Mobile Shout Out, Dec 3 2010: Happy it is Friday! But I am happy every day that I get a chance to live, love, and laugh! Lets GO, Happy Friday!!!

Wind-assisted!

My thoughts lately seem to have a lot to do with needing help and relying on other people (LOL). Not quite sure what is up with that! Well on second thought if you ask the folks that are close to me, they’d probably tell you I need a lot of help. Anyway, here we go again! I’ve always known that sprinting records (like the 100m dash) are only counted if they are not wind-assisted times. But I found out recently that there is actually a metric. A maximum tail wind of 2 m/s is allowed for a 100-meter race to be considered eligible for a record. So I guess a wind of 2.1 m/s or higher and it’s no record today! That doesn’t seem like very much wind to me but I guess there has to be a cut-off somewhere.

Thank goodness that in life there are no ‘tail wind maximums’. In fact as I run the race of life, I’m looking for as much tail wind as I can get. For me my tail winds are those things that I value, those things that motivate me, those things that I am passionate about, those things that I love, and my Maker above who provides plenty of tail wind when I need it. My tail winds are family, friends, music, laughing, seeing the fruits of my labor, giving something my all no matter who gets the credit and even if no one is watching or keeping score, having a positive impact on someone’s day, and making someone smile whether they want to or not. A tail wind for me can be something as simple as an encouraging word, a pat on the back, a word or gesture of appreciation. It can also be something as large as someone standing in the gap - see Monday’s post :) - for me and helping me through a major endeavor.

Those are my tail winds and they assist me in my race, help me win (or at least do my best), and get me ready to lace ‘um up for the next event. I would encourage you to identify your tail winds and get that 'wind assist' whenever you can!

Test run of my new mobile blogging app. How often will I use this? Dunno, do you really think I can get all of my thoughts out in 160 characters or less?! LOL

Standing in the Gap!

I think the older I get the more I realize that I have issues. I know shocking right?! I do prefer however to refer to them as opportunities. They are opportunities for me to overcome them and be a better me. I also realize that no matter how independent I think I am, there are certain ‘gaps’ in my life that I just can’t bridge alone. There are gaps in my personality, gaps in my energy, gaps in my thinking, and gaps in my emotions. But I am also extremely blessed that I have a few people in my life that I know I can count on to stand in those gaps for me. If you have that one, two, or maybe three people in your life that you can call on any time in any situation and they will support you, shore you up, and do whatever it takes to help you bridge that gap, you know exactly what I am talking about.

In my experience, having that in your life is pretty rare. I think/hope that I am a ‘gap stander’ for some of the people in my life. I am so thankful for those people who stand in the gap for me!

Thankful

It was really short but I am so very thankful for the time that we had with our oldest this Thanksgiving holiday. This phase of our lives with him – away at college living on his own – still feels very new. The time we have face to face with him is oh so very precious because it is so few and far between visits. After dropping him off at the airport this morning, we talked about what really defines this phase now: a series of hellos and goodbyes. The hellos are always sweet and the goodbyes are always bitter. But for me what makes the goodbyes a little more palatable is perspective. I realize that he is making his way in the world. He is pushing daily towards his dreams. In order for him to realize true adulthood and independence, he has to distance himself from the security of our decision-making. He has to develop his own clarity around situations. He has to decide what kind of man he wants to be and plant the right seeds that will manifest themselves in that man. It’s a thrill watching him grow and learn albeit painful at times as you want to protect your children from the pitfalls you didn’t avoid. But certainly we learned from our failures as well as our successes and I know he will do the same. I would never want to cheat him out of the nicks and bruises that sometimes accompany life. I know they’ll make him stronger.

He is a fantastic young man! Whatever small part of helping him become fantastic that I may have contributed, I am very happy for that and that’s all I need. He has my full support in whatever he feels like he needs to do, to do him. I know he’ll be great because in my eyes he’s already a winner and a big success.

Point Your Remote at Life and Click Away!

Saw a post from a new Facebook friend today and was inspired to write about it. She wrote that she wished life were a remote. That way she could play the easy times, pause the good times, fast forward through the difficult times, and rewind the memories. There is a lot of wisdom in that statement and words to live by if you let them be.

Challenge yourself to use ‘your remote’ on your life. On those rare occasions when life is giving it to you easy, just let it play. Relax and enjoy it while it lasts. Hit pause when things are going really well and take the time to take in the moment and thoroughly enjoy it. Because when you take a tally, those good times often seem few and far between. If life is kicking you in the teeth a bit, hit your fast forward button. Put your head down, gut your way through it, and get through it as fast as you can. You know times that will allow you to hit pause and play are right around the corner. But don’t forget to at least take a few things from those difficult times and learn from them. Maybe you won’t have to hit fast forward quite as often – for that situation anyway – in the future. Lastly, hold your memories and rewind them as much as you like. Don’t allow yourself to get stuck in the past – either awesome memories or not so awesome memories – but do allow yourself to relive those precious moments and maybe those moments when you didn’t make the best decision. Our past truly shapes our future so rewind when you have to and enjoy.

Embrace your life’s remote and make sure you always have fresh batteries in that bad boy!

A Thanksgiving Poem :)

Twas the day before Thanksgiving, and all through my mouth

Each taste bud was perky, not one had gone south.

Preparations for goodness are underway with care,

In hopes that St. Turkey soon would be there.


My taste buds are nestled all snug in my maw,

With visions of cranberry, dressing, and slaw.

My family’s together so that is what’s best,

But I’m gonna eat so much my tummy’s gonna say hi to my chest.