These reflections are very timely. The other day I walked out of the clinic where I work. It was nearly evening, and the sultry atmosphere hit me like a wall as I left the air-conditioned building. The next thing I noticed was the smell coming from a nearby apartment, and it was so familiar. Fish sticks! I was instantly transported back to being a child, looking out the screen door on a humid summer evening with my mom in the kitchen and the smell of Friday night’s dinner (fish sticks!) baking. The wave of intense nostalgic emotion rolled over me and nearly dropped me to my knees. “There’s something valuable here,” I thought. A snapshot of a precious but seemingly insignificant moment in time that suddenly became available in the present moment. So the reclaiming (and inadvertent inhabiting) of that moment was a reminder that there are other parts of ourselves that have been put away and seemingly forgotten. I had the realization that if this kind of recollection brought on such an intense response, how much more so the abandoned dream that was so fresh and sparkly that lived in that youthful heart?
THE OCEAN. The sound of the waves as they crash the shore. the salty smell and taste of fish and chips, the sight and sound of seagulls.it all makes me remember happy sunny days with family and friends. the view itself is just magnificent too. but.it mainly reminds me that things come and go until they don't of course and that we need to just enjoy the good times while they last and when we go through the bad times know they too shall pass. Or at least lessen.
I saw my name on book covers. Then life happened. I wrote for our newspaper, church newsletters,
Guiding Light Devotional magazine, freelanced writing product descriptions for 5 different companies, created blogs, a small town newspaper column etc.
Today one nonfiction book has my name on the cover. Writing still calls my name but I don’t know what my message is anymore.
You had me at Captain Kangaroo. Those are some of my most favorite memories…I know I spent lots of time watching that show. And the fact that you painted such a vivid picture…love that. Thank you. I am not retired…but I have not stopped dreaming. I am in the process of launching something wonderful. And once that is off the ground, the possibilities are endless! Thanks again.
This came at the perfect time for me Monica Rose. Guidance has been telling me to move, to change many aspects of my life, which I have loved and have become very comfortable, but that are now feeling as if they contain me rather than support my expansion. This piece is confirmation for what guidance is saying. Now I feel aligned and peaceful as I go through this process. Thank you.
I was a huge Captain Kangaroo fan. I still miss Bunny Rabbit and Mr. Moose. Thank you for this an the reminder be in the moment, not the future crisis looming in our minds.
So..... a few hours after reading this post, I was out and about .... on my way home suddenly remembered, "oh, I was going to notice red cars."
I'm not kidding..... I saw 8 in less than 10 minutes! I started laughing! Now........ to notice what relates to me in this present time........ hmmmmm.
It reconnected the very young me to the 70-year-old me who loses that connection due to the demands of focus, time, and energy to what has to be attended to now. I felt grief over the recognition that I have gotten swallowed up and kept busy for years, and the sense of loss was painful. It heightened my awareness of the disconnect and a promise to myself to start nurturing my sense of childlike wonder and joy again.
This is absolutely wonderful Monica. You captured my feeling about living my dreams so well. I’m living a couple of them but more to go. I don’t think I can splurge on a red sports car but the freedom and laughter that goes with it, those are definitely available. By the way, I loved the Captain and Mr. Greenjeans, but I don’t even remember the construction paper. I have no natural artistic talent, so isn’t that interesting. For me it was the Treasure House and the animals.
I needed this today, thank you so much! I used to know exactly what I wanted to do and be - and work just overwhelmed my brain, cutting off my imagination. I'm going to find her again.
Hey everyone, after you practiced the feeling of the red car - or whatever your dreams is / was, here's a niftly follow throuhg practice. Ask this question: What opportunities, decisions, relationships, and actions become visible now that I have told my attention what I want?
Monica Hebert - thank you this was magic. My connection is child like energy . Tried very hard but did not get to be a mum in the traditional sense . Was a foster carer mum - but dealing with a broken heart from that at the moment. My red car 🚗/ my yellow scarf - helping kids / hanging out - was going to be a teacher - but a little old now to go back to school . Your suggestion sit with it / think of the feelings / and perhaps it will be x and the grandchildren I have via my husband will be in our lives more frequently xx I am open to all adventures xx
Monica, You're my people. I grew up outside Harrrisburg PA. Our mailbox had RFD #2 on it. Our Elementary School was 4 blocks away but didn't yet offer Kindergarten. Captain Kangaroo was my Kindergarten. Mom was classroom assistant & provided supplies. Dave Garroway & J. Fred Mugs were also part of my AM routine.
These reflections are very timely. The other day I walked out of the clinic where I work. It was nearly evening, and the sultry atmosphere hit me like a wall as I left the air-conditioned building. The next thing I noticed was the smell coming from a nearby apartment, and it was so familiar. Fish sticks! I was instantly transported back to being a child, looking out the screen door on a humid summer evening with my mom in the kitchen and the smell of Friday night’s dinner (fish sticks!) baking. The wave of intense nostalgic emotion rolled over me and nearly dropped me to my knees. “There’s something valuable here,” I thought. A snapshot of a precious but seemingly insignificant moment in time that suddenly became available in the present moment. So the reclaiming (and inadvertent inhabiting) of that moment was a reminder that there are other parts of ourselves that have been put away and seemingly forgotten. I had the realization that if this kind of recollection brought on such an intense response, how much more so the abandoned dream that was so fresh and sparkly that lived in that youthful heart?
That is so powerful, Mary-Jo, that memory. Can I ask, how do you think that translates to you in this present time? Was that experience a breadcrumb?
I'm trying to decipher what the memory of what made made me lean in as a girl, has to do with me now... today....
THE OCEAN. The sound of the waves as they crash the shore. the salty smell and taste of fish and chips, the sight and sound of seagulls.it all makes me remember happy sunny days with family and friends. the view itself is just magnificent too. but.it mainly reminds me that things come and go until they don't of course and that we need to just enjoy the good times while they last and when we go through the bad times know they too shall pass. Or at least lessen.
Yes to the ocean 🌊 and all these things x
thankyou
thanks
I saw my name on book covers. Then life happened. I wrote for our newspaper, church newsletters,
Guiding Light Devotional magazine, freelanced writing product descriptions for 5 different companies, created blogs, a small town newspaper column etc.
Today one nonfiction book has my name on the cover. Writing still calls my name but I don’t know what my message is anymore.
You had me at Captain Kangaroo. Those are some of my most favorite memories…I know I spent lots of time watching that show. And the fact that you painted such a vivid picture…love that. Thank you. I am not retired…but I have not stopped dreaming. I am in the process of launching something wonderful. And once that is off the ground, the possibilities are endless! Thanks again.
Can I shout loud enough? THIS IS GREAT!!!!! I feel totally JAZZED about this exercise! Love it, love it love it!!!
This came at the perfect time for me Monica Rose. Guidance has been telling me to move, to change many aspects of my life, which I have loved and have become very comfortable, but that are now feeling as if they contain me rather than support my expansion. This piece is confirmation for what guidance is saying. Now I feel aligned and peaceful as I go through this process. Thank you.
I was a huge Captain Kangaroo fan. I still miss Bunny Rabbit and Mr. Moose. Thank you for this an the reminder be in the moment, not the future crisis looming in our minds.
This is so good and captures how we can reconnect to the dreams. It's seems slow going yet I'm moving towards those alive feelings.
So..... a few hours after reading this post, I was out and about .... on my way home suddenly remembered, "oh, I was going to notice red cars."
I'm not kidding..... I saw 8 in less than 10 minutes! I started laughing! Now........ to notice what relates to me in this present time........ hmmmmm.
🎉
It reconnected the very young me to the 70-year-old me who loses that connection due to the demands of focus, time, and energy to what has to be attended to now. I felt grief over the recognition that I have gotten swallowed up and kept busy for years, and the sense of loss was painful. It heightened my awareness of the disconnect and a promise to myself to start nurturing my sense of childlike wonder and joy again.
This is absolutely wonderful Monica. You captured my feeling about living my dreams so well. I’m living a couple of them but more to go. I don’t think I can splurge on a red sports car but the freedom and laughter that goes with it, those are definitely available. By the way, I loved the Captain and Mr. Greenjeans, but I don’t even remember the construction paper. I have no natural artistic talent, so isn’t that interesting. For me it was the Treasure House and the animals.
I needed this today, thank you so much! I used to know exactly what I wanted to do and be - and work just overwhelmed my brain, cutting off my imagination. I'm going to find her again.
Lisha <3
Love this!
Are ya driving your red car?
Hey everyone, after you practiced the feeling of the red car - or whatever your dreams is / was, here's a niftly follow throuhg practice. Ask this question: What opportunities, decisions, relationships, and actions become visible now that I have told my attention what I want?
Monica Hebert - thank you this was magic. My connection is child like energy . Tried very hard but did not get to be a mum in the traditional sense . Was a foster carer mum - but dealing with a broken heart from that at the moment. My red car 🚗/ my yellow scarf - helping kids / hanging out - was going to be a teacher - but a little old now to go back to school . Your suggestion sit with it / think of the feelings / and perhaps it will be x and the grandchildren I have via my husband will be in our lives more frequently xx I am open to all adventures xx
Thank you for your writing - it is so powerful x
Monica, You're my people. I grew up outside Harrrisburg PA. Our mailbox had RFD #2 on it. Our Elementary School was 4 blocks away but didn't yet offer Kindergarten. Captain Kangaroo was my Kindergarten. Mom was classroom assistant & provided supplies. Dave Garroway & J. Fred Mugs were also part of my AM routine.