Directing the Sails

Directing the sails. 

Thomas S. Monson says, "We can't direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails."

In life there will be storms. We really have very little control over this, however we are not completely helpless against them. By adjusting our sails we don't have to suffer the brunt of their force. 

Often times that adjustment has more to do with our attitude than anything else. It is easy to become discouraged and want to give up. But if you will direct yourself out of the gale you might find yourself thinking differently. 

Many times we hang on for too long, allowing ourselves to make a change only when circumstances become unbearable. However, that resulting change might be the very thing that calms the storm.  

The reality is that storms are a part of life, and thinking that we can avoid them is unrealistic. We must sail our boat adjusting the sails as we go along, and continue looking for smooth sailing ahead.  

Challenges

Challenges.

To be honest I really don't like challenging situations.  I much prefer for things to be easy as I suppose most people do. 

What I have discovered, though, is that sometimes we aren't even aware of a potential challenge until we are smack dab in the middle of it. It is then that the real test of our ability to cope surfaces. 

Recently I found myself in a situation that not only caught me off guard, but resulted in a sense of discomfort that I just couldn't shake. My first inclination was to retreat, but it wasn't a viable option at the time. Unfortunately, I was never able to come up with a solution, and basically just remained uncomfortable. 

After giving it some more thought, it really bothered me that I was never able to successfully maneuver this challenge. It was later that I read the words of Fred DeVito,  "If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you." 

This experience has made me more aware of how I react in uncomfortable situations, and I am ready to change my actions in the future.   How have challenges changed you?

Scratchy Napkins

Scratchy napkins. 

I've always tried to be careful with my spending, and getting a deal is sure to bring a smile to my face. I am grateful I learned from my mother to buy quality, but to find it on sale. 

For years I purchased a name brand package of napkins thinking I was getting quality at a reasonable price. However, for some reason one day I decided to spend a few cents more and pick up a fancier brand. When I got home I couldn't believe the difference. Who knew that there was such a thing as a soft paper napkin? 

My life changed immediately. I emphatically declared, "Life is too short for scratchy napkins." Since then I've learned to splurge on a few things like real cheese vs the orange cheese product you peel off of a piece of cellophane. When I made the choice to eat more real food as opposed to processed, I found more money in my grocery budget to spend on the things we liked. 

Although, I don't recommend throwing caution to the wind when it comes to finances, I do recommend splurging a little on something you really enjoy. After all life really is too short. 

Spend Out

Spend out. 

There is a concept known as spending out. It has to do with the idea of using what you  have today, and not just saving it in hopes for a better occasion. 

Now I am a huge proponent of saving for a rainy day. However, spending out is not so much about not saving money for the future. It has more to do with using your good china for everyday dining, rather than letting it go unused sitting in the hutch cabinet. 

It's about not saving something for a special occasion that never comes along. It's more about using and enjoying something knowing that it will eventually run out, and that is okay. You may or may not be able to replace it exactly, but you didn't let it sit in a box unused for a lifetime. 

Sometimes it has to do with the idea of saving the "good stuff" for company, and not allowing ourselves the priviledge. Knowing that life really is too short, we don't have time to wait around hoping that company shows up. 

Holding on to something out of fear of not having it again is counterproductive. So open that special bottle of wine and serve it with some really good cheese. 

Spend out!

The Unknown

The unknown. 

In life we pretty much have the known and the unknown. The known holds some sense of comfort because it cannot surprise us. It is what keeps us teaching the same grade for thirty years. The known is what keeps us from moving away from our hometown. Sometimes the known is what keeps us from living the life we really want. 



The unknown on the other hand, seems to be the scarier of the two. Even though, the unknown might be the better path, it still holds uncertainty. What if you were to give up the known and end up unhappy in the unknown? What if you ended up regretting ever leaving the known?

For me I waver between the two. In many ways I crave the security of the known. I like not having to think too much about the unfamiliar. And yet, I find myself restless and searching for something new and different. The hidden truth is that actually every day is the unknown. We no more know for sure what will happen in the next second as we know what will happen ten years from now. 


So what are we to do with this knowledge? Sometimes you just have to be brave, and take that first step. 

Stuff

Stuff. 

Dominique Browning in her New York Times article, Let's Celebrate the Art of Clutter, writes, "We are in a collective , and most unfortunate paroxysm of guilt and anxiety over our stuff." It seems very uncool these days to admit you love your stuff. 

Now in checking the definition of clutter it includes the terms untidy and disorderly. Although, my husband and I value our stuff we have little tolerance for disorder, and our stuff needs to abide in a more orderly state. What has been on our mind lately, though, is the eventual "D" word; you know downsizing. Now that we are empty nesters do we really need all this space? And if we really don't need all this space what are we going to do with all our stuff?

After almost two decades in our present home we have accumulated quite a bit, inspite of regular trips to Goodwill and an occasional garage sale. And to quote my husband, "I like my stuff." For me I find myself sentimentally attached to many of our possessions, and the thought of letting them go makes me uncomfortable. How do you part with stuff you like and stuff that brings back memories?

However, on the other hand the thought of lightening the load really does seem appealing. In some ways our home has just become a gathering place for the different seasons in our life. Our daughter no longer lives at home, and yet I cling to things that she no longer values. I have retired from teaching, but still hold onto much of my teaching stuff. My husband has enjoyed many hobbies along the way and much of his stuff is just gathering dust. 

So my question today is; is there an easier way to do this? For those of you who have already downsized what did you find worked for you? Although, I don't have a set plan I do know the day is coming, and per usual I just want to be prepared. 

Words

Words. 

"Be careful with your words. Once they are said, they can only be forgiven,  not forgotten." Leave it to the Internet to provide the perfect quote. 

One of my biggest flaws is the fact that I talk too much and too fast. Words seem to slip out before I even have time to think about what I'm saying. The worst part about this is that it always seems to affect those closest to me. They seem to take the brunt of my never ending carelessness. 

When I am in a group setting and find myself dominating the conversation, I try to remind myself to W.A.I.T. ; in other words ask myself Why Am I Talking? 

Recently after hurting someone I love with my words, I turned to the Psalms for guidance. Psalm 141:3 teaches, "Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips." Although, I have been forgiven, I know that unkind words sting and are rarely truly forgotten.