Inspiration for Life | Words For Hire

Life is Like A Moon Bounce

August 4, 2008 by Karen Swim

Written by Karen D. Swim

Yesterday, my family gave a surprise party to celebrate my mother’s 70th birthday. The first thing I saw when I arrived on the street was the top of the moon bounce peeking over the top of my sister’s house. (A moon bounce is kind of like an enclosed trampoline, except bouncier.) Now this could make things a lot more interesting! After carrying food and flowers to the yard, I chatted and laughed with family as we waited for the birthday “girl” to arrive.

After 20 minutes, I could no longer hold out and placed my high heel shoes next to the row of tiny sneakers and pink moccasins. Heck, they didn’t have these things when I was growing up and it looked fun. While whooping and hollering it up with the kids and my nutty cousin Lisa (who is my age and crawled in right before me) it occurred to me that life is a lot like a moon bounce.

The window of opportunity is sometimes a tiny opening. To get into the moon bounce, there is a tiny little opening at the top of a small ramp. You can’t just walk up and enter the bounce. You have to walk up (without falling off the side) and then propel or slither your way in under a flap that opens just a wee bit. In life, some opportunities are behind the tiniest of doors. They may not even appear immediately visible. However, when you make it up the ramp and shimmy through, you are pleasantly surprised on the other side.

Bouncing on one side causes imbalance. If you bounce on one side of the moon bounce you risk sliding downward. Bouncing in the middle is ideal allowing you to veer a little to the left, or right with no risk of injury. When you bounce on one side in life (such as work) you risk the other things sliding off to the side.

It’s easier to bounce higher once you have momentum. Once you find your footing and are bouncing up and down, it is much easier to bounce just a little higher without much effort. Sometimes in your life you’re on a roll, or a bounce. You have tackled a challenge or completed a major project and your confidence is pretty high. In those moments, it is easy to get started on a new goal or accept another challenge because you are already in the air.

When bouncing around, keep your eyes alert. While bouncing up and down, me and my nephew decided on flips at the exact same moment. Like two unwiedly underwater acrobats, we dove from opposite directions and collided. Luckily, only his hands smacked me in the head as he landed across me. We collapsed in giggles. Sometimes we are going along in life, bouncing around and out of nowhere (or so it seems) an obstacle collides in our pathway. It’s important to keep your eyes open so that you don’t crash!

After moon bouncing, and later being bounced off the ramp to the grass, I was a little less than ahem photo ready. Life can toss you around at times too. You may fall down, and even get smacked in the head, but nothing that can’t be all forgotten with a little cake!

How, about you? How’s your bounce these days? Are you soaring high or tumbling around? What are your tips for staying grounded while still enjoying life?

This entry is a contribution to Robert Hruzek’s August Group Writing Project, Metaphors for Life. If you would like to participate, there is still plenty of time. The deadline for entries is August 10th. Thanks Robert for allowing me to explore the ongoing hilarity of life with this project!

The Ebb and Flow of Life

July 31, 2008 by Karen Swim

Image via Wikipedia

Written by Karen D. Swim

I closed my eyes and visualized the ebb and flow of the ocean. In my mind’s eye I was transported to the familiarity of the Pacific standing at ocean’s edge watching the tide rise and fall. Seagulls flew overhead and the air seemed to rock with the rhythm of the ocean. I breathed deeply as the cool breeze caressed my cheek with its gentle song. I stood firmly in the sand that shifted with each new wave, sinking deeper as I struggled to remain upright.

Opening my eyes, I shook my head and returned to the ebb and flow of my life. The day had started easily enough but then the phone call had come. Hospital…stroke…now recovering….it will be okay. A violent reality followed by words meant to comfort but seemed only to float beyond my reach. The truth of my tenuous relationship with my family, the worry, the questions invaded my thoughts causing my body to feel the weight.

As life threatened to pull me out with the tide, I dug deeper, determined to hold on. The world beneath me shifted but still I stood.

The night meant to bring rest was filled with tossing and turning. Dreams that taunted me to discover their meaning, faces from my past, sadness threatening my peace of mind. My mind determined to overcome, my legs kicking me awake. I lay quietly in the stillness of the night, the air heavy with anxiety.

At 5 am resigned to start the day, I padded from the bed with swollen eyes. Time for a run to clear my head and prepare to fight the battles of the day. Stepping out into the morning air, I was engulfed with warm air that seemed to swirl and hang before sinking into my skin. I stood still as I waited for confirmation that there was at least a bit of morning coolness. I tilted my head and saw the blue sky and fluffy clouds with patches of dark grey. I sighed as I took off. Let it rain, I would survive. I always have.

How do you manage the ebb and flow of life? Care to share? The conversations are always welcomed wherever they take place. 🙂

Do You Trust Your Instincts?

July 23, 2008 by Karen Swim

Written by Karen D. Swim

The other day I stood in line at an office supply store. It was hot, humid and I was in no particular hurry to leave the air conditioned store. As I waited to pay for my purchase, I turned my attention to the customer at the front of the line. A woman was purchasing a typewriter. I was initially struck by the sight of a typewriter being purchased. I often spot them in offices where people type forms (yes some forms still need to by typed!) but never really noticed them brand new in the store. As I scanned the box, I tuned in to the woman’s conversation. She was questioning the return policy, which was 14 days.

She asked the cashier, who truly seemed baffled by the question, if the 14 day return policy was a recent change. The woman seemed bewildered that she would only be given 14 days to decide if the purchase was right for her. After a 10 minute exchange she paid the cashier and left with her new typewriter.

As I walked to my car, the woman looked at me as she loaded the purchase into her car. Smiling she asked if I had overheard the exchange. She explained that she needed to type real estate forms and her daughter thought she could scan the forms and fill them in but they weren’t sure. She made the purchase just in case but was astonished she would not have 30 days to return it if she chose not to keep it. We chatted for a few moments about her purchase and her business. I wished her luck and headed to my car.

I thought about the woman’s dilemma and wondered how often had I made an investment in something “just in case.” How many decisions did I make hoping they had a return policy?

The woman bought the typewriter but without wholly believing, it was the right solution (which by the way was the right decision). Her questions belied that she hoped the solution would not be needed. She handed over her money but a part of her hoped to get it back. How often had I done the same with my money or time?

I believe something within the woman told her she would need that typewriter. Yet, like many of us, she followed the instinct but held on to her doubt. Afraid to trust her own decision, she wanted an exit strategy, a safe way out in case she was wrong.

“A peacefulness follows any decision, even the wrong one.” ~Rita Mae Brown

Life does not always hand us neat little return policies. Often we must simply choose a course of action and trust that we have made the right choice. Sometimes we will be wrong. There will be no return policy and we may lose something – time, money perhaps even credibility. We can research, question, analyze and agonize but eventually we will simply have to decide. Pick a course of action and see it through. You may fail but you may also make the right choice, just like the lady with the typewriter.

Have you ever struggled to trust your decisions? How did you learn to trust your own instincts?

How to Get Your Groove Back

July 21, 2008 by Karen Swim

Written by Karen D. Swim

It happens to the best of us. Your get up and go gets up and well goes. You feel lethargic and uninspired. Your creative muse hides out leaving you in the lurch. You try to break through the funk but it’s like trying to climb out of quick sand with a rope slathered in Vaseline. No need to fear Batman, you can reclaim your mojo with these three quick tips.

Shake it up. Nothing cures a case of the uninspired than shaking it up a little. Change your dull dreary routine. If you work at home, pack up that laptop and take it to a new location for the day. If you work in an office, take a different route to work, try a new coffee run along the way. Wear a different color or style of clothing. Instead of hopping on the dreadmill at the gym, take a spinning class. Try something new. Little changes in your day or routine can renew your energy and change your perspective.
Level it out. An out of balance life is the number one killer of passion. If your flame has flickered your schedule may be to blame. Have you become all work and no play? Does your family communicate with you only through text messages? Are you sucking down lattes and red bulls to make it through long and getting longer work days? You may be in need of a time out. Block out some time to take a walk in the park, see a movie, get a massage or have a meal with friends (a real meal with real friends, not a microwave meal while you Twitter). Take a day off and play hooky with the family. Now that you’ve had some time away, take a hard look at your schedule. What can you delegate? What things can be moved to “ignore” list? Moving forward, what shifts can you make in your schedule to keep your life in a better balance?
Exercise your gifts and talents. We gain energy by expending it. Gifts and talents that go unused drain your spirit of energy leaving you feeling unfulfilled and tired. If you are in a job that does not make use of your gifts or talents, you may find yourself bored and listless. It may not be practical to quit but you can find creative ways to put that talent to use. Take a class, volunteer, join a group or simply make time to indulge your talent during non-working hours. If your job is really out of sync, make time to work on a career transition. A career or life coach can be invaluable in helping you develop a strategy for major transitions.

From time to time we all need to recharge our batteries. Even when life is going great, breaking up the routine helps to keep us fresh and inspired. If your work and talents are in sync, exercise them in new ways to prevent burnout. Anyone can fall into a rut from time to time but the good news is you don’t have to remain there.

How do you shake off the doldrums? Have you ever discovered a new passion or hobby while trying to shake out of a rut? Share your rut busting stories or tips in the comments. If you have never commented, shake it up a little and offer your thoughts. 🙂

The Sun Always Rises

July 18, 2008 by Karen Swim

Written by Karen D. Swim, Twin Suns Photo by Gracey courtesy of morguefile.com

Twin Suns

“Man cannot command the sun to rise nor the stars to shine
In the darkest of days life will go on with or without you.”

These words echoed in my soul during a particularly difficult time in my life. I was overtaken by a sorrow that I thought would never lift. My days were lived in a fog of grief, and my visibility was limited to one step at a time. It was during this period, that I arrived home one night and exited my car. As the door closed I felt my eyes pulled toward the sky. Stars twinkled against the inky blackness in a brilliance so blinding I had to blink my eyes. I stood by the car staring into the night sky amazed that the stars were there. How could they twinkle when my heart was breaking? How long had they been there without my notice?

And so it was that my healing began. The next day I noticed sunlight on a leaf. My world once again expanded beyond my broken heart. My tears soon turned to fond remembrances. My eyes once again focused on something other than me.

We all go through difficult times. Sorrow and joy, pain and pleasure, life and death. It is the cycle of life which teaches our hearts to revel in the joy of what is good and strengthens us to withstand what is hard. Yet, I have learned to take comfort in knowing that “this too shall pass.” When I doubt, I only have to look up to confirm that life is indeed going on.

This post is my contribution to Liz Strauss’ 25 Words of Work/Life Wisdom project. If you would like to participate, it is open to all. The deadline is July 19th.

So what saith you dear reader? Do you have words of wisdom to offer? Please feel free to share whatever is on your mind. Comments are open and refreshments are free. 🙂

Grocery Store Confessions and Other Wild Tales

July 16, 2008 by Karen Swim

Written by Karen D. Swim

I opened the door and walked into the cool air of the building. As I glanced to the left, I smiled and greeted a woman in eye view. Behind the thick lenses of her glasses, I saw it – that familiar glint. She rushed over to chat. “Hi, how are you?” Her shoulders sagged and she looked at me intently and said, “My daughter is addicted to meth and she’s pregnant.”

A torrent of personal information spilled forth which I shall not repeat here. She took a deep breath when done as though purged and satisfied. I tilted my head to the side waiting for what I knew would come next. As if on cue, her hand flew to her mouth, and her eyes grew wide as she whispered “Oh God, I don’t know why I told you all of that.”

This is a familiar scene in my life. People blurt out their secrets, and then cover their mouth in shock exclaiming, “I don’t know why I told you that! I have never told anyone that. I’m so sorry.” I always respond with empathy reassuring them they have no reason to be embarrassed. We all need someone to listen.
I don’t look like a police officer, and I can’t pull off authoritative if you forced me too. I tried it with NY cabbies and I collapsed into giggles. Yet for some reason a smile and greeting is all it takes for people to pull up the proverbial couch and tell all.

Now, I personally do some goof ball stuff, talk to the mail carrier with soy peanut butter on my chin, fail to realize that my zipper is down (no worries, no one was flashed) or walk into closed doors if I have not had coffee but confess my secrets to strangers? Uh oh, no way! I mean hair sticking up is one thing but raising someone’s hair with my own tales, no thanks!

My magic powers do not end with strangers. I know things. I would tell you but then… well you know the rest of that line. I am the Official Secret Keeper; yep that’s me Grand Poobah of the Vault.

I wonder if I have a glint in my eye that says please tell all. Friends and colleagues have called me Oprah. I do possess mad mediation skills. If there is conflict, I can decompress it in nothing flat, but how have I become the Queen of Confessions. It makes sense (most of the time) when people I know tell me secrets but strangers? These people don’t know me from Adam, Eve. And maybe, just maybe that is the point.
Written by Karen D. Swim

It is easy to confess all to someone who cannot hit you over the head with your own history. A stranger will just listen (or raise an eyebrow and walk away). I am always happy to listen and offer words of encouragement or comfort. I am glad that people find me approachable and somehow sense that I will not rebuke them.

Yet, it also makes me a little sad. I can listen in the moment and hopefully offer words that will help. However, what happens in the days to come when they need support? My friends have me, official secret keeper but what about the people who find themselves confessing to a woman in the produce aisle?

I fear that it is a symptom of our greater need to connect. We have lots of access points but few true connections. Rapid fire email, text and phone conversations are not meeting our needs.

We no longer have “fence neighbors” because we’re fenced in with no time for idle chatter (unless it is done online!). We don’t walk the dog and stop to chat along the way. We have friends but all too often we are too busy to really connect. Instead hurried updates are squeezed between loads of laundry and email.

We are doing ourselves a disservice. It is amazing how wonderful it is to sit and talk, really talk to a friend or loved one without distractions. When we nurture our connections with others we nurture our souls. My friendships have been enriched over the years by sharing. Tears, laughter and prayers have been woven into a tightly weaved bond that holds us together in spite of the miles.

If you have been too busy to connect, take this as your cue. Make some time for friends and family or you may find yourself spilling all to a stranger.

Have you ever confessed to a stranger? Did it help or did you regret it? Has anyone confessed to you? Care to share? The comment box is always open and there is absolutely no charge.