Apr 10
5
Taking It Home With Me…
Last week, we made our first trip of the year to the beach. We loaded up the truck with our beach umbrella, sheets, a cooler, ice, our little red wagon, towels, sunscreen, sandwiches, snacks, and plenty to drink. As we returned early that evening, we unloaded all our gear. I pulled the sheet out and shook loose the sand in our driveway. Then I thought, “We’re taking the beach home with us!”
My mind continued to contemplate this thought. I pondered the multitude of experiences I have had lately. I thought about how the sand, which we didn’t have too much choice that we took home with us, is so different from our experiences, where we have the great ability to choose what to glean. I’m going to repeat that: WE CHOOSE WHAT WE GLEAN FROM OUR EXPERIENCES. We can take home to our hearts blessings or fears, sadness or hope, joy or despair, unhappiness or peace.
I attended a conference which spoke on many virtues to develop as well as ways to become better people in this life. The speakers came from varied backgrounds, and they each offered several areas on which one may work to develop a better attitude, more hope, more faith, more patience. I knew I had a choice to make: I could take home with me feelings of hope for the person I could become, or I could wallow and take home feelings of inadequacy that I am not able to be that person. I chose to hope.
This last week, we also had a special dinner guest–one who has never been in our home. I prepared a carefully planned meal which began with the work of creating a decadent dessert–a fudge truffle cheesecake. Now, I have poured over this recipe for months…and I thought this visit was just the occasion to try it. Well, I started early (the cheesecake was in the oven by about 10 a.m.) so that it would have time to chill before we would eat it after dinner. I worked alongside my sweet children who love to work with me in the kitchen…and voila! It was done. It was beautiful. It was chilled. Our guest arrived. We filled our plates with luscious sweet and sour chicken, rice, and broccoli. We ate and talked. Then, dinner was over…and now for the cheesecake.
Well, it was a bust. My oldest son was the only one who liked it, and I’m afraid even our honored guest was left wanting. So, what feelings did I take home? Disappointment…failure…disaster…? No, I put it in the fridge for a day and then sent a text one of my friends–a chocolate and cheesecake lover–inquiring if she and her husband would enjoy some of it. Sure enough, she headed right over, graciously accepted some cheesecake, and went on her merry way. I was able to turn around a situation that I could have allowed to cause me much grief into a joyful opportunity to gift someone I love. 
We all decide what we take home from each experience we encounter. We can find guilt, misery, sadness, offense, or disgust in every area of our lives. If we are aware, though, and act through life instead of allowing ourselves to be acted upon, we are empowered. We are able to find light, joy, happiness, love, and opportunities to help our fellow-beings. What are you taking home with you?
