Do you ever stop to think...
Do I really need to buy this?
Do I really need to read this crap?
Do I really care about the local gossip?
Do you catch yourself caring way too much about these things?
I keep doing these things. I keep trying to take a step back and look at the big picture. I don't need to constantly dream of bigger and better things, or dig for information about who's have a scandal at the moment.
LIFE IS NOT ABOUT THIS STUFF.
To me, life is about love, friendship, family, togetherness, safety, hope, joy, and faith.
I don't need a huge house, all kinds of beautiful (material) things. I don't need to always have a full schedule or think "What do those people think of me?" I don't want to care if she's dating him even though he loves her - it's all crap.
Life goes on and no one remembers those little things!
I have a hard time not making things a competition. But after all that pettiness is over, it all boils down to this...
I am confident my marriage will work.
I pick great friends.
I will always choose family above all.
I do not need to buy expensive things to look good and feel good.
I do not need to change my appearance because someone else thinks I should.
I am proud of what I have become and what I stand for.
I have a roof over my head and a full belly.
I have friends and family who love me no matter what.
I have the most amazing dog.
I am beautiful.
I am happy.
Do you think the men and women fighting for our freedom like most Americans? Probably not. But they are selfless enough to devote their lives to us. And that something we should all keep in mind and look up to. I look up to my husband, brother-in-law, friends, and veterans. They're not worried about what their outfit looks like; they're worried if they'll be able to eat or sleep tonight, or if the enemy will kill their brother beside them. Life is precious, and frankly, we all take it for granted too often.
Next time you see someone in the uniform, thank them. And don't forget to thank the person standing next to them for all their sacrifice as well.
Becky you nailed it!
ReplyDeleteI grew-up with my mom always saying “ask yourself three times, is this a want or need, and 90% of the time you’ll walk away”, that is because most of have what we need and it is NOT STUFF! When they offered the “gossip class” in school, I was absence that day...not on my radar! Yes, there are times I do catch myself caring way too much, that is when I put “FIDO” (Fxxx, It, Drive, On) into action (LOL), it’s amazing how fast you can head down that HWY, while its all rolling off your back...in fact, sometimes, it never lands! I spent 2010 “De-Cluttering My Life” by saying goodbye to the stuff that’s was weighing me down...TWO truckloads later, wow I feel so light in 2011!
Death knocked on our door August 4, 2006, so we are VERY aware that “Life IS about love, friendship, family, togetherness, safety, hope, joy, and faith”, and I can tell you I wasn’t thinking about having a huge house or things on that day!
Marriage is work at times BUT it’s all in what you make it. It is okay, to have different opinions; it is about respect, appreciation, gratitude, NOT control, joy, happiness, laughter, saying you are sorry, flexibility, rolling with it (found some of my happy moments), allowing each other space, hobbies, faith in one other...the list goes on-and-on.
You are right we ALL need to thank those in uniforms. We had the pleasure of sitting next to a 94-year old veteran during our flight from VT to FL in February. He was just looking for someone to watch over him and to make sure he got where he needed to go. It was a long day for us but image how he felt being alone. It’s the small things our veterans need...help, or a thank-you, conversation or smile. Why can’t we just stop and pay more attention?
Give Jake and Max our best!
Keep up the great job! Love Lori