“Nurturing the Future”
I’m reminded of looking through a child’s kaleidoscope when
I think about nurturing the future. Remember holding that pressed-cardboard cylinder
to your eye, aiming it toward the light and...Wow! A brilliant display of intricate
patterns and enchanting colors were right there. Magic! Ahh…but then, by merely using your thumb and index finger to turn the far end of that kaleidoscope,
you created a whole new dazzling vision, a whole new reality.
As a young child I knew that the
components themselves, those bits of colored glass and mirrors, didn’t change.
It was me, my actions, which made the difference. I was in charge! Even my smallest adjustments had the power to rearrange those bits of reality and
create a sparkling new vision.
Small is powerful. Like so many busy folks nowadays, I hurry from this to that, plowing through errands, meetings, events,
always on the go, go, go. And then, of course, there is my home which I’ve
simply nicknamed “She Who Forever Demands Attention!” But while thinking
about and writing this message to you I had to sit down, quiet down, and make time to refocus on those lovely small moments
from childhood again.
Those quiet “ahas”
from the past still nurture and rekindle inner smiles. And so does this iridescent
blue and bossy scrub jay now perched on my patio trellis demanding I get him more raw peanuts for his mate and the cheeps
high in the leafy trees. Yesterday I noticed a morning cloak butterfly when I
was rushing to get the recycles out to the bin, then the curb. But as I sit here
now I see three different varieties of butterflies flitting about. And the hummingbird
is back, checking out the honeysuckle. My goodness, I’ve missed so many
small wonders that are just waiting here to refresh and nurture me.
Perhaps Nature always offers her
own version of a kaleidoscope and all we have to do is to slow down and sit down. Seemingly
a small action …
I’m excited and looking
forward to our new ABWA year together. We’ll explore ways to nurture ourselves
and our personal futures, as well as ways to nurture our chapter, our community, and the broader environments in which we
live and work.
We may be small, but we’ve proven what a powerful team we are!!
Indeed, we truly are a kaleidoscope!
Karyn Mazo, President
