Timing is Everything?

In the last few days there have been two stories
that I have read in which tragedy has been
averted by timing, as well as by choice.

The first story was about the stage at the
Indiana State Fair. While the events were
tragic, and 5 people died, there could have
been more deaths, had the performing act
been on stage at the time of the wind gust.

The second story was about a man in New Mexico
who, thanks to an unlikely series of events,
was in the right vicinity to save a little
girl from a kidnapping.

In both cases, timing played a role, but so
did choice. The manager of the group is the
one who told the performers to stay off the
stage, even after they were given the go ahead
by others who were present. The man could
have seen the events and done nothing about
it, however he chose to pursue the van and
man who was kidnapping the girl.

What if life is full of moments that have
the perfect timing, but we don't choose to
act? What if the times we feel stuck are
those times that decline to act in regard
to the situation in front of us?

I find sometimes people who feel stuck say
they don't have a choice. While it might
be difficult to consider, there is always
a choice - even a choice to do nothing is
a choice. Just because we don't like the
options doesn't mean they don't exist.

A baseball player can choose to swing at
a pitch, or not. But he doesn't even have
those choices available to him until he's
up at bat. What he may be able to do
will have to do with his timing. He may
get a single, and be the first one on
base, or he could come up with the bases
loaded and walk. Either way his choices
get him on base, however the timing
contributes to what the ultimate outcome
is going to be.

If you hit a ball that goes to the
outfield and is caught, you may be
the last out of the game, or you may
be responsible for the winning run.

There are lots of possibilities, many
of which are dictated by the timing.
Some of which are more preferable than
others.

What are you going to do the next time
you're at bat? How are you going to
see what you have done? What if winning
isn't dictated by a particular outcome,
but rather by the fact that you just played?

So maybe it isn't timing that is everything.
Maybe it's Timing+Choice+Perspective that
makes us who we are and has everything to
do with why we sometimes feel stuck or
motivated. And just maybe it is the choices
that we make that create the timing we have.

Maybe it is not HOW life happens that is
important, but rather that it DOES.
And maybe it is not so much about what
happens, as much as it is about how we
view our world and ourselves as a result.

Maybe.

Just a thought to nibble on, or not.

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Trees and Perspective

I recently was reading a column by Ed Lowe,
writer for Long Island Newsday. It was
dated December 21, 1986.

In it, he described a man who had the
responsibility of getting the tree for
the family - by himself. No one wanted
to go with him.

When he came home after his adventure that
was a bit more like an ordeal of sorts,
he felt "triumphant," but was met with
disappointment. His wife even said,
"'That is the worst tree I have ever
seen in my life.'"

He mentioned how no one wanted to go
with him (good for him, as many would
grumble without pointing out that fact),
but decided that after a nap they
would find something else. When he
awakened, it was to a "stunning and
elegant" tree. In the end, they regarded
the "'tree as the best we ever had.'"

I share this for a couple of reasons.

As often can be the case, people will
leave something up to another but
then not appreciate their efforts. If
someone is going to do something for you,
it would be wise to appreciate what they
do, and/or be a part of the process. People
often do the best they can, but they may
have a different idea of what "success"
looks like.

In addition, it also occurs to me as
an example of how things aren't always
what they seem to be, how sometimes we
discount something be the way it "looks."

It was the same tree. The difference didn't
come from the tree, it came from the
perspective of those who were interacting
with it. It can go in more than one way.
It can be that something is better than
it appears, or that shiny object is only
superficially attractive, and how you
interact with it has everything to do
with you.

Life is showing us things all of the time.
The next time something happens that
appears less than desirable, consider
stepping back and looking at it, to see
what it may have to offer you. There may
be many things that are teaching us, but
we may need to step back to observe the
lesson.

Here's to the magnificent trees in
your life. :)

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Perspective & Humor

"You aren't a loser.
You are a character
in an epic poem
about losers."

- from Jon Stewart talking
about Bruce Springsteen's
music @ Kennedy Center
Honors.

What if we aren't anything
but characters in other
people's lives? What kind
of character are you?
 

Sensual Perspective | A Sensual Poem

I came across this work recently...
and thought it might be appreciated.

written by Ayngel Adaams

I stand silently relishing its weight in my hand
before lifting it towards my mouth.

I pause as it brushes my lips, needing to say no,
but I’ve already come too far.

My mouth is flooded with liquid anticipation,
guilty pleasure consuming me.

Slowly I allow it to slide into my mouth where
it comes to rest gently on my tongue.

Still I hold it there until
I can stand it no more.

Silky and velvet smooth, its firmness
surrendering to the warmth of my mouth.

Conforming first to my tongue then
slowly sliding down my throat.

I'll start my diet tomorrow...

(The title of this piece is Sensual Chocolate.
I would have told you sooner,
but wanted to see where your mind went
as you read the words...so where did it go?
Hmmmmm?)