Sunday, August 8, 2010

...be without clouds and other little things

Clouds...clouds...clouds...those mashed potatoes in the sky (that's what I have called them since I was little)...those floating cotton balls...they're absolutely wonderful. There is an organization called The Cloud Appreciation Society. You can go to their website and see different pictures of clouds. It's quite amazing, actually. Whenever we're fortunate enough to have weather where I live, I will always look up at the sky and watch the clouds. Don't you remember being a kid and watching them go by as they change formation? We've all seen dragons and angels and bunnies somehow. Many artists include them in their paintings. What is it about these spits of love that Heaven throws out to us? Why are so many intrigued by their power and subtleties? For me, they've always brought a feeling of excitement about life.

There was a movie way back when I was a kid that just set me over the moon and drove a stake of passion for the sky, and all that is in it, into my heart. "The Boy Who Could Fly" made me want to fly so bad! After seeing that movie, I would always go out to my backyard, sit in the grass, and watch the sun set with the clouds in prime fashion. What made them even more effective with me was feeling the wind blow. They're so ethereal. Rightly so, they're made by an intricate and surprising Maker. Who wouldn't fall in love with them?

Raindrops water us. They add growth metaphorically and literally. They bring out the best of pine trees - the smell! They wash the bird poop from our windshields and give us an extra boost of energy when we go jogging in their downpour. They help us save on our water bills by taking care of the grassy yard and flowers. They're quite versatile!

Post-it notes are one of the best inventions "since sliced bread". Post-its are platforms for subtle reminders - once you write it down, you take care of the task, you throw the post-it in the trash, you've gone about your business. Simplicity at its finest! Post-its can be used to prioritize items in a business meeting, to easily create a seating chart for a classroom, and to designate what pieces of furniture you might want to throw in the yard sale for when you move. I have tried using formal planners with their labeled sections so many times, and don't get me wrong, there are some really cute and very functional planners out there, but they just don't do it for me. And this is coming from someone who is VERY detailed and thrives on structure and order! Post-its are just easier. I usually have a nice little running pile stuck together that I stuff in my purse in a certain pocket. When I do that, I know that there are some important things I need to tend to, and they're right there, conveniently located so that I can just whip them out like James Bond whips out his pistol. Plus, they come in some really pretty colors.

NEXT WEEK: The art of being happy