Technology has tainted my thinking

It is interesting to me the way our mind works. I have worked as a graphic designer for many years, and have come to greatly appreciate the power of control Z, the great undo. I have used Corel Draw since version 1 and can still remember the day that we could undo to 100 levels. This literally revolutionized my design process. I was no longer afraid to try something new, or several somethings new, since all I had to do was undo the many steps and I could conveniently find myself back to where I started.

I remember a day though that I realized how this process had tainted my thinking, when I was making a large batch of chocolate chip cookies. I had already put the butter and eggs in the large Kitchen Aid and was creaming them at high speed. I was adding the eggs one at a time while the beater was still on. Then it happened. On the attempt to add the third egg, half of the egg shell went with it. Without even thinking my mind began to repeat to itself, undo, undo, undo. I turned off the machine, and literally began to laugh to myself before I poured the bowl of ingredients in the trash. Then I begin the process again this time cracking the eggs in a separate bowl before adding them.

At that time in my life, the parallel took on even a deeper meaning as I began to think of how many times in life we find ourselves making mistakes or choices we wish we could change. I had always been taught from the time I was very little about a simple principle of repentance and realized for me, that was my real life undo button. I began to realize that just as I had to face the consequences for adding the egg shell and wasting that particular batch of dough, I also had the ability to start over again, and learn from my experience. That is how it is with repentance. Sometimes we do face the consequences for the choices we make, but ultimately we can start over again forgiven.

I remember reading a book by Elaine Canon, Life One to a Customer, and it told of a group of people meeting over dinner and much of the discussion of the evening had been focused on someone who had recently made some pretty big mistakes. Someone turned to her and said, Elaine, what do you think of this? Her reply was incredible, "I pray daily that I may tolerate those who sin differently than I do." I remember reading this when I was about 17 years old, and I have to say this has really shaped much of my thinking! I have come to appreciate that every one of us needs the great power of undo.

My First Adventure

It is only in adventure that some people succeed in knowing themselves - in finding themselves. ~André Gide

I have been wanting to start blogging for months now. I set up my account back in June, but it has taken me this long to finally have the courage to actually take the dive and write my first post. I am fascinated with the freedom we have to express ourselves in this day and age. I have watched with amazement as my 7 incredible children are being taught with all of the conveniences of technology and I for one am grateful to be a part of it. I recently became a grandmother and find myself wondering what wonderful new creations will there be as this new little one begins to grow, learn and create? I look at this blog as a new adventure for me, one in which I hope not only to share, but also to discover.

I have always loved the character Dharma, and have always felt that there was a part of me that is very "Dharma-ish." I love people. I love to meet new people, watch people, help people. I am really at a point in my life that I want to find something grand that I can do, something that would really make a difference. I remember on a recent flight to New York I was reading a book about Mother Theresa and she spoke of how so many people had this same desire to make a difference in the world. She advised them to go home and to look into the eyes of their own children and to see what their needs were and take care of those needs first. Then as they walked the halls of their homes, to look in to the eyes of their other family members and see what their needs were and meet those. Then go to their neighbors, look into their eyes and see what their needs were, and so on. She explained if everybody did this, there wouldn't be any great needs in the world, they would already be met.

That had such a profound effect on me. As I find myself at the age of 43 wanting to do something grand to validate my life, I am reminded to first finish my work at home.

There are days I dream of one day volunteering in India, but today I will be satisfied with rocking my new grand daughter while my daughter takes a much needed nap. That may not seem very grand, but I know it's what I need to be doing today!