Ah, 2008. The first of 365 days that offer opportunities to grow, to love, to experience, to savor, to say YES to life. No, this short post isn’t going to be a list of my resolutions but rather a reminder to “While alive, live.” I can’t remember who said that, but I’m sure it was somebody famous. If you know who, please tell me.
Okay, just a few things I’d like to do more of (not exactly resolutions): read, write, travel, do good deeds and speak kind words, spend time with family and friends (yes, I know everyone says that, but I’m fervently sincere about it). I’d like to decide what to do about retirement (yes or no, and if yes, then what next?), participate in a minimum of two half-marathons, stop procrastinating and put up a webpage, go to New York City with DH, dance at my son’s wedding, learn to make jewelry, and the list goes on. I just want to be a better person and use whatever gifts God gave me to do so…and to help others in their journeys as well.
That said, I want to share a quote from a delightful little book entitled Who Moved my Cheese? by Spencer Johnson. I read it in about an hour a few years ago as my daughter Elizabeth and I were cruising along I-95 from GA to SC, and it made such a powerful impact that I gave copies to my children AND have found a way to incorporate its wisdom into my psychology courses. And speaking of psychology classes, it was a student in one of them who introduced me to the book when he said, almost inaudibly, the words Hem and Haw one day as we were talking about change. When I asked him what he was talking about, he told me about the little critters and how they adapted to change.
Before I share Johnson’s quote, you need to know that cheese is a metaphor for what we want in life; it could be a job, a relationship, a home, money, status, peace of mind…anything. HERE GOES: “It is safer to search in the maze than remain in a cheeseless situtation.”
Isn’t that powerful? Are you in a cheeseless situation? What would it take to get you out into the maze? Is is more courage you need? More confidence? I’d love to read what you’re thinking, and maybe we can all encourage one another to get out of cheeseless situations.
mom's musings 
I think I have just taken to many wrong turns in the maze (haha)
I read that book several years ago…I’ll have to refresh my memory.
It was a great little book! So what’s your word for 2008?
Actually, you mention courage here and that is the word I have been considering for 2008.
PSS… I can help you with the jewelry making. DH = darling husband? When you solve the proscrastination thing, let me know,
I’ll be the one, you guessed it, proscrastinating!!! I have great ideas, sometimes need serious pressure to follow through! And do I really need more cheese (just kidding).
Taking wrong turns is still better (in my humble opinion) than staying in a cheeseless situation. Courage is a great word, and it sure fits this situation. Maybe I’ll choose that too. Hmmm. Let me mull it over some.
More cheese? Maybe. At the same time, it could be that we need some more variety. While cheddar is great, think of all the other varieties yet to sample…in work, travel, experiences, and just about everything else.
DH=Dear Husband (something I picked up from a sister blogger)
Well, you actually have 366 days this year (leap year) to live, grow, etc! I sometimes feel very cheeseless at home with Kev, I havent quite figured out how to get “un-cheeseless”! I guess patience might come into play!
Another way to look at this (this is the psychology teacher and mother part of me coming out) is to focus on the big, healthy hunk of cheese that you do have like those two little blond haired darlings who live with you. At the same time, this is a very stressful time in your life, and I well remember the struggles of raising children and working a full-time job. This past year you’ve found new cheese with a job change, and I’m thinking that that might lead to even more new cheese that you haven’t even found yet.
I love the quote. The quote makes me think of another saying that I have always loved, “If the horse you’re riding is dead, dismount!”
Just think, every path that you search is a new adventure even if you don’t find cheese. That’s the beauty of life -every path, every road has a lesson and therefore a reward.
That’s so true. I love the way you think. Even if things don’t work out the you had planned, at least you took steps down the path. One of the most important things I’ve learned from teaching Human Growth and Development is that when older people are asked about their regrets, it’s always about the things they didn’t do. Even if they tried and fell flat on their faces, they were happier than if they’d never tried at all. I plan to keep walking down different paths, don’t you?
I loved the quote so I checked out the book today. What a fun book. I really liked it. Thanks for pointing it out.
I’m glad you’re enjoying it. I think that’s also the book where I found the quote, “What would you do if fear were not a factor?” or something like that.