#20 QuitCHIR ~ Flow

What kind of ripples do you want in your pond today? Drop those kind of pebbles then.

#19 QuitCHIR ~ Gently

Consistent, dripping or moving water changes landscape or etches stone.

Our attitudes and our interactions shape our landscape and etch the people around us. 

Have you ever wondered what one smile can do? Or one harsh word? A kindness? A selfish act? 

Do you bring an attitude of life, a breath of fresh air, joy, love and mercy into a room with you? Or does your attitude suck that room dry?

Are you okay with your answer to that question? 

#18 QuitCHIR ~ Fractured

I've smashed a few dreams into smithereens. 

And yet, the inner girl who knows there's a pony in that horse pooh, somewhere, if she just digs deep enough, still wants to dream.

As much as I treasure the here and now, and I honestly do, I can't help pondering the what ifs, the hmmm's, the somedays. The practical adult who occasionally takes over my thoughts chides me for being simple and foolish. 

I dream dreams that narrow into specifics then develop loops and angles until they sometimes are hodge-podge, patchwork quilt dreams that look a lot like a life lived, messy, but lived. 

I wanted to someday hold a book with my name on the cover of it when I began writing. But that dream has changed enough that this is no longer really important to me. I do have the need to finish the book I started with my friend. Because she is writing and publishing and it's partially hers and she's stuck til I move forward. It's a great story, and the characters are fun and I like them. I guess this is an example of a broken dream that still has valuable pieces that can still turn into something, right? 

Dreaming can hurt, and maybe that's why lots of folks give up. Rob and I dreamed about homesteading and living off the land when we were young and adventurous. Reality got in the way. But there is still a part of me who fights off wanderlust, who really does think that possibility sounds satisfying to the core. And she also thinks driving around the country in an RV or living on a houseboat sure seem like wonderful adventures. Practical me says that I'd get seasick, fall overboard and drown, or discover that the fuel costs and parking fees would suck the very joy out of this quest. But then I run into someone who's dream didn't become reality until she was 65, and she's living it. Maybe some dreams are meant to stretch over a lifetime until all the puzzle pieces are on the table.

I believe I have picked up pieces of unfulfilled or broken dreams and placed them in a large glass jar. When I place it in the window and the sun shines through it, I am transported to the discussions, the thoughts, the lists, the hopes and the promise. So maybe, these dreams aren't wasted at all.

I see this dreamer quality in my kids, too, and I can't decide whether to be guilty for passing it on to them, or wanting to fan the flames of their dreams. So. I get caught up in their enthusiasm and I dream with them.

A dream that has failed is a dream tried, right? And failing is so much more that sitting on the sidelines and watching life pass by. 

Dream? I think I will.

#17 QuitCHIR ~ Creaky Doors

Sometimes doors open into sunshine and fresh air. 

But a door can also open into shadows, gloom and the unknown. 

Not every darkened doorway leads to a bad outcome.  Just like sunlit paths that lead to the babbling brooks may not end in joy and happiness. 

Every cracked door and every opportunity has a risk. Because the sure thing might not last, or be a good fit or be the dream it promised. Shadows and unfamiliar noises can keep us from stepping over the threshold into into an opportunity that might be challenging, scary, and completely out of our comfort zones...and may end up being rewarding and beyond expectation.

It is our job to weigh the risks, count the cost of the worst case scenario, and look inside at our fears and insecurities. People of faith will seek God and pray, but people of faith also know that God does not think like we do, nor does He want us to remain unchanged and unchallenged. His goal is to transform me until I look more like Jesus and less like me. 

Here are some of the thoughts I wrestle with when faced with a door.  Is what lies beyond too risky? Or is my belief that I'm a (insert insecurity, lie you believe, etc. here) going to render me unable to let go of the doorknob, step into the unknown, and follow a path that disappears at the horizon ? And which decision will carry the most regrets for me in five years, ten years and beyond?

There are few large decisions that don't require a little hesitation when the cold metal doorknob rests in your hand. And that's okay. Hesitate, but don't let fear paralyze you.

#16 QuitCHIR ~ Connections

Humanity is so connected. Like the Kevin Bacon game I do think many of of are separated by just a few degrees.

I received a comforting reminder yesterday that no matter how out of control life gets, our lives don't spin away from God's notice.

An old connection has suffered a tragedy. And though I'm no longer in a position to come alongside and bring comfort, God still is. And as I pray about this loss, I can know that God has placed others in their lives, and that He is a present and ready help in their time of need.

This is what we were created for, to have relationships, to make a difference, to love and live and leave a legacy behind. Though I've lost touch with this family, the time we were connected isn't forgotten and even now I can pray for them. 

When we are part of the vine of Christ we are not alone. His blood runs through our veins and His Spirit connects us on a level we can't even begin to understand. 

If you have a struggle, if you feel alone, if you wonder if this life of faith is worth it, know that you are not a lone wolf. If you are connected to Christ, you are connected to life, and to hope, and to a future.  

And if you are not connected yet, someone who is may be praying for you.

#15 QuitCHIR ~ Zip Those Furry Little Lips...

My mom always quoted Thumper's mother's sage advice to me when I got a little extra complainy and whiny. 

Who could argue with Walt Disney wisdom delivered by a sweet furball? 

Certainly not the average seven-year-old in the late 60's. By that I mean me. 

Mothers seem to know certain things by instinct. 

Things like whining, complaining and mean-spiritedness just aren't good for the soul.

In looking for a definitive answer on how many positive comments it takes to cancel a negative you can find loads of answers. Ten positives to cancel out a negative? That might be a little high. But let's think it through. 

How quickly does negativity spread? Like little breeding bunny rabbits, I say. A co-worker or spouse or family member walks through the door with a brooding attitude and the whole climate changes doesn't it? 

A scowl involves a whole different atmospheric charge than a smile does. 

Some moods actually make the air crackle with intensity. A storm is brewing. Will the lightning be distant passive aggressive flickers on the horizon? Or direct and personal hits? 

And our emotions respond to the possible danger. Even if the electrical tension has nothing to do with us, we can still get caught in the storm. And we feel assaulted and respond accordingly. 

Laughter, smiles, sweetness, encouragement also breed like sweet little bunnies. Sunshiny attitudes can even chase away little storm clouds. 

So. Who do you want to be?  A gray storm cloud? Or a beam of sunshine? 

The next time you feel a sarcastic, mean, whiny, complainy, negative thought working it's way toward your lips, clamp down on it like a bunny on a carrot. Because, honestly, your comment may paint a better picture of who you are versus who you are complaining about. And it may bring a litter of more negativity. If you can't say something nice, kind, encouraging, then what's your motivation? And does it really need to be said?

#14 QuitCHIR Hope...Always...

The tree is indeed an impressive creation. The smallest of stumps can sprout again. If the roots are alive the tree is, too. Trees also show the life they've lived through their very core. A ring forms and tells the story of the year, the hardships, the challenges and the inner strength of the tree. 

Resilience is not just for trees. Humans can bend but not break. Resilience means we can grow in spite of and through circumstances. Are you aware that the rings of your life tell a story of a life lived?

The droughts, the high winds, the rains will come. And scars are inevitable. But as long as there is growth, healing can come. If you are reading this you are alive. Where are your roots planted?

Hang in there. You might be working on the most impressive life ring yet.