Monday, April 26, 2010

Clarity

It's been a long time since I've been at peace with my blog. I am taking the time now, as I have to force myself these days from my daily whirlwind.

To update you, I've taken on a new job. Certainly different from the prison nursing venue, but a desire I have had for some time. I am finally able to to act as a nurse for which I intended. To care, empathize, and coach people with needs that go well beyond physical health. I am performing now as a "wellness coach". An up incoming new role for medical professionals as health care as we now know it reveals uncertainty in our future. I enjoy it, very much, but it has taken its toll on my daily routine as a wife and mother. I have found myself caught up in the daily grind of challenges and barriers of those I listen to as I coach. Last week, I sat by myself wondering how I let myself get to this point. Frustrated & overwhelmed of all the things "to do" swimming around in my head, I felt nothing more than a hypocrite. Here I am, doing the same things I try to guide my clients not to do. I wondered, how do we allow ourselves this chaos? How is it, that all the technology to make our lives simple have only created more havoc? What happened to the basics?

Sitting in a chair outside attempting to absorb the sunshine, with no one else at home, I stared at the trampoline my children so adore as they jump, laugh and soar with delight.

Then it hit me.......

I walked over to it, slid off my shoes and climbed in. With aged knees, I felt the give of the material, embracing my caution yet forcing me to move forward. The canvas luring my steps in different directions without intent. In apprehension I lifted myself in a pathetic hop, realizing how ridiculous I must have looked had someone been watching. Then an apathetic smirk smeared my face as I tried to prevent it only to focus on the chore of hopping in one place. Without even trying the next thing I knew, I was jumping! Not just jumping,.....but bouncing! Left & right, forward & back, side to side,.....I WAS SOARING! The gentle wind brushed my face & my hair flopped up & down as I did. Then I felt something that I hadn't felt in years. I thought for sure at my age I'd never experience it again......

My tummy flipped!

You know the feeling,....that first time you got on a swing and went as high as you could go,...just as you reached the highest of high,.....your tummy would flip. Then,....laughter would spill out of your mouth like nothing before or could ever be again! No thoughts could consume your mind or inferior feelings of self could proceed you,....effortless fusion of joy & peace encapsulated your every breath.

AHHHH,..........CLARITY!

How sad it is, we as grown ups have forgotten the simplest pleasures that only children seem to posses. We try in vain to substitute the fulfilment, only to fail in every attempt.

There is no substitute for simplicity.

I'm not sure what my message is trying to state with accuracy, but hopefully it will be a glaring reminder for some, that keeping life in its simplest form will encourage internal growth as God & as nature has intended, without allowing all the external distractions to infect us on a daily basis.

And if I can offer one piece of guidance,.....make it a point, this week, to do something that will make your tummy flip! Laugh like a child again, like you never thought you would before. It WILL enable pure clarity & joy to be restored in your soul.


Have an intimate day!

Jennifer

15 comments:

  1. You adrenaline junkie, you! I loved this post. HUGS!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. aged knees? who are you kidding? We are still very young. But, you hit on something that many seem not to do, play. We should all excercise as adults, when we were kids though we called it playing. Find a physical activity you enjoy and do it every day.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I wish I had a trampoline! Just the thought of jumping on one makes me feel happy and a little less stressed!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I commented on this post twice earlier but both times my comment disappeared!

    Anyway, It's so good to see you back on the blogosphere, Jen! I missed you.

    This post made me feel sad for you but then when I read about you bouncing on the trampoline I was so happy. Looks like you found a way to put things in perspective and eek some fun out of the day.

    I'm now craving a trampoline. Maybe I'll just bounce on my bed instead!

    Jai

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love watching Jen bounce on the trampoline. She's right... She can't help but smile the whole time she's on that thing. What a great illustration of how hard it is for us adults to stay in the moment. I'm convinced we spend most of our lives either living in the future or living in the past. I love that quote that goes "where ever you are, be all there" and the trampoline is a great reminder.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Very glad you have posted :-) I'm a ballance type of person, I fell too many often as a kid so I like being ballanced. However I do enjoy a good rocking chair every now and then. lol
    For fun I drive my little rag top, zip zip she goes.
    Beloved swears there are bugs in my teeth :-D

    Happiness comes in many forms we just have to see them for the amazing thing that they are...moments meant just for us

    ReplyDelete
  7. AWWWE! Thanks guys,....Michelle & Steph,...if you would have seen it,..you guys woulda peed your pants from laughter!

    Jai,...I missed you too! More than you know! I really need to remind myself of what I'm missing when I step away from my "blog family" for so long. It just doesn't feel right.... :(

    Larry,...so very true, about finding that "activity" that makes you happy, but about the knees,...have you seen my knees lately??? I think the last time you saw my knees was on the drumline bus on our way to Disney & I was "dry shaving" my legs....

    And dear sweet husband,....it's you who makes me smile....

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh Paige,.... I love that! "moments meant just for us",.....WOW.......what a beautiful statement! Now about the bugs,....it's added protien :) And come to think of it,...you wouldn't get bugs in your teeth,...if you weren't smiling!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I've missed you too, Jennifer. Loved that you took that moment and just let it rip on the trampoline! They are such fun.

    Once I was jumping on ours, knee dips and back splashes, scissoring in the air and what not. Finishing, I heard thunderous applause. Workers next door had arrived and watched my whole rag-tag performance! We got a fence after that, so I could do my rusty gymnastics in private.

    Here's something you might relish. On the trampoline, lay flat on your back and look at the clouds and trees. Remember when we took time to stare at clouds, and imagine different shapes? Talk about therapy.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks for stopping by and the birthday wishes! I have a coffee giveaway going on...=)Thanks for the reminder to laugh!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Beautiful writing!
    Thanks for visiting my blog.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I saw it on someone else's blog and so you are welcome to it.
    It is a bit a harder than you might first think. I posted it as a regular post long while back and then linked to it on the side bar. It seems to work okay for me. And when I see a 100 things about I read 'em. Funny what we share and I take them as true, but who knows.

    thanks so much xxx and air kisses

    ReplyDelete
  13. I was wondering where you went. Glad you are back and the blog looks great. You are so right about simplicity. We all need one day (or maybe more) where we can think like a kid....simply. BTW, I tried getting on a trampoline once and it was not a pretty site! LOL.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hey Dalia! Great to see (read) you again! And I totally understand,....it wasn't "pretty" for me either,....but it sure was fun!

    ReplyDelete
  15. And Dorraine,...wait til my follow up on this topic,....therapy? OH YEAH!

    ReplyDelete