I kind of have to say coffee! I am most definitely fueled by caffeine! Having a goal or something to look forward to gives me energy too. Music, especially making music with others, is something I find energizing.
What drains my energy . . . dealing with traffic. Negative, bitter, humorless people.
Not often enough, really. And unless I need something specific I don't make a point of clothes shopping. I have favorite jeans that I buy at BJs and when I see them marked down a bit I'll check if they have a color I want in my size. When I'm in Maryland I try to stop in the Boscov's and maybe I'll buy something, maybe I won't. I don't even have a signature accessory that I can think of, other than jewelry or my sunglasses. If I'm not wearing my sunglasses, there's a strong likelihood they're on top of my head doubling as a headband.
3. What's something free that you feel grateful for?
God's mercy and grace, his forgiveness and love, his wisdom and guidance, and the assurance of eternity with him!
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. ~Ephesians 2:8
Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. ~I Corinthians 2:12
I'm also very grateful for the delicious meal we get almost every Wednesday evening at our church's Dinner + Discipleship gathering. The food is always so good, and it's also a great gift to share a meal with others.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ~James 1:17
Dinner is the most enjoyable meal on a regular basis, because it's almost always a sit-down meal with my husband, and sometimes with others as well. I don't particularly enjoy that I always have to make dinner though! I don't usually eat breakfast, but I love breakfast foods so that is the meal I truly enjoy when I do have it because it's kind of a special treat. Even more of a treat if we're on vacation and eat breakfast out. So breakfast foods are my comfort foods too - a bowl of cereal, or toast with peanut butter and honey or with marmalade.
We don't have a specific way to mark 9/11, and don't attend any memorials or that sort of thing. But we always remember. A moment of silence, and taking some time to think back on what I felt when I saw what was happening, and how the world changed. Obviously in some tragic ways, but it also brought out patriotism, generosity, courage, compassion, and a desire for community in so many people. I'm not sure we've kept the 9/12 spirit alive as well as we should, sadly.
I sometimes reflect on some of the horrific events in history and wonder how people managed to endure through and recover from the great suffering and tragedies. Clearly an event like the sinking of the Titanic would have forever changed the lives of the survivors and those who lost loved ones. And yet it seems like they grieved and mourned, and then picked up the pieces and carried on as best they could, and all without "safe spaces" and grief counsellors and the rest that we deem necessary today when something bad happens. I'm not saying grief counseling isn't necessary - I think it is! - but I do wonder if we wind up calling practically everything "trauma" and fail to develop our resilience and courage. I realize I need to cut short my whining and complaining when life is hard, because my life is actually not hard at all compared to what others have suffered and are suffering. And every time I have gone through something genuinely difficult, God has been faithful and brought me through.
I thought I'd be caught up on a lot of things by the time this Hodgepodge rolled around, but I'm not nearly as caught up as I'd hoped! I am super busy at work with some added responsibilities I'm still getting used to. So I'm a little more drained at the end of the workday and don't feel like doing anything around the house. The last week and a bit I've found myself trying to keep up with some tasks related to planning the Scioto Valley Chorus fall show coming up. I need an extra day to nap!
Or maybe I just need chocolate, which is another thing that energizes me. That's sort of a plug for the current Wednesday Quotes link-up which you can find here: WQ - More Chocolate! Stop by and share a few thoughts and quotes! I'm also working on getting my Everyday Images post ready for tomorrow, if you'd like to join me for the photo link-up.
What are you grateful for? Leave a comment and let me know!
Hi, I appreciated your #5.
ReplyDeleteI chuckled about your sunglasses. :-)
I agreed with so much of what you said. I am the same way about my sunglasses! Your second paragraph of the 5th question- YES! I think of the Jewish people who survived the Holocaust. Talk about trauma! I'm sure most experienced unimaginable grief at the loss of loved ones and friends, survivor's guilt and many suffered physical repercussions of their mistreatment while in captivity. And yet they went on to thrive and live meaningful lives. I hope your work slows down a bit :).
ReplyDeleteI can't believe I forgot to mention coffee. I do not function well without my morning coffee. I understand what you're saying about our need to really drill down into everything now in terms of our feelings, etc. I think there was a time where people expected life to be hard and they adopted a motto of getting on with things. The pendulum has swung really far to the opposite extreme. I agree that grief counseling can be truly beneficial, but emotional support peacocks accompanying someone on an airplane not so much. Hope you have a nice day!
ReplyDeleteI wish caffeine gave me energy! I could drink a caffeinated drink and then go straight to sleep. Lol. Traffic is definitely an energy zapper! I am grateful for all of those things as well. Where would we be without God’s grace, mercy, and love? I pray that work slows down for you!
ReplyDelete