"We become what we think about." ~ Earl Nightingale

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then visit me at my new blog ...

Giraffe Journal

and/or website ... Labyrinth Journal
both self-hosted at WordPress
where I publish as myself
rather than under a
pseudonym.

I've not had much time for posting or blog visits, but if you're interested I hope you'll find time to check out my new blog, Giraffe Journal or my Labyrinth Journal website ... both self hosted at WordPress.

Thanks for your visit and have a delightful day ;--)
Hugs and blessings,


Monday, September 15, 2008

(Belated) BYBS#18 and Monday Motivator#7 too ...

Monday Motivator #7
"
Trust your own instinct.
Your mistakes might as well be your own,
instead of someone else's
.
" ~Billy Wilder

I fully intended to Blog my Blessings early Sunday morning. In fact, promised to do so in my 'Unconscious Mutterings & More' post ... created & published shortly after sharing Sunrise-Sunset #2 on this blog . I thought I might add them to my Sunrise-Sunset post as I did last week, but that just didn't work out for me. My grandmother and father reminded me often that 'good intentions pave the road to hell' ... but this day has been a challenging one for a variety of reasons.
I apologize to PERBS (who came looking for this post yesterday).
I appreciate the comment she left on yesterday's post to let me know she'd dropped by and fully intend to check out her BYBS & other posts (as I normally do) as soon as time permits ... perhaps later today if all goes well.


After 'muttering unconsciously' at Small Reflections ... I went on in that post to write:
"I haven't slept well the last few days ... had a nasty headache and feel 'marginal' this weekend, as if I might be coming down with something," then went on to write about some 'free-floating anxiety' I'm feeling around 'real issues over which I have no control." Then I let my fingers share thoughts rushing around in my mind a bit ... and ended with a 'link' to Mimi Lenox's Blog Blasts for Peace & some 'peace-thoughts' ... took Molly for a walk. When I returned & sat down at my desk, I discovered my computer was running a 'disk check' yielded a message telling me that some programs had been disabled.

I may have mentioned previously that my new Dell laptop has been 'crashing' periodically ... and when the 'dreaded blue screen with the dire message appeared yet again' ... I stopped everything and called Dell Tech Support. Interestingly, there was no long wait 'on hold' for a technician ... a fellow (with a difficult to pronounce name but told me to cal him Mark) came on the line within a couple of minutes to 'assess' my problem ... asked permission to 'take control of my computer remotely' ... and since it wasn't letting me do much of anything (neither Mozilla nor Word would load), I said okay (even though my previous experience with 'Paul' on my old laptop came to mind immediately).

'Mark' concluded I must have a virus and proceeded to tell me that he could 'take care of this' for me if I'd sign a contract and pay $239 which would cover 4 'major' incidents in the period of one year and unlimited 'minor' ones. In the more than 7 years I've owned Dell computers and called for assistance, no one has ever told me such a thing ... and being the conservatively 'mindful' consumer I am I had many questions. When he was unable to answer them to my satisfaction, I spoke with a 'supervisor' ... but it seemed they were both speaking from the same script. Eventually, they HEARD the message that I wasn't buying ANYTHING until I'd explored other options ... control of my computer was returned to me ... and the call ended. Apparently there's an email in my MSN box I can reply to should I change my mind.

Interestingly, the new Dell 'worked' after the call ... and although I got more 'error' messages periodically throughout the day, I was able to visit some blogs and respond to emails ... and for this I'm grateful ... especially because what follows is my (very timely) Daily OM 'Pisces' message:

"You may find that a resistance to accepting other people’s suggestions may make it difficult to make changes in your life today. It might be that you feel the need to protect your own interests, and you might feel the desire to control various situations as a result. Perhaps you could consider working on loosening your need to be in charge of things today. This would be a good time to learn how to be open to new thoughts and ideas. You may find that you will gain a greater sense of security over your responsibilities when you allow yourself to listen to other people’s suggestions. If you do feel your need to direct others arise, simply remind yourself that no matter how much you resist, change will occur with or without your input.

Making an effort to be responsive to at least one new idea helps us relinquish our need to feel control over a situation. Needing to be in charge often means that our fear of letting go overshadows everything else. Our feelings of power give us a false sense of security. We might think that things will remain constant, but change is the very essence of life. When we remember that the only thing we have control of is our minds, however, we become more open to the world around us. Change no longer scares us and we are able to feel our resistance to new ideas softening. By loosening your need for control today, you will set the necessary groundwork to transform your life."


I love serendipity! Clearly, I needed this reminder of things I know and write about often ... 'Change is the very essence of life ... the only thing we have control of is our minds ... we are able to feel your resistance softening ... by loosening the need for control ... and set the necessary groundwork to transform your life.' ... I opted to do just that ;--)

So ... although I started writing this post Sunday afternoon, when it didn't 'come together' I saved it to finish this morning (or dump ... depending). I'm grateful this Monday morning for many things ... and here are just a few:

1. I slept like a baby all through the night ... and awoke without a headache.

2. I followed through with my intention to meditate and write in my journal this morning before turning on the computer.

3. The Dell booted 'functionally' and everything seems to be working even though it gave me a series of error messages when I shut it down yesterday evening.

4. I'm taking things at my own pace ... in my own way today ... and methinks that's a good thing!


For others who 'Blog Their Blessings'
go to My Blog Rolls and/or click on the logo
at the top of this post.
For those who participate in Sacred Life Sunday
click the logo below:
Thought for Today
"I think we may safely trust a good deal more than we do. "
Henry David Thoreau

7 comments:

Maude Lynn said...

Computer problems drive me nuts!

Glad the headache is better!

Joyce said...

It would be so helpful is some LOCAL trustworthy support person could be found to help you with the Dell. The scenario you described sounded almost illegal.

I'm so thankful you're feeling better. :)

PERBS said...

I'm glad your day got better -- that is a blessing in itself!

I have an iMac -- have always had APPLE computers and we never get a virus. Oh, there 's one out there but Apple has made software that detours around it. I guess PCs are more susceptible to virus attacks because there are more of them on the market. I will never buy anything but Apple computers. Have I told you how much I love my iMac? Ü

Thanks for dropping by. I am glad Neo is going to "clean up" the BYB blogroll because there are not even ten people who blog on Sunday for it anymore. Maybe new people will be encouraged to join if they see it is a up to date meme.

Have a great week filled with many more blessings than troubles!

storyteller said...

Mama Zen – Me too! This one is all the more mysterious to me since I’m not as familiar with Vista as XP just yet … and the experience I had with Tech Support felt so very strange.

Joyce – I think so too. I plan to talk with folks this morning when I go to my PSE6 class for advice, but 3 years of support comes with the computer unless the coverage I have with THIS machine isn’t the same as what I had previously with my older laptop.

PERBS – Thanks for the good wishes. You sound very much like my best friend who is a ‘Mac person’ too. In fact … Sunday I was wishing I’d paid more attention when she tried to get me to ‘switch’ as I was shopping for my new computer a few months ago. I’ve not visited Neo recently, but I’m glad to hear about the intention to update the BYB blogroll because the weeks I have tried to visit everyone listed …. I’ve not found many who have BYBS posts to read. I've added those I have found to my 'reader' and tend to visit them during the week if I miss over the weekend.

To all – Although I’m feeling better than I did on Sunday, all remains a bit tenuous for me. I awoke earlier than I needed to this morning with my mind racing … arose and wrote in my journal to ‘clear the chaos’ from my mind before logging on. I have no headache and other physical symptoms have faded to the background. By the end of today I suspect that I’ll be dragging … but for now I’m enjoying a cup of coffee and responding to comments here as I listen to the morning news (probably not the best idea in my state of mind, but somehow seems necessary). I may turn off the TV soon if I feel my stress levels rise again. As PERBS said, ‘I wish you all a great week with many more blessings than troubles!’
Hugs and blessings,

Hootin Anni said...

Just popping in again today 'cause I'm not sure I stopped to wish you a great Tuesday. My mind is in so many places at once.

So, here's hoping your day treated you kindly.

SandyCarlson said...

I love the way you turned around your frustrations and made them opportunities.

storyteller said...

Hootin’ Anni – Thanks for stopping by … I appreciate the good wishes. I hope your friends are doing better and hope to stop by your blog later this afternoon. I’ve been at my PSE6 class all morning, am eating some lunch as I respond to comments … then plan to take Molly for a walk before sitting down again to VISIT other bloggers.

Sandy Carlson – One thing I have learned is that when I don’t control the external circumstances, I do have choices about how to perceive and respond to them … and I try to keep my focus on the positive whenever possible.

Thanks to both of you for stopping by!
Hugs and blessings,