Four Generations
Do you remember the 1996 comedy “Multiplicity” with Michael Keaton? In an effort to accomplish more, he had “copies” of himself made. Unfortunately, each copy (clone) was more blurred than the previous one; less efficient, less effective, less everything … In fact, the negative aspects of the original became emphasized with each copy.
On a recent bicycle ride I was thinking about my son and our similarities and differences. That got me to thinking about how similar—yet different—I am to my mom, and she was with hers, and so on…
In looking at the “bolt of cloth” that I’m cut from, my goal is to “accentuate the positive, and eliminate the negative.” I’m hoping that my son will do the same as he examines that same bolt of cloth.
In the four generations picture above, my mom’s on the left, I’m on the right, and my maternal grandmother is in the center holding newly-born Eoghan (1983).
“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
– Laurie Buchanan
www.HolEssence.com
Copyright © 2010 Laurie Buchanan — All Rights Reserved.
Tuesdays with Laurie 
I reaLly love this picture!
Yes the positive attitude can get you a long way, or at least get you through a lot of the stuff life throws at you.
Having a posiive when the world seems always dwell on the negatives is a shing example of the actual mirror of the Divine moving forth.
Kim
Good morning, Kim. I’m with you that a positive attitude is incredibly important. So much so, that I try to make it a way of life — not something that comes and goes — rather, a lifestyle.
For some reason your mom looks like an actress!
You all look so cute!
Good morning, Beth – We rode up to the McHenry train station this morning. Does you dad live in the brick apartments that have the word “Crest” in the title? (I can’t remember their full name). It was a beautiful morning to ride that trail particular trail because there’s not much shade and we beat the sun.
Hmm?
I am interested in more of your thoughts!
I am Love, Jeff
What a “Love”ly way to begin my day. I’m sure the picture and memories are treasures you cherish, as well as, the family fabric that is woven within you.
Sheila – I’d have to say this is, indeed, one of my favorite photographs. I’m glad you stopped in today, thank you.
That is really a beautiful picture of all of you.
Just recently I went through family photo’s with my daughter Sarah and we had the best time remembering the fun we had. Thank goodness for photo’s if for no other reason but to remind us of what good times and people are in our lives.
~Jean
Jean – Did your daughter Sarah inherit your artistic gene?
Oh yes, she is much more crafty than I am.
She is also very orgainized, something she didn’t get from Me!!
Jean – Crafty AND organized. She got a double-helping!
Laurie, I love what you are saying and the way that you have said it! I also believe that once we are aware of our own unique “bolt of cloth” we can then make choices accordingly…what we choose to honor and let be and what we might choose to honor but ultimately release. I find for myself that the ongoing challenge is the willingness to be fully aware. It’s still astonishingly easy, at times, to slip away……
Like Kim, I much admire your positive approach to life!
Colleen – I really (!) appreciate your words, “… what we might choose to honor, but ultimately release.” That is a wonderful three-step process: (1) acknowledge, (2) honor, and (3) release. A great prescription!
Your positive attitude shines through and with so much of what you do, Laurie. Even when your computer died a gory death (hey, is it fixed yet?) your positivity enlightened the experience.
I kinda had to giggle this morning when I saw your post…after I had chosen to stay present with pain during the middle of the night…definitivley choosing not to immediately turn it around to the positive (as is my usual inclination.) Thought: oh no! Laurie and I are approaching this in a seemingly opposite way today.
But I suspect it’s not opposite at all. Can’t think it all through right now–too tired after 3-4 hours of sleep last night! But if we looked hard enough I suspect we could find similarities.
Kathy – I suspect it’s not opposit at all, either. I person needs to sit with something for a while (good, bad, or indifferent), find the lesson that it’s brought, acknowledge/thank it, and then release it (send it on its merry way). With that lesson (piece of learning) in hand/heart, that’s how we can accentuate the positive. Your dark evening was the sitting with it part.
Hi there,
Yes my Dad lives there. It’s a great little place for him. Nice and small, affordable and a lady comes every Monday to clean.
Ok I figured out that your Mom looked a tad like Joan Crawford.
http://www.joancrawfordbest.com/images.htm
Take a peek
Beth – I did a quick Google of Joan Crawford to remind myself what she looked like. I suppose if I was galloping by on a horse really, really fast — I would see a similarity 🙂
Hi, Laurie — I’m still catching up with my blogging this week. I have always liked this picture of you and your family. And, I am a true believer in finding the good in myself and others and focusing on that; I am not as consistent with it as I would like to be. Thanks for the reminder.
Barbara – I sure like what you said: “I’m a true believer in finding the good in myself and others and focusing on that.” That sentence alone are words to live by; a lifestyle. If we all did that, the world would be a completely different — better — place.