Over the weekend I attended a fabulous concert by the band Fitz and the Tantrums. It was a sold out show and the venue was general admission, standing room only. This means lots of people (many drunk or otherwise inebriated) crammed together enjoying the music.
We purposely arrived early to the show so that we could get a choice spot to stand. Mid-way through the concert, a woman forcefully barged in between me and another woman, shoving us both to the side.
The secret was kept by many.
8 boys were sexually abused by Jerry Sandusky, former Penn State assistant coach over a period of approximately 14 years.
What is also upsetting about this case is that the crime was witnessed by another adult and reported to superiors– allegedly including head football coach Joe Paterno, among others who were in positions to take action.
It is incredible to imagine that this abuse was allowed to continue for so long and that Sandusky was not stopped.
There are many possible reasons why secrets were kept at Penn State…
When I log into my Facebook page this time of year, I am especially inspired by my friends who post the things in their lives for which they are grateful. Many people declare their gratitude for their precious family and friends. Others share that they are grateful for a sunny day.
In a moment of calm, those aspects of our lives that make us feel so abundant, loved, cared for and happy are prominent and easy to see. It is such a powerful practice to shine a light of awareness on those people and things in our lives for which we are grateful.
What is my destiny? What is my purpose in life?
These are BIG questions that run through my mind from time to time. As I go through my life, I sometimes wonder if there isn’t something more I am “supposed” to be doing. Is there some important path in life that I have neglected, ignored or by-passed?
Maybe this is just a mid-life thing or perhaps people of all ages ask themselves similar questions.
The idea that there is some higher purpose or destiny in one’s life is present in movies, books, television shows and stories of real people’s experiences.
What does accepting– even loving– your body have to do with what really matters in life? Why is feeling beautiful important anyway?
After all, wars are being waged, people are losing their jobs, people are starving and suffering, the Earth is changing in many worrisome and scary ways…
Aren’t those the really important things?
When I get all caught up in feeling less than lovely, I start to feel embarrassed. It seems somewhat narcissistic and self-obsessed for me to be stressing out and consumed by my negative perceptions of how I think my body looks.
The wave rushes in, covering my feet in cool wet. As the water recedes, it takes with it sand– some of which I was just standing on. The sensation of ocean sand shifting beneath my feet is pretty amazing. When I stare down at the water-sand-flesh action going on, I sometimes feel dizzy and sway a little bit.
On my recent vacation, I thoroughly enjoyed feeling the sand shift beneath my feet as the cold Pacific Ocean moved water and sand in and out with the waves.
What a simple, natural phenomenon such as this offers me is a lesson in groundlessness.
You might not think of the culture here in the U.S. as devoid of fun and frivolity, but I think that it is. Look around and you might see all kinds of people doing all kinds of things that seem light and jovial…but, if you look a closer, this isn’t necessarily the case.
You see, there’s a huge difference between truly having fun and merely numbing out through entertainment.
Many of us seem to live in this impossible contradiction of wanting to do something important and valuable with our lives but then craving some outlet or sense of escape.
I’m learning to appreciate the curves
…of my body.
The lumps, the bumps, the peaks, valleys
and the rough places too.
This curvy, shapely, not-thin body of mine
is rounded and full of past, present and future.
It speaks of pain, joy, shame, ecstasy, birth and life.
It tells tales of first touches– some rough and painful, others tender and sweet.
It narrates the story of me, up to this point in time.
How can I do anything else but appreciate this body, this me?
I’m learning to appreciate the curves
…of my life.
In last week’s blog post, I described what a double exposed moment or life is like and I laid out some of the potential hazards of this (usually) unconscious reaction.
Those double exposed moments are when the past and present fuse together in a weird and sometimes painful amalgam in the mind.
They literally alter a person’s experiences. The reactions that come from this confusing fusion can be anger or defensiveness that doesn’t seem to fit the situation or could involve an emotional withdrawal or shutting down.
The effects to a person’s relationships and ability to attain goals can be negative.
Have you ever had a double exposed moment? Perhaps it feels like you’re living a double exposed life!
“Double exposure” is a technique used by some photographers. The result is the superimposing of two images on top of– or to the side of– one another. It is usually done intentionally to gain a particular effect. Pretty cool art!
There are far too many times in my own life when I feel as if I am having a double exposed* moment. It is as if I am speaking and reacting to some person or situation from the past and NOT speaking and responding to what’s going on right here and now.
