More of a Spiritual Post and Also, Giving Thanks, #FightForward

My husband Aaron and my amazing kids, Simona and Antonio. May God bless them all the days of their lives.

The Snakes in My Life
Yesterday, I listened to Mathew Kelley who is a Catholic inspirational speaker.  I have listened to his CD “The Best Way to Live” over and over and over.  However, the other day, I heard the story about a Native American boy trusting a snake, even though he knows he shouldn’t.  The boy is starving, and the snake is lost, so the snake promises not to hurt the boy if the boy will lead him down the mountain, since the boy knows the way.  In the end it betrays the boy, which will lead to his death because that is the nature of the snake, and the boy knew that.  In the CD, Kelly asks, “What is the rattlesnake in your life that is going to strike you down?” or something like hat. 

The conclusion I came to?  Leaving loose ends at work.  I don’t like not finish my work, regardless of what it is, so that is something I am going to work on.  Really work on because I carry such an insurmountable amount of guilt when I don’t get my work done.  I know I am very busy, but I have to learn to be more efficient with the limited time that I have.

The other snake would have to be my hot temper, which really doesn’t help anyone.  Now, there is such a thing as righteous anger, but I learned from my father who used to be an alcoholic to go from 0 to 100, fast.  Most of the time when I raise my voice, I shouldn’t be raising my voice.  No one is about to get hurt or die.  This aspect of my life is one that I am dealing with by asking priests for constant advice and support, talking about this shortcoming with my husband, and I make a concerted effort not to be that person, especially in the mornings.  If I start off my day right, most of the day goes right.
Still, despite all my shortcomings, and they are many, I have a lot to be grateful for.

Thanks for Everything
I have an amazing family that is intact.  My kids are a constant joy, and I couldn’t have asked for a better husband (even though he just informed me that we have to be packed and moved by this Wednesday. I had an angry moment when I found out.)  I love them very much, and when I am having a rough day at work, I remember that I am supporting them. 

I love my job, students, and colleagues.  Thanks to my union work, my job is never, ever boring.  Enough said.

Finally, I am doing the one thing I have always loved, and that is to write.  Even if it’s this dinky blog, I write every day.  After so many years, I finally finished my short story collection and am seriously working on this new novel, The Harvest.  The third draft is shaping up nicely.  I guess I am in that, “I am in love with my writing mode.”  Ha ha ha.  This week, I may not get to write on it too, much, but I have goal to work on it at least 30 minutes a day, which includes thinking, researching, and writing. 

Doing what you love elevates all the other aspects of your life, and my life was already pretty darned amazing (despite the snakes).

Today, be grateful for what really matters.  *FightForward