Maternal Wisdom: Happy Mother's Day!

When I first found out I was pregnant with my oldest, I rushed to tell my mom.  Her reaction wasn't at all what I was expecting.  Instead of the congratulations or thrill of excitement I had hoped to hear, it was more like, "Wow...well...wow that is something, huh?"

I was disappointed and told her so.   Not until this moment, 6 years later do I truly understand what she said to me in response, "Willo, of course I am happy for you.  Of course I will love this child and be excited to have them in my life.  But I know how much it totally changes a person's life to have children.  I know how your life will never again be the same, never again be totally yours.  I know what a difference this will make to you, good and bad."

Those words seemed harsh at first, but now I see them for what they are-words of pure, true maternal wisdom.  Because motherhood is on of the greatest spiritual journeys, but like any spiritual journey, not without its cost.  Our hearts are mortgaged from then on out.  I give mine gladly in this pursuit and give thanks to the boys that share it with me.

I honor all of you mothers out there and I share this bond with you.  The bond of the wisdom my mom shared with me and that only a mom can have.

It's the Little Things

"4 days mom!"

"Down to 2 days mom!"

"It's tomorrow mom!"

"Today's my hot lunch day!"

That's my oldest, Tucker, counting down every week to his hot lunch day at school. We let him have one hot lunch a week. He gets only one mostly because we feel we can provide healthier food and less waste from home. The added benefit just happens to be that, because it is rare, it is something he really looks forward to every week and doesn't take for granted.

This week Tucker made me realize that I often loose my excitement and gratitude in a pile of over-indulgence. I am going to start taking a page from his book.

I'll take excitement and gratitude any day!

Happy and Free

"May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life today contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all."

English translation of the Sanskrit prayer Lokah Samastah Sukino Bhavantu

If You Don't Got It...

The further I travel down my environmentally friendly path, the more aware I become that it's not just about what I can buy/use, but the biggest impact will ultimately come from my changes in thinking.

Which is why a lightbulb went off for me when I came across an Improvised Life post this week about cultivating resourcefulness. The post mentions the common West Virginia Appalachian saying, "If you don't got it, you don't need it."

Does that strike anyone else as brilliant? I realize I write this as someone with much. But isn't there a lesson for all of us in this resourceful reminder?

Sometimes the best way to come up with a solution is to limit the possibilities. My goal is to take this thought and use it daily to help me give thanks for what I have and do more with what is here.

Cultivating Gratitude

This morning I am giving thanks for this beautiful sunrise out my window.

And the fresh fallen snow that beautifully coats the trees in the last few quiet days of cuddling in front of the fire before the business of Spring.

They are just 2 of the (at least) 5 things I will jot in my journal this morning on my gratitude list. Tonight I will write 5 more. At every meal I will give thanks for the food I have, remember, and pray for those who have little or none. Tonight at dinner each member of my family will take a turn saying something for which they are grateful.

Cultivating gratitude is one of the tools to living simply. Focusing on gratitude for what I have allows me to take my focus after what I "want" and "need." More importantly though, it gives my family something we always have in common, frees my soul, and sets my feet on a happy path.

Frequency

Have you ever noticed how once something catches your attention, it turns up everywhere you look? That's the way it has been for me lately with clean water.

Last week in church, Paul Flickinger, Executive Director of Clean Water for the World (an organization based in Kalamazoo near my home) spoke to us. I know I have heard before how important and scarce clean water is, but this time, it was like hearing it for the first time. As he told us about a child dying every 15 seconds from water-born illness (which, ironically, the cure for is often clean water) and the fact that 1.1 billion people lack access to clean water, a little voice inside of me called me to action.

Since that talk less than a week ago, I have heard about clean water 3 or 4 times, on NPR or through emails from water.org or 350.org. I see these as God's whispers urging on that little voice inside of me. I am listening to the voice and the whispers.

A group of friends has agreed to work with me to raise money for a water purification system (made right here in Michigan). We are a group of mothers who want to help other mothers not lose their children to preventable illness. We are people who have much (in that we have clean water at all) and want to give back.

I don't know if that little voice inside of you stirs at all when you read this. But if it does, please think about doing something. There is so much that can be done-from raising money for a purification system (our group is doing garage sales, lemonade stands, and coin collection at playdates to get our kids involved), to volunteering with an organization in your area, to looking at your own water consumption and finding ways to reduce and reuse.

I know there are so many issues that feel so huge. I know that 1.1 billion sounds like an overwhelming number. But I also know that doing my part to help hundreds feels really great. I hope you are finding that same feeling by helping others and I would love to hear how.

The Path of Good: Resale Shopping

I have mentioned before my fascination with the path of good and the way one always seems to find more good when it is followed. Lately, I have been thinking about this in regards to resale shopping and budgets.

Like many others, my family is trying to tighten the belt and watch the cash flow. One way to do this recommended by many financial experts (Dave Ramsey , probably being the most notable) is to use cash to pay for things. We have adopted this method, carting our envelopes along in the car to stay on budget and try to teach our boys that money does not magically appear out of robot-like machines whenever we demand.

While doing this, I noticed how convenient it is that many of the ways I now shop since I started trying to buy little new, accept cash only (or it is certainly more convenient). Garage sales, Craigslist, thrift stores, antique stores, flea markets, all are most handy with cash. Sometimes you can even get a better deal with cash in hand.

Is it pure coincidence that this way of shopping that is already better for the planet and my pocketbook follows good financial sense? I don't think so. I think (like with everything else, it seems) our grandparents knew what they were doing here-following the path of good straight to financial freedom.