Skip to main content

Year Three, Day 110: I Like Change, But How Do I Help the Suffering?

I woke up in a bit of a panic this morning. I had planned on getting to the track by 6:30 a.m., because I thought today was the first day of school. You see, the public is not allowed to use the track when school is in session. Understandably so.

But alas, I overslept! I still headed out with my hoop, hoping it was before school hours at 7:30 a.m.

And I breathed a sigh of relief. The school looked vacant. And only one solitary jogger with her solitary dog was present.

I got busy in case the kids were due to arrive. Got a nice hoop workout in. No sign of children as I walked back to the house.

So I did what I should have done in advance. I consulted Google.

And most happy am I - North Clackamas School District does not start back to school until September 6th! Portland Public Schools start today.

But the elementary school next door to the track lists "student hours" as 7:45 - 2:00 p.m.

So I really am going to have to get an earlier start next week. I am aiming for 6:30 hoop start time.

It will be good training. My granddaughter is due to arrive soon. I will need to get up at the crack of dawn - or even earlier - in order to hop on a bus to Vancouver to visit and then make it back in time for my church office job. Thankfully I do not begin fall term piano lessons until the first week in October!

October! I can't believe that month is approaching. I do love the fall!  Cooler weather. Rain! The changing colors of the leaves.

I like change.

Speaking of which, since I got out the door quickly this morning, I had time to run up to Safeway and get food for lunch and packing on the bus. Plus a grande Americano coffee with steamed almond milk from Starbucks.

Cooler weather and hot coffee go together quite nicely, me thinks!

This is my before coffee face



This is my after coffee face! :)


I was so pleased when I went to pay for my purchases at Safeway.  The debit/credit card reader had an option to donate to Hurricane Harvey relief! Just think, if we all donated $1 each time we shopped, how that would add up!

I read that the sun broke through the clouds in Houston today.  The waters should begin to recede soon. But the rebuilding has just begun.  So many people will return home to find everything gone. My heart goes out to them.

And in other parts of the world, flooding is even more catastrophic.  I read about the flooding in India, Bangladesh and Nepal.  So much suffering. I would like to donate to these people to. I will do some research and find the best organization.

All lives matter.

http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/08/29/547002884/epic-floods-not-just-in-texas-are-a-challenge-for-aid-groups

It is hard for me to be carefree and happy when I know how others are suffering.

I hope to find a way that I can make a difference some day. In the meantime, I will just try to be kind and mindful in my own little corner of the world. Be a good teacher, a good pianist, a good mother, a good grandmother, a good administrative assistant, a good neighbor, a good friend, a good daughter and a good citizen.

But my heart is breaking for all the people who have less.  I think I am going to get busy and knit a bunch of hats on my round loom.  When it starts to get cold in Portland, there are always cold people at bus stops. I like to pick up a bunch of gloves from the Dollar Tree and hand them out. It would be nice to give out hats too.

Why do I still feel this deep, heavy ache in my chest? Like nothing I can do is enough?

Speaking of suffering, it sounds like Portland is due for another heat wave next week.  And more smoke filled air.

But at least we do not have hurricanes and floods.

And I do have a lot of joy in my life.  My newest joy is hooping!  Starting the day outside, exercising, moving and knowing I am improving my health is a total upper!  I have my family. I have a new granddaughter on the way.  I have wonderful students. And friends who I make music with. I have good jobs. I have a lovely, safe place to live.  I have my freedom. I have my faith in God.

I need to resurrect my attitude of gratitude. Doom and gloom helps noone!

On that note, I wish you a happy Wednesday!

Talk to you tomorrow,

Love,

Zita

p.s. Today is Day 76 of my daily hooping experiment! Most proud am I!





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Year Four, Day 328: Success at Last!! This is What I Do

Hello My Long Lost Friends! Or, perhaps it was I who was lost? And now I think I am beginning to find myself!  Under layers of fat, and self loathing!  How's that for an opening line!  Or perhaps the title of a novel:  Layers of Fat and Self-Loathing! Today I stepped on the scale.  I am weighing myself every morning these days. I was shocked! I told my partner the scale must be broken!  Yesterday I weight 186. Today 185! I have been on a strict intermittent fast for the past 10 weeks. I have officially lost 12 pounds!  And the best news is I think I not only can stick to this way of eating, I am actually beginning to really enjoy it!  And look how far I've come! I've been writing since May 12, 2015.  Over 8 years now!  I know this blog post says Year Four, Day 328, but there have been many pauses in blogging. For instance, when I am not pleased with progress or simply have no words! I was 53 when I first began blogging. I am now 61. I honestly feel better than I did 8 years
Post a Comment
Read more

Year Four, Day 335: "Crisis Fatigue"

Hello Friends! I have missed you! I have been so utterly exhausted and downright depressed, that I couldn't summon enough energy to even lift my fingers to this computer keyboard to write.  Apparently there is a mental disorder for people going through crises.  Crises such as pandemics, systemic racism, political division, unemployment, police brutality, civil unrest.... It's called "crisis fatigue". When humans are presented with a threat, adrenaline is released to give us quick energy. This is called the "fight or flight syndrome". But when threats are overwhelming, and perceivably continuous, like this year, it overwhelms the system. People can feel numb, depressed, anxious and irritable. Yup. That's me.  I guess I'm quite normal after all! I found an interesting article that describes crisis fatigue, especially in relation to current events.  But it doesn't really address how to take care of ourselves during these unsettling times!
1 comment
Read more

Year Four, Day 247: What Happened in Vegas...

  Expectations can be brutal. Especially when reality dashes them against the rocky shores of our souls. How's that for an opening line? I was so excited about my recent trip to Las Vegas.  I haven't travelled anywhere in so long. I do believe I have been bit by the travel bug.  I want the freedom to go places I have never been, see things I have never seen and experience life as a stellar adventure! My kids are young adults with families of their own.  I have my role as Zma, as Teacher Zita. But I am on a quest to find Zita. She's hidden someone deep inside. Covered in layers. Like an onion. I like the onion analogy. Notice the outermost layer of an onion - dry  and papery. As you peel off layers, the inside is juicy and sweet. I have paid my dues of sacrifice, shame and self deprivation.  What I want now is to embrace the life I have remaining. Have you seen the life pie chart? I don't know where I read this, but it stuck with me.  Draw a circle.  And then divide it i
3 comments
Read more