Change is in the Air

Change is literally in the air...it is cold. This morning heading out for the walk I was struck by a cold slap to the face. After retreating back and searching for the hat and gloves, I pressed on. But it was still cold.

Yesterday was cold and rainy (though it didn't rain on me), today was cold and clear, tomorrow...well who knows for sure. That's the thing...change is always...well...changing. The leaves that once were so green and lush now crinkle under foot. Cars were actually were covered with icy frost when yesterday they looked like they were going to float away. Yesterday the clouds seemed to be hovering over the ground...so much so that it was hard to distinguish the land from the sky. Change really is changing.

Because today was so cold and clear, I could look up into the sky...albeit a completely black sky. But there like pin holes through a black sheet, the stars that make up the constellation Orion. I remember the first time I ever put those stars together like a "dot to dot" drawing. There was his belt and his bow just glaring out at me as a young kid. All the times I had seen it before it just looked like a random pattern of stars. But once someone pointed it out to me...well I just got it...I saw it. I have seen it ever since. I have been in Europe, Central America, South America, and all three countries of North America..and in every place...I have seen him. There he is...aiming that bow...pointing it maybe at the scorpion that legend says took the great hunter down. He never really changes...oh his position and direction may change...but he remains the same.Sooooooooo....what your telling me is that somethings change (like the weather)...and some things stay the same (like Orion). Someone said the the more things change the more they stay the same. But it seems change is always changing, and same is always same. There is a constant in all things, but there is a change in all things. I think I like it. Change is in the air...but there is air.

Stuck in Your Head

Ever have one of those songs in your head...you know...those songs. Now sometimes you get a good song stuck in your head. But sometimes...its a song you are so embarrassed to even mention it. This morning...I had that kind of song. It was one of those days.

If I tell you, you can't think of me less (how could you think any less of me)...PROMISE?????

The artist (if you could actually call her that) was once a part of another embarrassing duo...okay it was Sonny and Cher. The song...Cher's famous hit..."Gypsies Tramps and Thieves." Now I'm not embarrassed because of the content of the song...but by the quality. It is a terrible song...and why was it in my head? And it was only those four words kept going over and over and over again in my brain. It rattled me out of bed this morning. Even though I wanted to skip out on walking this morning...that song HAD to be exorcised...er...exercised...out of my head.

As I walked along this morning, listening to Dave Matthews...that song slowly slipped out of my brain. It was as if the negative music needed some quality and good...to erase the bad. It really reminded me this morn about one of my favorite quotes from a guy named Paul. He said whatever might be true and noble and right and pure...if you see anything that is excellent and lovely and admirable and praiseworthy...let your mind dwell on these things. So when you get a song stuck in your head...make sure its a good one. Cause "GT&T" really sucks and does not fit any of those definitions my friend Paul spoke of.

Wow...How Does This Happen

Why is it that the things we know help us the most are the things we often give up doing. Let me explain.

I have a bad back. Any one who knows me well knows I have always been an overly hard worker...especially in my younger days as a carpenter. I was always the dirtiest guy on the job cause I felt like at least the bosses could see that at some point during the day I was doing something (even if it was rolling around in the dirt). When we needed to carry large loads of wood, I always tried to carry one or two more boards than everyone else. I didn't need to, but I wanted to prove that I was a valuable asset to my boss...and rarely in all the years I work as a carpenter did I not have work as a result.

But you know, when you turn 54, all of those extra studs, tons of sheets of plywood, and 4x12 headers seem to have taken a terrible toll on my back. Most days it hurts a little and most days it gets stuck in an awkward position, which makes it difficult to stay active. This unfortunately has been a detriment to my overall health as I find myself not wanting to do a lot of exercise...which makes it difficult to stay in good physical health. It's sort of a downward cycle...sore back...less exercise...less exercise...sore back...etc etc.

So for the last three weeks, I have had a really sore back. It makes it terrible to get down on the floor with the grandkids, tough to want to do projects around the house, and sitting for long periods of time can be really difficult. During that time, I have not walked once, not gone to the gym, and not eaten right...all of which makes everything feel worse. It makes me feel fat and out of shape and begins to effect my overall view of myself and the world around me.

But this morning...enough was enough. Had it. Over it. Nada! No Mas! Finis. I got up and walked. Not to the bathroom or the kitchen...on my 3 mile loop. I was in so much pain for the first halh mile or so, but then my back began to loosen up and I could feel my stride lengthen and my speed increased. Up the big hill and soon I was singing and feeling like Rocky as he topped that set of Philadelphian stairs. I was alive and well and doing great. No more limitations and no more pain. Wow...why didn't I do this earlier?

You know, all of us have something that holds us back from doing the things we know we need. We all have those things that we know if we would just do our lives would just work better. It might be eating, reading, worshiping, praying, loving, sharing, writing, or any thousands of things. We know we'll be better for it...but...sometimes the pain just feels too...well...normal.

Today...why not do something you know you need...but like me...you've been avoiding. Go on...just do it. Now doesn't that feel better.