My hands trace the old Larch tree’s brunch in my yard. It’s a somber old, very old tree. I love that tree. It reminds me of one of my favorite childhood books, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.

I think there’s quite a mysterious reflection there in trees that we take so for granted. Really if you reflect on Noah’s Arc and how that brought all of the animals and all of Noah’s family. All animals going two by two, and certain animals going seven by seven. The arc was built from wood. Wood brought humanity to life. Wood saved us from the flood. And if you want to go deeper into thinking about wood and the religious history. Which I am. Jesus, our Savior, was crucified on wood to sacrifice and give us life everlasting. That, I had never thought of, in that way. Quite an interesting reflection, I think.

Hurrah for new jobs!! Haha, I am so happy its Saturday evening after a trying week of job interviews I finally scored a great job! Hip-hip-hooray.While my job will be part-time I am hoping to stay on track with my college classes, as well.

In this semester my plan is to accomplish 4 classes successfully. I think my academics are at the front of my agenda, in my life, right now. Even though I have the goal of achieving this degree I am doing my best not to let life slip without smelling the roses. I think that’s something that often people overlook in this life, is just slowing down and enjoying nature and life as it is. Life in progress.

The whole point of growth is “pain” or struggle getting there and once you get there, what then?

You enjoy your accomplishment; but, all the struggle of accomplishing is done.

Why not stop and enjoy the roses of struggle that are planted right in your home, your being, your mind, right now.

Go back to school, go to therapy for your disability, read books to improve your memory. You have endurance, you can achieve your goals.

Maybe, I’m just talking to myself, but I think this could be a sliver of hope for someone else. Maybe just the push they needed to keep persevering, to keep hope in their abilities, to stop and smell the flowers.

Struggle is life and we are all strong enough to fight our own struggles.

Believe in yourself and what you can achieve. You can fight the struggle. You can fight the pain. You can succeed.

Believe you can achieve!

“Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.”

-Saint Catherine of Sienna