{"id":4080,"date":"2011-09-10T18:24:27","date_gmt":"2011-09-10T22:24:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cynthomas.com\/photocardblog\/?p=4080"},"modified":"2011-09-10T18:24:27","modified_gmt":"2011-09-10T22:24:27","slug":"om-fringe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cynthomas.com\/journal\/om-fringe\/","title":{"rendered":"OM :: The Fringe"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>fringe
\n<\/strong>adjective<\/p>\n

Not part of the mainstream; unconventional, peripheral, or extreme<\/em>
\n
\nI’ve been thinking a lot about how who I am<\/em> relates to the major activities in my life.
\n
\nI am not a mainstream gal. I’m not a radical either. But I do make choices that flit around the fringe. I won’t make a laundry list, but the following are some of the highlights.
\n
\nI haven’t practiced in any organized religion since I was 14. I do have beliefs and theories and hone my spirituality in much the same way as most people, but I can’t say “I am ______!”
\n
\nI eat as thoughtfully as I can, but do not adhere to any kind of vegetarianism or only local\/homemade food. I know a lot about food, where it comes from, what it does for your body, but I am not an expert for anyone but me.
\n
\nWhen creating new pieces for my work, I don’t follow trends, but I don’t eschew them entirely. I am a business woman, but some aspects and traits of business behavior make me uncomfortable and I find them difficult to watch in others. I back away to the fringe. I create from the fringe and do business from the fringe. Is that to my detriment? It’s hard to say…
\n
\nChoosing a conventional home and locale for my kids and a conventional religion for them to study has proven interesting for me. While I participate in school activities and gatherings for the temple, helping my boys to become who they will be, I am reminded that I do not always belong. I am on the fringe of these places and people and conventions, but I want my boys to learn convention before they decide whether to embrace or reject it.
\n
\nThere are days when I want Santa Claus and Sunday School and Ring Dings and a more business-y business. I yearn for convention, because it just seems easier and simpler. But it’s not me. And it’s not easy or simple. I see my friends’ lives and they would laugh if I asked if their lives were simple.
\n
\nSo, I guess I just hang out here on the fringe and know that it’s the right choice for me.
\n
\n

:::<\/center>
\n
\n\"om<\/a>OM is *one moment* and is a meetup designed to notice & relish a moment in everyday life. The meetup idea was created by Linda at her blog, a la mode stuff<\/a>.
\n
\nIf you’d like to participate in OM, just click the button and you’ll be taken to Linda’s post explaining it all.
\n

<\/p>\n

<\/div>