Half of 2013 is over so it is time to check on my Power of One Word - COMPASSION. For those of you who need to be brought up to speed - each year instead of a New Year's Resolution, I choose a word to guide me for the year. I pray about this word, I look for the word in my everyday life, I try to live by the word.
Past words have been Cleanse, Joy, Peace and now Compassion. God helps me choose my word for the year...and He makes me work for my word.
Compassion is more complicated than you think. Yes, I serve others and I serve God. What I struggle with is knowing how much concern to show for others; how much to help; how much to give to God; when to let go. I am a compassionate person. It makes me who I am. It also can consume me and cause me pain. It is my word this year so I can have compassion with balance. Be merciful. Have compassion with grace.
It is July and I am learning to be compassionate with boundaries - to show love, concern and to help others without losing a piece of myself. It is hard for me. I am not completely there yet and the truth is - I probably never will be.
If being too compassionate is my biggest obstacle today...I'll take it. Wink.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Let go, Let God
There is a reason people say, "Let go, let God." It is a nice way of saying, "Get over yourself. This thing you are worried about is too big for you. Hand it over to someone that can help you. God."
I am a worrier. I blame my dad. It is in my DNA thanks to him. My sister inherited it too. We can worry ourselves sick if you let us. We are not allowed to worry about the same things at the same time because we are each others "one" - the one person that brings the big (or small) worry into perspective for the other one.
I seem to have lots of worries these days. I am doing my best to give them to God. I am thankful I am not His Project Manager for the requests He receives - especially since mine seem so petty compared to so many other things in the world around me. Of course I remind myself of my blessings, the gifts in my life, the amazing people that surround me. I know, I know.
So if I blog about it, it must be true. I will do a better job of letting my worries not consume me and asking God for help.
Here's to Letting Go and Letting God!
I am a worrier. I blame my dad. It is in my DNA thanks to him. My sister inherited it too. We can worry ourselves sick if you let us. We are not allowed to worry about the same things at the same time because we are each others "one" - the one person that brings the big (or small) worry into perspective for the other one.
I seem to have lots of worries these days. I am doing my best to give them to God. I am thankful I am not His Project Manager for the requests He receives - especially since mine seem so petty compared to so many other things in the world around me. Of course I remind myself of my blessings, the gifts in my life, the amazing people that surround me. I know, I know.
So if I blog about it, it must be true. I will do a better job of letting my worries not consume me and asking God for help.
Here's to Letting Go and Letting God!
Sunday, July 14, 2013
50th
Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary, Aunt Elsie and Uncle Bob!
50 years! That is remarkable. I wish my mom was there to celebrate with her sister, but she was looking down on the party, smiling (and talking with her hands).
I truly cannot imagine spending 50 years with another person. I am too old for that now anyway. I don't plan on marrying someone this year or living until I am 90 or older. But seriously...50 whole years in the same living quarters with another person. Honestly, I don't think it is in me.
Aunt Elsie and Uncle Bob looked really happy. I loved sharing and listening to stories. They are a living legacy. I am proud to say I celebrated a 50th wedding anniversary. It doesn't happen as often as it should these days.
I think we should rename Wylie Park after them - Weigel Park it is. Aberdeen, SD.
50 years! That is remarkable. I wish my mom was there to celebrate with her sister, but she was looking down on the party, smiling (and talking with her hands).
I truly cannot imagine spending 50 years with another person. I am too old for that now anyway. I don't plan on marrying someone this year or living until I am 90 or older. But seriously...50 whole years in the same living quarters with another person. Honestly, I don't think it is in me.
Aunt Elsie and Uncle Bob looked really happy. I loved sharing and listening to stories. They are a living legacy. I am proud to say I celebrated a 50th wedding anniversary. It doesn't happen as often as it should these days.
I think we should rename Wylie Park after them - Weigel Park it is. Aberdeen, SD.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Save the Drunk Dial Drama for Your Mama
Drunk dialing. I loved those calls in my early 30s from my friend Dave. He called me after a night out and professed his undying love for me, "I love you, Stace. I think we should date." Which I would always reply the same way, "You know I love ya Dave. Let's see if you remember this call tomorrow." He would promise he would and I would laugh and wish him a good night. I would always get a follow-up call the next day. Dave would ask me how big of an ass he was and I would just say it was good to hear from him. Truth is it was endearing. He was just touching base.
This new guy, now history, in his mid-forties could learn from my dear friend Dave.
Went out with New/history guy a couple of times. Liked him, but he was too busy with pending relocation and so I wished him the best of luck and we went our separate ways. Then I received a text saying he missed me. He needed to see me. That night. And then the next text was offensive (unlike him) so I picked up the phone. He was intoxicated beyond belief. In his drunken stupor he decided to tell his pals that he met me and didn't have time for me (such a sad story!) so they decided it would be fun to text me on his behalf. And HE LET THEM. He calls me back. I didn't take the call. He said he would think of me and pray for me. The whole experience was humiliating. He should be embarrassed. Still no apology from him. Coward.
This new guy, now history, in his mid-forties could learn from my dear friend Dave.
Went out with New/history guy a couple of times. Liked him, but he was too busy with pending relocation and so I wished him the best of luck and we went our separate ways. Then I received a text saying he missed me. He needed to see me. That night. And then the next text was offensive (unlike him) so I picked up the phone. He was intoxicated beyond belief. In his drunken stupor he decided to tell his pals that he met me and didn't have time for me (such a sad story!) so they decided it would be fun to text me on his behalf. And HE LET THEM. He calls me back. I didn't take the call. He said he would think of me and pray for me. The whole experience was humiliating. He should be embarrassed. Still no apology from him. Coward.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
If the Shoe Fits...
Do you ever buy shoes that don't quite fit because they are adorable and you have to have them? YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT THEM?
Are buying shoes like dating men?
The shoe is not a perfect fit. In fact, it hurts to wear for long periods of time. It doesn't match much in my closet. But I do have fun when I am wearing it at times...
What am I really saying here.
I think I tend to try to make a shoe (guy) fit me when there is maybe not a true fit because there are so many things I like about the shoe (gentleman) - initially at least. I celebrate this revelation because I do have a lot of shoes (literally), but seriously because I am noticing red flags earlier. And I think it is fine to date not-perfect-fits for awhile as long as I walk away when it is time to walk away.
Maybe it's time for a new kind of shoes: BOOTS (and a real man to go with them).
Are buying shoes like dating men?
The shoe is not a perfect fit. In fact, it hurts to wear for long periods of time. It doesn't match much in my closet. But I do have fun when I am wearing it at times...
What am I really saying here.
I think I tend to try to make a shoe (guy) fit me when there is maybe not a true fit because there are so many things I like about the shoe (gentleman) - initially at least. I celebrate this revelation because I do have a lot of shoes (literally), but seriously because I am noticing red flags earlier. And I think it is fine to date not-perfect-fits for awhile as long as I walk away when it is time to walk away.
Maybe it's time for a new kind of shoes: BOOTS (and a real man to go with them).
Monday, October 29, 2012
Great Expectations
Expectations... if they are too low I am setting myself up for disappointment. If they are too high I will probably get hurt. If I didn't have any at all, I would be brilliant. Someone show me the way!
A wise woman gave me some solid advice about managing my expectations. She reminded me that a tiger is a beautiful animal, but not if I want it to be a pet in my home; I cannot change the tiger to meet those kind of expectations. I would be imposing on the tiger. And that makes sense to me. What I can't wrap my brain around is when a person doesn't meet my expectations when it comes to honesty or cheating. I don't think my expectations are too high. I think they are normal. The wise woman says that they are high expectations if dishonesty and cheating are in the person's make-up and character and I am trying to change him (her). This whole concept blows me away.
I am all about accepting people for who they are, right? Then why am I getting this expectations thing all mixed up? I am going to make a concentrated effort to manage my expectations. Maybe I will start with a new long distance friendship that is developing in my life. I have no expectations. I sincerely want to just get to know this person. The wise woman I mentioned earlier says that women don't get to know enough men...we settle for one too fast.
Here's to no expectations and getting to know more men.
A wise woman gave me some solid advice about managing my expectations. She reminded me that a tiger is a beautiful animal, but not if I want it to be a pet in my home; I cannot change the tiger to meet those kind of expectations. I would be imposing on the tiger. And that makes sense to me. What I can't wrap my brain around is when a person doesn't meet my expectations when it comes to honesty or cheating. I don't think my expectations are too high. I think they are normal. The wise woman says that they are high expectations if dishonesty and cheating are in the person's make-up and character and I am trying to change him (her). This whole concept blows me away.
I am all about accepting people for who they are, right? Then why am I getting this expectations thing all mixed up? I am going to make a concentrated effort to manage my expectations. Maybe I will start with a new long distance friendship that is developing in my life. I have no expectations. I sincerely want to just get to know this person. The wise woman I mentioned earlier says that women don't get to know enough men...we settle for one too fast.
Here's to no expectations and getting to know more men.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Shimmy-shimmy-cocoa-pop
So I finally saw the band The Zeros. Loved them. I had so much fun dancing - although there was not much room to dance...which led me to invent my new move: the shimmy-shimmy-cocoa-pop.
This man, a stage five clinger, to quote the wedding crashers movie, kept coming up behind me and dancing way too close. And it was not welcomed. If I am going to dirty dance with you, I have to want to. He did not make the list. So my move was invented. I literally shimmied out of his arms, to the music and got lost in the crowd. Genius. If I say so myself.
This man, a stage five clinger, to quote the wedding crashers movie, kept coming up behind me and dancing way too close. And it was not welcomed. If I am going to dirty dance with you, I have to want to. He did not make the list. So my move was invented. I literally shimmied out of his arms, to the music and got lost in the crowd. Genius. If I say so myself.
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