"It doesn't matter what your age is, you can always learn something new. Life is the greatest school with more than enough teachers and endless lessons. You are a student and the master of your own destiny. The past gives you lessons, the present gives you opportunities, and the future gives you vision." Srinivas Mishra
Lessons From The Past
Okay, it's only mid-August, and my decision to say yes to all fortuitous opportunities has not only challenged my gastronomical system (that is all I will say about that), but my hair is greyer, and I'll be damned if this hasn't been the best month ever.
Being a student of life can be challenging and time-consuming, but at least I'm not battling acne and raging hormones at the same time. Maybe God does have a plan.
Let's start with the gastronomical issues. Those might be directly related to podcasting. After being offered a second self-aggrandizing opportunity, I mean, a second gracious opportunity to introduce myself to The Heart of the Matter community with Wynne Leon and Victoria Ponders, I jumped at the chance to talk with Wynne again and meet the infamous Dr. Victoria Ponders, author of Surviving Sue.
Because I'm true to myself even when I don't want to be.
Wynne Leon is a consummate professional, devoted mother, avid blogger, and published author with a huge following. She makes podcasting fun, maybe too fun. So the gastronomical issues might be related to my own inability to process nervous energy.
Wynne sent me a list of observations and questions about Grow Damn It that she wanted to explore in this podcast (linked here for your enjoyment). This gives me a chance to prepare for a lively conversation and feel relaxed about unexpected topics being broached that I'd prefer to keep corked up (if you get my drift). What was unexpected was how much I enjoyed meeting Dr. Vicki and how much I missed connecting with Wynne between this podcast and the last.
Is it just me, or are bloggers the best people in the world?
Those two are modern-day dynamos. They know how to put you at ease as if a healthy dose of Imodium. That was a compliment if there is any confusion.
The Opportunities Are In The Present
I'm beginning to realize I'm the tortoise in the race of life, and I've discovered it's okay to travel at my own pace. I'll eventually get there, and in the process, I'm getting better at traversing the unknown.
The second podcast I got asked to do was with Stephanie James (I know, the one and only), host of Igniting the Spark (linked here), but mine won't be live for a few weeks. We did a Zoom call prior to the podcast to see if we "connected."
She was looking for a spark or at least a flicker.
Can I just say, she had me at hello? I was completely charmed and slightly intimidated by this bundle of radiant energy, but I'll admit I had this ghastly feeling she most likely thought this was the worst decision she ever made.
I started second-guessing myself on the whole "Affirmative August" plan. I don't need all this angst. Making my bed every day is enough affirmation. Right?
Then Stephanie sent me this utterly charming email with a link to her fabulous, just-released movie and a date for our podcast.
As if Sally Fields, I'm running around the house proclaiming, "She likes me, right now, she really, really likes me!"
Stephanie is more of a "let it go, trust the universe, let's see where the spark takes us" kind of podcaster. In other words, no prep questions.
So I did what anyone challenged with gastronomical issues would do, I wrote out a six-page (okay, ten-page) manifesto on my entire life, covering all possible topics, issues, and concerns that might have the slightest possibility of showing up in this podcast.
Larry had to make a second pot of coffee because I wasn't jacked up enough on anxiety, and self-deprecating thoughts, let's add over-caffeinated to the mix.
At exactly 9:59 am, I hit the Zoom link. It said, "Host has not joined yet."
Bahaha, I knew it, but before I had time to exit the meeting, her image appeared at the top of my screen.
Smiles, welcoming, adorable, and relaxed.
I shut the doors to my room, and we began our unscripted conversation, directed by the universe, and let me just say, it was quite the adventure. I was reeling from all the energy, laughter, and joy. Then it was over. All I was thinking was how time flies when you're igniting the spark.
Stephanie is marvelous.
After we stopped recording at the end of the podcast, she said, "Cheryl, I'm planning a Women's Retreat in Sayulita, Mexico, at the end of February, and I'm thinking this might be something you would be interested in."
I'm like, "I'm going to be in Sayulita, Mexico, at the end of February for a wedding."
"No"
"Yes"
"Now that's serendipity."
"Or a very weird fluke."
"I think it's meant."
She says, "Send me the dates that you'll be there, and we'll work around you."
Are you kidding? She'll work the date of the Women's Retreat around my schedule.
Hello, I was so buffed up you could have rolled me down the driveway.
I ran into the office where Larry was undoubtedly eavesdropping on our conversation and told him all about this wonderful woman, her captivating attitude, and how our lives have become serendipitous.
Larry says, "Serendipity is only fortuitous if you actually benefit from the coincidence."
"Honey, it's a Women's Retreat, not a fortune cookie."
"What are you retreating from?"
"Men"
He said, "Maybe I'll come with you."
"What the hell for?"
"Bodyguard."
"Oh, we're going to reenact that whole Kevin Costner, Whitney Houston thing. I'm into it."
I get the look.
The next thing I know, Anne Elliott from The Mederist, an online publication, asked me to submit an article about an inspirational teaching moment. What could I do? It's fricking August. I sent in an article that Anne beautifully tweaked to fit the space and offered me the opportunity to write my own byline!
And the spirit of August is still going strong.
After reading Diana Peach's blog, I was introduced to Shephard, a platform for authors, and with her encouragement, I submitted a request to be featured on their site. They said yes, maybe Affirmative August is contagious. Regardless, my page will go live on Monday.
Out of the blue, our neighbors, Jim and Sue, ask us to join them for a friendly game of pickleball on Sunday morning. Of course, we said yes.
It's August.
We played four games under the sweltering sun, and by game four, I could barely breathe or talk. Jim won every game, regardless of who he was partnered with. Obviously, he's a very lucky guy, and by the way, he's recovering from knee surgery. That might shed some light on the skill level of the rest of us.
As you would expect, I realized I need a pickleball skirt because I might play better with the proper gear. Makes total sense to me. Larry, not so much. They challenged us to a rematch on Monday night.
Is it still August?
And to further convolute my point, my first royalty check came in the mail today from the sales of my book Grow Damn It. It's true, I'm not paying off any mortgages or buying oceanfront property next to Brad Pitt. In fact, it might not cover this month's PG & E bill, but it's more than the minimal amount required for deposits, and it might pay for a pickleball skirt.
Booyah!
Right before I opened that much-anticipated envelope, the two of us stood there staring at it as if children waiting for Christmas to arrive. I'll give Larry this. He recovers quickly, camouflaging his initial shock with a hand over his mouth and gallantly offering to take me to dinner to celebrate this new windfall.
We split an enchilada if that is any indication as to the full impact of the royalty check.
All the while, Larry is keeping to a strict training regimen on the new tandem. We did our longest ride from San Jose to Morgan Hill a few days ago, totaling forty miles. After parking the car at the Tully Road Library, we headed down the paved creek trail. There is a robust homeless community camped along the trail for the first two miles.
I had no idea so many people called this small section of the public trails home. There were all sorts of unique houses, from tents to smaller structures, created from various resources, cardboard boxes, broken pallets, and rusted metal sheets. There was an array of free-range dogs, cats, chickens, and roosters. it was an eclectic assortment of people and pets but shrouded in disorder and decay.
While we were loading the bike in the truck, I looked around, and the reality of such conflicting circumstances was not lost on me. I felt assaulted by feelings of hopelessness and deprivation. How do you alleviate this type of impoverishment?
Speaking of feeding needs, we're hosting the family for dinner tonight, and my mind tumbles from privation to preparation.
There was a moment when I was seasoning the salmon when I glanced around the room, and the scene took my breath away. Nana was playing Lincoln Logs with her great-granddaughters, old Nono was snuggled up with Audrey, sharing one of his many stories, while Dante and Larry were enjoying a cold beer. And I was thinking how rare it is to have four generations so intimately engaged in unscripted laughter and joy.
It doesn't get much better than this.
The Future Gives You Vision
My son-in-law, Tim Bontempts, arrives tonight. He's staying with us for a few days in between his obligations to ESPN. I couldn't be more excited. He's a wonderful young man, devoted to work and family, but he made time to spend with his nieces before they have to head back to school.
We left the front door open as he was expected to arrive in the middle of the night. This morning I found out his flight was delayed three hours, an aggressive passenger tried to pick a fight with him, and his seatmate spread out while he was sleeping, lobbing over onto Tim's space.
He walked in our door at 3:00 am.
His nieces were texting him by 7:00 am. At least there is hot coffee.
We head to the lake this Friday to meet up with my cousins, Gail and Mike, from Missouri, along with Jim and Sue, Tim and Barb, my sister Nancy, and my niece Mackenzie. We have a few plans up our sleeves, but I'm wondering what fortuitous serendipity will come from this much-anticipated reunion.
I already know it will be exactly what we all need.
This month has been eye-opening. I have discovered treasures in places I normally avoid. I have gleaned wisdom from people I've only just met. I have seen serendipity everywhere I look. But most importantly, I have learned more than I care to admit from saying yes instead of no to the things I fear most.
It's as if I've taken my sunglasses off after a pickleball game and am forced to squint at all the profound light. Learning a new skill or game can be difficult in the beginning, but later you find yourself longing for the very thing you avoided, and one day you realize the sun is no longer stinging your eyes, it shinning light on your life, and your whole being is illuminated with new purpose and joy.
I'm Living in the Gap, it's been a busy month, forgive me for missing some of your posts and comments. I'll be catching up today and tomorrow. I'm dying to hear what you are saying yes to this month. Love to hear about it in the comments.
A new Five-Star Review for Grow Damn It from an anonymous source. I'm over the moon with joy. Thank you to whoever you are.
"Reading Cheryl's blog (Living in the Gap) is a ritual that I treasure. This book is a similar experience. I was initially drawn to her blog as perhaps a coping mechanism after my mother's passing. I continue to follow it because it brings me joy. This book is a collection of well-written sketches that provide a whole range of emotions and stimulate lots of thought. It can be read with a nice morning cup of coffee or perhaps to help wind down a day. Do yourself a favor. Get the book and savor the feelings you will experience. Enjoy the insights into life it provides. Strongly recommended."
A Quote I'm Thinking About:
"Throughout the centuries, there were men who took first steps down new roads armed with nothing but their own vision. Their goals differed, but they all had this in common: that the step was first, the road new, the vision unborrowed, and the response they received — hatred. The great creators — the thinkers, the artists, the scientists, the inventors — stood alone against the men of their time. Every great new thought was opposed. Every great new invention was denounced. The first motor was considered foolish. The airplane was considered impossible. The power loom was considered vicious. Anesthesia was considered sinful. But the men of unborrowed vision went ahead. They fought, they suffered and they paid. But they won." Ayn Rand,
