Waking Up In The Wee Morning Hours

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Hey, Y’all!

Good morning! I woke up at 2:21 a.m. I was in bed by 9:35 p.m. I believe I was subconsciously bothered by the fact; I left the kitchen a mess. I was in automatic mode when I woke up and went to work cleaning up my mess.

Oh yes, coffee time is here, regardless. My coffee tastes great, first thing in the morning. I look forward to it helping me be in a calm state.

Here it is two hours later, having taken so much time to be comfortable. I had to set up my pumps, settle in with my coffee, and get the music turned on. I want my things and my comfort.

Can you believe we started the second week of the new year, yesterday?

The new work week for me starts today. I have a home health nurse coming this morning to do my dressing changes. I also have my home health aid worker coming today. Being up early does make writing easier. I am not sure; I want to be up at 2:30 am every day.

I do want a regular schedule. It is all about routine. Having a routine is what has helped my mama, grandma, and other successful people live longer than I have. I want to be successful and meet my goals. It is all part of the healing process, and healing takes hard work.

We can ask for all the prayers and say all the prayers possible, but there is work for me to do. Faith takes work. Many people call faith a spiritual muscle. Sometimes it is making those physical muscles work as well.

I just got this image of God saying, “I am not asking you to run a 50-yard dash; all I am asking you to do, is walk!”

For those of you who may not know I have had a diagnosis of venous insufficiency. I have had wounds and a few months ago I had an infection that turned into Osteomyelitis. I have had chronic wounds since the late 1990s. Thankfully, the Osteomyelitis was able to be removed by cutting out two small bones through an incise on the side below my great toe of the left foot. This prevented the spread of the horrible infection to the main bone that is connected to the left leg. To this date, I have been infection free. Perhaps this is the longest time yet, I have not had an infection or have had to take antibiotics.

My goals surround being fully healed. A good part of this means, getting weight off and increasing my mobility. Sometimes we get healed instantly, sometimes not at all, and other times healing comes as an education. Some of us are slow learners. I am learning now, though!

I will get consistent. I will practice consistency today by exercising, walking, and being ready for each appointment.

Most days I do accomplish a lot of tasks. I do require help some days. I do need to learn to ask for the right kind of help and in the right way. However, I find doing as much as I physically can handle keeps me more independent.

This is a part of my journey. Thankfully, this is me on the other side of having an infection.

 Proverbs 17:22 ESV

 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

I will be joyful as I go for a walk right now! I went for a twenty-minute walk.

Thanks for reading!

This has been another blog post entry by Boxcar Mike, over and out!

God Bless Y’all, Everybody!

Comfort Songs Cooking Helping Others Here There Everywhere

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My Bluffs!

Hey, Y’all!

Today is more comfort time. Getting out walking is making the goal. I am hoping my help is good to others, wherever I can.

I am listening to artists from childhood which brings me comfort. BJ Thomas mainly (do not laugh, there was part of that time we had limited radio stations and only certain vinyl records were allowed). I see memories in my mind from some of that music which just reminds me of those times talking to God on the bluffs.

Going and sitting on bluffs was my freedom! God kept that spot safe for me. I believe that with all my heart still today. I could not make it to the bluffs when staying in town with the pastor and his wife. So I settled for the church parking lot, and often I got in the vans to start them up and listen to the radio for hours. I do admit I raced those engines pretending to be a race car driver.

It was a different time and all was so wrong with my world. I believed in God with all my heart.

The way it is now I have had a harder time as life went on. Today I am doing everything I know to get back to the belief I had then. It is just that I am still messed up in ways, some days more so than others. I just know there is so much grace and love.

Do you know? It is when I am writing I feel my whole heart in prayer. It is like open heart surgery but with prayer. That does not mean I do not still see the rage and some of the scenes in my life. I sometimes feel the rage even more, but that is when it takes me writing and praying even more.

The stuff I stumble over today is still huge in ways. I do get heartsick opening my phone and seeing all the plans ahead. I get heartsick seeing the headlines. I cannot fathom what we and other places call justice.

So, you see sometimes it just is taking care of myself in other ways. You cannot unsee some stuff and some stuff you must look at as a warning. It is coming but few believe it so. We can push ourselves away and hide but it is there just the same.

I am not here to tell anyone what to do; I am just making observations like anyone else and taking mental notes. This is also as much as I make the same mistakes often, I take stock of my life so much. I am so wrong in many ways. There comes a point when change must be done more concretely than ever before!

I am no better than anyone. I am just making my way. I am certainly not a threat to you. I hope to be friends. The same as if were in a car, just talking as we travel. Maybe sitting around a campfire sharing deep and not-so-deep thoughts.

Philippians 2:3 ESV

 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Thank you for reading!

This has been another blog post entry by Boxcar Mike, over and out!

God Bless Y’all, Everybody!

Comfortable Saturday For Rest And Refocusing Today

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Hey, Y’all!

I am here today thanking You, God!

I purposely slept in until 10:30 a.m. and I did enjoy it. I am still enjoying my coffee from a small brunch I made myself. My candles are lit, and the music is turned on to keep me calm and quiet in my heart. I just need to enjoy the day and still accomplish a few things as I rest.

I most enjoy not having anyone here today because I just need time where no one is invading my space. Though, I know people are here to help me. Sometimes, though, it feels like I am paying rent to just have people here to interrupt my day. Perhaps, that is their purpose after all.

If left to myself on a given day, I might lose my sense of purpose. I know in some way; I might be helping them as well.

Today is comfortable, and it is not like I am giving up all my responsibilities.

I am refocusing today on how this next week might go, and what will better help me accomplish more.  

Someone asked that I add them to my calendar next week. I said that I must call them next week as I see how it plays out. I have more people to add to my calendar as well.

The people I want to add to my calendar, have not been able to talk about realistic dates and times possible. The main cause we have the thing in common is just seeing how we are going to do with our new goals and regular work weeks.

I am listening to this song called “Fear Is a Liar’ Fear, he is a liar. He will steal your rest and happiness. This is true. When I allow fear to come into my head, my rest and happiness get stolen. I do not wish to live my life in fear.

I must find faith and act on it. This takes reordering my thought process. I must think good things. If I concentrate on negative things it takes me back to fear. I have allowed much over my lifetime to be taken or, how about this, I gave away.

I gave away too much. In return, I was called dirty and trash. I was called worthless and a bad seed.

I did not get clean and sober to live in a way, that brings those negative things upon me. No one should ever say those things to another human being. Ever! It is not about showing you my scars; it is to make a point about living a real life.

I have a purpose in this life otherwise, I would not be here. If we did not have a purpose none of us would be here. Our mission is to find that purpose and live it. I do not want to fade away. Living a life of faith is hard at times.

I do see failures this past week. I also see, I still got up each day. That in itself is a success for me.

You see, today is a comfortable day for me. I am running to God today, hoping to change my thoughts and renew my mind. I want to think about good things. I am refocusing so that my efforts for the upcoming week shall be more successful.

Here is a short story, and then I will be close closing. This story takes in a small town in Missouri next to some railroad tracks.

I was 19 or 20 years old. I am driving this big and heavy car. In fact, for my car people out there, it is a 1970-something, Mercury, Montego. It had been raining. Sure enough, a train is coming that will take some time to pass. The liquor store is only minutes from closing. This shows my priorities.

We must get to that liquor store before it closes. Mind you, there is a full carload of people. In my intelligence, I decide to make a U-turn on this narrow road with mud on both sides of the road.

Well, I fishtail and slide off into what is a ditch of solid mud! I am determined to get back on the road. The tires are spinning. It becomes apparent, we are going to need to push this car. Well, I go to get out of the car. Holy Cow! The car door will not open. That is right, I spun the wheels so much that I buried the frame of the car.

The next day, a farmer towed the car out with a tractor. Thankfully, the girls had walked to the liquor store.

What is my point in telling you this story? The point is you need some traction so you are not just spinning your wheels. If you have no traction all of your efforts are futile. The more you spin, the deeper you are burying yourself.

I do not want my efforts done in vain. I am going to get some traction, by thinking positive thoughts with renewed energy.

Philippians 4:8-9 ESV

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me–practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Thanks for reading!

This has been another blog post entry by Boxcar Mike, over and out!

God Bless Y’all, Everybody!

Wrenches Thrown In Plans By Sleep Issues

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Hey, Y’all!

I had supper at 9:30 p.m. tonight. When eating this late, I would have had peanut butter and jam or just peanut butter, and called it a night. However, I wanted to make my blog post entry yet, tonight. I decided to have a cheeseburger with pickles and glad I did. I could feel an immediate change in my body.

The day started badly it kept going not so well after oversleeping. Then technology threatened an appointment I had today. Wrenches get thrown into plans with oversleeping. I made it through a good part of the day until early afternoon when a four-and-a-half-hour nap caused other plans down the drain as well.

At any rate, I have muddled through this day. I did not find it necessary to go berserk aside, from the technical issues which I hope, have been resolved. No phones or laptops were thrown. I consider this even successful. I want to do better, and I will get there.

If I have ever been fighting default mode, this has been the week for it. I believe tomorrow will be better. I did get some things accomplished today and had some really good talks to alleviate some past and present anxiety in relationships with people. I admit there must be more action, than talk going forward.

Talking, planning, writing, and good intentions are not getting the actions done.

However, if nothing else this whole process is making me write more consistently. It is also allowing me to find out what needs to be readjusted to succeed. I hope to write more consistently at a regular time if possible.

I admit, I get anxious and worry over the smallest things. I will need to find what will help me to end this madness.

I hated missing two different encounters this evening. I will let it go and strive for better.

For the past two blog post entries, I have meant to share more about what was shared in my men’s meeting. It is along the lines of planning goals and taking more control over our thoughts. I need to take all my thoughts captive daily and redirect my thinking.

Anyone who has at least taken a college course or quite possibly, by today’s educational system made it into their senior year, of high school has heard of using S.M.A.R.T Goals. They are made by specific terms., attainable, realistic, and time-based.  

I found this important several years ago and helpful. It still takes action versus thinking on our part. Deciding goals is not doing the action. However, it does give us a starting place.

The other thing I am hoping for, in making my goals is setting my intentions. What is my motivation for change? Why would I make this change and what is it going to do to help serve me?

The next step is to visualize my goals and what that change will look like and what it will mean. Then we decide, commit, and keep the goals posted where they are visible and handy, so we can take action.

Before any of this can be done it means getting ourselves unstuck from our thoughts, anxiety, stress, and being overwhelmed.

As important as it is, that we get the physical clutter around us eliminated, it is just as important that we unclutter our minds, and refocus.

As renew our minds and think n that which is good we can finally come to a place of reevaluating our hearts. We start doing what is important, not forgetting to have an attitude of gratitude.

We must allow room for readjustments. We must give ourselves grace so that we remember, to give others grace too.

Psalm 127:2 ESV

It is in vain that you rise up early

    and go late to rest,

eating the bread of anxious toil;

    for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Thanks for reading!

This has been another blog post entry by Boxcar Mike, over and out!

God Bless Y’all, Everybody!

Upon Waking Taking Every Opportunity To Succeed

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Hey, Y’all!

Today, my schedule includes a wound care appointment. I will have grafts applied to my wounds. I am hoping all the grafts take. To see the healing progress of the wounds is good. I do have more optimism as I see the progress with each dressing change.

I woke up at 3:50 a.m. before the alarm sounded. I decided to get up anyway to take advantage of the extra time. I am anxious this morning as I write. I am anxious because it is clear, no matter how much time I have, there is always more to do. Managing the time and tasks is still challenging.

I had started this entry early this morning and time caught up to me once more. I have done some walking and I took a nap once I got home from my appointment.

I am grateful today at my appointment my fears were put to rest by the Nurse Practitioner and my Nurse. There was some thick calloused skin to be removed. It was causing me pain. All the wounds look good, and I am approved to keep going with the skin grafts.

I am pressing through once more writing while my chore worker is here. I am having my worship music going to try and keep me focused on just my writing. This can be challenging. I prefer to not have to communicate during this time.

My silence communicates loudly. We only have an hour to go as it helped to do an hour of overtime yesterday. I can do this more nicely!

You see I have learned any kind of anger can make my writing time unenjoyable. My whole point in writing is to get a message out and enjoy it at the same time. It does not serve me well to be angry or resent the situation.

I am taking every opportunity to find ways to manage my time. The nap did help me physically. However, it did cost me more time than I intended. My lesson today is about learning to be okay with readjusting accordingly.

Inside I am screaming mad, and my mind feels so cluttered with all the information I have soaked up in changing my approach to what it means for me to be consistent. I am also trying to accomplish too many tasks at once. I will take a breath, now.

I was reminded this morning that I am doing great. I do need to remember this is the first week of making changes. I do have too high of expectations of myself, in that I want it as though I have been living in a new way, all my life.

Cutting out the clutter in my mind is a process. It is going to take time.

I am not forgetting to be thankful in this process of change.

  1. I am thankful I want to be intentional.
  2. I am thankful for reminders to breathe.
  3. I am thankful I am responsible for my progress.
  4. I am thankful I am not doing this alone and I have wonderful supportive friends. But especially one friend and my Mama.
  5. I am thankful for a new way to communicate with my brother and his family.
  6. I am thankful I took a moment to breathe and just connect with my chore worker for a few minutes today.
  7. I am thankful this process is taking place and I will not be defeated in following it through.
  8. I am thankful I can encourage others.
  9. I am thankful I can fight the disease with the tools I have been able to acquire.
  10. I am grateful that being thankful with all my heart can change the balance of all things.

In the end, today has been a success through my gratitude.

Philippians 4:7 ESV And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Thanks for reading!

This has been another blog post entry by Boxcar Mike, over and out!

God Bless Y’all, Everybody!

Progress Not Perfection According To My Schedule

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Hey, Y’all!

Here we are on a Tuesday Afternoon. I made good use of the morning. However, my morning did not exactly go to schedule, but I did get in my walking. The schedule is hard to get implemented perfectly, but I am happy with my accomplishment of walking. It is the progress that matters.

I was also able to do my laundry and attend the men’s group I attend every Tuesday.

I have shared about my recovery before, using the HALT. Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired. I was called about whether my insurance would cover even an office visit tomorrow. I could feel myself getting a bit hungry.

I realized I needed to calm down and the fact it was going to be another forty-five minutes before I could get to the food. I was angry, because of just of the chance my insurance trying to charge me a large sum deductible. I did calm down and admit the person on the other end of the phone did help talk me down.

I am now using my pumps again hoping to use them for about three hours total this afternoon. And use them again tonight. I am eating cheese now for a snack. I was happy to get my coffee in this morning. That is always vital for me to deal with life.

This week is the reality of climbing on my journey. I am determined to get better. Amazingly, I am making calls consistently in the morning time. I am having to make time while people are present in my apartment, and I dislike how that is having to work. It feels cramped to write during this time. It is how it will get done today.

Today it is beyond my control, and this is where acceptance must play a part in my day. I imagine this is where my day looks a lot like having a job. The only difference is it is my job, to help others, help me.

This question surfaces a lot during office visits. “How can I help you today?” If I was a professional, I might know. Is my usual reply; and that is stating nicely I suppose. I want to do better and have a better answer. I am not always willing to see what it is they can help me with.

I can do better if I want to. Is that what we say about others? “They could help if they wanted to.” I can help me today by chilling out. In the same way, it will help others who help me. My brother’s words one time as he watched me be this frantic ball of anxiety-ridden human come to mind often. It is in a good way. I use the question he formed as a self-check.

“Is this the way you are all the time?” I was ashamed then, and embarrassed. Since then, I have made better progress. I still have a long way to go.

Today, after getting off the phone, I found myself frantic about doing the laundry. I feared not being able to be done enough, to attend my men’s group. I called myself names, going on about how poor I had done with going along with the plan. In the end, I made it to the men’s group, and I did finish my laundry.

Today was an accomplishment, and dare I say tomorrow will even be better and hopefully not find the need to use name-calling, anyone.

I am looking forward to relaxing this evening. It is all about self-care and doing better.

Philippians 4:13 ESV I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Thanks for reading!

This has been another blog post entry by Boxcar Mike, over and out!

God Bless Y’all, Everybody!

Happy New Year 2023 Here We Are!

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Hey, Y’all!

Here we are in 2023, Happy New Year!

There is a lot of work and happiness to fulfill this year. I am hoping to improve on consistency going by today’s routine. I got up super early, but my default mode went into action. It has taken me hours to not get far on my daily list. However, I did some rearranging that was not part of the plan for today.

A friend and I are implementing The Five-Second Rule Mel Robbins coined. I mentioned it previously when I took the workshop Mel Robbins freely shared back in the spring. The Spring Reset course. At present, we have a whole year to reset!

My plan of action is the following:

  1. 5-4-3-2-1- Get-up
  2. 5-4-3-2-1- brush teeth/mouthwash
  3. 5-4-3-2-1-walk
  4. 5-4-3-2-1- drink water and so on

The other part of my plan is to high-five myself in the bathroom mirror saying my full name. Saying I love you to myself and telling myself, “You are going to do great today!” This is called “The High-Five Habit,” Mel Robbins also coined this.

While I want to push myself to do better, I realize the risk of me wanting to do it perfectly. The reality is that I am not going to do anything perfectly. Therefore, I need to recognize the need to talk to myself more gently than I have in the past and treat myself more gently.

I want real change in my life. It is so easy to slip back into default mode screaming at myself for failing, and about plans that are not cooperating.

I can do better. Today I am resisting the urge to scream at myself for not living up to the expectations of my plans set forth. I am still accomplishing things off my list and even writing this is part of what I planned on. I just hoped that I was more successful today. The important thing is to not give up.

I have been told it takes twenty-eight days to make a habit and an additional forty-plus days, to make a habit stick.

I want to live the best version of myself possible. It will take hard work and determination and doing the same thing over and over. This is how it went in my default mode. I will do better! Today is not a total failure.

Celebrating the smallest of victories helps in being supportive of myself. Celebrating in definition along these lines is, being proud of myself that I have made accomplishments today.

Today is a gift for each of us to be alive, breathing, and taking of ourselves.

As I get ready to close out this entry, my time in prayer and meditation is vital. Without that time, I am just spinning my wheels. It does take determination and consistency, to have that conscious contact with God as I understand Him.

Having that conscious contact with God is what gives me my thankfulness, hope, desire to do better, and willingness.

Let us be kind to ourselves and each other.

Psalm 84:12 ESV “O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!”

Thanks for reading!

This has been another blog post entry by Boxcar Mike, over and out!

God Bless Y’all, Everybody!

The Countdown Begins Happy New Year’s Eve!

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Hey, Y’all!

I am hoping to get this blog post entry on time.

Today has been a day of action. I am still in the process of finishing all the tasks, I had hoped to finish.

I refuse to let myself off the hook for finishing the task as they are reasonable to have finished by the end of the day. The only exception would be putting together the stand. That is only because it involves assembly with screws, bolts, and shelves that are awkward to manage. Even so, I do believe I can manage it.

Aside from the tasks, tonight is a night for me to be thankful for the things I have gone through on my journey in the past year. I also want to pray and meditate for the next year coming up. I need God’s help to stay committed to being consistent in the next year.

I believe the next year will surely have challenges. But we cannot cry and shy away from takings the risks necessary because it is difficult.

On a side note, I may not finish this entry in time for WordPress to count this as part of today. However, I hope the relevance of the message is more important.

As I look to find better ways along my journey, I hope to extend my life by being more initiative-taking with my health. I want to be more loving to myself. I want to show myself more grace while still pushing forward. I am harder on myself than anyone and judgmental of my failings.

I do love the current changes I have made and hope to correct the wrongs I have made along the way.

I love my therapist in the way of a brother that has some insight and is not judgmental. He is supportive regardless of if I am supportive of myself in a few or many single sessions, or not. That is another point in my journey, I do want to do better and be present for myself.

So yes, the upcoming year is a chance for a huge reset and to do the things that help me thrive physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

I hope in the next year to embrace the Nature God Created, hug a tree, feel the grass beneath my feet, in walking to see the beautiful colors, and soar high with eagles in meditation and prayer.

There is beauty in this life that gets bypassed in the business of the day.

I hope to even get back to my spiritual journaling and write a lot like what has been attributed to David the Psalmist. I did write a lot like that at one time and made me feel much closer to God. I need that, to be fresh and free spiritually.

I am not sure many can relate but it is more of a thing of being more in my spirit, poured out first, to God. It is okay if you do not understand it. What is important is that I do and that I take that action.

I do not know how to fit it all in daily, but the timing will come, as does this New Year!

Thanks for reading!

Happy New Year’s Eve, Y’all!

This has been another blog post entry by Boxcar Mike, over and out!

God Bless Y’all, Everybody!

Consistently Committing To The Hard Work And Determination

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Hey, Y’all!

I have a lot to share and put into action myself today. I did say I may write a few posts today and so far, that does seem to be the plan.

I am enjoying my coffee and being in my writing mode.

I want to be quick to point out, I am not just writing, talking, or thinking about things today, as on this last day of the year. All I have is today. What will I get done in these last twelve hours?

I am working on the never-ending decluttering of my desk and tables. I have a little stand to put together. I have gathered clothes for the task of doing laundry. I have dishes soaking in the sink and I plan to mop my walls with bleach today the mop bucket is out.

Each day there is a plan to get things done. Why is it important so much gets done today? I am not willing to wait another day to get things done that I know I can be finished with today. I am determined today is the bottom line.

This is a way I can take care of myself. The more I can get done the less anxious I will be.

I am no one special. We all have these types of things waiting on us to get done daily.

I am not waiting on the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth day of January, or never, to get started completing even the smallest of goals. I want to live more simply, and not always feel in a rush to be on top of things.

Oh my gosh! I was taught, not that I managed the concept well, or even carried it out if we prepare ahead of time, we do not have to sweat the small stuff. Thinking about it, talking about it making lists for it, is still not doing it.

It is doing the behind-the-scenes grunt work, which is going to give us the jump in living our daily life. Hard work and determination get us farther than just thinking about things. It is what will make us successful. The key is sticking to making that commitment daily.

I have thrown away some old ideas and listened to others on what makes them successful. The problem becomes, as in some of the new things I am learning my brain still goes into default mode because it has not fully learned the new ideas.

Change does not happen overnight. It never has and it never will. We must put the information into our brains and most of the time that is done by doing. Taking the action necessary to make changes.

One of the biggest things for me to get the concept of is that I do not have to react to change by screaming, getting into a huff, or slamming the door, because the process is hard. Change is doing what is unfamiliar.

Change can look like a threat. It is a threat to our default mode. Yet change is part of life, and it happens daily.

Finally, if we have set ourselves like flint to stone, we have arrived at acceptance. We have a choice. We have a life choice before us. It can make or break us

What will we choose?

It is time for me to get on with my tasks for the day. I am hoping to come back one more time at least, with more of my thoughts and actions of the day.

Thanks for reading!

This has been another blog post entry by Boxcar Mike, over and out!

God Bless Y’all, Everybody!

I Regret Not Freely Being Myself More

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Hey, Y’all!

I may end up writing a few blog post entries today because I regret not writing more consistently.

Life happens. Wrenches get thrown into plans, and I find I do freak out when I must readjust accordingly. This has happened more than a few times this week. More so the plan changed in the last several months. Dealing with the aftermath has sucked cow’s buttermilk.

For one that has a history of hating routines, I sure have melted down over the curveballs thrown at me.

The latest curveball was finding out my town had a water boil advisory alert! It had been in effect for several days. I freaked out. I grabbed dishes and all the stuff out of cabinets boiled water and added bleach! I should also add, I have a helper. I can be a little controlling when I freak out.

I can be a little controlling about boiling water as well.

As I was telling a couple of friends about my day, one of them pointed out, “not everyone is going to do the same as you.” Another friend said, “Do you realize you told someone how to boil water?” I said in my defense, the helper said, she was not a good cook. I said also in my defense, a year ago I was telling someone how to wash their hands!

I have grown! I am not going to be fixed overnight! My friend said in jest, “you cannot be fixed.” We laughed some more. He suggested, I start a recipe section on social media and tell everyone the recipe for boiling water! I said, I just might do it!

You might think this is the end of this story. You would be wrong. I kept waiting for the updates on the advisory because by the end of the day there was supposed to be an update on the advisory. There was an update that said we were free to use our water normally again. I still did not believe people because I did not see where an official, said as much.

I finally, did see the post that said the advisory was lifted. I now breathe a little bit easier. I do want to play it safe where health risks are a concern. The problem becomes not being able to freely live. My sense of humor disappears. I am not enjoying the same life I am protecting.

I am realizing you can never prepare enough. Some things you cannot prepare for, with a lack of communication. Sometimes you must be more flexible than you might at first be willing to be.

I got a lesson in life today. It is forcing me to look at more things that matter. I need to take advantage of the help I receive in all areas of my life. I do have a responsibility to take care of myself. I do need to quit being afraid of being locked into my own words.

I do fear someone will use my own words against me and make me commit to something they believe.

I shared this funny and sad story. However, it is exactly something like this story, that points to my fears. I want more out of my life than fear.

I want to enjoy freely being me.

Thanks for reading!

This has been another blog post entry by Boxcar Mike, over and out!

God Bless Y’all, Everybody!