"Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs..."

As I’m ambling along this highway towards my future self, signs are popping up left and right. Some of these have been completely obvious and smacking me in the head repeatedly. Others have become apparent in only their absence (I’ll explain more in a minute).

I wrote last week about downstream flow versus paddling like hell upstream. Noticing these signs has given me a bit of insight which method (flowing or paddling like hell against the current) is working better for me.

As far as floating downstream is concerned, here’s how one idea I feel passionate about is launching into who-knows-what….

My neighborhood book group is reading Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. It’s a fascinating account of the author and her family’s year of consuming only locally grown food (everything they eat is grown by their family or by someone else in the county). I have been completely captivated by this book and it has rekindled my interest in a vegetable garden. This reawakened interest spawned me to plant a winter garden with the boys (80 carrots should be able to grow in a 14” diameter pot, right? The boys got just a wee bit heavy-handed with the seeds).

Before we planted the garden, I picked up an organic gardening book at the library. Fortunately, it contained info about how to make compost – a topic I’ve been interested in learning more about.

Within a few days, Roger and I had a conversation with Blake’s teachers about how unfortunate it is the school’s leftover food must be thrown away. I suggested, “Why not make compost?”

Roger inquired, “For what?”

And out blurted from my mouth, “For a garden…”

Within seconds, I was sharing my idea for a school garden with the teachers based on a special I’d seen on PBS years ago regarding Alice Waters and her Edible Schoolyard. The idea moved me years ago. This week it moved me again and it enrolled Blake’s teachers as well.

The next ripple along this downstream float trip came as I was lighting our grill two nights ago. I pulled a months-old newspaper from our deck box to use as kindling to start the fire. As I was crumbling up the paper, two words caught my eye – “food” and “pupil.” I stopped crumbling to investigate. Lo and behold, the article was about Debi Gibson, director of the Seed to Table program in the Maplewood-Richmond Heights School District (St. Louis area). The program is a hands-on teaching method in which students plant seeds in the district's gardens. They then harvest the food and help prepare it for meals that they then eat.

Could all these happenings just be coincidences? Sure, but I prefer to think of them as powerful threads in a synchronistic fabric; each pulling me in the direction I’m meant to follow (the downstream flow versus the upstream struggle).

Meanwhile, on the side of my formal job search, I’ve sent several resumes, posted resumes to executive search firm boards and reached out to my former personnel partner at my old employer. Care to guess how many responses I’ve had in two weeks? Nada, zip, zilch, zero. See what I mean? The absence of any response serves as a sign.

According to Medicine Cards by Jamie Sans and David Carsa, “Prairie Dog Medicine” is that of “retreat.” They note “there is ample strength available if you quit pushing and go with the flow.” Wouldn’t you know it – my Medicine Card for the day yesterday was Prairie Dog.

So, I’m kinda diggin’ this downstream flow. I’m going to kick back in this big RED inner tube for awhile and see where floating takes me.

Paddling upstream or flowing downstream?

Isn't it funny how life sometimes takes us in a direction other than what we expect? I'm experiencing that now as I'm looking to gain more structure (and, oh yeah, income) in my life.

On one hand, I'm working hard to do all the things I "should" do -- all those typical job search strategies like updating my resume, sending it to head hunters, networking with former colleagues, etc.

Meanwhile, the things that are taking off with rocket-like propulsion are those driven from my feminine creative side -- I've been asked to write an article for an organization I am passionate about; I had a meeting today with a woman who is president of an organization of women where I may find fabulous support for Pink Tutu (and who knows what else) as well potential speaking engagements; and, I just developed a partnership with a fantastic woman who will contribute to my book. All these things that are gaining such momentum align to my passion and purpose (and there's a healthy dose of play in there too!).

Could it be that alignment which results in energy and movement? Whereas the lack of alignment to passion, purpose and play might create the feeling of paddling upstream while trying to avoid a waterfall?

Stay tuned in the coming weeks to hear which path really takes flight and which one doesn't. In either case, it is going to be quite a ride!!

Being Available

The boys and I had an usual opportunity yesterday -- to help a stranger in need.

We were playing at a playground near Grant's school. The playground was virtually empty other than my boys and two other children and their mother. I noticed the mother sitting on a nearby park bench while talking on her cell phone.

Within a few moments, I noticed the woman was now reclined on the park bench. I couldn't help but notice how she was disengaged from the activities of her children.

I gave the boys their five-minute warning before departure and wandered towards the other side of the playground where the woman happened to be on the park bench.

Just then, the woman sat up crying and asked me to take her phone and talk to the nurse on the other side of the phone line. The woman was having chest pains, rapid heart rate and was about to pass out.

The nurse asked if I was a friend of this woman. I explained that no, I just happened to be at the same park. The nurse explained that this woman needed to call 911 and asked me to make sure she did so. I told her I would.

The woman ended the call with the nurse, called her sister-in-law to pick up her children, tried to reach her husband and then called 911.

After the calls were placed, I offered to help her move from the park bench (which was smack dab in the blazing sun) to a shaded location a few feet away. She declined noting that she would pass out if she moved. Instead, I stood behind her on the park bench to shield her from the sun.

Within minutes, the fire department and ambulance arrived with the woman's sister-in-law close behind. The boys were of course fascinated by the fire truck, ambulance and corresponding excitement. But they were also a huge help trying to play with the woman's children to keep them entertained.

I continued to stand as the resident shadow-maker as the paramedics evaluated her. I shared with them the information I knew. Before we knew it, she was off to the hospital.

Both the woman and her sister-in-law thanked me for my kindness and help. They acknowledged their appreciation for the kindness of a stranger.

The entire episode made me feel good. I was happy to have had a purpose in being at the park that day (in addition to quality time with my sons). I actually felt honored in having been there at that time to help. Just being available made all the difference to this woman.

I recall a number of times when people were available to me, especially throughout Grant's journey. So many people helped during that time. My neighbor across the street was a master of availability. She was supportive in very gentle and consistent manner. She never pushed or forced any help, but was constant through her e-mails, phone calls and prayers. Thank you Charla!! (NOTE: the number of people who offered and provided support during this time are too many to list here. Please know I deeply value and appreciate every loving gesture every one of you offered!!!!)

I invite you all to look into your lives and consider how you are being available to those in need, whether a stranger, a loved one or an acquaintance. Let your availability be known and feel the honor it brings to you.

And Tabor, wherever you are, I hope you're doing well!

My Not-So-Spicy Life

I recently came across a beautiful photo in an old National Geographic Magazine. The photo showed a woman in a brightly colored dress standing by a table filled with small brightly colored cloth-lined baskets, each filled with a different herb or spice. The colors, the contrast and the energy I saw in this photo really struck me. It made me stop and think about the colors and flavors in my life. Is it richly hued, bursting with flavor? Is it subtly seasoned with herbs of a delicate nature? Sinfully spicy? Or boring and bland?

I love food. I love to cook. And I love flavor. It’s no wonder that about 18 months ago I came across a great herb and spice store in Maplewood (an area of St. Louis) called Penzey’s. I’d heard about it when we lived in Charlotte, but had never stepped foot into one of these places. Whoa!! Talk about variety!! Five types of peppercorns, four types of cinnamon (in three different forms), three variations of paprika and don’t get me started on the chilies!! Forget about grocery store bought herbs and spices – this place is the bomb!!

Then on our recent trip to Michigan, I came across an adorable store of similar construct in Saugatuck called Spice Merchants. On that particular stop, I was drawn in by the teas and departed with a magical little potion-maker that helps me start my days.

With all this delight and enjoyment over spices, flavors and variety, where the hell is it in my life? If I enjoy these things so much, how could they be on hiatus in my daily reality, their void creating boring and bland tastes?

It’s time to kick things up a notch (thanks, Emeril!). It’s time to bring the richness of spice back into my life. And yes, I realize doing so can also create complexity of flavor. I don’t want overpowering and overloaded flavor. I want richness in my day-to-day living that stems from pure, simple and high quality ingredients that set my taste buds on fire.

So, how spicy is your life? Are you ready to move beyond boring and bland to embrace the flavors of each day? I am.

Now, please pass the Ancho Chile Powder. I have some cooking to do.