WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2022 - MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR YEAR - 3

 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2022 - MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR YEAR - 3

(as I started today my brain wanted to write “December” and “2021” - I didn’t have any coffee yet)

First an old Forrest Gump joke:  (long)

The day finally arrives. Forrest Gump dies and goes to Heaven. He is at the Pearly Gates, met by St. Peter himself. However, the gates are closed and Forrest approaches the Gatekeeper. St. Peter says, "Well, Forrest, it's certainly good to see you. We have heard a lot about you. I must tell you, though, that the place is filling up fast, and we've been administering an entrance examination for everyone. The test is short, but you have to pass it before you can get into Heaven."Forrest responds, "It sure is good to be here, St. Peter, sir. But nobody ever told me about any entrance exam. I sure hope the test isn’t too hard; life was a big enough test as it was."St. Peter goes on, "Yes, I know, Forrest, but the test is only three questions. First: What two days of the week begin with the letter T?

Second: How many seconds are there in a year?

Third: What is God's first name?"

Forrest leaves to think the questions over. He returns the next day and sees St. Peter, who waves him up and says, "Now that you have had a chance to think the questions over, tell me your answers."

Forrest says, "Well, the first one -- which two days in the week begin with the letter "T"? Shucks, that one's easy. That'd be Today and Tomorrow.

The Saint's eyes open wide and he exclaims, "Forrest, that's not what I was thinking, but you do have a point, and I guess I didn't specify, so I'll give you credit for that answer. How about the next one?" asks St. Peter.

"How many seconds in a year?"

"Now that one's harder," says Forrest, "but I thunk and thunk about that and I guess the only answer can be twelve."

Astounded, St. Peter says, "Twelve? Twelve!? Forrest, how in Heaven's name could you come up with twelve seconds in a year?"

Forrest says "Shucks, there's gotta be twelve: January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd. . ..."

"Hold it, " interrupts St. Peter. "I see where you're going with this, and I see your point, though that wasn't quite what I had in mind.... I'll have to give you credit for that one, too. Let's go on with the third and final question. Can you tell me God's first name"?

"Sure", Forrest replied, "it’s Andy."

"Andy?!" exclaimed an exasperated and frustrated St. Peter. "Ok, I can understand how you came up with your answers to my first two questions, but just how in the world did you come up with the name Andy as the first name of God?"

"Shucks, that was the easiest one of all," Forrest replied. "I learnt it from the song. 'Andy walks with me. Andy talks with me. Andy tells me I am his own...'"

St. Peter opened the Pearly Gates and said: "Run Forrest, run."

**********

There are many jokes about being greeted at the “Pearly Gates” by St. Peter.  Regardless of where you are on a spiritual scale, if there is an afterlife - and if there are three main alternatives (at least in my mind) -heaven, hell, or nothingness and all of that does hinge on some spiritual perspectives, most will choose heaven - if the choice is left to us.  

*****

Think back to yesterday’s blog - the German lesson of the two ladies in the elevator that is falling.  Both said they didn’t want to die - they had too much they wanted to do -like climb Mount Everest or run in the New York Marathon.  But, when the elevator functions correctly, they seem to give up on their big goals, and one is going to watch television all afternoon!

So, as we start 2022 do we have big goals (OR BHAG - Big Hairy Audacious Goals) - but more than having that big goal - are we actively working on that big goal?  

Having goals is a major step, but acting on that goal is part of the process.  Back to German for a second.  Duolingo suggests that fifteen minutes spent learning a foreign language is good, but fifteen minutes on social media doesn’t really challenge your brain.  

*****

Sitting in my favorite chair for five hours a day does not improve me (or not physically).  I do write these blogs from this chair and read which might be good mentally, but inertia sits in.  I all too easily close my eyes for a nap.  

So, if my big goal for 2022 is to visit three more high points from three more states, is sitting on my bottom advancing that?  If my goal is to visit Alaska, should I be planning on that and booking a trip?  (And, getting more steps in than last year!!!)

Life is NOT a passive sport, but an active sport.  Get into the action, Karen!!!  (Or, “RUN, KAREN, RUN”)

LOVE WINS!!

Karen

January 5, 2022