As I’ve mentioned here before, one of the richest memories of my life is how I used to get up at 5:30 in the morning with my dad. It was our time. We’d eat GrapeNuts and tell each other about the miracle(s) we’d seen the day before. I still try to like GrapeNuts and I still try to look for miracles every day.

Finding the miracles has been harder for me lately. I might notice (my word for 2015) lovely people, places, or things, but I’ve allowed circumstances, over which I feel powerless, to cloud my ability to recognize them as miracles. That’s gotta change.

Here’s how I’m going to change it. Yes/And. I completely accept the reality that YES there are many things going on the world, over which I have no control. AND while I continue to attend to what I can, I’m going to focus on the light, the good, the possible, along with the people doing the light, good, and possible.

YES, the divisions, gloom, fear, and darkness will still be around. My focus, however, will not be as glued to it, as it has been lately. I’m going to focus on the power of miracles. When I find myself tempted to dwell in the negative longer than is necessary, I’m going to seek out AND people, places, and things. AND people, places and things are the miracles Daddy and I used to share with each other daily. I’ll share some of them with you here.

I shouldn’t be as surprised as I am that every.single.one.of.us.humans houses stories and truths the rest of us can’t even imagine.  I am surprised though, and humbled.  Last week, I was surprised, humbled and gobsmacked by the courageous and creative way my friend, Alyson Bahr, chose to share some of her story.  Her one woman show, Finding My Words, opened last week at the Columbus County Arts Council in Whiteville, NC.  In it, she uses her words, paint, paper, wood, sculpture and fiber to tell the story of how she experienced, hid from, named, stared-down, and rose above trauma that, sadly, too many others continue to be controlled by.

If you live within driving distance of Whiteville, I encourage you to experience Finding My Words for yourself, (Tues – Thurs 8:30- 1:00) before the show closes August 10.  UNC-Pembroke is also hosting an impromptu reception on Monday, July 10, beginning at 5:30pm at the Columbus County Arts Council.

 If you don’t live close enough and are interested in having the show visit your area, contact Alyson at alysonbahr@gmail.com or through her website, www.alysonbahr.com.

YES, we’ve all got stories we wish we’d never experienced, much less felt the need/willingness to share, AND we get to write the rest of our story.