Greater Purpose. For Rick and Derek.

I don't want to count my days to heaven
I know they're coming and they will be infinite
What is now, is the gift I've been given
And it's for cause.

Christ did not walk this earth so I could be ready to leave it
Nor did God create these paths so we could bypass them
You were meant to be present
- and available to what you can do here.

Many speak of the hereafter, and how amazing it will be
All I can do is sit back wondering why they don't see
We are blessed with the bounty of opportunity, breath and life
You have been given Eden.

Perfect?  No.  Divine?  You bet it is.
There are miracles given to us by Grace -
there's forgiveness given to us by Mercy.
Why fast-forward through this gift?

I know where I'll go when my breath is no more
Blessed to be part of a greater story than my own
But I would be errant in His purpose for giving me life
If I didn't live it.

(For Rick and Derek - who are both on their own paths - and who need to remember that the beauty of life is that you have been blessed with it.  Go live it.)

Hot Coals. Hot Anger. Cool Resilience.

Buddha taught in the Suttas, “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.”

I'm not easy to anger - but when I do, I flare like a big fire - and if given the opportunity to directly address my anger, I will cool fast.  If not, I realize the coal sets into this slow burn/boil - if my voice is silenced then I just simmer.

Sunday I was taking an early morning drive and I was pondering situations that had recently flared my anger and I thought something that was bordering preposterous and telling...

"It's not that I think I'm always right - but I need to understand when I'm wrong."

Real communication, without backbiting, is my favorite kind of talk.  I tell someone my view and perception - and then I earnestly listen as they voice their real view and we find the opportunity to move forward.  

Mind you, it's not as nice as it sounds - sometimes I debate in technical terms - or I move my mindset to cement and need a sledgehammer to move me.  (Sledgehammers are okay when you're trying to change the path of many.)

Hello - I'm faulted and human.  Sometimes people don't know me well enough to realize that my ulterior motive is the best outcome of the greater good.  But - in my current perview- you have to get out of your tower long enough to know this about me.

...

And passionate.  If I don't think it's the right thing - I don't do it.  If it serves only me - I won't do it.  If it creates, in my perception, a best path for many people - I'll push forward like a bull. I don't need to be right - I need to know when I'm wrong.  I'll pause when I'm wrong.  I'll stop and acquiesce to best next steps and I will, with a most humble nature say, "I was wrong."

But if you can't look me in the eye.  If you are offended by a simple writing or path - then I hold that coal and simmer.  And then I resent that I was holding the damn coal in the first place. 

Open - accepting - just say your truth.  Don't be manipulative.  Don't be self-serving.  Get off your seat (arse) and realize there are many people who depend on you to lead.  Leadership is not an opportunity - it's a gift - and it's not easily given.  Leadership has zero to do with you - but everything to do with the people that you can foster into being the best souls.  If you can do that - they will lift you to the greater goal.

"Can't do" or "Won't do" or "Will fail" leadership un-inspires me.  

Tell me - what can you do?  What do you bring?  How do you inspire your people?  How do you collaborate?  How do you face differences without overturning the apple-cart?  

Consider those apples, Johnny Appleseed, because safe is only your one next crop - then you must answer for the next season, and likely, you will will find nothing more than decent compost.

*sigh.... I have this damn coal in my hands and I want to be rid of it ... 

The crux of this is if I rid myself of it too early, then I'm not true to something beyond me and my ego.

The reality is that I have to take a breath, love, listen and understand that I do not have to understand everything.

Which leaves me humble and open to opportunity of enrichment.  

This makes me receptive.  (which is my daily prayer, "Lord, I am receptive.")

I refuse to let this burn much longer - but - I'll be damned if I shake my stake without cause.

...

Be loved and strong and known and scared and hopeful and resilient.

Good purpose understands the best nature.

Love to you crazy souls.

-  §

Hit The Road. Heart on My Sleeve. Mosaic Heart.

I totally love Lizzie West.

L.O.V.E.

Listening to her songs this morning - I realized I'm feeling very close to a song she sang on the album Holy Road.

I have sucked at relationships.  Oh - that's such an understatement.  It's not always me - it's not always them - I think I'm not very good at picking "them."  I think at first I was too young, then too scared, then too prideful - now I'm just ... *sigh* 

Cautious.  Bruised.  ...

And I sometimes feel that if I get close to someone - so much so that I start to care too much - it's time for me to hit the road.  I can't invest that much anymore - because I can't hurt that bad again. 

...

And yet - and yet - and yet -

I love freely.  I can't help it.  It's how I'm made.  I love with wild abandon - it's what gives me joy.  One of the best books I read was a collection of insight and advice from older women or survivors of cancer.  They each conveyed - in one way or another - that the one thing they regretted was holding back their love for fear of rejection or being hurt again. 

...

I just thought of something... mosaics are an ancient and beautiful artform.  The more pieces - the more detail - the more breathtaking.

Maybe that's how broken hearts should be considered over time.

(Oh, Simone - I like that.)

...

May your heart know love.  Be fearless you beautiful souls.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Byu4_ezWiBs

Woke up that morning, slept hand in hand
Figured last night was a warning, that it was time to end
This great love affair
But I will miss you, and darling, I swear - I still love you
And all that we shared
But when you find you are so very confused
And you've got nothing but the world to prove
And you would rather say "I love" more than "I lose" him
It's time to hit the road again
Darling, I still love you - and honey, I swear
That I will always love you and all that we shared
But when you find you are so very confused
And you've got nothing but the world to prove
And you would rather say "I love" more than "I lose" him
It's time to hit the road again.
...
I woke up this morning, so far from your home
Knew I heeded a warning, so fast and so bold
But when you find you are so very confused
And you've got nothing but the world to prove
And you would rather say "I love" more than "I lose" him
It's time to hit the road again
Darling, I still love you - and honey, I swear
I still love you and all that we shared
But when you find you are so very confused
And you've got nothing but the world to prove
And you would rather say "I love" more than "I lose" him
Well then, it's time to hit the road all over again.

Plant Your Feet. Just Keep Going. Mighty Blessed.

The day started out simple enough.

Didn't realize it was going to be one of those days where I build a memory that I'll reflect back on - once again - hello growth.

A quick morning of caching - meeting Jake to get a gifted trout fillet - a quick peek at a local disc golf course - stop by a local shop to purchase a few discs.

Then I decided to run to Echo Lane Trailhead and geocache a bit more.   The bike trails there are amazing and I was tickled to see so many people out.  My third cache in, I looked up at what I'm calling Echo Peak and the following happened:

"I wonder if I could get to the top of that?"
"Do you want to?"
"Yes."
"Then you can."

Just like that - my internal conversation settled the matter.  So I surveyed the scene and realized the south climb would be easiest - so I followed a bike trail until I realized that none of the bike trails were going as high as I wanted.

"What are you going to do?"
Surveyed the side of the hill - "Go up."

And so I got off the paths and started my climb.  Up.

"Hey - this is really rocky and there are no trails.  You sure about this?"
... "Yup - get to the top."

I found myself reflecting upon a relationship from a year past - he was a mountain climber and quite the adventurer.  He talked me into trying paddleboarding for the first time, hiking the back trails of Yellowstone, and talked me through climbing a couple of situations and I could hear him today saying, "Plant your foot.  Use your legs."  So that's what I did, I planted my foot, used my legs and kept climbing.

"You don't know where you're going."
"True.  That means I just need to keep going."
"What if you fall?"
"You're not going to fall.  You're going to plant your foot and then do it again.  What do you want to do?
"Get to the top."
"Well, get to the top."

I got to the first "ridge" area of the climb and looked down across the valleys and trails, "You know, this is pretty high - the rest of the climb looks a lot more steep and more rocky."
"Is it the top?"
"Nope."
"Wanna?"
"Yep."

Each path I surveyed before I decide upon the next steps for up.  Lots of internal conversation - like, "Why didn't you bring your walking stick?"  "Hey, at least you grabbed your backpack and water."

A few times I had to backtrack for an area where I felt that I would be a little more sure-footed.  Closer and closer I was getting to the top and I was getting excited about it.  Looked up and there was a hawk hanging around.  "Hey, Hawk, I'm coming your way."

Very close to the top, I stopped because I realized I had not put sunscreen on.  As I recently told Athena, my many days outside last Summer has permanently changed my perfectly white milky skin a different color.  "I used to be the color of cream."  She responded, "Well, now you're more of a creme' brulee."  I still chuckle at that.

So I parked under some shade, pulled out my water, some nuts and dried fruit - listened to the birds  - sat in the lotus position and took deep breaths.  Then covered bits of me with sunscreen.  I looked down at my pack and chuckled at its contents - I took a picture to share below.  Now before you knock the Evian spray - that stuff is awesome.  If you're hot, it'll cool you down.  If your face feels dry - it's so great.  I was looking down at my stuff thinking how blessed I was to have people who have taught me to be prepared.  I was just feeling really, really blessed.

And I started up the rest of the way - to get as close to the top as I could.

And I did.  And it was awesome.

Now here's the funny part - and the part that made me realize what I did today was such a reflection of my entire life.

The climb down.  Lord knows I can't just go back the way I got there - I needed to go down the front.

"This is really, really, really steep.  And dumb."
"No - it's steep - but go slow."
"You don't know where you're going."
"True, but I know I'm going West and down and this is West and down."
"If you fall ..."
"Not gonna fall."

Plant your foot.  Look around - be fearless.

There was a point in the down-trek that reminded me of the rock in Lion King.  Not gonna lie - I totally started singing "THE CIRCLE OF LIFE" - really loud.  Like - REALLY loud.  And then got so tickled at myself I was bent over laughing.

"Simone - this is not that funny."
"Oh, yes it is!"

Here's the deal.  I did not know where I was going - I did not know if I was going the right way - I didn't know how in the world I was going to get down.  I did know I was going.  I was going up.  I was going to go back down.  The path wasn't as important as knowing that it was going to happen and knowing it was going to be okay.

That's been the best part of my life - from childhood, motherhood, wife, employee, sister, friend - I am not good at taking the path I'm supposed to take.  I just know it's always going to be okay - and if I allow myself to pause in this life - I get to really enjoy and reflect upon the blessings of living.

It's amazing.

My wish for you is you do things out of your comfort zone.  Go up.  Talk yourself into things that seem careless - and do it.  Live.

 You ask yourself - can I get to the top of that?

It's Up.  Just plant your feet.

Not quite to the top - but looking West.

This is what's on the other side.

Keeping me company.

This was the top.

Athena - Kim - this was my chosen path of descent.

"The CIRCLE OF LIFE!...."

42 - Moving Forward

I'm often ridiculous about the next phase of me...

Forging ahead to 42.

42 is this oxymoron of achievement and failure.  It's my challenging point - which is why I scheduled adventure before and after it - camping and paddleboarding all over north-west Montana.

42 frightens me.

Nicki Dianne Hale Hite Simpson was before me - her last year was 42.  I want to honor her.  Cherish her effort and honor it.  (I'll be 42 this year, Mom.  Are you amazed?  I am.)  I'm bitter and forgiving ... I'm fierce and mighty.

I watched a movie about Jackie Robinson recently.  Do you know what his number was?

42.  He was fierce and incredibly forgiving.  (I love this.)  Mr. Robinson was so great, his number is one of the few retired in baseball. 

42.  He made it brave.

I wasn't going to give any number a weight that would affect my forward motion.  Ever.  (This folks is called fear. I'm guilty of shielding and hiding it - but this is fear at its best.)  I've dreaded this birthday  more than any other.  I saw it a cruel and cynical number that I battled much longer than its foundation.  Not wanting to repeat the past - not wanting to even allow it power - 42 and I have faced off for years - since my teens.

I have 4 full months before 42 comes to fruition.   I'm tired of fearing and dreading it - I am not my past - and I am not those who came before me.  I am not required to carry the burden of 42 anymore.

I am Simone.

This me - this Simone - who finds herself close to 42. I'm ready to embrace it.  I'm going to make 42 amazing.  (I'm going to make 84 even more phenomenal.)

I've not shared this fear to many people - oddly, my daughter guessed it during a recent conversation.  She seemed to understand that her mom was wrapped in a ghost that shouldn't be my weight to carry - yet - it hasn't left me. 

I will not give my children a number as a weight for their years to come.

41 - let's keep this up - because 42 needs a beautiful introduction to the best that is yet to come.

Love to you - all of you.  (because you know I mean that from every bit of light I have...)

Holy Road - Stones - Cassidy A Maze

My travels have me selecting the best keepsakes - I find a stone - a pebble ...
It's not a postcard or mass-market trinket
It's a weathered bit of mineral and time
There are the stones from the Baltic Sea where I danced wildly, with hands aflutter
The white quartz stone from Dailey Lake where that first kiss happened
A heart shaped stone found at my first waterfall - at my first visit to Glacier Park
A sliver of cement history, fear and forgiveness, from the Berlin Wall
Three graduated rounded stones from my adventures at Duck Creek Pass
Amethyst from my favorite shop in Texas, Cassy's, and today it balances a beautifully crafted jade orb
Hand painted stones from a South Korean woman at the local Helena farmer's market - she told me my strong dragon personality would find it's right pairing soon
...
I collect the stones and moss that cross my path and seem to recognize me.
...

Which makes me reflect upon a beautiful song by Lizzie West (Cassidy A. Maze)...

(click the link to play this amazing song)

Holy Road - by Lizzie West - Cassidy A. Maze 

I found I could go no more 
My basket empty 
And before me a thousand colored doors 
So I sat down to plead with a force beyond my reach 
Hey lord can you hear me? 
I been calling your name 
Tell me lord do you fear me? 
My nature remains 
'cuz I am human anyway 

You help me please if I may say 
'cuz I know the stable built by the hands of man 
And I know a small-town boy 
Wants to star in a rock and roll band 
And I know a 10 cent tip on a 22 dollar check. 

And for these few things I know 
These are things that I have been told 
And I still don't  know the walk of a holy road. 
I still don't know the walk of a holy road. 
Hey lord can you hear me? 
I've been begging your name 
Tell me lord, please speak clearly now 
Do I live in vain? 
For I am human anyway 
You help me please, if I may say 
Oh mother, may I? 
And father, may I? 
Tell me teacher, may I? 
You proud preacher, may I? 

Cuz I want to know the walk of a holy road 
I want to know the walk of a holy road ...

Well I know the time for a seed to take 
And I know how high the water rises, 
just before it breaks 
and I know the want of a touch 
from a lover who can't give enough 

and for these few things I know, 
these are the things that I was never told 
and then I wonder - are these the walk of a holy road? 
Are they the lines of trees? 
Are they the hedges, see? 
Are these the signs of a very holy road? 

Hey lord you can hear me, well I spoke your name - 
and lord it comes clear to me now 
I live not in vain 
for though I am human I can pray 
and as I pray I will celebrate 

'cuz I know the soothe of a song when the trap has got me lame 
and I know the chorus of crickets singing out their nightly praise 
and I know the sound of a swelling storm just before it rains. 

These are the stones of a holy road 
and I pick them up and I gather them as I go 
(These are the stones) 
These are the stones of a holy road 
and I pick them up and I gather them as I go 
These are the stones of a holy road 
and I pick them up and I gather them as I go

Dear You. Whoever You Are.

I'm curious.

About your past.

Your regrets and your passions.

What is that one moment you wish you could re-do?  What is the moment you're most proud of?

What is your language in a relationship - receiving/giving gifts, quality time, words of affirmation, acts of service (devotion), or physical touch - is it a combination of a few?

Are you old school?  More progressive in your way of thinking?

What's the most thoughtful thing someone could do for you?

How do you handle stress?

Do you yell? 

Do you realize the importance of a kiss?  And that all things in life are sensual and incredibly amazing?

If you're angry/injured by your partner - how do you express it?

Do you think it's possible for a woman to be progressive in her approach to life but still embrace "old school" traditions as a feminine partner?

Define femininity.

Can a woman not be a perfect 10 physically but a 12.5 in every other part of their life?

What stills your soul?

What inspires you to be your best?  What makes you your worst?

What quote explains your person - your soul - your life?

What do you want?  I've been trying to figure that out. 

Is there a rhyme or reason to contact you?  Is there a right time to reach out?  When is it too much?

This is exhausting.  And beautiful.  And possible.