Shine on, then

This morning I had a small maintenance assignment to do. Simple, I hoped. Nothing happened when the light switch was flipped on in the rest room. First guess? Perhaps the fluorescent tubes were burned out. When I checked the electrical power with my tester, energy was still flowing. So my guess was likely right and I proceeded to buy new tubes and install them. Yep. That was it. Light flooded the room anew.

The energy had been there continuously. It was just the mechanism that translated the energy into light that was faulty...burned out.

That's often the case with me. I know I am connected to a Source of limitless energy. And when I'm working right, I translate that energy into light...for myself, my community and the world. Alas, I too often burn out, working hard. (I've very much come to suspect working hard)

I am renewed by things that feed my soul...books that inspire, friends that warm my heart, stillness that re-connects me. Then, I shine again.

Shine on, then...

P.S. Interestingly, fluorescence is the process that changes energy from one wavelength to another with astounding results, as in fluorescent minerals. (translation, if you will)

I Feel Good

“How are you doing?”

“I feel great…how about you?”

Really? Do I truly feel great, or am putting on my game face, not letting anyone else know that inside I am depressed, angry, or at least frustrated?

Well, what about ‘fake it until you make it,’ you ask. If you pretend to feel good, maybe that will help you start to feel good. Nice try, but that has never worked for me. My true feelings seem to override my pretense.

So let me take a step back. What I do know is that I can feel better. Admittedly, it takes some effort. But when I make a break with feeling bad, using anything available to halt the cycle, (like petting my dog, singing off key any song that comes to mind, or just choosing to quiet everything…my situation, my activity, my thoughts) I get a bit of relief. I feel better.

I used to think of myself as a 'big dog' man

Reaching for that ‘better’ feeling does not take me all way to where I want to be. But it does stop my downhill plunge, does lift me out of the depth of the valley, does nudge me up the road from disappointed or bored.

So now if you ask me how I am doing, I may just hesitate a minute, smile and reply, “better.”

About that, I honestly feel good.