what I do

what I do

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Musings on my Birthday week

A while back I got a not so nice email from someone who did not appreciate the content of my Sunday posts. After all they said, this is suppose to be a design blog. And it is. Kind of. But it is also filled with my thoughts and musings and opinions (it's my blog, right?). So if you are here today to see some fun design inspiration you should probably leave and come back in a day or two ... well except first check out this incredible cake by Eddie Ross.


Isn't this the most gorgeous cake you ever saw? Eddie made it for Jaithan's mom's birthday a couple of weeks ago ... you can read more about it (and more) on his blog here. His talent just astounds me.


Last week I had a birthday too (I still haven't calculated which one it is) but one of the good things about getting older and becoming more forgetful is that you can re-read books and they feel like new again. So today I started re-reading a book that I clearly have read before - I can tell I have read it before because it is earmarked - but I have absolutely no recollection of it. The book is by one of my favorite Christian authors - John Ortberg who is the pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church. I love his sense of humor and simple way he writes. The book is titled, When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box.


In Chapter four of the book, John talks about how in our culture, we put a lot of emphasis on our outer person (which will someday pass away) instead of developing what will last (our inner being; our spirit). He says:
"You will get inundated with messages that try to get you to obsess over the outer you. Experts tell us that if you exercise regularly, you will add two years to your life. But the bad news is that you will spend those two years exercising. Winston Churchill lived into his nineties and said the only exercise he ever got was serving as a pallbearer for his friends that died while they were exercising." 
Okay, so before I get a lot of weird comments, I am not (nor is he) saying not to exercise. God knows I need to exercise more and being healthy is way up there on my list of things I need to work on this year. But I really loved what he went on to say:
"Be grateful for the outer you. Come to peace with your body. Rejoice in its strengths. Accept it in its limitations. Be grateful for it. Wash it once in a while. (My sister Patti will most certainly get a laugh from this as we are both the poster children on pushing the limit on this since we have come to realize the less we shower the more we can get done!!!) Let it work hard. Be happy when it gets promoted. But remember, it's wasting away.
"Make your biggest investment in the you that will last. We have scales and mirrors and cameras and tape measures to track the development of our outer selves. But how how can we track the well-being of the part of us that will last? This may look a little different for everyone, but there are a few mirrors and scales that we all will probably need:
  • Self-examination and confession
  • Friends who love you enough to speak truth too you
  • Time to be alone and listen to God
  • Examination of your calendar and checkbook 
  • Key questions, such as: How easily discouraged do I get these days? How easily irritated am I compared to six months ago? 
  • Attention to your secret thought life. What is your mind drawn towards - really? Where do envy or blaming or judging or lusting rob your inner person of life and joy?
"Here's a concrete place to start: spend as much time caring for the inner you as you spend on the outer you."
 Good stuff, right?

14 comments:

Glamour Drops said...

Well how extraordinary. As if designers don't think about anything other than design! Because if we didn't, I don't see how we could actually design - we would be so far removed from the rest of the world that we couldn't even communicate. I think our brains never stop ticking though, about lots of things, which ultimately find their way into our design ethos - but perhaps in a roundabout way.

It's your blog - you do whatever you like!

Robbie said...

I love your blog, gives me inspiration both Inside and Out. Favorite Day: Sunday!!! and maybe Monday....

Carol@6WilsonBlog.com said...

Okay, I laughed out loud at the re-read because of forgetfulness with age -- I am the poster child for THAT! This is a fantastic post and I am copying the url and sending it to friends. I love reading your Sunday posts, and poo-poo on anyone who doesn't like it. As you said, it's your blog. xx

Laura Trevey said...

Oh my word ~ it that a cake? Way to beautiful to be eaten!!

Enjoy your Sunday Sherri!!
xoxo

Yvonne said...

I love your Sunday post!

traci zeller designs said...

Happy belated birthday to you ... from another fan of your posts on Sundays (and every day)!

A Perfect Gray said...

beautifully said. keep it up, gal! donna

pve design said...

Sherri-
Oh, happiest of birthdays to you!

I really am so delighted when I receive your comments that are uplifting and honest.

Inspiration must flow from various sources and if we are in tune and know the course we can chart our destiny. I worked with a holistic counselor to achieve many goals and to learn to look ahead.

adeline is lovely.

xo
pve

annie@mostlovelythings said...

Oh happy birthday Sherry!!....and who wouldn't love your Sunday posts or any other days for that matter...keep up the good work!
xo
annie

Lynda said...

Some inspiration along with design makes you so unique and readable...happy belated birthday Sherri! Keep being so you!

17 Perth said...

First off---I agree with you 100%--this is your blog. :) You can write whatever you want to write. Personally---Jesus is my personal savior-- so I LOVE your sunday messages--and look forward to them.

And Happy Belated Birthday to you.

Stephanie said...

Oh shame on them for even thinking they could tell you what you can do on your own blog! Seriously..get a life people! I wonder if we have the same birthday? 17th is mine. Happy belated birthday! I thought of this cute saying I pinned on Pinterest recently when I read your post
"We'll Be Friends 'Til We're Old & Senile....Then We'll Be New Friends!"

Deb said...

Hey, Ortberg is the minister at my church...let me know if you ever want to hear him speak in person :)
We can work on my house too, haha.

Unknown said...

Thank you everyone for such nice comments - it means a lot to me! xo Sherri