Nine Years

 Nine years ago with much trepidation I posted my first posting on my blog, Grace Found Daily. Interestingly I quoted Stephen Covey, and his second habit of, “Begin with the end in mind.” Except I had no end in mind. I just knew that I wanted to start writing. 

As the years have gone by I have written faithfully five days a week to hit or miss depending on the year. Do I regret starting the blog? No, but I find it to be quite rudderless as the years have progressed. 

Today in reading Ryan Holiday’s The Daily Stoic, January 5th’s entry: Clarify Your Intentions, I’ve come to the conclusion that having no end in mind has been counterproductive. Ryan states:

“Having an end in mind is no guarantee that you’ll reach it-but not having an end in mind is a guarantee you won’t.”

He points out that having no real direction will get in the way of knowing what to do next, what to say no or yes to, knowing when it’s time to stop or change direction. 

If my only goal in writing my blog is to record my own personal family history, then so be it. If it is a way to influence or to entertain, or simply an opportunity to write on a regular basis then it’s time to declare its purpose. 

So today I find myself giving thought to the direction of this blog, and to finally begin with the end in mind. 

Evolve Don’t Revolve

 Holocaust survivor, Dr. Edith Eger has written about whether you want to “evolve or revolve” in your life?

As I thought about revolving I couldn’t help but picture the old revolving doors of my childhood that you could find at fancy department stores or office buildings downtown. Once you enter you could literally go round and round without stopping if you didn’t make the conscious effort to step out of the revolving door. 

Many times I’ve approached the new year with the greatest of aspirations only to end up basically repeating the year before. What is it they say? “Lather, rinse, repeat.”

It is easy to settle down into familiar routines. However, I don’t want to just repeat each year over and over as I have a tendency to do. 

I really am intrigued by the idea of stepping off of that revolving door, and moving forward to the next thing. 

As I thought about the new year I Initially relied on all the ways I could improve. Within a short time I had a list of what I wanted to accomplish, a list that looked strangely familiar. 

Although, I know common wisdom encourages us to set goals and work toward accomplishing them, I began to think that reaching goals was not how I wanted to spend my year. Perhaps because I felt I would fall short. 

Is reading a certain number of books more important than just reading? Is a certain number on the scale the most important way to begin your day? Is walking 10,000 steps really going to bring meaning to your life?

I believe that I have limited my evolution with these strict guidelines. Guidelines that I have attempted year after year only to fall short. 

Instead I’d like to take each day as it comes, and look for the opportunities it presents. I’d like to seek inspiration from those I meet, and act upon the things that resonate with me. I’d like to recapture that spirit of childhood where “carpe diem” really did exist. 

I’d like to learn from what I read, see and hear, and seek the company of those who have taken on evolution in their own lives. 

“According to Darwin’s Origin of Species, it is not the most intellectual of the species that survives; it is not the strongest that survives; but the species that survives is the one that is best able to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it finds itself.” Leon C. Megginson

Refreshing

 

Welcome 2024! 

I thought I’d start the year with a little 3rd grandson story. 

Some of my best conversations with my youngest grandson happen during his diaper change. The other day as I was pulling off his diaper he reached back and pulled out a fresh diaper from the basket behind him. 

He placed it on his face and took a big sniff. I could tell by his reaction that he liked the way it smelled. I asked him if he liked it, and he said without skipping a beat, “Refreshing!”

Now what I want to know is how does a two year old know the word refreshing, and how to use it appropriately? I must admit this boy always keeps me laughing!

2023 Revisited

 

2023 brought many fun opportunities, and a few sad moments too. 

The year began with a new car, that technically was purchased a few days before in December. After ten years and almost 200,000 miles we traded in the Rav 4 for a Toyota Highlander Hybrid. We have thoroughly enjoyed the new SUV with its quieter, smoother ride. Even the green color has grown on us as we now think it’s quite fetching. One new thing that began this year was a weekly car wash to keep the new car clean. 

After a visit to Intermission Bookstore in Brownwood I was inspired to start a new blog dedicated to all things books, and to visit as many independent bookstores as possible in the local area. I visited seven in all in Texas, and one in Ruidiso, New Mexico. 

Sadly in February, our beloved dog Honey was killed on Hwy 6. We had only had her for a few months, and had never lost a dog before over such a short period of time. She had become such a part of our family, and coupled with the loss of dear Ranger, our kitten, a few months earlier we were quite sad. In honor of Honey, I got a James Avery paw charm in the shape of a heart as a remembrance to her. 

In March my dear friend Kathy who I had known since high school passed away after a long illness. I felt blessed to have spent time with her in the prior months, along with my Yee Haw high school friends. 

Throughout the year Chuck and I made several day trips to surrounding communities. Over the months we visited Hico, Thurber, Graham, Possum Kingdom Lake, Clifton, Hamilton, Goldthwaite, and Marble Falls. 

Some of our favorite sites were the Ghost Town museum in Thurber, the Valley Mills Winery, and lunch at Possum Kingdom Lake  at the Hemingway Craft House. 

In the spring Chuck planted a garden, and by summer we were overrun by squash and cucumbers. Our tomatoes never really flourished, and I spent my time trying to figure out what to do with our plethora of produce. I also learned how to can jelly from a friend at church. 

During the hot summer months we ended up losing four chickens in total- three in one day. Our mean rooster Romeo succumbed to the 110 degree days, and his reign of terror ended. Chuck literally had to tend to the chickens with a broom in hand for his own protection. Although Romeo was a beautiful bird, I don’t think we’ll ever want a rooster again. Somehow the two girls that we have left have kept us in eggs throughout the fall. 

I watched the boys two days a week until August when school started again. Hayes started kindergarten along with Casen starting second grade. Levi’s babysitter wasn’t ideal so I agreed to watch him three days a week. He’s been a lot of fun, and I enjoy our time together. He’s growing up so fast, and is basically two going on to twenty-two. He definitely keeps us laughing. 

Summer was quite brutal with 108 degree days, and us locked in the house with the blinds shut. Chuck and I dreamed about spending summers in Colorado. 

In September we had a much needed vacation to Ruidoso, New Mexico. Brittany helped us find the perfect vacation rental, and we enjoyed the cooler weather, and the beautiful scenery. It was just what we needed to refresh our spirits after such a long, hot summer. 

Throughout the year I attended my Tuesday night Bible Study, and my retired teachers’ meeting here in De Leon. I ended up giving up my once a month Wednesday lunch in the fall when I added an extra day to my babysitting schedule. 

I visited with my Yee Haw friends as often as possible, and ended the year meeting Kim in Granbury for lunch. I faithfully worked out at the gym two days a week, and got a good report on my bone density test. Apparently, my osteoporosis had gone back to osteopenia as my body began producing bone again. I had a mammogram, and a colonoscopy which all turned out well. 

I didn’t quite read as many books as I would have liked, but I did continue to write my two blogs throughout the year. I did my 31 Day Writing Challenge in October on curiosity.

For my birthday in July, I asked for my own small desk, and set up an area for me to work in the guest room. I dabbled a little with junk journaling, and spent time writing.

Each evening as Chuck and I watched several tv series on Netflix I would spend time doing my favorite thing-coloring. I was able to pick up coloring books for a great price at Ollie’s in Stephenville.  

We celebrated birthdays, Easter, Mother’s and Father’s Day, along with Thanksgiving and Christmas at our house. The boys spent the night several times included a Star Wars movie night with light sabers. 

Once again we were all able to spend Christmas Eve with my family at my sister Carol’s beautiful home. It’s a tradition I definitely want to keep. 

I must say it was a pretty good year overall, and I feel quite blessed to be so close to my family. I’m looking forward to 2024 as I’m drawn more to even numbered years. 

Choices- Day 10

 

“When you stay safe and sound at shore, you’ll never set sail and really choose the good life.”  Alexandra Stoddard

This idea has really come to life for me over the last seven years. Chuck and I have moved three times, and sold and moved our belongings from the farm we had in Wolfe City. 

It appears that many people don’t move too far from where they were born. Not to say this is a bad thing, but it is a choice to stay vs venturing out. 

According to Stoddard, “We are an expression of our exposure.” Now this doesn’t mean that you immediately have to move away, although maybe it’s time. Rather start simply by exploring somewhere new close by.

Chuck and I enjoy taking day trips one to two hours away. We like to explore small towns, eat at new restaurants, and enjoy taking in the sights. Each time we return to the known and comfortable I feel a little revived by our simple adventure. 

Look for the opportunities around you to expand your horizons. Recently I came across the saying, “Evolve, don’t revolve.” How many times have I simply repeated the next year?

I hope to reflect more on what it means to evolve in the upcoming year. I want to enlarge not restrict my view of the world, and challenge myself to leave the safety of the harbor. 

Again I need to remind myself that the choices I make or don’t make will determine much of my future. I want to choose wisely. 

Choices- Day 9

 “We can’t be expected to find what we love without reaching out for new, exciting experiences.” Alexandra Stoddard 

I always find this time of year an exciting time. The new year opens the door to new opportunities. Especially when we take an active role in pursuing them. 

I’m not always successful in completing all my goals, but even if I accomplish only a fraction of them, that is better than not attempting at all. 

Stoddard reminds us that, “We can expose ourselves to an infinitely vast range of possibilities.” 

Think about the things that excite you. This is what I love and envy about young children. They are naturally excited about life, and their emotions bubble forth with that excitement. 

Stoddard suggests thinking about what we don’t care for as an avenue to discovering what we do love. When I finally admitted that I really didn’t care much about professional football I ended up with more time to spend on a Sunday afternoon doing what I really enjoyed. 

However, attending one of my grandson’s games is a whole different ballgame. One of the things I love most about my life is getting to spend time with my grandsons. 

One way to reconnect with what you love is to remember the things you enjoyed doing as a child. Coloring was always something fun to me, and today I still enjoy doing so. Except, I now use Prismacolor colored pencils,and coloring books with higher quality paper. I enjoy coloring at night while watching, or should I say, listening to tv. 

I like the way Stoddard reminds us that, “There’s no such thing as a person with too many interests.”

Again the choice is up to us. So as you consider the new year, consider Stoddard’s advice: “We become interesting when we’re engaged in things we love.” 

Choices- Day 8

 “But as we know we can never please everyone.” Alexandra Stoddard

Why is this truth so hard to believe? Where did we get the idea that we should strive to please?

Stoddard points out, “That when we try to, we often create a false front, changing ourselves depending on who we are trying to impress.”

I wonder if we are even aware of what we are doing? Have we done it for so long that we have become unaware of doing so?

The reality is that we really don’t have to prove ourselves to anyone. When we make the conscious choice to accept this reality we can stop trying to please the world. It’s our own “inner compass” that Stoddard insists should be our guide. 

As difficult as it may seem at times being a nonconformist is not necessarily a bad thing. And yet sometimes I have trouble shaking that uneasy feeling that someone might think less of me because of my opinions. 

The choice to conform just to be liked might be something to reflect on, and learning to be comfortable with the discomfort of not always being accepted by the group might be something to consider.