Quote of the Day: “The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears.” John Vance Cheney
Exercise Log: Walked w/ Cokie, Sue O. and Sue B. we went about 2.5 miles and then Mary, Kate, Maggie and I went to the Hogel Zoo where we walked a bit more making my total 5.30 (+.34) It was chilly this morning but everyone has great plans for the day because today is suppose to be the warmest day this week. The zoo was packed! Maggie was so cute looking at the dinosaurs. She kept checking them out to make sure that they really were “not real” but she wasn’t quite sure. With some she had to cover her eyes and let me carry her, then when we were far enough away, she could uncover her eyes.
I wanted to put in my blog today some of Julie O’Leary’s e-mail. When Julie sends me a message, I always feel better about things. She has a gift! Here’s what she said: “Joanie, Connor is doing great. Back to cycling, competing and regaining his full health. He looks wonderful (head full of curly hair, never curly before) and the good news is HE FEELS GOOD, and you will again too. It is wonderful to see him return to his former self. This will happen to you too. However, there is a little part of you that will be forever changed…your heart! You will be changed in wonderful ways that can’t be measured on any performance scale… My prayers are with you. I find myself thinking about you so often and hope you can hear my neighbors words: Remember, “Any little dog can jump through 3 more hoops of fire” GOOD LUCK LITTLE DOG, YOU CAN DO IT.” I so appreciate those words and am overjoyed that Connor is doing so well!!!
I was watching Oprah’s final show today, not because I watch all her shows, but because it’s pretty incredible that someone could keep people’s attention for 25 years and I think she has given a valuable service to the world. I liked that she talked the whole time making sure her audience really understood what she wanted to say to them this last time- she made sure they knew what was really important to her. She mentioned what a miracle that a black girl born in 1954 in Mississippi could grow up to have so much influence over the world. She also said that she always knew that God had a calling for her and that each of us has a calling and it might not lead to fame or money but it is our calling nonetheless and we need to find out what that is. She gave examples of people who had found their callings and how it manifests itself in ways that make us absolutely passionate about life and fits into our talent base. In fact, she said that this calling let’s you know exactly where you are suppose to be and what you are suppose to be doing. I agree, I feel like in many ways teaching Community of Caring was a calling for me. It gave me a chance to really express who I am and what I believe in. There were times I felt so passionate and alive about what I was doing, and with everything in life, also times where it was difficult and I’d be forced to stretch and change up things a bit. So, I think I’m in a flux because I really want another calling or I want to know what that calling is. I want to feel useful and not just exist for myself but to really help others.
Kate and Mary at the Zoo
Joanie and Maggie on train
You look beautiful!