We’re in the midst of a heat wave in Pennsylvania. Temps have been in the 90’s for several days with matching humidity. Makes me very thankful to have a c. We’re staying inside as much as possible.
Life sometimes feels like a rollercoaster. The ups and downs can come at a person ferociously. I must have sounded like a complainer when I expressed my reigning negativism today to a writing acquaintance. He suggested, “Use this time to contemplate your next move and make some lemonade from the lemons that life has been throwing your way.” Good advice.
Another friend forwarded a special email that was packed full of nuggets about de-stressing. It started with a glass of water filled to the half way point. Was it half full or half empty? Turns out, it doesn’t matter…its the weight of the glass. How heavy is it? And the weight depends on how long we hold it. The longer we hold onto the glass is compared to holding onto our burdens, they become heavier the longer we hold them… if we don’t lighten up, we eventually won’t be able to carry on. I hope you remember the image of the half glass of water and think about this. It’s certainly been helpful to me.
This afternoon I finished reading The Rebel Wife by Taylor M. Polites. It is his first novel, an exciting and educational story, set in the Reconctruciton Era of the deep south after the Civil War. I met Taylor when I was at Wilkes Universtiy. He’s a humble and charming southern gentleman. He received his MFA last year from Wilkes and will join the Low Resiency Creative Writing staff in January. I highly recommend his book and incidentally so does O Magazine!
If anyone has an interest in good classical music with a sense of humor, the following you tube video is for you, they have added an old fashioned typewriter to the orchestra. It is fun to wactch these serious musicians make music with smiles on their faces. Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch popup?v=G4nXOXrn-wo&sns=em
Till next time keep reading, my friends.
Ann