Making Your Mark On The World Is Easier Than You Think

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My good friend Kim is right smack in the middle of building her dream farm.  She and her husband shopped for exactly the kind of land they wanted, and began the building process from scratch.  There was nothing there when they started—not even a driveway.  Every detail has been thoroughly and thoughtfully considered.

Kim hired a general contractor, and while progress has been made, the process has been pretty frustrating for her.  There have been multiple communication snafus with the contractor coupled with weather delays, and her dream farm project is now in its third year.  She and her husband and several large dogs are living in a small barn apartment that they built on the property.  Recently I asked her if she would do it again—if all the stress was worth it.

“You know, everyone asks me that,” she answered.  But she went on to explain that she had always wanted to make her mark on the world, however small.  By carefully planning and building a farm, she felt like she could do that.

I have no doubt that when her farm is completed it will be a stunning work of art.  She and her husband have both poured their heart and soul into this project with their purpose firmly in mind.  I hope they will enjoy their farm for many, many years.  And later on, someone else will also get to enjoy it.

All this got me thinking about what it means to make your own mark on the world. (Thank you, Kim!)

One of the things that kept popping up was the idea of expressing your unique self.  We may not all be incredible songwriters, musicians, artists or dancers (though I am honored to have some of each as blog readers!), but there are many ways to put your own special stamp on the life you are crafting.

Like Kim, we can strive to make our own corner of the world a more beautiful and productive place.  Even if we’re only helping one other individual, there is a ripple effect in the world.  And deeply helping one other person (parenting and elder care come to mind) can profoundly change that person’s world view, and how they relate to others.

I realize this is a very simple concept, and certainly not a new idea, but the more I think about it the more life-changing it becomes.  In our over-achiever society, many times we think we don’t measure up.  Our perception is, sometimes, that we haven’t done anything monumental and that we don’t matter.

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But this is so far from the truth! Our actions—especially the smallest ones—shape the world we live in.  How are you making your mark on the world?  I’d love to hear your comments.

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time

http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com

Letting Go and Beginning Again

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The continuing recession we are experiencing has wiped out several of my business ventures like a hog on ice.  It’s making me an expert at letting things go and beginning again.

Well, maybe expert is too positive a word.  But every time the rug is pulled out from underneath me, I have a choice:  I can crash, or I can walk on the new floor.

While I like the comfort of the rug, I have to say that some of the new surfaces have proven to be interesting.  And sometimes the new paths lead to something better.  Not always, but sometimes.

What I have discovered is that I have had to loosen the reins, do the best I can, and see where my horse ends up.  It is also helpful to me to trust that I am going where I need to be.

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That’s not to say that I don’t still have big plans and dreams, or the drive and ambition to go after them.  I’m just learning to be more flexible about what I used to consider a failure.  If something doesn’t work, I regroup and try something else.

Frustration does set in (oh yeah, it does!), but I find it only breeds more frustration if I don’t pick myself up and move on.  Shifting gears has almost become an art form, if only out of necessity.

Are you experiencing this in your own life?  I’d love to hear about your coping mechanisms.  Please feel free to leave a comment.  And if you’re finding my blog pieces worthwhile, will you please consider becoming a subscriber or sharing my post on your favorite social media site? And thank you for reading!

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com

Schnoz Transportation

Photo by Marianne M. Smith

Have you ever been transported somewhere else by your schnoz?  I was walking in our pasture yesterday when suddenly I was back in Girl Scouts.  At Girl Scout camp we were allowed to “select” our evening chore, and I always chose finding the centerpieces for our dinner tables.

With great enthusiasm, I would set out to find interesting sticks, wildflowers, odd rocks, and whatever else I could come up with.  I enjoyed the finding much more than the arranging, but it was all fun.

But how did I get there from walking in the pasture?  I remember smelling something earthy and slightly off (but not manure), and then I was unconsciously picking up turkey feathers.  I wandered until I found myself within about twenty feet of a flock of wild turkeys.  They were as startled as I was!


I froze, and realized that I was gripping turkey feathers tightly in my right hand.  I’m not sure if the turkeys thought I was a turkey too because of the feathers I was holding (they’re not known for their brains), or if they were worried that I was going to pluck them bald-headed, but nobody moved.  I enjoyed watching them for a few moments, and then decided to back away slowly and give them their space.

Photo by Dwayne Smith

There are lots of smells that remind me of other places and times:  White Shoulders perfume takes me back to my babysitting days—the toddlers’ Moms all wore it.  Magnolias in bloom take me all the way back to my childhood.  Garden soil instantly takes me back to my great-grandmother, as does mint.  Grapefruit takes me back to college, because I had read that it improved memory!  My Belgian mare has the most wonderful smell in the world, and I find it extremely comforting.  Probably not surprising, since horses and donkeys have always been my refuge.

What smells bring back strong memories in your own life?  What transports you and what do you think of?  Please feel free to share your own experiences.  I’d love to hear from you!

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com