Lessons For Me

Every now and then, I find myself overwhelmed.

This always mystifies me.  It does so for two main reasons.  First of all, I tend to be very confident in my own ability to "handle" things.  It doesn't matter if that is true or not; just so long as I believe it's true.  Secondly, it's never the big stuff that seems to make my load suddenly too heavy to bear.

Take right now for example.  I am at the airport, heading off to Washington D.C. where I will meet up with my wife for a week of Bliss.  A week from tomorrow, I will have my USNA 30th class reunion and we'll watch Navy beat up on SMU.

So why do I feel to overwhelmed?  It could be that vacations are simply hard work.  I think that is part of it.  I know how to do my job - it's NOT doing my job that is confounding.  Vacations are like climbing onto a wooden ship and heading off into unexplored territory - hoping I remembered to pack enough oranges to stave off scurvy.

I also think my mind/body or soul, knows that everything is going to be just fine so none of my spare energy packs have been activated.  When something Big comes along, I can see it and my whole world jumps into action.  No problem.  It's the small stuff though that seeps through the cracks and builds up slowly, like plaque on your teeth.

So, what do I do when I get into one of these "unjustified" funks?  I'm glad I asked.  I need to remind myself that there are tools.  Here are some of mine (a list).  I would encourage you to add yours if you wish.

1. Stay in the moment.  Right now, I am wolfing down a $15 airport special - bagel stuffed with cheese, eggs and bacon.  How can life not be good?

2. Don't hold onto balloons that take you places you don't want to go.  My wife gave me this one.  It basically says that there are all kinds of things that are placed in front of you.  Don't treat them like a balloon, grabbing onto one and allowing it to carry you away to a bad place, all of which is really only in your mind.  Mark Twain said (while quoting someone else), "I've lived through some terrible things in my life...some of them actually happened.
3. Do a good deed and don't tell anyone about it.  I use to go to the ice cream places in airports and pay for a cone, giving the salesperson the following instructions, "Please give a cone to the next little kid that comes along and looks like he needs it."  I would then leave and not look back.  I always felt good when I did that.  It's kind of like paying the toll for the car behind you.
4. Make a gratitude list.  For this, I recommend www.worldgratitudelist.com.
5. Remember your families and friends.  Be thankful that they are in your life.  They are important to you and you are important to them.
6. If something is out of your control - let it go.  If you don't know what I mean, look up The Serenity Prayer.
7.  Remember, if you do what you did, you will get what you got.  To change your situation, you must change your thought, your words, your actions...
8. If someone crosses you, let them off the hook.  Being tailgated?  Say out loud, "You are off the hook."
9. Talk to God.  I mean it.  I'm not saying "Go to church and pray."  I am not a big church fan myself.  But when the going gets a little rough, I find a quiet place, and talk to God.  I do it out loud.  I bitch and complain and blame but in the end - I always end up saying Thank You.
10. Blog.

Okay, now for today's food tip.

I learned this from my wife and I love it.

Take, 1 cup of corn and 1 cup of diced apples and 1/2 cup of diced smoked cheese and mix with two big tablespoons of sour cream.  By "diced", I mean the apple and cheese chunks should be the same size as the corn.  This is a delicious side dish.

I'm off to our nations capital to meet with the other Super Heroes.  There is a world to be saved...

Up, up and away...

j