That's not what I meant...

My phone seems to think it knows what I’m trying to say better than me.  It has an auto-correct feature which is usually pretty handy.  But I have to keep a close eye on it because there have been some interesting substitutions.

I recently started to collect some of the faulty corrections because they make me laugh.  I haven’t collected many (mostly because I forget to write them down) but I’d like to share a few:

·         Cardio = catsup.  This was a text conversation about trading cardio [catsup??] for pull-up training.  Would YOU like that trade??

·         Pull-ups = polyps.  Ummm, yikes.

·         Awww = sweet.  There are times that could work but in this case I was trying to say “Awww, things aren’t going well?”  Good thing I caught it before I accidentally sent “Sweet, things aren’t going well?”

·         Grrr = ferret.  Hmm, maybe I should just stick with that one.

What's next??

Method vs motive

Love languages.  The concept that people show and perceive love in different ways.  This topic has come up several times recently among different people I know.

These languages are [in no particular order] words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch.  I think we all have reasons and explanations for why our preferred love language is the most meaningful.  But my reasons don’t mean someone else’s is wrong.  Their own reasons are valid to them.

Anyway, I was thinking about how all of these love languages are meaningful when they’re done out of selflessness.  And how the most important love languages can be meaningless when expressed without sincerity.

For example, gift-giving is fairly low or even non-existent on my scale of love languages.  For the most part, I’m not too concerned about acquiring possessions.  Things can be bought and given without a genuine, caring thought.  But I would accept a thoughtful gift any day over insincerity in any of the other love languages.

No, I’m not saying this has happened and I’m definitely not saying anyone should buy me gifts, haha!!  I’m just reflecting on how I perceive love and that it has less to do with the method and much more to do with the motive.  And wondering how well I demonstrate the sincerity of my heart in my own expressions of love.  Do the people I love perceive genuine love and care in the ways I interact with them, regardless what their preferred love languages are?

I’m not saying that someone’s love language isn’t important as long as my motive is right.  Not at all.  I think it’s very important for me to understand and use the right love languages as much as possible.  But it is equally as important to be thoughtful and authentic in my expressions.  I hope that I am already but I would like to be more intentional about it.

Just some thoughts.

Fortunately and unfortunately

I read a lot as a kid.  One book I enjoyed was called “Fortunately” by Remy Charlip.  It described a series of alternating positive/negative events.  The main character was fortunately invited to a surprise party… but unfortunately the party was far away.  Fortunately someone loaned him an airplane.  Unfortunately the engine died.  Fortunately there was a parachute.  Unfortunately it had a hole... And so on.

One thing I liked about that book was that no single event was the entire experience.  The character would have missed out on plenty of adventure if the party invitation was both the beginning and end of the story.  He experienced a variety of unfortunate circumstances... but they also afforded him plenty of excitement and opportunities.

And that’s life.  So let me try my hand at today’s experiences thus far.

·         Fortunately I left for the gym on time this morning.

·         Unfortunately I blew out a tire on the way.

·         Fortunately I was close to the gym and could pull into the parking lot instead of the side of the road.

·         Unfortunately AAA couldn’t find a current account for me.

·         Fortunately a good friend at the gym had AAA and was able to help me out.

·         Unfortunately my key wouldn’t open the trunk so I could get the spare tire.

·         Fortunately AAA could tow my car to another location.

·         Unfortunately my normal auto mechanic doesn’t work with tires and couldn’t help.

·         Fortunately I found an alternate location.

·         Unfortunately AAA does not allow multiple tows on the same day.

·         Fortunately this whole experience prompted me to sign up for my own AAA account (which I thought I already had).

·         Unfortunately the benefits don’t kick in immediately.

·         Fortunately I found a promo code online that saved me $34.50 when I signed up for AAA.

·         Unfortunately I was going to show the car to someone today and hopefully sell it to them.

·         Fortunately the potential buyer can wait until Saturday to look at the car.

OK, there is plenty more to the whole story but you get the idea.  No single event was the entire experience.  And the adventure continues even now.  But my point is that there are many ways you can look at something.  Sometimes we need a bit of creativity (and/or patience) to find resolutions.  But all the experiences combined are what make up the journey.

That’s life and I’m loving it!

Too much of a good thing?

Can there be too much of a good thing?  My son would say yes based on his experience this morning.

His high school band was marching in a Veteran’s Day (weekend?) parade this morning.  The weather forecast indicated that most of the morning would be as cold as it was last night (low 40's F).  And he was pretty cold last night while playing in the band for a football game.

Fortunately one of the band moms handed out hand warmers to all the band members.  That definitely helped.  But his toes were very cold even with three pairs of socks.

So this morning, before dropping him off, I stopped at a store and got him a selection of warmers – hand/body, feet, and toes.  I wanted him to have options and to be as comfortable as possible during the parade.  However I noticed that the morning didn't seem nearly as cold as the forecast indicated.

When I went to pick him up and asked how things went, he said he nearly cooked!!  He decided to wear the foot warmers AND the toe warmers at the same time!  He wasn't taking any chances.  Well they kicked in all right.

There was no time to take them out since they were marching so he had to continue playing with very toasty feet.  Hearing him describe everything cracked me up!!  Fortunately he was seeing the humor in it too.  We both agreed that sometimes there can be too much of a good thing... and this had been one of those times!