is sideways a direction?

[cire2]

I see i've locked from way back last year. Guess I thought all was well and forgot it's not all about me. So we'll try this again, and again if necessary!

just reminding myself....

To "let go" does not mean to stop caring, it means that I can't do it for someone else.

To "let go" is not to cut myself off, it is the realization that I can't control another.

To "let go" is not to enable, but to allow learning from natural consequences.

To "let go" is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands.

To "let go" is not to try to change or blame another, it is to make the most of myself.

To "let go" is not to care for, but to care about.

To "let go" is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being.

To "let go" is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes, but to allow others to effect their own destinies.

To "let go" is not to be protective, it is to permit another to face reality.

To "let go" is not to deny, but to accept.

To "let go" is not to nag, scold, or argue, but instead to search out my own shortcomings and to correct them.

To "let go" is not to adjust everything to my desires, but to take each day as it comes, and to cherish myself in it.

To "let go" is not to criticize and regulate anybody, but to try to become what I dream I can be.

To "let go" is not to regret the past, but to grow and to live for the future.

[cire2]

Well a lot sure has happended, and I write this to remind myself that SLEEP and FOOD are the most important things to keep me emotionally stable and focused.

I don't believe any backslides have happended other than maybe i'm going crazy. Way to much thought and focus on a sitch that I am unable to affect any outcome over! Well maybe in the negative.

Right now I am leaving this for my own good. In my mind she has moved on and it's over. I stand in faith that what's best will happen eventually, and all my flailing will only delay this and harm me. I am not giving up, just letting go.

This is good timing because I fly out to Minneapolis tomorrow for a week. I WILL NOT be burdended with her actions! This is bitter sweet for me but I must do this for my own sanity, as my actions as of late aren't healthy.

I don't know when i'll post again, today, tomorrow, next week? I do hope some of you keep me and mine in your prayers though. It can only help!

Hopefully at some point I can share more details as to why I write this, but do understand it's for my own benefit and it's imperative.

cire

[cire2]

The Cracked Pot
Author Unknown


A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on the end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots was perfectly made and never leaked. The other pot had a crack in it and by the time the water bearer reached his master's house it had leaked much of it's water and was only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you." "Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?" "I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again the pot apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, God will use our flaws to grace his table. In God's great economy, nothing goes to waste. Don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and you too can be the cause of beauty. Know that in our weakness we find our strength.

[Iamworththetime]

To "let go" does not mean to stop caring, it means that I can't do it for someone else.

To "let go" is not to cut myself off, it is the realization that I can't control another.

To "let go" is not to enable, but to allow learning from natural consequences.

To "let go" is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands.

To "let go" is not to try to change or blame another, it is to make the most of myself.

To "let go" is not to care for, but to care about.

To "let go" is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being.

To "let go" is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes, but to allow others to effect their own destinies.

To "let go" is not to be protective, it is to permit another to face reality.

To "let go" is not to deny, but to accept.

To "let go" is not to nag, scold, or argue, but instead to search out my own shortcomings and to correct them.

To "let go" is not to adjust everything to my desires, but to take each day as it comes, and to cherish myself in it.

To "let go" is not to criticize and regulate anybody, but to try to become what I dream I can be.

To "let go" is not to regret the past, but to grow and to live for the future

Thanks for posting this!

[faithisbelieving]

cire...I lost you briefly. I hope you are OK as I am concerned abou the tone of your last post. I understand that you are now away in MN, but, I am available to you both my email and cell if you need help. As you know, my email is:

flr9003ATnypDOTorg

There is always dark before the storm and calm afterward. You WILL be OK and must be tough right now. I support you and hope you stay with us.

Frank

[cire2]

FOR THOSE WHO TAKE LIFE TOO SERIOUSLY

1. Save the whales. Collect the whole set
2. A day without sunshine is like, night
3. On the other hand, you have different fingers.
4. I just got lost in thought. It was unfamiliar territory.
5. 42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.
6. 99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.
7. I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a parallel universe.
8. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you.
9. I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be without sponges.
10. Honk if you love peace and quiet.
11. Remember half the people you know are below average.
12. Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how popular it remains?
13. Nothing is fool-proof to a talented fool.
14. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
15. He who laughs last thinks slowest.
16. Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.
17. Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.
18. The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
19. I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol.
20. I intend to live forever - so far so good.
21. Borrow money from a pessimist - they don't expect it back.
22. If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?
23. My mind is like a steel trap - rusty and illegal in 37 states.
24. Quantum mechanics: The dreams stuff is made of.
25. The only substitute for good manners is fast reflexes.
26. Support bacteria - they're the only culture some people have.
27. When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane and going the wrong way.
28. If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.
29. A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.
30. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
31. For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism.
32. Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks
33. Never do card tricks for the group you play poker with.
34. No one is listening until you make a mistake.
35. Success always occurs in private and failure in full view.
36. The colder the x-ray table the more of your body is required on it.
37. The hardness of butter is directly proportional to the softness of the bread.
38. The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the ability to reach it.
39. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research.
40. To succeed in politics, it is often necessary to rise above your principles.
41. Monday is an awful way to spend 1/7th of your life.
42. You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive.
43. Two wrongs are only the beginning.
44. The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard.
45. The sooner you fall behind the more time you'll have to catch up.

46. A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.
47. Change is inevitable except from vending machines.
48. Get a new car for your spouse - it'll be a great trade!
49. Plan to be spontaneous - tomorrow.
50. Always try to be modest and be proud of it!
51. If you think nobody cares, try missing a couple of payments.
52. How many of you believe in telekinesis? Raise my hand...
53. Love may be blind but marriage is a real eye-opener.
54. If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving isn't for you.

[cire2]

My week away has been therapeautic in a way I wouldn't have expected. I seem to be fighting for some lost feelings now.

It's almost like i'm at a rest area or fork in the road. I don't even know what I want to pray for. It is a peace but kinda scares me like i'm giving up. I don't think I am....

Where i'm at:
1) What we had is done (forever).
2) I never say never so I do have hope.
3) I'll keep that tempered.
4) Have to get back to drag racing, just starting the car is medication.
5) Time with the boys this week as their mom is gone for a week.
6) Always realize moments are precious!!

A friend of mine owns a small trucking company and one of his drivers missed some work last year due to cancer treatment.

Treatment worked and he was back working this last year. Super nice guy with wife and small kids. Hard worker and happy.

Within the last month the cancer came back and is in his lungs. He is terminal, and has maybe a week. This man is at his house with family and friends, watching while all these people scurry about in preparation for his death. Still upbeat!

Something I don't believe I could do, amazing. Gets me thinking, the winners in life are truly a different breed.

God Bless all of You!
and i hope tomorrow is better than the last

cire

[faithisbelieving]

And THAT....should put things in perspective. Hang in. You deserve the love and respect that you are looking for in life. FIB

[cire2]

Something I think is fitting in many ways.

Life can seem slow at times, and thats where i'm at now. Plugging along and feeling OK.

A Note to Cheyanne
By Ron White

This is something I wrote to my 4 year old cousin Cheyanne when I was 30 years old. I have edited it for this article for the lesson that we as adults can learn from her.

Cheyanne,

If we stay as good of friends as we are now, I know you will read this one day. You said something in the car that made me think. I asked you if you were looking forward to preschool starting.

'No!'

'Cheyanne, why not? Don't you want to meet some friends and have some kids at your birthday party? All you know is adults.'

'I don't want friends at school. I want friends at McDonalds!'

It brought our conversation to an abrupt halt. Because, Cheyanne, I am a 30 year old man and sometimes I don't want friends at school either. I also want friends at McDonald's.

There have been times in my life when I chased the McDonald's friends. To this day, women from McDonald's still cause my head to turn. Sometimes I let the happy meal distract me, instead of the delayed gratification of the degree. Sometimes friends from McDonald's seem fun and carefree and friends from school seem boring.

Of course, these are metaphors and I am not talking about fast food or degrees. Cheyanne, it is the same at 4 as it is 30. Human nature tells us that we need what is on the other side, the forbidden, or what doesn't take much effort. Human nature tells us that what takes work and moves slower can't be fun. But, that is wrong.

Life is no happy meal. It isn't instant gratification. It takes the discipline of school but the reward is so much more than a chocolate sundae and a Hamburgler slide.

Cheyanne, I hope that you want the friends that it is initially hard to want. I pray that you want the friends who will be there when the happy meal is over and will walk with you towards faithfulness, self control, success, hope, hard work, goal setting, focus, self-discipline, honesty, integrity and love.

I don't claim to be a wise man, a poet or a saint. But, my heart beats as loud as thunder for the things that I believe and I believe to my core that delayed gratification is the hardest thing to teach – yet one of life’s most important lessons.

I love you very much Cheyanne. I have 26 years on you and I struggle with the same thing. However, who you surround yourself with will determine the outcome of your life. Make the choices VERY carefully.

You have to live with the choices you make.

Your Favorite Cousin,
Ronnie

[AmyC]

is sideways a direction?

Yep.

And so is ass-backwards and we all head in that direction at one point or other.

Thanks for smackin' me around the other day!


Amy