Round 8 - Day 29 - Give Something You Don't Think You Can Give

[Laura M]

Day Twenty-Nine (Mon 9/17/12):

This one turned into "Give Something You Didn't Know You Have Become Capable of Giving".

(For any newcomers--this is part of Mbali's instructions to Cami or recommendations about how to do this giving--see Page 220 in Cami's book: "Nonattachment:  Give your gifts with an open heart, without any expectations about what you might want to receive in return.  In fact, try this:  What if you were to give away something that you feel you could never part with?  It could be a material thing, or perhaps a deeply held belief, behavior, or way of thinking that you feel isn't serving you anymore.  Try this at least once over your 29 Days and take notice of changes you see in your life in upcoming months.")

Kind of snuck up on me that I was at the end of the Round, what with the shock of losing my job & all.

What I am most pleased with & grateful for today is that in spite of being released from my job 10 days ago (ie, being now "currently unemployed"), there is of course the up & down of wondering what is going to happen but I have not slipped into Panic about my money.  Maybe I'm still in shock & that may still happen soon, but not yet.  I've bought what I've needed, no more, no less, Prudent in buying only what I need for today but not slipping into any Deprivation mindset.  

And most importantly, I have not stopped my giving or felt Driven to slash my budget by cutting out what might appear to be most "expendable":  charity donations & other giving. 

Because for today, I do not see that to be necessarily "expendable".  And it is because of these Challenges & how I have changed since last October since I started here that I can say that.

What I Didn't Know I Have Become Capable of Giving is that I sat down today with my money records, made sure I knew *exactly* what I have, and then I went ahead & went online to make what would have been my regular largest charity donation for the month, which got overlooked earlier this month in the shock of losing my job.  (IE:  No, I did not hold it back because of any uncertainty about the future "in case I need it".) 

And then I made another Leap of Faith in making another large donation online to 'balance' my donations or bring them up to date (there were some months this summer where things got messy when my bank asked me to change my debit card for a new one because a merchant vendor had had a security breach of credit information... not my fault, but I had to switch over all my automatic deductions to a new card number & some donations got missed in the meantime).  So I made the difference up with another donation.

So now all the donations I had planned in my budget through the month of September have been made, regardless of my changed circumstances for October.   

The 'extra' blessing:  And what I found in doing was that--lo & behold--I had had a goal for the year of giving a certain % of my budget to charity this year.  And--lo & behold--with those donations last night & also realizing a mistake I'd made in my own addition on some other giving--I have already met that goal for the year as of September.

So no matter what the rest of the year holds... I still have a home & food as of today... and for now I have continued to share what I have with people and animals in my community and around the world who don't, as long as I have it, One Day at a Time.

And so it is, and so it shall be.  It is enough for today, and I am surprised and very satisfied and so very grateful to find myself Capable of Giving That, with Trust & Faith & Gratitude being the grounding force for the action instead of Fear.

 

 

3 things I am grateful for:

*  What I just wrote

*  THIS WONDERFUL COMMUNITY--I have not said enough about that this month--Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the support

*  The gift of keeping up this blog every day & remembering not only the Giving but what to be Grateful for, too

 

I may (or may not) take a couple days off to do my regular "Between Rounds" meditating, but I expect to be back shortly...

 

Love,

Laura

 

 

 

Day Twenty-Eight (Sun 9/16/12):

*  Sent a gift card for a local restaurant to the folks who run the doggie play room where my dog & I have been going.  It has been really fun & they were really great about getting him 'evaluated' as a fit for them on the spur of the moment so he could fit into the next round of sessions right away.  The restaurant is a landmark restaurant just down the street from them; hope they like it.

*  Send kibble to the shelter animals through FreeKibble.com

3 things I am grateful for this day:

*  I called up a friend to see if she could help me with a computer/spreadsheet problem I was having & she was home & available & it took 1 1/2 hours, but we got there.  We also got to catch up on Life in the meantime & that was great support for me because we haven't talked for a while.

*  Made 2 business calls/emails Sunday afternoon to set up next steps for this work week.  Tiring but one step at a time & I am not avoiding or delaying on the right next actions--I am *very* grateful for that.  The computer/spreadsheet problem was holding everything else up so that was a huge Relief.

*  In the meantime, I had run into a friend in the a.m. who referred me to her 'computer expert' who runs a computer business on the side, so I did have a business card for a back-up if needed:  That was truly a gift and relief also.

*  Yep, still got in a trip to the rec center to keep up my strengthening program.  Body & Spirit are to be maintained above all else right now.

*  Made time for my dog & took him for a good long walk & play at the dog park

*  Going to the grocery store & being able to buy what I need, no more, no less

*  Beautiful fall weather & changing leaves

*  Oh and I registered for a class that I believe will help keep my spirits up for the next 10 weeks

All in all--a very good day.  Tiring & of course some up & down wondering what will happen, but then I ran into this card by Mary Engelbreit:  "Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles; it empties today of its strength."

One day at a time is enough & Just Say Yes to what comes along...

Happy workweek to those that do!  :-)

L

Day Twenty-Seven (Sat 9/15/12):

*  This was a fun one--another "get over your self-consciousness"/"oh you could never do that" & Just Jump In.  I was transferring a few hundred dollars (in cash, in person) from one bank to another & in the long line at the 2nd bank, I could overhear that a guy at the counter was taking out several hundred dollars & wanted big bills, but the bank cash machine was down or something & they couldn't get him any.  So he took all his cash in $20s and as he walked out, I stopped him and said, "You know I'm just about to make a deposit with 3 $100 bills--you can have them if you want to trade."  And yes, he did, so he gave me back 15 of the $20s that he'd just received, (with the teller overhearing & yelling, "thank you!" as if I was helping him out?), and then I got to the head of the line, and got that same teller, and gave him back his 15 $20s :-), and we laughed (the teller says, "what goes around, comes around"), and then I did want to take some cash out of a different account there, and got a few of those $20s back again, and we laughed again.

The "Just Jump In" part was the best... realizing I could do it, right there, right then, and Just Doing It.  When I was overhearing the conversation about the man wanting hundreds but the machine was down, I thought, "well, at least when I make my deposit, they'll have a couple".  And that was fine, maybe somebody later would specifically want hundreds again, but then I realized here was a guy standing in front of me Right Now, in Real Time, who had that need/desire, and it didn't have to wait for "the next" person who needed it--I could Jumped the Gap & speak up Right Now.  Jumping that gap.... closing the response time<that's really it. I liked it.

3 things I am grateful for today (aka Receives):

*  Spending the evening spur-of-the-moment with my mom & getting takeout Chinese food & watching the old Jimmy Stewart movie "Harvey" that I got from the library today (for free--what a Receive!)... about a guy who Just Jumps In and invites everybody he meets over for dinner.

*  That I was able to top off my gas tank after the scenic drive yesterday & keep myself in a feeling of Abundance with a full tank rather than running the tank out imagining I am "saving" money.  Buy 1/2 tank when it's Empty or buy 1/2 tank when it's at the 1/2 way line--it's the same amount of money, but the feeling is way different.

*  That my imagination & creative spirit got fed today when I 'accidentally' ran into this beautiful high-end art/furniture/jewelry store where everything sold is made entirely from recycled wood, metal, tires, etc etc etc.  And I let myself go in!  (Just Jump In!)  instead of thinking I had so many errands to do & not enough time blah blah blah.  It was so much fun.  (And actually--it came from me finding a parking space a block away from my errand on the street where parking is free--another Receive--instead of in front of the store where I'd have to pay for parking.)  I passed on buying anything today, but they had free postcard-size promotional cards for the store & I took one of those (& one of their thin wooden [!] business cards.  You know, for when I figure out how to be an artist who actually makes wonderful creative things & accepts money for them because other people agree they're so beautiful).  

*  That I learned a little more about Paypal and online business from the guy I bought a Gift Card from at a restaurant.  Got a little more educated about some tools that could help me--oh, yeah, all because I stopped to buy a gift for someone else.  What a 'coincidence'.

Wow, there was a lot of Good in this day... look how much I wrote (!).  I am going to bed happy looking at it all.

Happy Sunday to all--

L

Day Twenty-Six (Fri 9/14/12):

*  Gave kibble to the shelter animals through Freekibble.com

*  Gave to the neighborhood by picking up trash as I was walking the dog

*  Gave the dog as much time as it took for him to lick up *all* the spilled vanilla shake off the sidewalk to his heart's content (at least I think---hope!--that's what it was).  Had to be the highlight of his day, and there was nowhere else we needed to be.  Be here, Now.

3 things I am grateful for this day:

*  Got some good business advice on a personal situation & that is enough Business for the week

*  Took a beautiful drive down the 2-lane *state* highway instead of the 6-lane main freeway to get to another appt.... and wow, what a beautful view.  I do not ever remember going down through there that way before... wide vistas, the leaves starting to change, racing a train on the way home with the chug-chug-chug rhythm of the wheels to be a real comfort.

*  Spending a good chunk of time at the rec center going through my *entire* recommended strengthening routine (per physical therapists/personal trainer) in 1 visit instead of having to split it up into 2 1/2s.  That was truly a victory for me & I am grateful I was strong enough to push at the limits & feel spent but good.

Happy Saturday!

L

Day Twenty-Five (Thurs 9/13/12):

*  Gave kibble to the shelter animals through Freekibble.com

*  Said a prayer for the guy near me at the breakfast-burrito stand who was waiting for his order & who looked especially agitated and depressed.  I might have gone & sat with him, but the place was too crowded for me to get across to the bench where he was.

3 things I am grateful for on this day:

*  That I paced myself well enough on some paperwork that needed attention today AND found some pieces that I didn't really know where they were when I started out AND took good enough care of myself through it all

*  My 4pm massage

*  The Paul McCartney Animation CD that has some wonderful calming music as the opening--I don't even play the movie, I just put it in for the music that comes on *before* you push "Play"

Happy Friday!!!  Even without a "job"--it still feels like a good day to end a long week.

L

Day Twenty-Four (Wed 9/12/12):

*  Gave kibble to the shelter animals through Freekibble.com

*  Another Give was getting over that feeling of self-consciousness/"oh don't get too close" to wish someone well.  There's a young guy at the rec center desk where I exercise or swim who is very positive & outgoing; he was joking with me about seeing me "again today" because I came in this morning to finish the 2nd 1/2 of my program that I didn't get done last night.  On the way out saying good-bye, I was joking about how no, I *wouldn't* be seeing him tomorrow, and he said something too about how oh he wouldn't be there tomorrow anyway because he had a softball game, except we were talking over each other a little and laughing, and then I was out the door and hadn't responded to what he said.  So I stopped there on the sidewalk for a moment & thought, "oh, go tell him good luck with his game!", then came the thought of, "oh, that's stupid to turn around & go back in; he doesn't care", then came the thought of, "it's not whether he cares or not--it's that YOU do--unless you are controlled by fear of looking stupid".  So I turned around & popped my head back in & pointed at him & said "Well, then, hey, good luck with the game!"  And he grinned & winked & pointed back at me like yes, he did appreciate it, and off I went again.

Getting over myself to Be who I'd like to be--rather than feeling bad I didn't say it--that was Growth/Give for myself.

*  PS:  Also I stopped & bought myself a tank of gas so that I could feel Full & Abundant rather than letting it get down any lower past the 1/4 tank mark even though I am 'unemployed' (I need to find another word for that)

3 things I am *amazingly* grateful for today (My Big Fat Receives):

*  That my phone mysteriously did not work in the morning when I got up (having planned to make 'business' phone calls all morning), & I went to the rec center instead because my body was distinctly asking please for some more care this morning instead of having to sit & do 'business'

*  That as soon as I walked in from the rec center, the phone had been mysteriously restored back to normal because it was ringing with *the one-and-only* call I needed to receive for the day so that I didn't even *have* to make all those other calls.  Oh, and no further problems with the phone all day....

*  And then I could go take a nap (4 hours!), mind at rest, so body could be too, because today was the day the Grand Fatigue of being Laid Off hit & that was all I could do for the day.

Best to all for Thursday,

L

Day Twenty-Three (Tues 9/11/12):

*  Today's Gift was $5 towards the bill of the people behind me in line at the grocery store.  I realized on the way to an appt that I needed to get change for a $20 before I got there & thought I could just stop at the grocery store & dash in to the Customer Service desk, but that line was long, long, long.  So I could see one of the clerks I know in the Express lanes was finishing up with 1 customer & had no one behind them & that she would probably do it for me, so I was walking quickly to get in her lane just as a young couple with a baby popped up to go into her lane too.  I knew it was looking like I was running to get in front of them (when I was just dashing to not be late), so I said, "Do you mind if I just go through?  I only have 1 thing to do."  And they said OK, and it took them longer to unload their groceries than it did for the clerk to give my change, and since the $10 & $1s were what I really needed, I gave her back the $5 & said "And put this towards the bill of these fine folks behind me who were kind enough to let me dash though ahead of them", and I looked at them and said thank you & didn't look back as I hurried out the door.

That was kind of a weird one to me because it spontaneously happened & popped out of my mouth as soon as the thought went through my head--no "censoring" of "oh, you can't do that!!!".  I liked it & it was done & off I went.

3 things I am grateful for this day:

*  My neighbor came over early in the a.m. to help me trim a tree that I really hope to save by cutting it back

*  Long long lunch with an old friend I used to work with--very supportive & good to remember Who I Am underneath all the job stuff with someone I've known 15 years.

*  Took care of myself at the rec center with my strengthening exercises

L

Day Twenty-Two (Mon 9/10/12):

*  Gave kibble to the shelter animals through Freekibble.com

*  Bought myself some flowers

3 things I am grateful for this day:

*  Got a tough phone call about an insurance matter out of the way early in the day so it was off my mind

*  Had a couple waves of grief/paralysis today, this being the 1st workday I am *not* going to work after being let go (esp knowing how these things are announced at that company & when & where & that the little quiet discussions that follow would be going on etc), but I called a few friends & that got me through

*  I'm surprised how much I got done in one day (business/personal/other), feeling happy at the end, and that is great

Day Twenty-One (Sun 9/9/12):

* Gave the gift of time to a stranger who wanted to talk.  I went to a introductory presentation by a group of a spiritual nature that I don't know well, which was the point of me going, and in the Q&A session, I did say that & ask 2 questions.  After the presentation closed, a woman in the row in front of me immediately turned around to talk to me, and went off into variety of subjects, mostly about herself and her own experiences spiritually and views, with very little room for me to talk, unless I interrupted--for over an hour, probably closer to an hour & 1/2.  She was visiting the area from out of town & I wasn't sure if she was wanting to make a friend for while she was visiting, but when I felt her out by asking if she'd be willing to email some of the sources she was referring to (an opportunity to exchange phone numbers if she was looking for that), she seemed uncomfortable with going to that level, and no, she didn't ask any of my contact information.  I let the conversation go on until I really did have to go to the bathroom, hugged goodbye, & that's how it ended.

I felt the words & topics of the onversation served her more than me, and whatever the reason for that, it's probably not mine to know & that is fine.

What I did Receive from her was the gift of her singing to me some songs she'd written (rewriting national anthems into songs for the peace of the whole world), and that will stay with me for a long time.

3 things I am grateful for today:

*  That my neighbor started up his air compressor at 9:30 am on a Sunday morning to start working on his car.  I was thinking I wanted to sleep, sleep, sleep if I could, but I wasn't really sleeping & so it got me up & moving into a good day.

*  Because I was up, I took my dog to the dog park before it got too hot & heard the wonderful story of a beautiful dog there who had been rescued as a sick & hungry stray in Mexico by vacationers there & brought home to this country.  The owner said he never tries to run away from home, only *back* home... (yep, because he *knows* how lucky he is!)

*  Having time after that 1 1/2 hour conversation to still hit the pool before it closed & do some stretching

Happy Monday!

L

Day Twenty (Sat 9/8/12):

Spent the morning with friends I've known for many years who generally discuss our lives based on a set of spiritual principles & then had a long discussion about our dreams & visions for our lives.... I am very thankful to be very carefully spending my 1st "job-free" weekend sharing this news only with people with whom what I have in common is something spiritual (and I would count this Community as part of that--not to impose my thoughts or words on anybody else--but I do find these Challenges to have become a spiritual practice & when the focus of the group is on Giving [ie, Love]... well, that's about as spiritual as it gets).

What I gave today:

*  A breakfast bar to a woman "working the sign" on a street corner.  I was driving to meet my friends & had stopped by buy a chai, and brought a breakfast bar & banana from home to eat in the car as breakfast on the way.  Except my stomach (yep, nerves & shock are still here along for the ride along with doing my best to focus on the highest possible outcome) was not up to eating, and hadn't been since I got the news I had no job.

I think the best part of the Give for me was that as I rolled down the passenger side window to hand her the bar, I found myself actually *asking* her 1st, "Would you like a breakfast bar?", instead of just handing it to her.  And she said quietly, humbly, with a lisp and a gap in her teeth, "Yes, thank you,", and I think as I drove away she was moving over to sit down on the grass to eat it right away.

And I just felt that (not that I even knew ahead of time that I was going to say that), that asking her had some dignity to it, some respect.  Implying she had a choice.  That just because she was poor and hungry or presenting herself that way, she wasn't just a Nothing that should take whatever was thrown at her and be grateful for it.

I liked that.... that it happened that way & that it was in me somewhere to do it that way.  Especially recognizing that I too am without a job now & that could be Me standing there.  And at a very high plane, it is.

3 things I am grateful for in this day:

*  The time with my friends went on & on & deeper & higher & we were together 4 hours instead of 1 or 2 & it was all I could have wanted for the 1st day after being released from my (old) job

*  That when I went to the rec center after that to do some strengthening exercises, the words "I enjoy this" actually went through my head, that it actually felt good (I'm not a Natural Exerciser).

*  That when I came home & took a shower after all that & some errands, and I put on my jammies and knew I was going to bed Really Early.... that when my little dog came to me to remind me & remind me & remind me that (Oh!) we had not been out for his walk (ugh, Big Sigh)... I not only pulled my clothes back on, but drove over to the dog park to let him run out some energy... that tired as I was, I was mindful of his needs.  This was actually a Gift as much as a Gratitude, but I am grateful to have realized the insight that since it's only him & me in this house, I'll need to be mindful of how my energy & vibes & schedule change now will affect him too.

Happy Sunday to all,

L

Day Nineteen (Fri 9/7/12):

So... since I was described as "thoughtful, positive, and joyful" by someone commenting on my last post...  how best shall I say this?  I am happy to announce that I will be having many more Happy days at home in the coming weeks, since my position with the company I've worked with for 6 years was eliminated today, and today was my last day with them.  (Yes, to be clear, I seem to now be "unemployed"... an odd word, by the way.)

Some mixed feelings, but overall this is a Separation not only from an employer but from an employment situation that is no longer what it was when I started & which is no longer a fit for my best self, and it is a departure from something that I know without a doubt served a very specific spiritual purpose for a very long while & then no longer did, and so for today I trust that this is a higher path that is already leading to the next right thing for me.  For the moment I am of course thankful for the income that job generated & do not take for granted what I had; I also will be dwelling on what I *do* have right now & that what is important will continue to be provided.  My 1st stop tonight was to drop by the house of someone I consider a spiritual mentor, to talk about it from the highest plane possible... and as long as I can stay out of Fear and stay in the Trust.... (!)  It looks like I may also be able to take some time out for myself which I could really use right now.

I am very grateful to be part of this Community and for the Giving/Receiving muscles these Challenges have built up in me since last fall.  My attitude toward giving changed, which changed my attitude toward money, which changed how I viewed my spending and my donations and my debt, which changed how I viewed my job and income and resulted in a much clearer budget/ spending plan that more accurately reflected my changed values, which leaves me pretty clear on where I am financially right now... and on what matters & what doesn't.  I also have to say--I had an errand tonight after my 2-hour talk w/ my friend, and as I went in & out of the store looking at the different people, I thought, "Anything can happen... if I stay open... any one of these people could be a connection to my next life".... & that willingness to be open to what's in front of me is a habit that these Challenges have developed in me... about Giving, and it can also be about **Receiving**:  Anything can happen... if I stay open.

And yes, of course already Fear has come & gone, come & gone, come & gone.  But there is nothing else to be done tonight, and for today, I have everything I need, and that is what I will be focusing on moving forward:  Moving forward.  Staying open.  Keeping an open heart.  Giving one day at a time.  My next life is right in front of me.  In fact, it's already here.

What I gave today:

*  A share of the truth of my day to this Community, which apparently means enough to me now to talk about this here

*  And I *did* go ahead with making a large charitable donation online tonight that I had made a decision on doing earlier in the day before my (old) job ended, and I sent it out to the recipients with Intention:  "I wish you well, and I am willing to receive."

3 things I am grateful for today:  Plenty already listed above.

Big hug & thanks to all here--

Laura

Day Eighteen (Thurs 9/6/12):

*  Sent free kibble to the shelter animals today through Freekibble.com

*  Left $2 under someone's windshield wiper on the way back into work after lunch break

*  Took my dog for an extra long walk/run in a grass loop down the block at dusk since I knew he needed some extra exercise/outlet

3 things I am grateful for today

*  Made the decision to go to the gym to do my strengthening exercises after work rather than something else "fun"

*  That I was a good citizen & listened to both political conventions held in my country the last 2 weeks to the best of my ability so that I feel more clear on the issues & positions regardless of personal preference

*  My mom. My dog.  My house.  My car.  My job & income.  Being able to make some payroll changes that will punch a few more dollars into savings.  Saving more while I can feels important right now & I am grateful that I can arrange things to do that & still have a sufficient income for my own needs & some extras & to share with others.

Goodnight & Happy Friday,

L

Day Seventeen (Wed 9/5/12):

*  Sent free kibble to the shelter animals today through Freekibble.com

*  Had an opportunity & gave some thought to a somewhat larger (for me) donation for a charity raffle that I thought I could get behind for some personal reasons, but then found myself uncomfortable with some aspects of the raffle, so I decided to pass for today... again happy to see that I do have some boundaries or parameters on what I will give based on other principles, not just doing a Give that's in front of me (esp about money) if something does not feel right just for the sake of having done a Give

3 things I am grateful for this day: *  Got a lot done at work

*  Happy purple pedicure after work

*  One of my health practitioners told me she is moving out of town.  I'm sad for me, but I am very happy & grateful for her that she gets to follow her dreams.

Day Sixteen (Tues 9/4/12):

*  Sent free kibble to the shelter animals today through Freekibble.com

*  Took the day off as a gift to myself--I actually called in Happy, not Sick (is that allowed???  I'll find out tomorrow)

*  Took my recycling to the recycling center

*  Helped a older neighbor who called when she saw my car home for the day on a work day & who started feeling me out (after making sure I wasn't home sick) on whether I could help her type out a letter to an insurance company that needed to be notarized and in by a certain date.  She has no typewriter & no computer and was waiting on another neighbor who didn't seem to quite be able to do it as quickly as she was hoping.  My Gift was not so much in offering to type it out for her, since there was no way to refuse that, but in offering to do it right that minute if she wanted to come by, so she wouldn't have to wait at all anymore.  She was very excited by that & came right over & was very happy with her letter looking "very business-like" & she went right out to the bank to get it notarized and called me back an hour later saying everything was all done & the letter was in the mail & she could not be more pleased.

3 things I am grateful for today:

*  Taking the day off when I just knew I needed it.  Sorry I didn't plan it ahead of time, but I have vacation time to cover it.  I am much Happier for it & will be so for the rest of the week & month.

*  Taking the dog for a long walk at dusk when I just knew he needed it... and he will be Happier for it too.

*  The freedoms my country attempts to uphold, regardless of your political party or voting choice.  Both sets of my grandparents include immigrants who came here less than 100 years ago & who came here to find refuge from 2 different wars.  I probably take too much for granted, knowing only what I've had my whole life, but this election season does bring out the appreciation in me.

Day Fifteen (Mon 9/3/12):

*  Sent free kibble to the shelter animals today through Freekibble.com

*  And--the daffodils I gave to all the kids in the spring come home to roost again--tonight when I was cleaning the bathroom, there was a knock on the door & OH it's some kids I sort of recognized from down the street but had to be reminded of their names--the kids I know the least on the block, but I gave them daffodils in the spring, and so now they 'know' me, and they *also* are selling cookies for their elementary school, the same elementary school I already bought cookies for from my neighbor kindergardener (see Friday's entry), and it dawns on me slowly that all the kids on my block go to the same elementary school, and of course now I am the "friendly" neighbor list, and the cookie sale will be going on for 2 weeks, and I am wondering how many tubs of $16 cookie dough I'm in for (that's right!  $16!!!).  Fortunately brother & sister were selling as 1 team, and I decided (Big Gulp) that I am going to invest in the long-term relationships in the neighborhood, and now I have both Snickerdoodle AND Oatmeal cookies coming next month.  And 1 more week of selling to go.... Swallow.  Stay tuned.  (Yes, I've made The Decision:  I have the willingness to say Yes if they have the willingness to come over.)

3 things I am grateful for:

*  That those kids came over smiling to ask me to buy from them--it's a nice feeling when they have never come over to my house before.  And I did have the money and willingness to buy cookies to help the neighborhood school (takes a Village in these times).

*  That I was able to do some housework today--less than planned due to time, but more than I thought due to less pain/remaining symptoms from this car accident that hurt my neck/back & hands than last time I gave it a go & I *did* get most of my 3 main goals accomplished

*  That even though something has gone wrong with my washing machine & it will not spin out completely, leaving soppier clothes than ideal in the end, it will still do enough of a job for the time being & I also still have a dryer to pick up the slack if needed in the morning, IE, thankful that I have a set-up that let me off the hook from having to go to the laundromat tonight unexpectedly or not have clean clothes in the morning.

*  That I got to take my dog to the dog park before it got too hot today & we had a grand time.  The same dog laying at my feet as I write this, never far from me when I settle in one place.

*  That I remembered to charge my phone for the night.

*  That I got my wallet *and* purse cleaned out tonight so I do not look like a giant bag lady dragging around every receipt I've gotten for the last 4 months.

*  That I found those vitamins I bought a couple weeks ago & didn't know where they went

*  That when the vacuum cleaner plug head broke off in the outlet, I was able to get the metal pieces out OK (after turning off the power to the whole house just to be safe, thank you) with nothing stuck in there left behind

*  That I have electricity and water and air conditioning

*  That I got to listen to the next in a series of spiritual audio tapes this afternoon as I was working around the house *and* had time to listen to the movie "I AM" again before it goes back to the library.

*  That I had these 3 days off *and* I have a job to go to in the morning.

*  That I have more than 3 things to be grateful for today....

Happy shortie week for those it applies to,

L

Day Fourteen (Sun 9/2/12):

*  Sent free kibble to the shelter animals today through Freekibble.com

*  Also sent a big contribution online to a charity to make up for some automatic-deduction donations that didn't happen when the bank changed my debit card number a while back due to a vendor security breach (Ugh! finally get my money organized & then had to do all this other work to set it all back up again).  I don't know that it's a Give as much as just Staying on Plan financially, but I'm happy I am getting reorganized in several ways & did not just ignore the amount that would have gone to others if that hadn't happened.

3 things I am grateful for today:

*  I took my "Labor Day" today (isn't Labor Day about resting from our labor?) and stayed home today.  I had expected to get a lot done around the house, but the last couple days had my mind & body way more worn out than ever would have occurred to me might happen, so not doing much was best (and all that was possible physically, actually).

* The move "I AM" by Tom Shadyac... listened to it twice in the background quietly today

* Taking my dog for a walk last thing in the evening before bed--nice & quiet & we're both ready for bed now

* That I have a home even though it's pretty cluttered and messy at the moment.  Let's be grateful for what we have.

L

Day Thirteen (Sat 9/1/12):

*  Best & biggest give of the day was spending 1 1/2 hours longer than planned contributing some time to a non-profit group & offering to take on some other volunteer duties for the rest of the year.

I feel very pleased with this Give because both actions were spontaneous & in response to the need at the moment, in the moment, and to a need I could see that I could fill (in a way that would also benefit me--what a concept).

I also felt pleased because this was a Gift of time and effort rather than money.  Many of my Gives the last couple days have involved buying something, either planned or unplanned, and I make no judgment either way about it--I am happy to have the money for the moment available, grateful in fact.  But as I added up what I spent even just in 1 day yesterday--again, grateful to have it, and learning to be comfortable with having and giving more than I used to--I also wondered if perhaps I could/would find something else to give today that would not be purchased.

And so the opportunity arose, and even the people around me were shocked when in the middle of a discussion of an issue I'd given no thought to, I found myself saying, "I feel moved to offer to....", to fill a gap causing a need, and their surprising gratefulness back was a Gift back to me.

3 things I am grateful for today:

*  That this opportunity to Give without using money today did arise unexpectedly & I responded spontaneously

*  That I did stop by the shoe store that's having the huge sale this weekend on some expensive shoes a co-worker recommended to me that are geared to fitness and posture, and I found that I did not like them, and so I did not deprive myself of the opportunity to have something wonderful that might help myself & still made a good decision for today at least that they did not

*  That my dog groomer loves my dog.  I gave her a big hug when I left today because she was reminding me of a happy funny memory of when they first met, years ago, where she instantly fell in love with him before I myself even knew him very well.  I know I might have gone somewhere else along the way for various reasons except for her great love for my dog personally & how she wants to be around him... Love is a wonderful force in the world (& why not stay around it!!!).

Day Twelve (Fri 8/31/12):

Buncha little gives today:

*  Did a "Friday Five" where I left a $5 bill under someone's windshield at work (although this time it was only $2).  I did this on the way into work mostly because I did not know what else I was going to do for a Give that day, so this way it would be done... nice attitude, huh?  Or at least a big fat way to control things.

*  I did buy some tiny muffins (3) on the way into work to give to someone I'd been joking with the other day about tiny muffins, but I thought they had probably taken the day off so I wasn't sure if that would be my Give or not.  They did take the day off, but instead of eating the muffins or taking them home, I gave them to another coworker to take home to her kids.  That was fun.

*  Then on the way out to my car after work... yesterday I got some crackers with my take-out lunch that I did not want, so I crumbled them up for the birds outside a tree in the parking lot.

*  Got a restaurant coupon at dinner out for a free appetizer "Next Time".  I realized I would probably not use it by the expiration date or at least lose it by then, so when I went into a store across the street from the restaurant after dinner, I asked the clerks there if any of them could use it & yes, one gladly took it.

*  And when I got home, my little neighbor girl who just started kindergarten came over to tell me "my teacher told me I have to sell cookies" :-), so I got to be her very 1st customer in her long up-coming career of school fund-raising drives.  Helped her to fill out the paperwork since she can't write yet and gave her an envelope to keep the money in from her customers, where she very carefully put in each bill one by one, long and flat and smoothed out, one at a time.

Not bad for not knowing what I was giving today!

3 things I am grateful for today:

*  I took my mom & brother out to supper tonight to start the long weekend out right & to tell them thank you for something they did for me actually a long time ago.  They did not know I was buying so that was fun; I guess it was a Give but somehow in a different category (Thank You Owed/Amend) so it's not on my list for the day, but it feels really good to have the money to Give like that and just do it without hesitation or big debate.  The 3 of us are also having more fun together (not always the case in the past) & getting together a little more often as we get older & I like that.

*  I got some tougher financial analysis done at work that ended in good information for me.

*  I also worked some on my own money when I got home & got reorganized after some recent changes and decisions about what I want to do financially for the next year or so.  Not my favorite thing & it was on my list for the long weekend, and it's already done!  Hurray!

Happy Labor Day weekend to those who have a long one--happy Saturday to everybody else.

L

Day Eleven (Thurs 8/30/12):

*  Today's gift was a joke for a coworker to build our relationship a little bit.

Last week I had a small laugh with a coworker who I don't find that friendly over the fact that she had not one, or two, or three, or four, five, but *six* different cups or water bottles on her desk.  "Choices!" she laughed.  "I like to have choices!".

So for fun--not sure she'd find it that funny, but I would at least--I went to the Dollar Store & bought her *ten* different cups and mugs and water bottles and glasses.  (Yeah, I decided, investing in a friendlier relationship with her is worth at least $10 in the long run.)  I wrapped one up as an actual "gift", and yes it's hard to get her to look up from work, but I told her I had a present for her, which *did* get her attention & got me an actual smile... ("Oh! What is it???") and I pulled the wrapped-up glass out of a big paper bag, and she had to use actual scissors to cut the ribbon off, and it was a new water glass... and fortunately she did get it right away--a smile and "oh, because I need more water glasses!!! hahaha"... and I told her, "Yes, because a girl does need choices... so here's another one" (and I pulled out a water bottle from the bag)... "and another one" (pulling out another one")... "and another one"... etc etc etc etc etc etc etc 10 times.

And *yep* she did give me at least a small laugh again--"oh, that's cute"--before she went back to work, and tonight on her way out the door she actually said goodbye to me by name (!!! now there's a first).

Big Fat Victory, I'd call it.  For ME at least (who knows what will happen with her).  And a whole lot of fun!

3 things I'm grateful for today:

*  I *am* grateful for getting her to laugh just a little (& that I was brave enough to take the initiative to do that AND actually carry through with it, because like I said, I don't find her that friendly)

*  It appears life will be giving me another opportunity similar to the Archy story (no, I don't have any other bugs) & I will do my best to accept the situation I am being given with humor and humility and do my best to find the spiritual principle and rise to the occasion until such time as I can't go any farther (the challenge on this one is not about Fear but about Decisiveness and Commitment).  Probably more on this to come...

* I'm very grateful for my job, more specifically, my income>>>that I have one & it is sufficient for my needs and a few extras and the ability to share with others.  To have all 3, for the moment at least>>>for this I am truly grateful.

Best to you for a happy Friday,

L

Day Ten (Wed 8/29/12):

*  Brought a box of tiny muffins in to share with co-workers

3 things I am grateful for today:

*  Got a lot done at work in a couple very productive meetings

*  ?  Not feeling too grateful today.... ?

*  That I could go out & pick up my favorite salad from my favorite salad place & the happy manager was there reminding us both how good it is to be employed

*  Having all the money to buy what I needed when I did errands after work

Day Nine (Tues 8/28/12):

Still not quite feeling it today.

*  Did a lot, a lot, a lot of thank you waves in traffic today--every time someone let me in

*  Fed the shelter animals this a.m. with Freekibble.com

*  Got some of my auto-deduct donations rearranged to the correct debit card number when my credit union had to replace my card due to a vendor merchant info breach... big sigh.  I just get organized and.... then start over with this.

3 things I am grateful for today:

*  One of my doctors who is very helpful and who I have an easy rapport with

*  Moving a project forward at work and enjoying it

*  Being able to go to bed now, in my own little house, with my little dog, and food in the fridge, and I am safe

Day Eight (Mon 8/27/12):

Well, I was surprised how much I missed checking in on Archy, last night & this morning.

He just never strayed far from His Book.

I wondered what he did outside today in The Wild.

And whether a bird ate him already.  :- (  Big sigh.

*  Wasn't quite feeling it today; not sure why.  There were a couple things I thought I "should" or "meant to" do today, but didn't, and what I did feel like doing once I got home was that I took 3 "Every Day is a Gift"/"You are a Gift" buttons that I got from this website with me on the evening walk with the dog & left them out in the neighborhood 1) stuck into a tree on the trail 2) at the bottom of a statute at the fountain 3) on a bus stop bench.

*  Fed the shelter animals this a.m. with Freekibble.com

3 things I am grateful for today:

*  That I took a big fat lunch hour today that I didn't know I was going to take to go for a drive I didn't know I was going to take to cry about something that happened in the a.m. that I didn't know was bothering me that much.  I like it that the part of me that knew how to take care of me just did.

*  I finished the 2nd part of my gym routine left from yesterday & I may have gone a little too far so I am going to bed now, but I am glad I gave it all my best.

*  I'm actually very grateful for that Archy experiment, that I have some feelings today about that little bug that I definitely did not have at the beginning... but that was the point, to not act until I was past the Fear.  It did stretch me in some way.  (As far as never killing anything ever--no, that's not it.  Recently I bought a can of Wasp & Hornet Spray & killed a bunch of hornets building nests on my back fence when my neighbor called to let me know they were living there & invading her yard & could she send over her handyman to spray them.  She is disabled and home all day & was afraid about herself & her dogs getting stung, and in that situation, the hornets had to take the bullet for my neighbor & I did it the same day she called--I guess the underlying reason being so that she did not have to be in Fear & I made the decision to kill them myself rather than ask someone else to do it if it was going to be done, once I got over my own Fear of dealing with them.  There might have been another way, as they really were just minding their own business... but for her sake, that was done & over with the same day.)  This thing with Archy, though (naming it did change everything, by the way)... I let it take weeks.  I guess it's about the Overriding Spiritual Principle in both those situations... making the choice.

Day Seven (Sun 8/26/12):

*  Well, today's Big Victory Give is that I let a bug keep its life & figured out how to get it out of my house without automatically smushing it to death as my 1st reflex just because it's a bug.

It's actually been an ongoing Social Experiment in Non-Violence... to kill or not to kill.  Building a relationship with a bug, one day at a time, to save its life.  I'm actually thrilled today that it seems today to have ended successfully... but that was certainly not guaranteed.

(If you don't like bugs, you WON'T want to read this.)

So a couple weeks ago I noticed--AAAAACK!!!!--this very creepy-looking bug in between the pages of a book that had been left on the kitchen counter... some kind of skinny waterbug/earwig looking thing that I did not recognize, with yucky antennaes.  Yep, it crossed my mind that it was some kind of roach... although way too skinny and the wrong color for the roaches I've ever seen & I do not live in roach country & I've never had roaches that I know of in 7 years in this house... BUT WHAT IS IT????  Maybe it came in on some groceries or fruit or something.

What I did not like was the extent of the fear & creepiness that went through me... the impulse to squish it, kill it, get rid of it, MAKE IT DIE.

WHAT IS THAT FEELING?

it's only a bug.

"But it could run away & lay eggs & then I have bugs in my house."

Except every time I moved, it wanted to run away... and then for sure I couldn't get it.

And--this was my Real Problem this whole time--if I just fast squish it where it was, I'm squishing it between the pages of a book I love & then I have bug guts in my book or have to tear the pages out.

Now here is where the story veers from what most people might have done, I do have to say.  And I understand that no one wants bugs in their house.  And somebody else smarter than me could have figured out a solution faster than this.

But I just decided that I did not like my decision being controlled by my own fear & the degree to which I was being creeped out by a small bug minding its own business.

So I just left it there.

Knowing full well it could run behind the counter & lay a bunch of eggs & then I have a definite problem.

Or maybe already it's just one of many that I don't realize are living behind my counter already.

But maybe it's just one male that came in on a piece of fruit & won't lay eggs & is just trying to live its life.

So for the moment it was only one bug, type unknown, living in my book, and the next morning it was still just there, sitting in my book, and I thought I should try & get rid of it, and I in my fear tried to get it to run out to where I could squish it, and I wasn't successful, being very hesitant and fearful in my actions, and I stood there looking at myself, causing this same much fear in another creature, literally for its very life, all because it was "inconvenient" to me & I was "afraid"... of what, exactly?

And eventually it ran back to hiding in the safety of the book.

And I just left it there, again, sitting in the book, and when I came home from work it was in the same place, and the next morning, and the next evening; and the days were going by, and it seemed to have made its home in my book, and I gave it a name, and made sure there were crumbs and water drops nearby so he would not have to venture far to get food & I could keep track of where he was.

And he never really left the book, unless I made too sudden of a move.

And there didn't seem to be any more anywhere than just that one.

And the days went by, and we got to know each other, and I'd talk to him in the morning, and move my routine closer to him, and gradually I could move one thing at a time away from the book, and he would quick run behind something to hide, but then after a while come back out and get back in his book.

And today things were clear enough around the book that I could quick, snatch up the book with one hand and a cup of water in the other, snap the book so the bug fell out into the cup, and although it was scrambling hard to save its life by coming up and out of the water onto the cup, I just kept on my way out the back door, down the porch steps, out into the far corner of the yard, and let him drop into the foliage under the tree.

Bye, Archy.

If you come back into my house & lay eggs, yes, I will have to take more defensive action.

But for today... I did not kill as a reflex action.  And there is something in that statement that I feel good about.

3 things I am grateful for today:

*  Going to the gym today for weight exercises before it shuts down for a week for yearly maintenance

*  A long lazy weekend where I did very little & do not feel guilty about it

*  My dog

Goodnight, y'all.  And NO JUDGMENT AT ALL to those of you who live in bug country & have to take decisive action to keep your homes liveable.

L

Day Six (Sat 8/25/12):

* Today's Gift was that I made the conscious effort of chatting up every single person I ran into while I was out doing errands for a few hours... the extra effort of smiling, of saying "hey, how are you doing today"/"So how's your day going today"? and sharing something about myself... at the bank, the gas station, the grocery store, the library, the burrito stand... just standing around chatting up strangers... the teller, the clerk, the people in line around me, etc etc etc.  I don't think I was obnoxious, just friendly, acting like I liked the whole world... what a concept.

* Bought $3 worth of charity chocolate bars from the table in front of the grocery store being run by the local high school girls' volleyball team.  Chatted them up about how was their season going, what were they going to buy with the money, how I used to play volleyball just for fun, blah blah blah... acting like I liked the whole world, including them, including volleyball, including me, and that whole world liked me back... what a concept.

Quite the little social experiment.

* OH:  Also brought flowers to the daughter of my neighbors who were having her birthday party today that I wasn't going to be able to attend, as a gift for her special day.  I felt good that I did do something in response to their invitation yesterday, to keep the relationship going when we were both putting in something extra this year.

3 things I am grateful for today:

* That what I wore to bed last night look enough like regular clothes that once I put on a bra, I didn't have to get dressed in anything else to go out this morning & so I wore my jammies all day, even out doing errands.  What a Big Fat Relaxing Day.

* That my internet came back up once I rebooted my computer, when before I did that I got some complicated error message that looked like it was going to take up my afternoon & it didn't.

* My car.  My mom.  My dog.  Being able to sleep in this morning.  Having my dental work done.  Having pain medication so that my dental work doesn't hurt afterwards.  Having a job & finally the money tools and thoughts to have a little bit of savings & the extra pocket money to be able to buy a couple magazines and some junk food if I want to.  Being able to fill up my car with a tank of gas without having to scrimp.  The dog park & chatting up the woman coming out who told me which dogs were a little wild today so I could keep my dog away from them.  The library & the fact that it's free.  Cleaning up my front porch & not feeling guilty that I didn't do more housework than that today.  Having a 3-day weekend & not feeling guilty that I might be 'wasting' some of it & knowing that another one is coming next weekend.

This website & everybody on it & the fact that we *are* making a difference, every day, every one of us.  I love that.

L

Day Five (Fri 8/24/12):

*  Well, this one will sound a little backwards.... but I'm still sticking it in here because it's another lesson or thought process from this Challenge on Giving.  I'm usually a pretty big tipper when I eat out (20%+), but today when I stopped for lunch at a little cafe I left a $2 tip on a tab of $11.05.  Big enough, I suppose, but 20% would have been $2.20 & I would have generally rolled that up into $2.25 or $2.50.  But I didn't feel like it was deserved & I did not have that 'generous' feeling of giving it anyway, of making the effort to dig around for the quarters... simply because it wasn't deserved.

And I liked that... that even though I'm in this Challenge, I'm not overspending or slaphappy about what I'm doing if it's not sincere... at least for today, in that moment.  Maybe another day, I'd have left the bigger tip & chalked it up to her having a bad day & wanting to do it for her out of compassion or not judging... letting it be about me sharing instead of what was happening to her.  But today, I was not feeling it, and I did not give more than I wanted to do.

So I guess it was about giving to myself, a clear boundary, letting myself know that I can trust myself with my money and I'm not giving or throwing it around just for the sake of having a Give for the day.  Good to know.

*  In other news, yes, I did give to the shelter animals through Freekibble.com.

3 things I'm grateful for this day:

*  Won't bore you with dental details, but dental work/insurance/plan for dental care for the year all dovetailed nicely & I am relieved that some tough work is done.

*  That I had been wise enough to take the rest of the day off... 3 hours in the dental chair left me pretty wiped out & I was very grateful to just roll into the little cafe for lunch, get myself home & make a couple business calls with part of the afternoon, then into my jammies & early to bed.

*  Having one of the families on the block invite me to the birthday party Saturday for one of the kids.  I won't be going due to another commitment, but that was a new one... and I think it may be coming from one of my Big Gives in a past round this spring when I gave all the neighbor kids flowerpots to make friends with the neighbors (remember that one?).  Smile.

L

Day Four (Thurs 8/23/12):

*  Keeping up the Freekibble.com commitment so the shelter dogs got some kibble today.  I said up front for the month that could be enough some days & I know I did other things today (making the effort to be friendly & happy etc instead of just anonymous or hiding out around work or out in the world) but just the Freekibble.com was enough to fulfill the commitment per my Intentions this month & I will let that be that for today.

3 things I am grateful for today:

*  My dental insurance actually sent me a preauthorization & estimate of benefits on my dental work tomorrow.  I have had nothing go smoothly with them since my company changed insurance arriers last year & to have a simple statement with clear facts and figures a day ahead of the appointment so there's no wondering... boy, I was surprised how happy that made me for the whole day.

*  A wonderful coffee-&-breakfast-burrito breakfast after physical therapy that kept me going the whole day

*  A wonderful play time with my dog after work today & I am grateful for letting our relationship build & letting myself love him as I see different parts of his personality and even just facial expressions emerge as we do new things together.

Day Three (Wed 8/22/12):

*  Dropped off 1 sweater at the Goodwill as a donation.  It's beautiful, that's why I bought it (at a Goodwill I think to start with) but it's not beautiful on me... design, shape, or color... and I've never even worn it.  I think that still I bought it & held on to it because it was colorful and sparkly and artistic and happy--and I am now willing to let the right beautiful new sweater *for my body* come along now that I have let go of something close but not quite right.

*  Sent a "best wishes to you" email to a coworker in another area whose last day with our company was today, when I didn't realize she'd even given notice, a very short notice at best, I guess.  She is very talented & ambitious & has contributed a lot to our company; at the same time, while we never worked closely together, I did get the feeling that no, she never really had much use for me, she's close friends with a person who did find a way recently to make it very clear how much she herself does very much dislike me, and the departing coworker may or may not care whether I said goodbye or not.  But I found to my surprise that it was the choice of my best self to rise to the occasion & do it for the sake of being the person *I* want to be, not for the person that I may imagine *her* (correctly or incorrectly) to be.

3 things I am grateful for this day:

* Being free to leave my dog at a doggie day care so that I could work later than usual to make up some time...

* ... and still have time to stop off at the rec center & stretch in the pool 30 minutes before it closed.

* Liking one of my coworkers enough that I missed her when she took the day off

Day Two (Tues 8/21/12)

*  Helped out one of the tellers at the bank by being cheerful & outgoing & that ended up getting her some help she needed.  She was excited to have a customer because otherwise she was stuck reading a safety manual that wasn't the most exciting thing in the world, so we were laughing about all that.  But then it turned out she didn't quite understand all about the fire extinguisher anyway (what is this pin you are supposed to pull out!!!  But who you gonna ask???).  Then her computer system shut down & she couldn't print out my receipt, so she had to call a coworker & her manager for help & we were joking about how it wasn't going to let her move forward until she had finished reading her safety manual HaHaHa.  But as we were finishing up, I did tell her manager, "Hey, now what she does need some help with is figuring out where the pin is on the fire extinguisher so she can use it if she needs to" and we were all still laughing, so he says to her right there, "Sure, come here, I'll show you right now" and off they went & I told her, "Hey, the life we save may be your own."

3 things I am grateful for:

*  Had a great team-building art exercise outside the office that our manager took us to

* Did the exercise routine that was best for me yesterday...

*  Got my hair colored & cut by a new stylist at a price that's better than my previous salon

Day One--or so it seems (Mon 8/20/12):

I think I may have started again today, as often happens, when my body knows it's ready to go again before my conscious mind does.  I don't "feel" quite ready, but I have found between Rounds that often if I go too long, it starts getting all about MeMeMe again & I lose the momentum on being on the lookout to giving.

Selfish Part:  I gave a nice gift today & I want it to "count"... a coworker who is leaving today to move out of state for a new job also had her dog die recently & I made a donation to the animal shelter where she volunteers in memory of her dog and found a small token of remembrance for her dog that would not be a large item to move as part of her "Good Luck to You" going-away card and package.  I am really satisfied that I found the right thing for the circumstance (for me, at least; I hope for her too).

And I guess it's still part of the "to do" list I mentioned from last round:  so many people recently with losses that I'd like to give attention to... just to be caring... and yet the 'planned' Gives didn't get done, and didn't necessarily feel too great.

However (light bulb dawning):  This is also a tough time for me every year... 3 weeks in between the anniversaries of the 2 toughest deaths in my life.  So I'd probably be better off just getting attention off myself for that reason too.

Unless I just would prefer to roll around in self-pity and sadness a few more days.

Actually:  I think I started yesterday w/ the giving to Prevent the Self-Pity & Sadness... I kept back some flowers from a bunch I bought to leave at a grave, but I found over the weekend that having them in the house was pushing me into Self-Pity and Sadness rather than bridging the gap of sadness... so I gave them away to someone else who could enjoy them as just flowers.

And so I guess Life seems to have already led me by the hand off into another Round.

Intentions:

*  Keep the focus off self when Self-Pity & Sadness tend to raise their ugly heads this time of year

*  Give attention as I'm able to those facing their own losses recently

*  At a minimum, keep up the freekibble.com online if I can't handle anything else

*  Or on another front, find 1 thing from around the house I can donate to a charity if I can't handle anything else... I have way too much Stuff & it must be sent out into the world to help others instead of cluttering me up here

Chin up,

L

[Ann]

Your posts are such a gift to me.  Thank you for giving so selflessly and for teaching me so many lessons. 

[IslandGirl]

Congratulations, and yes, please come back soon! I so enjoy and appreciate both your posts and your comments. Having been through waves of financial uncertainty, I agree that giving is essential. It just requires that little (!!) thing called Trust.

[Aunty Nean]

Laura, you are to be commended for your attitude. You are an example of the person we should all strive to be. Well done and may doors open for you as you seek out the next phase of your employment life.

[Lois55 wwt]

Laura, you are to be admired for all that you do for others, I cannot say that I could or would do the same if in the same circumstances. I also admire you that you are very organized, and know where you stand and realize what you have. Your head is on straight and you have goals, and that is awesome. Take care, I know there is something for you right around the bend....we'll see you when you come back...hugs..

[Deb~ Community Manager]

Hurry back! We would be lost without you here, Laura! xoxo