Taunted by my year-old vow to make pumpkin bars for Ms. Ree, a cook and teacher at our daughter's former daycare, I delivered on my word last week. For the past year, I told her "I'm going to make you those pumpkin bars!""I'm really going to make you those pumpkin bars!" As we said our final goodbyes to the school and her, “I really am going to bring you those pumpkin bars!" Assuaging my guilt with her accepting, “yeah, right” smile, she surely thought I was feeding her bull and not the savory, moist treats.
The unfulfilled promise of pumpkin bars beckoned (and frankly tormented) me as I drove by our girl's old school each day and wandered grocery store aisles seeking Libbie's Pure Pumpkin in season amidst the trance of weekly shopping. Finally, our girl and I broke from our routine to break eggs, stir batter, lick bowls and seal our commitment with sugary, sweet cream cheese frosting. We delivered the pumpkin bars, heads high, smiles on our faces, spoiling the unconditional moment with only a small request that Ms. Ree please return our 9 x 13 pan.
Lingering or compelling tugs at one's soul speak volumes to more than, in this case, pumpkin bars - though they surely stick to one’s ribs and tastebuds! The pumpkin bars fed my appetite for honoring my word, making someone's day, being grateful and teaching our daughter to be thoughtful – the intangible ingredients of this effort and values I hold dearly. Maybe, Ms. Ree’s faith in humanity was also restored bite by bite. Or, maybe, she just enjoyed some damn good cake!
So why did it take a year? Life gets in the way, and, it is easier to put out fires than gather wood, position kindling just right and build a warm, sustainable fire ripe for toasting marshmallows and toes. It’s easier to be dazed than deliberate; fleeting than focused; depleted by constant demands than full on what really matters or literally "takes the cake."
I've since bought several cans of Libbie's Pure Pumpkin to keep within reach in my cabinets and in the forefront of my busy life. While they will surely get buried behind boxes of rice, macaroni and the daily grind, they are within my grasp to help me focus on what's important and create sweetness in life when the opportunity arises. Pumpkin bars, anyone?
- What small efforts can you take to feed your soul?
- What values might they help you honor in your life?
- What gets in your way of doing them?
Having just finished my first half marathon, I often told my running partner during milestones of our three-month training program - we're in it now!
When we ran during the torrential downpour of a hurricane - "we're in it!";
When we finished our first seven miles - "we're in it!";
When we waited for the race to begin - "now, we are really in it!"
Being "in it" reflected a growing commitment, the point of no return - the walking (in my case, running, pining for walking or stopping) my talk. The more I said it, felt it, invested in it, the more I would do what it took to do it. Not "in it" no longer became an option! I moved from hunched over to head up, trepidation to determination; cotton to polypropolene (we had to look good too!); from 1 to 2 to 3 to 4 to 5 to 6 to 7 to 8 to 9 to 10 to 11 to 12 to 13.1.
In life, we frequently straddle the fence, think the grass is greener, or doubt our abilites, looking for a way out or staying on the fringes rather than fully being "in it". It's safer that way and surely requires less effort. Easier to turn off the alarm and miss the morning run. Easier to blame someone else than take responsibility. Easier to find a new job (maybe not these days!) or partner or quick fix than do the hard work of learning, growing, changing, challenging that being "in it" requires of us. At the same time, we miss the sweet success, realized dreams, toned legs...I mean, new-found confidence or sense that we gave it our all if "out" is the answer.
- Where might you need to be "in it"?
- What does "in it" feel like for you?
- What behavior, discipline or mindset will "in it" require of you?
- What "in it" decision will you make today?
P.S. Get "In It" caution - There are times when we are "in it" when it may not be in our best interest or that of others; resulting problems may be burnout; one-sided relationships; undue hurt in others. Use your "in it" energy for good (or get out)!
