Making good decisions: Why, sometimes, does it SEEM so much easier than it really is?
When I get up in the morning, immediately I have choices to make. The first one I make often sets the tone for what follows next, or even the tone for the entire day. As I wake in the morning, set my feet on the floor, I need to first mutter a phrase of gratitude to God for giving me a new day to live and breathe. Do I always do this? No. But I try to surround myself with things at home that put me in an "attitude of gratitude."
Do I have the ideal living situation? No. Have I had the ideal living situation for the past 10 years? No. BUT Have I ever been evicted? No. Has God always provided a place for me to lay my head each night, when so often I take it for granted, YES!
On Jauary 9 of this year, I was given a pretty heavy blow regarding my job, a place I had put my heart and soul into for the past 8 1/2 years. I was thrown under the bus by people in whom I had placed complete faith and trust. I was so numb; filled with disbelief, as if it were all so surreal. After I got home that morning, one of the first things I knew I must do was to step away from it all emotionally. I have seen what anger and bitterness, justified or not, has done to some people. I did not want that. My choice. The whole scenario that brought me home that morning was so bazaar, beyond comprehension, even beyond justification, was not worthy of anger or bitterness.
In a wierd sort of way, I actually felt pity and even fearful for my "accusors." I was confused and bewildered, but not disoriented in any way. Others had gone before me, even from the same instution, whose sudden removal seemed completely unmerited. Now I know how they felt. So many had, willingly or unwillingly, "gag orders" placed on them, so that their stories could never be told. And this "institution" could continue on, smelling like a rose (a very stinky, dead rose, the way I smell it), soothing their own consciences in any way possible. They would wisk me away, hoping any memory of me would soon vaporize, someone else would move in, to take my place, and life would go on.
I was that easily disposable, as a friend and collegue. Their choice-Bad choice.
Truth be told, I had been wanting to exit said institution for 2-3 years prior to this action. The handwriting had slowly appearing on the wall. Jealousy, lies, setups, desperate pleas for loyalty-all to keep this place afloat, financially, institutionally, or any other way necessary. I had always said, about this job,"I'm not going anywhere. I'm here to stay. God Himself will have to remove me from here!"
God knew the impending path I was about to travel, and seemed to say, "You can stay for a while longer, Shelly, but the day may come when I must step in and rescue you from this place, before disaster strikes and you are taken down with it." He DID take me out of there.
Good choice. I willingly left, knowing that God has my life and my plan in His hands, and I never want to be anywhere, except in the center of His Will.
I still do not know where God is taking my life from here, but I have a hunch that it's going to be pretty terrific! My journey has taken me to opportunities that I never dreamed I could experience, and I'm not through yet.
The choices that lie ahead of me, today or next year-well, I don't know what they will be but hopefully, they will be good.
My husband has faithfully been so supportive through this "low tide" in my timeline; my daughter Erica continues to bloom where she is planted, making amazing strides in here young adult life. I have shared this journey with her in such a way, that she, like myself, does not hate the person; just hate their evil deeds.
Feeling ill will towards someone, because of their unfortunate choices, will get you nowhere.
Find a way to move forward.
You have the ability to make good choices for yourself, so do it!
You and I have been the recipients of the good choices of others, so it's time to "pay it forward."
Find someone today who needs you and a good word or deed from you.
My mom used to say, "If you cast your bread upon the waters, it will surely come back to you." I often wondered what that meant. It didn't seem to make sense. Then I started doing it. It's about paying in forward, with good choices.
And watch what happens!http://www.facebook.com/, twitter@shellbabe2006
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Three Cheers for Chivalry!
Chivalry is not dead! Wore pants today w/ shallow pockets. Put some change (a few dollars) in from CVS prescripts. Man was waiting on my parking spot but stopped, got out of his car; when I asked him if everything was OK, he showed me dollars that had dropped on the ground. I checked my pockets, and it was exactly what was in my pocket! I thanked him (and God) profuselyI hope I can do a good deed for someone else today, and "pay it forward." Have a great weekend, everyone!
Friday, June 22, 2012
"Make New Friends, but Keep the Old . . ."
My husband, daughter, and I have been living on the first floor of a two-story an apartment building for nearly nine years in the suburban Detroit area. Because this is such a transient location, we've seen our neighbors come and go, MANY times.
Some neighbors, especially those who have lived above us,
have lived in this building as long as seven years (since we've been here). Others are here only for a month; they may be in the area on business, working here in the United States perhaps for a company overseas. One such gentleman came from Germany, to work on a project through the automotive industry. We usually knew he was home when he went out on the balcony above us, and briefly smoked a very pungent cigar.
Another family from Northville, was relocated for an automotive position for 3 years; they kept their home in
Northville, renting it out while they were away. They lived above us for a month, moving back from Germany with their two middle-school boys at the beginning of May, a few years ago. So the boys were away from the local school system here, for three years, only to be plugged back into the system, for say, the last 5 weeks of the school years here. That has to really stink! The parents were getting their Northville home ready for them to move back into.
I often wonder, as a former school teacher of 25 years, what the teachers of these boys had to juggle, in order to include them into an existing class they've had for possibly the past 4 months, prior to the boys' return to the U.S.
I realize that the automotive industry has a job that needs to be filled, albeit temporary, and many times it means a boost in the family income, if an employee volunteers or agrees to fill that position. But my heart goes out to the children in the family, who must make the biggest adjustments, with a new country's culture, language, schools, etc. Wow!
Yes, kids are so much more resilient that adults in so many ways. This is to their credit. But I often wonder if the corporations who make these choices to uproot these children for a few years, from their familiar surroundings, have ever truly investigated how this whole scenario plays out, through the eyes of a child. Hmmmmm. Food for thought.
I had a little girl in my second grade class, who was adopted from China. At the end of her year in my class, her family was temporarily relocated to China, as her dad was filling an automotive position there for the next three years. I felt obligated, as her teacher, to view this whole opportunity as a new "adventure!" And how cool was it that she would be able to live for three years in the very country of her birth! Perhaps she would be able to learn some of the language there, as well.
She and her family enjoyed their time in Asia, exploring not only China, but other countries, as well. They returned to our school in the fall, and what a thrill it was to see her again, to catch up on her "amazing China adventure!" She had grown physically taller, of course, but her experiences among the Chinese, caused her to grow ever so much more.
This precious young lady is a testiment to the resilience of children, when placed in a strange, unfamiliar setting, to make the very best of the situation.
While not all children adapt well, to new situations, especially those of a foreign nature, so much of what helps to make their transition successful depends on how well the parents communicate all that the family will experience, as much as possible.
I am all for families who travel to new places and soak up all that is wholesome and good from their visit. My mom and dad traveled so much with my brother, sister, and myself. Being school teachers, their summers were free for this, and it seemed that we went to new places, especially in the state of Michigan, yet often returning to favorite places.
Parents, travel with your kids. Talk to them, sharing where you are going, and after you are there, where you've been. Take pictures, videos, and/or keep a journal. Your kids might even keep a journal and watch it grow from one visit to the next!
Happy travels!
Some neighbors, especially those who have lived above us,
have lived in this building as long as seven years (since we've been here). Others are here only for a month; they may be in the area on business, working here in the United States perhaps for a company overseas. One such gentleman came from Germany, to work on a project through the automotive industry. We usually knew he was home when he went out on the balcony above us, and briefly smoked a very pungent cigar.
Another family from Northville, was relocated for an automotive position for 3 years; they kept their home in
Northville, renting it out while they were away. They lived above us for a month, moving back from Germany with their two middle-school boys at the beginning of May, a few years ago. So the boys were away from the local school system here, for three years, only to be plugged back into the system, for say, the last 5 weeks of the school years here. That has to really stink! The parents were getting their Northville home ready for them to move back into.
I often wonder, as a former school teacher of 25 years, what the teachers of these boys had to juggle, in order to include them into an existing class they've had for possibly the past 4 months, prior to the boys' return to the U.S.
I realize that the automotive industry has a job that needs to be filled, albeit temporary, and many times it means a boost in the family income, if an employee volunteers or agrees to fill that position. But my heart goes out to the children in the family, who must make the biggest adjustments, with a new country's culture, language, schools, etc. Wow!
Yes, kids are so much more resilient that adults in so many ways. This is to their credit. But I often wonder if the corporations who make these choices to uproot these children for a few years, from their familiar surroundings, have ever truly investigated how this whole scenario plays out, through the eyes of a child. Hmmmmm. Food for thought.
I had a little girl in my second grade class, who was adopted from China. At the end of her year in my class, her family was temporarily relocated to China, as her dad was filling an automotive position there for the next three years. I felt obligated, as her teacher, to view this whole opportunity as a new "adventure!" And how cool was it that she would be able to live for three years in the very country of her birth! Perhaps she would be able to learn some of the language there, as well.
She and her family enjoyed their time in Asia, exploring not only China, but other countries, as well. They returned to our school in the fall, and what a thrill it was to see her again, to catch up on her "amazing China adventure!" She had grown physically taller, of course, but her experiences among the Chinese, caused her to grow ever so much more.
This precious young lady is a testiment to the resilience of children, when placed in a strange, unfamiliar setting, to make the very best of the situation.
While not all children adapt well, to new situations, especially those of a foreign nature, so much of what helps to make their transition successful depends on how well the parents communicate all that the family will experience, as much as possible.
I am all for families who travel to new places and soak up all that is wholesome and good from their visit. My mom and dad traveled so much with my brother, sister, and myself. Being school teachers, their summers were free for this, and it seemed that we went to new places, especially in the state of Michigan, yet often returning to favorite places.
Parents, travel with your kids. Talk to them, sharing where you are going, and after you are there, where you've been. Take pictures, videos, and/or keep a journal. Your kids might even keep a journal and watch it grow from one visit to the next!
Happy travels!
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