Seeking Treasure?

Check your clutter.

I have a lot of stuff. Some days I discover even more stuff. Stuff that I didn't know I had. Some of it is cool. Some has gone bad while I was saving it for a special occasion. That's the thing about tucking stuff back for later. If you don't take the time to rotate it, you are likely to just forget about it.

As I was clearing off the bookshelves one more time, (I do a last look before I walk out the door with donations.) I discovered ink for my printer. I have a Lexmark X3430. It is an all-in-one. It scans, copies, prints, reads flash cards and had PictBridge. It probably does way more stuff, but I have no idea. I need it to scan, copy and print. Years ago I bought it for a fabulous price and loved it until I had to buy ink cartridges.

One of the advantages of working in an office is that you can print at work. The concept of printing at home was foreign. That said, my cartridges lasted quite a while, until my children and their friends needed to print assignments or just printed for the fun of it. One day they announced that the printer was out of ink. I directed them to the store to replace it. "Well, it's expensive." "Yep."

What I later learned is that the ink also dries out if not used regularly. So my $30 cartridges are just wasting away. That stopped my purchases all together, until... As I am home these days without the convenience of an office for printing, I was looking for a resource.

Back to my clutter. I found, on my book shelf, an unopened ink cartridge. It has been sitting on my desk until today. I finally took it back to the store because 1) it cost almost $30 and I can use that money better, and 2) I can print at the library for five cent a page. On my return I found a very big 3) color cartridges are expected to get only 175 pages. It is written on the package. And, 4) my printer only takes a color cartridge. I only need black ink.

Refund totaled $29.09

These days you can buy a brand new printer with a cartridge for the cost of a cartridge. So, I collected my refund and bought groceries. It was a great day. While I make most of my food from scratch, I picked up Progresso soups and one pound bags of frozen vegetables both on sale for $1. For an easy meal, I place a cup of spinach in a bowl then cover with a can of soup. Microwave until hot and serve with crackers or bread. Quick and easy.


Dig around in your stuff. You never know what you might find. Enjoy the adventure.

Learn Something New Everyday

Almost two weeks ago, I turned off my computer in an effort to save energy. Previously, I rarely turned it off. Usually it runs night and day so I can access information at the speed of my thoughts. But I thought I would try out the shutdown at night and reboot at daylight - hibernate in between. On Monday, two weeks ago, I shut down my computer and when Tuesday morning came all I had was an amber light. The amber light would not go away no matter how many times I pressed the power button. I cut off the power surge strip. Then I waited. Had some coffee. Paced a bit. A gentle freak out. Exhale.

I turned the power strip back on and powered up the computer. Yea! We were in business, for about five minutes. Then the screen went blank and the amber light blinked at me. I repeated the process. Repeatedly. Finally there were three beeps, then the amber light.

A visit to the library and search though Google confirmed that the power supply was out. You can actually look up beep codes for your computer. When it can't communicate with you through the screen it sends a message in beeps. More exhaling...

After more research I found and ordered a power supply. In the meantime I have read articles and watched videos on how to replace the power supply. I actually found a rating that said it was easy. Today I am working again on my desktop and delighted to tell you I learned a new skill. I had some challenging moments but thankfully other people have had them already and posted both the questions and answers.

I'm still not clear about where I'm going but today was wonderfully full, delightful and productive. I completed an overdue task, worked out (upper body), practiced yoga, found a great deal on Topsy Turvy planters ($1) and my favorite crackers - All Bran (5g fiber - no inulin). It was sunny out and I stopped to take photos downtown.

Next, I plan to make yogurt in my crock pot. Stay tuned!

New Year’s Resolutions

Add More Wine

Over at Life Around the Curves I post 100 Promises to Myself. This is my concept of thinking well about who I am and how I plan to show up as a happier, healthier, and far more interesting person. Even though I do introspective work for personal growth, I like to read other people’s resolutions. It seems that only the usual make the headlines, but I found one I know I will be able to keep and enjoy along with my promises.

Drink the whole bottle of wine. Think of is as getting all the antioxidants.  Let go of any guilt around enjoying what give you pleasure.

~~~That said, 

Accept only what you need, whether it is an invitation or advice, or stuff. Decide if you have a place for what’s being offered; if not, pass. Practice moderation in what you bring home (in heart, mind and space). Mind stuff that has to be tended but does not increase your joy. This will also facilitate the letting go process.

Re-evaluate the rules: Eat this, not that. Do more, have less.  As we focus on conscious living, we decide in the present what the best course is for us. When in doubt, simply add more wine.

Open to a new experience every day. Learn a new word. Read a new book. Meet a new person. Comment on a blog. Share an idea. Brush your teeth with the opposite hand. Stretch. Reach. Expand. This is the process of growth.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

More Money?

Spend less. Give more.

Holiday season thrift tips were abundant and now that the New Year has arrived it is either time to continue conscious spending or settle created debt. If there is still old debt floating on the balance sheets, this is a great opportunity to resolve that as well.

Spend less.

• Know how much you need to live – housing, utilities, food, fuel, insurance – necessities
• Know how much you are spending monthly and identify where every cent goes. How much is funneled into the miscellaneous category? Include clothes, meals and snacks away from home, and all expenditures beyond necessities.
• Identify the bare minimum for your life and family. Each of us has a ideal standard of what we need and how we are willing to live. When we know what that is, we can make decisions more clearly about what we are willing to change.
• How much is your ego costing you? Egos are vultures and will strip you of your cash and available credit. The ego knows your secret desires and will declare eminent death if left unfed. Changes in choice and habit will be challenged from within with fear of loss and limitation. Be thoughtful, precise and aware.
• With a visual of spending habits, subtract the necessary from the pattern of spending. This is the resource. It is from this balance that we will pay off debt, save, and give more.

Give more.

I give in love because I love to give. Sharing opens our hearts to others, to the human experience. We are blessed to have more than we need and the opportunity to share brings the realization of our blessing directly to us. Give to places or organizations that serve in an area that interest you or that feed you spiritually. Give sufficiently that you feel the experience in giving.

If giving is already part of your commitment, give more. Acknowledge that you have more than enough. Is there any doubt? Check the numbers again. Spending, saving, and giving each have emotional tags. We calculate and understand the numbers cognitively, but at disbursement we face deep seeded ideas about money. As we open, examine, embrace and accept these ideas we are free to choose which actually serve our lives.

Imagine there is more than enough. As we accept this realization, we find there is even more.

There is enough of everything for every one, even you.

Legacy

I am adult child sorting out my life. Not that I am a child - by no means. But this time away from working has been filled with family situations. My frequent journeys back to my childhood home have both enlightened me to issues that span generations and opened a deeper passion to love and be honest with my children. I have lived by this principle long before their births, but in those moments when I deeply disagree with their life choices, I am reminded that I taught them to think for themselves and to live life fully. Who am I to direct their paths? They are adults and I would not leave them a legacy of hoping for my love and acceptance. They have it - given freely and daily.

I have lived much of my life outside of the parameters of my childhood teachings. I began in opposition until I found a way to separate from their teachings and identify what I believe. Every step was a struggle for and movement away from religious indoctrination came with the threat of eternal damnation. But worse, life was outside the umbrella of grace. Easy, how all that just comes back. A word here, a thought there, and a whole new clearing mission begins. These are not the teachings of love, compassion or understanding. This is the imposition of fear.

When I travel back I say nothing of my life that does not fit neatly into the standards. I speak lightly of my passion, which then sounds like mere interest. And I am not asked, nor do I share my thoughts. I am there to be of service and support. But what of here? Do I write under a pen name still protecting the tender egos of those who would so easily cast me into hell? Do I stifle my creativity because others may take offense? Am I destined to shun the light that the dark may be preserved?

To know me, you would find these ridiculous questions. And yet, time, maturity, and the quiet have spoken in a different voice. Having given up my brazen outlandish behaviors and chosen the comfort of home, I wonder now at the cost of this next step on my path. I will take it for sure, but with forethought to the consequences.

“While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” Stephen Covey

Freedom of Choice

With more time has come more choices in how I share or spend these moments. Lately, I've spent more time processing the shift from working full time, then traveling, the return home, holidays, and just this week traveling again. Last week, my neighbor asked if I missed working. Well, no! I enjoy the space and time to think and sort whatever will come next. We had our first snow here and the roads were traitorous. Cars were slipping at the slowest speeds and at times right through the lights and stop signs. I was out for an early meeting and then planning to travel north to visit my family. Thankfully, but the time I hit the highway the roads were clear. There were however, lots of vehicles in the ditches and off the shoulders. A huge truck had spun around and was facing back toward oncoming traffic. There is nothing to be said, except, "Oh my." Even the most careful drivers were slip sliding away.

I am thankful I have the time and resources to support my family during this current health challenge. I do miss cooking for other people. When I was working I could cook large quantities of food and carry it in to share. Sometimes I package up portions for my neighbors, but there is still a lot of food for a single person, meaning I eat leftovers for a long time.

I also offer thanks and praise to the Giver of All for several gifts I received this week. I write in long hand when I am away from home and while I was traveling to and from the coast, I really wanted a laptop, but as this is a post employment desire, I felt I needed to pray for its arrival. I passed on what looked like a great deal as I am not that tech savvy. As I checked out the seasons offerings, even those less expensive computers could need an extra $150 for support (taxes, warranties, insurance). So, I let go and figured I would just wait. And while I sat waiting, I was gifted a laptop. (Okay, I wasn't just waiting. I was looking, thinking, praying, imagining, and putting out the word that my hearts desire was for a laptop.) It works great and will meet my needs. I just ordered a new battery so that I can actually be unplugged. I also received a Garmin GPS and had company on the ride home. Wait, wait. I received an offer for a paid online focus group. AND, one final paycheck!

You can't beat God giving; no matter how you try.

 I have been blessed to make these choices. Yes, I live a simpler life, but many years ago I made a decision that shaped the following years. But since I am back from the home where I grew up, perhaps I will say, I chose a particular path to today. If you ever wonder why things look the way they do in your life, travel back to where it began and observe, with compassion. Believe, then you will understand. In another post we will talk about all the stuff that gets saved. And how to keep letting it slip away...

Living in the Ebb

Let me ride this wave for a bit longer. Yes, I can see that it is over and the tide has gone out on November. However, I was so hyped up about getting through those 50,000 words, finishing my story, and every other November event, that I have reached a serious descent. I have plans for December, but they are short of the pressure November carried.

So, this morning finds me hunkered under the bed covers.  The reason I chose the winter months for time at home is, I love to snuggle beneath my blankets, sip hot tea, and read, read, read. The problem is I am already less than social and with the dark and cold, I am sure to become a hermit. Without posting and reading on line I am sure to be completely isolated.

To counter these tendencies, I have a list of tasks to complete out of doors. On Wednesdays and Fridays I can go to Tai Chi. I plan to get to my Pilates class as well. And for the socialization factor, I am heading to the store. I only need pears and half and half, but will practice greeting and smiling at strangers today.

There are plenty of other issues to address. have you ever noticed when you think you have worked everything out, along comes a whole NEW set of demands? Ones that had nothing to do with you in the first place? Well, this will keep things interesting...