Some Things I Haven’t Given Up On

I was shocked at the number of comments received from my “Things I’ve Given Up On” post – I thought most people would think “I’m not touching that with a ten foot pole.” Thanks for all of your thoughts and so you won’t think I am a cynic, I thought I’d do this one.

I haven’t given up on life as a great gift and plan to continue living it according to my values and more to the fullest than I have in the past – Betsy and George over at Joyful Reflections continue to inspire me to get out and do things.

I haven’t given up on true love and see the great benefits of it in my life every day.

I haven’t given up on the beauty and wonder of nature and how it’s presented in America and with the RV I hope to see a great deal of it.  I’d like to spend part of the winters traveling the South and the summers heading North.

I haven’t given up on friends and the pleasure I get from sharing my life with them.  It takes a while for me to develop a good friendship and I only have a few, but I like getting there.  Love and friend are two words I don’t throw around casually.

Along the lines of friendship comes entertaining and I really like to have friends come over to share our spaces and cook for them.

I haven’t given up on my heath and am on a mission to whip this old man into shape – or at least better shape.

I haven’t given up on family as a key relationship and a fundamental building block to having a great society.

I haven’t given up on the great institution of marriage and can’t imagine spending my life without my best friend and soul mate.

I haven’t given up on improving my cooking and BBQing skills and at least getting to the point that I can comfortably create a few things rather than just following or adapting a recipe.

I haven’t given up on being a successful gardener and see it not only as a way to get good groceries but also of being intimately involved with nature.  If we do the RVing I’m hopeful of, it will be mostly a spring and fall activity though.

I haven’t given up on the Golden Rule as the right behavioral guide for my life.

I haven’t given up on learning to use my SLR camera in the non-auto mode.

I'm sure there are more but these are the ones that have come to mind.

Most of things I’ve given up on have either become less important to me or are things I realize I can’t change – I’m a big fan of the Serenity Prayer, especially the last line:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

Courage to change the things I can,

And wisdom to know the difference

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by Almost Heaven South.

One year ago:  Fried Crappie With Green Tomato Ragout And Trash Bag Potatoes

Larry