One Day at a Time – Page 3

Home

Home. What does that word mean to you? If you’ve never gave it much thought, you probably have never moved and never been away from geographical familiarity. Before I moved, home meant one thing. After I moved, the distinct definition of home has changed.

“People aren’t transformed by locations…Eventually, we find a place that feels like home and learn to love it, but there’s no place where someone just waves a magic wand to make us become the people we want to be.”

Thats an important quote to take heed to. The grass is greener notion is almost always wrong. Your life is what you make it. And your geographical location should have very little to do with your well being.

I think home means many different things for many different people.

After much thought, at this point in my life the word home to me is people. My family. Where ever they are is where I belong.

Thier geographical location is the only one that matters.

Life, One Day at a Time

Man on the Corner

Everyone has a bad day. Driving home today I saw a man sitting on the side of the road, bunch of bags around him with his hand resting on his head. He looked exhausted, broken down and on his last leg.

When I saw him my first inclination was to stop. See if I could help with anything. I mean, you never know. But the traffic was heavy, turning around would have been a “hassle.” So of course I didn’t. Then I began thinking about how that man got to that place.

In my experience, people see a man like that and think 1 of 2 paths brought him there. Mindset #1 says he must have done something that deserved such a destination. Mindset #2 would say that the man on the corner maybe just had a string of bad luck. Maybe genuine misfortune brought him to that corner.

I fall into the latter. Even if his actions pointed him to the side of the road, what does that matter? He was there, he needed help and I failed at any attempt for such aid.

Something I always am working on is ensuring enough time to do things I think are worthwhile. I failed this time around. Hopefully that man on the corner had a better stroke of luck with another passerbyer.

That man’s bad day was an opportunity for me to turn it around and show a little help. Maybe give a church invitation? But alas, nothing. I need to work on putting more effort into other people. Lord knows I pour enough into myself.

Life, One Day at a Time

Destination Change

Its funny how things come into our life and present themselves. Opportunity, fear, joy and sadness. All major players. All emotions and events we are guaranteed to experience. But when they come; when they “present” themselves we are either surprised, nervous or doubtful. You would think by now we would have a handle on such things. Apparently not. Of course I am just talking about me, not everyone. One thing I’ve learned (the hard way) through this blog is everyone is different. Everyone experiences events and presentations completely differently.

Maybe when life presents you with something, you’re ready, set and good to go, but for me its always been the exact opposite. I’ve never been good at change. Even good change. I’ve never been a change person. But change has also taught me that change is good. A presentation that now, is still difficult but a little easier.

Today I realized something. The last 4 years for me have been mammoth in scale of change. I’ve moved from CT to GA. Switched careers, Lindsey and I had another child and bought a home. Trickle in some tiny bits if change here and there and thats it. That’s our past 4 years in a nutshell. Change is part of life. I get that now.

Change is a presentation in itself and no one is good at unexpected opportunities, bad news, etc. We all are a working project. That comforted me. Comfort in numbers I guess. But, if the past has taught me anything it should blinking in bright lights somewhere. I should welcome change. It produces growth and wisdom. 2 characteristics I never really care much for, until change presents itself.

Life, One Day at a Time

San Bernardino/Sandy Hook Elementary

I just ran across a breaking news story regarding a shooting taken place at San Bernardino Elementary school. My heart sinks to the ground. Even without knowing a single detail, the title is horrific enough.

I will spare any possible readers my regurgitating soapbox routine of gun control. All my mind could fathom right now is rewinding back to that winter morning when I learned of Sandy Hook Elementary and those unfortunate, tragic events. That morning still lives fresh in my head. Listening to music, cutting hair at my family’s hair salon in Naugatuck, CT when all of sudden the radio DJ interrupts the song and breaks that shocking news.

I’ve often wondered how the rest of the country was affected by that story. Being from and living in Connecticut, I could tell you it’s grasp was tight and unforgiving. From the moment that radio DJ came on and started speaking, we all were experiencing these details together. One, more horrific then the previous. Picture someone telling you the worst news you ever heard, then topping it with each new revelation. The victim count 7, 8,9, 14, 15, 23, 25. Then when you realized these were all innocent little children. Agonizing.

I’ll never forget my client’s reaction as the news broke. She starting sobbing. After gathering herself a little bit, she looked at me through the mirror and said politely: “I’m so sorry, its just too much to take in.” I completely understood. Emotions poured out of everyone that morning. Willingly or not.

This current day tragedy (San Bernardino Elementary) may not even be anything like Sandy Hook. I am writing this before the details are being released. But the headline alone shocked and disturbed me like a lost, bad dream I thought I came to terms with.

A good lesson that the past can never be forgotten, just a good teacher. If we are open to learn.

Life, One Day at a Time

Everyday Blogging – 1 Day at a Time

Always a scary thing no doubt, but I’ve been thinking a lot lately. What’s important to me. What’s not. What I want to spend my time doing, what I want to be creating and what I feel is truly rewarding to me and my loved ones. In combination of the “Year Of Less” and of all the distractions I am trying to weed out, I realized the need to keep or create personally profitable acts. That notion is what brought forth this idea.

Everyday Blogging.

I doubt it will be easy. But its something I would like to try. The rewards are obvious: documentation and reflection. I have been using the app “Day One‘” for these purposes. While that application is great, I wanted to expand my reach a tiny bit. Also, when I write just for myself in a diary, I have the tendency to not document properly or “mail it in.” Memories are important. Some would say the most important thing. I don’t want to mail in memories. I believe publicly publishing may be the answer to this.

To keep me honest, I’ve added a little calendar to my site’s homepage to mark the days I’ve posted and days I haven’t. Also, I know some of you will ask so… I still will be working on my long form writing think pieces. Actually I could kind of document what I’m working on if I’m checking in with the site everyday or so.

Important to note 1 : I am unsure how this will coincide with my fire department job. I work every 3 days and they have a pretty strict policy on posting while on duty. So writing on my “on duty” day may be a no go.
Important to note 2: Im going to just stick to week days for a awhile. Weekends seems too invasive.

Anyways….So here we go. I’ll preface all of this by saying I have no clue how long this will last for. But trying is more important than failing to me.