Look, we've all been there; you know, uptight and can't relax and just let life ride and enjoy the view for a while. What makes us that way? People? The job we're in? Not enough down time? Working hard to make a living so we are too busy to make a life? When do we let our proverbial hair down? The weekend? No, not really. You see when we're on our days off, we spend them working like mules to "clean the gutters", "mow the lawn", "grocery shopping", "laundry, ironing, folding", "cooking for people who are coming over", "sewing", "fixing our vehicles", and we could make this list so long - but I'm not going to.
You see, the time we're supposed to be relaxing we spend winding our internal gears to the max and then we wonder why marriages are failing, children are completely confused, misguided, misdirected, depressed, and angry. We wonder where road rage came from - It all came from us (the 20th century microwave society that has to have it RIGHT NOW or blow a fuse). When and what caused us to turn in this direction? Is 24 hours not enough time in the day anymore? Who's pushing us; propelling us to move faster, do better, think quicker, look closer, think wiser, move better, aim higher, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Shut UP!
We have to have the down time, relaxing visits with friends, laugh with our kids, play with the dog and get in the sun (not for a tan either). We are so busy filling our "schedules" that we have forgotten what it feels like to walk in the grass barefoot in the spring. We have forgotten how great it felt to step out of our classrooms onto the playground and feel the sun on our face! When did we become so important that we have the right to forget where we are? We don't even appreciate these little things anymore; laughing with friends, going bowling or skating or walking a nature trail. We forgot about the bikes that are in the garage and your butt hasn't been on them in 4 years. Stop riding the stationary bike at the gym, dump that membership and play in the sun and enjoy your surroundings.
Folks, we only have about 70 years on this earth. Some more and some less but average about 70 years. Now, 8 of those are spent learning how to live simply on this rock within the confines of society and it's rules. The next 40 will be spent working to have a home like the neighbors, cars and trucks like the neighbors, food and cookouts like the neighbors and when you're done pretending to be your neighbor you're going to be somewhere in your 50s. NOW you see what you missed! Now you wish you'd have done things differently! Am I 50? Nope, but I have some great friends who are and guess what they're telling me to do at 42?
Sheesh, I just shared with you 4 paragraphs!! Go back to the top and start again... and then Sit down, Shut up and relax... you're among friends <3
Friday, January 6, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
So you think you know what you see...
Today, I had an epiphany. I was going into Walgreens to get some sodas for the office. That is when a man walked up to the doors. It was about 1 minute before they opened and the workers were coming as we were standing there to open the doors. Impatient gentleman; exit stage left. This man just walks away as if the worker wasn't running fast enough to let him in. That is what I saw; him walking away. What I might not know is why he did that. Perhaps he was going to be late if he stood there 30 seconds more; I don't know. But to be clear the only truth to what this man did that I told you was "he walked away". Do you get what I'm saying here?
We spend a lot of time "telling" what we see, experience, hear, etc. What we fail to realize is we ALL embellish the story with our impression or interpretation of the experience. Sad isn't it? Because now, we're all walking around with wrong information in our heads. Great huh? AAAAH!
Now, in the next scene I am walking back to my truck after exiting Walgreens. I have this new found epiphany floating around in my head and I'm mulling over this thought when another man (obviously on the straights because he's looking like he had a cold sleep last night in the elements) walks up toward Walgreens. He passes me, looks at me and then darts his eyes the other direction. As he looks away, I see him roll his eyes as if he's disgusted that I am getting into a new truck and look the part of someone with a little bit of money. Because he's having it rough, he's appalled by those who look like they've got it all together.
Exit me - out of the parking lot. As I go, I'm thinking to myself, "Wow, that guy thinks I'm loaded. HA! Try living my life buddy... I'm just broke at a higher level. What I do have and what I maintain is a gift from God alone and not even I could keep it if He wishes to take it from me."
Have a great day! :)
We spend a lot of time "telling" what we see, experience, hear, etc. What we fail to realize is we ALL embellish the story with our impression or interpretation of the experience. Sad isn't it? Because now, we're all walking around with wrong information in our heads. Great huh? AAAAH!
Now, in the next scene I am walking back to my truck after exiting Walgreens. I have this new found epiphany floating around in my head and I'm mulling over this thought when another man (obviously on the straights because he's looking like he had a cold sleep last night in the elements) walks up toward Walgreens. He passes me, looks at me and then darts his eyes the other direction. As he looks away, I see him roll his eyes as if he's disgusted that I am getting into a new truck and look the part of someone with a little bit of money. Because he's having it rough, he's appalled by those who look like they've got it all together.
Exit me - out of the parking lot. As I go, I'm thinking to myself, "Wow, that guy thinks I'm loaded. HA! Try living my life buddy... I'm just broke at a higher level. What I do have and what I maintain is a gift from God alone and not even I could keep it if He wishes to take it from me."
Have a great day! :)
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Sometimes you might as well stay in bed
There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about the things that I could of done or that I should of done or I should of planned... Sometimes you can overdo it too. The real reason for this post is not to talk about what I could have or should have done but who am I planning for.
Great ideas are just that; ideas. But until you do something with that idea, its nothing more than a really cool thought. You can't plan for someone else either. If you're trying to live vicariously through someone else you've already failed. The way you planned someone else's life may not be the way they wish to live it.
I often struggle with the way my children think they should live. You see, I planned their life and what they would do in their careers when they grew up while they were still babies. Believe it or not everything that I had planned is not what they wanted to do. I'm sure you are shocked now. Nevertheless, that's how it is.
Whether or not I think they're doing what they should for their lives to be successful doesn't really matter if they don't see it that way. I can only hope for the best and hope that whatever I taught them sunk in.
Tomorrow is another day...
Ah, last day till the New Year!
Well, here's to brushing off 2011 and standing with hope that 2012 has something better in store than what we've experienced through 2011. The economy still struggling to regain it's ground, the US Government still bickering like 2nd graders on a playground about nothing important at all, families are still hoping for help to keep their homes, jobs, and savings accounts. With all the disasters of 2011, I'd like to say on the record that we have been fortunate to keep our jobs and even get a raise. We've not defaulted on any of our loans as of today and we're able to continue to move forward and even save a few dollars now and again. Our kids are struggling but that's to be expected in an economy that doesn't value their talents and even if they do, they're surely not going to pay them for their talent.
Things have been rough this 2011, but I'm hopeful (almost disgustingly optimistic) that 2012 will bring about the changes that inevitably come from such struggles as we've endured for 2011. Remember, American's shine in the face of adversity and fear is not an option. This is America; land of the free & home of the brave. We overcome and come out better than we went into the battle. No matter what it looks like, we will make it.
Happy New Year! My family welcomes 2012 with open arms!
Oh, and I cannot and will not forget; ELECTION YEAR!! VOTE THE BUMS OUT IN 2012!!
Things have been rough this 2011, but I'm hopeful (almost disgustingly optimistic) that 2012 will bring about the changes that inevitably come from such struggles as we've endured for 2011. Remember, American's shine in the face of adversity and fear is not an option. This is America; land of the free & home of the brave. We overcome and come out better than we went into the battle. No matter what it looks like, we will make it.
Happy New Year! My family welcomes 2012 with open arms!
Oh, and I cannot and will not forget; ELECTION YEAR!! VOTE THE BUMS OUT IN 2012!!
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Barefoot and happy
Interesting how good a hardwood floor feels on your bare feet when its your home... We've managed to get to the 2nd step toward owning the home we're in. We moved out of our apartment, received our deposit back to us and are living in the home of our dreams. We both still have jobs and our kids are still doing just short of nothing to make their lives better...ooops, that should have been the next paragraph, HA!
It's the end of the year and I've felt the sting of memories try to rise up in my heart. I'm missing my loved ones who've passed on before me, missing my kids being young when it was fun to eat the holiday meal with just our fingers and I miss hearing the laughter of family and friends around the table (more so, when they had time to come by even for a beverage after dinner for just a short time). Nothing is the same as it is remembered by me. The laughter is different and so are the faces. Those that I wish to put my arms around and wish them the most wonderful Christmas and New Year couldn't care less about these human festivities. Their realities are much different now.
Some folks ask me how I can believe that there's something after this life. I just explain to them that there's no creator who could create all these things we love, admire and long for with such passion as we do that would allow that passion to end without anything beyond what we love, admire and long for here on this earth.
I can still close my eyes in the quiet of the day and hear the laughter of our family while the women fixed the Christmas meal. Grandpa's eyes were sparkling as he picked his banjo and sang his love song to the love of his life. My uncles were telling jokes and my aunts hushing kids as we all washed our hands to sit down. Even in all this chaos prior to the table, we all bowed our head to pray.
No gifts were exchanged, only hugs & kisses. We never missed a thing in our lives because love was the catalyst that held us together and the laughter was the joy of our lives. After dishes were done and all the stories were told and not one of us could sing another tune, Grandma would pull the pies from the safe and we'd all have a slice or 2.
Darkness was drawing the Christmas day to a close and family was all driving away. We waved from the porch of our old home place and began dreaming of our Christmas to come next year...
With love to all (who are here and gone) Merry Christmas <3
It's the end of the year and I've felt the sting of memories try to rise up in my heart. I'm missing my loved ones who've passed on before me, missing my kids being young when it was fun to eat the holiday meal with just our fingers and I miss hearing the laughter of family and friends around the table (more so, when they had time to come by even for a beverage after dinner for just a short time). Nothing is the same as it is remembered by me. The laughter is different and so are the faces. Those that I wish to put my arms around and wish them the most wonderful Christmas and New Year couldn't care less about these human festivities. Their realities are much different now.
Some folks ask me how I can believe that there's something after this life. I just explain to them that there's no creator who could create all these things we love, admire and long for with such passion as we do that would allow that passion to end without anything beyond what we love, admire and long for here on this earth.
I can still close my eyes in the quiet of the day and hear the laughter of our family while the women fixed the Christmas meal. Grandpa's eyes were sparkling as he picked his banjo and sang his love song to the love of his life. My uncles were telling jokes and my aunts hushing kids as we all washed our hands to sit down. Even in all this chaos prior to the table, we all bowed our head to pray.
No gifts were exchanged, only hugs & kisses. We never missed a thing in our lives because love was the catalyst that held us together and the laughter was the joy of our lives. After dishes were done and all the stories were told and not one of us could sing another tune, Grandma would pull the pies from the safe and we'd all have a slice or 2.
Darkness was drawing the Christmas day to a close and family was all driving away. We waved from the porch of our old home place and began dreaming of our Christmas to come next year...
With love to all (who are here and gone) Merry Christmas <3
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
When I woke up...
When I woke up this morning, I realized that today was going to be another long one. I'd scheduled appointments for myself till after 5pm and without any thought to how I would be feeling. Today, I am sleepy and would enjoy going home a little earlier, but not so. I have a 5pm appointment and then a 5:30pm appointment that may last me till after 6:30pm. So much for a break.
I woke up feeling defeated and outnumbered. Thoughts about our financial status (income vs expense) and thought about our son who's still not any more motivated to get a job than he was when he lost his job at Wal-Mart. I thought about our daughter who's 3 months married now and in her new apartment and still needs mom and dad to help her financially. All these things are getting more expensive than I can handle. The up side to this situation is that my teeth are all good now (I loathe going to dentists) and even though the credit cards are an encumbrance, they're not maxed out. I am still able to pay our bills and have money left over to help others. Now, it's not nearly as much money as I'd like to have but you know what? I have learned that there's never enough money because you'll spend as much as you make; forgetting that you need to be more like the ant and less like the grasshopper...easier said than done...
I have a job!! How wonderful is that!? Likewise, I have opportunity for raises, and I love the job I have. I am thankful to God that I have it because it was by Him that I have it in the first place. He knew the kind of job I needed with my disability and provided it to me. Even when it was temporarily removed from my hands, it was returned to me and I am here almost 6 years now.
I am missing my husband now because he's on another out of state job (but thank God he has a job!). It is so lonely without him. I miss him terribly and it makes for a hard time sleeping without him beside me at night. After almost 20 years together, it does not get easier when he has to leave out of town.
Well, it's time to work. I'm not getting paid to post blogs (although that would be a nice 2nd job).
Till I visit again, God bless you and have a wonder filled day!
I woke up feeling defeated and outnumbered. Thoughts about our financial status (income vs expense) and thought about our son who's still not any more motivated to get a job than he was when he lost his job at Wal-Mart. I thought about our daughter who's 3 months married now and in her new apartment and still needs mom and dad to help her financially. All these things are getting more expensive than I can handle. The up side to this situation is that my teeth are all good now (I loathe going to dentists) and even though the credit cards are an encumbrance, they're not maxed out. I am still able to pay our bills and have money left over to help others. Now, it's not nearly as much money as I'd like to have but you know what? I have learned that there's never enough money because you'll spend as much as you make; forgetting that you need to be more like the ant and less like the grasshopper...easier said than done...
I have a job!! How wonderful is that!? Likewise, I have opportunity for raises, and I love the job I have. I am thankful to God that I have it because it was by Him that I have it in the first place. He knew the kind of job I needed with my disability and provided it to me. Even when it was temporarily removed from my hands, it was returned to me and I am here almost 6 years now.
I am missing my husband now because he's on another out of state job (but thank God he has a job!). It is so lonely without him. I miss him terribly and it makes for a hard time sleeping without him beside me at night. After almost 20 years together, it does not get easier when he has to leave out of town.
Well, it's time to work. I'm not getting paid to post blogs (although that would be a nice 2nd job).
Till I visit again, God bless you and have a wonder filled day!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Tuesday morning rain
It's raining today in South Carolina's coast. It's good! Finally, some of the pollen will be washed away and the allergies will subside for the time being. We'll hope that this will wash it away for more than a couple of days.
Hubby is out somewhere south of Atlanta for the week and it makes for a lonely home with him away. Some days I'll be glad when I can go with him on his trips. I'm sure I can find somewhere to shop and plunder...lol.
The Cardinals are doing great this season!! Finally! I have loved the Cards since I was a young girl and it's good to see them doing so well now! Anyone catch that 20+ inning game? I watched the whole thing... that was tiring for me, I cannot imagine how tired those guys were at the end of that!
Have a great Tuesday : )
Hubby is out somewhere south of Atlanta for the week and it makes for a lonely home with him away. Some days I'll be glad when I can go with him on his trips. I'm sure I can find somewhere to shop and plunder...lol.
The Cardinals are doing great this season!! Finally! I have loved the Cards since I was a young girl and it's good to see them doing so well now! Anyone catch that 20+ inning game? I watched the whole thing... that was tiring for me, I cannot imagine how tired those guys were at the end of that!
Have a great Tuesday : )
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