LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE LEFT

It is a month today since we moved into the RV and Cottonwood's Park. "Knock on wood", everything has really gone well. We have continued to rearrange and weed out things we don't really need or use. It is amazing how little we use, out of all the "stuff" we have!! We think we want it, we think we need it, we think we will use it and some how we never quite find the right time to wear it, use it, or see quite why we thought we needed it.

I think "possessions" make us feel successful. We get to a point where we have more home in which to stash "stuff". We must be successful because we have been able to  accumulate all these things. Not being critical, just reflecting on how life changes us over the years. We spend a life time accumulating and then at some point we, or our loved ones, have to get rid of it!! In our case, we have gotten rid of most of it and guess what!! We haven't missed a bit of it!!! I don't know if we are unusual in that respect or not.

I can only speak for myself, although I think Sharon feels pretty much the same. I was counselor at Monroe City High School for 17 years then built the D.Q. Never did miss being at school. I lived in Monroe City for 20 years then went to Columbia........didn't miss Monroe. We were in business for 13 years and then closed it........SURE didn't miss that!!! We had a nice house, had to sell it and move to a mobile home. We really didn't miss the house. The guy that bought our mobile home said "Lonnie probably wishes he had asked $5,000 more for the house since we bought it so quickly." Actually, we were happy to sell it at the price we asked. That made our plans work out and we were excited to  keep making progress toward our full timing goal. I have certainly made mistakes over the years but I have never looked back. I think we have both lived for today and tried to manage the situation we were in at the time. Certainly, we missed many of the people we were close to, conveniences that came with our circumstances, and the routine we had created. However, we never longed to be back in a particular situation.

One of Robert Schuller's quotes says, "Never look at what you have lost. Look at what you have left."  This wise observation is particularly helpful with the tragedies and changes that come about in life. We lose stuff, homes, businesses, and loved ones. When that happens, "Look at what you have left". No matter how much we lose, we have much left for which to be thankful and with which to build a future.

I have lost a lot! We have lost a lot! Look at what we have left!!!