Greatest Lessons

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Superpowers

Messengers

Continuing Home

I was thinking about my blog post (Nomads) regarding what makes a person feel like they’re home.

Remember the movie Sleepless in Seattle?

Risk or Rules

In the “real” world, it’s better to have loved and lost, tried and failed, dreamed and missed, than to sit out your turn in fear. Because the loss, the failure, and the miss, however painful, are like temporary market adjustments . . . Whereas the love, the adventure, and the dream are like investments that, for the rest of your life and beyond, never stop paying dividends. – Mike Dooley, The Complete Notes from the Universe.

My heart feels for people who want rules or laws to stop others from using words that hurt feelings.

Take a Pill

Last week I posted about how a couple of people have tried to rush me to get a new pet after saying goodbye to my beloved dog, Max. Today I’d like to discuss a topic that is related, but more about processing emotions in general.

You might say that those people think they’re trying to help by offering a new pet to stop me from hurting. That may be true, but in many cases, I think this goes even deeper.

Why does much of society think they can obliterate bad times altogether for humanity?

Clever or Wise

Things I Learned from my Refrigerator

1. Don’t buy appliances from a company that is known to be struggling.
2. Don’t buy General Electric.
3. It’s good to buy an extended warranty on appliances (if it’s from a company that’s not struggling).
4. It’s good to have a spare refrigerator, even if it’s small.
5. Things will go wrong at the most inopportune time, like a broken refrigerator when I’m expecting lots of guests.
6. When something unexpected puts a kink in plans, I don’t handle it very well. My mind whirls in confusion, and I need someone to help me take the situation in bite sized pieces.
7. I shouldn’t berate myself for number six on this list.
8. I’m the only one I know that would offer my refrigerator as temporary storage if someone told me theirs had broken down.
9. My dad told me stories about how his dad worked at an ice company in the 1940’s, where he delivered blocks of ice for ice boxes in homes. In other words, old-time refrigerators. This makes me grateful for modern refrigerators, especially since I didn’t have one for three weeks.
10. Even after a problematic situation is taken care of, like finally getting the refrigerator fixed, something else may go wrong.
11. Don’t panic if I get a sore throat. It’ll pass.
12. When I get a nasty cold, take care of myself with lots of vitamins, rest and chicken soup.
13. Don’t worry about what needs to get done. Remain optimistic that the cold will be a brief setback. Like the refrigerator debacle, this too shall pass.
14. Despite these minor inconveniences, I’m extremely grateful for the blessings in my life. It’s good to be home.

Three Lifetimes

I have lived three lifetimes.

No, this is not a post about reincarnation. I really have lived three lives as this Lori person.

I’ve debated whether to publish this post. It’s a bit vulnerable for me. I’ve decided to share it for anyone else who can relate, and for the assurance that life can get better.

Side note: I’m a little late with this post. I got to enjoy having people to celebrate my birthday with now that I’m back near family and friends. The week long celebration (with different people each time) is over now, and I have good memories left in its place. Now, onto my three lifetimes.

Curiosity, Challenge and Acceptance

I really don’t know how to lie. It comes naturally for me to speak my truth, and yes, sometimes it gets me in trouble.

On another note, I’ve admitted numerous times on my blog, I have trouble letting go of what I don’t have control over.

Stick with me, I plan to tie these two statements together. We’re going deep into the recesses of my mind today. Could be a horror show, so be prepared.

I Have an Honesty Problem

No, it’s not what you think. I’m not a liar. It’s just that I thought honesty meant virtue. I’ve recently realized that I’m too honest, because telling the truth isn’t always flattering or pretty.

Friday Philosophy

Relationship Challenges

Have you ever been baffled by someone in your family? Okay, let me clarify.

Owning Choices

So, due to the high cost of living and job insecurity in the Chicago area, we found a more financially sound place to live in Florida.

This meant, I needed to say goodbye to all of my family and friends, which was not an easy task.

Comfort or Joy

This is not an after-Christmas, Christmas post about comfort and joy during the holidays. It’s about something else entirely.

The Adjustment

We’ve been in our new, old hometown for five months now. For those of you who haven’t read here before, I call it my new, old hometown, because twenty-seven years ago I moved away from where I grew up. Now I’m back.

Heartbeat

Missed the Mad Men Mania

While we temporarily stayed with my mom, the three of us decided to dive into Netflix. Since none of us had seen Mad Men, we started from the beginning.

Important side note: We’ve only watched the first two seasons, so please no spoilers in the comment section.

At first I was frustrated with the show and wondered how it attracted so many viewers. An important rule in writing, is that the main character needs to be likeable. Who would want to continue reading a book if they hated the main character?

A Personal Growth Story from the Way-Back Machine

You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you. ~ Brian Tracy

A while back, Carrie Rubin blogged about being an introvert and the fear of talking to a group of people. I commented to her, that about twenty years ago, I used to attend al-anon. I brought it up, because I related to her fear of talking to a group when I used to attend those meetings. Since my blog theme and most of my writing (memoirs and fiction) is about personal growth, my al-anon experience is something fitting to share.

Weekend Wisdom