Reading for the Day

Once in a while it seems like we can't even handle one day. We just can't handle everything that happens along the way, plus carry out our own plans for the day. Perhaps we have to stop and change a flat tire. Or a friend calls and needs help. Or one of our kids has a meltdown in the grocery store. Or maybe all those things happen in the same day! That kind of day used to be our perfect excuse to quit trying.

Now it's a perfect excuse to take a deep breath, call a friend, and have a good laugh about it. Now we realize that our days are not really ours. We can plan them, but we can't really control them. That's just the way it is, and it's okay.

Chillin'

Today's Reminder from the Reading Fairy

There are days when I feel impatient with the way my life is going.

Maybe my emotional healing isn't happening fast enough for me, and I feel angry or frustrated. Maybe I'm having financial problems, or my job doesn't satisfy me. Maybe caring for my children is tiring, or I can't find time for myself. Today I will practice being patient. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to do nothing - to wait for events to unfold in their own time.

I can learn to relax and stop trying to force things to happen. I can't control everything in my life, and today I will stop trying. I don't have to achieve all my goals in one day or even one month.

As hard as it may seem, for today, I will be a patient person.

When all else fails........

Punt.

I'm punting!!

NOT that it'll reach the goalposts....but I'm punting in hopes that it does.

*shaking head*

Sometimes you just give it the best shot from where you're at and you don't try to go any further forward cuz you know it's a potential fumble.

So PUNT.

I can punt.

*sigh*

I can soooooooooo punt and pray.

I'm good at that.

The praying jazz.

Punting.....not so sure about but.....punt it is!

Backroad silence

Today's Fairy Thought

We learn to expect the unexpected.

Serenity and satisfaction come not when we achieve some measure of precarious temporary control, but when we learn to expect the unexpected.

They come when we learn the art of responding to change and accommodating the ever-shifting circumstances of our lives.

We did not choose our journey before we were born.

We did not choose the fact that this journey will end in death.

Naturally we want to control what we can and our lives are better when we do so.

But the best part of the adventure comes in taking what life brings to us and learning how to make it work.

No amount of blaming, criticism, soul-searching, or grumpiness will ever unearth the reasons why changes happen.

Change happens.

Close....

Pink Sunrise...

And all I can think about is how I shoulda got in the car, sat in the dark and captured the bits of awesomeness that just happened--that are still happening.

That's way better than focusing on what lies ahead of me this morning.....

......ughh......meetings. Back to back to back.....

OH look!! A pink sunrise!!

<-- will go patio sit and enjoy

Bitty Thought

To speak ill of others is a dishonest way of praising ourselves.--Will Durant

TFTD

If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man's life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.

--Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Most of us make trouble for ourselves by over-reacting to what others say or do.

We have conditioned ourselves to see everyone else as "the enemy" rather than look within ourselves for the real cause of our distress.

If we can pause long enough to uncover our own hidden discomfort and distorted attitudes before we react with harsh criticism or vindictive silence, we can change our destructive first impulses into a loving interchange between individuals.

A pause in the buzzy-ness

Sixtieth by now, I'm sure......

Tell Nana. Tell Nana what you did.

What'dya do, Bug?

I miss you, Nana.

Awww......I miss you too, Bug.

Tell Nana what you did.

I be Snow White, Nana. Come my house. I be Snow White.

Snow White! How cool--grandad can be one of the dwarfs. Grumpy or Dopey. You pick!

Tell Nana what you did.

And I watch Dumbo. I watch Nana's Dumbo.

About fourty times, mom. Thanks for sending the DVD home with her.

Do you wanna watch Dumbo again? Mom'll let ya.

MOM.

I watch Dumbo mommy. I watch Dumbo.

Tell Nana what you did, Bug.

I watch Dumbo! Mommy, I watch Dumbo please.

Oh, she's such a polite child.

Tell Nana what you did, Bug. Go on, tell Nana what you did!

I go potty on mommy's potty.

Very good--you went potty on the big potty, didn't you.

Awesome, Bug!! Good job!! And as a token of mommy's gratitude and in celebration of using the facilities and flushing (she did flush, right?)--

Yes mom.......

--DUMBO!! Wooohoooo!! Get that DVD and stick it in--Dumbo here we come!!!

I come Nana's house and potty on Nana's potty!

Wow--that'll be cool.

Go Nana's house, Nana?

Awwwww......not today, Bug. Nana's sick.

Go NANA's HOUSE......PLEASSSSSEEEEEE Nana......PLEASSSSEEE Nana. Go Nana's house PLEAAASSSEEEE.....mommy--Nana's house....

Not today, Bug. Nana's sick.

Go NANA's HOUSE. GRANDAD! PLEAASSEEEE!!!

Way to go mom.....

Get Dumbo out.

PLEEAAASSSEEE mommy. I go Nana's house. PLEAASSEE mommy. Nana's house please....

Not today, Bug.

Dumbo, Bug! Effalump. Big ears--circus!!

MOM!

PLEAASSEEE mommy.

Ask her nice Bug. She'll let you watch Dumbo.

PLEEAASSEEE mommy. DUMBO!!

Okay, Bug. We can watch Dumbo (for the fiftieth time.....)

You said forty.

YEAHHHHHHHHH.....DUMBO mommy!! C'mon mommy, DUMBO. YEEAAAAHHHH!!!

Dumbo it is!! You go watch Dumbo, Bug. Mommy'll put it in. AND cuz you used the big people's facilities you can have ICE CREAM, too!! Wooohoooo!!!

MOM!!!

DUMBO!! YEEAAAHHHH!! Ice cream! DUMBO!!!

Wellllll.......at least the other conniption has ceased? Go watch Dumbo.

DUMBO!! ICE CREAM!!! C'mon mommy!! YEAHHHHH!!!!

...........thanks mom.

Any time!! Bye Bug!! OH!! And licorice! She could have licorice too!

ACK! Lalalalalala--Let's watch Dumbo, Bug! Love you mom!

Hmmmmm.....Fairy Thought

Resolve to be thyself; and know, that he who finds himself, loses his misery.

--Matthew Arnold

We all have known the braggarts, the boastful ones who constantly toot their own horns. These people crave approval because they don't yet approve of themselves. There are those who do the same thing but they're not so noisy about it. The girl who says she's ugly even though she's pretty, or the guy who says he's dumb even though he isn't. These are not humble people. They are people who need to learn to approve of themselves.

We don't have to be either of these people now. We can honestly look at ourselves and see our strengths and weaknesses for what they are. We don't have to put ourselves down today. Best of all, we can now accept compliments graciously.

Fairy Reading for Today

When we believe we are losing control, we grab on tight. If we want to avoid pain, we hold on for dear life. When we are in fear of losing, looking bad or being abandoned, we tighten our grip. When our greatest fear comes upon us, we clench our fist and teeth, close our eyes and hold on. We must learn how to let go.

We have the capacity to live through any adversity if we simply let go. We cannot stop time or destiny. Whatever is going to happen has already happened, we must learn how to see it through to the end.

When we hold on, we prolong the pain. When we dig our feet in, we must be uprooted. When the time comes for growth and change, we must have the courage and faith to let go.

Whatever leaves my life makes room for something better.

Placid

Rain.......

Not that it's a bad deal. Rain is good. And it's been very soothing to sit in the rocker, watching the flowers roll the rain to their roots. I do love the sounds of rain--and the distant thunder rolling in.

It's a good way to spend today's morning......and a bit of the afternoon now that I've sacrificed and done the grocery store errand. (that'll teach him for eating some pickled squid something or other when he dined out with his buddy....LOL....omg I can't even fathom it......*shudder*)

The remainder of the day?

Heck if I know. Sort through some of the bazillion photos I put onto the computer to organize and DO something with maybe? LOL Nah..that'd be wayyyyyyyy too responsible.

I think maybe the rocker could use some more of my time.....and maybe a candle or two...and a book? Nah. No book.

Just me, the rain and a bit of flickering.
And warring hummingbirds. LOL They don't know about 'sharing'......or do but don't endorse it?

Silly things.....

TFTD

Much as we would like, we cannot bring everyone with us on this journey. We are not being disloyal by allowing ourselves to move forward. We don't have to wait for those we love to decide to change as well.

Sometimes we need to give ourselves permission to grow, even though the people we love are not ready to change. We may even need to leave people behind in their dysfunction or suffering because we cannot recover for them.

We don't need to suffer with them.

It doesn't help.

It doesn't help for us to stay stuck just because someone we love is stuck.

The potential for helping others is far greater when we detach, work on ourselves, and stop trying to force others to change with us.Changing ourselves, allowing ourselves to grow while others seek their own path, is how we have the most beneficial impact on people we love.

We're accountable for ourselves. They're accountable for themselves. We let them go, and let ourselves grow.

Today, I will affirm that it is my right to grow and change, even though someone I love may not be growing and changing alongside me.

Oh look....a human....

Today's Reading

A man of courage is also full of faith.

-- Cicero

Faith and courage walk hand in hand. Courage empowers us to act in favor of what we believe, but cannot know. Courage is animated by the vision of faith. It doesn't take any faith to perform an action that doesn't require a risk. Only when the outcome is uncertain, and the effort itself a feat of daring, must faith and courage come on the scene together to get the job done.

To reach out to another, if we have known frequent rejection, is to act courageously in spite of an uncertain outcome. To stand firm in a decision, if we have always given in and given up, is to back our faith in a most daring and courageous way.

Many people, who never think of themselves as spiritual, are excellent models of faith because they continually reach out for what is not common in their lives. Because they believe, they're willing and able to take the risk.

Things that make me notsohappy....

....the butchered tree(s). Seriously. What was the point in leaving MY tree looking like a strong wind could finish off the job they started WITHOUT my permission.

....other people's late paperwork. Notsomuch the late paperwork stuff, but more the 'being accountable for it' (what seems like) every minute I turn around--c'mon......seriously? I haffta explain to you why something isn't done on time here?! Oh wait--cuz I have lazy folks and they're all sitting around playing Parcheesi instead of doing their jobs! DUH me! *rolling eyes*

....dark mornings. DARK mornings. I mean so flipping dark you can see the stars (which, by the way, have been brilliant and awesome!). k......maybe THAT piece of the 'dark mornings' makes me happy--just not the 'dark ALL READY' jazz. *sigh*

....trying to have a pissin', whiny moment and seeing something GOOD in it! (I'm trying to whine and carry on, here dangitall........)

*ahem* AS I was sayin'.....

....running out of string cheese for a late night snack. Which reminds me......

....HAVING to have a late night snack cuz the stupid medications say 'take with string cheese that SOMEone stole while you weren't looking'. (k....might NOT say that but it oughta....)

....refrigerators. WHY they make me notsohappy--dunno....probably cuz there's NO STRING CHEESE in 'em. (yeahyeahyeah.....enough about the string cheese all ready!!)

....having a 'stupid voice of reason' that interferes with my desire to WHINE and pitch a hissy fit. What's up with that?! Sheeeeeeshhhh.

*AHEM!!!!* AS I WAS SAYIN'.......

Oh hell.....now I can't even freaking whine.

*going to look for that late night snack*

Apple with dippy sauce, maybe?

OHHHHHHhhhhhhhhh......apple with dippy sauce!!!

:-) YUMMMM!!!!!!

k...

THAT........is just sick and wrong.....