It's The Little Things- A link back to Barb at: This and That (As I Bounce Thru Life)

Barb posted an interesting little ditty about the little things that make her tick and then asked others to share their own -and I actually had a moment and felt inspired to participate, so here goes!

1) Bubble bath that fits the season.  Right now I'm into gingerbread scented.
2) A dress that hits in all the right places and even makes my thighs look thinner.
3) When little kids figure out that we have a candy dish that is open to ANYONE at ANY TIME!
4) A stranger that smiles back at you.
5) The times when I feel badly that I'm running late and then the other person is too!
6) Warm puppy wiggles
7) Adopted plants that turn out to be super cool
8) When that thing that I would really like to have, but can't possibly pay 'that' much for goes on a good sale
9) A warm house and a furnace that has 3 nice blue gas flames going
10) Unexpected sunshine!

Here's the link back to Barb's original post:
This and That (As I Bounce Thru Life): It's The Little Things

Care to join in?

 

30 Days Of Thankful- 1 through 5

I noticed several other bloggers doing 30 Days Of Thankful and I decided to join in!

I may not post every day, but I will get 30 in by the end of the month!

So here goes with days 1-5:

1)  that my nephew has settled smoothly into his home school routine and that it works much better for him
2)  that I've had some time to do some things that I've wanted to
3)  that my house is warm inside and we haven't lost power during recent storms
4)  that I've had the opportunity to meet some interesting new people recently
5)  that I have some level of skill for DIY projects and that saves me money

How about you?  In this month of November, what has been going through your mind as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches?

For Once

A month ago I let y'all in on the fact that I had finally cut back on my work hours; something I had been meaning to do for- oh about forever...

At the time I had so much guilt and doubt and felt like such a selfish brat.   Who was I thinking that I had the right to just decide that I deserved a break?  ...that I might actually function better if I wasn't working quite so many hours outside of the home?

Holy Moly, was I wrong- about stupidly feeling guilty and wondering if I was doing the right thing, I mean!!!

It has only been a month. 

And this has been a month that included my sister being sentenced to serious jail time, my little dog having a horrible reaction to a basic neutering surgery (he's fine, just a bout of chihuahua anxiety as it turned out), dealing with taxes and then of course the horrible terrorist activity that we have all felt hit us in the gut- one week ago.

So I am simply amazed that I am facing a Monday morning tomorrow and I can honestly say that for once I am not overwhelmed.  I am not feeling like I am behind already.  I do not feel as if I don't know how I will get through the coming week.

Even more surprising is the fact that I feel as if I have not had to pull out the 'facade', make nice and make sure everyone else is good while I am busy feeling like I have been run over by something large and am busily picking myself off the pavement before anyone notices.  After all, I would never want anyone to think I might not get the job done...

Seriously, I feel like I can finally breathe.  And I never really realized just how long I had been holding my breath.

Photo Credit: "Guardians Of The Light" by sattva found at: freedigitalphotos.net

Time And Resources

One day, back when I was working as a nanny and was still really struggling to make ends meet, the father of the kids I was working with reminded me of one of the simple truisms of life:  You either have more time or more money- not usually the luxury of both at the same time.

Lately, as I contemplate the exciting changes that are on the horizon for me and mine- eventually moving to a warm weather spot, investing in a vacation property, working with my husband through his recovery to health, and even seeing my life through my own perimeters instead of those that have been assigned to me by others in the past- I can't help but contemplate that idea of time and resources.

I want to be careful and considerate with the things I give my time and effort to.  I want to spend my resources on things that truly matter to me.  I want to build the life I desire out of what I have.

That means I cannot please everyone.  Not even close.  And I am pretty OK with that.

So I've noticed that I'm putting more and more time and effort into things that are important to my husband. 
It feels good to me.  It feels right.
I'm a natural supporter, an ally, a partner.
I've never been comfortable in the limelight.
Some of us are supporting actors.  And damn good ones.

Unproductive beginnings can produce mad skills.  And just because those skills might have been originally produced in fear and taken advantage of by some in the past, doesn't mean they aren't real skills and meaningful in my life today. 

It is the most fun and rewarding thing to be there with someone who doesn't necessarily need you to survive, and yet is certainly better off because you are there.  There's a big difference between feeling as if you must keep everything in balance to avoid disaster and being able to provide a solid foundation in a partnership that is more than the sum total of its parts.

It's good to have a worthy place to put my time and energy into.  A place that makes me a better person too...  a person who will be more ready to accomplish my own goals as well. 

So I'm curious...  Are you the type of person that enjoys more of a supporting role?  How did you come to accept that about yourself?  Are you able to successfully weave in your own accomplishments?  What's the most that you have ever happily sacrificed for someone else?  Tell me your stories!