The Oyster and The Eagle

Have you ever wondered why the United States of America has an EAGLE as our national symbol?

If you didn't know differently, right now you'd think the United States national symbol was the OYSTER.

                                                                         

An Oyster?  Let me explain......when God made the Oyster, He gave it a home, a hard shell to shelter it and protect it from its enemies.  He then put it in water.  Oysters thrive on sandy bottoms (instability)  Oysters just lay in the water and never have to make any decisions.  The currents move it about, so it doesn't have to plan.  No responsibilities.  Oysters require a flowing current to bring organic detritus (loose fragments or grains that worn away from rocks) to them on which to feed.  Whatever the waters provide, the Oyster receives.  When the Oyster wishes to eat it simply opens its shell.  The food material, without effort flows in.  The Oyster soon becomes, fat, dumb, and happy.  The Oyster plays it safe in life - stays in its comfort zone and accomplishes/achieves nothing.  The Oyster has a secured existence....controlled by the currents of the water.

                                                                                 

However, the Eagle, the national symbol of the United States of America has speed, strength, height and represents freedom.   When God made the Eagle, He gave it wings and the sky above.  God told the Eagle "the skies the limit".  The Eagle is able to soar to great heights and have a beautiful view of the world.  The Eagle pays a price for the benefits it has, by having to work, and fight for its survival.  The Eagle builds his own home and hunts his own prey.  No food comes to the Eagle.  It has no shelter.  It has to build its own nest.  And, to protect it from its enemies, the Eagle has to build its nest on the highest mountain.  By hunting its own food, the Eagle becomes powerful and self-reliant.  The Eagle is always in control, never controlled by others.

                                          America 
            be reminded - our national symbol is the Eagle.....
                               ....let's keep it that way!
                    Please help the American people to be Eagles 
                                      - not Oysters!

The Minimalist

Recently while preparing our home for the real estate market I realized that I actually enjoyed the
appearance of the simplicity.  With less "stuff" competing for my time and attention, it became apparent that living as a minimalist might serve to be a positive lifestyle change.  Now, don't get me wrong.  When I say "stuff" I don't mean junk.  I am not a hoarder, I am not a bric-a-brac type of person.  I do enjoy and appreciate fine and unique home accessories, etc.  I do "save" some things because "you never know" when the opportunity may arise to "recycle."  Also, I am the type of person who does not like to have all of my interesting possessions on display at once.  Re-arranging keeps the visual aspect of a room alive; breaks the monotony.

So, with the help of my children, I have begun to go through packed/put-away items.  It's tough.  It's not as simple as saying "keep" or "discard."  Some things carry emotional attachments.  Let me give you an example.  Trophies.  When your children are involved in sports they accumulate many trophies, individual and team related.  One of my daughters decided several years ago that she did not want her trophies so I decided I would store them "just in case" she ever changed her mind.  It's a Mom thing.  She still doesn't want them and it breaks my heart that her children won't get to see them, but I decided to go ahead and let her donate them to the local thrift store.
              One step at a time. 
                      Going through already packed/put-away items is step #1 .

                                                                                     

A minimalist has many facets - simplify, organize, (a place for everything - and everything in its place) reduce the stress in life the best you can.  Don't make  life so complicated, detailed and busy.  Many more.  As a Baby Boomer growing up in America the thought process has been to accumulate; to have more things.  The thought being that this would make life better.  Being a minimalist is really the opposite; it means learning to live with less and less.  This actually makes life better.  Reducing stress in and of itself will provide a much healthy life.  Research is suggesting that being a minimalist assures you will have more mental freedom, contentedness and affords the time to focus on what's really of value in your life.

                        The journey has begun.

                                                                       I'll keep you posted.