Rev Run Message: Mastery

"Good morning. Are you a giver???? Do you have money or does money have you? Can you live without that morning cup of coffee, cigarette etc ? (Remember) What you can walk away from, YOU HAVE MASTERED. What you can't walk away from has mastered you. He who loves the least controls the relationship! God is Love Rev Run"

Wow.

How powerful is that statement?

There are at least three messages in this statement.

Future posts will explore Rev's theories about the blessings of giving and the power of control. For now, l want to concentrate on mastery:

"What you can walk away from, you have mastered. What you can't walk away from has mastered you."

So elementary. So true. So difficult to do.

And yet, just the challenge I need to square off against my demons.

46 Things I Don't Like Very Much

1. telephone
2. interruptions
3. helplessness
4. being sucked in by bpd's. (my beef is not with them, but with myself)
5. prejudice, bigotry and inequality
6. people who fear the unknown... cultures, ethnicities, orientations
7. patronization
8. lack of respect for military
9. lack of gratitude for what this country has to offer
10. stinginess
11. lack of empathy
12. weakness
13. narcissism
14. property taxes I pay for benefits I don't receive
15. income taxes I pay for things I don't agree with
16. the rising cost of living v. the stagnant (but stable!) paycheck
17. corruption
18. when the people you love more than anything... don't remember
19. constant pressure
20. the one time in a thousand that I don't read the signals correctly
21. people who don't feel guilt
22. bs
23. "Holier than Thou" crap.
24. inferiority
25. terrorism
26. close mindedness
27. cliques
28. hell threats and accusations
29. being ignored
30. bothering people
31. jealousy, when there is absolutely no reason
32. not doing a good job
33. errors, mistakes, bobos, misdemeanors... (even though we all make them)
34. people who don't admit mistakes
35. balancing time between billable, actual, and the budget
36. having a high billable wage and a low fee, which means having MANY less hours to work with! i would do ANYthing to increase profits, as i realize i work with great guys who share... but sometimes it's SO hard and i hold my feet to the fire.
37. winters that aren't cold enough
38. unpredictability
39. security concerns
40. lawn services that mow when the grass hasn't grown
41. ski trips without snow
42. not being heard
43. risking vulnerability and receiving no response... none
44. the other shoe dropping
45. demeaning response to honor, character and morality
46. excrutiating traffic

46 Off the Wall Things About Me

1. I have a vivid imagination and propensity to exaggerate for humor.
2. I hold myself much more accountable than anyone else.
3. I'm not afraid to pony up and admit error and say I'm sorry.
4. I make many mistakes, but repeat VERY few.
5. I'm a closet psychologist. No... really!
6. I prefer Miss C's company to almost everyone else's.
7. I have an almost infinite willingness to forgive, if asked.
8. My preference is to listen more than I speak, but if I speak, I expect to be heard.
9. I have a tendency to test people.
10. I've fallen in unconditional love four times in my life.
11. I love the taste of milk chocolate and popcorn, at the same time.
12. I read the book, The Introvert Advantage, for the first time last year. And I finally understand myself.
13. Recognition is far less important to me than gratitude.
14. I've survived and overcome the worst things in life that are required. If I have no other consolation, it is that those things are behind me.
15. I pretended to be someone I'm not until 1995, at which time I gave up and became exactly who I am.
16. I accommodate pretense with reality in a 15/85 percent relationship. I do this to make others more comfortable, but also allow them the opportunity to grow, stretch and accept.
17. I try to live my life as an example.
18. I only have six regrets. I know what they are, and I don't have the guts to put them in public writing. I will say that I wish that I had cared for and loved beyond reason and situation, and that my timing had been much better . It's enough that I agonize over them regularly; I won't say more.
19. In spite of my rolling eyes in childhood, manners, ettiquette and life rules are very important.
20. My Daddy introduced me to two people, that in retrospect, tells me that he understood me far deeper than I understood myself. Further, he loved and respected me more than I love(d)and respect(ed) myself.
21. Of all the modern inventions, I like the telephone the least.
22. I always thought I would be "famous" among my peers.
23. I once had a dog who was JUST like me, very intuitive, and introverted. He gave me just what I needed, and I hope I did the same for him. He lived 17 1/2 years. We went through the highlights and lowlights of life together. I almost died when he did.
24. Miss C saved my life. And she changed it, too.
25. I connect easily.
26. I would make a wonderful mother.
27. I AM my Daddy and Mother combined.
28. I don't have a political party.
29. I find Frank Lloyd Wright to be equal parts genious and ass. For those reasons, I find him particularly endearing.
30. Up until 1992, I thought I could "fix" anything by hard work and prayer.
31. Up until 1999, I blamed myself for everything that went wrong in my world.
32. Up until January 2, 2005, I believed that I was less in the eyes of the Lord.
33. I could "fix" the world, if given the power and opportunity.
34. I feel for my friends as if they were myself.
35. My comfort, security and authentic self grow closer and closer with every passing day. (Refer to 16 above, and the shrinking 15/85 rule).
36. I am Virgo and Libra combined, (I was born Virgo, but premature by a month, thus intended a Libra).
37. I have distinct memories back to before pre-kindergarten.
38. I, once, re-arranged gifts from Santa under the Christmas tree, so that I received the things that I wanted.
39. I always took a bath, albeit a short one, when told.
40. I find Gertrude Stein, and her writings, personally inspiring and directly applicable.
41. I am kin to the Wright Brothers.
42. My relatives founded Moorhead City, North Carolina.
43. I'm a rule follower, to the extreme. When annoyed and provoked, however, I will tilt the scales to attempt to prove indescrepancies. (But I'll feel overwhelming guilt).
44. If I could change anything in life, I'd change certain people's hearts.
45. I used to view poverty as a disadvantage, but now I feel it's a badge of honor, courage and invention.
46. My pessimism is concealed optismism. I would much rather be pleasantly surprised, than bitterly disappointed.

46 Other Things I Love

1. Old fashioned hand written letters.
2. Spending time with Miss C.
3. Being told "I love you" by someone who really does.
4. Soft clean sheets.
5. Puppy kisses, and of course, breath.
6. Capturing the right person's attention and interest.
7. Gardening.
8. Jigsaw puzzles.
9. Throwing a successful party.
10. Comets games.
11. Bird watching.
12. Petting zoos.
13. Basketball.
14. Having friends remember.
15. Organization.
16. EBay.
17. New clothes.
18. Home improvement stores.
19. Common courtesy.
20. Handmade crafts.
21. Chicago.
22. Good company.
23. Fairness and equality.
24. Decorating for Christmas.
25. Buying gifts.
26. Ellen.
27. Figuring people out.
28. Playstation 2.
29. NTN trivia.
30. Sports bars, ice houses and brew pubs.
31. Design.
32. Vacation days.
33. Snagging a collectible at a good price.
34. Completing a project.
35. Crafting paper boxes.
36. Making jewelry.
37. Investments of ALL kinds, including time in friendships.
38. Friendliness of strangers.
39. Giddiness.
40. Finding an efficient solution to a difficult problem.
41. Comedy.
42. A good surprise!
43. Synchronized green lights.
44. Reality television.
45. Casual, spontaneous get-togethers.
46. Beach houses.

46 Treasures

1. Miss C, and everything about her
2. Family Connections
3. Friendships
4. Memories
5. My Wellington Box
6. Other treasure & memory boxes
7. Daddy’s worn silver coin
8. Mom’s embroidery
9. Home
10. Childhood Toybox
11. Photos, old and new
12. Mom’s manners, passed on
13. Daddy’s sense of humor, passed on
14. MaMa’s paintings
15. Cards, letters and notes
16. Jewelry given to me by my Daddy
17. My gavel and nameplate from my Senate days
18. Architectural License
19. Daddy’s many awards, plaques and trophies
20. My family’s pie safe, restored by my uncle
21. Book collections
22. Writings: books, research and journals
23. Mom’s utensils and cutting board
24. Daddy’s baby pillow & pillowcase
25. Architectural models
26. Frank Lloyd Wright collection
27. Patrick’s art & drift wood
28. Family quilts and afghans
29. Bob’s Tulia wheat
30. Diplomas and Awards
31. Gold Medal for Excellence in Architecture
32. Old scrapbooks
33. Adversities I’ve suffered, because they’ve made me stronger
34. Gana’s china
35. Daddy’s book, Daily Strength for Daily Needs, given to him by MaMa
36. Plants given to me by people I treasure
37. MaMa’s pallette and paint mixing knife
38. Gifts from MJ (will I ever get over it?)
39. Family antiques
40. Bob Holloway prints
41. MaMa’s glass collection
42. Professional drawings
43. Garden and trees
44. Daddy’s collections
45. Mom’s sewing box
46. Childhood phonograph