wrote "someting"- "someting"

I wrote up an article for Mid-Atlantic clown Assoc "Big Top" newsletter, and thought I'd post it here too:

How U BEAN???

Most of the time, when someone comes up to you and asked, how have you been? You might say, “just fine, thank you…” My general response is, “just peachy”. Not actually telling them how I feel.

Pricilla Mooseburger had a great article in her newsletter about Clowning through Grief. In the article she says; “Our goal as clowns is to bring smiles to people’s faces. But the dirty truth is, we are all human.. We live our lives imperfectly. We make mistakes; We struggle. We have loved ones who get sick, have accidents, who Die. We have personal struggles as well, with family relationship, work, finances, and health. In between all the events, we have moments of Joy and faith that make it all worth while.”

Just recently I’ve had clown friends face some serious medical issues. Some family members had extended stays in the hospital. I’ve seen kids (not by any fault of their own), stand in line for a small portion of food given out during a Homeless ministry.

Through it all, I am reminded of the Clown Prayer. “As I stumble through this life, help me to create more laughter than tear, Dispense more Happiness than gloom, Spread more cheer than despair. Never let me become so indifferent that I will fail to see the wonder in the eyes of a child or the twinkle in the eyes of the aged. Never let me forget that my total effort is to cheer people, make them happy and forget, as least momentarily all the unpleasantness in their lives. And in my final moment, may I hear you whisper, “ when you make my people smile you made me smile”

We are to plant seeds in the hearts of people we met, in our clown outfits or not. When a seed of hope is planted, it takes root with love and caring. It will grow to what they were meant to be.

One of the reasons why I like to plant a small garden in my yard is to watch the different plants grow. I get to watch and see what a carrot seed becomes, I get to see what a string bean seed becomes.

As clowns, we have such an honor and privilege to plant seeds to whomever we meet, and to know that day you helped someone see the good that life can bring….