Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Life Lessons, continued, and other updates...



So Friday I shared a list of life lessons as learned by Regina Brett.

As I mentioned, a few of them really resonated with me. All of them were great, and while I agree with all of them, there are a few I can do nothing about.

Like the kids only getting one childhood. If I could go back and make some changes, I would. But I can't, so we deal with it.

Paying off credit cards every month--if I'd only had better sense back in the day. And now, as you know, I'm working a "second job" to earn extra money to help get those paid off a little sooner. Our profits from this fireworks season would have gone a long way toward eliminating some of that debt, we have to hold onto that money for the time being. We're being audited, so the likelihood of owing the IRS some money is 100%. How much is another story. We'll find out in a month or two.

So now, let's talk about those three...

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

I don't have a lot of "nice" packed away. We've never really been able to afford it. But that last part: Today is special... I'm trying to enjoy each day, celebrating the small pleasures. Squirrels enjoying the sprinkler. The gorgeous cardinal hopping around in the bird feeder bed. The resident tree lizard. And the fact that I didn't kill my miniature roses yet. Or, of course, my kids asking me if I want to play Rock Band with them, or telling me about what's going in their lives. Or the pure joy from getting a hug and kiss from Sonshine.




23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

I'm sure you've all heard "When I am old, I shall wear purple..." The line comes from a poem called Warning written by Jenny Joseph. The time to enjoy life is now--see above--enjoying life and finding pleasure in the small things. And even if my daughter thinks I'm nuts because I keep taking pictures of the squirrels, I will keep taking those pictures. I'll leave up my 4th of July decorations until Christmas. And I'll decorate my "office" with any kind of mish mash of stuff that tickles my fancy.

Or taking a picture of my laundry on the line because the scene evokes thoughts and feelings of the life I'm trying to create for myself. Country, slow, simple. And I do so enjoy the smell of line-dried linens.


25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

This one is especially meaningful to me. Mostly I am a happy person, happy in general, etc. But my moods are affected by those around me, most specifically, my husband. And most especially because we're together ALL THE TIME. If he's grouchy, I'm subdued.

But no more! I vow this very day that if his grouchiness has nothing to do with me, then I'm going to ignore him and not take his attitude to heart and let it wound me. I'm going to be a duck and let the water and the other stuff roll off my back.

I know asked Friday if any particular life lesson spoke to you...so today I'm going to ask, if one did, are you going to do something about it? Follow through and live life differently?

A P.S. of sorts...the coroner's report on the the cause of death for Cory Montieth was an overdose involving a toxic mixture of alcohol and heroin. I had thought suicide perhaps, but there's been no news on that. So I guess just an accidental situation. I wasn't really surprised that drugs were involved, though. Hoping, of course, for some random medical cause or something, but not surprised. My daughter's drug of choice was heroin and it's a tough drug to quit. My heart goes out to his family and friends.

4 comments:

Regina Richards said...

What a wonderful, thought-provoking post. And I love the picture of the laundry - reminds me of doing the wash with my grandmother so many years ago.

Don't take no for an answer really struck me. About a month ago I was experiencing some pretty alarming symptoms. I went to WebMD and got the low-down. Then I went to my doc and asked for blood tests. She insisted I didn't need them. I insisted I did. Back and forth. I finally prevailed, but it was a tussle. Two days later I get an urgent call. Good thing I had the test. Mega-doses of vitamins and I'm getting back to normal. Without them I would have had irreversible nerve damage for the rest of my life. Throughout my life there have been many times when I've stubbornly refused to take no for an answer and I was never sorry. I think as I get older I get even more willing to assert myself.

Unknown said...

Great post! You keep sharing those squirrel pictures--I enjoy them :)

Jen FitzGerald said...

So glad to hear you're doing better, Regina!!

And thanks, Lara. Glad you're enjoying the squirrels, too.

Char Newcomb said...

What a lovely post, Jen. I love the pic of the laundry. It brings back memories from my childhood.