6 minute read
Chortle…A Word for Your Day
Cabinet of Curiosities Continued from page 10 deaths involved in this cabinet. Rule 2: Whatever it is must NOT require preserving on my end for it to last. I will not be dealing with – liquids. Nope.
But our Cabinet of Curiosities has also had a couple of unintended consequences. The biggest change we’ve discovered is that it’s changed how we observe the world around us. The kids will actively look for new things when we’re outside. They’ll slow down and notice more of nature’s details. That’s a wonderful aspect even when they don’t actually find anything. And they get so excited when they DO find something. I remember them coming from an afternoon at Stone Mountain with my husband, and they ran inside so excited that they’d found deer vertebrae. Keep in mind they were probably nine and seven years old at this point. To see them excited about this “treasure” felt great – if a little non-traditional.
The other unintended consequence is that the cabinet was contagious. Friends heard about it and started keeping an eye out as well. The nest made of horse hair? That was a gift found by a friend who
By Jane Bishop
Chortle: C-H-O-R-T-L-E. Interesting word, right? I discovered this word several years ago in a Reader’s Digest as I was on my way to meet some friends in another state. They picked me up at the airport and on the drive to their house, I simply asked them, “Have you two chortled lately?” The husband looked at his wife kind of quizzically and shrugged saying, “I don’t know…have we?” All of us then chuckled at this statement, and that, funnily enough, is exactly what chortling is! This gleeful chuckle or expression of laughter can be the key to releasing tension and feeling relaxed overall. The ebb and flow of life can be challenging, especially during these current times. The trials and tribulations of everyday life can absolutely mount up and it can be hard to find a way out. You may look around at your life and think, “What is there to chortle about?”
It’s not always easy to see, especially through the “stuff.” However, those chortle moments are there. It is up to us to find them and enjoy the moment. Each of us has the power to change our attitude and mindset. It’s our choice, and choice is a powerful life skill. When we shift our mindset, the most unexpected opportunity to chortle can be present. I was speaking with a colleague recently who had some medical issues with his shoulder. He shared with me the doctor’s diagnosis: “Your shoulder is grossly unremarkable.” Well, that cascaded into several minutes of laughter and quips! It was what we each needed in that moment!
I offer you a challenge: no matter where you are in life – the good, the bad, or the ugly – reflect on times you’ve laughed or chortled. Allow that reflection to be a starting point for your humorous release! In fact, chortle itself is a funny word – so laugh about it! Let it bring a smile to your face and some joy to your soul. Allow yourself to free up brain space and clear out “stuff” to keep going forward. Who knows? Maybe your own “grossly unremarkable” moment will trigger a chortle at just the right time!
Jane Bishop is a Positive Interrupter and Leadership Coach. More information at www.janebishop.live. August 2022 Our Town Gwinnett owns a horse boarding farm. As were the fox skulls. The snake skin was saved and specifically preserved to make my daughter happy. One of my students brought me a peacock feather from his farm to add to the cabinet because he’d heard about it in class. People started looking at the smaller things around them as well. No more passing by neat natural objects and ignoring them. People were proud to contribute – as proud as my kids were when they discovered an object on their own. And we have found the Cabinet of Curiosities to be the object of much cooler discussions than the old China set ever produced. The cabinet has a central place in our living room, and it’s by far one of our most prized possessions.
If you’re considering doing this with your kids or grandkids, here are some tips and suggestions. 1. Rule 1: All specimens must already be dead. This is non-negotiable. 2.Rule 2: Nothing can go into the cabinet that requires preserving – no liquids. Ever. 3.Make the display something permanent in a room, not a box you can put aside and forget. Use an old cabinet or invest in one from a second-hand store. The overall look adds to the feeling of pride and creates some fantastic conversations. 4.Maybe follow my father-in-law’s example and replace the glass with plexiglass. He’s the real MVP of this whole operation. 5.When you buy bottles, keep the size of the bottle mouth in mind because specimens will need to fit through that opening. Buy lots of differing heights to create a neat visual effect. 6.Neat labels can be found in the scrapbooking section of the craft store. The ones with adhesive already on them are highly suggested. Or you can hang tags off the top of the bottle with string. 7. Keep purchased objects to a minimum. The stories behind finding them are most of the fun.
Have fun, and as the weather becomes nicer, always remember to keep an eye out for something cool!
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Chaplain’s Corner Continued from page 13 you don’t know what to pray, here are a couple of ideas: • Pray for the teachers and their families. Teaching is a very absorbing job (physically, mentally, and emotionally), and it often takes a toll on their marriages, families, and relationships. Pray for them and their support systems. • Pray for the teachers and their life balance. They are often juggling so many county requirements, school assignments, parent expectations, and other pressures that can be overwhelming. Pray for their wellbeing. • Pray for the teachers and their relationships with their students.
Teachers will spend at least eight hours a day for the next 180 days of the year with our kids. Pray that all relationships (especially the hard ones) can become lifegiving for both.
Perimeter Cares pays off unpaid lunch debt for elementary school students. We have paid off over 60 schools and plan to take care of all elementary schools in the state of Georgia.
perimetercares.org
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At the end of the day, we do not know what this new school year will bring, and there will be so many things that we cannot control; but what a comfort there could be for the teachers to know that “…at least there are a bunch of us, so they all get a lot of prayers.”
Rodrigo Cruz is the Lead Pastor of The Nett Church. More information at www.thenettchurch.com.
One Man’s Opinion Continued from page 16 that quite frankly often reflect their happiness back on the employees of that business as well. So, IF you consider yourself a smart consumer, and you want to share your wallet and dollars wisely, REWARD those who reward and serve you well. You will be very glad you did.
Bill Crane owns the full-service communications firm, CSI Crane. More information at www.CSICrane.com
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