Some lessons I have learned the hard way. Seems the easier way escaped my thinking at times. The lessons in life that I have had to learn the hard way are more pronounced. Yes, they sure are. Why in blazes do we do that to ourselves anyway?
Lists: I make lists. One list comes to mind. I wanted a dog. I missed having a dog, as my dog had died a few months before. I thought about this long and hard. So....I made a list. Bad idea. I listed *every* trait that I DID NOT WANT in a dog. All of them...carefully considered. I added things negative as I thought about them. Then, I found just the right dog that I knew I wanted. I bought it. Loved it much. Spoiled it, and enjoyed it....BUT...that dog had *every* trait negative that I had carefully listed. All the negatives. Didn't miss a beat on negative traits. Yep. It had *exactly* every negative trait that I had written down. I got what I called down. Maybe I should have listed what I really and truly wanted in a dog? Nah. I did opposite.
Did I learn? Heck no.
Someone wise told me to write a letter to the Universe...saying what I *really* would like to have, and said the Universe is a friendly place. Put the letter away and don't look at it for a period of months. They dared me to prove this. Okay...I did that. Took my time, and made a list...all the things I wanted and thought about. Put the letter away. I looked at that letter again in about 6 months. Goodness! You guessed it. Time changes everything. The only constant thing in life is change. Not *one* thing on that list was important...I no longer wanted any of these things. My life had taken many turns, and that was that. Letter had been answered, by the way...each and every thing on that list, but they were NOT important any more. None of those things. My focus had changed. My life had changed.
Now lists? Maybe for groceries, but often I leave the list laying on the table. Buy things not on the list and sometimes forget things on the list.
I guess lists are important maybe. Be careful of what you ask for...you are apt to get it. Good and bad.
Nancy