Cloudy with a Chance of Deep Breaths
I hate it when people accuse me of lolly-gagging, when I’m quite clearly dilly-dallying.
Every so often I will search, “what is the most searched question today/this week/of the moment?” In the past the results have been usually tech, politics, health, etc related. Today, I was surprised to find that “how do I change a tire?” and “how do I tie a tie?” to be some of the top questions. It gave me pause and it gave me a hope for humanity all at once- still trying to figure out which I have more of – pause or hope, but at least I have both!
First, it gave me pause. Don’t get me wrong, I google and YouTube how to do lots of things, so no judgment here. The pause I had was more about who may be asking these questions, and if it is a younger generation, are we as adults failing them, in a way, by not teaching them the basics that we were taught as common knowledge, life skills?
Second, it gave me hope in humanity. It gave me hope because it sends a message that people are wanting and needing to do the everyday common knowledge life skill things. Whether it be out of curiosity or unable to financially afford the services at this time. Someone is using the noggin to find the answers.
And I will be completely honest, if you asked me to do either of these things at the moment, I don’t have these skills. So you can laugh that I am even writing about this.
However, I was the kid that begged to pump gas- no lie. My Paw-Paw got a kick out of this! He taught me how to check the air his tires- even got me my own gauge! I greased my brother’s go cart racing tires every Saturday night for many years (and did know how to change these tires). Went to Church the next morning smelling like the go cart track! So in my defense, I do have some other common knowledge life skills, and at some point in my life I could change a tire- I just can’t on my current car.
Funny side note: Both my niece and nephew have found my tire gauge in my car at different times, and both have asked what it was- easy teaching moment. One time in a parking lot and one time in our garage. Simple and easy, these life skills.
As I was thinking about these questions this morning and what I would want to write today, I was reminded of a day last week. My mom and I were driving home from somewhere, and she said, “do you think that cloud looks like _____?” (I can’t remember what she said, nor can I remember where we were- grief and life has done its duty on my memory). Many days when my brother and I were little, my mom would lay with us in the front yard or on our driveway and we would watch the clouds, and name what we saw in the clouds. It became such a fun thing to do, that we would do it without consciously thinking about it, as we rode places, or sat on the dock at the lake. And of course, we are still doing as adults.
When I would keep kids and they would get to a point of saying they were bored, we would head outside and lay down and just watch the clouds. There is something that is captivating, humbling, and calming about this activity. The vastness of the sky, the various clouds, and way God arranges them, tells me so much about his character and heart for us- be still, breathe deep, and laugh.
We are all given the opportunities to learn life skills. They may not all be the same. And they may not all be taught in the same way, and we may not even realize we are learning them at the time. I know that as I have gotten older, I have realized that life experiences, personalities, and circumstances can definitely effect whether someone is willing to apply a life skill or if they willing deny it was ever an opportunity to learn.
Let me give you an example to describe the difference between willing to apply and willing to deny. True crime fascinates me- not because of the crime, but the stories of the people involved. The two things that get under my skin the most, other than the actual crime being committed, is: 1. gullible people (I think this one explains itself) and 2. seeing something and NOT saying something. This drives me bananas!
Seeing illness, abuse, neglect and NOT saying something is just mind-blowing to me. And I am sure I have missed things too. As I watch true crime that involves these things, though, I have realized more and more I only know that these red flags because of life experiences, my personality, and circumstances. Mental illness- depression, anxiety, etc- family and friends. I had many hours of education in abuse and neglect in my adoption certification. I also have always been fascinated with the human body and our amazing woven togetherness. Especially brain and nervous system. I love kids. So, I’ve self-educated myself about development, all aspects of health, ages and stages, care and needs. This doesn’t mean at all that I know it all, it just means I may be able to recognize a red flag quicker than someone who hasn’t experienced or been educated on these things, but are in other ways and can recognize other kinds of red flags.
At first, it’s a conscious choice, to apply or not apply what we glean or learn from experiences, our personality, and circumstances. Sometimes it’s easy, just a simple everyday thing to apply. Sometimes it’s hard, coping with new things takes time to figure out what works best for you. Eventually, it becomes apart of who you are- you either find a way to apply or immediately deny and move on.
Some skills are like tying a tie, changing a tire, pumping gas, checking the air, and come as day to day needs. And then some come with experience and circumstances- common knowledge life skills for you, because you have lived it and/or have had a need to gather information and facts.
This week I am going to be thinking about these questions: What life skills are important to me to pass on? Am I passing them on? In what ways could I be applying what I have experienced for the better? Is there anything I am denying to apply?
And of course…. What does that cloud look like?
Take a moment and find the hidden things in the clouds this week!
Life Book of the Week: On My Own Two Feet (Adventures with Action Jackson), by John Schara – link below.
