friendship

331:365


Seems like we are all moving on towards something... even if we don't always really know what that something is. I have a dear friend who is moving away. And while I don't want her to move... I completely understand why she is. Things are not working out for her here in New Mexico, and she feels it is time to move on. She is moving towards her goals.

And so I began to think about what success is... and what makes one successful. (...because I believe she will be successful in what she wants to do... no matter where that takes her).

1. First of all... you need to have a goal. Without a goal... we just wander through life... and perhaps that is enough... but for those of you for whom it's not...

Various motivational speakers will lay out a plan on how to proceed from there. All day... off and on... I have been perusing the net looking at some of these sites, and through some books I have in my own library... and I have narrowed things down to a few steps that they all seem to ((mostly)) agree on.

And so... over the next few days... I hope to lay out some of those ideas. How to succeed... what does success mean to you... how does one proceed towards what really wants in life... (as noted by these various motivational experts and authorities on the subject)...

SO... first. Pick a goal. What is it you really want to achieve? As artists and lovers of life... sometimes we can be spread way too thin by enjoying way to much... and perhaps even... by being talented in way too much... that we can't decide what it is we actually want. This may actually be the hardest part of the whole thing. So .... think about it. Make sure it is the right thing for you. Make sure it fits in with your lifestyle, your particular talents, your true desires...but... pick a goal. Big or small.



((the photos for today's post are based on the theme: Planes, trains, and automobiles. All photos I took over the past year or so. I picked them because they seemed to speak on "moving on" in life. Metaphorically... and perhaps even... in reality))

*photos by Elaine A. Russell

we are all works in progress

photo by Elaine A. Russell


We are all works in progress. No one is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. We come into this world with nothing but our heart and our hands. We try, but we don't always get things right all the time.
Part of being human is making mistakes. Learning from them... trying not to make them again... making the best of less than perfect situations.

Friendships are hard to cultivate and maintain. I know... sounds like a garden. And in a way.. it is. You put yourself out there with the best of intentions, and hope that goodness comes from your efforts. You nurture things to the best of your abilities... but sometimes the weather just sucks... or the dirt is lacking... or you screwed up and didn't pull enough weeds.

I have made some good friends in this lifetime. And I hope to keep these friendships for a very long time. But I also understand that sometimes there is only so much that you can do. Some plants won't grow in your climate... much as you like them. Much as you want them to stay. Much as you try to make things work. And for now-- I just need to convince myself.. that that is OK.

red rain

--------------------------photo by Elaine A. Russell

So.. We have internet capabilities again. And (not so coincidently) my hubby sent me an article on internet addictions. Not funny. Not funny at all.
I've been sitting here trying to think of something clever to say. But it's not happening. So much has been going on with me emotionally this month... that I kinda just feel tapped out.
This whole past year has been a huge learning experience for me. And .. kind of like the Taoist story ((http://www.renegadezen.com/zen-stories/maybe))... what seemed like bad things at the time, have turned out to be good... and visa versa.
I think that I have learned some very valuable lessons. Not the least of which is the importance of true friendship. So -- to all my true friends... kudos. And thanks being there.