Random Thoughts

I am at the Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando, Florida.   I am 3 days in, one more day left. I KNOW I should not write about my experiences yet, and I have a whole other day to learn and observe.   But I keep thinking about things that I do not want to forget, and my way of dealing with that when it happens is to WRITE.   So here we go. Lighting the flame at the opening ceremony - LET THE GAMES BEGIN! (Not my photo) This is my first real experience with the Special Olympics.   I have known of it since I was a child – my friend Chad competed in the local Special Olympics when we were growing up.   But I have never experienced it first-hand until now. Of course, perhaps like you, I had some preconceived ideas about what the games would be like before I came.   And, I must be honest, some of those assumptions were negative.   I will not get into those here as I am still trying to process a lot and understand if some of my hypotheses are true.   B...

Sometimes when I get into a funk, things repeat over and over in my head. Usually negative things. But I am not the only one, right?   I mean, that’s happens to you, too, doesn’t it?   Oh man, please tell me it’s not just me… Anyway, I probably should have talked through this with a therapist years ago.   Doing so might have gotten this god awful (pun intended) ear worm out of my head. Here’s a little ditty I was taught in Sunday school or summer Daily Vacation Bible School when I was a kid: “Jesus and others and you, What a wonder way to spell J O Y Jesus and others and you, What fun for a girl and a boy** (can that line have been that ridiculous?   I know it rhymed with joy…) J is for Jesus ‘cuz he has first place O is for others you meet face to face Y is for YOU in whatever you do – Put yourself THIRD and spell joy.” What.   The.   Actual.   F.   Seriously, it has taken me 53 years to wash that B.S....

I got in a big confrontation this week.   That in and of itself is a bit of news – I typically do all that I can to avoid them.   And I knew this one was coming, had been putting it off for quite some time actually.   But the time and the place suddenly appeared and BAM – there it was. And I, as always in those angry, tense, hostile situations, was very uncomfortable. But I did something different for me:   I didn’t cry.   I didn’t yell.   I didn’t get too upset.   Mostly I just LISTENED .   I know this is how a person is supposed to approach those types of situations, but knowing it and doing it are two different things. Anyway, I listened.   Listened as I was berated.   As I was blamed.   As I was attacked.   Yes, sometimes I spoke up.   I tried not to get defensive. Tried not to argue.   Tried to clearly explain my point of view.   The whole experience didn’t end well really.   Ma...

Inspiration, Beauty, and Joy On April 7, 2013 I began a project.  I don’t consider myself an artist really, yet this felt like art, performance art of a sort. The idea came to me one afternoon.  I wanted to see through other people’s eyes.  To narrow the focus, I wanted to see inspiration, beauty, and joy as other people saw it.  My method:  cameras.   I hopped on Freecycle and within a few hours I had two working digital cameras that I was not afraid to abuse.  A trip to Home Depot and we brought home long, thin wire and small metal ferrules (crimps) to secure them.  2 pieces of paper, some watercolor paints, plastic covers and voila – I was ready to go.  My system:  leave cameras out in the open with a provocation for people to use them.  Do not interact – leave the subjects on their own to explore.  Then sit back and wait.  And wait. It turns out not everyone is a person who stops (see ...