The title for this week's blog cam from a Maine license plate that my husband and I saw while cruising through the small ocean town of Owls Head which is near our current home. Why did this plate stick out for me? Mainly because it was attached to a car that was in front of us being driven by a person who had absolutely no clue where they were going. The speed limit for the road we were on was 45mph, and the speed of "Moma Mia" ranged from 30 to 50. It was also possible that the driver was attempting to use some sort of GPS system while driving, because keeping the vehicle in the right hand lane was apparently not on the menu. When the vehicle made a sudden left turn, both my husband and I shouted, "Oi! Mama Mia" at the same time... and laughed.
Another sign that caught my attention this week was on a window to the left on the entrance door to our local library; "Make The World Better". I've been pondering this concept all week. How can I make the world a better place? The answer came to me in the form of a book written by Italian author Leo Buscaglia entitled, Love.
That's it, I thought - spread the love. To live in love is the greatest challenge in life. As a human endeavor it requires flexibility, sensitivity, understanding, acceptance, tolerance, strength, and knowledge. One has to become vulnerable, in a positive way, to offer and accept love. In seems in today's society that empathy is gone. Society seems to reserve no place for honesty, tenderness, goodness and concern. It crucified Jesus, got Gandhi shot, beheaded Thomas More, and poisoned Socrates. Any person or thing that moves them to change is fair game.
To cope with what we find and to still live in love, we must have strength. This strength comes from inside. We must recognize only goodness even where evil exists. We must visualize love as the greater force. A loving individual has to care for her / himself. Everything that filters through me and out into the world is beautiful, wondrous, and tender. Love is always in the process of becoming. All life is growing, seeing, feeling, touching, and smelling. Every individual is unique. People need to discover who they are and develop themselves into the best person they can be, whether they are a minister, artist, chef, or business person. It is a blessing that you are different from me.
Be spontaneous; laugh and feel good while you're laughing. Trust your own gut feelings. We need not be afraid to touch, feel, and show emotions. Love is a learned behavior. In our upbringing, some of us were never taught to be a "touchy-feely" person. We have to live now, in the moment, and relate to others the best we can. Everyone has there own beauty. The only reality is here - what is happening right now between you and me. Catch the beauty of each moment to the best of your ability. Every day is also a now. We are adjusting to a staggering number of changes constantly. As a result, you are constantly becoming; adjusting to whatever changes. Each experience is new and/or different in some way. Believe it or not, we are on a fantastic journey - if we have the right mindset.
Dave and I walked down by Harbor Park in Rockland Maine and took in part of the 2017 North Atlantic Blues Festival. There were many people, both locals as well as tourists. We enjoyed listening to the tunes, by the ocean, in a shade-providing gazebo. We also noticed a vast sea of parked vehicles in every parking space imaginable. One vehicle, however, caught our attention. It was an old vehicle from the 1930's and it's style is called a "rat rod". My husband told me that rat rods are certain vehicles (mostly built from the late 1920's through the 40's), that imitate (and sometimes exaggerate) the early years of hot rodding from the late 40's through the 1950's. The vehicles look a little rough ans well as unfinished - at times, they look butt ugly. There was no internet and no after-market auto parts network back then. People used whatever they could and in many cases built their own parts. Another example of living in the now - because it was all they had.
Until next time,
Jill
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