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A to Z Challenge | Intentional Living | B is for Beauty

/ Luanne Shernisky / Leave a comment

Logo 10th Anniversary Blogging A to Z Challenge - Letter BIn an effort to get back into writing on a regular schedule, I joined the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. This is the first time I’ve participated and hope to succeed with posting each day, as my blog has grown dormant. 

My theme is “A Vocabulary for Intentional Living.” This corresponds with the objective of my blog, which sees life as a voyage shaped by circumstances both within and outside of our control. Realizing our purpose and goals begins with self-awareness and mindfulness in all our daily choices.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It’s a familiar saying that rings true for all of us.

We have different opinions when it comes to certain things. What one person finds visually pleasing may not satisfy someone else. Things like clothes, houses, or cars vary a lot in design and we all have our preferred tastes in style, color, etc.

However, when it comes to people, we tend to share some common themes. Physical beauty is defined by height, weight, bone structure, fitness, hair, eye color, and so on. 

A mature woman who carries an extra 30 lbs. with dimpled thighs and varicose veins won’t win a swimsuit competition. However, her younger counterparts with their slim, toned bodies and flawless skin will turn a lot of heads.

But, physical beauty is only skin deep. We’ve all experienced those so-called “beautiful people.” On the surface they possess obvious good looks, but on closer inspection we sometimes find ugliness on the inside. 

That which is striking and beautiful is not always good, but that which is good is always beautiful. ~Ninon de L’Enclos

Beautiful but deadly

This dazzling marine creature, known as the Striped Sturgeon Fish, is a good example. His stunning appearance is beautiful and would entice anyone to take a closer look, but be careful. His caudal fin is loaded with venom. 

We think of beauty as falling within certain parameters, but it depends on your own definition of beauty.

Beauty despite imperfection

Credit: deardoctor.com

This child might not be considered pretty due to her cleft lip. It doesn’t resemble what the human mouth is expected to look like, so some people view it as a disfigurement. 

Other people look beyond this small anomaly and see the whole person; in this case a lovely baby!

How we interpret beauty is individualized and based on our life experiences. What we’re taught to see and not see has much to do with our view of the world.

The ability to see beauty is often a conscious choice. I remember hurrying out of the grocery store one summer evening. I had almost as many things on my mind as I did in the cart. It was during a period of transition when I was struggling to make a new beginning.

It had been raining; dark and gloomy when I entered the store. Now, scanning the parking lot, the rain had stopped. Dodging puddles I headed to my car and loaded the bags into the trunk. As I opened the door to get in I paused, noticing the once dark sky had changed to gray. Turning, I looked westward to see the setting sun shining through the clouds. It was encased in a gauzy shroud of pink, purple and orange. What a spectacular view!

I realized that noticing the change in light prompted me to look up at the sky. And the key word here is notice. The demands of modern life are distracting and many times we miss seeing the amazing sights around us. Focusing on the natural beauty of our world gives us a greater appreciation for everything in it.

Unexpected beauty

Stopping to “smell the flowers” strengthens the connection to all the things that make up our daily lives.

Living intentionally means being attentive to our world. Sometimes beauty is tucked away out of our direct sight. Sometimes it shows up in unexpected places. Much of it is right in front of our noses. But, if we’re not looking we’ll never see it.

 Now, when I walk out of the grocery store I look up. The sky offers a constantly changing canvas that never disappoints. Sometimes the familiar neighborhoods we’ve traveled for many years have hidden gems right out in plain sight. I’ve learned to slow down and really observe my surroundings. I’m amazed at all the beauty I discover. It’s everywhere and it’s ours for the taking.

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it. ~Confucius

A to Z Challenge | Intentional Living | A is For Attitude

/ Luanne Shernisky / 1 Comment

AIn an effort to get back into writing on a regular schedule, I joined the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. This is the first time I’ve participated and hope to succeed with posting each day, as my blog has grown dormant. 

My theme is “A Vocabulary for Intentional Living.” This corresponds with the objective of my blog, which sees life as a voyage shaped by circumstances both within and outside of our control. Realizing our purpose and goals begins with self-awareness and mindfulness in all our daily choices.

Life isn’t linear; it’s filled with ups and downs. During rough times it’s easy to become cynical. Negativity is fast-acting and doesn’t require any mental discipline. Choosing a positive outlook in the face of adversity is hard work. For most people it doesn’t come naturally. It requires deliberate practice and patience.

Understanding what motivates our attitudes involves keen self-awareness. In my view, this is the foundation for living intentionally. Fully understanding oneself: the good, the bad, and the ugly, is the first step to a more meaningful life.

The only disability in life is a bad attitude. ~Scott Hamilton

It’s easy to recognize people with bad attitudes. They display them in a variety of ways: sarcasm, victimization, and anger, to name a few. Feeling cheated and short-changed, they’re quick to share their disdain for the many perceived offenses put upon them by society, the government, and even God.

And then there are people with amazing attitudes! In the face of serious problems they’re able to maintain an appreciation for the life that just handed them lemons. They don’t spend time feeling sorry for themselves, rather they approach the situation from a position of strength. Utilizing the resources available they set about to solve the problems, not bemoan them. 

Our attitudes are formed at an early age through nature and nurture. Our families of origin have the important task of teaching the first fundamentals of what will become our world view. Extended family, friends, and teachers then form the “village” that raises us and shapes our attitudes toward everything in life. This is clearly and succinctly illustrated in the poem by Dorothy Law Nolte entitled  Children Learn What They Live. 

Living with intention is deciding each day to be conscious of who we are, what our value system is, and our path in life. It’s planning well-thought out goals and the ways to achieve them. This demands time and attention, something in short supply in our busy, hectic lives.

How we think about and handle the triumphs and tragedies of life depend on our attitudes. Consider how people’s attitudes play a part in what occurs in society today.

Remember things like common courtesy and the greater good? The focus now is on “me” instead of “we” and we’re losing our humanity in the process.

When we change a narrow attitude to one of open mindedness the potential for learning and growth increases dramatically.

Winston Churchill once said, “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” I think attitude is a BIG thing that makes a HUGE difference.

What do you think?

 

What Happened to Good News?

/ Luanne Shernisky / Leave a comment

News

Yesterday I checked into Twitter for the latest news and, once again, I regretted it.

I’ve gotten into the habit of scrolling through my Twitter feed hourly and finding that it’s more than I can handle.

Is it me, or the fact that I’m getting older? Maybe it’s because I never paid much attention to world news when I was raising a family. If I had extra time that day I’d scan the headlines from the AP wire, but seldom read anything at length. If it wasn’t happening in our small western Pennsylvania locale I felt detached from it…and moved on. 

Today’s 24/7 news cycle provides a continuous stream of stories from the entire planet, but I don’t feel that sense of detachment anymore. On the contrary, I feel intensely connected to people and situations that are happening far away.

No, I don’t personally know the students from the Catholic school in KY who made a name for themselves on Saturday in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Or, the gentleman leading the Indigenous Peoples’ March. I just know that I felt a level of anger, sadness, and shock, as if I’d been there myself.

I used to enjoy Facebook for keeping up with family and friends, but am constantly bombarded with news of animal abuse. This is probably because I joined a few rescue groups and the algorithm picked up on it. The photos are heartbreaking and make me seriously wonder how many sociopaths are walking around.

I’ve developed a keen empathy for animals that I never had before. The thought of strays out in the harsh winter weather makes me really anxious. We spent the morning digging out from Winter Storm Harper and I was also worried about the birds, squirrels, and chipmunks. They inhabit the large arbor vitae trees in my backyard. As soon as I could clear a path, I loaded up several feeders with seed and put down some corn cobs. Ten years ago I was living a different life in a different location and didn’t give the animals much thought.

So, what changed?

Well, I’m not quite as busy as I was a few decades ago. In those days working full-time and parenting three children consumed my days and energy. Today my kids are grown, I work part-time, and actually have stretches of hours to myself.

Getting older brings us to an appreciation for things that we didn’t have before. My beloved kitty rescued me last year and provides companionship and affection. As a stray she made me more aware about the plight of those who aren’t wanted or cared for. This in turn raised my consciousness regarding the less fortunate and all the valid reasons they fail to thrive. I’m slower to judge and act more in a spirit of generosity.

Maturity also helps us develop better insight. We experience many different types of people in a lifetime and they all teach us something. Good and bad traits become easier to recognize.

Add to this the connectivity of the Internet and it’s not surprising I no longer feel detached. I’ll never forget these photos of the Syrian boy in the back of the ambulance after yet another attack on Aleppo. Or, the second one of the three-year-old refugee drowned in the Mediterranean as his family tried to reach Europe. These happened far away from my hometown, but they hurt my heart deeply.

And while it’s hard to witness all that goes on in the world and still remain hopeful, we must do it. Losing hope creates doubt and undermines the confidence that we can make  positive changes.

It’s certainly easier to detach and concern ourselves only with ourselves. After all, we can’t fix all the problems in the world. But, being aware helps to cultivate compassion and appreciation for our blessings. An attitude of gratitude enables us to recognize what others need and then offer whatever help we can.

I’ll continue to keep up with current events on a daily basis because that’s who I am. And I’ll continue to be shocked, disgusted, saddened, repulsed, and all the other negative reactions that the news evokes. But, I’ll also be reminded of how lucky I am and how important it is to stay connected to the world. 

I’ll connect everyday, just not every hour.