December 8, 2021. Today is our day to deliver Meals on Wheels, and when I walked into the cafeteria at Silver Sage, my heart leaped for joy. A lot of folks in our county are going to get new jeans for Christmas this year, thanks to the generosity of a local business. God bless those who have who help those who have not—not just during the holiday season, but all year through.
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done. Proverbs 19:17
December 1, 2021. My actual sobriety date is October 4, 2011, but we were on the road—somewhere in Illinois, I think—and I had never really been anywhere to pick up my anniversary medallion. Until now. Now I’m somewhere where there are Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and today I finally picked it up. I believe God’s sense of humor shows in the date he chose for me to stop killing myself: 10-4, a common radio response that means “I received your message loud and clear,” or “understood.” There’s a saying in Alcoholics Anonymous: God brought me to AA, and AA brought me to God, and that is 100% true for me. In retrospect, that’s when my journey into Gratitude truly began: 2011. In the first days of my recovery, each 24-hour period that passed that I didn’t drink any alcohol was an amazing blessing because up until then, I just could not stop drinking, even for one day. I’d been a daily drinker for more than 30 years. But on 10-4, 2011, I stopped drinking and haven’t had the need to drink since. I know I am one of the fortunate ones. I am so grateful to be sober and in recovery! It’s one thing to just not drink, and another thing to work a daily recovery program that involves going to meetings and helping others. Because of that, I’m learning how to live life on life’s terms. I’ve become reacquainted with my Higher Power who I call God, and our relationship is developing marvelously. I am grateful for recovery.
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
November 20, 2021. One of the reasons we spend the winter in Texas is that our son and two grandsons live there. I’m grateful that we can all have fun together doing something so “old school” such as Monopoly because I can’t keep up with video games. They’re great at playing them; I just never have had the desire to learn. I liked Pac Man; that, and pinball, was as far as I ventured into the arcade world and that’s where I remain. I’m grateful that games connect people. I’m grateful for all the fun and laughter and joy and memories that come from playing games together. ☺️
November 17, 2021. The dawning of a new day enlivens me, and even more so when I see the sun rise over the water. I’m so blessed to have this view this morning. I sat outside for awhile earlier and heard the wind whistling through our wind chimes—lagniappe! It’s just now 7 o’clock in the morning and I’ve already been in touch with a couple of friends and a cousin; my heart overflows with love. The continual awareness of my blessings fills me with humble gratitude, and I am ever thankful to God.
Today will be a day of discovery, since we’ll be here (Belton, Texas) for a couple of days. Errands, including a little pampering, give us destinations to aim for, and that’s how we explore new places. It’s ordinary, but when it’s brand new, it’s exciting.
I’ve never seen this day before, and I am eager to witness its blessings unfold! It may be ordinary, but when it’s brand new, it’s exciting!
November 16, 2021. Our annual migration south continued today as we traveled from Talihina, OK to Dallas, TX. Thankfully we had another uneventful travel day and arrived at our next stop, Cedar Hill State Park, right in the middle of the Metroplex. Until my friend told me that her brother camped here, I had no idea that the Dallas-area had such a place. What a blessing!
This stop was one that I’d really been eagerly anticipating; I was going to meet up with an old friend, one that I had not seen in more than 30 years. She and I had gone to college together, shared an apartment for a while, and partied a lot together. She’s seen me at my best, and she’s seen me at my worst and through it all loved me without judgement. Pat was my only bridesmaid when Dave and I married in 1978. She’d moved from California to Texas only last year, and I was thrilled at the chance to see her again.
I’ve been blessed with many friends, and I am grateful for them all. Each in their own way have enriched my life such that, when I reflect on the past, I realize just how blessed I’ve been. The lyrics to a song I learned when I was a Girl Scout Brownie come to mind and still ring true today. I thank God for all my friends ♥️
Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, the other is gold.
A circle is round, it has no end. That’s how long, I will be your friend.
A fire burns bright, it warms the heart. We’ve been friends, from the very start.
You have one hand, I have the other. Put them together, we have each other.
Silver is precious, gold is too. I am precious, and so are you.
You help me and I’ll help you and together we will see it through.
The sky is blue. The Earth is green I can help to keep it clean
Across the land, Across the sea Friends forever we will always be
Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, the other is gold.
November 14, 2021. This morning we began our annual trek to Texas, traveling a couple hundred miles from northwest Arkansas to where we are now, Talihina, Oklahoma. I drove the entire way, and I’m grateful for an uneventful trip, the best kind. The route took us through the Boston Mountains in Arkansas and the Ouachitas in Oklahoma, so I got lots of practice with steep grades and taking a lot of curves. I’m grateful for the experience and the boost in my confidence.
I’m also grateful for the Harvest Hosts who allow traveling RVers to park for the night at their place of business, which is oftentimes their home, too. Tonight we are parked inside a 240-acre slice of heaven. I’m grateful that these Harvest Hosts are so welcoming, kind and hospitable, and I’m also grateful that we get to see a part of the country not seen from interstate highways.
I thank God for the life I have, the people I get to meet along the way such as these Harvest Hosts and this great big beautiful country I get to experience. 🙏🏽
November 12, 2021. This is what I saw this morning from my RV. WOW. Amazing, I thought. This is just not your everyday sight. Against the backdrop of a fall foliage mosaic, the eagles perched patiently, their eyes fixated on whatever might be swimming in the lake below. Within moments of taking this photo, they were gone. But just the sight of them had instantly filled me with a joy I still feel hours later. I knew it was an extra-special moment, and I was immediately grateful. That was what I call a God-wink.
Practicing daily gratitude has gifted me with experiencing God-winks— true joy in my life—probably on a daily basis, if I really paid attention. And it doesn’t take two majestic eagles to uplift me, but something as simple as my pup nuzzling up to me in that cute way that only he does. Or a long telephone visit with a friend. Or being able to fit into last year’s clothes.
I find it interesting that, with the exception of Young’s Literal Translation, every bible translation of Isaiah 40:31 says to wait, or hope, or trust in the Lord. YLT says to expect. That’s a mighty tall order! But this is mighty GOD we’re talking about. With gratitude, I expect joy in my life, and that makes my spirit soar. Mightily!
Back when we were in Memphis last month, the young woman giving me a pedicure looked up from what she was doing and asked, in broken English, where I was from.
Inside, I sighed. Not again, I thought. I get asked this question a lot. Before this, it was this past summer when the person cutting my hair asked the same thing, Where are you from? My guess is that it’s because of my skin color or maybe certain features.
I usually answer something like, “St. Louis, but my dad’s from the Philippines,” and I like when the conversation ends there. I don’t like being asked this question because I don’t know much about my dad’s life except that by age 5 he and his five siblings were orphans, and once he left the Philippines as a young teenager, he never wanted to go back. He thought of the United States as being his country now.
I’m proud of being my father’s daughter and I’m proud of my heritage. What little I know about it. And there lies the rub: I wish I knew more. When I was a little girl, my family would spend many Sunday afternoons at the local Filipino community hall known as The Post. The time spent there was very family-oriented and I have good memories of being there. Lots of cooking and good food, fun and fellowship. Since I didn’t know any relatives on my dad’s side of the family, these were the only Filipinos I knew.
This morning we had a crew of RV repairmen working on Felix, installing a new slide cover so now we don’t have to cinch it in with duct tape whenever we travel. One of them who was working on the roof, 12 feet above where I was, asked—yep—“Where are you from?” “St. Louis,” I said at first and followed it right away with “and my dad’s from the Philippines.” “I knew it,” he said and then told me that he was married to a Filipina, as was the other repairman. Evidently my heritage had been a topic of conversation between the two of them in the language they were familiar with, not my dad’s native language, Tagalog. What then followed was a rather lengthy discussion about the Philippines and Filipinos in general and it was clear that they both had positive perceptions. Both of them have been there a few times doing missionary work and their love for the Filipino people was evident. Afterwards, I felt a new gratitude for my heritage; I’d always embraced it, but today brought it to a whole new level.
That conversation has completely changed my attitude towards being asked where I’m from. I feel as though I’ve done an about-face. Instead of being annoyed by being asked what I think of as a personal question, I will view it as a conversation ice-breaker and an opportunity to converse and connect with another human being. After almost two years of Covid restrictions, that is a blessing. I am grateful for this change in perspective.
In a couple of hours I’m going up to the clubhouse so that I can meet virtually with a sponsee. That’s AA-speak for one person helping another. The internet connectivity there is superb, and the hassle of getting dressed and driving there becomes worth it. There’s just one problem. There are no acoustics.
Therefore, I have to be mindful to speak softly less I disturb others who might be there. This is really hard for me to do! I come from a long lineage of very loud Polanders, and it’s most likely genetic because my daughter is the same way. That’s no excuse, though, and I know it. I’m just going to have to be aware. I do everything I can to make these weekly meetings. It’s worth the effort.
Our inner light shines when we connect with others…as within, so without. That can be something as simple as a smile, a phone call or a thoughtful text, holding the door open for someone or letting that car go in front of you in line. The immediate effect is surely positive. It’s worth the effort.
Except for at the clubhouse, the internet connectivity here at the RV resort is not very good. Every once in a while, I’m unable to upload photos to my blogs, and when that happens over and over, what do I do? I keep trying! I continue selecting “Replay” until the futility of it becomes apparent.
What’s the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result.
When I finally do let go and STOP, my body experiences instant relief. I can feel the tenseness evaporate. Of course, the situation has only been put on hold; I can either try again later and hope for the best, or I can go to the clubhouse and work on my blogs. Both options are later. What I have, though, is now.
Realizing Now is a blessing that came with practicing daily gratitude diligently, one day at a time. Before, I was either painfully stuck in the past or wistfully pining for the future. It isn’t easy to be grateful for everything that happens, but the process of just trying taught me a big lesson: to not attach myself to a particular outcome. Not having expectations ensures that I’m never disappointed! And that’s something worth striving for.