Sunday Journal Prompt

“When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure.”

 – Author unknown

Our family is mourning the loss of my husband’s beloved Aunt Linda, who graduated from Purdue University with a degree in chemical engineering in 1970 as the only woman in her class, who ran for public office and who built a thriving engineering firm with her husband. Known for her brilliance, she taught herself Russian during one summer break during high school.

As impressive as her resume is, what most stood out to be was Linda’s kindness and genuine interest in others, the way she always asked about my family. I think of the joy she took in her children and grandchildren, of the Korean Lilacs that grace the front walkway to her home and of the gorgeous cherry pie she and her daughter made for Thanksgiving dinner. The pie didn’t look real to me, as it was flawless. Perhaps she applied her engineering precision to creating perfectly spaced-apart slats of pastry atop the radiant cherries. 

What do you most remember about a deceased loved one? How do you want to be remembered? 

 

 

Sunday Journal Prompt

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”

 ― Eleanor Roosevelt

When my son Alex, 17, got home from school on Tuesday, he asked, “Do you want to go to the zoo?” I had other plans for the next few hours—a magazine article to finish writing, calls to make, dinner to prepare. But knowing he’ll be headed off to college before I know it, I grabbed my car keys and said, “I’m in.”

Since Alex was an infant, we’ve visited the Grizzly habitat where the bears—his favorite animals—slept in dark dens or lounged in the grass far away from the observation area. During this visit, however, we found one of them taking a dip. Alex knelt, placed his hand on the glass and found himself eye-to-eye and palm-to-paw with a magnificent creature who further communicated with him by blowing bubbles. This opportunity that we easily could’ve missed became a magical moment neither of us will ever forget.

 

 

When has saying “yes” to an opportunity been rewarding—even magical?

 

 

 

Sunday Journal Prompt

“Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better.”

– Albert Einstein

In honor of Mother’s Day, my family organized a visit to Garden of the Phoenix on our way home from Chicago. To my surprise, the parking lot was full of potholes and trash. Chain link fences separated Jackson Park from the roar of cars barreling by on Lakeshore Drive. We followed the path, but I questioned whether we were in the right place. The scraggly trees and shrubs hasn’t been what I’d expected. 

We kept going deeper into the park and found ourselves on an island oasis—a beautiful Japanese garden with a bridge, koi fish, vibrant azaleas, stone walkways and pagoda statues. Three waterfalls roared louder than the cars we could no longer see. With the garden to ourselves on a Sunday morning, I imagined few knew about this well-hidden haven, a sanctuary on the south side of Chicago.

When have initial hesitancies disappeared by going into more depth?

 

 

 

Sunday Journal Prompt

“In music the rests are as important as the notes.”

– Matthew Kelly, The Rhythm of Life

 

I spent this weekend at a silent retreat, an opportunity to unplug and recharge. Instructed to leave my iPhone in my car, I didn’t even know what time it was for most of the weekend. For some members of my group, staying quiet was quite difficult. Though not talking was comfortable for me, averting eye contact—as we were told to do—made me feel rude since I enjoy connecting with people nonverbally. However, I did appreciate the benefits of holding onto all my energy. I read, wrote, practiced yoga, walked and meditated. I touched tree trunks and savored pink clouds at sunset. On Saturday evening we roasted S'mores over a bonfire beside a river and sang songs—the only time I heard my voice that day.

Travel tends to mark transitions in my life—opportunities where I get out of my daily routine, recharge and reflect on the big picture: What’s working well? What do I want to change? What steps can I take to get there? Even though the retreat center was just two hours away and I was only gone for two days, I feel heightened perspective and clarity—as well as great gratitude for my family and friends. As Matthew Kelly writes in The Rhythm of Life, “The silence makes the noise more meaningful.”

How might you incorporate more pauses into your life?