The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Ok, so yesterday was a rough night. I got off work, drove home and picked up daughter to take her to youth group for the first time (she's very anti god and wants to go because of boys but I figure whatever her motivation at least she's voluntarily walking in the door :) Anwyay, got her, got the other two at daycare, stopped by the PO to get the mail (required the key) and the car wouldn't start. The next lady that pulls in I ask for a jump. The car clicks but won't start. So I call for a tow.
I'm waiting on the truck and an interesting fellow comes and asks if I need some help. I tell him all that has happened and he's SURE it's the battery. I'm already planning how I will have to take today off work, I'll have to put more money on the credit card right before the trip for car repairs, etc. I say SURE! So I pop the hood and he's messing around with everything and he wants to jump it. I pull out the cables and he spends a few minutes wiggling them around and bam it starts! I am so greatful for this man!
Then I get in the car, drop off daughter 1 (today is her 13th bday) and head straight to Walmart. It's almost 7. I call 411 and get the number and talk to a guy in the shop. I ask what time they close and he says they are done taking cars for the day and I'm about to cry. I know if I stop the car I have to call for a jump in the morning and miss work. I say please God NO! I just need a battery. I tell him a little of the story. He says to come around back and he will have the battery waiting and put it in for me. I am so so Greatful! I get there and sure enough there are the tools and a brand new battery sitting out back waiting for me. I know they are closing in about 5 minutes.
I tell the kids to wait till he's done (1 has to go potty, the other just wants out of the car). He says go ahead and go in and I'll be done with this in a little bit. So I run in go to the bathroom, pick up some milk and other stuff and come back. He's done, rings up all my stuff and I'm out the door out $50 instead of the few hundred I expected to have to spend on a starter.
By this time it was almost time to get daughter 1 again (8) so I went by the church and waited for her. Turned out the pastor and his wife were trying to convert her in a private room so I went up and grabbed her. I was sooooo tired. The people at the church were very nice and friendly and it seemed like a good atmosphere. The said they had programs on Wed. night for the other two kids too so it looks like my Wednesdays might be free for a copule hours each week. I got home at close to 9pm and was exhausted!!
All I could think was thank god this didn't happen when we were in Orlando in two weeks, thank god for that guy who came along (although odd) he saved me, thank god for that guy at Walmart who stayed late to change my battery and let me get to work today, thank god it happened in front of the post office and not at some inaccessable or dangerous place, thank god it was only a battery and not something more serious like the starter.
I had so much gratitude for all the help I got and not so much resentment that it happened. I know that's how I have changed. Before, I would have been complaining about it happening not greatful that it happened the way it did and everything worked out.
I guess the point is there are always bumps and obstacles throughout life and it's the help you get along the way and the way you look at it that makes all the difference!
I am glad that all worked out for you. My battery just died on me back in Aug. I went out to start my car for work and nothing. I called my parents to see if my dad could come jump start me. He did and I drove straight to Advanced Auto. They tested my very dead battery and put a new one in for me right on the spot. Now I am good to go.
When I lived in San Diego, I got "stuck" in a parkinglot, they wouldn't let me out! I "thought" I had a five dollar bill to pay for parking but I didn't. There was NO ATM, and no one would even give me five dollars over on a silly purchase just so I could get out of the lot.
One kindly Mexican guy took pity on me and just GAVE me a fiver, refused the check I offered, and it made me cry. I won't forget that one. It almost made the hour I was desperately searching for a way to get FIVE BUCKS worth the trouble :)
Thanks for that lovely anecdote. I do find it much much easier to roll with stuff. Of course none of that is related to the A. I also find it very very much easier to set limits. There are certain people (like a woman who lives in my house) I simply will not deal wtih beyond what I have to. I would never set a limit like that before, I'd go back and forth for years. I have spent years getting to this point.
For me right now very much on survival I don't feel mired in resentment. At the same time I know there is absolutely no question I am where I am because of the relationship with the A. I didn't feel I could get out of it.
This week a friend of mine said I should just get rid of my dogs as though I could easily do that at this time after moving specifically so I could have them!
People can be very capricious about giving advice and telling you what to do. Obviously its been a long long hard haul for you to get to this place of rolling with stuff and not living mired in resentment I think I have some small idea of what that journey was like for you and I appreciate your anecdote even more because of that.
"I guess the point is there are always bumps and obstacles throughout life and it's the help you get along the way and the way you look at it that makes all the difference!"
Amen!! Thanks for the reminder and this share!!
On another post emotional exhaustion was discussed - I think when we are so exhausted with all that goes on that, the emotional exhaustion blinds us to finding any good in the bad bumps of everyday living. We can not keep any balance if we miss the good in the bad and just throw all the bad things on one side or in one pile with nothing for the other side or pile. Anyone one would fall over or fall apart with that much imbalance!
No wonder I feel like I have just fallen apart sometimes. logging off now to look for all the good things in the bumps of today.
hugs to all, ddub
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"Choices are the hinges of destiny." Pythagoras You can't change the past, but you can change the future.
That's a classic example of how being grateful works, you create your reality. You can bet if you would have had a bad attitude it sure wouldn't have worked out so well. Good job!!
Christy
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If we think that miracles are normal, we will expect them. And expecting a miracle is the surest way to get one.
and that'll brighten other peoples day - kind of cool way to pass it on isn't it