Food-For-Thought: On the Last Day of the Year 2015...

On the last day of the year 2015, I reflect on my reflections of the year.

On this day, I have spent time thinking about my personal vision statement. It is my personal thermostat, as in this is where I "set" my vision for myself. I am more than likely not there, but I am moving toward it with each passing day and each passing year.

It is about 7 or 6 years old. But I set it, and just like the thermostat at home, I set it and stop messing with it. Eventually I will get there.

Here it is.

I am 100% healthy in my body, soul, and spirit. I acknowledge God in all my ways, and I seek Him before I make any decisions, big or small. I am a blessing to my family and to those that God sends across my path. I am an incredible asset to my friends. I am a good listener. I am an excellent employee, and I not only work hard, but I work smart. I take time to periodically evaluate myself, and I make changes accordingly. I stick and hold fast to the path God has charted out for my life. I accept and openly welcome constructive criticism, as I know it will help me become "a better me". I am a good steward, a fine manager over the finances He has blessed me with, to the point that God knows He can trust me.

Simple enough. Or is it?

I think about it all periodically. I have done well and progressed in some areas, and in others, I am moving along a bit slower. A few years ago, I wrote detailed blog posts on each and every sentence. So let's just say, I think and meditate on this. Deeply.

But when pondering this vision statement, I have realized that I have been thinking about something else these past several months in the latter part of the year. So much so that I have spoken it several times in discussion with people.  It is an answer to a specific question I get a little more often these days.

Why do you do the things you do?

I get this question because some notice how generous I am with people. Heck, I am generous with people around me that I don't particularly like. To me, it is essential as breathing or something. It is just me. And it's nothing major or anything. I have been generous with giveaways on this blog. I find that it is just a matter of establishing a habit, a matter of doing something over and over and over day after day after day.

What is my answer to such a question?

The answer is something that is added to the vision statement above:

I am well developed, well matured, and well seasoned in the areas of gratitude and generosity.

This generates interesting conversations.

Here's my thing: I like to be different from people around me. I like to be able to tell the difference between myself and others. It has gotten to the point that I can't tell one person from the next. We're all breastfed by all the negativity that's going on in the world... Everything from the elections to racism to any and every other injustice. I am around much murmuring and complaining. Constant.

And I want to be able to step away from that. I don't want to constantly judge someone else's life and actions with a magnifying glass while judging my own through rose colored glasses. No indeed.

For surely there has to be something in life to be thankful for.

For surely there must be a way to drown the self-centeredness and grow in generosity towards others.

Surely.

And I spent much time thinking about that. And I know it is on my mind when it comes up in conversations.

As the Bible says... For out of the heart, the mouth speaks.

And that's where I am in my meditation and quiet time. I spend time thinking about that. I think about if and how I complained that day and why. I ask God to catch me at thought level in these matters. I wonder and anticipate every morning about my day...  and how and who will cross my path so that I have opportunities to be a blessing.

I've seen that turned up a notch in my life. And I notice a few things.

You'll never have to worry about me backbiting and gossiping about you.

You'll never have to worry about me bringing you down.

I get joy out of giving a leg up and an arm up. Period.

But I have found a caveat here. A most unexpected caveat.

I probably won't really be bothered for you if it don't involve me being useful in some manner. And I am VERY uncomfortable around complainers, and find I have a tendency to excuse myself to pity parties.

Harsh statement, I know. It bothers me to no end. Because I find that I tend to be to myself a little bit more, if that makes any sense. I have to find a balance of learning to deal with people... for any reason or for no reason at all.

Hmm...

Hence... that's what I am thinking about on the last day of the year 2015.

Oh I wonder, I just wonder what 2016 will bring.

My prayer is for safety and soundness. And to move a few more steps in the direction of my vision statement.

And for that vision statement to grow and deepen, as it did this past year.

To go on...

Not by default, but by design...

And on purpose. 

End of the Year Quotes, Part V: The Success Indicator

My cousin put up a "Success Indicator" on her Instagram. You might have to double click to blow up the picture to read it clearly. I listed them out under the chart.

It is definitely an eye-opener.

Successful people
Have a sense of gratitude, compliment, forgive others, accept responsibility for their failures, keep a journal, want others to succeed, keep a "to be" list, set goals and develop life plans, continuously learn, operate from a transformational perspective, keep a "to do/project" list, embrace change, exude joy, share information and data, talk about ideas, read everyday, and give other people credit for their victories.

Unsuccessful people
Criticize, hold a grudge, blame others for their failures, say they keep a journal but really don't, think they know it all, operate from a transactional perspective, secretly hope others fail, Don't know what they want to be, never set goals, exude anger, horde information and data, talk about people, fly by the seat of their pants, fear change, watch TV everyday, take all the credit for their victories, and have a sense of entitlement.

I have qualities on each side of the diagram. I am happy to say that I have many on the successful side, and only a few on the unsuccessful side.

At least I know I am growing...

And I have a better idea of what I need to work on in the upcoming New Year.

Ten Thursday Thoughts

It is not only the last day of the year, it's the last Thursday of the year!

And how can I leave this year of 2015 behind without doing a Ten Thursday Thoughts.

Here we go:

1. I am sick of all this rain. 

2. Worse yet, I don't know whether it's going to rain that day or not. It all feels so haphazard.

3. Nevertheless, in the midst of all my irritation, I always say a thank you... "Thank you Lord for watering the earth."

4. My sister said last night that she misses the rain. It only rains hard a couple of times a year in her new city. There has been some light rain, but she completely misses it, as it rains at night. She only knows it rained from the sand spots on the cars. 

5. It rains so rarely there that there is no need for a drainage system. "Water be everywhere if it rain hard," she said. But it evaporates quickly.

6. I want to go see Star Wars today. But I want to see the IMAX 3D show. There was a 9:00 am showing this morning. I couldn't think to get up that early and go anywhere. The only way I would do that is if I am going to work, Sunday morning church, or to the doctor. 

7. I have to make a run to the Wal-mart. I hope it's not shoulder to shoulder crowded.

8. I am thinking about my New Years dinner. I will not be doing the traditional collard greens and black eye pea dinner. I am thinking about making sauteed kale and sweet potatoes, and lentils. That's different.

9. I may also fry up so fish.  I bought some croaker on last Thursday. It is in the fridge. I hope it's still fresh.  

10. This has been a phenomenal year, and I have a couple of food-for thought posts coming later today. 

That was a QUICK Ten Thursday Thoughts! Only took 8 minutes. 

That is what I call fast. Do you realize how many posts I would get done if they took 8 minutes apiece? Wow.

This is the last day of the year. 

Make it a GREAT one. 

On purpose! 

A LadyLee Christmas 2015: Christmas Gifts

I would be remiss if I didn't post my Christmas gifts!

As always, I don't expect to get anything.  So I was pleasantly surprised to actually get gifts.

I gave cash and gift cards this year. That was all I had the presence of mind to do. I just wanted to get through the holidays, as it is not the best of times for me. This was a surprisingly good year though in that regard, though. And I am happy for that.

So on to my gifts

A Christmas mug from one of the maintenance guys at work:

It is just the right size for coffee or tea. I will be using that at work.

LadyTee gave me some storage containers.

She uses those type for her storage, and I admire them everytime I go into her refrigerator. So she bought me a set.

Serenity23 gave me a Book on Prayer and a journal.

I will be reading that book for the month of January. And I will use that journal as a prayer or gratitude journal. I haven't decided on which yet.

LadyTee gave me a set of sheets. And her mother gave me a selfie stick.

"What's up with this selfie stick, LadyTee?" I asked in a low voice so her mother, who was in another room wouldn't hear me. "I rarely take pictures, let alone selfies."

"I know, girl," she said.

Her daughter showed me how to use it. It was interesting enough.

"Thank you for the selfie stick, Bobbie Jean," I hollered.

"You're welcome,": she yelled back.

LadyTee also gave me a comforter set.

As you can see, Mitch and Sista Callie Jo are very nosy about it. Anything I bring into the house, especially something that big, they must investigate... and conquer it.

Those were great gifts.

I will get great use out of them.

End of the Year Quotes, Part IV