A simple change in my life might be a life-changing moment

We are truly one with the Universe. Just as the tides ebb and flow, so do our emotions as we have our exhilarating moments only to be followed by the receding moment of despair. Sometimes we are thrown about upon the beach like a rag doll tossed into the wind and as we try to steady ourselves in the soft sand, we are then pulled back into the sea and are swallowed up in the backwash.

This now-ending Memorial Day weekend was for me, a true example of the ebb and flow of the tides. Not only with the sound of Taps being played throughout the Land, but the silence that then followed when we remembered our fallen heroes and then a quick reminder of those close to us who have passed recently although not necessarily connected to the Service, but just still in our hearts.

I'm not here living in the past as one might think, but simply trying to find a way to carve out my future. I'm not sure what changes I'll make to bring happiness, and I'm not sure changes I'll make to soften the sadness. I had wasted most of the day, contemplating each decision that came to mind. So, what do you do when you need an answer to Life's many questions.....you head to WalMart to fill up those Life pantries and find short term answers.

I'm not buying much, nor am I buying anything new...just the basics, coffee, creamer, Popsicles and Reese's cups. Heck, some woman in Hawaii survived on insects and roots for 17 days, so my bounty is respectively full.

As I passed thru the candy aisle, I spotted a familiar white logo on a red shirt of a man perhaps in his late 40s or 50s. I called out the "Boomer Sooner" chant to him and he responded with a smile and a handshake as any good University of Oklahoma grad would do.. We talked briefly. I introduced myself to his wife and his adult daughter and just as I was leaving the aisle, I asked him and his family what they did, where they lived and how long have they been in the area....It's what I do...It used to drive Pattye crazy, but I enjoy meeting people and having them share their information.

Well, come to find out, this lovely lady teaches piano.  I quickly told my story of the recent changes in my life and including that I have a baby grand in desperate need of singing "his/her" 88 keys once again.
She asked if I played, and I answered, "no". I said I can read music and once played the clarinet. She smiled and said, "It's time to learn".

I agreed.

What had started off with a morning with the silence of despair as I woke up to yet a new day of my new beginning as my emotions were pulled back into sea, now had reversed the flow and my excitement was like the giant Kahuna wave that surfers long for....YES, I'll learn the piano at age 70 and I will once again rejoice in song. I won't be living in the past longing to hear notes come from within the piano but soon I will be playing the notes myself that will resonate throughout the house and my life.

A chance meeting while seeking answers at WalMart of all places will be yet another placard on the storyboard of my Life. Yes, this day ended on a positive note . (No pun intended...well, actually it was intended and I thought it was kind of a clever ending)

I begin next Tuesday.

Peace

Food for the Soul can sometimes be just empty calories...

Before anyone gets into a panic, let me reassure you that the below picture was taken early this morning and I have since been to the grocery store and replenished my food supply. So please, if you feel the need to send along a CARE package, there's no need, of course if you have any Esther Price candies sitting around, they are always welcomed...just kidding...kinda sorta about the CARE package.

But in filling my pantry or at least my refrigerator,  as I sheepishly admit, that I did fill my buggy at the store with a good amount of junk food, the good news is I am eating. The bad news it's a lot of empty calories. And that whole scenario gave cause for me to write this blog.

The human body can survive without food for more than 3 weeks but without water you might only last 3 or 4 days. So by consuming one bag of  Lay's Sour Cream and Onion potato chips, a bag of Reese's cups, a package of slices of processed cheese, or a medium bag of Cheetoh Puffs, I can live for months or even years. One's body learns to adapt. But are you living or just surviving?

The same is true for the food that nourishes our soul. We can actually live an entire lifetime with little more than  one morsel of food for our soul. We can load it full of junk food. We can fill it up with candy and sweets and chips. We can drown it with alcohol. We can fill it with hallucinate drugs. We can put anything we want into our souls and  experience the indigestion that affects us like when we eat a batter-fried jalapeno or a oversize chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes and country gravy. But it's just like how we treat our physical bodies...is it living or just surviving.

The dichotomy of our physical well being and our inner spiritual meaning are in fact not opposed but are aligned. Think about it, do we make correct, well thought decisions when we are gorging ourselves with empty calories? Are we on our best mental game when we succumb to that Hershey bar or Kit Kat rush?

The reverse is true as well.....how can we expect our physical bodies to function properly when we fill our heads with lies, fake news, hate rhetoric, suspicions and morally corrupt thoughts. The fact is we can't.

I don't care how many supposed facts, how many articles, how many talk shows discussions, how many Facebook posts or blogs you read including mine,  or how many news shows you "feed your soul" if it's not healthy, if it's just junk food, then it's just empty calories and like your physical body, your soul will simply waste away until there is nothing left.

I'm fortunate that I have been given a new chance to mull over my life decisions. I've been able to weigh good against not-so-good. And yes, healthy diet versus empty calories.

I'm certainly not advocating abstaining from fun snacks and fun thoughts. But moderation for both is what is important. I started this blog with a Reese's cup in hand and now I'll finish it with an often heard and often repeated axiom, that comes from within "We are what we eat". But now I want you to take it a step further and include it in your menu for your soul. We are what we feed our souls as well.

Peace