Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Words


Many times I have thought about this quote as I sit down to write. The potential to write good or evil is within every writer. I find myself fighting back and forth over what is often easy for me to write (scary, dark stuff) and what is hard for me to write (funny, positive stuff).

I hope to be a great writer some day; to influence generations in choosing good and feeling happy when they read. Until then I practice (and practice and practice) "combining words" as Hawthorne put it. I continue to try.
Corrina L. Terry

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Crossing the Desert

Photo: Desert cactus, Baja, Mexico

Take a look at the above picture. That's what the final weeks of teaching middle schoolers looks like. It's a barren desert with mountains yet to climb before I get to the oasis of summer on the other side. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy teaching and love the kids, but it's been a long, crazy year. (Just ask my hubby who has to hear the stories each day!)


I have a way to go still.

I can make it.

I will make it.

A summer of family reunions, swimming, bbqs, and book reading awaits me. I can't give up now.





Product Details


Picture credits:
Family reunion pics: Me
Desert pic: www.kids.nationalgeographic.com  by Ed George
Pool pic: www.tripadvisor.com
Book pic: http://www.amazon.com/ & my buddy Janet. She always makes me laugh!

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Stuck in Traffic



Stuck in traffic lately? I am daily. Every time I find myself stuck in a lane behind a truck I can't see around (such as the one above) I think back to an experience I had in Provo, Utah, years ago.

It was a typical day for me, driving home after a day of work from the Provo river bottoms to our South Provo apartment. I usually took University Avenue because it was a straight shot home. I haven't lived in Provo in 12 years, so I hope this street has changed, but I doubt it.

At the time it was a tree-lined street with two lanes on either side, a turning lane (shared by both sides of the road) in the middle, and one lane on each side for parking. It felt narrow, especially during Provo's "rush hour."

Day after day I would get trapped behind some large truck or another. Traffic was tight. Cars would jockey for prime positions. I couldn't see what was in front of the truck; I often couldn't see much in the other lane, and so I would plod on, inch by inch, light by light, angry and frustrated feeling that the drive home was lasting forever.

One evening my perspective changed. As I plodded along behind yet another large truck for yet another mile, my frustration mounting, I spied an opening in the lane to my right. I signaled, looked, and zipped over into that lane. I nearly fainted. Both lanes in front of the slow truck (and now me) were open. They were clear! They had probably been clear for some time, as cars had sped past me and Mr. Slow Truck on the right and turned onto various streets, freeing up that right lane.

What I thought had been a slow evening traffic jam was just one slow truck and me following that truck like an idiot, not believing there could be anything better or different about this commute. (Sadly enough, there was also a long line of cars behind me.)

I remember thinking to myself, this is a lot like life. In front of me looms a huge problem or obstacle that I follow for a while, not seeing the end of it. I can't see around it or in front of it. All I can see is IT. I follow it blindly, meanwhile getting more and more distraught when in reality, there is a free and open road right in front of it. 

I took that moment to heart. It became a personal "aha" moment that I'd smile about when stuck in traffic I couldn't see around. Would I let the truck hold me back? Would I take a chance to zip into the next lane and see what was ahead or would I doggedly eat the fumes of Mr. Slow Truck?

Applying it to my life . . . would I let a big, ugly divorce restrain me? Would I let problems at work keep me behind? Would I allow my own self-esteem issues hinder my emotional, mental or spiritual growth? Would my past failures hold me down? No way! No way.

So next time you're stuck in traffic behind a truck you can't see around, think of my lesson. Are you going to let it hold you back or are you going to take a chance and see what's around it?


Copyright 2011 Corrina L. Terry
Photo credits:
http://www.chickenmonkeydog.com/
http://www.yearinmexico.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Today's the Day



When I started this blog, my first post was about roller coasters. I compared riding a roller coaster to marriage. I actually wrote that post for my baby brother. (He didn't know it.) At the time he was in his late 20's and while he had dated many great ladies, he just hadn't met the right one. I was so afraid he would give up or grow discouraged about marriage. Luckily he didn't.

Today's the day he and his sweet fiancee marry. I am so proud of them. She has endured a lot of heartache in the marriage department prior to my brother. He has been the lone bachelor in our family for a while. They are our children's favorite uncle and soon-to-be-aunt. They are good, kind people who live righteously and who will make amazing parents. I hope they will have a wonderful marriage and remember the feelings of love they have for each other today when marriage life gets difficult down the road.

I am so glad they took this step to be married in the temple and wish them all of the joy they deserve. Love you both!!!