Earning My Degree

Come By Chance is in a different place currently but I tell you with absolute certainty, although traveling in a foreign land, the destination has not changed. This is merely training.

The cold seeped from the concrete stoop and bleed through my pajama pants as I sat outside of our small two bedroom apartment in the city.  I delicately laid the large stack of unopened bills next to me. I stared across the litter parking lot, watching a candy wrapper flit and bounce with the breeze. O how I was craving the woods. I squinted my eyes for a moment. I pretended the trash was a  blissful delicate autumn painted leaf... Then shaking free from my fantasy, I looked around, "I cant believe I thought this was a good idea", I sadly reflected.

As I wrapped my arms tighter around me, the wind blew splinters of cold through my jacket. I inhaled the evenings cold air. With each detoxifying breath, calm cleansing and deep, I exhaled each crisis of the day.

 Just as I was releasing the stress, my doubt crept back in. A tight knot formed in my stomach, " BUT, what am I doing here and why?"

The sirens from the hospital had started to drown out my thoughts. Then drawing my attention to the right, a sound closer to home. A car door five spaces down slams shut.  A young mother screams at a man still standing beside the older white Honda, "your a fucking jerk", she says as she angrily  fumbles for the correct door key. I just sat there gawking at their intimate BUT yet public display.

 The pizza delivery guy pulls in next to my car. With little notice he casually walks in my direction. Still avoiding eye contact he says "whats up", but then absently hovers over me. "Its not mine", I snipped. Without a word he turns and knocks on my neighbors door... The smell of fresh pizza reminds me that I have almost a week before my next pay day.

My cell phone rings. I can feel my heart rate hasten as I see its an ex-boyfriend calling...

The sounds of sirens fade into the distance. The couple's bickering is no longer seen behind their closed door. The smell of pizza fades from my senses. My calm is restored as I pressed end to my ringing phone.

I'm here in this place. So far home, finding my way is going to take focus and determination.  At times it will feel like I my efforts are insurmountable.

It is easy to react in the calm.  Focus is simple in  perfect conditions.  It is when the chaotic world around us that pulls us in every which direction do we learn what true focus and determination is.

There will be times when I am listening off into the distance or wondering about someone else's life. There will be times when I am envious of others simple fortunes and times that I just have to shut off my feelings... but in the end I will steady myself and find my focus. I will regain my footing. I will learn to hear the breaths of my sleeping children over the the sirens echoing around me. I will focus on my soft inner voice over the yelling of others.. I will find happiness in the blessings of other people and I will have a love that's all mine again.

When I look at the world around me, I realize the magnitude of  cause and effect and the toll it takes on our senses.  Our reactions count!

A few years ago after hitting a road block, I mastered the art of being self sufficient.  I can grow a garden and raise healthy livestock. I am capable of ending an animals suffering and carving a simple bowl out of fire wood. I have conquered many of the physical tasks life can bring. I can and have embraced the simple life.

It is only here in this place of chaos that I have moved on to the next stage in this educational degree of life... Now I have complex task of  learning to Master ME....