10.23.09

The Survival Kit…

Posted in It's All About Me(and Those Voices in My Head) at 1:39 am by Administrator

 

Life is an error-making and error-correcting process,  and nature in marking man’s papers will grade him for wisdom as measured both by survival and the quality of life of those who survive–Jonas Salk

 

We’ve all seen the shows.  One man braves nature by being stranded in some obscure destination wielding only a pocket knife, some duct tape and 2 days worth of rations(ok, maybe a slight exaggeration…but you get where I’m going).  He’s there to prove he can defy the odds.  He’ll take his duct tape and three small twigs and construct an eight room, lavish mansion.  By adding a few berries and leaves to his two days rations, he’ll whip out a three course meal fit for a king.  And with his handy pocket knife, he will conquer the beasts of the wilderness single-handedly with ease.

Chances are we will never be in this insane of a situation.  We will however have our own personal challenges to face.  Each of which will require a unique tool to overcome.  As I go through this current stage of life, I realize the importance of the elements I need to keep me happy and sane.  I am blessed enough to have the following people around to ensure that no matter the challenge, I will survive regardless of how massive the obstacle may be:

1)  The Family:  They may not be perfect, but when you’re with them you realize who you really are.  They are there to be a constant reminder that you must win these battles of life, for without you,  life would not be the same for them.  You may not live close or see them as often as you like, but they will always be just a phone call away.  And though there are days when you just want to give up you will not, if for no other reason, for them.

2)  The True Friends (who know you better than you know yourself):  They are invaluable.  They’ve seen the good, the bad and the outright ugly moments.  They’ve experienced the tears, pain and insecurity.  But they always know when to step in and when to let you learn the lesson on your own(and show up with a fine bottle of wine later).  They will support your decision, no matter how crazy.  And will always be there to pick up the pieces if you fall.  And if they are truly great–they will document your disasters on film so you can have a Martini and laugh about it later.

3)  The Opposite Sex Friend:  He or she is strongly relevant.  They are your glimpse into the other side of any relationship you take on.  They should be brutally honest, but always have the ability to make you laugh when you feel your worst.   They can sit on the phone with you and talk about nothing when you need it.   This is the person who makes you leave the house, even at your worst, to try and convince you life will go on after your last nightmare of a relationship.

4) The Club:  That group of friends that are always around.  They are there for the Holiday parties, the kids birthdays, the first soccer games and the infamous annual Girls Shopping Spree and Marguerita Night.  Their kids are your surrogates.  They know to call you when your favorite movie is on tv.  And will schedule a movie night with them on a Tuesday night after you have worked straight for a month without a break, just to get you out.  They keep you grounded and remind you life is really about the simple things.  These memories with them will always bring a smile to your face.

5) The Significant Other:  That man or woman who makes your day better with just an email or text.  This person actually makes you want to believe in the fairy tales.  He or she is capable of giving you that feeling inside like your soaring down the highest hill of a rollercoaster.  You feel safe in their arms.   With one look in their eyes, you know its worth all the pain it took to get here.   And with them, everything seems possible.  For failure seems a faint memory of the past.  And if ever you should walk through the door in tears, the first words out of this person’s lips are “Whose ass am I kicking today, baby?”.

 

These are the people who help me survive anything.  They give me an amazing strength that’s infallible.  They share the tears and joy.  And inspire me to conquer it all.

For without this survival kit( #1–The PC Sister, Techy Brother and The Neighbors, #2–The BFF Cali and BFF Florida, #3–The Italian & #4–Gina, Lynn, Heather, Tiffany, Connie, Mary and Sue, #5–You know who you are) I am but an empty woman.

For I may not have it all together…..but with my survival kit, I so have it all….

10.03.09

The Path Less Taken…

Posted in It's All About Me(and Those Voices in My Head) at 6:21 pm by Administrator

We are different, in essence, from other men. If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon.–Emil Zatopek

 We are all born runners.  Some run for the sport. Some of us for the challenge.  Yet others run to be healthy. And then there are those of us that just run…away from or towards something.  It is a cycle all too often seen in this tumultuous life.  After the initial burn, we run.  We develop a sixth sense, an internal warning system, that steers us from the fire and down the secure path.  We run towards safety and eventually surmise that in our case, that safety is not in numbers as originally professed to us.  Yet it is the solitary confinement of our internal race down the secluded road.

There are side roads that arise to lure us off the course.  To catch us off guard and lead us down the path of vulnerability.  They are dark and sinister in appearance.  Like that fog laden, wooded road in the horror movies.  We are unable to see ahead and behind.  We know something is there…but what?  And why?  For a slight moment, we weigh our options.  Perhaps considering the dense fog will lift and reveal a field of peace and beauty beyond our dreams.  Then we remember the raging fire that ushered us to this moment.  We anguish by reliving the hole left inside us and the inner scars for which there are no cure.  And with that, we turn to our chosen path, and continue to run.

Some of these side roads disguise themselves differently.  They spring forward with a tranquility that is intoxicating.  They call to us to simply take one step down this avenue, promising this path less taken to be our salvation.  They offer the unimaginable…Serenity, Harmony and Inner Contentment.  A magic potion to cure the scars within and erase the visions of the torment that em-placed them in the first place.  The temptation is strong.  But our conscious rears up and reminds us….if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  So we again turn and stay the course.

Yet as we forge our way down the path, the thoughts of the unknown begin to consume us.  Perhaps veering to the left and experiencing the thrill of the unknown is part of the process.  Maybe its not about consistently winning the straight 100 meter dash, but about experiencing the fulfillment of the marathon and the trials endured during the race. For this safe and narrow run we have chosen, though predictable and secure, lacks the excitement of the winding side roads. 

And few who have completed the marathon ever looked back and expressed regret for stepping up to the challenges it had to offer.  Instead, they professed a sense of self-satisfaction for manuevering off the main stream, charging up hill and running across the finish line that only one tenth of one percent of the population have ever crossed.

So here we stand staring at this fork in the road and wondering….if our destination, though relevant, pales in comparison to the awe-inspiring journey of the path less taken to get there.