Thursday, February 7, 2019

A Way, Away, Aweigh

My mom has a way with words.  That's not exactly what Abbi posted a week or so ago ...
but it's what she meant.

Mom, that's me.  And she was sharing a letter I had written to her during one of the most despairing seasons of her life ... of my life.

It was a true winter. And it took a long time for our hearts to experience spring again.

Find the love.  In every situation.  Regardless of circumstances.  No matter the season.
That's how one survives.  By finding the love.

That was the message in the letter.

Her post reminded me that for quite some time ... I have been AWAY from my words.
Not those specific words but just words in general.

It's not that I haven't had anything on my mind.  Just things not ready to be put into words,
I guess.  Maybe more aweigh ... than away.

A couple of people who know me well have given me new journals to write my stuff down in.
And I haven't even been jotting my rambling thoughts and feelings down in those private places.

So not like me.

Image result for words matterWho knows ... maybe my inner voice has been quiet because there isn't really anything I have to say that anyone wants ... or needs ... to hear at this time.

It's February now. Too late really for a New Year's resolution.  Besides, I tend to celebrate my personal new year on my birthday ... making wishes ... saying prayers ... resoluting on my own time.

So today I will simply make this note to myself.  A friendly reminder that words matter.

Words create ripples ... that flow on and on and on ... far beyond the horizon of the moment ... deep into the seasons to come ...
in the end only kindness and love matter.

(c) www.lifelessons-mj.blogspot.com
February 2019




Saturday, June 2, 2018

Change ... as in oil

Errands to run and an oil change.  That was the agenda for my only day off this week. Even though the sun was high ... and more than a little warm ... I set out with the top down!  Driving the top down always makes me happy.
Got the first couple of things checked off my list and headed to the automotive center to get that oil change.
Pulled in and the older woman at the counter was friendly ... and flustered.  Seems it had been a busy day and one of the registers was without a cash drawer.  So she could only check people in ... not out.
She asked which oil change I was interested in today.  The basic one just offered the oil and oil filter.  Nothing more or less.  The standard oil change had those things plus checks on a variety of things ... and a vacuum.  It was $10 more.
I ride around with the top down as often as possible, so my front floorboards are always in need of a vacuum.  I opted for the second choice.
I had noticed the rain this past week that I was desperately in need of new wiper blades.  Since that was one of the things that would be checked, I told her go ahead and have them put those on.
I wandered into the big box store to do a little shopping while I waited.  She had said it would be about 20 minutes. First I went and gathered up a couple of things I knew I needed and the pulled a fun impulse buy off of the sale rack.
Nothing like a good bargain!
After I made my purchases I was heading back to wait in the automotive area when my name was called over the intercom stating that my car was ready.  Perfect timing!
When I reached the counter, the younger woman cashier was checking out a man who didn't speak very good English.  He had a friend with him who kept interrupting the transaction to ask if he could purchase the large pile of non-automotive items at that register.
Patiently, the cashier would ask if the items were a part of the man's transaction who had received automotive services.  The man said, "No."  She would begin again to explain to her customer about his automotive service and the 2nd man would interrupt again asking if he was going to be able to make his purchase at that register.
There were 4 or 5 of us in line waiting to conduct our automotive business. Finally the man who didn't speak very good English indicated that he would pay for his friend's items so that the transaction could be completed.
In the meantime, the older woman who had the register with no cash drawer attempted to assist those of us in line. She was very frustrated that she was not allowed to handle the transactions for those paying with a card ... since no cash was involved.  Still, she remained outwardly cheerful.
It was obvious that the day continued to be challenging for the helpful cashiers in the automotive department.
Finally it was my turn.  The cashier told me that I had been a quart low when I brought my car in and that the mechanic was recommending a new air filter soon.  Then she said, "Oh, they didn't vacuum because there were items on the floor behind the driver's seat."
Big sigh.  I wondered aloud why they had not vacuumed the front floorboards since it was obvious the were in need of cleaning and had no items of any kind on them. She smiled and asked if I would like to have the car pulled back in for them to do it.
I shrugged and said that it was ok but that the vacuum was the main reason I had chose to go with the upgraded oil change.
"Wait! Don't insert your card yet," she said cheerfully.  "My manager is here and I bet he will let me give you a $10 discount so that you only pay for the basic oil change."
About that time the manager appeared, as if on cue, from a back room.  She explained to him that my car had not been vacuumed and asked if she could charge me for the basic oil change instead.  He was fine with that. 
The line behind me had continued to grow.  The automotive counter staff never lost their cool even though everyone was having to be funneled to the one register.
The cashier did some things on her screen and waited for the manager to return to type in his code.  He walked over.  She reminded him that it was a $10 discount that she was wanting to give to me.  He was perspiring and looked a little harried.  He smiled at me quickly and tapped on the screen.  She looked at the screen and back at him incredulously.
"No," she said. "That's not right." 
With another quick smile my way, he said, "That's what I want to do" as he walked away.
Slowly she turned the screen towards me and said, "That's your total for today's service."  
$0.00
I was stunned.  The original total was $54 and some change.
I told her that was not what I was expecting.  I hadn't even complained. Not really.
Much like the manager, she tossed me a quick smile and said, "Well that's what he wanted to do for you ... and he did."
She handed me my keys and sent me on my way.
It was a very good day.
(C) Lifelessons-mj.blogspot.com  June 2018

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

4:44

I awoke from a deep sleep and instantly began recalling my dream.  Not so much what was actually happening in the dream, simply that everything in my dream had something to do with the number 4.

Dates added up to 4.  Encounters with people were in 4s.  Tables were set as 4 tops.  That kind of stuff. Then I rolled over and looked at the clock before falling back to sleep.  It said 4:44.

Related image

Later in the day I began to wonder about the significance of the number 4.  So I did a Google-search for "Meaning of the number 4".

At the top of the list was an article titled "5 Reasons Why You Are Seeing 4:44 - The Meaning of 444".  Intrigued, I clicked it open to find "Did you just see 4:44?  You were guided to read this article". 

I kid you not. 

So here are the 5 reasons:
1.  You Are on the Path of Awakening.
2.  You Are Fully Supported in your Life Journey.
3.  You Are on the Right Path, Just Trust.
4.  You Are in Harmony with The Universe.
5.  Listen To Your Intuition.

All good stuff.  And it resonated with my inner spirit.

Further research tells me that when you see a repetition of the number 4, angels are trying to reach you with a message.  And it is an important message so you must be sure your heart and mind are open to receiving it.

Angel number 4 resonates with practicality. It is also about organization. This can mean you need to get your life organized or that you have a very organized life.  Most definitely the first on in my case!

Determined and productive come into play as well.  The message might be to keep working on something until it is completed.

Another possible message has to do with patience and devotion ... a reminder that you don't like to give up on people.

It seems that angels send you the number 4 as an answer to your prayers. The answer is forthcoming and will become clear if you keep your thoughts positive and your heart open.  Sure.  I can do that.  I am a positivity and possibility consultant, after all.

And if the number 4 keeps showing up, it is a message that the angels are surrounding you offering up encouragement and support in all that you are doing right now.

One of the last things I read about the significance of the number 4 and the message it held for me was plain & simple.  Deep inside I heard the familiar Ding! Ding! Ding! that always lets me know that I have stumbled upon the truth.  It's the one I am choosing as my take-away ... for today!

You Are Right Where You Are Supposed To Be

(c) lifelessons-mj.blogspot.com
May 2018