Smile, Laugh, Dance
Ah, So many Choices Today!
Wednesday morning and the chill is in the air once again in Florida... just checked my drivers license and yes, I do live in sunny and warm Florida! Here where the tourists come to see our beautiful beaches, bask in the sun and watch the magical dolphins play. Even a self respecting dolphin won't risk jumping in the gulf this morning for fear of getting ice on its dorsal!
Last nights American Idol was filled with tears, cussing and otherwise lack of talent... it left me laughing which is always good for the spirit and immune system, always good for conversation and once again Simon stood to the task of his witty comments! Ah an American Idol without Simon is like a Krispy Kreme glazed donut without a cold glass of milk to be certain...
And to think a reader of my blogs had her first experience of both last night! Sure hope she bought more than one donut... after all who could eat just one glazed krispy Kreme donut I ask you? haha
Bet little Kamryn wishes he could have sold her those donuts for the Radford Rookie's the travelling team!
Lily the Black Bear is resting in her COLD den where it is now -8 degrees! The researchers are still deciding on the name of the little one, and at last count there were a little more than a thousand viewing her on the cam. Last nights' storm knocked out the cam but those kind people have restored it for all of us who are continuing to be "captured" by Lily... I knew you would want to know!
Today my thoughts are of those who have answered the call and have gone or are going to Haiti... it takes me back to the days of 9/11 and being a first responder on the sacred grounds of the Pentagon somehow. Perhaps it is the horror of it all, the devastation and the smells that have been reported of death and tragedy of those left behind and the faces of disbelief.
I am worried about those who are there; the orphans of destruction, those who are grieving and I pray for those who have died... those who were just living their lives in their homeland when in a heartbeat everything changed.
I wonder how long it will take to re-build, to re-establish some sense of "normalcy" differently than ever before for a people who have lost so much so quickly. But I am reminded of the true resiliency of the human spirit and the outpouring of hope in healing and the acts of human kindness and touch that so many are extending. It is in these things that Haiti and its people will rise like the phoenix and find strength to heal and to stand whole again.We must grab onto and hold onto that core belief.
I am wondering what is going to be done for those first responders when they return home... is some of the monies that have been raised by the celebrities on that fantastic telethon being set aside so that they can receive follow-up from trauma specialists? Will their signs and symptoms of PTSD be recognized and attended to when they return to us or will they attempt to return to their worlds, their families as if it was just something they did? Will we hear months or years later of them "going off the deep end" as they have memories of the smells, the experiences, the horror that will prevent them from their lives and their joys as a result of not having really skilled clinicians to walk with them while they discharge and cope with those realities once home? Oh my I have many thoughts this morning!
Perhaps it is because I have been asked to go to Haiti... or maybe it is because I am not able to answer the call this time, my health not being as good as it was at the time of 9/11; my family not as willing to let me go and maybe just maybe it is because I am just not up to the call this time! My heart is there, my prayers are there... But I am unable to go there this time, and for that I am sorry.
In my thoughts today, I will ask all to send their prayers, their energies and their dollars to support those who are answering the call as first responders. They are going to need us; they will need us to appreciate and to applaud their sacrifices, their caring for their brothers and sisters unconditionally by responding to Haiti and its people. They will not know how much they will need us when they come home, but I promise you... they will need us.
Many blessings to you and yours on the Wednesday!
Walk In Beauty,
Dr Sherry E Showalter, (aka, DRSES)
author of Healing Heartaches, Stories of Loss & Life
order your autographed copies at:
or you can now find Healing Heartaches available at:
Amazon and Borders (hahaha)
Please laugh today... even if its at yourself... Life is too short to wear tight shoes or to take yourself too seriously, after all, no one else will!
4 comments:
Great blog as always my dear cousin. I too find the tragedy in Haiti so sad and will continue to keep the people in my prayers as well as all of the people that have gone over to help during this horrible time. I know how you must feel wanting to go to Haiti but you must also think about yourself. God will let you know what to do....He always does~~
I luv you~~
Though the last few blogs were not labled as a "series"....like the "forgotten mourners," ~
they became a series for me. All about balance:
1. If my heart sank while watching the events in Haiti...it could also leap when Lily had her cub.
2. If I watch a hour of sad news on TV...I can also watch an hour of American Idol.
3. If I donate a few dollars to Haiti, I could spend a few dollars on myself.
4. The hardest...balancing caring for ourselves with caring about/for others.
( like you wanting to go to Haiti)
For one of the poorest countries in the world, Haitian art is extremely vibrant, bright, and bold. While one chamber of my heart may cry for Haiti, another chamber of my heart is creating brilliant art, as I hold them in prayer.
Thanks for this mini-series on balance. Will balance my fish & steamed veggies with a little Krisy Kreme doughnut.
Having seen the toll the months of relentless service at the Pentagon took on you my friend, I strongly suggest that you forgo this trip at this time. Your chance to help the first responders will come after they return home in months to come. I am sure you will be there to help them process and heal.As for you going at this time....
bad plan. Need you here to guide and advise us. Send prayers, love caring and enpathy, but no go in person, not now. Our first responsibility is self care. You still have a way to go in rebuilding your health. Be kind to you, rest well and pray often
I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE 9-11 AND THE WORK YOU DID HOURS AND HOURS TO HELP PEOPLE. I WILL ALSO REMEMBER THE TOLL IT TOOK ON YOUR HEALTH AND ALSO YOUR FAMILY WHO WAS THERE WITH YOU TO PEEL OFF YOUR CLOTHES, FEED AND STAND YOU IN THE SHOWER AND PUT YOU INTO BED UNTIL THE NEXT DAY AND IT STARTED OVER AGAIN. I AM THRILLED THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAITI. I KNOW DEEP DOWN IN YOUR HEART YOU WANT TO GO AND I THINK ALSO YOU KNOW YOUR HEALTH MUST COME FIRST SO YOU CAN HELP OTHERS WHO ARE IN NEED AND ALSO YOUR FAMILY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR DECISION TO STAY HOME EVEN THO I KNOW IT WAS DIFFICULT. KEEP ON KEEPING ON.
Post a Comment