Think of it as a Painting

I've wrestled with a good deal today. Patience, understanding, self-control, focus, listening, and the list continues. Last night my plans grew shakier and my heart grew a bit heavier, but I'm still standing.

Class this morning wasn't as much of a learning experience for me as it was for everyone else. We were discussing micing techniques for different instruments that we were supposed to bring in, only nobody did. So when I got there I turned right back around and went to pick up our arsenal from the house. I grabbed the djimbe, shakers, mandolin, violin, banjo, lap dulcimer, tambourine, and harmonica. When I got back we started up and, as it turned out, I was the only one who played any of the instruments. So I stayed behind the mics and played while everyone else was in the control room listening and learning. Oh well.

Eric and I went to see Superman tonight. I really liked it, but there was this kid behind me that really tested my patience. You can always tell the parents who don't believe in spankings because their kids are obnoxious in public. It's funny too to hear an adult beg her toddler to be still and silent in a theater. After being kicked in the back several times, I finally had enough. I grabbed my empty plastic Sprite bottle, lifted it up even with my head and I slowly crushed all of the air out of it so as to pass along the message, without making too much of a scene, that I would be appreciative if they would do us all the honor of controlling the child. Someone else didn't mind making a scene though and they just turned around and told them to leave. Whatever. How could one expect a child to be considerate of others if the parents were not setting an example? That's my soapbox on that.

It's been a rough day though. I hate to take out all of my aggression on a toddler, but MAN it took a good deal of patience. I'm trying to find joy as best I can, but sometimes it's just so hard. Stuffy and I talked for a good while on our current situations. We're both struggling with like-natured problems, we just approach them differently. I'm learning a great deal about myself right now through him and my mentor. Sometimes it hurts, but I will keep growing. Peace and love.