No regrets about aiming for a target

Written by Shelley Plett Tuesday, 10 August 2010 15:42

“Stop torturing yourself, man…live in the now!” —Garth, from “Wayne’s World”

 

Losing control of a situation isn’t funny, but the way we tell ourselves we ever actually had control of it can be. I didn’t ask to know that. It's not too often I consciously think, “I need to be put in my place today.” I’m just sayin’….

But here I am, at 3:48 a.m., quoting Wayne’s World of all things and scrounging for a safe, satisfying answer to, “What else could possibly happen today?” You’ve been there, right?

Through a Facebook friend of a Facebook friend, I was turned on to a blogger, Jennifer Lawler, and an essay she wrote called “For Jessica.”

You know how song after song on the radio melt into a...

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Tell me, does that make me crazy?

Written by Shelley Plett Tuesday, 27 July 2010 15:40

“…Even your emotions have an echo in that much space. And when you’re out there without care, yeah I was out of touch. But it wasn’t because I didn’t know enough. I just knew too much. Does that make me crazy? ...Possibly… Ha ha ha bless your soul. You really think you’re in control… I think you’re crazy… just like me. —Gnarls Barkley “Crazy”

Truth or Dare has been a popular game at our house. It used to be fun because my kids weren’t interested in any kind of truth I might pull out, beyond “Do you like pickles?” And I wasn’t intimated by their dares. I have no problem kissing a rock or spinning around in a circle until I fall.

But times change pretty quickly. I have made the mistake of choosing truth...

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Decisions have led to joys, regrets

Written by Shelley Plett Tuesday, 13 July 2010 17:38

“You know, I always thought I was gonna be, I don’t know, special. But I’m not. I’m just... I’m just an ordinary person. And that’s OK. Because... you make me special.” —Hope Floats

 

Throughout my adult years of decision making I’ve said yes a lot. To a proposal, tomato plant starters, a lab puppy, one drink too many, non-traditional student status, several pairs of unaffordable shoes, extra butter on my popcorn, and most recently, banana peppers. Most of these have worked out alright. Although I’ll pass on the banana peppers next time.

So, you see, I’ve done and regretted. And been thankful. I’ve said the wrong things at the wrong times. Thought the right things that I never said. Passed an accounting class...

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Life in the bubble is a mixed reality

Written by Shelley Plett Tuesday, 22 June 2010 18:46

“There is so much about my fate that I cannot control, but other things do fall under the jurisdiction. I can decide how I spend my time, whom I interact with, whom I share my body and life and money and energy with. I can select what I can read and eat and study. I can choose how I’m going to regard unfortunate circumstances in my life-whether I will see them as curses or opportunities. I can choose my words and the tone of voice in which I speak to others. And most of all, I can choose my thoughts.” —Elizabeth Gilbert

 

There are times when we find ourselves looking at our lives from the outside through a kind of bizarre-fitted bubble. I think everybody goes through it at least once, probably more as years pass.

The first...

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