Lynn M. Dixon's Blog, page 37

Moving & Evolving!

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We are always moving and evolving.  Just as the clouds linger for a while, they too slowly move and sometimes are in an unnoticeable motion.  They never stay for too long.

It is comparable to a guest who we welcome into our homes or into our lives.  We laugh, converse, grow and heal some aspects of ourselves while together.  But at the prescribed time, we move on.   All of us leave the gathering place feeling more hopeful and optimistic about things to come in our futures.

There is a sense of lightness.  There are more perceptions and understanding. Everyone is moving on and evolving into feelings of greater wholeness.  We evolve with higher levels of insight and depth.

Our purposes are clearer and our points of view have been expanded. We have unburdened ourselves to a degree through our fellowship and times of togetherness.  Yet, we know when it is time to keep it moving and we gradually began to move our feet.

We follow the clouds lead and we move on as we surely evolve.  We adhere to the lessons from those all-knowing clouds that temporarily hang just above our heads.

Lynn M.                                                                           October 20, 2018

The Cool Breezes of October!

 

[image error]The cool breezes of October help blow away our old stale thoughts.  The winds serve us as they swirl around and stir things up like the rotating leaves in a cesspool.

Those negative things float to the top like fallen leaves that have left their life source.  They are no longer important nor do they contribute to our well-being.  They will soon be in big trash bags like the gathered leaves waiting to be crushed and thrown away.

Those worn-out notions, beliefs and error thoughts will disappear along with an array of false friends and acquaintances.  They can no longer attach themselves to our lives and pretend to be genuinely concerned about our welfare. The seasons change and we must change with them.

The fluttering leaves have fallen from the living tree. They have served their purpose though they once offered us a sense of beauty.   But time moves on and as nature continues on its course, we graciously sweep up the discarded.

We get ready for our personal harvests to arrive and we know that in just a matter of time we will gleefully exclaim, “Behold, I will do a new thing!”  (Isaiah 43:19)

 

Lynn M.                                                                          October 13, 2018

A Star is Born. True Art!

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We often go to see a movie as a form of escapism or a reprieve from everyday life.  Yet, when I saw the new A Star is Born with Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, I thought, “Now this is art- a movie of real though sometimes raw substance.”

The credits at the end of the movie revealed that many of the songs had been written by each of them.  Wow!  A lot of real talent was involved in this piece and it is not only worth viewing a second time but should include the purchase of the soundtrack.

In A Star is Born, we are able to see a well-developed relationship between Jackson and Ally.  We see them go through many of life’s ups and downs together and we unfortunately see them outgrow each other.  It is all true of real life.  People come into our lives for a reason and a season.

I will not spend time here rehashing the plot because I would not want to spoil anyone’s chances to witness these art forms at their best on the big screen.  We know that it is a boy meets girl movie or shall I say husband meets wife.

The mere fact that both are musicians pushes the entertainment level up many notches.  He’s a rocker doing his thing and her performances reminded me of a little bit of Janis Joplin and at other times, Carole King.

It is the first time that we see Lady Gaga’s (Ally) natural beauty.  It made me wonder why stars adorn themselves where they are barely recognizable.  I liked her in this role because we see get to see her.  Bradley Cooper (Jackson) reveals sides of his character that haven’t been displayed in his other roles.  Their chemistry is steamy and they take us on a memorable voyage.

In closing, I would say that even though we are imperfect beings, this movie shows how we are all interconnected and sometimes, it takes that certain someone to hoist us up and put us on our charted path!

Lynn M.                                                                             October 8, 2018

Girl Power!

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Oh, girl power. Girl power,

Spilling beans by the hour.

Like a bag filled to the brim,

No longer will lights stay dim.

Release it now. Let it go.

So your children can flow!

Sweeping no more under rug,

While heartstrings are in a tug.

Claim your places, queens of chess,

Speak out and tolerate less.

Lynn M.                                                                             September 29, 2018

Today is Cash!

[image error]How many times have we looked back at times gone by and claimed that they were better than the present day?  But are we really being honest with ourselves?

Perhaps we selectively choose to remember snippets of the Truth.  If we are really honest, those cherished days had its flaws and share of pain, disappointment and hours of anxiety.  Those times were also filled with life’s imperfections.

Of course, we all wish we felt comfortable all of the time, but then we would not experience those growing pains which are needed to grow us up, so to speak.  Yes, life is a process and at some point we must all learn that it is filled with both light and dark just like the day and night.

When we look back at those former days, we choose to recall the minutes of light.  We remember the sun and the fun.  We unconsciously hide the times of darkness and anguish and tuck them away because they are too painful to revisit.  And why should we pull open that drawer and rummage around unless we need to do a deep cleanse to work towards greater wholeness and healing?

Case and point?  Enjoy today!  Seize the moment.  There are several movies about angels who want to return to this life for at least one more day.   They would exchange places with us in a heartbeat.  The saying goes, “Yesterday is a cancelled check.  Tomorrow is a promissory note.  Today is cash.  Use it wisely!”

Lynn M.                                                                       September 19, 2018

September 2018

Cooler days of fall are upon us,

It’s back to basics. No time for fuss.

Time for the kids to go back to school.

Where they should practice the Golden Rule.

As they all learn to read, write and count,

The hierarchy of skills do mount.

September- a reality check.

Labor, work and use all hands on deck!

Lynn M.                                                                                                       [image error]                                                                                           September 15, 2018

Through the Clouds

[image error]Many spiritual lessons remind us that the sun is always shining underneath or behind the clouds.  It is a comfortable thought but when we are feeling gloomy or have limited inspiration, we may find this hard to believe.

Yet, when things lighten up and we feel better, we are more able to say, “Hmm, there is some truth in that statement.”  Once we are feeling more jubilant, we can see that hindsight is indeed 20-20.  We say, “Oh, I was simply traveling through the fog.”

We can then congratulate ourselves for keeping it moving though the destination was not visible to us at the time.  We can comfort ourselves and even give ourselves a loving hug because we kept on going forward and did not get stuck in the middle of the tunnel.

It’s comparable to the takeoff of an airplane.  As the plane makes its ascent, we passengers cannot see anything but surrounding clouds on both sides of the plane. But the pilot already knows the altitude that he or she plans to reach before leveling off.

As we passengers hold in our breaths, it finally happens.  The plane rises above the clouds and the beautiful sun and clear skies are sitting right there.  It is as if they were saying, “Welcome to better times. We were right here waiting for you and cheering you on.  You just had to get through the clouds!

Lynn M.                                                             September 8, 2018

Our Best!

[image error] I always think of September and the autumn months in general, as a time for new beginnings. Of course, it is time for students and teachers on all levels to return to the classroom.  Most students do not realize that teachers and faculty members feel anxious too.  They also get butterflies in their stomachs and experience high levels of anxiety the night before meeting their new students.

They worry and wonder things like, “Can I do it?  Will this turn out to be a successful year?  Will my students be cooperative?  Will they be challenging?  Or will they become a unit and forge full steam ahead?”  I saw a news clip that talked about the stress that students feel before returning to school.  But guess what?  So do the parents and the teachers.

All are hopeful for a good outcome for all involved. So, yes, we teachers are prepared for the children’s occasional  meltdowns and they do come with speed and continuity during that first week of school.  We are armed with plenty of boxes of tissues and hugs to soothe the waters.

But the hidden truth is that we educators have our private parties of uncertainty as well.   The famed Erma Bombeck said in essence, “Now that I have it all together, I forgot where I put it.”  After we have unpacked the boxes, taken down the chairs, thrown out the old furniture and taped down the new name tags, we may feel a sense of readiness.

But then, it dawns on us that we have not prepared what we will teach.  So, we sit down and plan lessons and try to fill up the lapses in time and space to create order and discipline.  Then, we may think that we are ready, but them oops, we still forgot something that is major in this venture.

We think and ask, “What about these new personalities that are about to enter our clean, neat and organized space?  Who are they?”  That is when we may sing like Aretha Franklin and “Say a Little Prayer.” Or, we may take Julie Andrews’ lead from The Sound of Music as she blessed the Captain’s children by name to call out each one’s goodness.

Then, we silently bless each little person now in our charge and hope that after our time together, they will leave us as a more knowledgeable and whole person.  As I said to a fellow educator, “We can only give them the best of us.”

Lynn M.                   September 1, 2018

Rockin’ the Heavens: To Aretha

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Re-Re just entered that pearly gate,

Left us behind like childhood bait.

Trying to figure out who was that?

Sassy, feisty. She left no lines flat.

Here we are pulling up every song,

Wishing she had stayed a tad more long.

Strange. We feel like we know our icons,

Like we’ve partied with them on their lawns.

Their breaths and their cells, we think we own,

But we learn that they are here on loan.

She’s now been welcomed in heaven’s arms,

Belting out tunes. Turning on the charms!

Lynn M.                     August 18, 2018

Fellowship

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Having fellowship with a confidant or friend helps to wash away the hurt feelings and creates a vacuum.  Then that new space that can be filled with the cool breath of greater understanding.

Once those dark feelings and emotions have been shared with a dear friend, the heaviness begins to dissipate. There is more room for light to pour in because it takes the sunlight of truth to nurture our growth.

Being energized, there is a lightness that frees us to graciously advance forward.  We feel strengthened and more able to cope with our missions in life.

We step livelier as we hoist up our crosses and stand firmly to face our battles. And yes, these are our personal battles that no one can fight for us.

Friends and well-wishers can, however, assist us by listening and acting as sounding boards as we wheedle through the stuff, as Alice Walker calls it.

Once we have refilled our cups, we can take a warrior’s poise and get ready to slay the Goliaths that try to block our paths.

The cobwebs of our minds have been swept down and now the daylight of clarity shines in every corner.  We continue on and fill up our gratitude pages as we thankfully progress on our journeys.

We see ourselves as overcomers because those grand fellowships serve as mirrors. Our reflections are silently singing that, “Every little thing is going to be alright.”

”Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” Philippians 2:2

Lynn M.             August 11, 2018