Tuesday February 2 2016  A DAY TOO BEAUTIFUL TO MISS

Have you ever talked to someone and they say to you, “oh, what an awful day”?  And when you ask why, you find out it is because the sun is not shining, or it is raining, or overcast, or cold, or snowing, or…or…and the list can go on.  I NEVER consider whether the day is a good day or not because of the weather.  Actually, I have learned to never allow the conditions around me, the circumstances, the weather, or what someone has said to me, determine what my day is like.  I discovered this secret early in life.  If my day was circumvented by all the situations, people, words, weather, news, pain, or work I had to do, I would never have any WONDERFUL DAYS to look back on.

I have discovered that even the news anchors couch words to make “the weather” sound like the deciding factor as to whether or not the day will be good or bad.  Isn’t it wonderful when you have the joy of the Lord in your heart and you can wake up every day with hope and anticipation of an awesome day?  Yes, sometimes plans must change because of weather conditions, especially in Wisconsin, but does that make it an “awful day”?  There is a saying here that is used quite frequently, “IF YOU DON’T LIKE THE WEATHER JUST WAIT FIVE MINUTES”, because that is how quickly it can change.  I remember many outdoor weddings thwarted by thunder and lightning storms that quickly developed and just as quickly passed over.  Did things need to be done differently, yes of course, but by the end of the day the couple were just as married regardless where they had to speak their vows.  There was one occasion that I actually photographed a wedding on a ski mountain, hiking in the snow to get where I had to be.  Days like that to me were never “bad days”.  To me every single day is an adventure and is always amazing to live through.  Even if I am just cleaning or cooking.

Speaking of amazing…I have started sorting through my office closet, which is a large clothes closet outfitted with shelving for all the office supplies and disk files.  Oh my goodness.  I can’t believe how much I threw away on just the first day.  There was a bit of nostalgia felt as I chucked the photos of clients that I used for display, but in the same vein, there was a cleansing in my spirit at the same time.  Faces I will never see again, events I no longer need to be concerned about, files that must be culled that are just taking up space, must go!  I am saving samplings of my work which will fit on one little part of my bookshelf.  Some of the work is more like art, though the faces are not my loved ones, but I still like to look at them every once in a while.  Sometimes I look at some of the portraits and find it almost unbelievable that I was the artist.  I have always had a difficult time thinking of myself as an “artist”.  But, I guess I was; maybe still am.  I think what lives in my heart as a passion will always be part of me.

It is interesting to me to see how I opened this blog talking about the weather, transitioning to wedding memories, and then, end up being an artist.  Well, this is one artist that now wants to become an organized and decluttered creative being (if that is possible).  I was proud of myself yesterday.  I actually did a great job filling up a good portion of the recycle bin.  Lots of old notebooks, reference material that is now outdated, catalogues, supply books, telephone books, and old photos.  And that was all from just one half, of one shelf.  If I tried to explain to you all that I must go through I would be here all day.  So rather than tell about it, I shall go do it.

A DAY TOO BEAUTIFUL TO MISS

By Kathleen Martens

February 2, 2016

So much clutter, from where does it come?

Years of accumulation, work and fun!

No longer needed, it seems quite bereft

Some is disposed, but there is lots more left.

Hours ahead of deciding and sorting,

What to keep and what to discard.

If my daughter would come and do it

It wouldn’t be quite so hard.

She is so good of decluttering my space.

She never questions what she throws out!

But when I come home and find it all gone

I retrieve from the trash and refuse to shout!

Been there done that with my girl,

So I’m better off doing it alone.

Deciding exactly what I need to keep

Rather than being forlorn.

It just takes time and a little adjustment

To realize what’s happening is real.

I need to experience the hours it takes,

And time to feel, what I need to feel.

It is a journey as I travel this road,

For part of my past I am throwing away.

Like an amputation I fear will hurt,

But not quite so bad, just a little each day.

As I sort, my load seems to lighten,

As beautiful memories flood my hours.

It is not with sadness I throw things out,

Rather a resurging freshness that gives me power.

It is my journey that no one else can do,

And my heart sings as I look ahead,

Because someday it will all be done,

And my footing will be in good stead.

I will be stronger for all that I’ve learned,

And there will be joy tucked in my heart.

All I need do is focus on my goal

Because every day is a fresh new start.

And when that clutter is out of my life

I just wonder, what will I do?

I’ve decided to treasure the memories I find,

And be glad that my work is through.

Every day is a day too beautiful to miss.

Whether rain or sunshine, work or play.

I will enjoy what I do as a pleasure.

For I never know, if this is my final day.

Psalm 118:24 NKJ

“This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

FUN FACTS

The banana cannot reproduce itself. It can be propagated only by the hand of man.