THURSDAY APRIL 8TH - THE SPARK

 THURSDAY, APRIL 8TH, 2021 - THE SPARK

The:”Spark”

https://blog.usejournal.com/find-your-spark-4-places-to-look-first-144994d23d32 

So, I found this link and I’ll use some of the ideas:

The author asks these questions to start:(quoted)

- Why do people lose their spark?

- And how do they get it back when they do?

***

He continues with these thoughts: (again, copied and quoted)

- How is it that so many of us feel quite stuck in life and struggle to find joy and contentment in lives that are, for the most part, great?

- I suspected evolution plays a part. We, humans, are inherently competitive creatures, hardwired to be dissatisfied and always keep pushing for more.

- But, I also wondered if it might be because we weren’t paying attention.

- Or, were paying attention to the wrong things.

*****

(Me)  I find the comment about “evolution” interesting.  “Familiarity breeds contempt”.  I get up, and do the same things every day!!!  Before I retired, it was a few of the same things every day - and a lot of new and different things each day.

(Aside).  I felt sorry for my dentist.  Every day he went to his office, put on his rubber gloves, and put his fingers into saliva-filled mouths.  He used about the same tools most days - picks, drills, various compounds.  His subjects couldn’t talk back.  Buzz, buzz, buzz goes the drill.  Did he hear that drill in his head at night?  Did he dream of filling cavities?  

BUT, retirement (at least for me) didn’t have much spark left.  I have dreams of traveling - seeing new things.  I wanted to go to Alaska (the only state I haven’t visited).  I wanted to visit as many of the National Parks that I could.  I wanted to find new and interesting friends.  (Yes, it was me).  My wife was happy in her world and seemingly didn’t want the ‘wanderlust” that I did.  (She had her life and I had mine).

But, God had other plans for me.  I let my body melt - and soon had the major health problem.

Back to the article.

The author suggests these four things to find your SPARK:

-1 Curiosity.  

The author suggests (as I do) - try something new; get out of your comfort zone, get out of your rut.

Let your curiosity start that ‘spark’.  (My curiosity lit not only a ‘spark’, but a consuming fire!!!)

-2 Creativity

Yesterday I talked about creativity and how some education dampens it.  I have done so many creative things since I became Karen.  My walls have my artwork “Love wins”, “In everything give thanks”, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (and more).  

With zoom meetings, I created a “zoom space” in my apartment.  Wandering through a thrift show, there was a cute blue-and-white vertical striped sheet (with the legend “OshKosh b'Gosh” on the bottom”  That became my background.  I found a harvest panel at Hobby Lobby, a Texas Longhorn panel, a copy of Starry Night (by Vincent Van Gogh), a world map.  The posters I created have also graced my zoom space. (Oops - I lied to my friends two weeks ago when I have Starry Night on my zoom wall, and I said I had painted it <grin>!! )

And, though not the same creativity as before, this blog became more personal - and creative!!!

-3 Connection

When I arrived in my apartment, I knew nobody in Georgetown.  (In reality, I hadn’t made that many acquaintances in our previous town.)  I knew I needed friends - so I got involved.  I got the ALCH, bridge group, granny basketball group, and two Bible Studies.  With the pandemic over the past two months, I’ve done substitute teaching.  I became a driver for Faith in Action, I gave rides to seniors - which resulted in two fantastic friends (RP, and MN).  And, through RP I met her daughter PB and family - where I spent Christmas and Easter dinner!!!

I went to the Georgetown Recreation Center and met more people.  And, unfortunately, have lost (at least temporarily) my family and maybe my best friend (TF - from Madison).  

-4 Contribution

I have enjoyed contributing as an early voting clerk; as a substitute teacher; as a life coach; as an active member of some groups.  

In my professional life, I loved my service (aka ‘contribution’) to my discipline - and although this is different, I love being able to share with others.  

*****

So, this week I wrote about the “Spark”.  I’m not sure it meant anything to anybody other than me.  But, it was on my mind and in my thoughts (I guess that is how I write lately!!!)

So, blessing upon my readings, may you let your spark shine, may you love others deeply, and not hate ANYBODY (not even politicians!!!)  “Love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).  “I can only love God as much as the person I love the least” (Dorothy Day). 

And - yes - totally - LOVE WINS

HUGS!!!

Karen

(I’m not sure I can write tomorrow’s blog - it is very deep and personal)