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.
well I am becoming my own auto mechanic on the basics. I had to change out the engine filter and the cabin filter in the car and a very nice gentleman stood over me and watched me do my thing, supervising me and he was very impressed that I knew how to do that crap and that I used common sense and that I looked at how did the old one looked and I need to put the new one in the same way like which way the combs were pointing etc. which way were the little clips and legs pointing and I was narrating what I was doing and he told me. He said I was very mechanically inclined and I told him I had to be with unemployment expiring. He was a very very nice guy and he has his own mobile auto service and so I did a post on the next-door website talking about his incredible kindness to me helping me or I should say watching over me while I changed out the filters and also he gave me pointers how many miles can I drive on this thing and how long does it take for that thing etc. etc. so I I think my car is pretty good to go for inspection next month Ive pretty much done everything. The battery is only two years old so that should get another couple of years
I went to the gym for a swim and had a nice swim, I went to my other gym because I thought I might have to play tennis waiting for the pool to be available but no--I was able to jump right in. I went to the grocery and did very well on my budget and then turned around and broke the budget getting those filters but I had to do it. Next time Ill go to Walmart and get them. I dont need the high dollar filters as little as I drive
but anyway Im watching what I do Im thinking before I jump in to something. Doing my grateful list and my auto mechanic mentor told me that leaning on my higher power within and giving gratitude as a very powerful tool to get your prayers answered in regards to getting your needs met. We had a good chat him and me
and you know I am so grateful that I am not even remotely racist because I was thinking of all the great people in my life and giving thanks for them and the different colors and cultures Ive got some Indian neighbors from India up the street that Im making friends with Ive got Mexican friends Ive got black friends I swear every color and culture is in my friendship list maybe not best friends but people who are very nice and sweet and whos company I like being in. Like this guy that was mentoring me with the filters. I texted him a picture of the ad that I put in next door for him telling of my wonderful incredible experience with him and he wrote me back and said that I was very special and unique and that he was so blessed to have met me and I thought that was really cool. I know if something is over my head I can call him
anyway I do believe what goes around comes around and the more I get into the recovery literature and other self-help books, I get into those books and I am applying what I am learning and I am really grateful for that that I am open to change and that I want to be better and to do better and to live better
Mamalioness, beautiful share! It made me realize that "what I do for myself" = self-care. I love your story about doing your own auto mechanics -- with the help of a caring "higher power" that could help if you get in over your head. You go, girl!!
I think I'm going to leave my car maintenance to others, but learning how to do my own home repairs has been huge for me -- it can be full of frustrations, setbacks, and laughable mistakes -- but with the "higher power" of YouTube videos, I have been able to do many things I thought were impossible.
Recently I have gotten into gardening -- something I never thought I would do. I always said I can take care of animals very well, but not plants. I don't have the patience for plants. But now I am at a time in my life where apparently life is telling me that plants can make my life more beautiful and satisfying. I get help where needed, but recently I found that - although I could hire someone to pull the weeds -- I actually can do it myself, and I actually enjoy it. My garden is on a rather steep hillside, and I was afraid that at my age, walking around on it would be too dangerous of falling and injuring myself -- but I figured out that I don't have to stand and walk around in the garden -- I can sit and scoot/crawl around. This way, I can work on and enjoy my garden -- with no danger of falling, because I am already on the ground! Who knew that pulling weeds would be like a meditation? It takes me outside of myself and away from obsessing. That is self-care. Just sitting among the plants is amazing.
I loved your share about in-home handyman stuff. That is another thing I am doing like I get on YouTube and oh yeah you can learn so much. Now replacing a whole toilet I would not attempt but easy basic stuff I am learning as well as you said, YouTube is a wonderful resource like I did the tape and bed for both restrooms and my bedroom and it came out great.
I had a bit of sheet rock weak spots here and there because I had termites before I got them removed with a company that came out and did a good job, I taped and put sheet rock mud where the weak spots were and I sponge painted over them and I showed my guy when he came out to check up on me, I showed him what I did and he loved it. So yeah you go girl! Like what you said to me,
I love it that you are adventurous to do that. And yeah I am better with animals than I am with gardening. I have a small it looks like a ficus tree that was a gift to me last year as a baby and so far I have not killed it, I feed it plant food and I make sure it is watered and in a nice place and so far it is growing but I am not a green thumb person. But I am really grateful for YouTube and the stuff you can learn. I see no reason why a woman cant do basic little fix-it things here and there and save herself some money. I smiled when I read your post.
Yes David, COVID-19 impacted me greatly as far as how important it is for us to stick together and help each other and focus on love and kindness. I really enjoy reading your shares
And dear Debbie: always nice to see you on one of my threads or just seeing you here. Yes I owe Al-Anon and the adult children a lot. So what I do is I just try to pay forward what Ive learned in kindness and honesty and openness and willingness really and a lot of gratitude because HP is really showing me that I am going to be OK in all of this. I have much to be grateful for. You folks here are one thing that I am very grateful for. I love coming on here and I may not necessarily post every time but I love to read everybody and see how everybody is doing and if I can offer something positive, I post but if I am in a difficult place, I will read and I always, always log out a bit wiser and a bit more grateful. You take care--hugs
All those recovery book were stepping stones to today, for me, too... 
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