Different Kinds of Waiting

The interesting thing about trying to wrap my head around 6-hours of alone time (be still my introvert heart), is the growing realization that “someday” could actually have more time/focus/brain cells than I have now.

You see, I’ve subscribed for a while to the ‘if not now, when?’ and ‘if you want something done, give it to a busy person,’ ideas. I’m home with three kids, have been for six years, and expect to be for at least ten or so years more. If something is going to happen (like spinning, or writing a novel, or learning how to cook) it’s going to have to fit in now, because there’s no saying it will fit in better in a year or two.

And I think this can actually create anxiety.

Maybe depression?

Because I am so acutely aware of my limitations. They are so disappointing.

Add to that the growing awareness of needs around me, and I am left not only with a conviction I shouldn’t add anything more (like a dog or milk animal)– no matter how much I want it– but also face the question of how much I can/should keep doing what is already ‘on my plate.’

Image courtesy of Sanja Gjenero via stock.xchng

All those motivational types encourage diving in and doing now.

And just now, just for me, I’m finding that maturity looks a bit more like waiting. Not ten years, but maybe three months.

Three months is not so painful.

It’s like waiting till the end of your engagement, instead of waiting (and wondering) if you’ll ever get married at all.

Because that long sort of waiting has always seemed like a no to me. And when I’m already living with the conviction that the right answer– the answer that includes my obedience– is yes, I’m left with trying to figure out the how.

And, yeah, I think the how is different for everyone. But I’m starting to get excited about what my how could be in a few months– even if it’s just for one semester.

Beginning Storytelling Part 1: Pick your story

The important part in story-choosing is to read long enough to know the difference between the story that grabs you, some people say it begs to be told, and the story that repulses you.

There should, of course, be many stories in between these extremes, but once you’ve had both experiences, you will better be able to set what you read on the spectrum.

Loads of stories aren’t stop-your-heart or change-your-life amazing, and that’s okay too.

You might compare stories to homemade dinners: one day you manage to recreate the best meal you’ve ever eaten in a restaurant. It’s just as good as you remember, and everyone loves it.

But everyone loves meatloaf, too; and pizza, and grilled-cheese sandwiches.

(Actually, I’ve never really liked grilled cheese sandwiches, but my kids do, and they’re easy to make, so I do.)

Sometimes you pick a story for someone else, like I give my kids grilled cheese, and as long as it’s a gift of love, that’s fine too.

The main thing to look out for in such situations is that you still invest in making the story as good as it can be.

What you can’t get out of, get into wholeheartedly.
Mignon McLaughlin

Continue reading »

Basic Storytelling & Story Collecting

Storytelling is as simple as a, b, c.

Just three parts:

  • To start with, you need to choose a story.
  • Then, you need to get it inside you somehow.
  • Finally, you need to get it out again, into someone else.

That’s about it.

For some of you that’s all you need to get to work.
I applaud you.
For the rest of us, the following posts will dig a little deeper.

Picking a story is nearly as complicated for me as the other parts, but just finding stories to choose from doesn’t have to be. Here are some on-line links and suggestions of stories that I have found useful. Continue reading »