My word for 2016 is ATTEND. 

Although I don’t think attending is a superpower, some days I wish it was. On those days, I think if one more person promises that he or she has the superpower to right all wrongs and save US from THEM, I daydream about sticking a pencil in my (or someone else’s) eye. On my better days, however, I choose to acknowledge that while I have no superpowers and am responsible TO the World – I’m not responsible FOR it. I’m responsible FOR my life and how I choose to live it.

To that end, I will attend to what and whom I can. And I’ll remember that I don’t have to attend every argument, drama or political whack-o-doodleness to which I’m invited. Each Sunday , I’ll share something here – an image, a poem, a song or maybe even a story that’s helped me attend to what I can that week.

Chop Wood, Carry Water = Boil Peanuts, Soak Peanuts

Tom had surgery on his right foot this past Friday.  He’ll most likely require this same surgery on his left foot, after this one heals.  Friday went well. Saturday was tougher, as we waited for the nerve block to wear off.  Tom’s an active, healthy and independant man.  So the past few days have just been just a sip of how his next six weeks will taste.  It’s not going to be yummy.

In an effort to brighten Tom’s spirits a bit, I made one of his favorite snacks – boiled peanuts.  I wanted them to be perfect. They weren’t.  They were way too salty.  My ‘lemonade spirit’ was shot, until I remembered the advice of my brother-in-law’s late mom.  She once told me, ” A good Southern cook and fix any mistake with water, butter or frosting.”

So I began soaking, draining, soaking, draining, soaking and draining – until the peanuts were almost perfect. They were yummy.

Attending to others, especially those we love who are in pain, is not for sissies, or perfectionists.  So we control what we can control; fix what we can fix; chop wood, carry water; boil peanuts, soak, drain, and love.

What kind of attending have you experienced or witnessed lately?