People and Priorities
I was reminded yesterday, how important it is to stay focused on my priorities in everything I do, so that I may not be a burden for my people and avoid hardships and inconveniences for myself (listed under problem behaviors below).
Problem Behavior #1:
I wasted my time walking aimlessly through all departments at Wal-Mart, where nothing on my shopping list was located.
Problem Behavior #2:
Upon entering the parking lot, I found myself repeating problem behavior #1.
I kept walking up and down the aisles looking for my small Geo Metro that was nowhere to be found. I assured myself that I had checked the correct area first. Then I made myself walk up and down every other lane to assure myself that the Geo wasn't in the place, where I had thought it wasn't supposed to be. After carrying my groceries for too long, I came up with a despairing conclusion: My car doesn't lock! Someone may have jiggled the ignition and taken off with it!?-- I called up my daughter: "I know this sounds ridiculous, but I can't find my car anywhere in Wal-Mart's parking lot." "Well, I'm sure nobody stole your car", I heard her say right before the battery on my phone died.
Solution: I returned to "square 1", and there it was! Did I finally see it on my 2nd or 3rd time around? I'm not sure, but I know that my tiny car must have hit my blind spot at least on one or two of the rounds.
Hardship #1:
I was upset about the time and energy I had wasted. I felt bad about the false accusation that had entered my mind, and about troubling my daughter with a phone call that wasn't necessary.
Hardship #2:
After completing my shopping a block farther up, a horn honked behind me in the parking lot. My daughter had packed up her toddler and had come searching for me. A double waste of my/her time and my/her energy!
I must stay focused on the right things and the right places, and acknowledge that my problem is first and foremost my problem.
I wasted my time walking aimlessly through all departments at Wal-Mart, where nothing on my shopping list was located.
Problem Behavior #2:
Upon entering the parking lot, I found myself repeating problem behavior #1.
I kept walking up and down the aisles looking for my small Geo Metro that was nowhere to be found. I assured myself that I had checked the correct area first. Then I made myself walk up and down every other lane to assure myself that the Geo wasn't in the place, where I had thought it wasn't supposed to be. After carrying my groceries for too long, I came up with a despairing conclusion: My car doesn't lock! Someone may have jiggled the ignition and taken off with it!?-- I called up my daughter: "I know this sounds ridiculous, but I can't find my car anywhere in Wal-Mart's parking lot." "Well, I'm sure nobody stole your car", I heard her say right before the battery on my phone died.
Solution: I returned to "square 1", and there it was! Did I finally see it on my 2nd or 3rd time around? I'm not sure, but I know that my tiny car must have hit my blind spot at least on one or two of the rounds.
Hardship #1:
I was upset about the time and energy I had wasted. I felt bad about the false accusation that had entered my mind, and about troubling my daughter with a phone call that wasn't necessary.
Hardship #2:
After completing my shopping a block farther up, a horn honked behind me in the parking lot. My daughter had packed up her toddler and had come searching for me. A double waste of my/her time and my/her energy!
I must stay focused on the right things and the right places, and acknowledge that my problem is first and foremost my problem.
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