January 19, 2009

The Big Puzzle!



I just got through reading a blogger friend’s entry whereas, she mentioned “Sometimes you need all the pieces of the puzzle to get the full picture. Withholding any one piece leaves you depleted, without depth...incomplete.” (Indigo) Kudos to Indigo! She is an amazing author with so much talent.

That one sentence rented space in my head for days and it is so true, we are all like a piece to a big puzzle. My blogger friend was relating this word to her childhood and personal issues but the word “puzzle” would not leave my mind for some reason.

I later found myself searching for graphics relating to “puzzles”, so I knew the word was not going to leave my brain anytime soon.

We all are in such an anxious world now. There is no question that uncertainty seems to have increased dramatically in the last few years. It certainly has left me a basket case! I’ve always been a worry wart when I was younger raising my children on my own being both mother and father to my children and trying so hard to make all the right decisions. Now so much more to worry about, terrorism, war, people losing jobs, people hating the jobs they are in, the stock market crashing daily. We worry about the dangers confronting our children and future generation. It just goes on and on and on.

Sometimes, it is so hard to cut off negativity in my mind. I know I can’t be the only one that feels this way. I try to control what I can and it is so hard to let go of what I can’t. I was taught to take action and control to stay empowered. Now, doctors advise to let go of what you can’t control in order to reduce the stress that drains you because it raises your blood pressure. Yeah, and my blood pressure was surely on the rise!

Has anyone tried meditating? It is not all that easy to do. I have mastered it a few times and it does have a calming effect. Journaling helps me focus on major things and also small things. I guess I can’t sit still long enough to meditate. A dear friend of mine gave me a CD to listen to….it had no words…just sounds of bells, chimes and I tried so hard to listen and close my eyes and wait for a calming feeling in order to go to sleep, as my insomnia has plagued me for years but no such luck.

Well, just listening to the News is enough to make anyone a wreck with all the big name stores closing and more massive layoffs……scary. Even our President Elect states that this will take a long time to correct all these very serious issues our nation is facing.

But, I am an optimist, like most Americans and I believe we will get on from this crisis to a better America. My parents and their generation came through the Great Depression and we too, will come through this economic turmoil. I believe that our new President and his carefully selected cabinet will do what it takes to get the country back on track because we, the American people will not accept anything less. We also know that it can’t happen overnight even though we would love it to happen quickly. We are strong Americans!


Big Inauguration Day tomorrow! I know I will be glued to the T.V.!


15 comments:

  1. Rose, I'm an optimist, too. I know it's not going to be easy, but I believe that we'll get through this mess as a country. After all, what's the alternative?

    Hugs, Beth

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  2. Dear Rose,

    I adore your blog! Yes, I too agree we are in turmoil. One would have to be in an altered state of mind not to know. I too pray for the safety of our new President and his family, I unfortunately have the same negative feelings about some of the nuts in our Nation.

    We need a great turn around and this mess did not happen overnight, nor will it be "fixed" with one great sweep of his hand. I think his choices for Cabinet are an amazing array of minds.

    Alli

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  3. There are way too many issues we could worry about today, but I try not to watch the news too much, just enough to be informed and truly just leave all those worries in a basket and give them to God. Prayers help for sure. I love to read and that is my relaxer. I try to always read something uplifting or funny. I found years ago that worry was a downward spiral and served no purpose at all, so I try not too. I'm not always successful, but I work hard at trying to find the bright side of life. 'On Ya'-ma

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  4. Like you, I agree....we'll get thru this.

    Have a good week.

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  5. I just love your new hairdo, I wish I knew where to go to get mine cut just like that.
    Sandra

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  6. We will makie it through it, but not before many of our 'get it done now' want to change the course because someone has a faster way. We are a 'fast food', ATM, overnite delivery mindset. Someone can say we are in for a long haul, but we won't believe it. We want the silver bullet to fix it all. Boy I wish we could do that way. And yes, most of us worry about somethings we can do nothing about.
    Thought provoking entry., Jacki

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  7. Hi Rose. I think most of what we read in the news is effect, result, not cause. It's hard sometimes to read between the lines and behind the lines to ferret out what is really happeneing. But it is a different country than it was during the big depression. Communication is swifter, people are better informed and, as we have seen from the last election, the old, entrenched theories are not all still hanging from the flag pole. The spirits of Roosevelt, Kennedy and King still walk about and that's enought to make me optimistic.

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  8. When I was a little girl, we always had a puzzle going on a card table. My grnadmother, mum, sister and I would work hours on it together. Mummie always said doing a puzzle helps to settle your mind and as the puzzle pieces slwoy fall into place, the picture, the answer comes. Our nation is indeed in a mess. It was years in the making and will not turn about overnight. I believe in prayer and pray for Mr.Obama, his family and that G-d will not only protect him, but give him wisdom.

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  9. I love the fact that something I have said stays with dear friends. It's a new day for us dear one, the tide is changing once again. Can on man do it, no...can a nation behind that man bring about the change...without a doubt. (Hugs)Indigo

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  10. I too grew up with a enormous puzzle on the dining room table, we as a family would put it together piece by piece as did Mark and Elayne. We never rushed it and we did enjoy the process, somedays we did nothing to add to the completion either because we just couldn't find the right piece or because we simply didn't feel like it. None the less it was alway there for us. Being a little short on money a lot of the puzzles we had were missing a few pieces, but that was all right because we could always see the full picture.
    There is a lot to be said about puzzles, you can work it out alone or have help even if it is only one small piece. And to top it off when you are done you can just start a new one, there is always another one waiting for you..

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  11. One day at a time, one prayer at a time.
    Hugs, Joyce

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  12. I find myself stressed sometimes without even realizing it. The bottom line is that most worries are usually resolved without much fanfafe and the worrier has carried the burden for no reason.

    Sit back, have a drink with Johnny and let the traffic pass. Things will resolve themselves with or without your fretting.

    Jimmy

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  13. I find that when I walk, I meditate. I can't sit still long enough to meditate the "old fashioned" way.

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  14. Hi Rose =). I have learned how to do transcendental meditation. It's wonderful for my pain. I try to be an optimist. Sometimes it is hard. I hope you are having a good weekend, honey. Love, Val xox

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