Tuesday, April 22, 2014

What I Believe




What I believe
 
I promised something new in my blog, and here it comes. I’ll be sharing posts titled What I Believe, interspersed with ordinary odds and ends of my life.
Breaking my neck—degenerative discs and dissolving vertebrae that resulted in emergency surgery—altered my life. For more than a year now I’ve contemplated how this experience relates to those before and following, and how my beliefs have shifted and been shaped over more than half a century.
   
I’m someone who has always sought meaning in my life. I’ve always wondered how “this” matters to “that,” as if I’m trying to fit puzzle pieces together while many of them are missing, some will never be found, and the overall picture is basically clear in a few places, but completely fuzzy in others.

One of my basic beliefs centers on belief, and how what I believe glues life together making it what it is for me, personally. I have an overall “life is good, life is grand and life goes on…” attitude or belief. I seldom panic, even though I’ve been known to stress out at times over trivial things.  

My beliefs, along with some events and experiences I’ve encountered that have shaped them, will show up in future posts. Below is a very incomplete list of what you might expect:


  • I believe my environment matters (you’ve seen plenty of that already!)

  • I believe hobbies and interests matter

  • I believe relationships matter

  • I believe in exploring and adventures

  • I believe children matter

  • I believe in silence, and in speaking up

  • I believe in self-care

  • I believe respect for all living things matters

  • I believe helping others matters

  • I believe learning matters

  • I believe in God

  • I believe in taking responsibility

  • I believe beauty matters

  • I believe in families

  • I believe words matter enormously!

  • I believe personal dress and grooming matters

  • I believe forgiveness matters

  • I believe in praying

  • I believe truth matters

  • I believe in work

  • I believe in gratitude

  • I believe choices affect consequences

  • I believe in laughter

  • I believe thoughts matter

  • I believe thinking matters

  • I believe in angels

  • I believe kindness matters

  • I believe money matters

  • I believe in light and darkness

  • I believe happiness is a choice

 
Wow, that’s a lot to believe in, and that’s only a partial list! I know everyone has a lengthy list of beliefs, more than we usually think we do, because we seldom start listing them. (It’s kind of fun—try it!) I have two basic goals as I share some of my beliefs along with a few personal thoughts and experiences surrounding them that have given my beliefs greater power, more meaning, changed them slightly or significantly, or lowered their importance in my life. You can see that beliefs—mine—aren’t stagnant, and I don’t think they were ever meant to be! They are living, growing, changing and viable. If not, I’d imagine life would be dull, flat and lack power and potent meaning. So here’s why I’m sharing some of my beliefs:

First: Writing my beliefs and sharing them will help me solidify what I believe as I analyze and express them.

Second: I hope what I share adds another angle to your perspective on these topics—perspectives you might never see unless someone shares their views with you. 

I’m already laughing at myself over this because I know from experience that a few years down the road I’ll probably roll my eyes over some of the posts and laugh at how shallow some of my beliefs were, or how poorly I expressed them. Oh, well. That’s part of learning and growing and posting on the internet. I know I’ll move beyond the plateau I’m currently relaxing on, and cheer when I reach a higher one. That said, I’m not too worried whether I’m tiny mouse-sized in one belief and elephant-sized in another right now. Both may reverse over time. 

Like a lot of people, I love to read, listen and learn. I take classes, read books, regularly keep up on a few favorite blogs, research and experience things personally. Among it all I love the commonality and differences between all of us. We all cross paths with others and sometimes travel a few steps or miles together. Often we weave in and out through life’s travels. This blog is part of that journey.

Come and enjoy the path with me as I share What I Believe. Comment if you’d like. Ask me if you want to know about something specific. 

Welcome to What I believe


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