Sunday, November 30, 2014

It's About Time!

        This past week kinda lost me for a bit...somehow.  I'm not sure where I was when it flew by, but alas, it is gone, and here we are, facing a new one!  So...welcome to Monday, my friends!

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Thanks, but It's Complicated

Okay, here's how my mind works...it's wordy, and it's honest!

        We've been discussing gratitude for what, 2 months now, on the PB Facebook Community Page?  And we've been doing it in random bursts, all year long!  So what happens today?

Monday, November 24, 2014

To Sleep, or Not to Sleep - What Was the Question?

        Okay, I'm just going to come right out and admit it: when I read this week's "Motivational Mondays" personal challenge post prompt, I about laughed out loud!  And I don't mean the kind of "lol" that you add to stuff to communicate humor in text!  Perhaps this is not the post I should write via my phone, from bed? Hah!

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Let's Just Can the Can'ts, Shall We?

        Happy Monday, my friends!  How about we tackle this week's challenge of mine, together, hmm? :)

"Do not let what you cannot do
interfere with what you can do."
~ John Wooden

How can you ensure that you have a week filled with cans?
(and not the aluminum kind)! 

        This topic happens to be both a good fit for me, and worth a good roll of my eyes, all in one! Of course, I've never been one to roll my eyes at much of anything...as many of my friends will tell you! *averts eyes* Ahem. Where was I? Oh yes...

        This week's topic is all about "cans" and "can'ts". We each of us have things we can or can't do - that's just part of life! In fact, we humans are an interesting bunch; we are communal creatures for a reason! We've developed the inborn knowledge that we need others of our kind, in order to progress as a species! I'm not exactly talking about the Circle of Life, here, though that is an important factor, too!

        We humans are smart, in that we realize that, because we have individual talents, likes, etc., if we work together for a common-good sort of thing, we come along much better! If we have some people growing crops, others hunting/gathering, others practicing medicine, and so on, then we can all manage to have our needs meet, much easier than trying to do it alone, separately!

        When not focused on the Greater Whole, Bigger Picture, or Grand Scheme of Things, we have smaller, more personal things we would like to do in our lives. This can range from self-care, to greater goals like getting through college or raising a family! Whatever our more immediate, personal goals, we have our own, individual skills and abilities that mean that sometimes, there will be things we simply cannot do.

        So then what? There are a variety of ways we can connect what we need with how to get our needs met.  The most obvious, given everything I've said already, is to connect with others who also have needs, and hopefully our needs match what they have to give, and their needs match what we can give.  This creates a kind of symbiotic (mutually beneficial) relationship, which allows all involved to have what they need, as well as have the satisfaction of being able to contribute to a greater whole!

This is the most basic answer,
and one that I pretty much find is my actual answer.
However...

        In a more personal context, I suppose I could say that there are many needs I have, especially more in comparison to when my body hadn't decided to attack itself and fall apart!  While there are times this feels like a huge, humiliating battle, I am deeply grateful that I have whanau in my life who are willing and able to give me loving support, when possible.

        I've come to realize that this concept of interpersonal exchange is vital, not only when I am not doing well or when they aren't, but to the flow of everyday living.  There are many times when I can't figure out how to get something accomplished, be it balancing my inner chaos; dressing for the day; developing ideas for this blog or share to the PB Facebook Page; or fulfilling aspirations I desire for my outer life.  It is in those moments when reaching out and connecting with others, if only for inspiration and ideas, can make all the difference in achieving my goals.  And in return, I can help support and counsel others who may need me to pay my own gifts forward.  It is a beautiful system, and one in which I am grateful to play a part!

        So there you go.  That is how my week can be full of "cans", even when I'm challenged with "can'ts" of various descriptions.  Tally ho, and on to greater things, together!

        Better days ahead, together, my friends!

©The Phoenix and The Butterfly

©The Phoenix and The Butterfly



Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Celebrating Grief, or Tarnishing the Magic Dust?

        Today was a rather heavy day, for me, personally.  Tomorrow, too.  Since the Project was founded on the premise of helping others realize they aren't alone, I felt like perhaps I should share a bit of my thoughts and feelings, in the hope that it might help someone out there, somehow.