Monday, March 9, 2009

Alligators Knocking At My Door. I Ignore Them and Don't Leave Food Out

I know that somehow a turn unfortunate events can lead into something good. I need to view trials as challenges and try harder the each time. "It's not what happens to you in life, it's what you do about it." Quote by W. Mitchell.

A very wonderful talk was given by one of our Young Women in our ward and it had so much wisdom for a youth talk. I was overwhelmed and asked for a copy of her talk. She found this poem or little book written by Portia Nelson and quoted in: The 8th Habit From Effective To Greatness by Stephen R. Covey. This poem has to with... using your knowledge from the past. Here's her famous...
Autobiography In Five Chapters

  1. I walk down the street
  • There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
  • I fall in.
  • I am lost--I am helpless.
  • It isn't my fault.
  • It takes forever to find a way out.
2. I walk down the same street.
  • There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
  • I pretend I don't see it.
  • I fall in again.
  • I can't believe I'm in the same place.
  • But it isn't my fault.
  • It still takes a long time to get out
3. I walk down the same street.
  • There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
  • I see it is there.
  • I still fall in---it's a habit
  • My eyes are open
  • I know where I am
  • it is MY fault
  • I get out immediately.
4. I walk down the same street.
  • There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
  • I walk around it.
5. I walk down a DIFFERENT street.





So here I am thinking that this is a simple solution by changing my surroundings. Not. When something happens, it's how I react to the problem and not so much the crisis. I seem to think anything that doesn't go the way I thought it should, always IS an actual, major predicament. I'm really trying to be more flexible and accepting of all things ...I will never be serene if I can't accomplish this goal. The whole process of change is really not at all easy. My metaphors of alligators living here, just show you how scared and frightened I can become over things that I can't change. (see: Serenity Prayer that is used in Rotary)

Yep, there's another metaphor about how we are in this, "the journey of life." How many storms can we get through, or how many steep trails can we follow without fear of falling off the edge. I always think I'm going to lose my grip swinging over my problems and fall in with the alligators, like my picture below. I'm just not going to swing-out there... even though I really want to get to the other side. I'm going to find a bridge and soooo what if it may take a longer amount of time? Bridges, I know where to find them.

Today I took the ultimate plunge, not a metaphor. I'm getting into shape by working out at the pool. I loved it! If I have to run sometime, really run, I want to be able to. Thank you my dear Visiting Teachers, Doris Snoeck and Gloria Hansen, they are the most wonderful, caring, sweet, and fun Visiting Teachers ever! Best Friends Forever.

BFF!!



There's no food here ... carnivores! Go somewhere else or I'll make 'ya into boots. Isn't that picture like a dog or cat scratching at the door, just LOVELY?






I'm missing my cowboy hat, see ... that's what happens when I try to take shortcuts and just fall apart. I leave my flipping hat! Oh,no! Where's my purse? Yeee...yah ... Steve's got it and ... Look... It matches his shoes.
You Think You Can Quit Chasing Alligators By Just Draining The Swamp?

3 comments:

The Knappy Crew said...

Yay for you! I am glad you loved it.

Unknown said...

=0 swimming is very good for you,
remember 'smoking is very bad for you ok' bree would say that while we swam in sp in the morning and we all would giggle for ever!

Susan said...

I did think of that all by myself and started laughing. I think the lady next to me thought I was laughing at the exercises. No... The exercises hurt. Actually, that could make me laugh.