Independent vs Interdependent

During my reading I have found in myself a certain amount of fear.  I seem to have always been seeking to be independent, physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially.  In growing up I think we all seek these same things so we can set out on our journey away from our childhood homes.  There I was dependent for everything until learning skills to be out and about.

I sometimes view interdependence as a step back to allowing others to control, define, use or manipulate me.  I had to reread a statement that was very similar to this several times.  I recognized in it my fear of losing the independence I have gained.  It goes on to explain that to be truly interdependent we must be a mature independent person, knowing when to say no, how to listen and understand others, and not be threatened by the changes that happen when we interact and influence each other. I see in myself the need to have control. I  see the need to seek balance for control and interdependence.  Steven Covey states that when good interdependence happens success can be multiplied instead of just added upon.  It's a lot to roll around in my head.  Maybe I'll just let it ferment in my brain a few days.

What Am I?

I believe that what you do speaks louder than what you say.  I also believe that before someone can really hear what you have to say, that you need to have heard and sincerely wanted to listen to what they have to say. Taking this a step further, does what you are, your character, speak louder than your actions?  There is a maxim that goes, "Sow  a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny,"

I finished reading "The Seven Habits of Effective Teens"  written by the son, and have started reading "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" this one written by the father, Steven Covey.  This one is definitely a little more to the point.  So far I'm only on the second chapter.  It covers being dependent, independent, and interdependent.  It points out that the development of character is shaped by the habits that we choose to implement in our lives.  It also points out that not making the effort to form  better habits, could be just choosing  less desirable habits.

In belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we are taught to love our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ with all our hearts, obey and live the commandments, listen to the whisperings of the Holy Ghost, seek to love and serve those around us, and to develop talents and skills to become the best we can be.  All of these develop character. All of these become habits and I guess when they become easy to do, they are who we are.  The goal is to become a true disciple of Jesus Christ.

Nimrod

The past few months I've been studying the old testament. I came across Nimrod, grand son of Ham, great grand son of Noah.  You know, the one with the ark.  Well he wanted to persuade men not to believe in Christ or of God.  He also wanted to convince men that happiness was not found by keeping the commandments but by men's own courage.  He established his own cities and changed the government to one that produced an atmosphere where the people were brought under constant dependence on the government for everything.  Doing this he set himself up as their hero, or savior.  He was the one that instituted the building of the tower of Babel.  "Now the multitude were very ready to follow the determination of Nimrod, and to esteem it as a piece of cowardice to submit to God, and they built a tower, neither sparing any pains, nor being in any degree negligent about the work, and by  reason of the multitude of hands employed in it, it grew very high, sooner than anyone would expect, but the thickness of it was so great, and it was so strongly built, that thereby its great height seemed, upon the view, to be less than it really was.  It was built of burnt brick, cemented together with mortar, made of bitumen, that it might not be liable to admit water."

These things brought to mind where we are in this world today.  Are we living in a day when believing in God and Jesus Christ is thought of as a weakness?  Are we beginning to believe that we are not capable of caring for ourselves but that we should allow the government or laws to make more of our decisions?  Do we really believe that keeping the ten commandments leads to happiness or do we believe it restricts us? Are we humble enough to attribute all that we have as being a blessing from God or do we attribute it to the works of our hands?  Hopefully we stand firm in the belief in our Father In Heaven and in His son and that we are truly his children, capable of using our free agency to choose happiness.

Do our buildings reflect the general consensus?  During the 1800's churches were the largest buildings in a town, in the 1900's government buildings became the largest, and now towering over our government buildings are tall financial institutions.

Questions/Statements to Ponder

I've been reading Sean Covey's book "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens".  In it he asks that they answer the following questions/statements.

1-Think of a person who made a positive difference in your life.  What qualities does that person have that you would like to develop?

2-Imagine 20 years from now, you are surrounded by the most important people in your life.  Who are they and what are you doing?

3-If a steel beam (6 inches wide) were placed across two skyscrapers, for what would you be willing to cross?  A Million dollars?  Your pet? Your brother? Fame? Think carefully....

4-If you could spend one day in a great library studying anything you wanted, what would you study?

5-List 10 things you love to do.  It could be singing, dancing, looking at magazines, drawing, reading, daydreaming, anything you absolutely love to do!

6-Describe a time when you were deeply inspired.

7-Five years from now, your local paper does a story about you and they want to interview three people, a parent, a brother or sister and a friend.  What would you want them to say about you?

8-Think of something that represents you... a rose, a song, an animal... Why does it represent you?

9-If you could spend an hour with any person who ever lived, who would that be?  Why that person? What would you ask?

10-Everyone has one or more talents.  Write down some of yours, being a good friend, making things happen, mechanical, accepting others, humorous, music, ect...

11-What are the three most important skills I need for my career?

12-Would I want to marry someone like me?

13-What is the key crossroad I am facing in my life right now?  In the long run, what is the best path to take?

14-Identify a negative label others may have given you.  Think up a few things you can do to change that label.

I filled out each of these questions/statements and discovered I was traveling on the path that I wanted to be on.  I only needed to tweak a few things to straighten out my path. Even at age 50 these were thought provoking, for me at least.

Rain

I love the rain!!!

It cleans the air.
It smells delicious.
The wind that normally comes with make sweet whispers in the pine trees around our home.
The soft pitter patter is comforting.
Lighting and thunder remind me of God, full of power and glory.
The flood that can come from the clouds is just amazing in it's fury.
Snow in its gentleness and pure whiteness is gorgeous.
Hail that sprinkles the ground is a wonder in its self.
The color of clouds is my favorite, especially with the light of the sun peaking through it.

Those Thoughts

Last Saturday Michael had a drive at PRI scheduled.  He was supposed to bring a certain piece of paper with him.  Over the course of the last few weeks he had this paper on the dresser in his closet, at work, in his car and in his office.

Well Saturday came and he could not find it.  I had been clearing piles of stuff away at a quicker pace than normal and I could just see that he thought I had thrown it out.  It became more and more frustrating for him.  Ben, Julia and I joined in the search.  After a few minutes I invited these two to kneel down in the living room and pray for the spirit to tell us where it was.

I went in my room to put on my shoes and socks.  As I was doing so the little thought came to me to look in a pile of paper I had not taken care of yet.  There it was.  I took it to Michael.  Then I invited the children to kneel with me again and thank Heavenly Father for the sweet spirit of the Holy Ghost.  He is amazing.

My Office

I'm finally admitting that maybe I might need an office for my various activities.  Filing, family history, photos, cd's, blog stuff, primary, bills and yes, email.  I had attempted to make a spot in Michael's office but he is into so many different activities he needs his own office.

At one time I had an area in the family room where I had most of my stuff.  Yesterday I decided to organize my primary stuff (Andy Kay emptied my large filing box into a large pile).  It forced me to look at how I was storing my stuff.  I spent the afternoon and my evening throwing out, refiling, and redefining my area.  This morning I moved both my computers and most of the family history back into this area.  I did have to child proof it somewhat to protect my library of records.

Now here I sit.  The computer is up and running, that in its self is a miracle. I have a comfortable chair.  I can see and access everything, and there was still room for chairs, tables and serving ware.  I might be a little more efficient, at least that is the hope.  D & C 88 states that we should be organized and that it invites the Spirit of the Holy Ghost. I sure could use more of his assistance.  We'll see what happens.

Planter Fasciitis

Last June I was in the mountains with Michael and the trailer.  He went to take a shower and while he was gone I finished hooking up the trailer.  Easy, everything is electric, no lifting involved.  Success, soon we were on our way home.  Michael drove.

When I went to step out of the truck I realized that I could hardly walk on my left foot.  Well I'm getting older and figured that during the hooking up of the trailer I must have pulled a muscle.  The last time I pulled a muscle it took 3 months to heal. ( I was pushing the refrigerator across the kitchen that time.)  I waited, babied it and still it stayed the same.  Sometimes I didn't notice it and other times all I wanted to do was to sit down.  During this time I kept having a thought to put a piece of 2 X 4 in the kitchen and stretch my calf every time I went through that room.  I ignored it.

Well at Little Philmont someone asked me if I was going to go on a hike while I was there.  Nope.  Then I explained about my foot.  Her husband went on to explain that something very similar had happened to him and that it was caused by the calf shortening and then pulling on the tendons in the foot.  Stretching was the answer he said.  Low and behold,  his advice is helping slowly but surely.  I should have listened to that thought about the 2 X 4.  You think I would know by now about those thoughts.