Daily Passion Prompt | BulgingButtons

If you could drop everything and go somewhere, do something, and get something right now, what would those three things be?

Congratulations! You have won an all inclusive trip of a lifetime guaranteed to improve your health and well being. We have arranged for you to take a leave from work and from your home life and what’s more, there will be no negative repercussions as a result of your temporary absence. In fact, your family, students, and colleagues are all extremely excited about the opportunity you’ve been given, and are 100% supportive. Lucky you!

You will be whisked away to our state of the art facility, near the Pacific Ocean, where our team of doctors, trainers, nutritionists, and life coaches will work with you to finally shed those extra pounds in a safe, supportive, and fun way. We’ll explore the reasons you overeat and teach you new ways of thinking. We’ll help you find the snacks and meals that satisfy you without causing harm to your body. We’ll help you tap into your strengths, and work on overcoming issues that are holding you back from success. We’ll teach you the correct ways to work your body, and help you find physical activities that you find fun and can commit to.

All of this will be medically supervised, so no need to worry about training injuries or any other health related issues. The medications you are currently taking will be monitored, and, as your become healthier, dosages will be adjusted accordingly.

Naturally your spiritual needs will be met as well, in our Zen like complex, just steps from the beach. You will have time to relax and renew your spirit, explore your surroundings either alone or with like minded new friends, and connect with nature. You will be encouraged to write about your experiences, and will participate in a top notch writing group as part of your ongoing personal growth experience.

Pack your bag, it’s time to put your regular life on hold and explore all that the new you has to offer!

October 1, 2013
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Daily Passion Prompt 25: The Perfect Gift

TODAY’S QUESTION

If you could have anything, what would it be?

Ok, I know this is totally cheating, but I’m going to go for it anyway. If I could have anything it would be a happy life. See what I did there? Happy life encompasses it all, doesn’t it? For example, I would know that my son is headed in the right direction toward a bright future. I would have good health and so would my loved ones. I would have a rewarding career, or, if my financial situation allowed it, a rewarding series of pastimes. Of course I wouldn’t worry about not having enough money for bills, saving for a rainy day, or scary medical tests. My loving relationship would continue to grow and flourish. If I could have this elusive happy life, I would have no worries.

I know it’s pie in the sky nonsense, and that into every life a little rain must fall, or something like that, but it’s nice to think about. It’s nice to dream of a world without illness and loss. It’s nice to think about a future free of challenges and obstacles. The reality, though, is that we all have those things in our lives, to a greater or lesser degree. The real test of a person is in how they react to all that stuff. Oh, I know that’s not an original thought, and the scholarly readers in the audience will be quick to supply quotes proving that I’m just rehashing old news (and not terribly eloquently either), but I do believe it’s true. So maybe the gift isn’t in having it all, maybe the gift is in the lessons learned when we don’t.

September 29, 2013
by BulgingButtons 2 Comments

Daily Passion Prompt 23: Volunteer, Reporting for Duty

Today’s Prompt:

IF YOU COULD VOLUNTEER FOR A CHARITABLE CAUSE, WHICH CAUSE WOULD YOU VOLUNTEER FOR? WHAT HITS HOME FOR YOU?

When I was in college I volunteered as a Big Sister through my university. It wasn’t the best run program, but it was better than nothing. I didn’t my a “little sister” of my own, and as a result I didn’t really have the buy in that is usually associated with volunteer opportunities. Here’s how it worked. On Friday afternoons (Friday? Really? College students, hello… anyone ever hear of happy hour?) a group of us would pile onto a bus for the ride to the projects. We were dropped off in a gym teeming with kids. They were great, those kids. They were thrilled that we came and played with them every week. There were organized games, and disorganized games and time to visit and hang out. It was fun, but rarely would a “big” and “little” form a bond under this system. I wanted something more.

Later, after I relocated to the southwest, I had time on my hands and needed a productive outlet. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do exactly, but I knew I wanted to work with kids in an ongoing capacity. I contacted a volunteer clearinghouse, and they had the perfect fit. I became a brownie troop leader for a group of kids living in poverty. Most of them were bilingual, and all of them were adorable. And guess when we met? Yes, after school on Fridays. Those little girls were thrilled with every activity we did, loved every song we sang, and devoured every snack we shared. They marched in a parade, sold cookies outside a bank, and dressed up for a fancy tea party. I loved those little girls with their chocolate eyes and names that became familiar to my gringa tongue.

Those brownie days were a long time ago, but they are burned into my mind. At the time is cost $6 to join the brownies. Many of the girls didn’t have it. We had a wonderful sponsor who paid their registrations, bought them uniforms, registered them in that parade, and took them to that tea party. She bought them girl scout handbooks, and supplied snacks every week. She was a kindhearted woman who wanted to give something back to the universe. I learned from her.

The causes I give my time and talents to benefit children. Children need to be protected, cherished, and challenged. This I believe, and I put my proverbial money where my mouth is to prove it.