It is one of my favorite sounds; someone whistling. It brings such joy to my heart because it reminds me of my grandpap and now of my Daddy. My husband told me once that my Dad was the only person he knew that could harmonize with himself when he whistled. It seems impossible, but honestly, when you hear him whistle, it does sound like he is harmonizing. It's a beautiful sound. I'm sure he learned that from his Dad.
From as far back as I can remember, my Grandpap Rips whistled. We always heard him before we saw him. It was a good feeling to hear that whistle and jump up and run to greet him at the kitchen door.
He was a gentle man that had a silent strength about him. Whistling suited his personality perfectly. It feels kind and light hearted and calm and peaceful, like the kind of man he was and like my Dad is too. I've noticed that my son, Zeke, is a whistler. How that makes my heart sing! I don't know if you'd call Zeke calm and peaceful if you met him, but he's 11 so maybe not on the outside. He's pretty much all kid!!! But once you get to know him, you'd know that on the inside, yes, Zekie is calm and peaceful. He's kind and loving and boy does that kid have a sense of right and wrong; and he'll call you on it. I super love that about it. Standing up for what is right. It warms my heart to hear him whistling like his Pap and great-grandpap before him. If seems like such a joyful sound and perhaps to them, my Grandpap, Dad and son, it helps(helped) them to keep calm and carry on. Maybe without them even realizing it.
Friday, August 28, 2015
Ouch! My Brain Hurts (and my heart).
Recently, I had one of those days when you feel like nothing can go right. My emotions were right there on the brink of overflowing. There are several points throughout the day that I want to share what I was thinking and feeling.
At one point, I was in a meeting where there was discussion about some bullying a student had endured. I started tearing up when I was expressing my thought about the situation. Unfortunately, as I thought about it later, I was kind of embarrassed. I know I shouldn't be, but it is something that people see has weak. I was certainly not being weak. I am just a very passionate person. I feel things very deeply so crying comes pretty easy when I'm emotional. Any emotion - sad, mad, happy, frustrated, or whatever. To quote one of my favorite movies, "Laughter through tears is one of my favorite emotions." You get a gold star if you know who said that in what movie. So anyway, I was feeling a bit silly that people saw me get all emotional. I really wish we could get to a place that being emotional or passionate isn't seen as weak. It's very curious to me because it doesn't initially feel like I'm being weak. Then, I think about it and start to feel that way. It's a societal label. I don't like it. Just sayin', and I'll say it again; I do NOT like it. We should be able to show what we are feeling in our heart without feeling "less" for it. Now, this brings me to another point. What I really need to do, is not let myself feel that way. I do it to myself. I do. I know I do.
As I reflect back on that difficult day, as so many have been lately, I realize I have total control over my experience of those days. Easier said than done. Or is it? All I have to do is change my thought because you know, "Thoughts Become Things"!!! They do. I know that, and I believe that. If I think it, it becomes real to me in my mind. If I don't think it, it isn't there; i.e. the weakness feeling. I'm going to focus on taking back control and not handing over that power to others. I know that will help me "keep calm and carry on."
At one point, I was in a meeting where there was discussion about some bullying a student had endured. I started tearing up when I was expressing my thought about the situation. Unfortunately, as I thought about it later, I was kind of embarrassed. I know I shouldn't be, but it is something that people see has weak. I was certainly not being weak. I am just a very passionate person. I feel things very deeply so crying comes pretty easy when I'm emotional. Any emotion - sad, mad, happy, frustrated, or whatever. To quote one of my favorite movies, "Laughter through tears is one of my favorite emotions." You get a gold star if you know who said that in what movie. So anyway, I was feeling a bit silly that people saw me get all emotional. I really wish we could get to a place that being emotional or passionate isn't seen as weak. It's very curious to me because it doesn't initially feel like I'm being weak. Then, I think about it and start to feel that way. It's a societal label. I don't like it. Just sayin', and I'll say it again; I do NOT like it. We should be able to show what we are feeling in our heart without feeling "less" for it. Now, this brings me to another point. What I really need to do, is not let myself feel that way. I do it to myself. I do. I know I do.
As I reflect back on that difficult day, as so many have been lately, I realize I have total control over my experience of those days. Easier said than done. Or is it? All I have to do is change my thought because you know, "Thoughts Become Things"!!! They do. I know that, and I believe that. If I think it, it becomes real to me in my mind. If I don't think it, it isn't there; i.e. the weakness feeling. I'm going to focus on taking back control and not handing over that power to others. I know that will help me "keep calm and carry on."
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