Fill In The Blank(s)

Going to school I would sometimes get work sheets where there was a key with words and then so many sentences where I had to use those words to fill in the blank of those sentences. Sometimes the key would have more words than sentences which was probably the time I had the strongest dislike for those sheets. I bring those worksheets up because I, like I tend to do to often, got thinking and there are times I think we treat people like one of those fill in the blank worksheets but the only problem is we all to often are using the wrong key with the words to fill in the blanks (sorry over using that phrase). I think as we grow up and the people we interact with we build up a key of words we associate with certain kinds of people we meet, whether they truly fit those words or not. For example, I wear glasses, the most common (besides the ever popular four eyes) terms one hears is geek, nerd, and smart. I may fall into none,any or all of those categories but I just wear glasses because I can't see without them. Or maybe that cheerleader/model type person you see and automatically think is stuck-up/snobbish when in fact they are one of the nicest person you could ever want to meet. The examples are many but I'll move on to my next thought dealing with this. This would be the box of words we seem to automatically have available for when we're talking to certain people. Ever been talking to someone and they keep trying to fill in the next words you are going to say and they are way off. I'm guilty of doing all of the above examples and I've had them done to me. Or the ever popular I know exactly what you are talking about and they go on to give their own example of what you are talking about only for you to be sitting there thinking that is not even close to what I was talking about. So then you replay the conversation in your head trying to figure out what you said to make the person get to that conclusion. Sometimes when trying to tell something it's like when trying to tell a joke and a person keeps interrupting with what they think the punchline is to the point that by the time you get to the punchline you have 1)forgot it yourself, 2) it's no longer funny cause the rest of the joke has already been forgotten, 3) you can insert your own for number 3 cause I seem to have misplaced my example! I think to often we try to guess where the person is going with what they are saying that we never hear anything they are saying and that's a real shame. I'm one that it can take a while to get my words organized to say what I want to and then I still don't seem to quite get it right but often times in those breaks I wonder if a lot isn't getting added to those blanks and if so I wonder how much is way off. I often wonder how much of what I do say and what is heard is understood (cause I do know it is difficult to follow me and my very random thoughts in a conversation. I can barely keep up and I know where I'm trying to go) Maybe to a certain degree we all feel a little misunderstood or not heard and maybe we all are. I guess, if there was a point, it would be that perhaps we shouldn't limit the words that will be used to a key of the same old used words. Sometimes it's good to add to that list, sometimes it's good to forget you even have that list (I'm finding the older I get the easier that is becoming whether I want to or not!). Most importantly of all, at least to me, is to not think there is a fill in the blank we need to fill in but instead we just take the time to listen and if we find there is a blank that we didn't hear or wasn't said then ask the question that way the correct word is put in to that blank.

Thankful...yesterday, today and tomorrow

November - the month of thankfulness and if you have a Facebook account you no doubt see friends that write something they are thankful for each day. About this time is usually when those begin to stop showing up for whatever reason. Considering what has been showing up lately in my newsfeed those days of thankfulness have been a welcome sight this year. I need as many happy, thank God there are still good people out there stories as I can to counter the banter, blame game and all of the negativity that if I'm honest sometimes feels like it's winning. I saw a picture recently that was about giving compliments to the stranger you pass (or even someone you know) because life can be difficult and people can be mean and you don't know just how much that compliment could mean to someone because you don't know what they are going through. I like to think I've made a difference, however small by doing this, but I can't say. I can however say I know this to be true because it has happened to me. Point being you just don't know what the stranger you pass or even your friend you're sitting next to is going through and it doesn't cost you a thing to give a compliment that could give them the encouragement or smile that has been eluding them. Tearing people down is easy. Take the game Jenga for example set the game up and with a quick push the blocks tumble to the floor but to set the game back up again it takes a little longer to get the blocks straightened out and stacked back up. People are like those blocks when they've been knocked down it can take a little while to get them stacked back up. So why be so quick to knock those blocks (people) down why not do everything we can to keep them standing. Maybe I'm wrong or weird or both and so much more but I just think now, perhaps more than ever, one should take that breath that you was going to knock someone down with and try to build someone up, to encourage them.

Now back to the days of thankfulness. I've decided to include a short list of my own of what I'm thankful for not only for the month of November but yesterday, today and every tomorrow I live to see. I'm thankful for everyone I've met and everyone that is in my life because each and everyone has helped me in some way whether you know it or ever realized it. Though at the time I'm not very thankful I am thankful and grateful for every storm I've went through because it helped me see that it is okay to open up and trust people, it helped and continues to help my faith grow stronger and thus far I have won every fight though I've not escaped all of them without some scars but that doesn't make me weak it just reminds me that with God, perseverance, and a few good friends this to shall pass. I'm thankful for those friends that somehow put up with me even when I tend to try to hide or just get lost and don't stay in contact with them as well as I probably should. I'm thankful for my health, job, food, home and all of the places I've been fortunate to travel to. I'm thankful for how much I've matured and grown over the years and for the opportunity to continue on this path for I may not know where all of the unseen turns are going to take me it's a ride some aren't fortunate enough to take or ride for as long as I have. So to everyone that has had a part in my journey I most sincerely thank you but most importantly I thank God.