On days that I squeeze in time to walk I always follow the same route, because I like the familiarity.
I recently learned something important from one of the houses along my route - a lesson about the complacency that, I think, comes from familiarity. I wonder if you will agree.
I have probably passed the house I am talking about at least three times a week for the past four years. Initially it was noticeable because it was rundown. The grass never looked mowed, the paint on the shutters was chipping off, and fencing around the house was falling down.
And there was more.
A faded yellow moving truck was always parked in the driveway with the trunk backed up to the garage door,
one of the garage doors was always raised about five inches off the ground,
and a slight, but steady stream of water seemed to constantly flow from beneath the garage door.
Only twice in four years did I ever see anyone outside the house: once it was an elderly couple climbing into the seats of that old yellow truck and the second time it was a middle-aged man wandering the front yard.
To me there was no sense of urgency. They were a curiosity, a point of interest that kept my walks interesting - a mere backdrop to my familiar walking route.
But herein lies the lesson:
That's not all that house was. That house - in it's ongoing state of disrepair and infrequent activity - was the sign of people in need.
I know that now, because suddenly - as in overnight - the house was emptied and the front door was boarded up. No more truck. And one more thing: that house that sat dormant for so was long was suddenly buzzing with activity - landscapers, pest control, plumbers, and now...a realtor.
Here is my "aha" about that house, familiarity, and complacency:
A house in disrepair is not unlike a person in pain, slowly falling apart from the inside out. To us maybe a curiosity or a mere backdrop to an otherwise uneventful walk through life. But, to that person - to the house - the disheveled appearance or erratic behavior is a call for help.
I feel sad that for four years I passed the house, from the sidewalk across the street, treating it like a point of interest. I watched as people who were clearly in need fell further behind until, finally, one day they could do it no longer. I wonder how the ending might have changed if I would have rung the doorbell or if the landscaper, pest control, and plumber would have shown up before it was too late.
Is there someone in your life, who you pass regularly, and whose shutters are falling off or whose grass needs to be mowed? Could you cross the street and ring the door bell to see if he needs help?
Shining off until...
Today I am writing about a local performance of the Nutcracker.
Not because the performance itself shined. It was perfectly enjoyable and every bit what you would expect from a local dance school on a limited budget. Really for my family the major attraction was our young neighbor, Grace, who made her debut in the opening party scene.
The real reason I am writing about the Majestic Ballet Academy's 20th season of the Nutcracker is because of the directors, Donna and Susan. Based on the program booklet, it seems both danced as young girls and that each, in her own way, pursued ballet as adult women: one as a dance major in college and the other as professional dancer with the Houston Ballet.
Most deserving of applause, however, is the way these two women decided to use their passion and talents so that other generations of young people could, in turn, discover their passion and talents. Their shine.
Maybe as a dancer, but maybe not.
Maybe taking center stage for the annual Nutcracker performance ignites in some of these performers a deeper love of dance and, for others, maybe they realize it is the music, props or costume design that gets them most excited.
Maybe one of them realizes she enjoys teaching more than performing and another reflects back on all the rehearsals and realizes she is more disciplined than she gives herself credit for.
Maybe center stage is all one young woman needs to decide that she chooses test tubes over tutus and that helps another young girl decide on photography over pirouettes.
The point is Donna and Susan have created a venue whereby, for the past twenty years, young people have been invited to take center stage and discover what they are good at and what they are passionate about.
Oh, and while they are at it, a performance is produced every winter, the community is brought together for a celebration, and an example of brightening your corner of the world is perfectly illustrated to every man, woman, and child who sits in the audience.
Not too shabby for two women who are just living their dream.
Shining off until...
I have long said the Christmas stocking is my favorite part of the holidays. I think it is because the stocking's size and shape adds parameters requiring you to be extra thoughtful and creative about what is placed inside.
I feel the same way about the idea I am sharing today; an idea which was told to me by Heather who, in turn, learned it from long-time reader, Robin. Proof that when something shines, you can't help but want to share it.
Consider using the following guidelines for your gift giving:
Something you want
Something you need
Something you wear
Something you read
You can slice this idea up and serve it any number of ways:
Manage kid's expectations by getting them excited about one gift in each category.
Redefine the gift exchange you have with extended family by drawing a name and one category (i.e. Aunt Susie, something you need).
Get together with your significant other and rally around one theme for each of the next four years (i.e. 2011, want; 2012, need; 2013, wear; 2014, read).
Add an additional layer of challenge by combining the guidelines with yet another variable such as: the color red, something metal, the letter "w", or the recipient's birth year (i.e. want + red; need + metal; wear + "w", read + birth year).
Or how about combining the four criterion with my favorite - your Christmas stocking. Whatever you buy, it must fit inside a Christmas stocking.
Now matter how you slice it, my prediction is that the experience of giving will be more fun and the creativity involved in buying will be even greater.
Celebrate Cyber Monday by visiting the comment section and telling us this: If you were to buy yourself something from each category, what is it you would want, need, wear, and read?
Shining off until...