A good traveler has no fixed plans
and is not intent on arriving.

--Tao Te Ching

Hello - and welcome to my travelogue. My name is Lauren and I am a woman. I am 35 years old and married to a man God gifted to me. This is my story. Well, some of it, or maybe just one view of it, or perhaps even just a slice of it. I spent much of the first part of my life travelling to distant lands and learning and communing with people of different cultures. This experience was so enlightening, educational, adventorous and blessed. I "graduated" with a strong sense of humanity and a profound understanding of the commonality of human beings. Unfortunately ,what I lacked was an understanding of my own culture and strong sense of self.

Tonight was Relief Society's Enrichment night. I really enjoyed the message and the presentations tonight. Who would have guessed but the ladies made a discussion on money management and budgeting really insightful, interesting and FUN. -- It's all about the fun factor. Anyway, Sister Hershey passed out this note sheet and shared with us how she used the website: http://www.thegrocerygame.com

Well...I finally did it...

During story time last night, Brooke was looking at the back flap of a Bereinstein's Bear book cover. It has images of all of the other book titles. Last night we read a book on telling the truth. We have another Bereinstein Bear book on watching too much tv. Brooke was deeply studying each teeny tiny image of all the different books and asking me all kinds of questions -- mostly starting with "WHY?" (well...she IS four yrs old...). Then she came to the book titled, "The Bad Habit" and she asked me: "What the name of this book?" and I said, "The Bad Habit". She then asked, "Why The Bad Have It?" I answered, "because that's the title of the book".  She moved on to other book images and titles...but I kept thinking...

It was such a cute wording mistake. I said "habit" she heard "have it".  --but at the same time it was so PROFOUND. What else is a "bad habit" other than a "bad have it". When we have bad habits...they are usually activities in which we've just told ourselves we MUST have it or do it (thereby "having it"). Let's look at some examples:

1. Spending too much money - that's a "bad have it". As in I must "have it" NOW -or- "have it" ALL
2. Bitiing your nails - that's a "bad have it". As in an obsessive "have it". Who knows why...but I must "have it".
3. Drinking too much soda - that's a "bad have it". As in I know it's not good for me, but I must "have it" anyway.
4. Saying mean things about people - that's a "bad have it". As in I must "have it" be that I am superior to others.
5. Procrastination - that's a "bad have it" too - as in I must "have it" my way!

You see!? Brilliant! From now on I will be thinking of all "bad habits" as "bad have its". "Bad Habits" almost sounds cute. "Bad Have It" is a much more realistic and less savory way to say it. I am more moved to alter a "bad have it" than I am a "bad habit".  What are your "bad have its"?

The Secret Life of Bees
by Sue Monk Kidd

This book was on the reading list of my book club. I believe it was also on Oprah Winfrey's reading list. I borrowed the audio cassette from my library. I listened to this book on my way to and home from work. During my lunch break I would go to my car, buy a drive-through lunch, and listen to the book for an hour.

This fictional book is delightful, beautiful in its wording, color and descriptive of the time and place where it occurs. The main character is a young woman (pre-teen) who we quickly get drawn into and fall in love with. This book touches on sensitive and difficult topics with a lovely light-heartness. It also celebrates the relationships of women.

As described by the author:

The Secret Life of Bees has a rare wisdom about life--about mothers and daughters and the women in our lives who become our true mothers. A remarkable story about the divine power of women and the transforming power of love, this is a stunning debut whose rich, assured, irresistible voice gathers us up and doesn't let go, not for a moment. It is the kind of novel that women share with each other and that mothers will hand down to their daughters for years to come. Read more...