7/10/14 Making Plans and Learning to Swerve

Do things ever work out for people? I mean, do people actually get things they plan for, try for, hope for? Because in my experience that is not the reality. My plans never seem to happen the way I foresee or the way I want them to. Consistently, I "roll with the flow". Every plan I make doesn't happen by any of my parameters. Surprisingly, it all turns out ok. I can handle it.

Today I had a very definite plan of what would happen - where I would go, what would happen when I got there what time I would leave and go to the next thing. I have one late start day a week at work, so I can take care of some business matters in those three hours. Not today.

Needless to say I'm "rolling with the flow". I am handling the fact that my plans did not happen the way I needed them to happen. It is characteristic of my life right now. I make a plan, and the plan doesn't happen. I just make do with what I have on hand. I know I'm good at it, but I'm also tired of it.

I do understand that I am complaining, and I need to stop complaining because it is all okay. It all works out in the end. Maybe I'm impatient or restless.

I want something different in my life. I want something better. I want a stronger career path. I want to make more money. I want to not be constantly struggling with a low income. The day I began this blog, I was having one of those days. No excuses..................those days happen to everyone. What I must stop and realize when I feel out of control is that my attitude is what keeps me from advancing. No one who plays martyr gets very far.

Everything I believe about getting in there and making it happen - you know, the Horatio Alger theory, that you must pull yourself up by your boot straps............. I think what "they" tell us is that you have to apply this theory to every aspect of your life. If you want to change the circumstances of your situation, you need to change all aspects of your situation. Maybe the lesson I am supposed to learn right now is that I have to change my mindset not the situation; isn't that ironic, that it is all about my mindset about something wrong with me in the way I see the world?

And interestingly it is all okay; the day goes on, he kids are happy, the sun shines; and things take care of themselves.

I don't know why I have such a strong need to have a plan if the plan never works out.

There are days when I read my blog and wonder why I do it. At the most basic level, I truly do believe that even if 1 person gets something from it, then it was worth the time to write and edit. At another level is the opportunity for me to re-visit my own growth and development. It is in my struggle that I find so many answers. Reading what I've thought actually provides me clarity. I could spend several hundred words explaining this further, but not today.

Change every aspect of your situation.....................I think for many people, having a life coach (career, personal, etc) helps identify different aspects of the situation. Because I can testify that if you do not change every aspect of a situation, the situation will probably not change. What I mean is this...............if I keep trying to clean a certain problem in my home but never seem to make progress in the overall process, perhaps I am concentrating on the wrong area. We each must use some analytical analysis to find out why we are "stuck in a rut". Constructive criticism is difficult.........I'll be the first to admit it.

Change only happens when the pain of holding on is greater than the fear of letting go.

Mitchells in the Revolutionary War

The next line I tackled was the Mitchell family. My great grandmother was Artha B Mitchell (1883 - 1977). I can barely remember her. I was ten years old when she died. She was the daughter of Francis Marion Mitchell (1855 - 1904). It is Francis's grandfather, Andrew Mitchell, Jr. (1760 - 1824) who served in the Revolutionary War. It is truly a story worthy of legend. Andrew was one of 3 sons born to Irish immigrants Andrew and Mary (McGowan) Mitchell. The young family came to the colonies in 1752. They began their journey in a Scottish - Irish community in Eastern Pennsylvania before migrating to Orange County, North Carolina. Besides the boys, Andrew and Mary had 2 daughters, Margaret and Nancy. At the time of the Revolution, my 5th great grandfather, Andrew, Jr was just starting his family. He had married Mary Tate in 1781. He was in service but took furlough to be with his ill wife. This informa...

Revolutionary War beginnigns

With the 4th of July only a couple days away, I thought I'd spend some time visiting with the family and share some of our family heritage. As the United States turns 236 years old this week, thinking about those unique ancestors who risked so much to bring about the American independence takes me back to Virginia, North / South Carolina and Maryland and the original 13 colonies. We all get so wrapped up in our lives that we forget to honor the past; or, as is often the case, families are unaware of the past. Technology opens the coffins of complacency and sweeps away the dust of indifference. I love learning about my ancestors. They are some unique individuals who lived life in another time and place but who are still present in our genetics. Think about it...........the same DNA that existed in a person 236 years ago is chronicled in my own DNA. It is almost like a message left in a bottle...........all I have to do is open the bottle. Our col...

PATIENCE Heard a devotional this morning about patience from Women of Faith . Patience is one of those characteristics many of us feel we need to improve. From the word "macrothumia" meaning long fuse. There are two Greek words that lie behind the word “patience” that is used in the English New Testament. The word used here in Galatians 5:22 is macrothumia. It’s from two words thumia from the root thumos. Thumos most commonly is translated “anger.” It originally carried the idea of a violent movement of air, of water, or a violent movement in the ground or in animals or even humans. It carried the idea of something that boils up. Or something that goes up in smoke. I really believe women have the ability to be inspiring. A Christian woman can truly inspire others with patience, forgiveness and kindness. To me, these qualities help support and encourage others around me. I am struggling with the possibility that my not being promoted is a personality difference with...

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