Revisitng a Theory

This week I found myself revisiting Maslow’s Theory of Hierarchy.

Maslow explicitly defines self-actualization to be "the desire for self-fulfillment, namely the tendency for him [the individual] to become actualized in what he is potentially.

This tendency might be phrased as the desire to become more and more what one is, to become everything that one is capable of becoming."

Maslow used the term self-actualization to describe a desire, not a driving force, that could lead to realizing one's capabilities. Maslow did not feel that self-actualization determined one's life; rather, he felt that it gave the individual a desire, or motivation to achieve budding ambitions. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow )

Several of my friends, self included, are going through some trying times. Many are struggling with the frustrations involved with raising teenagers, concerned for their soon-to-be young adult children. One is a newly divorced mother waking up to an entirely changed life, a world that has been turned upside down, yet it is still revolving around her, rather she’s ready to face it or not.

Then we have those unfortunate souls, like me, who simply wake up one day to be told you no longer have the daily responsibility of reporting to work. Your purpose here is no longer needed. You no longer have any income. And by the way, your heating bill is due next week.

All of us are faced with circumstances, situations, events, that present themselves to us all each and every day of our lives. When we are faced with the more trying times they seem to suck us in. We soon find ourselves wondering why we are having such a difficult time of simply “feeling good” about our lives.

No matter whom you are or what your circumstances, rather you are on the top of the world or testing the waters of rock bottom Maslow’s Theory holds truth.

Mommy & Me Memory Recipe

I find it interesting the changes I am finding myself going through as a newly unemployed person.

My house is cleaner… (Thank God!) My laundry is all caught up and I’m considering painting our kitchen. These are all expected changes. I have more time to “stay on top of it”.
But there is one change that I am quite excited to see myself truly “getting into”. I’m cooking! And I don’t mean just “making dinner” cooking. I mean dusting off my cookbooks and making it “from scratch” cooking.

I have always found cooking from scratch to be excellent quality time with my elementary aged daughter. We open our cookbooks and choose our recipe. I love to watch the excitement in her eyes as we put on our Mommy & Me aprons. I get a chuckle watching her intensely concentrate as she tries to crack the eggs without dropping in pieces of the shell. We mix and we stir. We blend and we bake. And as we pull it from the oven, or stove top, or fridge, I see an extra bounce in her step, and certain twinkle in her eye. “We’ll, we did it mom! We made our recipe!”

I hope as she gets older she’ll see, that we not only made a food recipe, we made a memory recipe of Mommy and Me!

A Note To My Followers

Please except my apology for the excessive editing of today's post.

Today, I will be checking into an HTML Class and I am very excited about the possibilities to come knowing HTML.

Thank you for your patience,

Z

Newbie Syndrome

Yesterday we awoke to several inches of snow. As I stared out the window I saw the stillness. No cars were passing, all schools were closed. The streets were a white picturesque silence in the midst of the storm.

As I set there, allowing time to be absorbed by my wondering mind. I felt the wave of my writing mode consume me. Thoughts and topics raced through my head. I would start on one topic that led me to another, then another, then another. I have been finding myself doing this on a daily basis. And to be quite frank, my brain is on overload!

So I have to set back and analyze this. First and foremost, I would imagine this to be quite common amongst all Blog Newbie’s. I’m sure I’m not alone in my “confusion”. I am going to call it the “Newbie Syndrome”!

Next, I ask myself, what type of blog do I want this to be? Do I want this to be a “thought of the day” blog that some pondering soul in Tuscany reads each morning while she sips her flavored coffee and feeds her cat? Or maybe a ray of hope for some frustrated middle aged mother of two who reads this each day and feels she is not alone in this unpredictable world?

Or is this blog for me? Is this a tool to sort out my times, my trials and my realizations of my life each day?

As I search my soul for the answer, the only certain answer is that only time will tell…….

Good, Better, Best

Good, Better, Best,

Never let it rest!

Until your "good" is "better"

And you've turned your "better" into "best".

I'm certain I have altered this poem from it's original version. But I wanted to share it with you. It is a poem that made a lasting impression on my life. One of those "Aha!" moments that Oprah is always referencing.

Generations Past

As I was driving my daughter to school this morning, I noticed an elderly man, wearing an overcoat and pajamas, out shoveling the newly fallen snow. With broom in hand, he had made it to the last few inches of his walkway. An ever so light skiff of snow had fallen on the walk behind him. It seemed he had been out there for a while, as the snow had stopped within the last hour. His path was straight and flawless. There were no icy patches missed.

I was intrigued by the fact that this man had found clearing the snow from his walk to be so important that he simply threw on his coat, tucked his pajama pant legs into his socks and started sweeping.

On my return trip home, I started looking at the other walks, of my “one-stop-sign town”, and realized the only walks that were cleared were the walks of the elderly residents.

What a statement that makes of the generation past. I often find myself thinking of this subject. There are so many qualities of generations past, which have not held up to the test of time. Hard work has been replaced with an easy button. Taking pride in our work, our home, ourselves, has become selective. Respect, of others, no longer seems to be that which is earned, it has become an expectation or an entitlement. Respect, for others, has seemed to disappear unless there is “something in it for me”.

I feel there are many contributors to the deterioration of the values, morals and ethics of the generations past. Some we can control and others we can not. Some contributors have helped our world today. While conversely, others are tearing our world apart.

Then I ask myself. What am I doing as a human being, as a mother, as a partner, as a friend and as a citizen, to preserve the values, morals and ethics of the generations past?

I shutter to think of our world to come if we, as a future generation past, do not make a conscious effort to address this issue. Just as our nation makes its efforts to become “green” to preserve our planet, I feel we must, in addition, make an effort to become “keen” to preserve mankind.

Homeless for Two Minutes

As I was clearing my desk of the morning “must do’s” and getting settled in to write today’s post, I received an email from a long time friend. In utter desperation, she’s was asking me to pray for her. She has found herself with no other choice than to go to a homeless shelter. A homeless shelter! I can NOT imagine being in her situation at this age. Can You?

Put yourself in her shoes. Stop what you are doing. Stop reading this and take two minutes to envision this happening to YOU!

Where does your mind take you? ………….….

Better yet, where does your mind take you first? ……………….

……….. Mind blowing isn’t it?

Today, I will count my blessings. Today, I will say a prayer for all those in this nation whose minds are not envisioning this for two minutes. It is their every minute!

Tugday.... I mean Sunday

It's Sunday. What a mixed blessing Sunday's can be. On one hand, we wake knowing we have yet one more day left of our precious weekend. One more day to kick around the house in our slippers or enjoy a long cup of coffee and a cozy conversation with our partner. One more day to immerse ourselves in our families, our homes, ourselves.

On the other hand, we feel a tug from the reality of the, all too quickly approaching, week to come. We find ourselves checking our calendars, making our lists. What will each day need of me? What are my family's needs? And oh let's not forget what our employer expects from us this week!

I have yet to figure out how to eliminate that little "tug" that interrupts my tranquil Sunday. I'm not even sure it can be elininated. And if you really think about it, how lame would my life be if I didn't feel that tug? Like I said, a mixed blessing! Tugday!

Welcome!!

Welcome to my Blog. I have to chuckle and I must confess, I haven't a clue what I am doing. I hadn't even read a blog until last week! So bear with me while I figure all of this out.

As I stated in my "About Me", I am at one of those "cross-roads" in life. Recently "down-sized" by my employer, I have never been so excited about life. Crazy, I know! Most people at my age who have lost their job would be a mess.

I am just the opposite. I see an opportunity to re-invent my life. An opportunity to sit down on a life journey bench and take a long deep breath. I plan to set awhile and look around. And I'm not getting up until I've soaked it all in.

And that's how I ended up here. I have so many thoughts I feel like I'm going to burst at the seams. What better place to release all of this cerebral pressure than a blog.

I hope you enjoy reading. Drop me a note or what ever you drop when you like what you read....still learning.

Sincerely,

Z