A Moment of Clarity

Recently, I (and my family) were caught spinning carelessly around interstate 70 crossing Kansas on a windy day. I was sleeping-- baby-like without a care in the world-- in the back. What really caused the problem wasn't so much the wind, but the 29 foot Airstream Twinkie that was literally pushing us along. Needless to say, we began careening back and forth. I sat up and from that point everything moved in slow motion. The last words I heard, which by the way could have been my last words heard, were, " Here we go!" I have no idea which direction we went but we ended up facing East on the West Bound lanes. It was a miracle we are still alive and we walked away.

So what could that last moment be like? Does something awe-inspiring or special happen at the end? And how many of those caught in a similar predicament even get to say good-bye. It might just be possible that the end is as uneventful or common as every other moment in our lives. Maybe, just maybe, every moment is just as important and as valuable as the first breath of life or that last breath. So how will I make this moment count. Will I forget about it? Will I let it slip by me without a trace?

How about making this moment count. Not the previous moment, not the next moment, but just this moment count. How would that moment look? Maybe I'll just take this moment and sit here with a big happy grin on my face. Maybe I'll pick up two pencils and pound out a drum beat. I could write a poem! I could hold a yoga pose. I could hug my son or pet my dog. I could keep my mouth shut, or sing at the top of my lungs.

Just for now, I will live this moment. I will look it in the face. I will capture it and make it mine. I will make the most of it. I will revel in it, enjoy it and remember it at a later date. That is. if I have a later date.....

Activity for the Week

This week, stike up a conversation with a stranger near you. This could be a neighbor, that person in line at the grocery store, etc. How is this person like you? Different? In your opinion, would you say this person is lonely?

Now go to the nearest dollar store and purchase an item that reminds you of that person. Keep the item in view for the next week to remind you of that person.

Loneliness statistics

a 1990 Gallop study indicated that about 36% of Americans are lonely. That is more than 1 in 3. These people are our families, friends, coworkers and ourselves. Next time you are in line at the grocery store, take a look at those around you. Out of the three in line in front of you, one is lonely.

Look at your neighbors, you know--the ones next door on both sides and behind you. Someone there is lonely.

Now look in your own home--family--who is lonely? Is it your partner, your child, or you?

Loneliness is an epidemic.