Overwhelming Times In Today

Anxiety fills the air for us all so thick we could cut it with a knife. Everyone around me has expressed pressure felt in many of the normal daily tasks at hand. The uncertainty of things to come in our lives has so many feeling on edge. And we struggle to hold calm while hanging in there. The cost of everything in our lives is soaring – a domino effect resulting from the insane greed taking control and choking the world with raising the price for oil. And while we all face the real world, we find our country’s leader taking a break to attend a private wedding for his daughter. Though so many of us would have outraged feelings about his choice of walking away for a moment to be there for his daughter during a major moment in her life, let us not forget that he is human, as well. Rather than lashing out, perhaps we all should consider ourselves in that same scenario. Sometimes, we must shake Hell off our hands for a moment. If nothing else, it can re-energize us for continuing to meet our challenges for a determined face-off until we conquer and win our way to the other side. Time has its own role it will play out in the world. We cannot control what others do. But we can control how we allow it to affect us. And when events in our country and this world begin to threaten our own bubble encasing our direct lives – this is the time when we should focus on becoming more serious about spending choices in our lives that can help us survive. Back before our world began to change and families began being torn apart geographically by demands pressed upon our work force – families would huddle together and walk through the storm together. In this day and age – so many of us are spread out and living in far distance from our immediate families. The cost for our wishes to hold on to family living so far away has become quite burdensome – even frightening; threatening our deserved right to remain close to our loved ones. It is a time when each of us needs to agree to an understanding with each other in our families. Nothing in our lives can remove or destroy the love we hold dear in our hearts for each other. And it is the circumstances going on in this country and this world that interfere - not ill concern or care for each other. Perhaps we should agree that – we can remain steadfast and secure in knowing our love for family is strong by each of us working closely with those who are near us – friend and neighbor – to get us all through this storm. By such efforts – time can only adhere to a mending that will, once again, bring common sense deserved right of enjoying comforts of direct family interaction in our lives no matter where we live to pacify the corporate demands pressed upon our work force. Living so far away from all other family, my husband and I have decided to just that thing. I have organized a yard sale with participation from our entire neighborhood for Saturday, May 17th. At this very moment, we have almost 24 households feeling very excited! But such mundane and dreaded event that tends to discourage one household from going through the hassle has been overcome by the addition of a day filled with much fun. Together, we will all be setting up in our yards to sell until 2pm. Afterward – each will clean up their yards. Several guys with utility trailers will get together and make the round to load up leftovers for those who wish to donate to Habitat for Humanity’s Thrift store in our county. Once that is taken care of – everyone will be meeting at our home for a huge neighborhood picnic! Everyone is contributing to bringing something for the grill, side dishes, desserts, drinks, condiments, etc. Between us all – we’ve rounded up four shade canopies and screen tents. Everybody’s bringing lawn chairs. Music will be blaring out to our yard! I’ve succeeded with the line-up of games and competition – Volleyball; Bocce; The Washers Game; Tug-o-War; several races; one table set up for chess; two tables set up for Mexican Train Dominoes; and… a few other surprises! ;) Something to be enjoyed by everyone of all ages! We’re all looking forward to a great day that is bound to bear fruit for us! Our homes will gain some extra space. We’ll make a little money – well, I should say we’ll recoup a little of it. We’ll get to have a day of fun and entertainment without having to pay a fortune for gas in our cars. And we’ll all get the chance to know our neighbors a lot better! It’s the best start for being able to help those immediately near us through this storm. Many have heard this from me – and I will continue to share it. My most favorite line in a movie comes from “Phenomenon”, starring John Travolta. He has a line that consists of only three words – “Everything is connected.” As this storm pushes its way into our lives I wonder how many folks are beginning to see the light in the truth to that one, short, single statement – enough to stop and make the time to watch that movie again. John Travolta’s character had some really surprising and wonderful answers for overcoming and achieving.