Saturday, October 12, 2013

A Mindful Fed (Part 4)


Keep a life!

One of the most amazing things to me is how entwined our jobs are with our lives. It seems that things went sideways almost the moment our routine was disrupted.

I remember my mom thinking that retirement would be so awesome. No more deadlines, no more daily grind, no more fussing with a boss and demands of the job. But it soon became obvious that without a daily routine, a focus for one’s energy, and a direction to travel from day to day, life became a great desert with her wandering for the proverbial 40 years. That’s a shame too. She worked hard and deserved to enjoy that time. Don’t misunderstand, she did enjoy parts of it and was grateful to be away from that particular grind. But with no direction to move in, she found at times she was just spinning in circles.

The best way to face the lack of job-based direction seems to be to maintain some other semblance of direction. Without having a job to go to, we often need to replace it with activities and people so that we don’t feel we are lost, at sea all alone and without any sight of shore.

I try to spend time most every day around people, writing. It gives me a sense of accomplishment, joy, and much-needed practice. I have the ability to get my thoughts out, hopefully make some dent in peoples’ lives, and maybe even help someone along the way.

The love of my life is working on her future as an entrepreneur. A good friend is increasing his future in the music biz. Friends are spending time with loved ones, focusing on rallies or other means of calling attention to the crisis we share, and sadly a few may be drawing inward and experiencing a different kind of shut down. We are all dealing with this in the best ways we know how.

So for everyone reading this, I encourage you to reach out and make a difference in the life of a Federal employee. Not some politician, but a member of your family, your friend, your neighbor. Offer a little help if you can.

That doesn’t have to be money, or food, or a place to stay. It could be as simple as empathy, support, a hug, a text urging the person to keep going despite these hard times. Let them know they are appreciated, that they have value and dignity and above all hope despite circumstances. Shine a little light into their life to help lift a shadow or two.

In all, we are all as a nation suffering in some way with this. How will we make it through?

United. Determined. Focused on good, with love and peace.

Huh. I suddenly feel like listening to the Beatles.

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