I did survive yesterday....

 with all three presentations for work.  And I still have more work to get done in that I was to run to Staples yesterday to pick up 225 envelopes that I will be addressing this weekend, stuffing, and getting in the mail, hopefully by Tuesday.  Staples offered to mail the special order to me, but no, I said I wanted to pick up, thinking I could just immediately start addressing them.  I forgot about the town halls being the same day - so now I am a date late and a dollar short; know what I mean?  I'm already behind my mental schedule of getting these completed.  225 isn't a lot, so other than a few hours, it shouldn't take long to do.

Immediately after the last town hall yesterday I had to get ready and get to the gym for my training workout.  Core last night.  My butt is still hurting from the leg workout the day before, so before this day is over (I can feel it starting), my core is going to be hurting as well.  But it's a 'good hurt', if you know what I mean.  Racing home after my workout, I changed shirts and we headed off to our bible study at our friend's house.  It was a nice session last night and we had good conversation about it.  

Hubby is insisting on taking me out to dinner tonight.  His MA plan sends him $50 in prepaid credit cards every time he does something for his health; can't think what this one is for - but he is determined to take us both out to dinner tonight.  I don't always look forward to his insistence on us going to dinner alone.  It gives him an opportunity to have my undivided attention and he proceeds at times to tell me what I am doing wrong, or asks me questions that I don't want to answer.  But the food is always good, right?  Maybe I'm over-reacting. Again. He just wants to do something for me.  I think we are going to JiMichaels - really good food and a lot of it.  Never leave hungry, for sure.  I wish he'd just take the cards and spend them on himself.

I am working today, but I was thinking I'd work in here and clean this room up - but that was before I remembered I need to get started on the Staples order.  But then, I can just start addressing the envelopes and get those done today.  I think I will run over to Staples when they open - I think it is 10am.  That gives me all day to address, then I can stuff, take to the post office, and be done with them.  Well, other than submitting an expense report for me buying the envelopes and paying for the postage.  I have high hopes of getting some tasks around her accomplished this upcoming weekend.

I just need to quit being lazy.  I easily talk myself out of doing things, and procrastinate .... am I the only one?  There is always 'another day' right?  What happened to all the discipline I had built into myself years ago?  I was so busy and enjoyed every moment of it.  Now I'm dying inside because I'm not doing anything.  But, little by little I am starting to take on more tasks - and in doing so, I'm hoping I come back to life.

Romans 8:1  There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

How often do we look at other people and ask ourselves why they always look so put together?  How is it that everything falls into place for them?  And why is it that I am the one that seems to always have so many issues?  You have read my struggles over these years of writing in here.  Many times I've said things and shared things in here I should not have.  I never want to put anyone down, and yet, I am sure that I have said enough that you have formed your own opinions about people I have mentioned.  People who have hurt me; people who have brought joy to my heart; people who are indifferent to me... these are real people and I judge them by how I am feeling towards them.  And you know that you do the same thing.  Judge people according to how they treat you, or treat someone you care about.

We want something, someone, to immediately fix our issues and our judgement calls.  And we want to stop calling ourselves names we would never let anyone else call us.  You know what I'm saying.  I sometimes hear people do something and then I hear them say "stupid!".  Yet, if you voiced that word to them they would be terribly offended.  (I once told hubby he was being lazy one time at a restaurant because he wouldn't return something and wouldn't let me - and he exploded on me, that I was calling him lazy!)  Just an example of how we label people and even label ourselves.  We tell ourselves we are stupid often enough, we begin to believe it.  

When do we celebrate ourselves?  When do we stop and believe we are able to accomplish some things - and do it?  When do we push ourselves to do more?

My big brother and I are close.  He has always encouraged me and inspires me to do better.  He never lets me sit on the sideline, but pours into me value. You have no idea how important that is to me with the way my life has been.  His words have always rung true to me and he always makes sure I know I am valued.  (When was the last time you showed someone they were valued?)

Recently my big brother has challenged me to 'learn something new every day'.  Keep the mind active.  He is taking an AI course at a university online so that he will just know something about it.  I mentioned I needed to learn more about PowerPoint, and DocuSign, and AI as well - all for work. I have shrugged it off because I don't want to work; I'm almost 77 and I want to live life.  (But I can't live life even if I retired, so I may as well keep working and have my play money, right?)  (I don't want to live my life just sitting in a chair and reading, or working on my little projects.  I want to get out and LIVE LIFE.  Does that make sense?  

And here I am again!  Had to jump off and get on the work computer as time got away from me. At least I am almost done here... maybe.... I seem to be a bit wordy today, as usual, I assume....

Anyway - back to learning something new every day... my brother sent me several links to free classes for powerpoint and has encouraged me to learn more - about anything!  I may as well learn something I can use for work, right?  

So what if I challenged you?  What is it that you have a (even a slight) interest in, that you put in the back of your mind that 'some day you would like to learn about'?  Maybe it is in putting your thoughts down on paper and writing that book?  Maybe it is learning how to crochet/knit?  Perhaps it is learning how to make a specific dish?  Yeah - these may be all things I've had in the back of my mind for years.  But, whatever I choose, and whatever you choose.... let it be something that you will enjoy doing.  Don't stop learning because you retired, or are unable to hold a full time job.  There are so many YouTube things, so many colleges that offer free classes, so many links to learn new things.

Let's make a pact!  It may be difficult to learn something 'new' every day, but let's make an effort to learn something new this week!  What shall it be?  Choose this day to keep your mind active and alive.

Blessings!