Life's Bounty

Vegetables and fruits at an orchard-farm in Greer, South Carolina

A True Friend

Don't laugh. One night, my daughter and I were watching television inside our hotel bedroom suite. The Viking and Epsilon One were in the sitting room watching a Rambo movie. Epsilon Two and I were watching a televangelist. To my surprise, I listened to Joel Osteen with interest. He had my full attention. He was talking about how Mary affected her cousin Elizabeth. Joel Osteen talked about surrounding our lives with "Marys" and..

Avoid
Energy suckers
Toxic people
People who make your life dysfunctional.
People who love misery
People who use you
Who thrive in focusing on their difficulties rather than their abilities
People who always find something wrong with anything
Who can find nothing right with what you aim to accomplish
Who love to talk about themselves and their problems
Who always make themselves the focus
Who cherish being a victim.

God has given you people to come into your life to make you fulfill your God-given gifts
Real friends are those who do not say they love you and then drag you down.
Real friends do not get jealous of your accomplishments.
Real friends do not get jealous of your other friends who make you be a better person.
A true friend is one who makes you feel hopeful.
A true friend is one who makes you live life to the fullest.
A true friend gives, not takes.
A true friend does not use you.

I thought that was a terrific sermon. I thought of the important people in my life and those I call my friends. I slept soundly that night. However, I have not seen another television service again. I hate television, maybe...

I am still trying to get back into the rhythm of things. I have actively committed myself to live a balanced life. I am integrating an exercise program into my daily schedule and that has taken over my blogging time. I am eating better, managing my stress, resetting people's expectations of what I am willing to do. I used to give everything I had at the expense of my health and sometimes my family. No more. What is important to me? A healthy life to share with my family and my best friends, my work, my art... I find that I share more time with those who truly matter. Last night, exhausted and tired from exercise, I sat in the sofa with The Viking watching a program in the History Channel! I only got up because he told me to take a shower before I fell asleep. Ha!