Sunday, January 25, 2015

Washington, DC ~ Twists and Turns

Merry meet Friends,
Michelle here, bringing lots of love and light!

"Life is full of surprises and serendipity.  Being open to unexpected turns in the road is an important part of success.  If you try to plan every step, you may miss those wonderful twists and turns.  Just find your next adventure-do it well, enjoy it- and then, not now, think about what comes next." ~ Condoleezza Rice

"Life is never a straight line, it is full of twists and turns.  The way to lead a happy life is not to avoid them but to embrace them; to find the happiness in them." ~ Warren T.VanderVen

Last weekend some unexpected events happened on many levels.  Those events led to some unexpected decisions.  However life, and not just a gypsy life, is full of the unexpected.  It's the unexpected that can keep life interesting.  Sometimes we wish to know everything ahead of time in order to not be caught unaware or off guard.  Knowing something ahead of time will still cause us to develop our thinking skills but it definitely will not teach us how to think on our feet, as it were.  Embracing the twists and turns as stated above can lead us to our next unplanned adventure, which isn't always physical.  In my case though, the twists and turns have led to an unexpected physical adventure.

I'm in DC with my youngest daughter and I plan to be in NY next with my youngest son, and then in Ohio with a friend.  The word plan is in italics because even though Spirit led me to DC and is leading me to NY next, I must remain open to the turns in the road.  I was planning to visit Ohio but I was not planning to visit DC or NY, it was planned for me, so here I am.  I love spending time with my children when they are together but I enjoy one on one time as well.  So far, Tiffany has treated me to a mani-pedi, and her friend took us to a wonderful restaurant for seafood.  Tiffany had to almost force me to go out to dinner.  Today we're  going to see Into the Woods with Meryl Streep.  For the most part I've been in the apartment using this time to meditate.  In NY, I will be out more because I have friends there so I'm valuing the alone time now. 

We never know where life will take us.  I'm sure many of us have found ourselves in places and situations that we never expected;  illnesses, deaths of loved ones, loss of jobs, divorces, marriages, pregnancies, promotions, travelling, taking care of parents, love affairs, lost of relationships, starting relationships, ups, downs, twists and turns.  We have learned to handle, hopefully, whatever has happened and become stronger in the process.  Read these words and let them permeate:
That's Life
That's life, that's what all the people say
You're ridin' high in April, shot down in May
But I know I'm gonna change that tune
When I'm back on top, back on top in June

I said that's life and as funny as it may seem
Some people get their kicks stompin' on a dream
But I don't let it, let it get me down
Cause this fine old world, it keeps spinnin' around

I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, a poet, a pawn and a king
I've been up and down and over and out and I know one thing
Each time I find myself flat on my face
I pick myself up and get back in the race

That's life (that's life), I tell you I can't deny it
I thought of quitting, baby, but my heart just ain't gonna buy it
And if I didn't think it was worth one single try
I'd jump right on a big bird and then I'd fly

I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, a poet, a pawn and a king
I've been up and down and over and out and I know one thing
Each time I find myself flat on my face
I pick myself up and get back in the race

That's life (that's life), that's life and I can't deny it
Many times I thought of cuttin' out but my heart won't buy it
But if there's nothin' shakin' come this here July
I'm gonna roll myself up in a big ball a-and die
My, my!

"Each time I find myself flat on my face, I pick myself up and get back in the race." - I think that the entire song can be summed up in those words.  We fall down, but we get back up.  It doesn't matter whether we caused the particular thing that shot us down or not.  What matters is that we learn from it and get back up to start again.  I have survived sexual and domestic violence, breast cancer, loss of jobs, an apartment, a car and belongings, and sometimes I think the loss of my mind; BUT through it all, I've learned to trust that Spirit is preparing me to be "back on top in June."  If not June, I most certainly will not "roll myself up in a big ball a-and die."  Frank Sinatra and I differ there.  No, I will "keep on truckin' baby" as Eddie Kendricks sang. 

The wonderful thing about these unexpected events is that I am back to my gypsy traveling, albeit by bus or train.  I'm on a journey regardless and will always be, even when I'm stationary.  It has always been about the inward journey even as I move from place to place.  I see different places and new sights, hear new sounds, discover something new, all within ME!  I am so grateful for this journey and all of the discoveries that are to come.  I don't want to miss the wonderful twists and turns.  I'm finding the next adventure and then, after doing it well and enjoying it, I will think about what will come next as Condoleeza Rice stated in the above quote.
"Your journey has molded you for the greater good.  It was exactly what it needed to be. Don't think you've lost time.  It took each and every situation you have encountered to bring you to the now.  And now is right on time. ~ Asha Tyson

Until next Sunday,
Merry part and merry meet again,
Blessed be,
Gypsi Mama Michelle




1 comment:

  1. “We make plans and God laughs.” (English interpretation of a Yiddish proverb) I used to try to impart that little gem on my mom but she wasn’t having it. She tried to plan every aspect of her life and when those plans didn’t come together she was devastated. She said to me right before she died, “I want to get out and start living but the minute I start enjoying life, I will die.” My response was - well then live until you die Mom. I am a firm believer that our outlook determines our outcome. Life is smoother when we just go with the flow. Que sera sera!

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