pirate boges

Pirate Bogey wishes you a Happy Halloween!

gem 7

"Honesty is not only morally right, it's also efficient.  You save a lot of time not double-checking."

gem 6

"A good apology is like an antibiotic; a bad apology is like rubbing salt in the wound."

What I did was wrong.

I feel badly I hurt you.

How do I make this better?

 or

I'm sorry you feel hurt by what I've done.

I apologize for what I did, but you also need to apologize to me for what you've done.

...you decide...

I think option #1 sounds lots less painful.  I'm all about avoiding unnecessary pain.

gem 5

"A lot of people want a shortcut.  I find the best shortcut is the long way, which is basically two words: hard work."

all chopped and ready

Ryan has been hard at work in the evenings when he gets home from work.  He finished his most recent project last night, and he's so proud...and so am I.

Our energy saving heat source for the winter. 

gem 4

"Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted."

This reminded me that although both Ryan and I were previously married, either marriage, for different reasons, ended up working out. Neither of us went into those vows thinking it to be a temporary situation.  We both wanted "forever".  But, it wasn't meant to be.  Looking back, we both see that as a result of those failures, we gained. We became more introspective.  Our inner strength and our souls were stretched further than we thought possible.  We faced challenges that we never thought we would encounter.  We both failed to get what we originally intended, but we armored ourselves with experience. 

And, we found each other. 

Together, we still don't always get what we want, individually and collectively, but no matter what the outcome, we will always gain experience. And, we'll gain it together.

gem 3

"It's not how hard you hit.  It's how hard you get hit...and keep moving forward."

gem 2

"Hip is short term.  Earnest is long term"

Styles, trends, fashions, fads... they are all hip, for a minute.  

True, all in, hard work.  That sticks.  It builds character. Earnestness... it stays with you, it defines you, forever.

gem 1

"Walt Disney's dream for Disney World was that it would never be finished.  He wanted it to keep growing and changing forever."

In my life, I am the project queen.  I love to-do lists.  I love checking the tasks off the list once completed.  I find such satisfaction in doing this, even though I am the only living soul who ever sees the list, and after all the tasks are completed and checked off, I throw the list away.  But, it's just one of my things.  I  like doing it.  It makes me feel good. 

As much as I am a doer, a starter, and a finisher; I realized in reading the words above, that my life must not always be about a finished product.  As in everything in life, balance is best.  Reading those words reminded me, and taught me, that joy is in the doing, in the expecting, in the unknown, in the process...

We often hear people say that the best part of a vacation is not the vacation, it is the anticipation of the unexpected, the break, the prep, the butterflies in the tummy before leaving, the hype...

So, what I learned, when Randy talked about Walt Disney never wanting Disney World to be a finished product, was that: 

It is the "in process" aspects of life that bring the most joy and success.

So, will I get rid of my to-do lists?  Never.  It is part of who I am.  But, I will dedicate myself to remembering that not all things have to have a date of completion.  I think Ryan would be happy...if he ever read these words I just typed, because maybe in the application of this life lesson to my life, just maybe his will be a little easier.  My actions will speak louder than these words though, so even if not read, they will be felt.... he's one observant man.  He'll notice.

unexpected wisdom

Ryan and I drove down to St. George this weekend to see his kids.  Earlier this summer he promised Jordan a golf weekend, just the two of them. So, true to his word, he booked the golf, I booked the hotel, and like a good team, we headed down south.  He and Jordan played on the golf courses, Taylor and I sunned ourselves at the pool. 

At least half of my sunbathing time was spent alone, as Tay had work and other things to do (like tending our dog... thanks sweets for doing that!).  Anyway, I brought a book along with me.  I had no idea how much I would learn.  How much I would love this book.  But, because of our quick escape from reality, I was able to, in my alone time, not only soak up some sun, but some really great words of wisdom as well.  If you have not read this book... read it.  For real.  It's a good one. 

In my next few posts, I will share some of my favorite gems from this little hard back.