Tree

I love this tree. This tree is in Placerita Canyon in Santa Clarita or Newhall or somewhere like that. I think it is really amazing how the trunk splits from the base and the branches reach out in all directions. This tree takes up a lot of space in the world. Also, there was a bird house perched on a branch, which I thought to be both fun and unexpected.

Forgiveness

Two Friends Were Walking Through The Desert.

During Some Point Of The Journey, They Had An Argument;

And One Friend Slapped The Other One In The Face.

The One Who Got Slapped Was Hurt,

But Without Saying Anything, Wrote In The Sand:

Today My Best Friend Slapped Me In The Face.

They Kept On Walking, Until They Found An Oasis,

Where They Decided To Take A Bath

The One Who Had Been Slapped Got Stuck In The Mire

And Started Drowning, But The Friend Saved Him.

After He Recovered From The Near Drowning,

He Wrote On A Stone:"Today My Best Friend Saved My Life ".

The Friend Who Had Slapped And Saved His Best Friend

Asked Him, "After I Hurt You, You Wrote In The Sand

And Now, You Write On A Stone, Why?"

The Friend Replied "When Someone Hurts Us

We Should Write It Down In Sand,

Where Winds Of Forgiveness Can Erase It Away.

But, When Someone Does Something Good For Us,
We Must Engrave It In Stone Where No Wind Can Ever Erase It."

I received this story in an email... I don't usually forward things, so I thought to post it on my blog instead.

I have been struggling lately with hurt and forgiveness and this story really touched me. Now, I can't wait until the winds of forgiveness blow my sadness away like sand.

Stairs

Caleb and I ate at this Mexican restaurant Wednesday night. The salsa was spicy, the ambience was dark and fun, and the bathroom was situated right next to these mysterious stairs. I snapped a picture and let my imagination go wild as to what could be up them. The rich burgundy of the carpeting and the texture of the walls reminds me of an old hotel, with a rich past. Wherever they may lead... they are dark and mysterious and amazing. Maybe I'll go back to that restaurant and sneak up them. Maybe some adventure will ensue... it always worked in the movies.

Sitting in a room with a bunch of old people...

...seems like a lame way to spend a Saturday. But surprisingly- it's not! I had my second workshop for the Literacy program on Saturday and it is going great. I really like learning the phonics program, but more than that, I like learning about the different learning disabilities that people have. I like learning how the teacher can overcome these to help the learner. I was always a good student growing up. I understand that I was very lucky in that way. I have the kind of memory that just retains what I hear and read without a lot of extra effort. To be able to see and understand the world through someone else's eyes is an amazing gift. To take that gift and hopefully use it to help someone is so rewarding. I can't wait to meet my learner and begin this amazing journey.

Learning to learn to read...

I did a lot of soul searching over the holidays this year. I have been trying to grow more... rediscover who I am anymore, who I want to be still. More on that later...

For the past 5 years, something that I have consistently said is, when I don't have to work anymore, I am going to create a foundation that helps people. Usually I work up some kind of homeless outreach program, briefly discussing how change is something that has to be desired. You can't make someone change... but when they're ready- I'll be there for them. That's what I say.

So, back to the soul searching. I realized, when looking at my life... that although my life's desire is to start a charity foundation, there is very little volunteering going on currently. So I googled volunteering in Burbank and found the website VolunteerMatch.org.

That is how I found the Literacy program that I will start volunteering for tonight at the Burbank Public Library. Tonight I will attend a 3 hour workshop to introduce myself to the staff and to begin learning the Phonics program that I will teach. I am nervous because this is stepping out of my box, meeting people I might not have before. I am excited because I believe this is something that will help give my life more meaning. I believe that when you help others... when you give of yourself to someone else, enriching their life will also enrich your own.

Yikes!

This will be my first entry. I have never had a myspace. I have never kept a diary for more than a few days at a time. This intimidates me. Opening my head and my heart and putting it onto paper... or screen, or whatever. I hope that I have something worthwhile to say. But even if I don't, I will take this chance. I will climb aboard, thinking, feeling and leading... no longer just along for the ride.