The Niche Under the Stairs

A friends mention of her closet and the seemingly endless supply of space contained within, transported me back to a place I had long forgotten. As a young child I spent countless hours in a small closet that fit neatly under the stairs in my childhood home. The door was made out of ribbed wood, and had a latch that turned. Inside was a light bulb with a small pull chain, lighting this small, cozy space making it perfect for a hideaway to transport a small child into her dream world and escape from the everyday life at my house. Most of the time this closet was used to store things, but some of the time I spent in it was wonderful and the ideal place for the youngest of five in a busy house. Seems many things stored under there were no longer used within the house, used variably or seldom used. I recall the Electrolux vacuum being one of the items, an old china lamp of a French Lord and Lady wearing powder wigs and not having a lamp shade any longer. A picnic basket was stowed under there as well, this was utilized on some of the family excursions via the station wagon to visit relatives or take a trip.I would ferret myself away in this little niche under the stairs, crayolas and a coloring book in hand to spend some happy time away from the hustle bustle of my older brothers and sister. As time went by, I might take a book in there to read. It was a wonderful escape for me, giving me respite from the outside world within my home, and a safe haven to imagine things and occupy my time. I even recall falling asleep in there a few times. Funny, I do not recall when I stopped spending time in there. Then I recall my parents blocked off the closet under the stairs, it was part of the kitchen remodeling project. Then ended my niche under the stairs, and oddly I have not thought of it again until today, and fondly I recall that little cozy space and it made me smile and feel a part of my past that was a "warm fuzzie" and will remain in a happy spot in my memory bank. Thank you Marti, for your part in transporting me back!

Laundry and Life

    Sitting here awaiting the completion of the wash cycles sure gives me time to contemplate many things. For nearly two months I have come to the laundromat to wash my duds and linens. The demise of my washer and dryer just days apart made this weekly journey a necessity . The most laborious part of this weekly endeavor is getting it to my vehicle. Most weeks I have accomplished that feat with the able assistance of the two sons and "da nephew", that too has been a blessing. Most times they also tote it in when I return . Getting many loads washed and dried in less time than at home has been a blessing as well. This time away is well-spent, never quite the same way twice. One time I had a lively and lovely conversation with a woman my age and in a similar life-mode. We found common ground immediately and enjoyed some great exchanges of life stories and ideas. Sometimes eccentric individuals engage me in conversation, and even these conversations are interesting and provide needed adult contact with the world outside of my co-workers and home dwellers. The routines many keep surrounding their laundry are often interesting and entertaining, in short, each time here has been enriching in its own unique manner .  I guess I am glad for the difference this unexpected change in my domestic routine has given me. I know it will be some time before I get the cash together to purchase a new laundry pair, but even the thoughts of that have given me fertile ideas and plans to hopefully execute in the future. I guess I never expected the displeasure over the demise of my two most used appliances to make a difference, but it has. Take today, I have had the time and opportunity to work on a blog entry. I enjoy my blog writing, and though I will never earn money doing this, I enjoy crafting my tale, developing the story and putting the words to "paper", then committing the words to a blog posting. In this case, I am entering my words on my trusty IPhone . Though the keyboard is small, it is easy to enter the words, edit and make the final copy to be set down as another entry in my ramblings. Though I am not a "writer" as such, I feel pride and satisfaction in producing my little vignettes. Do they make a difference? Sure, for me, mostly, but someone may read and it may inspire them to some sort of realization or action in their own lives. Just as I enjoy cooking, I cannot call myself a Chef, and though I sew and create seeing, needlework and other fabric arts, I am by no means an artist. Despite this, all my activities bring meaning to my life and make me the person I am and strengthen my mind, body and soul. I do these things for me, not to impress others. Life is too short to worry about pretentious acts to make others think I am anything but what and who I am.

In the humbling act of weekly laundry, I have found gratitude, solitude and enrichment, things I never found when staying within the walks of my home and completing the same ritual. It makes me proud of my strength, my abilities and my keen mind ever churning and making sense out of life's daily actions. Truly simplicity can find one grace and fortitude to keep marching forward with life's challenges , they are put there for reason and rhyme, of that I am certain.
                                                                ~Balance in all things~

Stepping Outside

There comes a time in everyone's life where you get caught up in the undertow and it feels as though you will never be released from the vortex you are caught in. I am thankful those times in my life are few and far between. Watching others in their struggles can often be nearly as difficult and a slippery slope to try to scale to assist the other person. You see, the key is you need to walk beside them and offer someone and something to hold onto, but in reality that other person has to truly do the work to get themselves released from that negative undercurrent. Sounds easy, but in most cases it truly is not. We tend to get so self-absorbed in the entire situation when we are floundering, that we lose perspective on where we have been, where we are and where we need to go. No one truly enjoys misery and being in the gloomies, but raising oneself from the "dead" is a hard lift to begin and complete. It takes strength, courage and pure determination to chip away at it, one step at a time. It seems to me one if the most difficult aspects is stepping outside of oneself, peering back in and figuring out the steps and path to take to begin the journey one needs to undertake. For me, that involved becoming cognizant of my strengths and weaknesses, and radically accepting the situation at hand.  For me, I also needed to learn to assist others in their plights, for in aiding others one gains a sense of purpose and increases their self worth to a degree that buoys and lifts them, giving the needed energy to continue one's own personal life journey. I learn so much from my own struggles, as well as from others . But one needs to remember to also focus on achievements, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem at the time. Each small degree of climb out of the depths brings us closer to brighter days and better times, which is why stepping outside of oneself is so very critical to success in ones own personal journey. Humans are truly not designed nor meant to journey through life without the support, company and wisdom of others. Solitary journeys sometimes are good, but most often we need others to make for a truly satisfying and meaningful experience.




~Balance in all things~