Fear
It’s Friday, y’all.
This has become a ritual for me to sit down at the computer every Friday and just focus on the writing prompt to see where my thoughts take me. However, there wasn’t a prompt word given by Lisa-Jo today for our usual Five Minute Fridays. So … I sat here staring at the screen contemplating what to write on. Seeing the disappointment on my face, my daughter strolled through the living room and threw out the prompt word “Fear” …
And so we’ll have our very own Five Minute Friday right here, right now. I’d love it if you’d join in with your comments on this prompt word, if you feel so inclined.
Let’s begin.
Ready?
Set?
GO!
There is a famous movie that I’m pretty sure you’ll all remember when I share this quote with you. But, before I do … as you read it, think of how you can relate to what is being said. let the words speak to your heart. Let it echo through your thoughts.
Me? I’m scared of everything. I’m scared of what I saw, I’m scared of what I did, of who I am, and most of all I’m scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel when I’m with you.
This … THIS … is a quote from Baby in the movie Dirty Dancing after she has discovered the absolute love of her life.
Can you relate to how she was scared of everything? Have you ever been afraid of the next step, the next thing you’ll be forced to face in this life?
What about what you saw? Have you ever seen something – an image – an actual event taking place – or maybe a movie of that event playing in your mind although you never saw it actually happen, yet the events of that day haunt you and play over repeatedly in your thoughts and mind when you try to sleep at night? I have experienced this.
What about the fear of what you’ve done? We all have regrets in life, but the past is the past. It can’t be un-done. It can only be forgiven.
Have you ever been afraid of who you are? Truly? Honestly? If you look yourself in the mirror, have there been times you’ve just been afraid of who you were? We all have moments when angers grips us, but does it control you? Does it make you rage out of control? Do you fear who you become in those moments?
And the biggest question of all … have you ever felt like Baby? Fearing that you’ll go the rest of your whole life without feeling the way you feel when you’re with that special person in your life? If you feel loved, sheltered, protected, treasured, cherished, and alive … do you fear never feeling any of those things again?
Do you?
I do.
STOP!
A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
“A picture is worth a thousand words.”
How many times have we heard the oft used phrase?
Pictures on paper, pictures on the computer screen, pictures in our minds.
We take photos at major and minor events in our lives. We take them to make a piece of a memory.
I have someone close to me in my life that I affectionately call “The Picture Queen.” She takes photos in rapid succession. Sometimes it may feel like the paparazzi, but she takes all of those photos for a reason …
To be able to look back on events that mean a great deal to her and to those that are in the photos
We can take photos with a phone, cameras, and, of course, with our eyes and mind. Photos capture that “moment.” They help us re-live memories that touch our hearts. They could be of loved ones, love that was had, then lost, and maybe found again. They could be of those that were lost too soon in life, and when those memories come to the surface, there may be tears or there may be laughs. They always are warm and happy feelings, though.
Photos are windows into times in our lives that bring emotions to the surface that we sometimes forget.
We have people in our lives that we will never or can ever forget. They reach into our hearts, touch our soul, and we are never the same person.
Life is precious; so is love.
When it comes, and often at times we never expect, we should always capture those cherished moments not only in our mind’s eye, but in some way to have a visual reminder of those moments that passed all too soon.
A picture is worth a thousand words. It is also worth a thousand tears, a thousand laughs, a thousand smiles, and a thousand warm feelings.
Pictures taken when we were children … we all have moms and dads that took that “embarrassing” photo. The joy it gives them is worth any embarrassment. When the day comes that they have gone to a better place, even then we can look at those embarrassing photos and smile knowing the joy it brought to the ones that gave us life.
Some don’t like their picture taken and say:
“I never take good pictures.”
It’s not for you to judge. The person taking the picture loves the image created and will hold it close to their heart.
A snap shot of time; a snippet of a memory.
To them, it could be the most beautiful picture taken. So keep in mind, you do take good photos.
Memories feed our soul.
Pictures in our mind, on paper, in a scrapbook, or filed in computer memory bring smiles and joy to those who have them. We can make funny faces, but the image captured is a moment in time. A moment filled with love, togetherness, and joy.
A wedding, a graduation, a prom, a walk on the beach, a dinner cruise, and yes, even a “selfie.” Life captured in small moments now displayed on a piece of paper or on a computer screen.
Our memories may fail us, but a picture endures.
They may fade, just like our memory. The image still brings all that back to the forefront of our thoughts.
As we go forward in life, celebrating Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays, Christmas, Ground Hog’s Day …whatever the occasion … take the pictures, make the memories, remember the love that brought you to the place where the picture can be taken.
Celebrate life; document and cherish those who walk the path of life with you.
Those moments may never come again.
I was once told:
“We are not guaranteed another day.”
As days go by, those captured moments in time become an anchor, a life line to those wondrous memories.
So, wear out the batteries on your cameras and phones. You’ll look back on those images with joy.
~Gregory H. Thompson
Mom’s Night Out
Just recently, my daughter and I were invited to attend a pre-screening of the movie Mom’s Night Out. We looked forward to the time together, and while I could have chosen to take any one with me … I wanted to take my oldest daughter for some mother/daughter bonding time! I treasure this time with my teenage daughter!
Leading up to that evening, she mentioned how excited she was for OUR night. This is huge for a teenager to want to spend time with her mother! To actually look forward to it? Priceless!
We got an early start that afternoon since the pre-screening was in another town, but we wouldn’t have missed this for anything! If it’s within driving distance, we’re going!
On the drive to the theater, we blasted music and enjoyed singing along. We would turn down the volume at other times to just talk and chit chat. Then, some very serious conversation resulted from our time in the vehicle as we traveled to our destination. I am thankful for moments like this with my daughter! Connecting … bonding … sharing … making memories together!
We went to one of our favorite restaurants where the sharing continued. I have felt through the years like we have gone way beyond mother and daughter and have progressed to being friends. The very best of friends. I love this feeling!
After dinner, we headed over to the theater. We only had to wait in line briefly, with what felt like fifty million other mothers who were waiting for the pre-screening as well. Even still, it was a pleasant experience with “people watching” as we waited. As my daughter went to the concession stand, I watched mothers and daughters, different generations, standing together. There were groups of friends out for the night as well, and the laughter and giggles made my heart smile. My daughter returned moments later, and our laughter and giggles resumed as well.
We made our way into the theater to take our seats, and my daughter had a moment of anxiety as she saw the ones that had already been seated. She isn’t one for large crowds and was worried of how this movie pre-screening was going to go with THAT many people present. Her fears quickly went away as the movie began playing.
It starts out with a mom blogger who was excited to have four followers one day, and then … the next day … her numbers went down to three followers. We had to laugh at that because who doesn’t want to know that they have people actually reading the words they type out on the computer screen. Some times it’s funny things that we share, other times it is heart wrenching, painful times in our lives that we’re writing about in hopes that we can reach some one out there that might be struggling so that they know they’re not alone. We write to help others … that’s at the heart of every single post that goes up on my page as well as the many other blogger friends that I know and love!
The movie goes on to depict the life of a mother with very active, younger children while her husband is away on a business trip. Upon his return, though, this stressed out mother gets a chance to have a little fun on a Mom’s Night Out with friends!
It seemed to move slowly along at first, and I looked over at my daughter at one point silently hoping that she wasn’t suddenly dreading being there with me! My fears were relieved when the movie’s story line picked up and once it was in full swing, there was almost uncontrollable laughter throughout the entire theater! At one point, a few ladies, myself included, got so tickled that even when the funny part had passed, we were still trying to suppress our laughter … which resulted in snorting loudly in parts where it simply wasn’t appropriate to snort … and yet there we were … yes, I was one of “those” people that night! I got even more tickled upon hearing a lady behind me, and I laughed simply for the fact that SHE was so tickled and could not stop laughing. My daughter was laughing right alongside us, when she wasn’t totally humiliated by my outbursts!
I glanced at my daughter a few times just to make sure all was well, and my quick glances were rewarded with pearly whites that greeted me, reassuring me that she, too, was having a great time! Oh thank you, Lord! She really and truly was enjoying herself!!!
Success!!!
I won’t give any more of the movie away just in case you plan to see it, and please know that I highly recommend this movie! I cannot stress that enough. This movie brought out laughter all the way from the tips of my toes, it seemed. My daughter and I have already said that we are buying this movie when it comes out on DVD!
We left the movie still laughing and talking about parts that we especially loved. We called a friend before heading home, and we were still giggling as we tried to tell them of the fun we had that night. There’s nothing better than being that giddy while you’re trying to tell someone else of the fun and laughter, only to have them laugh right along with you just because of how much you’ve apparently enjoyed yourself!
The movie hit theaters on Mother’s Day weekend! What a truly fitting movie for this special occasion! We hope you’ll plan to see Mom’s Night Out!
If you’re a mom or know someone that is, plan a much needed Mom’s Night Out soon! And let the good times roll!
