journey to flow

For the past few weeks I’ve been taking a refresher course and preparing for a certification exam. I’ve been working and studying hard - but still leaving a bit of playtime to keep my sanity. When I pass the exam, I’ll be a certified Quality Engineer. There’s that nerdy left brain dominant thing again. In today’s economy it just makes sense to increase the skills and knowledge employers want. An added bonus is that my employer paid for the refresher course and the exam fee. That’s not something offered every day. The real bonus though, was the brain exercise I got. My how those neurons needed a new workout! What’s not to love about a free brain upgrade?

Most surprising though, was finding flow while working through the study problems. It wasn’t there when just reading and studying the material, but while working the problems and doing the calculations - and statistics no less! Feeling that little rush of excitement when I could peek at the answer and see that I got it. I’m still a little shocked. But isn’t it fun to learn something new about yourself?

After my test on Saturday, I’m going to start some new brain exercises, but this time focus on the other side. Just maybe I can coax the artist out of the shadows.

Have you experienced finding flow in a most unexpected activity?

Tags: flow, learning, personal growth

Some people rescue sick pets. My mom rescues sick plants. You’ve probably seen them. They’re the ones on the discount cart at Lowe’s. Tattered and neglected, my mom takes them home and lovingly nurses them back to vibrant health. There was a time in my life when it was painfully apparent that her green thumb was not passed on to me. We laugh now when we reminisce about how the few plants I didn’t kill outright ended up in her Plant Hospital. I manage to keep plants alive now, but my Mom’s thumb will always be greener. My mom is a talented and gifted woman and gardening is one of her passions. One of my daughters even asked me once if she would love plants as much as Meemaw when she got older. Yes, it’s in our genes.

No visit to Mom’s is complete without a tour of the yard to see what new plants she has, what’s blooming, or seeing the transformation of her vegetable garden. Pink amaryllis and hibiscus added a brush of femininity to her yard on this visit and the trio of violets she keeps in the kitchen windowsill are a constant proliferation of welcoming purple joy.

A while back I had the opportunity to help my mom repot some ficus trees. Working together as the morning sun warmed our skin, I had such a sense of well-being. Not just from doing something we enjoyed, but from the closeness and love between mother and daughter. Of just spending time together in simple pleasures.

Now that her trees were done, Mom set to work repotting her neighbors trees too. Generosity is just one of the many gifts Mom passed on to me. Others are a strong work ethic, honesty, resiliency, persistence, and patience. And how to use a shovel. No offense to the First Lady, but we had a good laugh as we watched Mrs. Obama use a shovel to break ground for the White House vegetable garden on the news the night before. It didn’t look like her mom taught her how to use a shovel.

I learned how to be a strong, independent woman from my mom. She taught me the skills to take care of myself and care for others. Thanks Mom - you’re the best. Happy Mother’s Day. I love you.

Tags: family, gratitude, joy

For the last several weeks I’ve sensed that change was unfolding in my world. It began with a dream that I knew in my heart signaled the end of something. For weeks I’ve searched for insights as the dream sillage lingered in my mind.

The answer arrived on Thursday. My husband was laid off from his job.

Although still reeling a bit, we’re looking forward to the blessing this will bring. Along with the blessing there will be changes. New directions. New adventures. New opportunities.

And so in the spirit of change, I took at look at this blog of mine and rewrote my “about” page to remind me why I started blogging in the first place and what this site is about. The journey to flow is all about finding our right lives. And the fun part of that is the journey itself. The discovery of learning something new and getting good at it. The agony of failure and how we learn and grow from it. The aliveness we feel when we get it. Remember the hot and cold game we played as kids? Our friends would pick an object and guide us to it by shouting, “You’re getting colder!” “You’re getting hotter!” The journey is like that. Sometimes we move away from flow and sometimes were in the red-hot zone of flow. My goal is to stay red-hot and forever learning. How about you?

Finding flow in life encompasses so many aspects of life - family, health, finances, recreation, relationships, community, work, emotions, intellect, passions. Finding flow is a journey in personal growth and wellness. I expect that this blog will become a rambling mix of eclectic posts with this unifying thread. Sometimes pragmatic, sometimes esoteric. It will be personal, because it’s what works for me. I long for it to be community too. A place where you can share your own thoughts and musings about what works for you - a virtual coffee house where lively discussion and welcoming encouragement flourish.

Change is the only constant. My own life has changed direction so many times, I’ve lost count. But each new direction led to new adventures and new experiences. Sometimes unwelcome and unplanned changes are serendipity in disguise.

Here’s my top five list for navigating this newest change:

1.      Be present. I can’t change what is and resisting only brings pain.

2.      Let go of anger. Find flow by letting go.

3.      Be a good listener. We both have to work through the process in our own ways. Neither of us wants advice - we just want someone to listen and to hug.

4.      Talk through the worst imaginable outcomes and possible courses of action. This is the best way I know to eliminate fear.

5.      Do those things that bring joy. Joy infuses happiness and hope all around. There were 42 other families affected by the layoff. My husband and I worked in the same company as did several other couples. I can be a beacon of hope and encouragement to those of us left behind.

How do you cope with unwelcome changes? Has your experience led to something better? Share your story in the comments.

Tags: change, flow, personal growth