A Better Perspective

Recently I've been bombarded with reminders of what's most important in life, from family trips to the Thanksgiving holiday to the passing of dear family friend after courageously battling cancer.


A Facebook friend posted one day the link Top Five Regrets of the Dying- Exposing the Truth which reconfirmed what it's ultimately all about in life. I also recently read the book, Courageous, based off of the movie that really hit close to home as it followed the stories of some cop families in the south, with the focus on the need for strong families in a deteriorating society.

For me, this better perspective is focusing on what truly makes me happy.

First, my family:


We recently went to visit family (some for the first time, but that's another post) in Arizona and New Mexico, allowing all of us a chance to share family memories and just spend TIME with each other.

Sometimes it doesn't matter WHAT we're doing as long as we're spending time with each other. Though McCall's Pumpkin Patch was a COOL place to be! Again, that's another post.

Remembering to still be silly and have fun with each other is essential!

Ultimately, my greatest treasures are right here, in the form of a 5 year old future military dude, a 3 year old firecracker of a princess, and a 17 month old observer who thinks he's older than he really is.

It may have taken a family trip to bring this perspective back into view, but it started a seed in my soul to desire happiness. To NEED happiness.

My second focus that I've felt that I've lost has been blogging. All corniness aside, it's allowed me to document events in my life, no matter how mundane or trivial, but also keeps my grounded on retaining a bit of my pre-mommy life.

It's taken me awhile to realize that it's actually very healthy to continue pursuing things for myself now that I'm a mother, where before I felt guilt for not solely focusing on my treasures. I've gained a new perspective that yeah, it may take a little more juggling, but I love to blog, and it's something I can't sever from my life because it makes me feel a bit hollow. I love to follow other blogs, look at life's happenings with the question, "How would I blog about this?" and now, no longer feel guilty.

We may not have the big, flat screen tv's that have been on sale during Black Friday. And Cyber Monday. And Pre-/Post Black Friday or the bluray player to watch our bluray/dvd combo movies. We may not have the square footage that would be comfortable with a young, growing family, but my kids don't mind. Why should I? We may not even be able to afford extracurricular activity lessons such as monthly gymnastics or music lessons, but my kids are content to use their imagination playing in dirt or the public jungle gym, and love to make up their own tunes using household objects. Our Christmas tree may not have a gazillion presents around it, but my children know the magic of the Christmas Spirit by making others happy.

So what is a better perspective?

It's the reminder that life is always going to have stress, but it's how I handle it that leads to my own happiness. No one elses.

When I KNOW that I can decide how my day is going to be, no matter what the trial, that knowledge can make everyday extraordinary.

The Power of Music in Yellowstone

Clear back in July I went to Jackson Hole and Yellowstone with my mom and her childhood friend. We stayed at Lake Yellowstone Hotel and ate some scrumptious food (crab cake eggs benedict was AMAZING, but so was the lobster, grilled pear salad...

well, pretty much everything we ordered)

What really made the whole trip was the Lake String Quartet,

especially when they played this:

To truly get what I mean about mood music, you need to listen to this piece while I try to explain the atmosphere.

First, sidenote. My brother Nathan had me read Leo Tolstoy's "The Kreutzer Sonata" while he was taking a Russian literature class in university so we could "discuss it further" since they didn't have a lot of time in class. We talked about the power of music and how it can affect a person to do things that they otherwise wouldn't do or act on repressive emotions because the music has brought them to the surface.

I've grown up with a lot of different types of music in my life, and I firmly believe that's true. Some may not fall victim to this, but in other cases, it can connect people-individuals or a whole room-together for vice or virtue. End of sidenote.

After eating an incredible meal of lobster tails, roasted mutton and delicious side veggies, I left Lake Yellowstone Hotel's dining room with my mom and our friend Ron to discover the quartet in full swing. There were other hotel guests seated throughout the sunroom, so we pulled up a chair. They played some Hendrix (AWESOME!), Beethoven, and then Dvorak began.

They cleared the seating away and put the quartet in the middle

One fellow caught my attention early on. Nothing in particular stood out about him physically, though he was very attentive to all the songs while sitting behind the Quartet leaning against a wall. When Dvorak's New World Symphony began to play, he closed his eyes and became fully enraptured with the piece. All around me hotel guests were melding into the music.

Suddenly, we were all connected as we let this piece touch us in our own way, and when it ended on its last note, the air was tangible with emotion. With the exception of those I traveled to Yellowstone with, I didn't know anyone else in that room. There were people from nearly all the states of America and other countries, from hikers to empty-nesters to families young and old. Yet, we all were connected because of the emotions the music drew out, however sappy that may sound.

At one point, the aforementioned gentleman wept quietly as he softly moved his hand to the music, eyes closed the whole time, almost like a wallflower conductor. I saw this and felt an overwhelming connection to this stranger because of the music, causing me to get a bit teary-eyed seeing the personal impact the music had on him. The connection was kind of like our spirits shook hands and introduced themselves to each other.

After the music ended with "Happy Trails" we all sat there a few more minutes soaking in the beauty of an evening in Yellowstone National Park. I didn't talk to the fellow or anyone around me, but it was so neat to just sit and listen to the peace and contentment that went through the room after such good music.

As amazing as the trip was, it was the music (and admittedly, the good food) that I will remember the most. It's amazing what kind of power music has over me and triggers memories of all my other senses; when I hear this Dvorak piece, I remember the sights, sounds and smells of that day and it makes me happy.

What kind of power does music have over you?