Life is so good. Oh my goodness, life is wonderful. I am so very happy. It's just been too long, and I've gone through too much for me not to fully and completely embrace the loveliness of life and all that God has given to me. You know how people say you can always find the silver lining in a dark cloud? I think you can always find joy in something, no matter how challenging or difficult it may be. Joy isn't happiness; it's different. You have to choose it. When you do choose it, it stays with you; it strengthens your resolve.
It's the little things that make the difference. I'll run through a few of those things for you now, so you'll see what I mean. I work from home, so I don't leave the house to go to work. That means I don't need to wear fancy clothes. I literally gave all of my business clothes to Goodwill, along with about twelve pairs of dress shoes, tall knee boots, and purses. I no longer carry a purse. I literally don't need one. I don't wear makeup or feel the need to keep a million things on my side. I have a little wallet thing that holds my cash, license, medical card, and credit card. I may end up putting a tiny nail file in the thing. I do need those from time to time. I do need pockets to store the wallet.
I wear pajamas to work; no one sees me, so I can. If we do have to have Teams meetings, I can throw on a t-shirt or change my top quickly. Again, no makeup, they get me the way I am. It is what it is, and I'm not apologizing for it. I do smile, but I don't apologize. (I will pluck my eyebrows and the little annoying hairs that tend to pop up around my mouth) I think I have three pairs of shoes now, and one of those is a pair of muck boots. (Wait, I do have riding boots, so maybe I have 4 pairs of shoes)
When I went to the store today, I walked the aisles, thinking about all the things the store carries that I don't need. There's a lot of it. There was a time, and not so long ago, that I would spend more than I earned because I thought I needed this or that. It's surprising how much we spend on ourselves so we can either keep up with, or impress others at work or in our neighborhoods. It's a vicious cycle. Working from home, away from others, and without the need to dress for others, I've saved money and discovered that I don't require jewelry, new expensive clothes, the latest fashions, or shoes. I've also realized that I don't need all the accessories and trinkets that I once thought were necessary.
In the kitchen, I don't need all the appliances I thought I had to have and use twice a year. I don't need more than a few throw blankets either. Instead of buying a bunch of decorative pillows, I can buy decorative pillow covers and store them so much easier than I can the big, fat, fluffy pillows that I used to buy for every season. I don't do that anymore. I think I'm learning!! It's only taken 64 years to do it, but it's working. It's sinking in finally. I bought a new pair of pajamas today and told myself they were necessary. I will wear them often. (They have pockets too!)
I love walking the aisles and seeing the colors. I love walking the aisles of the stores and seeing what is there, but I really don't need much of it anymore. I write, I read, I love on and spoil the dogs, and soon I'll be in the barn a lot -- I will need Tractor Supply more than I do any other store. With all the distractions in the world, it's good to have an interest in looking, but I don't need to spend my money on much these days. I do appreciate all the socks I get for Christmas! Since I don't wear shoes unless I'm outside, the socks are a daily necessity.
I drove to El Reno today and filled up my tank for $24.90. Gas was cheaper there than in Oklahoma City. I was the only one at the station, too. I walked through Walmart at 10:00 a.m. on a Saturday and maybe saw 50 people in the entire massive store. I ate at a sit-down restaurant, and there were 2 others there. I pulled into Dollar General to see if they carried something specific, and they did. The place was sooooo clean, and there were no boxes on the ground or out of place. I'm telling you, this little city is the best.
I've decided that soon after the first of the year, when I've settled into my new home, I'll volunteer to work in the concession stand during the early afternoon baseball games or the basketball games, so the parents can go and watch their kids play. I'll volunteer for food drives and do what I can to integrate into the community as soon as possible. I think it's a great place to start and a good way to meet people.
Last week, I took 15 books I had written to give away at a local coffee shop. Today, I went inside the shop and found that only one book had been taken. I picked up a stack and walked around the store, passing out the books, offering to sign them if they wanted me to. I only had to swear to one person that I really had written the book. A few laughed, but they all took the books!
I like the wholesomeness and the honesty of the new town I'm moving to. It was started, of course, before statehood. Fort Reno was established in Indian Territory in 1874, but the Cheyenne and Arapaho were there long before that. The area is vibrant, historic, and full of charm. It's seen danger, upheaval, and its fair share of crime, but it's a good, sturdy, strong, and compassionate town with deep roots. I love it. I have always loved it. As a kid, I wanted to live there, and now I will.
When I say God is great -- I mean it. He is so good.
Ft. Reno. Photo Credit: Wikipedia.com
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