The "Big Rock" theme from last class affirmed what I already knew and had been living in my life for many years. Long ago I was interested in the theme of living simply. At that time, I read and reflected on many books on simple living and had conversations with friends who also were exploring the same topic. I came to the understanding that I needed to accept the things that I really wanted to pursue and I would know what they were by listening carefully to the voice of my being. I set out to only say yes to what I really felt strongly about and no to everything I doubted or questioned.  I’d like to think that each idea I heard my inner being saying to me is representative of my rocks in my pail.  In order to live simply, I only put into the pail what I really find necessary in life.  Of course my faith, family, friends, and job are in the bucket.  I have two boys so each of them gets a separate rock.  My oldest son needed so much of my time while growing up that he was the biggest rock in the bucket.  I wouldn’t add anything to the bucket until he left home for college.  I was always thinking about going back to school to get my master’s degree but I wouldn’t add that into the bucket until his rock was less big; consequently, I had to wait for 9 years until his rock finally shrunk in size.  Last year he went off to college and so I had room for a new rock and thus began my journey of going back to school.  My program is very important to me so it takes up a lot of space now.  I focus on my schooling because I made the commitment to let it take up much of my bucket.  I find that sacrifices must be made rather than jamming rocks into the bucket that don’t fit.  Our inner being will lead us in the directions we must go only if we become still enough to hear its voice.

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