Thursday, September 21, 2006

Tomorrow is Another Day

As a huge Gone With the Wind fan, I always remember Scarlett O'Hara's approach to the turmoils in her life: "I'll think about it tomorrow. After all, tomorrow is another day."

Not to advocate procrastination by any means, I do agree that sometimes a twirl of the planet can help a lot. For a while I felt like the guy on Arther Miller's The Crucible, who is lying down, being interrogated while heavy rocks are piled on his chest to threaten suffocation and extract a confession. (His defiant response just before his death: "MORE WEIGHT!!!") But my "stress therapy" day has been followed by "another day" (and even another day after that), bringing a string of relieving and happy events. I feel like some of those rocks have been lifted from me, making the daily grind more manageable.

I still have a lot on my plate, but I always knew it was better to be busy than bored. And I am still just so glad that I can appreciate complex thinking.

I listened to my new copy of the soundtrack to the musical, Wicked, and there was a snippet of a song that made me laugh:

But I say: why invite stress in?
Stop studying strife
And learn to live "the unexamined life":
Dancing through life
Skimming the surface
Gliding where turf is smooth
Life's more painless
For the brainless
Why think too hard?
When it's so soothing
Dancing through life

I kept thinking of myself, becoming gradually more "brainless", putting on my clog dancing shoes and dancing through life. It gave me a good chuckle. And then I snapped back to the reality that - hooray! - I'm not really brainless (at least not yet). I can still take on the challenges of the day, and it feels great when I do.

Another song from the soundtrack reminded me of all of my family and friends who have blanketed me with support:

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led to those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you
Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you I have been changed for good
It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend.
Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you I have been changed for good.

4 comments:

Kristine said...

I've actually put "Wicked" on my wish list...and after reading those lyrics, I want it even more. I'll cross my fingers that it is one of my birthday or Christmas gifts!

I am glad your days have gotten slightly less stressful, and I too, am glad you are not brainless...!!

Anonymous said...

Krista,

Last night at my RS board meeting I shared your blog about "the better idea". There were tears all around as your perfectly worded story was told. I want you to know I gain so much from each of your posts. Keep up the good work!

Naturegirl said...

Good post we all feel overwhelmed and it does pass.Your discription of how it feels is so accurate.When the rocks are lifted one by one it does feel so much better.Tomorrow tomorrow there'e always tomorrow.

Heather said...

You always uplift me with your posts! Thank you for being so open and willing to share your struggles, trials, triamphs, and downfalls. You are awesome!

Off to listen to my copy of the Wicked sountrack - I think I've almost worn it out!