Support Groups

      You may have read my last blog entry about letting go of old thinking and getting clear on what I want in my life. It's often stated that the people who live the longest, are a part of a great, social group. So one night last week, as I fixed dinner, I stopped for a moment to post a statement on facebook - "I need a support group." I got several comments offering support from my fb group before an old friend in Tennessee asked "?"

     It's a good question.  I deleted the post. I decided right then and there - deep, philosophical insight, probably won't be attained on a facebook page...probably.  Besides, my youngest son called to see if I was OK. No need for a little growth to worry my kids.
     As this whole process was unfolding, and especially after the good question from my Tennessee buddy, I stopped dinner preparations long enough to write the following description of the support group that I need - "There's Still Time to Save The World / A Funny Thing Happened on The Way to The Graveyard / I Did Kinda-Wanna Be a Mad Scientist / Mental Fight Club Support Group" on the chalk board in my kitchen. Whatever their name and wherever they meet, I'm there.

 Days passed and the group name remained on the chalk board. Then one night, several days later, I was washing the dishes and I looked at that group name and suddenly found myself breaking it down. "Still Time to Save the World" - First off, it's going to take more than one person to save the world. The truth is that the world is getting better in so many ways, everyday, because people all over the world are working to improve things. Yet, we can all do more to help in our own way. And in an instant I knew that what I want to do is something to help the Earth. I want to plant trees - either in a group or by myself. You'll be hearing more about this later.

 

     How about "A Funny Thing Happened on The Way to The Graveyard" ? As I looked at that, I knew this was speaking more to my memories and my current experiences. It means more writing. Does this mean I join a writer's group? I'm hesitant. I grew up in a family of 9 kids. I have a large extended family. I could start writing right now and never speak to another human being and I'd never get all the stories covered.  For instance, check out this old photo of me and my younger sister (the blond). We had just walked over the mountain from our house and were on the way down Coxes Creek Road to our school bus stop at the Coxes Creek Freewill Baptist Church. We stopped in our Aunt Cairie's yard for some long forgotten reason and she took our photograph. Sis and I are wearing flip flops because kids could no longer come barefooted to school. Hey, it writes itself.

 

Finally, "I Did Kinda-Wanna Be a Mad Scientist /  Mental Fight Club." Why are mad scientist so mad?  Most of the time they're just frustrated by somebody else grabbing the brass ring before them. I'm not feeling that. I'm just not that mad about anything but to keep my gray matter gray, I feel sure I need challenges. I feel sure that my art endeavors can help me there. Do I need a support group? Maybe. I'm not sure. But, in pondering the question, I have decided that I need to take a few more risk in the name of art. So I'll be explaining that in a future blog.