Truth

I was talking to a good friend of mine last week.  We had briefly shared some of the things we were both strugging with while we grocery shopped together minus our children.  What a pleasure to do menial tasks with a friend.  To our surprise, we discovered that neither one of us had everything figured out.  Neither one of us were perfect mothers, wives, friends or even citizens.  Funny, I had aways thought she had things figured out.

What a relief to know I'm not the only one.  I think sometimes it's easy to think that I'm alone.  That everyone else is so .... hmmm ... composed?   I have to share something with you and I don't think you're going to like it .... So, here it is.  I know your little secret.  Now, before you start to worry that I have some kind of super power or that I have broken into your house and read your diary, let me explain.

The more people that I talk with, the more people I seem to know who are struggling with something.  We are all dealing with stuff.  Some people are pretty positive ... some negative.  Some of us like to be more serious and some more wild and free.  Some of us are all those things thrown into one big pot!  But seriously guys, there is some hurt, pain, worry, problem or struggle that you are dealing with amidst the highs and lows of this interesting thing we call life.  Maybe it's a short term thing or something you've been dealing with for a long time.  Does something come to mind when you read this?  Maybe a whole list of things come to mind when you read this. Maybe you don't want to think about that one thing or you have a whole list of things that are about to spill over and you're just hoping someone is there to help you clean up the mess.   Maybe life is perfect and always has been.  I don't know.  It's so easy to skim over people and ignore the depth of the person inside.  How often do we answer someone with a patent answer? ... "fine thank you and how are you?"

Truth ...  I always thought the term, “it’s hard to wrap your mind around it” was figurative, but I’m starting to think it’s more literal.   You have this piece of truth sitting in front of you.  You try to make sense of it, but it gets fuzzy and confusing.  How can this be truth?   Sometimes I've just longed for someone to really ask how I'm doing.  To help me understand the truths that are the exsistance of my life.  Have you ever longed for that?  I certainly don't think life has to be all serious and I don't think you should go around telling everyone your problems.  It's just that .. well, we all have a story.  A lot of that story is often hidden under patent answers, busy schedules, ignorance to others and sometimes fear.  

Often at church, we have a greeting time.  We have a few minutes to shake hands and greet people.  I'm sure many people at our chuch look forward to an exuberant hug and kiss from a special young man who seems to be able to spread love wherever he goes.  Often, I find that time ... I don't know ...  Awkward?  It's like you want to greet everyone around you, but before you have even given someone eye contact, you are looking for the next person.  None of us are merely a hand to shake.  We each deserve eye contact.  An acknowledgement that each of us is a unique person.

What am I saying? I guess I'm asking you, "how are you?" I'm always here to listen to the answer.  Through FB, email, phone .... face to face.   You know how to reach me and if you don't ... you can always ask on here.

Social Unetiquette

I have known for quite awhile that Matthew and I are a little odd.  I've aften asked myself, "why do I think this is so funny?" ... and then I find Matthew laughing too.  Phew! ... he's just as odd as me.  I've found a partner to release my inner weirdness to.  Stay tuned for my next book entitled "social unetiquette".

There are certain things that we as a society know not to do.  We have been blessed with sensors that stop us from doing or saying things that are completely unacceptable.  I'm glad I have somewhat of a sensor, but it's what comes before the sensor that amuses and slightly disturbs me.  I really hope I'm not alone.

Have you ever been driving down the road and seen a bunch of runners?  Some ahead, couple in the middle and the ones trailing behind.  I got the urge to pull over and ask the people lagging behind if they feel bad about themselves for being last.  Probably not appropriate to ask.

When you see a doctor, do you notice that they can ask you any question and it's appropriate?  Things that would not be something you would randomly ask someone.   "When was your last period?" ... anyone else get the urge to ask back ... "and when was yours?"  Again, not appropriate.

Please tell me someone else has had the urge to pull the fire alarm.  Oh ... and the time I was guiding a blind person and walked them right into a van.  Fortunately the van was parked and the person had a sense of humour.  The guilt has since subsided and little inklings of amusement are allowed to emerge.  Bad Lisa.


Too often we find ourselves asking, "what would be the most innapropriate thing to do at this moment?" ... more often than I'd like to admit, we share it with eachother and wait for the other person the choke on what they are eating ... if we happen to be eating at the time.


I was sitting in church recently and as the offering plate was being passed by, someone put a cheque in.  I had the urge to take the cheque out and see how much they put in.  I knew only Matthew would find the humour in that.  Why is that so funny to me?  Perhaps I'm just tired of playing by the rules of social acceptance.  What would people do if I walked up to a group of strangers and casually asked, "whatcha doing?" Or walked up to a mother holding a child and say, "ya, my kid is a lot cuter than yours.  sorry".  


Ever want to sneak a package of tampons in an old man's shopping cart when he's not looking?  I know there are a few of you out there or stand up at a wedding and shout, "you're all out of order!"  Don't worry Michelle, I won't do that this weekend.


I'm pretty sure if we gave into all our impulses we would end up in jail.  Good thing we do have those sensors that stop us from doing those things.

What do you think?

So, I've been thinking.  What's new, eh?  lol.  I've been thinking about people with disabilities and handicaps.  I guess I'm looking for an honest opinion.  The truth.  

I remember driving down the street and seeing someone who walked very awkwardly.  I'm not sure what was wrong, but it was obvious by the way they moved that something was wrong.  I felt so much pride for that person.  The strength it takes to do things independently.  To walk down a street making themselves visible to so many different opinions.

Sometimes I wonder what people think when they see someone who walks, talks, looks different.  It's like something that is personal, a piece of who they are, is open to anyone with seeing eyes.  What do you think when you see someone who is deformed?  What do think when you see someone walking abnormally? What do you think when you see someone with a cane?

I really want to know.  Do you wonder what happened to them?  Do you think you are better? Do you try to avoid it?  Do you think they are brave?  Do you wonder who they are as a person?  Do you ask people around you if they know what happened?

Do you think they are very beautifully made, but avoid inviting them to things?  Does it make you uncomfortable all together?  Does it make you feel good about yourself to help them?


I know that's a lot of questions.  Just looking for the truth.  I don't want to hear a politically correct answer.  I want to know what you think.  I was talking to a girl I see fairly frequently.  I don't know her that well, but her movements show that something has happened.  I asked her right out.  I saw her blush and react as though she was embarrassed.  Sometimes you just don't know what the right thing to do is.