Through the cold weather, grey days, frustrating conversations, tears and anger I think that coming out the other side of it is a pretty good feeling.
I sometimes wonder how we can make sense of all this life that we're living - what do we do it for?
Since I was small, I always imagined that I would make an incredible difference in the world. Now I'm beginning to realize that incredible differences don't necessarily mean that you move to developing countries and teach them how to find clean drinking water, or establish major organizations for the down and destitute of the world. In fact, this "making a difference" comes from somewhere deeper within, starting with our basic relationships and filtering out into the greater global community.
So, in my search for greatness, I find myself in rural Cape Breton. It's not particularly glamourous. There aren't any good Indian restaurants (or any restaurants for that matter), I can't hear live music whenever I want to, I can't take dancing lessons, or yoga lessons, or even classical voice lessons. I spent a good deal of January and February feeling sorry for myself that I function more like a housewife than someone who can change the world. But. I learned how to make bread. I threw a 50th birthday party for a woman who lives the entire year for her birthday. I inspired a man to draw a picture of a sunrise. I helped maintain a healthy and happy group of people amidst a very hectic time in the community.
And. I have learned (or at least have started to learn) about some serious and raw feelings, about the depth of relationship and the overwhelming need to be able to identify what we need to feel happiness.
Perhaps for a little inspiration - the John Heywood quotation that I've been feeding on...
"If you will call your troubles experiences, and remember that every experience develops some latent force within you, you will grow vigorous and happy, however adverse your circumstances may seem to be."
