The Things That Matter

I work at a local nursing home and I only had a few residents to care for as oposed to the normal 12. It's always nice when the work load is light, then I can actualy take time with them and talk to them about their day. I realized last night that I am fueled by good conversation. Thats all I need and I feel rejuvinated. One of my favorite things about my job is getting to talk with the women about their lives and especialy about God. You really can learn so much from the elderly. If you think about all of the history that has taken place in the 85/90 years...these people have seen so much. One of the women used to be a navy captain during WWII. Isn't that amazing?? Women were rare in the millitary back then..let alone captains! After that she came home, had a son and then became a partner in a law firm. Another woman used to be a missionary and another a model. I look at them now, fragile and dependent...they were so strong once. I always leave my job feeling inspired and greatful to be alive. I get to see the end of life...it's so scary how fast our lives go by. Someone once told me that we "need to be present in our life. Live in the moment." It's so true. So many times we just go through the motions of living, that we forget to truly live. That doesn't mean be crazy and do things for yourself only. The more time I spend at work,the more I realize that truly living, truly is giving your time and love to the people who matter most in our lives. Otherwise, what's the point? Remember, if you live your life for yourself only, in the end that is all you will have. :-)

After A While

After a while you learn the subtle difference
Between holding a hand and chaining a soul
And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning
And company doesn’t mean security.
And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts
And presents aren’t promises
And you begin to accept your defeats
With your head up and your eyes open
With the grace of a woman, Not the grief of a child
And you learn to build all your roads on today,
Because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans
and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.
After awhile you learn that even sunshine
Burns if you get too much
So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul,
In stead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers
And you learn that you really can endure…
That you really are strong
And you really do have worth,
and you learn and learn…
With every good bye you learn.
-Veronica Shoffstall

I love to help people and give advice. It seems all of my life I have been the "mother hen", the one who looks after everyone, tells right from wrong...the person you call when no one else will answer. I wanted a place where i could write down all of the advice I have given over the years, in hopes that maybe it will be of use to someone. This website is still under construction as it's hard to put a lifetime of thoughts and situations down at once. Your patience is appreciated. However, If anyone happens upon this page and has a problem or situation that could use a third party opinion, feel free to comment anonymously and I will answer you in a post. It may be jsut what I need to get started. Take care, and God Bless :-)