Empowering Questions #1

As a preface, I'll start by saying that it is New Year's Day.  I'm sitting in my living room in Suseong-gu, Daegu, South Korea.  I noticed a small box on the lower level of my living room coffee table and remembered that I had PURPOSELY brought that small box with me from the United States when I moved here, in hopes that I would start using it to grow as a person.  So, I saw the box, remembered it was New Year's Day, and decided to start using it.  Hopefully, this particular blog series will become one I do often, (so as to implement the growth thingie, yeah?)

So, the box is filled with cards and writing prompts (of a sort--maybe more of 'thinking' prompts.)   EMPOWERING QUESTIONS are the words on the top of the box.  So, here we go, y'all.  Let's get 'empowered.'

The first card says: 

What kinds of good and beautiful things am I experiencing in this moment?

I like this question because it begs me to have a grateful mindset.  I (very) often forget to have a grateful mindset, so this is helpful to me.  Let's go!

I'm grateful that I am able to recognize my growth in skills as a teacher.  I'm not an AWESOME teacher yet, but I'm finding resources and developing skills which will help me grow into one and I find beauty in understanding that fact.  

I'm grateful for the moments where I see growth in my students! It is so amazing a thing to behold!  Yesterday, Yeon Su remembered how to read 'others' and 'always' and a variety of other words in 'The Cat in the Hat' without any guidance from me.  And--even better--is HIS pride in knowing that he has learned to read yet another word.    

I'm grateful for my weird ability to find beauty EVERYWHERE!  Really--in the most ridiculous places.  For example, in the contrasting colors of bricks in the facade of a building.  In the differences between the sky and the bare-leafed, white-barked trees that line nearly every big road.  

I'm grateful for the moments when I realize that I'm learning some Korean words without realizing I've learned them. The recognizition gives me such a beautiful and hopeful feeling!

I'm grateful for the few connections and friendships I've formed here. Eun Hee, Tae Hyun, Max, Jessica, Emily, Marianne, Danny, Sue, and Haneul! I'm very thankful that my natural friendliness has really helped me.

I'm grateful for the simplicity of life here in Daegu. Is it annoying that some of the stores aren't open as early or as late as they are back home? Sometimes, but--on the other hand, it has helped me to slow down. I cook breakfast at home EVERY day.  An egg and a piece of toast or bowl of cereal or slices of strawberry/cucumbers.  Restful mornings are something for which I am grateful.

I'm grateful that I've (sort of) figured out how to save money. (Christmas partly blew that out of the water, BUT Christmas is over and I can get back on the horse named Grantly and can add (once again) to savings for my future).  Anyway, in my first five paychecks, I've saved a months salary!!  I'm planning to try to save between 2-3 paychecks a year while I'm here.  The beauty of all of this is that I CAN DO IT!!  I've always struggled with that 'chore' before now, but--clearly--I can do it!

I'm grateful for some of the new foods I've experienced.  I love grapefruit tea, Holly Coffee's hot chocolate, DongKaSu (which is a breaded pork dish), pickled Japanese radish, chopped cabbage with delicious sauce on it, and the very weird vitamin drinks that come in dark brown glass bottles which are sold at every convenience store (except the one closest to my hotel in Pohang!)   I always love the Korean barbecue restaurants.  The grilled meat has an exceptional taste and all the lovely vegetable sides are awesome.  They even have this dish with romaine lettuce drizzled in a very tasty spiced oil that I had last night for the first time which was AWESOME.  I know I need to learn to like more of them, but....it is scary.  Once I went to a ramyeon shop and asked for ramen with no spice and the owner ASSURED me there was no spice, but my lips burned for 30 minutes after I left! LOL    

All in all, I'm grateful for many things here in Korea and I'm so grateful to my cousin Michael, who started this whole journey about 20 years ago, and Rachel for 'nagging' me to finish those last three classes, and Eric, for guiding me through the process of getting paperwork ready/processed, and my Mom (and many other family members) for being encouraging while I was completing the goal of getting here, and to myself, for FINALLY doing something (even though It took two years to make it happen!)

I have a lot for which to be grateful and--as I've said numerous times before today--I'm the luckiest girl in the world!

There Are Also Wounds On Blades of Grass by Jeong Ho-seung

There are also wounds on blades of grass,

there are also wounds on petals.

As I walk along the field paths
where you and I once walked together,
when I sit by the field path
and gaze at the glow of sunset
wounded blades of grass
wave their hands.

Petals with many wounds
smell sweetest.

 This is such a lovely poem by the Korean poet, Jeong Ho-Seung.   According to what I have read about it, the poem is talking about the beauty created by hurt and wounds.  No one can escape this life unscathed by wounds, yeah?  I suppose there are times when the wounds we receive cause us to become hardened and mean and hurtful to others, but I'd like to believe that--more often than not--when we stand strong after a wound and begin the process of healing from it, the wound helps kindness, compassion and fellowship grow within our hearts.   We can recognize that all people hurt and experience the same kind pain, and--with that knowledge--we can support others when they are dealing with the pain they have.   

Think of a couple--married 50 years.   On the day of their 50th wedding anniversary, does that Husband not think his wife is more beautiful than the day he married her?  He is blind to the 30 extra pounds, wrinkles, and white hair because he knows it came from years of making chili and cinnamon rolls and cleaning up after toddlers and teenagers. He has seen her fall down by the blow of a wound; and he has seen her stand back up with strength and endeavor to keep on truckin'.   Each of her wounds and blows has made her more beautiful to him.

And on the day of their 50th wedding anniversary, does that Wife not look up to her husband and still see the tall, strong man she married?  She is blind to his rounded shoulders, slow gait, and silver hair because she knows they came from years of working hard to protect and provide for his family.  She has seen him wounded and heal; and then walk out the door in the morning to continue being the 'house band' of their family.  Each of his wounds and blows has made him more handsome to her.

'Petals with many wounds smell sweetest...' because they are still living and can give off the scent of strength, life, and beauty.     I hope I can always look at my people and see their wounds and recognize the beauty in their strength through adversity, but--just in case I don't--remind me: 

'Loralee, Petals with many wounds smell sweetest.'    

Traci Jo and Loralee's theme song for finals!!

08DEC08

 Please sing this poem to the tune of Bob Seger’s “running against the wind.”

Against the wind
We’re walkin’ against the wind
It’s freezin’ now (well, 38 degrees, but you know what we mean)
And we’re walkin’ against the wind.

It’s our last day of finals
And we’ve gotta go take our tests.
We don’t wanna go but T.J. and I
Are sufferin’ against the wind.

For Grandmommy

 For Leola Elvie Ford 19NOV22-09DEC07

It was you who taught me, at the tender age of ten, that coffee doesn’t really taste that good even when it is 75 % milk. I wouldn’t get over my aversion to it until twenty plus years later when I was introduced to sugar-free hazelnut lattes which, ironically enough, are coffee…and milk.

You were the first person I remember teaching me that God is more important than watching Charlie’s Angels on a Wednesday night. The lesson didn’t stick for a whole ‘nother twelve years, but I remember that you taught me.

You made me realize that freckles weren’t really ugly things which needed gallons of Pippi Longstocking’s freckle remover. They were, instead, beautiful gifts…kisses from the angels in Heaven.

From you came one of the first nicknames I ever remember being given…(and one of the coolest ones!!)…AngelPockets.

I’ll miss you, Grandmommy.