redpinemountain.com

So Much More Than An Award

Yesterday was a very emotional day for me. I’ve been reading all your responses to my last post and they have touched my heart. And, I woke up to a message from the Rev. Mother Maitri that this blog was her selection for this week’s Compassionate Blogger award. For those of you who haven’t yet discovered Rev. Maitri’s blogs, you are in for a wonderful read. This incredible woman with such a beautiful heart believes in the power of love to change the world. Her gentle writings are full of encouragement and hope and her belief in the power of humanity have been an inspiration to me.

I started this blog last summer essentially to share our life on Red Pine Mountain. Originally, I had thought to focus on the day to day life on our farm but I started to wonder what would happen if I took a risk and started to share myself. Scary thought putting your innermost secrets out there on the internet. But, I decided to take the risk and when I did so I was rewarded many times over. I’ve made many friends, I’ve been blessed with wonderful comments and I have learned we all have our secret sorrows and sufferings. We are bound together not by our differences but by that which makes us human.

And, then I decided to share more. You’ve been with me as I have written about my eating disorder, my clinical depression, my serious illness and the death of my beloved husband. I’ve learned about you as well, my wonderful readers, about your hopes and your fears and your challenges and joys.

None of us is immune from grief, loss and tragedy. Daily problems also wear us down, too little money, children out of control, husbands with whom we disagree, pounds we would like to lose. The list of our struggles is endless and at times they become daunting. We become so wrapped up in what we are not and what we do not have that by the end of the day, we are discouraged, disgusted and want nothing more than to fall into bed and escape the pressures of life. And, there are always problems.

I have not always risen to challenges in my life with grace. There have been times I have been overcome with self pity and anger as well but there is truth in the phrase “with age comes wisdom.” God has sent many challenges my way but He has always been there for me as well. I’ve learned to let go and trust His plan for my life and when I finally let go of all that pain, when I let go of nursing hurts and grudges and looked beyond myself, I discovered infinite beauty.

And, one of the wonders of life is that with each day, we have the chance to start anew. Gone is yesterday, the future is in front of us but we are here in the present, in the now. And I know, in some ways I am preachy, exhorting you to do your best, to enjoy your life, to cherish simplicity and to face life with joy. Each one of you has so much to offer and each one of you has a reason you are here at this moment in time.

So my dear readers, I ask you once again to take the time to enjoy each day and to savor it for it is this moment only that we have. Look at your husband with love, notice your child’s accomplishments, the way his or her face lights up with a small compliment. Let the person in line get ahead of you, work in your community, spend time in God’s beautiful nature. Open your heart, share your light and you will accomplish miracles. And, yes, I’ll say it, together we can change the world one small, loving gesture at a time.

Thank you Maitri for the gift of this award.