Thanksgiving..

So u thot the last post was cheesy..

Since it's Thanksgiving, I'm gonna talk about giving thanks at a time when you're just not "feeling it"..

I'm not gonna lie & say that this is always my "eternal-flowing-inner-sentiment", but I'm discovering more & more the virtues of positive thinking/praising God for the current circumstance..no matter what it is..(that's the tough part)..

The other day I walked to work--FROM MY HOUSE! Which after Googling I realize was a full 4 & a 1/2 miles from where I live..no wonder it took me nearly an hour & a 1/2..

This was a result of me just missing the last bus connection that that would've brought me to the mall where I work on time..the next bus wasn't due till 1/2 hour after I was supposed to BE at work..The reason for my initial busing expedition, was what I presumed a faulty connection in the electrics of my borrowed car, resulting in the dashboard lights not illuminating when I drove from work the night before..

My initial reaction to the situation:

--If the car I'm currently borrowing was in fully functioning order--or better yet (& this realization the true source of my annoyance), if I had a car of my own--this would be 1000% avoidable..

--Being a cloudy day, I'll probably get poured on & I don't have an umbrella..my freshly ironed work clothes will be ruined..

--I'll arrive at work hungry/tired & will still have to be on my feet after an hour + of walking..

While all of the above may have been true, since I'd determined my current position was unavoidable, I decided to look on the bright side..my stance then turned to...this:

--This hour walk SO takes care of my exercise for the day..

--While it's overcast, it's dry, resulting in less heat then if the sun was out & hey, as long as I'm not getting rained on, it's all good..

--A full hour of fresh air & looking at the Autumn colors throughout the full & floral residential areas of Smyrna & Vinnings, while listening to my favorite Metanoya on my phone, is actually more relaxing than anything else..

That kind of thinking brought me relaxed & invigorated to the restaurant where I'm working & had me hot-to-trot thru my following 6 hour shift..

It turns out that what I'd thot was a problem with the lights of my borrowed car, was merely a loose switch/dial that I'd accidentally turned down..(typical)..there wasn't a problem at all..but I had an enjoyable, DRY walk that turned out a pleasant experience instead of an awful one..

What do you have to be thankful for?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Price moments..

It amazes me at how short a day really is..24 hours sometimes seems to just fly by & we're left looking back at a week that was a joint effort of 7 seamless days that just passed with our barely glancing twice..

But then at the same time, when you stop & think about it, there are a lot of little moments in each day that make up noteworthy events, even though they may be little...when you do stop to notice..

The other day I read something in a book by Kevin Trudeau about getting 15 minutes of sunlight a day & the health benefits attached..now I see that 10 minute walk from the bus, or that little "pause" in the sun outside the mall on my break in a totally different way..

..then the fact that we had 2 weeks of straight sun this month proved another thing to get happy about..During said 2 wks the Autumn colors were in full display & just stepping outside anywhere here in Georgia seemed a treat..

The other day at work I happened to overhear one of my guests speaking Dutch with her son at one of my tables (I work at a restaurant) this was all I needed to launch into a full-on, albeit broken, 20 minute Dutch conversation with her & we were both thrilled as we relayed to each other in a language that we both loved (neither of us being originally Dutch, by the way) the events that made up our lives up till our "chance" meeting that day..

Just yesterday & today I had the most quality 24 hour visit one could have with a missionary family I've been very close to over the last 10 years in Birmingham, Alabama..the smiles on their children's faces & the care & concern I receive from the parents (who, incidentally, have adopted me as one of their children) warms my heart to the full & is truly irreplaceable...totally special..

Life is made up of these type moments..

Let's savor these as much as we would the big things that come our way...cuz hey, those "biggies" may not come around that often..

perseverance..

is something we all need to make it along as times wax tougher & tougher..

I love these already put together acronyms that hit a certain cord in my heart & say what I would've wanted to say..

I won't take credit for the little "breakdown" below, but it'll ring just as true, nonetheless..hope it encourages you today..

* Persist no matter what.

* Endure discomfort.

* Request help.

* Steadfastly hold on to your beliefs and values.

* Envision triumph.

* Very consistently keep at it.

* Embrace adversity as your teacher.

* Refuse to give up.

* Enjoy and celebrate every tiny bit of progress!