How Quickly I Forget

It’s been almost two years since I moved from Cincinnati, Ohio, with a population of over 2 million, to small-town Manchester, Iowa, with a little over 5,000 residents. I went from a major East Coast city (in my mind) to a farm community in Iowa (again, in my mind), and I am still adjusting.

The other night, I was trying to sleep and the number of trains traveling through town was irritating me. These beasts are required to blow their horn at every intersection. Since I live in the heart of this little city less than 4 blocks from the tracks, those train whistles are a near-constant interruption. I believe that when they reach the city limits, they just set those things to split the night every few seconds. And, let me point out that the ‘whistle’ description is a far cry from the shrieking air horns used today. Did I say 4 blocks? I think that under the cover of darkness, someone moves those tracks into my driveway every night.

Easter Stories

Decades ago, I spent every waking moment as a Real Estate Broker. “Full-time job” does not come close to explaining what is required. Those who doubt can ask my daughter. Although this occupation gave me the flexibility I needed as a single parent, there were untold numbers of times when the cost of this flexibility was pointed directly in her direction. I can only say that I’m sorry.

But today is Easter Sunday and I have a story to tell.

I remembered an Easter sermon from several years ago. The details are a bit sketchy, but I believe that it went something like this.

Balance

It’s a gift of our design, this thing called balance. It’s one of the gifts I discovered when I was in the habit of being grateful every night before falling asleep.  This was a discipline that should be resurrected, I think. The rule was clear: Before going to sleep, give thanks for three new things experienced during the day.  The first week or two, it was easy. Then, I had to think more about it. Suddenly, I was coming up with things like hot showers, clean sheets, cold milk, the taste of peanut butter and bananas, full-range arm motion, and yes, balance.

Dance With the One Who Brung Ya'

This one started with a blog somewhere in the past that recently started to blossom.  

The original phrase from 1995 is said to be, “We’re gonna dance with who brung us.” When asked about the game's starting lineup, this was the answer given by an unknown football coach. Its meaning was, of course, the starting lineup would be staffed by the players that contributed to their success in the past.

If you start a search today, you’ll see millions of possible links as these words have been bantered about in various venues for almost 3 decades.

I just have one point, really. Sure, it’s a loyalty thing which essentially means sticking with the people that got you where you are.

But I am thinking that gratitude will surpass loyalty if you'd allow my opinion to be voiced. Even if you’ve lost touch, knowing little about them after many years, and even if they’re no longer walking this earth, this person was there for you.  At the right moment, they supplied the exact right words and actions thereby teaching you something that matters. Something which probably continues to matter.  

There could be hundreds of these people who ‘brung you’ to the dance. Bless them, every single one, Lord!

• The teacher.
• The parent.
• The co-worker or boss.
• The pastor.
• The medical professional.
• The blogger.
• The gardener.
• The plumber.
• The singer.
• The stranger
• The spouse.

Shania Twain interprets this original phrase in her own way with, 
Dance with the One That Brought You.

"You got to dance with the one that brought you.

Stay with the one that wants you.

The one who's gonna love you when all of the others go home.

Don't let the green grass fool you.

Don't let the moon get to you.

Dance with the one that brought you and you can't go wrong."

I started thinking about all those people who have made a difference in my life. I started thanking them in my head. I truly appreciate each of them. But it goes deeper. 

They have become instrumental in teaching me one more thing. The “One Who Brung ME to the dance" happens to be the Creator of this universe.  He brought me to this dance and then surrounded me with the gifts of incredible people.

I underlined some of the lyrics above. You just can't go wrong with God. 

If you feel so moved, make a list and spend a moment with gratefulness to God and to them for answering His call.

And since Valentine's Day is right around the corner, make someone aware of how grateful you are that they've stuck with you at this lifelong dance.

Credit: RowenaMarella-Daw

(The address on the email has been changed - thank you!)

Good Morning, Everybody!

"Good morning."

It’s something we say all the time. Perhaps we say it so much that it has come to mean nothing, or even worse, an opportunity to disparage the anticipated day.

Perhaps you have been the recipient of these or similar replies.

• If you say so.
• Are you sure?
• Good for what?
• Lucky for you!
• Like you care.
• Could have fooled me
• Is it?

About Anger. About Gratitude. And About Subscribing, too.

One quote.

“When we recognize our unsurprising fallenness and keep our eyes joyfully open for the glorious exceptions, we’re much less offendable.  Why?  Because that’s the thing about gratitude and anger.  They can’t coexist. It’s one or the other.

One drains the very life from you.  The other fills your life with wonder.

Choose Wisely.”

It Takes So Little

Appreciation.  I cannot imagine that anyone would deny the importance of gratitude.  I could be wrong, but I just can’t imagine it.

It would seem logical that every one of us likes receiving the occasional pat-on-the-back.  It seems appropriate that recognition for a job well done be a regular occurrence.  

Yeah, I know.  Blah, blah, blah.  This observation is so ordinary as to be inconsequential.  Apparently, I have depleted my store of wisdom, assuming there was a time when the shelves were full.  I now have only the ability to regurgitate what we all know so well.  A Google search for ‘gratitude’ yields 181 million returns.  Already done.  Move on. 

I wish I could.

Wake Up!

"Thankfully, that heat blast from the car bomb wasn't a few inches closer, or I'd have a perpetually surprised look on my face after having my eyebrows burned off.  Even in my shitty life, I can find small mercies to be grateful for." (A Shameless Little Con by Meli Raine)

There is something you're praying for.  It might be for you.  It might be for a child, friend, co-worker or parent. It sometimes consumes you.  And, admit it, sometimes you feel abandoned. You feel that you're talking to the ceiling.  You wonder if you've lost your mind asking an invisible deity to help you when you hear nothing but the silence of an empty room. You begin to believe that He gave up on you.

A free book from Amazon and a sermon combine to remind me that I am not alone.  Jesus didn't die on a cross to give up on me.  He died FOR me.  He said MY name before He said, "Yes, I am willing to suffer and die on a cross."

Something Deeper

2019 is upon us and I suspect that sometime in the last month or so, some neuron or another began firing off reminders that it's time for the next Word-of-the-Year.

I usually don't consciously consider any focal point of this 'Word'.  Normally, it just seems to smack me in the head when I'm reading, watching or experiencing something having nothing at all to do with this exercise.  It almost appears random, but I don't really believe it's chance at all.

A number of months ago, I wrote a 4 part series on Muscle Memory and Gratitude.  I did research both externally and internally.  It was about the importance of being grateful.  It was about the benefits experienced when we make it part of who we are.  This was mostly good stuff and I learned a bit about why it's important and what I can do to increase my default position in thought and action to first be grateful.

Muscle Memory & Gratefulness - Part 4

If you're still with me, maybe you're in agreement that sometimes it's necessary to work on things in order to get better at things.

We've been talking about muscle/motor memory and gratitude.  They don't seem to fit together but the point would be; if we want to get better at recognizing gifts and responding immediately and graciously, we will need to work on it.

How?

Muscle Memory & Gratefulness - Part 3

Thinking that the case for being a grateful person was pretty much a slam-dunk (Part 1 and Part 2), I thought I'd take a second to investigate opposing thoughts.  I actually didn't think there would be any.

Surprise!  There are opposing views for everything and I should know this by now.

Interestingly enough, some naysayers make a good point or two.

Let me paraphrase a few of the objections promoted by those who feel gratitude isn't necessarily a good thing.

Muscle Memory & Gratefulness - Part 1

It's been nearly 8 months since I sold my condo and began a nomadic lifestyle.  I've been with family (thank you!), with friends (again - thanks!) and in hotels.  Shortly, I think I'll plant myself in a more permanent location.  Thank you!

You might think from the first paragraph that gratefulness during times like this is important.  Of course it is.  But what has that to do with muscle memory?

Muscle memory (or perhaps a better term, motor memory) has been on my mind lately.

Take a moment to consider the number of unconscious decisions and motions that we make just walking up stairs. (As I write this, I realize that typing is another example.)

Bend your knee and lift your left leg up towards your chest about 8 inches in order to clear the riser. While leaning toward the stairway slightly, move your leg forward 6 inches bringing it to the center of the stair. Place your left foot on the riser.  Put your weight on the left foot while you lift your right leg at the knee moving it up towards your chest about 8 inches.  Again, move it forward and then down letting it rest next to your left leg.  With additional forward lean, use the muscle in your thigh to pull your body up the stair.  When this is complete, center your weight on both feet. Do this 22 times.


How much thought do you give to getting out of bed in the morning?