November 14, 2020

Quote of the Week

"Embrace the unexpected. The things we never saw coming often take us to the places we never imagined we could go." -- Anonymous

Embracing Life's Unexpected Gifts

"A few years ago, while end-of-season garden shopping, I discovered a clearance bin full of Tulip bulbs. Exactly what I was looking for. Imagine the color and texture these little gems would add to my horticultural palette. I grabbed a bag, unconcerned by the lack of label or care instructions. To the Internet I went and discovered how to store the bulbs, select the best location for planting, prepare the soil, as well as when and how to plant them. I followed the directions meticulously, sat back and waited to reap the rewards of my labor.

When the Crocuses announced the arrival of spring, I knew I would not have much longer to wait. But the Hyacinths came and went. Then the Daffodils bloomed. Still nothing. Not even a speck of green peeking out of the ground. I was so disappointed and frustrated. I had been so careful and worked so hard. I got angry at the store for selling me defective bulbs. Then I started doubting myself and started wondering what I had done wrong.

About three weeks later I noticed numerous, tender, green shoots sprouting. In a couple of weeks it became clear that these were not Tulips. They were Gladiolas! When they bloomed, there were color combinations I had never seen before. What a welcome surprise! My landscape was enhanced in a completely unexpected way.

Nearly every day we are faced with the unexpected. The significance of these events can range from something as simple as getting Gladiolas instead of Tulips to something as profound as having a child with special needs instead of a child without. The spectrum of feelings associated with these events are not that different…excitement, anticipation, surprise, disappointment, fear, inadequacy, frustration, anger, guilt, joy…however their intensity, longevity, and recurrence are. The manner in which we acknowledge, identify, and express these feelings plays a key role in determining their impact and outcome.

Here are some suggestions for ways to embrace life’s unexpected gifts and allow them to enrich your lifescape." [Read Article]

Reading Corner

Title: Wabi Sabi
By: Mark Reibstein
Ages: 7-10

Why? "Wabi Sabi, a little cat in Kyoto, Japan, had never thought much about her name until friends visiting from another land asked her owner what it meant. At last, the master says, "That's hard to explain." And that is all she says.

This unsatisfying answer sets Wabi Sabi on a journey to uncover the meaning of her name, and on the way discovers what wabi sabi is: a Japanese philosophy of seeing beauty in simplicity, the ordinary, and imperfection. Using spare text and haiku, Mark Reibstein weaves an extraordinary story about finding real beauty in unexpected places." -- Publisher

Be the Change

Take some time to reflect on unexpected turns in your family's journey in recent weeks or months. Tune into an unexpected gift you may have received in the process and how it changed your family in surprising ways.