I have the hardest time saying "no".
It's simple.
It is only two letters.
Nothing really groundbreaking about it.
I just can't say it.
It isn't that I could never say it to my kids. That was no problem. You are concerned with their well-being and safety. You have to say no. No other way.
I don't say it outright to my husband, but he gets the idea that there are some things I am not gonna do. Skydiving. Deep sea fishing. Anything that means I have to go into deep water. Well, some boating, maybe.
But, when it comes to organizations to whom I belong: church, writing groups, grandkids.
If I do say no, I have to do so with excuses. You know, the I don't know if I will be in town, I have two other things scheduled. That kind of thing.
When I see something offered for free. Yes is the only answer.
Now, what in the world am I going to do with fifty- five flamingoes? Probably not much. Can't sell them, that's how I got them. The other guy couldn't sell them either.
I write. In case you haven't noticed. And by so doing I get all kinds of offers and encouragements to do things.
A 500 word a day challenge, which I accepted and have done pretty well in honoring.
A Poem A Day challenge, which I accepted and did not do so well on.
One that is coming up and I am thinking about is a blog a day for 26 days.
What I am trying to say here is that just because something is offered to you it is okay to say no.
Just no.
No explanations, no excuses, nothing. Just no.
No one will give you lashes, or not talk to you, well maybe your boss if you tell him no.
In the realm of daily life you need to decide what you can do and what you cannot do.
Inspect where the offer is coming from and how it will affect your life and decide yes or no.
I accepted the Blog A Day A to Z challenge. Stay tuned and see how I do.
And enjoy your life.
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Challenge
I have accepted the challenge to blog every day in April except Sundays for the A to Z Challenge. I am to pick a subject with a letter of the alphabet. Since we don't do Sundays, it works out great for the challenge.
I have decided to do random subjects for each letter.
I will start with Ageing.
Come back on Tuesday to see what I have to say.
I have decided to do random subjects for each letter.
I will start with Ageing.
Come back on Tuesday to see what I have to say.
Sunday, March 2, 2014
My Writing Success
The prompt for today was to tell what your writing success looks like. Show don't tell.
Would you believe that I have NEVER thought of the success part of it? Oh, I have thought about the clamoring fans, the book signings, and the dashing from t v interview to t v interview. But to think of the actual success and how it would feel? No.
To make me feel successful would be to have the people who love me love what I do and not just because I did it, but because it was good. Very good.
That has been the one thing that has made me hang back from writing more. I can't seem to get anyone to convince me that what they think is good is really good.
Does that mean that I have to earn a million dollars in a month to impress and be impressed?
Probably not.
My success would look like pleasure. The gentle smile on my husband's face as he reads the article in the magazine when he says, " That's good."
The giggle of my grown daughter who says "Momma, that's really good."
Feedback from other writers is something I crave for the things I write. Not just my comments on Facebook or the messages we exchange, but for the blog I struggle over.
But, success really looks like me continuing to write and say, " I have something to share."
Would you believe that I have NEVER thought of the success part of it? Oh, I have thought about the clamoring fans, the book signings, and the dashing from t v interview to t v interview. But to think of the actual success and how it would feel? No.
To make me feel successful would be to have the people who love me love what I do and not just because I did it, but because it was good. Very good.
That has been the one thing that has made me hang back from writing more. I can't seem to get anyone to convince me that what they think is good is really good.
Does that mean that I have to earn a million dollars in a month to impress and be impressed?
Probably not.
My success would look like pleasure. The gentle smile on my husband's face as he reads the article in the magazine when he says, " That's good."
The giggle of my grown daughter who says "Momma, that's really good."
Feedback from other writers is something I crave for the things I write. Not just my comments on Facebook or the messages we exchange, but for the blog I struggle over.
But, success really looks like me continuing to write and say, " I have something to share."
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Breakfast Cookies
The other day on a post, one of my 500 wordgang put out a recipe called Breakfast Cookies.
I took the recipe to my husband, who is the baker and cooker in our household, and he said they sounded good.
That was two days ago.
Yesterday when he went out to run the garbage can down to the street and a few other little errands, he stopped by the freezer, which we keep in the garage, and it was dead.
I heard thumps and bumps and wondered what he was doing. I went out to the garage and he was loading up sacks with food. I asked what was going on. He said the freezer isn't working. What are we going to do with the food? Do you want me to take that to church when I go to bell practice?
He thought he would call a neighbor first and see if he had any room. He didn't.
Hubby said he would take me to practice and we would leave the food at church in their freezers.
Off we go to church and he to find a freezer.
He picked me up and we went to check out one of the freezers he had found.
We went to the big box store and found a freezer we could live with, actually, we like it, and they can deliver it today. Which is great.
And now, to the cookies.
This morning I was greeted by my best man with, " Well, they are what they are."
To which I brilliantly replied, " Whaaaaaaa?"
" The cookies."
" Oh."
The recipe calls for bananas, oatmeal, raisins, coconut, chocolate chips, egg, sugar, cinnamon and oil.
What we have is bananas, oatmeal, raisins, egg, sugar, cinnamon and oil.
The coconut and chocolate chips were in the church freezer, two miles away, which left us with bananas, oatmeal. And may I add, about a handful of raisins.
They are wonderful. Think how they would be if we had it all. Or may be this is how they will be at my house.
I took the recipe to my husband, who is the baker and cooker in our household, and he said they sounded good.
That was two days ago.
Yesterday when he went out to run the garbage can down to the street and a few other little errands, he stopped by the freezer, which we keep in the garage, and it was dead.
I heard thumps and bumps and wondered what he was doing. I went out to the garage and he was loading up sacks with food. I asked what was going on. He said the freezer isn't working. What are we going to do with the food? Do you want me to take that to church when I go to bell practice?
He thought he would call a neighbor first and see if he had any room. He didn't.
Hubby said he would take me to practice and we would leave the food at church in their freezers.
Off we go to church and he to find a freezer.
He picked me up and we went to check out one of the freezers he had found.
We went to the big box store and found a freezer we could live with, actually, we like it, and they can deliver it today. Which is great.
And now, to the cookies.
This morning I was greeted by my best man with, " Well, they are what they are."
To which I brilliantly replied, " Whaaaaaaa?"
" The cookies."
" Oh."
The recipe calls for bananas, oatmeal, raisins, coconut, chocolate chips, egg, sugar, cinnamon and oil.
What we have is bananas, oatmeal, raisins, egg, sugar, cinnamon and oil.
The coconut and chocolate chips were in the church freezer, two miles away, which left us with bananas, oatmeal. And may I add, about a handful of raisins.
They are wonderful. Think how they would be if we had it all. Or may be this is how they will be at my house.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Finding Time
We have all heard the expression. We have all used it.
When I find enough time, I will call my friend.
When I find the time, I will make that present for a birthday gift.
When I find the time, I will read that book everyone is talking about.
If we have to find the time, where did we loose it? When did we loose it?
We even say we will make time. Man, I want to learn that. How would you go about making time? Maybe you could turn your clock back an hour. Or maybe there is an hour bush out in the back yard that you could go pluck some time from.
Why do we do this?
We know you can't make time. We also know you can't find time.
Where would it hide, under the bed? In the rose garden? Perhaps, in the closet?
What I do know is that each day is 24 hours long. 1440 minutes. 86400 seconds. Now how are you going to stretch that? Or find more of it? You can't.
You can however, manage it better.
You could spend less time watching re-runs of Gilligan's Island. You could spend that time writing.
You could spend less time wondering where the time went and just use it to call that friend.
You could spend less time berating yourself for wasting time.
Just spend it with joy.
If your joy is fifteen minutes of doing nothing, then do it.
What we should all do is try to do things with our time that makes us pleased with how we spend our
time, because, spend it we shall. We have no choice. It comes and it goes. What we do with it is our choice.
Did you know that God made time? At the time of creation, he made the sun and moon to tell the difference between night and day. The first day was decided by the passing of the evening and morning. So, if God made it and ordained it, we should use it to the fullest extent we can.
We should praise and thank God with our time by using wisely.
Wisely means doing something that you enjoy or that will accomplish what you want. If you want to get a degree, study and do it. It won't be a waste of time. You may not be able to go and play as much as you want, but you will have the degree. You will have done what you want. In all that studying, reading and writing, take time out, maybe on your way to the next class to notice what you pass. It won't take that much time, and you may see something interesting. Make a note of it when you get to class.
Wisely also means to do with intention.
Do what makes your life lighter. Laugh. Love. Live.
Until next time.
When I find enough time, I will call my friend.
When I find the time, I will make that present for a birthday gift.
When I find the time, I will read that book everyone is talking about.
If we have to find the time, where did we loose it? When did we loose it?
We even say we will make time. Man, I want to learn that. How would you go about making time? Maybe you could turn your clock back an hour. Or maybe there is an hour bush out in the back yard that you could go pluck some time from.
Why do we do this?
We know you can't make time. We also know you can't find time.
Where would it hide, under the bed? In the rose garden? Perhaps, in the closet?
What I do know is that each day is 24 hours long. 1440 minutes. 86400 seconds. Now how are you going to stretch that? Or find more of it? You can't.
You can however, manage it better.
You could spend less time watching re-runs of Gilligan's Island. You could spend that time writing.
You could spend less time wondering where the time went and just use it to call that friend.
You could spend less time berating yourself for wasting time.
Just spend it with joy.
If your joy is fifteen minutes of doing nothing, then do it.
What we should all do is try to do things with our time that makes us pleased with how we spend our
time, because, spend it we shall. We have no choice. It comes and it goes. What we do with it is our choice.
Did you know that God made time? At the time of creation, he made the sun and moon to tell the difference between night and day. The first day was decided by the passing of the evening and morning. So, if God made it and ordained it, we should use it to the fullest extent we can.
We should praise and thank God with our time by using wisely.
Wisely means doing something that you enjoy or that will accomplish what you want. If you want to get a degree, study and do it. It won't be a waste of time. You may not be able to go and play as much as you want, but you will have the degree. You will have done what you want. In all that studying, reading and writing, take time out, maybe on your way to the next class to notice what you pass. It won't take that much time, and you may see something interesting. Make a note of it when you get to class.
Wisely also means to do with intention.
Do what makes your life lighter. Laugh. Love. Live.
Until next time.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Thank You God for Poop
When my kids were younger, grade school, I was the superintendent for our church's VBS. For those of you who may not know it is Vacation Bible School.
We were new to the area and the church, so we didn't know all the kids and their backgrounds.
Everyone knew Paul. He was ornery and cute as a button. He lived to shock. He was in first grade and the teachers for that class were high school girls. One was the teacher and the other was her assistant.
Vacation Bible School is chaotic with children meeting friends they hadn't seen in a month since the end of school. Making new friends from children outside the church and community, invited by friends and relatives to take part.
It was the third day of a five day course.
The schedule was that the children met en masse to do music, then divided into groups that went to crafts, treats, games or to story time. The teachers were to do crafts and story time. There were others in charge of treats and out side time.
His teachers had all ready had his group for crafts and had a break while they were in treats. They came together to do the story time and finished the story time with prayers.
Each child was asked what they were grateful for, and most of the ten children had said moms, dads, dogs, Jesus, and the teachers. Paul, however, said he was grateful for poop.
It brought the room down to hysterics. The boys thought it funny. The girls thought it was gross. Paul grinned.
The teacher said amen.
When the kids were gone and we were all discussing the day, Paul's teacher said we had something interesting happen. And then they told the story.
It brought the room down. The Pastor was not happy. The superintendent thought it was funny.
They didn't ask me to reprise my job.
As I grow older, I fully appreciate Paul's thankfulness for poop.
We were new to the area and the church, so we didn't know all the kids and their backgrounds.
Everyone knew Paul. He was ornery and cute as a button. He lived to shock. He was in first grade and the teachers for that class were high school girls. One was the teacher and the other was her assistant.
Vacation Bible School is chaotic with children meeting friends they hadn't seen in a month since the end of school. Making new friends from children outside the church and community, invited by friends and relatives to take part.
It was the third day of a five day course.
The schedule was that the children met en masse to do music, then divided into groups that went to crafts, treats, games or to story time. The teachers were to do crafts and story time. There were others in charge of treats and out side time.
His teachers had all ready had his group for crafts and had a break while they were in treats. They came together to do the story time and finished the story time with prayers.
Each child was asked what they were grateful for, and most of the ten children had said moms, dads, dogs, Jesus, and the teachers. Paul, however, said he was grateful for poop.
It brought the room down to hysterics. The boys thought it funny. The girls thought it was gross. Paul grinned.
The teacher said amen.
When the kids were gone and we were all discussing the day, Paul's teacher said we had something interesting happen. And then they told the story.
It brought the room down. The Pastor was not happy. The superintendent thought it was funny.
They didn't ask me to reprise my job.
As I grow older, I fully appreciate Paul's thankfulness for poop.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Compliments
Today I ran across an old Peanuts comic strip. It was Rerun and Charlie's little sister. She told him he had nice shoes. His response was to tell her all about them. Her answer was, " When you get a compliment, all you have to say is, 'Thank you'."
That has been one of my problems in life. I don't seem to know how to accept a compliment. It isn't just me.
We all seem to have to explain why what we have is nice
.
If I get a compliment on an outfit I am wearing, I usually have to say, " This old thing?". Or I have to explain where I got it and why.
Why is it that we feel we cannot just say, " Thank you" ?
Does it go to the tradition of down playing what you have to show respect to the other person? I know that in the Eastern tradition is you are to say how humble your abode is and how lowly your things are, and that in the American Indian tradition it is also to make yourself appear lower than your guest. Are we afraid God will take away our blessings if we appear too proud of what we have?
I also know that the Bible teaches against being a braggart, but really is accepting a compliment bragging?
I know that as a complimenter, it makes my heart sing when the receiver just says thank you.
I feel as though they appreciate my appreciation of their things and they don't need to apologize for their wealth as compared to mine. I am not comparing when I see someone in a nice Ferrari or a mink stole or even a pretty pair of flip flops. I just like what I see and want them to know it.
I know that I also have a problem accepting a compliment. I am getting better and I started trying to do a better job of saying thank you in my prayers. We are to ask for things we want, but we are also to praise and thank
.
There is an old joke that goes something like this:
Jacob and Tevye are pulling their carts together and talking about life and things. Tevye asks Jacob how things are going. Jacob says they are wonderful. His wife fixed a nice bowl of tea for breakfast this morning and then Jacob set out for his day. His hen laid one egg that they would have for dinner. His ox was doing fine on three legs. God is good.
Jacob asks Tevye how he is doing and Tevye says that there has been no rain for days, the grass is too short for his ox to eat, the hen is down to one egg every other day, the tea is almost gone.
God looks down and says if Jacob thinks he is having a great day, now wait till he sees what I have for him tomorrow. And if Tevye thinks things are bad now wait till I'm through with him.
I know that God is not vengeful, but don't you know he gets tired of us saying we have a nice life, but it could be better if we had two cars. It would be nicer to have a new leather coat. It would be great to eat steak once a week.
But doesn't our car work? Isn't my coat warm? Don't we have meat everyday? Why not say thank you for what you have?
I think the simple answer is we don't think about it.
I rarely thank my husband for working and providing for us. It's his job.
It is God's job to supply us with what we want. Not really. He has given us what we need. What we want is just that what WE want.
So, when someone says, " Nice blouse" I will... say "Thank you".
That has been one of my problems in life. I don't seem to know how to accept a compliment. It isn't just me.
We all seem to have to explain why what we have is nice
.
If I get a compliment on an outfit I am wearing, I usually have to say, " This old thing?". Or I have to explain where I got it and why.
Why is it that we feel we cannot just say, " Thank you" ?
Does it go to the tradition of down playing what you have to show respect to the other person? I know that in the Eastern tradition is you are to say how humble your abode is and how lowly your things are, and that in the American Indian tradition it is also to make yourself appear lower than your guest. Are we afraid God will take away our blessings if we appear too proud of what we have?
I also know that the Bible teaches against being a braggart, but really is accepting a compliment bragging?
I know that as a complimenter, it makes my heart sing when the receiver just says thank you.
I feel as though they appreciate my appreciation of their things and they don't need to apologize for their wealth as compared to mine. I am not comparing when I see someone in a nice Ferrari or a mink stole or even a pretty pair of flip flops. I just like what I see and want them to know it.
I know that I also have a problem accepting a compliment. I am getting better and I started trying to do a better job of saying thank you in my prayers. We are to ask for things we want, but we are also to praise and thank
.
There is an old joke that goes something like this:
Jacob and Tevye are pulling their carts together and talking about life and things. Tevye asks Jacob how things are going. Jacob says they are wonderful. His wife fixed a nice bowl of tea for breakfast this morning and then Jacob set out for his day. His hen laid one egg that they would have for dinner. His ox was doing fine on three legs. God is good.
Jacob asks Tevye how he is doing and Tevye says that there has been no rain for days, the grass is too short for his ox to eat, the hen is down to one egg every other day, the tea is almost gone.
God looks down and says if Jacob thinks he is having a great day, now wait till he sees what I have for him tomorrow. And if Tevye thinks things are bad now wait till I'm through with him.
I know that God is not vengeful, but don't you know he gets tired of us saying we have a nice life, but it could be better if we had two cars. It would be nicer to have a new leather coat. It would be great to eat steak once a week.
But doesn't our car work? Isn't my coat warm? Don't we have meat everyday? Why not say thank you for what you have?
I think the simple answer is we don't think about it.
I rarely thank my husband for working and providing for us. It's his job.
It is God's job to supply us with what we want. Not really. He has given us what we need. What we want is just that what WE want.
So, when someone says, " Nice blouse" I will... say "Thank you".
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