Fun in the Sun

Sitting here, getting ready for bed, I realize I had too much sun today. I was at a friends house visiting and we had pool time. I was a little hesitant playing w/ the kids in the pool, but within a minute of them constantly jumping off the step to me, I realized that my body was just fine. We spent a good 2 to 3 hours playing and swimming. I did put on waterproof sunblock before we got in the pool, however I forgot to reapply halfway thru. After getting out of the pool, I wasnt' thinking about my skin, I was thinking about my body. With the surgery 2 months behind me, I was worried that I might have overdone it. As the day went on  I realized that my body felt fine, actually  better than fine, I felt awesome!! Then I started to notice that I was a little pink, then bright red and now its a bit painful. All in all I had a great day, and I didn't over due it other than spending too much time in the sun.

Excessive Talking!

Rant: People who talk EXCESSIVELY!

I know a few people who talk a lot, I really don't mind it because I still felt like they let me speak and they listened when I did. Recently I met a woman who does nothing but talk, for me to get a word or two in I have to interrupt her. I seem to always walk away from our conversations iratated. Partially because I can't really walk away, she constantly talks, there is no breaking point to end the conversation, so I have to just walk away. I feel so rude when I do this. I've let her know that I have to go, she acknowledges and still continues to talk. I don't have the time to give her my undivided attention. There are times that even after I walk away she will continue like I haven't even left. Due to her excessive talking I don't think she listens to what I say because she just will continue the same  conversation over and over. I don't like being rude and am trying to find new ways to communicate to this woman that I'm not an excessive listener.

For those out there that talk excessively, please beaware of your audience, know and understand that they would like to participate in the conversation too. Listening isn't just where you are quiet and contemplating what you will be saying next, but its where you actually pay attention to what the other person is saying and responding appropriately. Finally, not everyone wants to have their thoughts finished for them, this is extremely annoying.

I guess now that I have laid this all out, I know why I  have walked away feeling extremely irritated. I don't feel like I'm being heard or respected in the conversation. Overall I think people just want to be heard. Want to feel like they are important to the people that are in their lives, no matter how brief
the encounter.

Final thought: Stop, be still, embrace the quietness and enjoy the simple sounds that are missed with the noise of the world.  

Changes and New Directions

Everyday things change, everyday our lives take on a new direction. Most of the time though these changes and these directions are so minute that we hardly notice. Other days, however it is quite obvious that things have changed and that your path in life is going in a new direction. Today has been one of those days. Death can be overwhelming and lately it seems that I have been surrounded by it. I  look around and realize just how much my life has changed in the last 6 months, year, 5 years and 10 years. Loosing someone you love or watching someone you love loose someone seems to make you evaluate your life and the path that you are on. The last couple of months I have been reevaluating my life, making changes and setting things in motion to get myself back on that straight and narrow path that I strayed away from so long ago. My life hasn't ended up the way I had planned, nor has it taken the path that I thought it would, but it all led me to where I'm at now and I wouldn't trade that for anything. I know that God has been near even when I didn't want him to be . Knowing that God never changes and will ALWAYS be here no matter what helps me to realize that no matter the changes big or small, I will always have Him to lean on.