Friday, January 11, 2013

Chains That Bind You


Photo by mconners.

In 2011, I posted about grief--to help me move through mine and hopefully help someone else move through theirs. Then I trumpeted 2012 with a January prescription to Take Joy. And fell silent for 11 months.

What happened? March came, and I meant to post about a lovely silver-headed woman I met in the Chicago airport. Her hair was so stunning that I spent 15 minutes of my layover trying to find her so I could tell her how beautiful her natural silver was. When I found her, she answered all my questions and graciously gave her permission for me to write about her on my blog.

Which I never did. Never even posted her picture.

Big deal, right? It's not like anyone died because of my procrastination or fear or busy-ness or whatever it was. Right? Right.

But this did happen: In the crack of that broken promise, something sneaky and life-sucking (shame and disappointment in myself) wormed its way in and rendered me motionless. 

So I've decided to fight back. I'm taking up the banner of Better Late Than Never and am going to tell you in my next post about Ruth. She'll probably never see I kept my promise to her, and for that I'm sorry. But I'm keeping my promise to me, and that's a big matter.

Are you blocked in your life somewhere? My experimental recipe might help you: Think back to right before you encountered that block. Did you promise something to yourself or someone else and fail to follow through? Go back and do it. No matter how stupid you feel or how much time has passed or how little you think it matters. And if you can't do it and it involves another person, swallow your pride and apologize to that person if you can. 

Unless you enjoy having a blockage you can't get around.

I'm cheering for you from over here. Let me know how it goes.

14 comments:

kc bob said...

I so enjoy reading what you write Heather! I resonate with the procrastination that you write about. Even so, I am refreshed by the idea that each morning comes with fresh mercies.

Have a great weekend Heather. Say hi to your partner in love for me! Let us know if you all ever get downtown.

Blessings, Bob

Heather Trent Beers said...

Thank you, Bob. I agree with you about the fresh mercies! Sometimes I go to bed at 2 pm just so I can get a jump start on that fresh batch of mercy! :)

I'll be sure to tell Dennis hi for you. :)

Linnette Mullin said...

Great to see you back! :D Love you, girlfriend!

Heather Trent Beers said...

Thank you, Linnette! It's good to be back. :)

Karen said...

OK....now you've got me thinking. Thanks!

Heather Trent Beers said...

Karen, I'm so glad I got you thinking. Hope it didn't hurt too much. :)

Sally Jadlow said...

Hey, Heather! Glad you're back! Missed you!

Anonymous said...

Wow. You've got a good memory. 'Fraid I can't remember what happened yesterday.

Heather Trent Beers said...

Thanks, Sally. I missed being here. :)

Heather Trent Beers said...

Lishacauthen, I only remember because I felt so awful about it for so long. Plus I journaled about it.

Sue said...

Very good post! I'm tweetin' it!

Heather Trent Beers said...

Thank you very much, Sue!

Erin's Garden said...

Great post! Heather have you've seen my hair lately?

Heather Trent Beers said...

Thanks, Erin. Yes, I've seen your hair, and I look forward to the day I catch up to your silvery gorgeousness!