A New Year Approaching

Greetings~

Surviving the holidays~I saw so many posts on Facebook with people surrounded with unhappiness. People facing changes and challenges. People making funeral/memorial plans-yes seriously more than one. I realize depression hits hard this time of year but I guess I didn't realize how close to home and how many it hit.
Me personally I am starting the new year broke, because that is how it works for me. My WE energy bill certainly is not helping matters. I didn't even have my heat on half of the time and no cookies were actually baked this year~so how does this happen?
People are talking about New Years resolutions, they gave some statistics this morning on the news about this and one thing that sticks out in my mind is usually a person only makes it about a week. How sad. When I was younger I was all about the resolution, usually they were about quitting smoking, losing weight, working out more, this year my New Years resolution is going to be about my basement. I am going to clean it up and organize it. I need to get this done, had it not been for the chaos in my basement I would not have bothered with a resolution at all.
I try to eat well, I should exercise a little more, not an issue in the summer, in the winter it is an issue, but not really a huge one. The holidays are over and my pants are not snug so we are on track!
It seems to me the things we are making resolutions about are things we should be doing any how, we all know we should eat better, we all know we need to exercise, this is common sense. What about a resolution to reach out. What about a resolution to make some one a little happier, or some one's life a little bit easier. What about a random act of kindness? What about sharing a meal. What about committing to this and sticking to it because it is the right thing to do. What about being present and active in some ones life. Here, now, and today. What about visiting a Grandparent or a Parent for that matter. What about the crazy lady down the street? Say hello, bring her some chili. What about that person who does not have a car, can you offer them a ride to the store or to the doctor's office? What about a ride to church? Maybe our resolutions need to be about reaching out to others. Maybe if we reach out and actively participate in life we can bring forth joy and next year at this time we will see less people unhappy at the holidays, less people alone on the holidays. Here, now, and today! Reach out. Get in touch. A kind word and a smile can brighten a day. Here, now, and today.
"Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dreams. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success. Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream." -Lau Tzu
Here, now, and today! Water your dreams with something positive!

Love and Light!
Agoraphobia Gurl

 

December 23, 2014

Greetings~

“Let's be grateful for those who give us happiness; they are the charming gardeners who make our soul bloom.” - Marcel Proust

Make sure you take time to reflect on your blessings in this holiday season-big or small. I am blessed by those around me in my circle, my friends and my family but  I have  also been blessed for the greater part of the last 20 years with my amazing Doctor who guides me and during life’s perils has made sure I am still here, Steven J Vacek. He is moving on, so our loss here is to the advantage of the Lone Star State. Texas of all places, that would be a rough commute for me, so sadly I need to let him go. With a very tearful good bye on my part, how do you express gratitude to someone who has saved your life? With a hug and a selfie-yes I really did, we parted ways. I am trying to keep perspective about this-which I am not. However it is my understanding that many of his patients are fluttering around aimlessly like myself not sure how to “replace” greatness. He cannot be replaced. Thank you Dr. Vacek. You have touched many lives and you will be greatly missed. I wish for you happiness on your journey.

“Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful.” –Buddha

Today is my birthday, so I thank my parents for life and I thank Doctor Vacek for keeping me that way!~

Make sure you take some time to reflect, really look at your life and all of the wonderful people in it! You would be amazed how full the glass really is! Be grateful for your Higher Power, be grateful and take time to enjoy the holiday season.

Thanks to all of you~friends, family,  and those who simply took the time to read my thoughts.

Love and Light,

Agoraphobia Gurl

2 Chronicles 5:13
The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang: "He is good; his love endures forever." 

Remembering Hope

Greetings~

Sometimes one must ponder how quickly time truly passes. As we age we become the elders, the wise, the crones. I found myself engulfed in a good conversation with a very old friend that I can’t seem to shake. We spoke about getting older and becoming the next generation of “elders”, in some cases my friends parents, and grandparents have moved from this realm on earth on to the next phase of the journey. We can save discussion of that phase for another occasion. Some of us have already lost spouses. When did we become the “elders”? When did we become the story tellers? Some of us have always been the story tellers, but now we are the keepers of the memories, the keepers of family traditions, we hold onto what is precious and pass it along. Maiden-Mother-and Crone. The Maiden represents the youth, inception, birth, and new beginnings. The Mother represents fertility, power, fulfillment, and stability. The Crone represents wisdom, repose, and some would say death, some may look at it as leaving this phase and moving onto the next. .. like a butterfly leaving its cocoon. The waxing moon, the full moon  and the waning moon.

As she sits wondering how this happened…she is entering the stage of crone(very early stage), the stage of wisdom. She worries how does she do this? How does she pass the memory, the tradition, and the stories to the next generation. I know with all of my being this is something she has been prepared to do all of her life, as she is strong. She is wise. She has always been a story teller, and keeper of memories and treasures. Just as her Mother did before her, with a wisp of smoke in the air and a cup of coffee in hand if you listen hard enough you might just hear the keys clicking away… remembering Hope. As we look around this time of year we can see the word Hope everywhere if we try, if we look. We remember HOPE.

     

Traditions are the guideposts driven deep in our subconscious minds. The most powerful ones are those we can't even describe, aren't even aware of. - Ellen Goodman

It is not just about the tinsel, or mass, it is not about the biscuits and gravy, or the freshly made butterhorn cookies stuffed with apricot filling…it goes much deeper, yet it is all of those things combined. It is about moments, good and bad. It is about sharing, laughter and tears. It is about remembering.

 My hair is silver and I look down at my hands and see the hands of my mother, however my mother’s nails and cuticles would look much better. I don’t feel like an elder, sometimes my body does a little, but inside I am still a maiden, I am still a mother, rich and fertile, plump and ripe. Truth be told both eggs and milk are probably powdered at this point, but whatever the case, I have always been a story teller. I have tried to pass down the stories of my “clan”. I tell the children stories from when me and my sisters were younger. My son knows the stories, he knows the stories of ancestors past that he has never met. He knows the stories of my childhood as if they were fairytale or parable. He listens to the stories that my father shares too, he without a doubt knows more about my Dad than I do. It is interesting hearing the stories of my father as told by my son, he is a memory keeper in training a holder of tradition and all things sacred and special.

Yes my friend, we are getting older. Some of us are becoming heads of our tribes, some of us are still in training, just embrace it. You are not alone in the journey, we can always meet under the red tent or perhaps a Hardees to keep things in perspective.

I am feeling a chocolate chip pancake in my future…

Love and Light,

Agoraphobia Gurl

"Beginnings are usually scary, endings are usually sad, but it's the middle that counts the most. Try to remember that when you find yourself at a new beginning, just give hope a chance to float up, and it will." -Hope Floats

10 days and counting....

Greetings Friends~

Time is ticking away-10 more days till Christmas!

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to enjoy the Advent Concert at Ascension Lutheran Church. How amazing! May your light shine!!! This is what the season is about. We get all wrapped up in gift exchanges, shopping, finding that perfect red cocktail dress or ugly Christmas sweater (did you know you can rent ugly sweaters now?).

In the soft candle light sitting among friends and family. Seeing faces from when I was a young girl still here in this sanctuary. Our own little family, some new faces, some returning friends, Christmas now feels much more complete after seeing our beloved retired Pastor Frank Janzow. I wondered how it would be this Christmas without him, so I feel blessed that I got to give him a squeeze! It was odd watching Mrs. Janzow sitting and observing, for so many years she was the one directing the choir.

The little Angel Choir(so cute), The Joyful Sounds Choir-“A Star A Star Dancing in the Night”….Ray Kinney and his Folk Choir, the musicians magical, the singers faces filled with joy. Ben Janzow and his Celebration Band, Heidi Bischmann and her Handbell Choir,  The Ascension Choir-BEAUTIFUL. Bravo Vicki Taylor-BRAVO! Benhi Khabed on the djembe-might I suggest this become a weekly addition!

 I wish I could name  each and every one of you that participated, because you were all part of the magic. Thank you!

We all don’t feel like celebrating over the holidays so I would like to take this opportunity to mention that at Ascension (located in Waukesha Wisconsin) they will be having a special service, The Longest Night Service On Sunday December 21^st at 6 pm. For those who are suffering loss or missing a loved one this is a safe place where you can feel free to let your emotions flow, it is okay to be sad, hurt, and miss those who have passed. This, like all services are open to everyone.

Whatever you celebrate, let it be Kwanza, Hanukah, Yule, make sure you take the time to enjoy it and absorb the meaning behind it, immerse yourself in it.

Light of Light Eternal!

Be Joyful!

Love and Light!

Agoraphobia Gurl

Thanksgiving

Greetings~

What a busy week! Hopefully you took some time to think about what the holiday was about. Giving Thanks~gratitude. It was kind of funny, we went to church Wednesday night, and I am not sure that I have ever seen such a small group of people sitting in that place of worship. Everyone “too busy”. I am glad I got to share that message, that moment with those around me. The sermon was a message of thanks and a message of family-a nice reminder. 

On Thursday I spent the day at my Mom’s. It was a lovely HUGE meal. I ate way too much. As we were leaving I wondered how do the Black Friday shoppers do it, because Black Friday is apparently starts on Thursday at 5 pm now. I really did not have the energy to be waddling around a store, nor the desire. When I was growing up one gas station was open, everything else was closed. It was time for family and giving thanks. Food, family, fun-you interacted, you engaged, you probably ate too much.

Friday (none of the Black Friday stuff here-can you see Agoraphobia Gurl at the mall on Black Friday?) Dean’s Dad came over for our little Thanksgiving celebration. As I was cleaning the house, putting the pork loin on the rotisserie, whipping up cheesy potatoes, and all of the other necessary pre Thanksgiving day necessities I hoped I had thanked my parents and sister for all of the work they had done the day before! A few more people should have been sitting around that table.

When the holidays roll around I really miss my Grandparents, they have been gone for so many years. I wish I would have taken more time. Everything else seemed so much more important, when I was younger and time seemed infinite. I thought I had forever with my Grandparents, but we don’t have forever so it is important to make phone calls, have visits, show up at the holidays, make sure “I love you” is said and known-we take so much for granted and time slips away so quickly. Live without regret.

The weekend continues-more activities.

Just remember to take some time to reflect upon what we have and who we have to be thankful for : )

Love and Light,

Agoraphobia Gurl

Happy Birthdays to my Annie and Rachel-I love you both!