Out of state real estate buyer considering moving, relocating to Maine. “Things would be easier in life if I could get away from all these people.” Do you believe the bulk of your problems are caused by other people? That don’t always agree with your outlook on life. That possess a different way of sizing up the events unfolding around them.
Much of life is your reaction to it. Because it shows what you are made of or become along the way.Being Able To Hear Yourself Think Is Easier In Maine.
Maybe it starts with youth, over the top enthusiasm to be all you can be.
And when the one path you thought you were the sole marathon runner on looks well worn as you glance down. And notice that others are on the same one.
So don’t take yourself too serious, stay humble, be positive, don’t be cocky.
Let out the slack.
Easy does it and think of how fragile relationships really are. And need to be protected. Watered, weeded, fed to grow strong and last.
Keep your eyes and ears open to learn the things you don’t. About yourself, others, and how human nature rock and rolls. But blaming others for your bad behavior patterns. Maine, One Blue And Green Dream. Wake Up, Get To Vacationland.
We need other people.
They accept us, we let them be them. Black and white, see Dick, see Jane, where is Spot easy right? Blaming them when things go sideways is like lost faith. You need it the most when gale force winds swirl around you. Not just during fair sunny weather stints.
The calm before the storm. That happens pretty much right on schedule. With casual speed, ready or not.
The solitude of Maine not flush with lots of people does help in creating the space to collect your thoughts. You can hear yourself think in Maine.No Neighbors, The Wind In The Trees. Crunching Fresh Snow Bring In Some Stove Wood For The Fire Would You Please?
The knee jerk of reaching for someone to cuff up the side of the back of the head like Jethro.
To blame or chide or ridicule. Instead, be kind, be patient and often be silent. Until those thoughts connected to the end of your tongue become captured. Before the damage they can caused are released out into the conversation.
Blame puts you in a corner that is hard to get out of because it is unhealthy but justifies why you are there. The actions of another is the lazy way to run your thoughts. To control your actions. Avoid the stinking thinking and embrace the spring in Maine that is underway.
To learn much quickly. Add it to your repertoire. To shop for, develop, be sure to pick up more awareness. To be able to wade right out without the insecurity of heavy, light or any fear factor. Go way way out deeper than swimming just in the shallow end. Or worse killing time. Staying pretty much parked. High, dry, on shore and boring. Playing it safe. Capture Your Thoughts. Slay Those That Betray You, Keep You From Being Grateful.
Like in Hearts, go for it.
Shooting the moon is a staring you in the face option. Don’t miss opportunities. Avoid a silent alarm siren heard loudly. Felt, tasted, seen to just you in the cards you hold.
The circumstances, situation, personalities of the people that surround you. Pulled from the deck. In “this is all we have” daily shuffle. Dealt to work with so get creative. No whining. Throwing in the cards or folding. Stay in the game.
You have more than you need inside, around you to achieve, sustain happiness. Take what you need, discard. Or leave the rest for others. To weave into whatever they assemble. Carefully soul search to arrange. Hold on loosely to in humbly, close, clasped together hands. To just give thanks. And the congregation stood, sang, hung onto the last sustaining trailing note of “Amen”.
Come on in, the water is fine.
Don’t just hang out, only skim the surface. But end up enjoying a greater sense of appreciation and deep down, wall to wall, top to bottom gratitude completely. Swim harder, longer strokes. Out here in the deep end. Way over your head. Where you can not touch. But it is a-ok. You trust yourself, others, the man upstairs.
For the day at the beach. To witness just the how good life just can be. When not joined at the hip with three little contingencies.Get Lost, Be Found. Find Your Island, Special Space In Maine. And you just let go. No, you give up, stop fighting it. Resist the no holds barred inner nagging when it shows up. Asks what about …
If. When. But.
I will be, can be only happy when those trio of little conditions show up. Are part of the festivities. The sooner the better. Works best in the round and round. Ah, but living in the moment.
Not mortgaged but lien light. Squeaky clean, free and clear. Looking less at others. What they do or don’t say, what they do or don’t have. Other people if you get busy living outside yourself can distract. Disappoint, discourage. Or simply disappear. Keep your eyes on your own paper. Mind your P’s and Q’s.
All of us on the green and blue spinning marble are terminal. And thank God just not so fired up the same old same old. Come in many flavors, variations. Have quirks, perks, lumps, bumps. The same, some different than you and I. To add color, spice, humor. Lending a hand to make life grand.
Our perceptions of others, the fine kettle of fish we find ourselves in. Can give us freedom or fifty lashes. Maybe somewhere in between. But less self absorbed, poor me, not understood. Or enjoying, striving for the white hot spotlight of center of attention. But it’s not about me is it?
True lasting joy is built, laid, piled a stone, brick at a time. An inside job by you and me humming the tune. Writing the words, placing the notes. To make the ride more enjoyable for all within the very circles we scribe. Include others, stay in loop with all the players. To go along to get along.
Some people get through life easier than others.
They make their own luck. Some label it. Mine, dig deep to find inner talent. To hone those survival skills. And tune in the right thinking, not the stinking kind. It helps to center. Negotiate the course that enriches the weary, dusty traveler.Maine Is A Big State, Small Towns, Folks Close And All Interconnected. But does not stop there. It just intensifies. Like a single candle flame that no wind, rain, covering can snuff out or extinguish. Radiating brighter, lasting longer.
Causing a spark to one by one enlighten others we have to get along with for the greater good. To need, learn from each other. To contribute for the end all best that can be collectively.
No man is an island. I was lucky to grow up on a Maine farm. Self sufficient, pretty much contained and seeing my family through the day most of them. Learning much as a little grasshopper from the older members, their teachings.
But sometimes you meet people off the acreage where you work so long and hard. That you can wish you were back on such an island. The folks in your face anywhere but close by, invading your space. Beamed, just on a different one too would suit you just fine.
You don’t feel good about harboring that agonizing notion.
But the joy you build in your own little way. Small Town Maine People Are Hard Working, Connected, Grateful.That kindles, snaps, crackles inside. Is shared with family is to be preserved. Not robbed, sucked dry by others. Because charity starts at home and that sacred institution is the basis of everything radiating out from there. To be protected at all costs. Thankful, grateful, just happy to be here works best.
This Thanksgiving I hope for all to be truly grateful, appreciative, humble. To think of those not part of family, a long ways from home. Or without one all together. That are hungry, dirty, cold, depressed, sickly, all alone.
Make it brighter for those less fortunate without calling attention to yourself or grandstanding. Because it is just the right thing to do. Live everyday as if it is Thanksgiving, Christmas, Veterans Day, the fourth of July, Easter, your birthday. Because it is. Now, who wants more pumpkin pie?
Life’s Storms Happen But Define You, Make You Stronger. More Aware, Capable, Happy, Grateful.
My Dad used to remark that some people seem to get through life easier.
No, not because they don’t have storms. Or took the Uncle Sam, go helpless, take care of me route. Because most Mainers are independent, hard working if they are able, healthy mentally, physically, spiritually. And practice living, adopting a gentile poverty life approach.
Pretty self reliant, self sufficient, resourceful Yoda would say is how we Mainers are built, wired. The rural nature of our state with way way less people. Tighter money means look for your inner peace outdoors in nature. Home made not store bought approach to life. If it is to be, it is up to me thinking adopted, taught. Ingrained into each and everyone of us early in life.
Put there by parents, family, mentors, teachers, coaches, the rest of the village that helps raise us in Maine. Because there is a deep connection. Unavoidable sense that we all need each other. In the scattered, smaller Maine towns that dot the landscape. Are the majority of all the neat, special communities you’ll find when you motor into Vacationland.
Joy and inner peace obtained through plenty of patience, working on being more understanding of others.
The greater thought clarity, awareness levels that pin, peg the scale needle happen easily. Effortlessly out in the fresh Maine air when all that is not so all out important is stripped away. Being smack dab out in the middle of four season nature that Maine is saturated with everywhere you turn. If you make the time to kayak a Maine lake. Hike up a hill. Ski down the other side. Collect a few Maine lighthouses. If you really make a conscience effort to turn up. Tune in and sharpen your awareness levels.
Removing the day to day of work, disassemble all the other crutches we depend, lean on for support to an extreme.
Shifting from band aiding symptoms to all out war. To remove, take out the machine gun nest at the heart of the problem. Releasing, opening up options to experience nature, the wildlife. The Maine setting we are all so blessed to have surrounding us in the Pine Tree State.
Maine. She’s waiting. Always available if we practice moderation, being grateful, sorting out any “stinking thinking thoughts” rolling around inside. Causing worry. A favorite life long daily sermon / theme of my Mom’s growing up. Reminded, preached to the four farm boys. My Dad needed and heeded her balance / gratitude is riches wisdom reminder too. Benefited, applied it to his metronome settings. To establish a beat to pace, govern his day too.
When obstacles to clarity in our thinking are removed. To see what’s up ahead in your life path for steps to take next. For crystal sharp 20 – 20 inner vision, greater fulfillment. To achieve heightened awareness. To obtain the puzzle pieces we all are missing, should be collecting. To get the answers you need to spotlight, maneuver safely the blind spots for curves, dips, forks in the road ahead. Or to reinforce that you are on the right life course for you.
I think we are less helpless as we become more “jack of all trades” capable to survive in Maine.
We appreciate the little things that are real. Sustain us. With a willingness to reach out and give a hand practiced. Casting, throwing out a rope to reel in anyone around that we see needs it. Because we have all been lost. Stubbed toes, broken hearts, made blind mistakes from missed cues. Did not see all the red flags because of too busy raising kids full time, running a business. Popping up one by one like Maine lake winter ice fishermen traps that spring skyward in harmony. Now kids are raised, empty nest it’s time for activities put off too long.
After church worship, I am set to head out to down hill snow ski at Crabbe Mountain in Canada today. To feel alive, get rid of some energy. To see, feel inside and out the beauty of a gorgeous day that is up to me to not waste. To realize it is a gift, a miracle.
“There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle.” –
Albert Einstein
Maine, how long has it been since you visited her? Spent time in Vacationland?
Maine Is Big, Vast, Underpopulated So Real Space, Outdoor Natural Happiness Happens.
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
Stomp your feet. Smile big, wide and handsome. But expecting to have full time joy, contentment, a state of intense happiness and self-confidence takes lots of work. And others are not the key to taking you to this “happy place”. It starts, ends with what happens deep inside.
My Mom labeled the culprit that steals, robs a sense of wall to wall surrounding happiness and joy a condition called “stinking thinking”. Not counting your blessings at least three times a day. On the ends, in the middle. You have time for social media interaction. Maybe a few minutes, quiet moments of reflection with a higher power and being on your knees is what is missing. Or maybe you go through the motions, are fooling yourself. Just too busy, in an overbooked life with too many expensive, artificial elements used to cope. And not enough home made, natural ingredients to discover, experience true happiness.
Maine is a state where you dig deeper, find inner resources to do it yourself.
Money is tighter, not so important. Entertainment is outdoors all four seasons. Low and no cost because of all the beauty surrounding us folks that are lucky enough to live here. Or those that schedule regular rest and relaxation therapy sessions with the space in the place called Maine get to enjoy.
Being in a state of Maine. If you already have her in your system, it’s preaching to the choir. If you have not found the time to check our Maine, get ready for a big eye opening surprise. Awareness, true reality not the kind spun, rehearsed and beamed in from Hollywood. Simple living with fewer folks getting in the way of experiencing all Maine has to offer. Boils down, means down to Earth people live here who are just sincerely grateful for what they have. Not lamenting what they might want but don’t truly need anyway.
How To Avoid Stinking Thinking, To Capture Your Thougts The Four Sons Learned From My Mom.
Develop what you already have deep inside but locked up, if not worked on daily.
Sounds like wise enough advice right? Maintenance of your inner workings to maximize the experience during the short time on Earth. Like lifting the hood on the car, truck, SUV you drive to check the fluid levels. Adjust the richness, leaness of the fuel and air that make the wheels go round and round.
But unfortunately people get comfortable or lazy or prideful blind.
Or just drift like a rudderless boat in the wind, breeze at the time. To and fro and maybe adding frustration to wishing things around you were better. When looking inside for adjustment is the key. But blaming others is the default mode of choice. Think about it, approach it differently. Happiness, contentment is an inside job requiring surrender.
Mom called it “stinking thinking”.
Everything you do is thought about first. Like putting an order in to the kitchen after studying the menu options. The way you behave is motivated by a belief. Your attitude prompts, kicks you in to gear for the action you decide to take.
How you think determines the way you feel. We are a selfish bunch, out to set the world on fire. Seeking fame and fortune until wisdom, maturity is developed to show what really matters most in life. Others.
If you and I think only of our own needs we become talented at receiving, collecting.
But bankrupt in the department of giving to others. It is better to give than receive. But until, unless you do it on a regular basis, it is easy to get one raised eyebrow on that advice from folks not in the habit of serving others. Scratching their head in a competitive society that promotes number one. It’s all about you.
My oldest son had a girlfriend who’s Dad made the most exquisite hand weaved pack baskets. And as the daughter lamented, his “lungs are full of sawdust”. From decades of perfecting the craft of preparing the brown, white ash and other wood materials for the delicate craft of the soon becoming lost art of basket weaving. The girlfriend selflessly gave Alex the best, last basket her Dad will ever make. Whoa.
Letting go of something made for you out of love by someone older, feeble and not able to replicate it. Something you don’t trot in to Walmart and pluck off the shelf to red lazer scan on the way out the automatic doors. I pointed out to my son that act of giving shows you how dedicated, how much she thinks about you to give up a possession hand made by someone she loves, her Dad. The act shows what you mean to her son.
The “giving away something held dearly” attitude also helps you and I travel light too.
Not to get in to the materialism rut treadmill so many around us are on because of highly effective advertising. Or because the momentary ritual of purchasing something gives fleeting feelings of well being that wear off. Hankering something’s power weakens when you possess it. As the Red Hot Chilli Peppers sing “give it away, give it away now”. It creates as One Eskimo puts to song an “Amazing” feeling to form our time as one in a relationship.
Love life. More. Study how you are wired and why. Inside focus not outside so you don’t go backwards. For life changing so you don’t stand still frozen, stagnant. Get on your knees. Not just once a week or a handful of holidays like Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas. Count your blessings. The heart of the matter is deep down in places not many are allowed to see inside. Maybe even areas we ourselves don’t visit often, are strangers to. So the spiritual inner personal garden gets no weed, feed, love and attention.
Maine is the place to visit often. To reach deep natural spots in Vacationland to arrive at special areas within yourself at the same time. Free of clutter, not wall to wall people and loaded with wildlife, scenery of woods, fields, waterfront of all kinds. Maine, find the space, your place.
