WRITING IS BREATHING

Today I HAD to write. Life has been routine and slow--something I've been waiting forever to say! Treasure the normal days. They don't last. Anyway, I haven't felt much like writing, but I've been reading tons.

Evidently, my creative side has been on vacation since I haven't baked or cooked anything new or tricky, worked on projects, or typed my thoughts in a blog. It goes on vacation sometimes, but always comes back eventually.

I am re-re-reading John Ortberg's The Life You've Always Wanted because I am very aware that I am charting a new life stage and I want to do it right; I want to do it with joy and obedience to my Lord. I've been very slowly structuring my days--exercise five days a week and prep classes for tutoring in an Adult Literacy program. I'm making myself available to my extended family, and trying to be sensitive to the needs of our family seniors.

And, I'm still learning that it is O.K. to live life one thing at a time. Multi-tasking is an option, not a requirement.

SAY WHAT YOU WANT; SAY WHAT YOU MEAN: SAY WHAT YOU NEED

Is it a middle America thing? Or, a Christian thing? Or, a middle America, Christian thing? What's the freaking big deal about saying what you need?

I just had another of those frustrating conversations with a relative who is all stirred up because someone hasn't read her mind! A friend has grown increasingly more dependent and the weight of it has taxed my relative's physical and emotional abilities. Other involved parties have become accustomed to her willingness to help and continue to assume she is willing and able. She is neither. She's physically and emotionally ill-equipped to handle the responsibilities that fall to her, yet she fears it is impolite (?) or improper (?) to state her true feelings...