Permission to Post

 From Gratitude #2 yesterday

"Have you ever been a to a marathon? I’ve been to one. I ran it. And I had people show up to cheer me on and encourage me. 

 

I’m the runner in yellow. Look at my face and my obvious emotions. My friends were going crazy to encourage me onward. I responded and was filled with positive energy and renewed strength. I see them, I receive their encouragement, I give a happy wave, and continue onward with a huge smile on my face, stronger, believing in myself, encouraged.

 

Your people don’t have to run an actual marathon. Maybe your friends marathon involves changing diapers or washing dishes or pushing papers or calculating payroll or just getting out of bed each day… marathon work can come in many forms."

 

Brooke

 

Show up for your people. Cheer your people on. It matters.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.” 1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭11

Friends and Paint

 #1 - I met my "new" friend two years ago.  I went on a camping weekend with the outdoors club where I met my former partner saying, "I do not want to meet anybody."  (Knowing this was quite unlikely, as the majority of the group is women close to retirement age.)  A woman sat down next to me during a meal and we started talking.  I soon learned she was a recent empty nester, and it sounded like living alone, I assumed divorced.  However soon I learned that she was a widow.  I was in the depths of heartache at the time and I melted into a deep conversation with her.  

We have been friends since, and in many ways she has been a life saver. She has been someone that says, "Yes," to the type of things my former partner would, and I don't really have other friends that might. Yesterday, for example, I received an email for a couple winter retreats. Once of them is in Wisconsin in an area that is well known for cross country skiing.  My friend asked about cross country skiing together this winter, so I emailed her and she said yes. 

Not only that but I emailed the organizer to ask if we could come a day early so we'd have more time to cross country ski.  The answer was yes and there won't be an extra charge!! What?!

 #2 - My friend sent me the post our mutual friend posted on Facebook.  I'm asking her permission to repost it here...

 #3 - Sometimes when I sit down to dinner, I want to talk to someone.  So I called someone I met at the retreat center this summer.  She is back in Chicago now, and I haven't spoken to her since I left.  I'm so glad I called her today because I found out she is coming to town for a wedding next month and now she is going to stay with me.

#4 - My office/spare bedroom is a neutral color because I didn't think anything else would really work with the bedspread, curtains and a piece of furniture I had in there.  But I have also had the desire to have something "happier".  I had to depart from the pallet that I chose for all the paint in my place, because there wasn't anything else on that pallet that was light/happy that I wanted to use.  So I hope I will like what I chose since I already painted this room once and do not want to do a third time.

Anyway, I bought paint today and started prepping the walls.

#5 - I've been trying to do weekly courageous things, like I did at the retreat center this summer.  I didn't have one for this week yet, but I'm going to count the painting.  The color I have now works fine.  It is a neutral clay color.  The new color may or may not work.  I'm happy to switch out the curtains if needed, however the bedspread and the bookcase I want to keep. So I'll say this change requires a bit of courage.