The benefits of a smile
I smile because I am positive. I can't help myself. Being mad and sad just aren't my style. I caught up on all of my pictures of my travels, on Facebook. But now, I have to write. Today would have been good, if I hadn't come home from church cold and sleepy. The sun came in through the window and then I passed out. Still getting used to Polish nights. My brain has been shot ever since I struggled to wake up. I have to time travel and go back to my Danish adventures. Perhaps tomorrow. Before or after my hope of going to visit a big Jewish cemetery. Cold or not, I have my new scarf and hat to give me courage.
I was telling someone today: one of the reasons I blog is to stay positive while I write. My many many journals have too much whining in them. Writing here keeps me focused. Today we found a church to go to, it was so nice, out of 30 people a few spoke English. My 2 favorite questions were: Where are you from? And what brings you to Poland?
Where am I from? How far back to you want me to go? A week ago I was in Denmark, but only my DNA is from Denmark. For 7 months before that I was in Costa Rica to visit family, but my genes are not Costa Rican. For 3 years before that I lived in Cedar City, Utah in the United States. Am I "from" there? It sort of feels like it. I've lived in the U.S. since 1989, and I'm a U.S. citizen now. So is that where I am from? No. I'm from Canada, if you want to go that far back. It's not just where I'm from, or where I've been, it's how I perceive all of it. (Or, how I want to be perceived).
Today was a day to feel Polish. It was so cold today! Then the sun came out and I loved it.
Then in my studies I found this point of inspiration: "God blesses us according to our faith. Faith is the source of living with divine purpose and eternal perspective. Faith is a practical principle that inspires diligence. It is a vital, living force manifest in our positive attitude and desire to willingly do everything" that is asked of us.
I am on a fool's errand in some ways. I have come to Poland to look for people, and I have so little information to go on. I saw the look on one guy's face when I said that I came here to find information on my Great Grandfather, and all I have is his name. But it's more than that. I came to see what Poland gave to my Great Grandfather Henric, and to his wife Josefa, and to their son Aleksander (my Grandfather).
Maybe I won't find that needle in a haystack, but maybe there will be so much more to gain than just that. I already feel blessed from my studies of the history of Poland. I am going to figure out these stories that need to be told. I am going to get what I can, and then if I'm really a writer, I will still be able to create a feeling for my children when they think about where they came from. They came from their parents, who came from their parents, who came from their parents, and on down the lines of history. My children were born in the 1990's. Their parents were born in the 1960's and 70's. Their parents were born in the 1930's and 40's (at least on one side). Their parents were born in the first parts of the 1900's. Their parents were probably born around the 1880's.
I'm fascinated with the idea of how my Great Grandparents have affected me, even though I have never met them. Through their influence of the parents of my parents. Too deep. It's 1:44pm for some of my family and friends, but it's my bedtime. All this research drains my brain, and I would love to be asleep by 10pm. For me, that's in 15 minutes. So Goodnight, and enjoy your afternoon.
I was telling someone today: one of the reasons I blog is to stay positive while I write. My many many journals have too much whining in them. Writing here keeps me focused. Today we found a church to go to, it was so nice, out of 30 people a few spoke English. My 2 favorite questions were: Where are you from? And what brings you to Poland?
Where am I from? How far back to you want me to go? A week ago I was in Denmark, but only my DNA is from Denmark. For 7 months before that I was in Costa Rica to visit family, but my genes are not Costa Rican. For 3 years before that I lived in Cedar City, Utah in the United States. Am I "from" there? It sort of feels like it. I've lived in the U.S. since 1989, and I'm a U.S. citizen now. So is that where I am from? No. I'm from Canada, if you want to go that far back. It's not just where I'm from, or where I've been, it's how I perceive all of it. (Or, how I want to be perceived).
Today was a day to feel Polish. It was so cold today! Then the sun came out and I loved it.
Then in my studies I found this point of inspiration: "God blesses us according to our faith. Faith is the source of living with divine purpose and eternal perspective. Faith is a practical principle that inspires diligence. It is a vital, living force manifest in our positive attitude and desire to willingly do everything" that is asked of us.
I am on a fool's errand in some ways. I have come to Poland to look for people, and I have so little information to go on. I saw the look on one guy's face when I said that I came here to find information on my Great Grandfather, and all I have is his name. But it's more than that. I came to see what Poland gave to my Great Grandfather Henric, and to his wife Josefa, and to their son Aleksander (my Grandfather).
Maybe I won't find that needle in a haystack, but maybe there will be so much more to gain than just that. I already feel blessed from my studies of the history of Poland. I am going to figure out these stories that need to be told. I am going to get what I can, and then if I'm really a writer, I will still be able to create a feeling for my children when they think about where they came from. They came from their parents, who came from their parents, who came from their parents, and on down the lines of history. My children were born in the 1990's. Their parents were born in the 1960's and 70's. Their parents were born in the 1930's and 40's (at least on one side). Their parents were born in the first parts of the 1900's. Their parents were probably born around the 1880's.
I'm fascinated with the idea of how my Great Grandparents have affected me, even though I have never met them. Through their influence of the parents of my parents. Too deep. It's 1:44pm for some of my family and friends, but it's my bedtime. All this research drains my brain, and I would love to be asleep by 10pm. For me, that's in 15 minutes. So Goodnight, and enjoy your afternoon.
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