Logotherapy

I keep a copy of the book, "Man's Search For Meaning" by Victor E. Frankl by the side of my bed.  Lately, it has been like scripture for me; different meanings of the same chapter are illuminated according to what is going on in my life.  He says, "Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life to carry out a concrete assignment which demands fulfillment.  Therein, he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated."  Victor Frankl was the inventor of the theory called logotherapy, wherein he believed that a person's desire to live and thrive was based on finding ones' purpose and living it.  Logotherapy believes that mental health is based on a certain degree of tension, the tension between what one has already achieved and what one still ought to accomplish, or the gap between what one is and what one should become.  I think this is something that should be pondered regularly so one can be in tune with what he/she still must achieve in life so that they are living deliberately, and not simply in reflex to what life throws at them.  It is true that being a mother and raising stable, independent, strong children is the meaning for me that is closest to my heart.  I know it is part of my purpose because it fills me up each day, because I can see the difference I am making in their lives and because it gives me great fulfillment.  But I know it is not like that for everyone, and I acknowledge that.   I also know that I have more to do in my life, outside of raising them.  I know I am supposed to go back to school.  I know I am supposed to be a counselor, and I know there are other things I am meant to do that I haven't yet discovered.  When life gets hard, it is one's sense of a purpose that can be served by no one else than ourselves, that can get us through.  I also believe that no one can or should tell you what your purpose is, although they can help you find it. One of the quotes I treasured most from his book is, "Love is the only way to grasp another human being in the innermost core of his personality.  No one can become fully aware of the very essence of another human being unless he loves him.  By his love he is enabled to see the essential traits and features in the beloved person; and even more, he sees that which is potential in him, which is not yet actualized but yet ought to be actualized.  Furthermore, by his love, the loving person enables the beloved person to actualize these potentialities."

And speaking of meaning, it was such a special moment today watching Madison teach Elisabeth how to ride a bike!  Madison was so patient and encouraging and she managed to teach her in about 30 minutes!! I am so proud of my girls.

I Heart New York, in pictures

 I have a love affair with New York.  I love everything (almost) about it.  I feel like I can't open my eyes and mind wide enough to take in all of the culture, beauty, personality, and history of it.  I love the graffiti,  and the filth because it is so artistically intermingled with breathtaking beauty, history, and life of the city.  I love seeing all of the many cultures and people that you don't see much of in Utah.  I find it revitalizing and fulfilling to see more of the world and who lives in it.  I love the anonymity of a large city; it soothes me for some reason to be able to disappear into a crowd where nobody knows me.  The amazing food on every corner, the black street dancers trying to earn their keep, street vendors, the old churches, the great wealth and terrible poverty both standing on the same street corner, all fascinate me.

Central Park in bloom

Old buildings with so many stories to tell

Handsome in Central Park (wearing new outfit he bought while in NY)

Strawberry Fields,  John Lennon Memorial

Love all of the bridges and tunnels in Central Park

Trump Hotel 

Spring was just arriving when we were there

Walking the Brooklyn Bridge.  I highly recommend this for anyone who visits NY.

Statue of Liberty.  So beautiful.

At the Statue of Liberty.  I know I look mad, but it's really just me trying to smile attractively
with my braces on.

Me and my favorite guy

Flowers in bloom everywhere

Loved the old cemeteries right in the middle of downtown NY.  This one dated back to the 1700s.

The mix of old and new.  This is the new Trade Center being built in the background.

Me at the 9/11 Memorial

Part of the 9/11 Memorial.  All of the names of people who died are written on the ledge above the fountain.

Behind me is 9/11 Survivor Tree which survived the bombings, miraculously.

The new Trade Center

Soho

Times Square

American flags everywhere

Me before our David Letterman show taping.  Sooo excited!

The old architecture is one of my favorite things about NY

Robert at Fuerza Bruta--one of the most fascinating things I have ever seen.  Recommended by my sister Kristen.

Part of the performance of Fuerza Bruta, the actors are above you in water.

We saw 4 shows while we were there.  This show was the only one that allowed
photography during the performance.

My favorite NY cathedral:  St. Patrick's.  Just as beautiful as any LDS Temple.

I find other people's faith inspiring

Pier 17.  So neat to see ships mixed in with high rise buildings.

The streets with their dirty, mismatched exteriors are beautiful to me

Lots of subways.  Lots of interesting people.

Me and my lover in Times Square

Robert on our Brooklyn Bridge walk

Natural History Museum.  This is the dinosaur in the movie "Night at the Museum"

Love these street flower shops.  Someday, I know Robert will buy me some flowers from a street vendor.  :)

We went with one of our best friends, the Underwoods.  This is Luci in Soho.

Okay.  I think I've inundated you with enough photos.  I took over 900 photos so it was hard for me to choose which ones to share.  It was such a wonderful adventure.  And as always, so nice to come back to my precious bear cubs.