Getting Back to a New Normal

     UPDATE - Tuesday, July 21, 2020 

     The Age of COVID 19 continues, the virus is wrecking its havoc across America and the world. Wear a mask and be a sheeple or don't wear a mask and be a Trump Supporter. In beautiful, Alma Township, Jackson County, Wisconsin, USA - the virus is almost non-existent. In my family, no COVID cases, That does not mean no death. Death is always there. In fact, my daughter, Christine, has died in the very era unexpectedly. There is no gray area in the opinion police - everyone who says anything publically believes they are right. The virus will spread and render it's death and then someday it will go away. Maybe it will return....maybe not. Living in an pandemic is full of the unexpected, the new normal is everyday. So today, just today, as tomorrow is never given, I will pray, I will seek God, I will contemplate my eternal home.

ORIGINAL POST 

     Life is full of unexpected changes that can really shake you up and make you really live consciously. At the time the change happens, this may be a difficult time and full of anxiety and sadness and loss. However, with time all those feelings fade and circumstances change. The daily routines become the new normal, not necessarily the desired normal, and change requires hard work. If I do nothing, nothing in my life will change. If I do not desire what I have and what I am doing how am I living my life fully? How am I becoming the best version of me?
     My husband and I had two unexpected events in our life which disrupted our normal life and really shook us up. Due to a lot of hard work, planning and intentional living, we were able to take a break and regroup on a slower pace and make life happen at a saner pace. We are getting through and by. Now it's time to up the game and make our life better. The last fifteen months have given me opportunities to pursue interests and activities that I always wanted to pursue. Like many, I have underestimated the time and effort required to make changes and live my life on my terms. It's easy to float through; it's requires real work to live intentionally.
    Self-awareness and self-acceptance and self-knowledge and truth require you to look at all areas of your life and access where you are at, where you want to be, and make a real factual plan to make the changes to get you where you want. One must always keep in mind what is most important and what really matters. Do you have a really big list of most important? About fifteen years ago, I made my big list and my list is God, Family, Work and Everything Else. Yes, that is my order and family trumps achievement in my career and earnings. I do not and will not measure my self worth with my financial worth. I can make numerous changes to balance what I want with the money issue. I can use my talents to make a homemade gift for people to enjoy instead of spending money at a big box store and contributing mostly to the Chinese and Saudi Arabian economies.
    Right now, I need to make one more major change in my life to get me where I want to be and where I need to be, What I know is that I can and I will. Sure it may not be easy. Of course, I will have trials and disappointments and failures. But, I will also have success and happiness and be able to look back and see the change in my and be happier with the person who I have become.



   

Every Person has a Story - What is Your Story and What is the Story you are Leaving

  One thing I have become aware as a age, is that every person has a story. Many of us never know the other person real whole story. We are prejudiced by our own limited backgrounds, experience and education. It's just how life is. It's also easier to label all people based on experience with one of any group. Every person is an unique individual just as you are. We need to look at people at the individual level. Media, history and government loves to group and then make sloppy statements about the group and not see the individual.
      The only possible change is at the individual level. Individuals can change their life. Furthermore, I believe change is only possible through pray and the grace of God. As we move to a bigger federal government and more intrusion into our life by government, we are very limited over the control we have in our life. We need to tune out the world and tune in God.
     Life is about the the power of one. You want to change the world - change yourself, change your family, change the small communities you live and work and participate in. Change begins with showing up. You matter just be showing up. Until you show up - you can't do anything else. Do you show up at elections, mass, family gatherings, community events?
     Back to the topic - I have a story - you have a story - we all have a story. We have all known joys, sorrows, triumphs and failures. There are days and times in our lives that have shaped and formed us. We are all trying hard to make it through.
    I am glad I have found God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit to help and aid and guide me on my journey. I also know we have many who have fallen out of the game - there are way too many people who are addicts, imprisoned, homeless, jobless and otherwise disenfranchised. Let's stop the drama and work to make things better starting with me and spreading outwards to my family and neighbors. Let me be the best person I can be. Let me be good, kind, loving and polite.
     I choose my husband and made a family. My story is GOD, FAMILY and then EVERYTHING ELSE including work. I have a great family I created. I come from a large, formidable birth family. I need to focus on making my little family and my birth  family better. I have done the right thing and placed the highest value on family. I am glad I have made every decision to support my family because I have real authentic love and joy and happiness and my love is going on to another generation. I have been blessed with a grandson. (Now two grandsons.) My younger brother who is a multimillionaire who does not have his own little family, once told me I have everything - I have a grandson.
     It's not just the plain, dull facts as in Sergeant Friday's "it's just the facts, ma'am", a whole lot of life is how you want to see it. If you want to be a victim, then you will be one and you will view life as a downtrodden. If you want to see yourself as a survivor, then you will live a lot more triumphantly. If you want to live victoriously, you will feel JOY.
    What is your story and how are you telling it? We all get to make this choice - make a conscience decision and live courageously and in love, wisdom, peace and joy. We all make choices. Are you making the better choices, are you making choices that matter, are you making choices that are consistent with your values and beliefs? What will your story tell and what legacy are you leaving.    You can change. You can change your family and community.