Monday’s Random Thought: The Three Ws

One of my favorite priests used to throw in a few extra words that really resonated with me at the end of one of the Catholic mass prayers.  I think it was the Eucharistic Prayer. The words, not part of a script, still from God, just coming out of Father James’ mouth, stuck with me even to this day and he hasn’t been my priest in over a decade.

We will work and wait and watch….he would say. Reminding me we can’t just sit on our laurels, we have to do the work, be ready for the next thing as we lean hopefully into the future.

I came across these three words again the other day, strung together in a lovely sentence.

You wait and watch and work: you don’t give up, says writer Anne Lamont in her book Bird by Bird on giving writing advice.

These words apply to our dreams, our faith, our goals, where ever we are in life, which ever place we are standing in.

I needed to hear them again after all these years. Strung together like a beaded necklace…hanging on a branch, waiting for me to walk by and pluck them off.

by J.G. McGlothern

And the winner is…

Tucking my kids into bed last night their final words to me were not just music to my ears, I was full of giddy joy, one proud mama.

No, they didn’t confess their love to me, tell me how great I am, or ask to take out the garbage.  They each looked at me with their big brown eyes and said, I can’t wait for the Oscars tomorrow mama, said my daughter. Me too, mama. I am so excited for the Oscars, chimed in my son.

I did give birth to these two if there was ever any question.

It took me back. Do they love this annual event because their mom does? Do they truly care like I do? Were they excited for the same reasons as their mom? Not for the dresses and red carpet glitter but the movie clips, long winded speeches, quirky blunders, the emotion of it all. Do I set that much of an example?

I guess it’s a good thing I’m into movies and not women’s mud wrestling. But then my husband would be excited about the evening’s event now wouldn’t he?

by J.G. McGlothern

Around the Track

We get these dreams, not just passing fancies, but dreams that come from our soul, stirring up the dust and cobwebs, breaking forth from the place that matters.

Then something happens and we get discouraged. Life happens and we get distracted.

Earlier this week, during winter break we showed our kids the movie Seabisquit. You know the story of the discouraged boxer turned jockey meets disrespected, forgotten horse turned record breaker.

The horse trainer in the movie played by Chris Cooper, offers wisdom to Tobey Maguire’s jockey character, “Don’t throw your whole life away, just ‘cause your banged up a little.”

Thrown off a horse, turned away, discouraged or distracted, forgotten or temporarily off track by the curve balls of life, doesn’t mean we have to bury our dreams. We just have to get back up on the horse, try again and give it our all. Heart first.

by J.G. McGlothern

Monday’s Random Thought: Take Five

I am into week two of playing a “game” with two friends. Playing for money this time. It’s a get healthy contest for losing weight but it’s not just about weight loss.

Bringing awareness to our habits the game is based on a point system and you earn points for many things besides eating five meals each day that are each balanced with a specific amount of carbs, protein, good fat and green veggies. You earn points for getting at least seven hours of sleep, drinking water and doing a “good” habit” of your choice as well as not doing a “bad” habit of your choice.

For my good habit I must meditate for five minutes a day. Five minutes.  That’s it. I also get a day off from this habit. So to earn my 10 points for this category I simply have to show up on a chair, the couch, my car, sit up in bed and go to that quiet place. I don’t even have to see doves, visit paradise or reach nirvana. Just show up with the intention of being still and quieting my mind. Five minutes goes by fast even when your are one like me who barely can keep still. But it’s finding the time for five minutes that I find challenging. If I don’t do it first thing in the morning, I forget about it.

This morning, I realized, I didn’t meditate yesterday. Crap, there goes 10 points. Did I mention we are playing for money? $100. I took my day off earlier in the week, also because I forgot.

I tried to justify it all and work around it. We were in the car yesterday for six hours traveling east and I did sleep for nine minutes. That’s like two meditations.  My opponents wouldn’t know if I just took the 10 points. Afterall many people fall asleep while meditating.

Then I got real. The purpose for choosing this as my good habit is so that I make meditating a part of my day, my life. But the point is…I didn’t make the intention of meditating yesterday. I let it sleep through my fingers. No 10 points for me.

Today, I got my five minutes in and not just because money is on the line, my life is. And that is one thing I want to do with my life, live peacefully, with purpose. Five minutes at a time.

by J.G. McGlothern

Super Bird

On Super Bowl Sunday the kids and I pulled into Trader Joe’s parking lot and could immediately tell we weren’t the only ones who wanted pulled pork sandwiches before watching Madonna, I mean the game.

Crowded indeed. But the parking lot attendant had it under control, guiding us confidently; we all just needed to have a bit of patience. Fortunately, I had some that morning.

I came to a vacant spot pretty quickly but as I pulled in I could see the gal who was parked next to the vacant spot I was about to occupy, was about to leave.  She too was taking up two spots and had kids in the back seat. I waited for her to leave so I could re-park and take up just one spot. Another car came from around the corner and the woman next to me didn’t see him, she continued to back out, I held my breath. Fortunately, the car behind me saw her and stopped.

As the gal pulled out I saw that she was talking on her cell phone. TALKING ON HER CELL PHONE WHILE BACKING UP, TAKING UP TWO PARKING SPOTS AND WITH TWO KIDS IN HER CAR. Her eyes caught mine. And I lifted my hand to my ear, giving the phone signal. No, I wasn’t asking her to give me a call. I was mouthing, ON YOUR PHONE, REALLY? REALLY?

She didn’t roll down her window and invite me to tea.

She flipped me off.

I raised my arms in celebration, Kids, mama just got flipped off. My son of course cried, my daughter was proud and I was doing something I wouldn’t have done a few years earlier. I was not being bothered by the stranger giving me the finger. I was her even a few more years back. Quick to flip off a stranger when they “wronged” me by cutting me off or not stopping for me.

Sure I caught the woman in a stressful moment. I wasn’t in her shoes; I don’t know her day, her circumstances, her life. But I could see where I had come from: One, being a person prone to road rage no longer going down that path and Two, being a person who gets upset when someone doesn’t like my behavior.

She probably thought I was a royal B and of course I didn’t have to scold her but when I saw the reason she was taking up two spaces, almost hitting another car while backing up was because she was ON THE PHONE and had two little ones in the car, I got a little hot around the collar.

I’m just glad I didn’t flip her off back, I mean after all, my kids were in the car.

by J. G. McGlothern

 

 

Soul Music

For today’s blog please visit my website, www.mamaneedsarefill.com

And check out…. http://www.mamaneedsarefill.com/2012/02/fridays-free-refill-soul-music/

Thank you.

Monday’s Random Thought: Moved

For my birthday my friend gave me this really cool black t-shirt. She knows I’m a t-shirt gal. She also knows I’m all about the quote.

In grey font, the message: let the spirit move you, is printed on the back. The designer creates surf wear. Who catches waves and is moved by the moment more than a surfer? Flat on their belly, they listen to the ocean, feel it with their body as they rise up on their board, surrendering to the movement of the wave.

How much more could I be moved by the Spirit if I just stop and listen, hear the call, feel it in my body as I rise to my feet.

No, I’m not buying a surf board tomorrow, but I am living today aware of where the spirit resides…everywhere, in the quiet places and in the middle of the loudness. In the obvious spaces and in the those that get overlooked. You just have to be ready to be moved. The possibilities are endless.

by J.G. McGlothern

Monday’s Random Thought: Optimism

Last week I visited a friend who just had major surgery and will soon be undergoing chemotherapy. I have known her for seven years and have witnessed her battle against depression. She asked me before her surgery if I would come over and give her a card reading. I offer spiritual, inspirational, Goddess and Angel card readings in my work and was happy to do so.

I was greeted at the door with a bright smile. Not the smile someone who just had a double mastectomy would be expected to wear. Yet there my friend was, smiling.

Before we got started with her card reading I asked her if there was something specific she wanted to ask the cards. How will I stay optimistic through my healing process?, she wanted to know.

Card after card and we went through a number of decks, came clear, direct wisdom about staying positive. By the ninth deck we were laughing so hard because all of the cards pulled, dealt with staying positive. She even drew the Optimism Guardian Angel card. She was being hit over the head with what she wanted to here. She put her intention out there and received guidance.

It seems so obvious that one should remain positive when going through a major healing process. But often the obvious is the most challenging. And often the most challenging is what we avoid.

I applaud my friend for choosing the optimistic approach. It doesn’t mean her path will be bump free.  As any human being she will face highs and lows. But seeing her smile and hearing her voice again on the phone reassures me she is going to be just fine. She is going to fight her battle with love and light, strength and more light, there will only be room for the positive stuff.

The stuff that creates miracles.

by J.G. McGlothern

Village People

We are quite aware of the whole “taking a village” to raise our children concept, but what about in taking care of us?

Just today at Starbucks after tucking my receipt into my wallet at the counter I remarked out loud, Wow, I had three of you waiting on me, how spoiled am I?

Chuckles all around. The smiling blonde made my Tall Americano, the tall guy with glasses heated up my 8 grain roll and the dark haired pony tailed gal filled up my water with no ice before she rung up my order.

Service with three smiles. I guess it does take a village, I told them. They all got the reference.

It wasn’t life changing, no deep soul revelation. It was just coffee, water and a roll. But how often do I go through my day completely unaware of all those in my path helping me, being a part of my day?

by J.G. McGlothern