So as I sit, at a coffee shop, and think, I am drawn to remember so many things from the last two years of my life, and to appreciate them.

One thing I have really been working on lately is the desire to be present, and appreciative. After a move halfway across the country, leaving friends, a job I didn’t know I liked so much until I left it, a church I could finally call home, and my family, a stripped, humbled, and naked version of my former self remains.

I believe that it is a learned behavior, maybe human nature at this point, to push push push. Think forward! Strive for the next goal! Do not become complacent! Reach for success! Work hard and good things will come! Because, how could we ever just be satisfied with our plot in life. There has to be more! We are a culture of more. The United States is quickly running out of natural resources, eventually water, and clearly our debt is through the roof, because we just keep pushing, without a whole lot of thought of the things that we are expending. Relationships, jobs, time, it all becomes lost sometimes through the desire to have more, to be more. So, with all of those thoughts on the forefront of my mind, I sit here, and I find peace in the knowledge that my life is good, that my God is good, and that my connections in this simple existence are good, and that is more than enough. I would like to become the person at some point in my life that defines my value in works, and goodness, and the bettering of other lives. I am clearly not there yet, but in this moment, that thought in itself gives me reprieve from the rat race, and the need to find value in myself through a career, or how much money I make, or what kind of car I drive.

A dear friend once said to me, “If you could fill up your bank account with love and kindness instead of money, how big would it be?”

A wonderful question. I hope to continue to make investments in that account by interactions with those around me, and appreciation for the wonderful life I have been blessed to live up to this day.

It lends itself this question though, how do you measure your life, and which account in your bank has the bigger number?

Upon leaving this quick trip I noticed an older gentleman standing outside the entry way in the rain, looking as though he had lost his car. I said hello to the man in passing, and turned around halfway to my car with intentions to help the gentleman find, what I thought at the time was, his lost car. As I approached the older man, he waved his hand to me as if to say “No mam, I am not interested in what you are selling.” I asked him if he had lost something and needed some help, to which he informed me that he was waiting on his nephew.

As I loaded my groceries into my red matrix, appropriately dubbed “Remy,” I thought about how many of us often times mistake help for a handout.  I honestly cannot say that in the same situation I would have acted much differently. It occurred to me that in this day in age we are conditioned to believe that any stranger approaching us is in need of something; twenty dollars, a ride, food…..and this mindset has transcended that of the ole “good samaritan” parable…and that thought saddens me. The world has become a hub of quick and easy success, cutthroat actions, and I’m too busy mentalities. I am not saying that I am above these things and that I stereotype less than the gentleman waiting for his nephew in the rain; I have my share of such thoughts and behaviors. However, the thought did occur to me that I miss that slowness, good heartedness, and charity of a people who would give the shirt off of their backs to a person in need. The magnitude of those asking for handouts as increased exponentially in the economy we currently live in, but what has that done to our perception?

Driving home I was thankful to be part of something bigger than myself and to know that there is one entity that I am aware of that does give unconditionally and only asks for one thing in return: God. He only desires a relationship with us, and when we have given that, he repeatedly gives to us in return, without a jaded view on this world that He created to be something else. See, above all else, He loves us and cares for us, and never turns his back to us when we are looking for a handout, or asking for the twenty fifth blessing in one day. When we give one thing, ourselves, He gives EVERYTHING.

I hope to continue to remember this sentiment as I go through my daily life, as I avoid eye contact with the Vietnam vet begging for change on the side of the road, as I walk a little more quickly past the man sleeping on a stair case in San Francisco, and as I avoid answering my door when someone is selling something. After all, isn’t every one of those situations an opportunity to reach out and pass along a glimmer of the truth that I stumbled across on the way home? An idea to “pay forward” to others? Everyone has the freedom to believe or not, but I do think that everyone in this world could use a little hope, and a little less assumption.

“Art is whatever you want it to be. To me, art is everything.”

“I think art is everything. I think we are art. God made us, and everybody is different. Every piece of art is different.”

“Art is a very powerful thing to do. The main thing art is is something a creation of a living thing. Also, I think that art can be what you want. I can see a pen and say it’s a face. It’s all about you…”

“I think art is everything because everything was designed and though out. I think art shows someone’s personality.”

“I think of art as three things. One, it is the study of what catches the eye. For example, art isn’t art if it is plain and boring. It has to be interesting. Two, it is a way to express feelings. A picture of Napoleon attacking France isn’t going to give you the same mood as a picture of a sunset. Three, it is a variety. You can do paintings, sculptures, photography, architecture, sewing, etc.”

“Art is one of the most important things. Art is everything. Art is what brings us together. Art is everywhere. Art is even milk.”

“Art is chosen by the viewer, anything is art depending on the opinion. Anything in the world is art, a sewer could be art if the artist was trying to educate people on waste. The contents of the world is art. Art is everywhere, you don’t have to look for it.”

How beautiful, and they are right….

1. Passion Play – William Fitzsimmons

2. One Voice – The Wailin Jennys

3. Plain as Day – Uncle Mountain

4. Change – Tracy Chapman

5. Frozen Bed – Sonia Leigh

6. All For Love – Serena Ryder

7. Forgiveness – Sarah McLachlan

8. Let Me Sign – Rob Pattinson

9. Way Tight – Ani DiFranco

10. Beaches – The Avett Brothers

11. The Perfect Space – The Avett Brothers

12. If I Die Young – The Band Perry

13. Oh My Love – Bearfoot

14. Porchlight – Brianna Lane

15. Sideways – Citizen Cope

16. Perfect – Doria Roberts

If you haven’t heard of him, which I had not until Shana Blake of “Wavy Space” (another great band to check out), you need to look him up! Groovy and funky, his high voice blends well with the reggae rhythms going on in the background.

Check out his album “World of Its Own.” I love every song on there. Helps me grooooovveee on a Friday!

P.s. I have a cat. Her name is Tut. She is crazy.

“nicole reynolds is a charming and playful singer/songwriter who
lives and works on an organic sheep farm in western pennsylvania.
she has earned herself a deserved reputation for smart lyrics
and subtly tackling big topics. her latest release, unordinary mine,
is a collection of songs released in the fall of 2008.
in it are loggers, prostitutes, a congressman, taxmen, indians,
a girl who smokes, a girl who doesn’t, a canary, a fireman, and
some other mysterious figures.”

An organic sheep farmer? Pretty sure I want to know this girl…I just downloaded her “This Arduous Alchemy” album and I love every song. Check out “We Could Be Dancing,” “Sooner or Later,” “France,” and “Dreamers Dream.” Or…just all of them. Happy Monday!