the holidays.

I don't think any shin dig that I host will ever go down in the history books as being the Best Party ever.  But I'm not striving for that.  What I am striving for is a good time, a safe haven and a peaceful gathering.  Aren't we all? The likely hood of someone not losing their cool or of a entertainment disaster occurring is 50/50 and seriously that is the best percentage of risk that I can hope for.

Personally, I strive for the peaceful route as much as I can.  Not an easy thing to do all the time but I do really try.  The results are truly a beautiful thing. I've learned to Relax. Relate. Release.  Remember that line that Debbie Allen said in her portrayal as a therapist to Jasmine Guy's Whitney in the TV series "A Different World"? Well, it does work. I can testify to that.

Everything may not be perfect but it will be lovely just as long as the attitude is good and the gratitude is present. If I have a major fail then I have a backup for that too.  If the food burns or tastes horrible; should I run out of provisions to feed people or if someone should get sick from my cooking (GASP!) I am ready with a series of remedies to help salvage the event.  I'll share this piece of sage advice with you now.

One must always remain calm and have someone else on hand to help you.  You can't do it all alone.  Share some of the preparation with a family member or close friend you can depend on.  It's okay.  No one will ridicule you for needing and asking for help and if they do then remove them from your invite list going forward. Besides, you can offer to return the favor when it's their turn to host a party.  I also always keep the following things on hand:

Pepto Bismal, Barf Bags, plastic gloves, disinfectant, deli meat, soft rolls and a small bottle of chilled Ketel One vodka.

The first six items are in case I have a sick guest, or run out of food.  The last one is only for me, when the party is over and everyone has gone. And yes I have mastered the practice of the Ketel One Sun Salutation.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

Whatever it is that you need/want/have to get done or whatever it is that you find just has to be put off to be done at another time, I pray that it is blessed with safety, love, joy, fun and peace. 

Strive for the blessing and not the stressing for the Life of You.

CAG
11272013

Dirty Knees

Bent on Salvation

Kneeled in Knuckleball

Banged in Frustration

My Dirty Knees

Lost in my nightgown

Caught on a corner

Skinned on the first down

My Dirty Knees

Rug burned and scabbed

Rubbed on a rainy day

Exfoliated and FAB

My Dirty Knees

Bendable and spry

Kneaded in aggravation

Aching and I don’t know why

My Dirty Knees

Curved into a bow

Tickled softly in the moonlight

Reaping what I sow

My Dirty Knees

CAG 5/6/02

There Was Blood On The Leaves

Sometimes, I'm just HIT and I just write it and I don't try to make sense of it - CAG 11162013

"There Was Blood On The Leaves"

There was blood on the leaves

I saw it as I walked down the rough hewn path; past broad emerald colored palms

The sound of the drops were like a syncopated drum beat

Loud and rhythmic; I heard it over the crash of something in the bush to my left

I walked on.  I walked because I was too afraid to run.  I knew that running would only encourage

The chase.

There was blood on the leaves

I could smell it as I walked down the rock strewn road; past the pink Bougainvillea and the red Jungle Queen

The thick coppery smell was heavy in the air amidst the scent of flower, earth and tree

I walked on.  I walked because I was afraid that I would be sick and that it would be a show of weakness that would only encourage

The chase.

There was blood on the leaves

I could feel on my skin as it dropped from above me; as the path was swallowed up by the jungle and I had to walk ever deeper into the unknown

I walked on.  I walked because there was no choice.  The uncharted path was before me and to turn back would prove my cowardice and would only encourage

The chase.

There was blood on the leaves.

Gimme A Beat

I was talking to a friend last night and during our conversation, we discussed ways to uplift oneself out of the muck and mire of discontent. Music came up as a means to that end. Music, while not a cure all, can allow the heart and mind to express that which words cannot. Pain and sorrow, happiness and love, anger and frustration are all touched upon through a melody, the syncopation of a rhyt...hm or the crafting of lyrics. It is a channel that will help deeply seated emotions to wind their way up from the depths of our souls. I’m not only referring to the moment when you’re at a party and “your song” comes on. I am also referring to those moments when a song triggers a memory and pushes open the door that leads to the hidden emotions of our inner being.

I am talking about those feelings that well up in you when you hear your wedding song or a song that you and your love enjoy together; the crazy head cracking notes played by your child during piano, recorder, guitar or drum practice; those elated smiles that over run you when you hear a song that strikes upon a time of joy from long ago and the sad, emotional song that was played at a going home service. It’s the music that makes you want to dance, that makes you sing, that makes you play one excellent air guitar, that makes you tap your foot and bob your head. Oh that lovely sound of a haunting melody, that bass, a beat, a rhythm, the choirs’ voices, the soloists’ voices, concertos, symphonies, orchestras…

Whether you compose, sing, play an instrument, dance to it or sing along off key to it or all of the above; may music help pull you up, out and into a spiritual, mental, intellectual and emotional residence that is far better than where you currently live. Music, a gift from God.

Music for the Life of You.

Always & Peace ∞
CAG 11132013