SWB: Joy Vampries and AAA People

Phillip Burne-Jones "The Vampire" 1897 Image found here.

This week's question for our shared Sleeping With Bread examen/meme can be chosen from any of the ones on this list:

For what am I most grateful? Least grateful?
When did I give and receive the most love? The least love?
When did I feel most alive? Most drained of life?
When did I have the greatest sense of belonging? Least sense of belonging?
When was I most free? Least free?
When was I most creative? Least creative?
When did I feel most connected? Least connected?
When did I feel most fully myself? Least myself?
When did I feel most whole? Most fragmented?

But from my experiences in the last week , I found myself thinking a great deal in terms of energy. What were the circumstances, people and days that left me feeling depleted of or filled with ENERGY? So in layperson's terms our question to reflect upon would be... What turned your lights on?" and "What turned your lights off?"

In light (no pun intended) of the last seven days and nights, I could list many things that left me feeling depleted of energy or filled up, but I think I'll stick with the top two (Lights off and on)to save us all some time and energy.

LIGHTS OFF

1.) Haiti - As Mary Lue wrote so beautifully last week, I'm not even sure where to start in writing about this sad and catastrophic disaster. Similar to Mary's reaction, I've been praying and donated to World Vision's Emergency Disaster Service branch helping on the ground in Haiti. Quite honestly have limited how many news casts and photos I've viewed. I suppose there is only so much disaster I can look at and not be able to physically to go and help, before I become overwhelmed with frustration. So I will continue to pray, give and serve as best I can here, where I am.

2.) Joy Vampires - These would be the folks (who may be well intentioned, not sure how, but maybe there is a possibility here that I can't see.), that sap a another person of their energy or joy by finding all the potential and actual negative things in their world, drawing them into your room, dropping them in a heap in front of you, ignoring the suggestions of hope or possibility that you give, and walking briskly a lightly out the door (actual or metaphorical) while leaving you wrapped up a tangled mess of dismay and relational distress. Some may call these folks Debby Downers, I prefer the term, "Joy Vampires". Be careful out there fellow bread bakers. Stock up on love, joy, peace, patience, kindness goodness and self-control as well as carrying a bag filled with holy water, crucifix's and a stake or two to mark a "DO NOT CROSS" line in your life.

My advice in dealing with "Joy Vampires" is to avoid them when plausible and to never pick up the chip they were carrying and will try to pass on to you. There is NO END to their despair and their greatest joy, if you can call it that, is to make you into a "Joy Vampire" too.

Image from Trip Advisor.

LIGHTS ON

1.) Martin Luther King Jr. Day - There was an opportunity for me to spend some time with my kids last Monday. So we piled into my Skylark, went to the two small towns just North of us and window shopped, shopped, and ate a lunch of homemade soup/salad and breads at a place called, The Upper Crust, This local lunch spot is quite possibly heaven on earth. All week long, we kept talking about that morning. I'm glad the kids won out in talking me into the mini-day trip.

Later on we went to serve at a local food and clothing pantry by tiding up for a few hours. A group of 11 students showed up and helped. We all had a fun time. We had pizza together as a group and went to a celebration of MLK day at our local college JCC. The day and music were inspiring, so much so that upon coming home my daughter went up to her room, sorted through some clothes and shouted, "Look out below!" as she plunked her clothing donations for the Nearly New store over the upstairs landing. I was proud and I think Martin would be proud too.

2.) AAA People - AAA is an business that works to serve people when they are stuck somewhere they don't want to be, but happen to be there. AAA people are the folks that help when you are stuck. They call or email to tell you what a good job you are doing. They say yes when asked for help. They offer to bake cookies, bring a snack and show up to volunteer. These people encourage you to go after your dreams, and remind you of your dreams when you forget them.

Without AAA people, I don't know where I'd be. Thank you all for bringing light, energy and hope just at the time I feel like I'm turning into a vampire myself. I will try to remember: Darkness=bad, light=good.

Here's to a week of more light and less shadow. Each day is getting brighter for all of us here in the northeast - what made your light shine this week?
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What is Sleeping with Bread?

During the bombing raids of WWII, thousands of children were orphaned and left to starve. The fortunate ones were rescued and placed in refugee camps where they received food and good care. But many of these children who had lost so much could not sleep at night. They feared waking up to find themselves once again homeless and without food. Nothing seemed to reassure them. Finally, someone hit upon the idea of giving each child a piece of bread to hold at bedtime. Holding their bread, these children could finally sleep in peace. All through the night the bread reminded them, "Today I ate and I will eat again tomorrow." (Linn, Dennis et al, Sleeping With Bread, p.l)