BETWEEN TWO WORLDS

I spent a few months not watching tv when all of a sudden my choice of shows changed.  I started watching survival shows about Alaska.  Then Christmas came and I was watching  the Hallmark Channel and Christmas shows.  Alas, Christmas is over and there was nothing to watch tonight!  I started watching shows I'd never seen before, The Legend of Mick Dodge and Pioneers on the National Geographic Channel.  Add to that a book I just bought, My Prairie Cookbook by Melissa Gilbert  from the "Little House on the Prairie" series.

It had me thinking "Why the interest in this survival stuff?"    Here I sat knitting a baby hat for my neighbor.  A candle was softly glowing in the background and watching this Pioneer show.  I am caught between 2 worlds.  The one world enables me to watch tv, type on this laptop, enjoy my electric stove and fridge. Our throw away world.

 Then there is the other world --  the one that enjoys the simple pleasures of working with my hands and being creative through sewing, cooking, knitting, housekeeping.  There is the part of me mesmerized by flame/fire. I loved the Little House series of children's books and  I still read them now.  The Long Winter  helps me appreciate my modern conveniences and 18 degrees outside is not bad when you can come into a warm home.

Back to answering the question I posed to myself, it was answered on the tv show.  Mick Dodge was escaping from the real world!  On Pioneers they were depending on their primal instincts.  Their final determination was the faith in God to bring them through. Both shows were about  resourcefulness!

I want parts of my modern world but it is important to ground myself in the every day part of living.

I can do it in many ways -- cooking simple comfort food my grandma would make, wearing the apron with pride.  I can meditate with the flame of a candle and make the world slow down.  I can create things for others and my home, to bring back quiet pastimes, the satisfaction of repairing and using my available resources. I can be thankful for what I have.  I can, I can, I can!

What slows you down and helps you appreciate the everyday???