the unexpected happened . . . .

 the unexpected happened . . . .  it rained this morning.

ok, the rain was just a few drops; enough to get my paper wet (a bit) and to make the ground (kind-of) wet.  BUT, it was rain none-the-less!  the rain was loud enough (with my windows open) to awaken me from a very sound sleep.

the unexpected happened . . . i slept eight hours! 

part of my well-being challenge is to get eight hours of sleep on a consistent basis.  and i am.  i will admit, however, that the well-being challenge, while going quite well for me, is also driving me nuts!  i get periotic notices throughout my day about someone posting a comment; people i do not know from around the nation giving me encouragement ... and while that is very nice and kind, i find myself distracted by the very program that is intended to be for my well-being.

when the unexpected happens, it is time to explore what actually IS happening.  and so i've taken some time to reflect.  social net-work, for which this well-being program combines, is an aspect of life i hadn't count on; i've become like a dog who has been trained by the sound of a 'ding'; every time i hear that 'ding' on my computer or my iphone, i feel the 'need' to respond.  ok, so i'm overly curious, and i can't wait to find out some important message. 

social media, i've come to realize, is supported by the commercial industry.  not being so high tech, i have been informed that i can opt-out of that which annoys me, and return to my focus on well-being.  but for those who know me, you'll know that the real reason i don't 'opt-out' is that i might miss something!  soooooo .... i have to figure out another way to deal with social networking and still be able to focus on my well-being.

thus, the picture of the lighthouse with the crashing waves.  somehow, the calm of the lighthouse does not get disturbed, for me, by the crash of the waves.  and why might that be, you ask?  i've no idea.  but, it is fine for me to experience the crash of the waves on the shore; soothing, in fact; not distressing to my well-being ... the unexpected happens!

and so, perhaps i need to do the unexpected for me, and spend more time being enriched by the community in which i live. 

last week, someone mentioned how people use to ask her while she was living in santa cruz, 'do you go to the beach every day?'  her answer was 'no.'  i totally understand that!  and yet, for my well-being, perhaps i need to be doing two things . . . let the 'dings' happen and not let them rule my life, and make it a point to go to the shore of renewing waters every day.  what a concept!

so, i've left a picture of the boardwalk for the end . . . . and i'll just ask you -- are you finding the unexpected happening in your well-being?