Politics Is Not R or D

Birthdays bring a lot of reflecting to me of the past year and where I want to travel the next year. This particular birthday will start a new decade for me. I know that numbers aren't telling of the person, but now I understand Jack Benny's like of "39"! It has been the reflecting of how many people have been so supportive of me this year and the connections that I have developed with people that make me feel so rich! Social media has its issues, but I have been able to reach out, meet, and reconnect with so many.

That leads me to the politics issue. For me, politics is not Republican or Democratic, but "P" for People. AS a community leader, I need to keep focused on the people around me. It's through them that I learn and become a better person. I focus my energies on making our City a better place for all. Connections are two-way streets. I hope that the new year for me will be one filled with more connections and deepening the ones that I already have. Thank you to all of you who have contributed to this being one of the best years of my life and I look forward to the next one, regardless of what number it is! (By the way, my grandma lived to 102, so I plan to do the same!)

Land of the Numb

"Land of the Numb" is a phrase that I read today that sparked a nerve with me. August has been an awesome month! I didn't really blog because everything was soooo great and I didn't want people to get tired of hearing it! I got to thinking why were things so positive, but, also, why did I sometimes get bogged down with the what ifs and whys and really?s. Then I saw these words, "Land of the Numb". I don't want to be in that Land. Numb is so nothing. I like feeling. I love life and experiencing all that it has to offer. I like being willing to open up to new experiences and stepping out of my comfort zone. I'm not ready to go skiing down Pike's Peak, but there are plenty of opportunities ahead! I like wanting to make a difference in lives and when that happens then my life is richer. You have to be able to open yourself up to those feelings and then be willing to be vulnerable. It's during those vulnerable times that the doubts and confusions set in. For me, I'll pass on "Land of the Numb" and live in the "Land of the Feeling"...

What's next?

It may be summer, but it certainly isn't slow. The political season is starting up and I am certainly in the mix. So many things are going through my head right now about it...helping other candidates, the county fair, the state fair, and most importantly, taking out my petitions for re-election. I have been encouraged by all the positive comments I have received and look forward to the election in the Spring. At the same time, questions rise about the next one. Politicians are always looking one election ahead. To me, I do well to think about the present and let the future take care of itself. Actually, that is a concept that I am definitely working on. "Real time" is not always easy for me. I like to have matters planned. I like to know what's on people's minds. I like knowing that I'm on the same page when that page counts! Not knowing drives me crazy, but I am trying to work on that. I am slowly, but surely realizing that not everyone likes to wear their feelings on their sleeves like I do. Hahaha! Maybe one of these years I'll become accepting of that! So...I will only deal with one election at a time. That will keep me busy!

Unrealistic Expectations

On Twitter someone posted that it's all too often that unhappiness comes from unrealistic expectations. The expectations can be self-imposed or what you feel you should have from others. Unfortunately, I have experienced both. And isn't it always the case that it's the one expectation out of a hundred that is remembered and felt to make you unhappy. There are 99 wonderful reasons to be happy and then the one thing that makes you unhappy is the one remembered. My biggest challenge in life is remembering the 99 and letting the 1 go. I am going to work on that....

Words to Ponder

Rick Warren twittered, "God sometimes removes a person from your life for your protection. Don't run after them." Huh. Sometimes I find myself doing just that. I am wondering if I should pay more attention to these words. It sure would make a lot of sense. It's more my style to ask questions and try to understand first. Then let go, if need be. Patience is a virtue that I need to work on, as well. Could the two be connected?

To Steve

Today I am saddened by the loss of one of my best friends. I met him the minute that I met my husband, as he arranged the meeting along with my sister. We were always close, but we had our moments of disagreements. The one thing that I will never forget about him was his loyalty to his friends. He loved his friends. He remembered so much about them from years ago. He and my husband were like brothers. He loved life and living it to the fullest. He set the bar high for keeping in good physical shape, although it's ironic that it was his own heart that turned on him and caused his death. He was stubborn and refused to believe he was sick. He walked the 5k in the Illinois Marathon because he felt like it! Regardless of the ups and downs that we may have experienced, he was always there for me, just as he was for his other friends. Rest in Peace, Steve, with that Big Harley in the sky! Miss you.....

Sage advice

A good friend once gave me advice politically, but it has served me well lately. I hadn't really thought of it until right now when I've been thinking about how great the last couple of months have been for me. The advice was..."Don't let the highs be too high or the lows be too low." I haven't purposefully been aware of that, but now in retrospect it is true. Of course, there have been moments of disappointment, but the highs are definitely in control right now. What could I attribute this to? There are many, many things as I look back over the last couple of months. My relationships with people have expanded. Making new friends and reconnecting with old ones has made a positive difference. Family situations are stable. And serving others in the community is huge! I enjoy all my volunteer opportunities plus being able to serve the citizens of Champaign through the Council has brought so much to my life. I hope that I am giving back as much or more than what I am given (which has been so much)! It's hard for me not to let the highs take over and show my height of enthusiasm. So I'll try not to let them get too high. But it's a challenge!