My small town obsession has become my entire family’s
Posted: July 28, 2011 Filed under: Family Love, My Unsettled Heart Leave a comment »One thing that the Flood of 2011 taught me was to appreciate some beautiful parts of the Midwest that I had no idea even existed.
Typically, I-29 suits me just fine, but earlier this month, that roadway was mostly under water. Thus, I adventured. On nearly entirely 2-lane highways. And it was an adventure, indeed.
On my way back to Kansas, I drove through Peterson, Iowa. And pretty much fell in love. I’m now obsessed. With a town with less than 400 inhabitants. And that sounds just about perfect to me.
But just tell me you wouldn’t be too. They’ve got a Farm Machinery Museum.
All photos and information were borrowed for your viewing pleasure {and mine!} from http://petersonhistory.org/.
p.s. My Dad has even picked up a business card of one of the town’s realtors. My parents are kind of funny.
p.p.s. If you know me and know of my bad luck with this town’s unfortunate name {it’s a blast from a mostly unhappy past for me}, please disregard it. This dream hometown of mine deserves a fresh start. And so do I.
it is then that it becomes clear
Posted: July 25, 2011 Filed under: My Unsettled Heart, Trial and Error Leave a comment »I’m dedicated to my quest to become a better, more true version of me, each day. I don’t want to change who I am, but I’d certainly like to be a little bit better person every day. *Cue Fiona Apple’s Better Version of Me here.*
Most notably, I want to be the gracious and empathetic person that I know I was born to be. It’s proven in my strengths finder results… I mean, supposedly I’m a number one empathizer!
But sometimes people disappoint me. And when they have disappointed me, I haven’t always shown them grace or kindness. This is an area in which I would like to grow. But I have decided recently that I will not continue to beat myself up for cutting people out of my life.
It is possible to be kind and empathetic
while still remaining strong enough
to know when people do not belong in your life.
It has been a rough road for me in my understanding that I can’t control anyone but myself. I’m not a controlling person, but aren’t there times in which a friend or partner has acted in a way that you wish you could change, or at least call into question and allow them to see the error of their ways? It would be nice if we never had to tell anyone “Thanks, but no thanks. You’re not good for me.” Or my typical response… “I don’t need this.” Or… “F@(% off!”
Aren’t there times when the betrayal of an old friend with whom you’ve shared crazy irresponsible times who decides to tell your current love about your past transgressions push you towards the brink?
Or what about when a love puts everyone – even near strangers – above you? At that moment you want to shake them, to angrily shout and defend your love for them to convince them they are wrong. But what good would that really do?
When someone makes you feel small. When you are made to feel less than in order to remain dependent. When a supposed close friend responds to your latest date with the request that if things don’t work out, that she have permission to take a chance. When a separation of property leaves one party with two George Foreman grills and one party with zero… BUT with two forks, one spoon and one knife in the utensil drawer!
It is then that it becomes clear. Sometimes people just have to go.
And it is not my fault. No amount of grace or empathy will make it okay.
