Something More...

Time Away

Dionna Sanchez — 2009-03-24T16:42:53 -05.00

I was out of town for a few days. We drove 11 hours to Washington to be there for my neice's Wedding Ceremony.

I love road trips. There is something so cool about them. They take you out of your small little circle of life and get you looking at other parts of the world. Sometimes those parts aren't that far from yours. But different they are. And you can get introspective as you drive, drive, drive. Reflection is good for the soul.

Whether your trip ends up being a whirlwind (as ours was) or a nice relaxing jaunt away for a few days, it is so good to be taken away from your regular daily grind. We can get so accustomed to our rituals, routines, and schedules that they can become like a crutch for us. Without even realizing it we are confined to the "normal." But when you are taken away from that, usually it betters you in some way. You are either inspired and motivated more upon your return, ready to tackle some new challenges, or possibly just making changes inside of yourself.

Time away is important. Time away from your job. Time away from school, appointments and friends. Time away from the same-oh-same-oh.

If you haven't gone away in awhile, now's the time to do it. Even if you only drive 2 or 3 hours away, get away for an afternoon or a weekend. Look at what's around you, contemplate, and do something different.

Your soul will thank you.

Viewpoint

Dionna Sanchez — 2008-08-09T12:23:49 -05.00

Most of us tend to look at life based on what we've felt and experienced ourselves. It's natural. We have our own little window that we look through. But that window only sees one view if we don't get outside of our own little world sometimes.

My eyes have been opened more within the last 5 years partially, because I've been able to get outside of my own world and the way I live it to see and experience how others live and experience their lives a little bit. It's made me more aware of how and why people are the way they are.

I think we can get "tunnel vision" if we don't put ourselves into other people's shoes on occasion. We can also lose touch with human nature - expecting everyone to see things and interpret them the way that we do. It's not fair to them or ourselves. Someone who lives in a big city is not going to see or experience life the same way that someone in the country does. And someone who lives in a new, clean area will not understand how someone who lives in an area where they feel unsafe will feel about life. Or an American will view life differently than someone who lives in Africa, China, or Argentina.

We know all this in our heads but I think on a day to day basis; we forget. We assume that everyone goes about life just like us. That they have the same opportunies or lack thereof that we do. And if we don't feel this way, then maybe we unfairly assume things about people who live differently than we do. Maybe we assume that all rich people are uncaring and don't help others. Or that all people who live in the slums are dishonest and corrupt.

I think that no matter what our financial situation is, it's more important than ever in our growing world that we get out and see things. If we can get a better perspective of the big world we live in, it will feel smaller as we gain insight and empathy into the lives of others. It's important because as people travel more and more, we don't just live with those who grew up the way we do. We run into people from all nationalities, walks of life, and denominations.

If you can't fly to other countries, you can still drive. And if you can't drive, I'm betting you can still read or watch television and the Internet. Resources are so vast today. But nothing compares to being somewhere else and seeing with your own eyes what life is like there. Hearing the sounds and smelling the smells. Every city has a different personality and feel to it. Learn about it and the people who live there. Let it permeate your skin and grow to understand more about human nature.

Your viewpoint and the way you observe people handling and dealing with life - will grow and change. It will deepen and your understanding will grow as you learn the why's and how come's. That kind of knowledge can only benefit everyone as we learn to understand ... and maybe love each other a little bit better.

Ch-ch-changes

Dionna Sanchez — 2008-07-31T17:55:50 -05.00

This summer we took a big drive through the U.S. Part of that drive brought us through Kansas where we were able to revisit the past a little bit. We visited a carousel that was over 100 years old that still had 95% of its original paint, was still in the original building, etc. We also visited a little town where my husband lived for 2 years as a boy.

What was neat about visiting the past was seeing how things used to be done. My husband was able to go into his old school and we could see the wood casings, bookcases, and doorways. We could see the changes that the school had to undergo to stay with the times and also still see what had stood the test of time.

I love how things used to be made. They were made with pride, and style. They weren't just "slapped" up as a lot of things are today. They were unique and they had personality. Part of me is happy for the progress we have made in society. We benefit from what we learn along the way and there have been so many improvements that help our lives. But we also have lost something very critical. We've lost the ability to be unique. To take our time in investing and creating something so that it will last. Do you know that the lady at the carousel said that even the old paper used to create the music that radiated from the Werlitzer lasted better than the new paper they put in?

It seems that now, everything has to meet certain codes and standards. A school's a school. Most aren't very unique or different unless they reside in very old buildings. Playgrounds all look the same with that bright plastic all over them and even something like a carousel is pretty standard if it's new. The old carousel we visited had real horse hair on the tails and the animals were all unique and carved and painted with attention to detail. The animals didn't go up and down but stayed grounded so the carousel moved faster and we all enjoyed it immensely. It was different. It was better.

I guess time is bound to change things. There are bound to be safety improvements and other changes that need to be made. But I find it bittersweet. I wish that we could mesh the changes and improvements of life with the wisdom from the past. I wish that we could carry the pride and the beauty that was created to make something personal and unique - to today. I wish that people would crave the nostaligia from the past and use it to make their lives, their homes, their buildings, etc - beautiful and unique. Carve things yourself and use symbolism to make them special. Take an extra few months to build something so that it isn't just a slapped up - hurried product that resembles everything else around it. Use personal touches in your life to make your store, your home, and your family stand for something. For somehow we've lost that.

I think it's more than about just creating a product that stands out. It's what is created inside of someone in the process that has been lost the most. And it's that very inner "thing" that needs to be rediscovered the most.

Can't Buy Me Love

Dionna Sanchez — 2008-07-04T12:30:35 -05.00

Control. Some people like to control others. I think it stems from fear. Fear of losing a relationship or bond, fear of losing input in someone else's life - maybe even fear of not being accepted for simply being who they are. So they control someone else.

Most people don't like being controlled - except when it's done in a sneaky way. A lot of people can use control through buying power. What I mean by this is, they "buy" someone else through gifts, money, service, etc. Outwardly this seems harmless. So many of us would love to have someone we could count on to be there for us. We'd love to have a gift to make us feel special, some money just when things are tight, or someone to help out in our lives when we feel so stressed and overwhelmed. But a controlling person doesn't give these things from a heart that just wants to serve and love. They give from a heart that wants to control their environment and the outcome of situations. And it can become like poison in your life.

We all live in the same world. We all want close to the same things. So when someone is there offering to provide it for us, it can be next to impossible to say no to. Unless you have your priorities right and realize that just because something is permissible it doesn't mean it's beneficial.

If someone offers to help you out - it's not really a great solution if the way they are helping you out is by making you totally dependent on them. This only leaves you more helpless and makes it harder for you to stand on your own two feet in the future.

If someone offers to give you things it may seem nice except when it becomes so abundant that you lose out on the joy of being able to provide them for yourself or to feel the pride in knowing you worked hard for something and achieved your goal.

Living with people who are ready to bail you out at a moment notice, shower you with "things" and rush in to rescue you whenever a problem arises can only enable you. It's harmful and it's not "true" love. For true love knows when to back off and let someone hurt so that they will learn and grow and become stronger from it. True love respects boundaries and lines of privacy. It doesn't cross them and try to "buy" them or manipulate them so that they are always in the center or involved in everything that goes on in your life. That's only control.

Satan loves to use things that seem good or harmless to invade our live. He loves to creep in and gain space with us making it hard to kick him out. Having someone in your life who is willing and able to solve all your problems and buy all your needs may seem like heaven but if you think twice about it, you might realize it's only going to harm you in the long run - giving someone else the "say so" on your life.

Don't let yourself be bought. True love can't be bought - and it would never even ask.

Created For a Purpose

Dionna Sanchez — 2008-03-28T10:58:57 -05.00

"God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission - I never may know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. Somehow, I am necessary for His purposes, as necessary in my place as an Archangel in His. If, indeed, I fail, He can raise another, as He could make the stones children of Abraham. Yet I have a part in this great work; I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good, I shall do His work; I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it, if I do but keep His commandments and serve Him in my calling.

Therefore, I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away."

~ Henry Newman

Changing the Pace of Life

Dionna Sanchez — 2008-01-07T12:18:00 -05.00

It is the time of year when everyone is thinking about starting fresh at something. The kids are back in school and we are trying to get our houses organized and cleaned up again after the holidays. It's natural that our thoughts would reflect on the past year, and focus on what we want out of our life for the coming year. Usually, that involves change in one area or another.

It seems to me, that a lot of our goals remain unreached because our lives are too cluttered with other things. We can't be at our best if we are tired all of the time. It will affect our parenting, our marriages, our spiritual growth, our friendships, and our personal self-esteem.

It's time to prune things out of our lives. Whether it's too much volunteering for things, too many social events on your calendar, or too many activities for your children - it's time to take a look at what your family prioritizes and why. Where are you headed? What do you really want out of your life? It's better to be wholeheartedly passionate and involved in a few things than half-heartedly involved in many.

God wants us to enjoy our lives. There is nothing wrong or sinful about enjoying what we have been given in life. In fact, it is good and wise to enjoy our health, finances, and children while we have them - as long as we aren't foolish about how we enjoy them. But, part of enjoying life is taking the time we need to sit awhile and refresh ourselves. If we are going - going - going all of the time, that just isn't possible.

Life is about more than accumulating things, successes, and personal image. It's about learning, growing, giving, and appreciating what God has already given us.

Any time is a good time to make new goals and to set your heart upon positive change for your life. Any time is a good time to realize that life is pulling you along at its pace instead of you going about your life at your own pace. Take the steps you need to, to get rid of those things, people, and activities in your life that clutter up your time, emotions, and joy. Focus on things that will better your family as people and ask God to show you what He wants you to do with your time.

And don't forget that the Lord rested Himself and He set the example for us about how important it is for us to take a "time-out" from life occasionally to restore our hearts, souls, and bodies. He was always very "present" in what He was doing and with who. We should be as well.

You'll be amazed at how recharged your life will feel if you can just force yourself and allow yourself to relax and slow down the pace of your life. It will take time, effort, and practice - but it will be worth every minute you spend on making that change for yourself and for your family.

A Little Christmas Fun

Dionna Sanchez — 2007-12-07T13:02:24 -05.00

If you want to have a little bit of Christmas fun on your comptuer, there is a great site where you can make/design your own snowflake. It's here:Snowflake Maker

Give it a try! It's fun.