Motivational Monday: Quirky Motivation

Kamál (Perfection), 11 Asmá’(Names), 173 BE - Monday, August 29, 2016 AD about 2:445 PM Pacific Daylight Time 

Have you ever noticed that motivation can raise it beautiful curly head at the weirdest times and in the quirkiest ways. This morning, I drove to the Bank of America on East Sahara Avenue to deposit a check (no, I haven't downloaded the app to deposit the check over my smartphone). That branch  of BAM was closed and the ATMs weren't working, so I had to drive south on Maryland Parkway to  deposit the check at the branch on East Desert Inn.  

When I got to the DI branch the ATM, outside had a line, therefore I went into the bank. As I was sitting there waiting for a teller to assist me, I realized that my motivation for going inside the bank wasn't to deposit the check. The check was my excuse for going into the bank, but excuses and motivation are two different thing. My motivation for going into the bank branch is interaction with the friendly telles and bank customer service agents. 

I enjoy going into the cool bank branches and talking to the bank associates. The branch I usually enter has an ATM inside and everytime I enter that branch an associate greets me and most of them know my name. They always address me as Ms Darbe. I love going into a bank or store with friendly customer service agents who know their regular customers by name. 

On the Last Sunday in August 2016

Jamál (Beauty), 10 Asmá’(Names), 173 BE - Sunday, August 28, 2016 AD about 11:45 AM Pacific Daylight Time 

It's the last Sunday in August 2016 and a scripture verse keeps running through my mind. It's a verse revealed by Baha'u'llah and it goes like this "He who put his trust in God, God shall suffice him; He who fears God, God shall send him relief." I've memorized this verse because it helps alleviate worry and I'm a worrier. If I don't keep my mind focused I worry about everything and anything. This scripture by Baha'u'llah reminds me that I don't have anything to worry about because my life is in God's hands.  

I usually worry most at the end of the month. After an hour or so of meditation and contemplation, I realized the reason. Most of my bill are due the beginning or the middle of the month which means that sometime I have to scrape to get the money to pay the bills that hit the checking account. This is especially true for the next couple of months. I'll have enough to cover the bills coming out the first half of the month, but it's the bills that are due the last half that I suspect, but I don't know for sure, that will be the problem. 

Right now, I'm not as worried as I was this morning when I got up. The first reason I'm not worried now is the prayer reveal by Baha'u'llah. The second reason is that I written down my worries. Prayer and writing my worries always help in two ways. First they place everything in God's hands. Second, writing my problems and worries helps discover a solution. 

The Weekend Cometh and I have to plan some changes

Istiqlál (Independence), 8 Asmá’(Names), 173 BE - Friday, August 26, 2016 AD about 3:50  PM Pacific Daylight Time 

I'm not sure whether I'm looking forward to the weekend or dreading it. It's close to the end of the month which means I have bills coming due at the beginning of September. As usual, I'm worried about paying bills and this month I'm especially worried about the internet bill. Maybe I should just drop the landline. That would cut  down a little but not that much. In September I'll also have to purchase some data for my smartphone. I get 250 free phone minutes a month, but I have to pay for  the data myself and I'm out of data. 

So what will I do this weekend. I think the first thing I'll do is decide if I can get by without the landline. It won't make that much of a difference with the internet bill. I can't get rid of the television and the internet. I started to get rid of the landline last month, but then I ended up needing the landline to make calls because I let the phone battery lose its charge and it took a while to charge the battery. This month, I ran out of free minutes which meant I didn't have any left so I needed the landline to make phone calls and stay in  touch with the rest of the world. 

Maybe I won't get rid of the landline. I have to cut down on something because my auto insurance came  up  $20.00. Now that does sound like much but when you're living from Social Security check to Social Security check it's a lot of money. I can't call my insurance agent until Monday. Maybe I can find a way to cut down on the insurance payment, but I doubt it. The payment is as low as it will go now.  

Sunday Afternoon Poem

Jamál (Beauty), 3 Asmá’(Names), 173 BE - Sunday, August 21, 2016 AD about 2:15 PM Pacific Daylight Time 

It's Sunday afternoon and weariness sets in, 

I think about last week 

And how worried I've been. 

I realize 

That worry is a waste of time 

That I can overcome with my spiritual lifeline. 

When I open my prayer book 

To "Test and Difficulties" 

I find the prayers that comfort 

And chase away my worries. 

Saturday Afternoon Thoughts

Jalál (Glory), 2 Asmá’(Names), 173 BE - Saturday, August 20, 2016 AD about 2:22 PM Pacific Daylight Time 

The title to this blog entry isn't very original. The only explanation I have is that it's Saturday afternoon and I'm attempting to catch up on my blog entries, story writing, and editing. Of the three, I will get caught up on the blog entries and begin editing of Chapter 4. I finished editing chapter three yesterday afternoon. This morning I copied that chapter into the Scavengers document, which is my second copy of the chapters I've edited. I'm also keeping a copy of the edited chapters in a writing.com folder. 

If I push myself I will finish editing Chapters 4 and 5 this weekend, which means I can start on chapters 6 and 7 on Monday. Monday will be a busy day because I didn't answer my phone yesterday, so I have call I have to make on Monday. In addition, I have to pick up two prescriptions that day  and that means I have to transfer money from my PayPal account to my checking account. Oh well, at least I still have an internet connection. I wonder if I can get the rest of Scavengers edited before September 4. I'll have to give it a try. After that I have to figure out how to upload a .docx from One Drive to one of my e-mail addresses. 

Motivational Monday: The Telephone is quiet this afternoon

Kamál (Perfection), 16 Kamál (Perfection), 173 BE - Monday, August 15, 2016 AD about 3:36 PM Pacific Daylight Time 

Monday afternoon and my smartphone is quiet. This morning it was ringing out of my hands. I have to admit that I was pissed at the reason for the long distance calls. The calls were from two different number.  Two different men calling me from the U.S. Grants Department to give me a $9,000.00 grant to pay my bills. I swear some people must think that anyone over 60 years of age is stupid or something. That last scam-artist that called hung up when I said I'd been through this before. I haven't received a call from them this afternoon, but maybe they only work half a day. 

I like having a smartphone. I like the convenience of having caller ID. I do get a bit belligerent when the scammers repeatedly call me to con me out of my hard earned money. I don't have that much in the bank, but apparently they think that anyone over 60 is rich. The weird thing is that the two guys sounded nice, so they could make an honest living if they tried. Those calls did motivate me to consider writing a story of some type about technology that can help protect seniors from scam artist. 

Midweek Reflections on Wednesday

‘Idál (Justice), 11 Kamál (Perfection), 173 BE - Wednesday, August 10, 2016 AD about 10:02 AM Pacific Standard Time 

It's a blue Wednesday 

Hump day is the day when all 

Projects are half finished 

Nothing is half finished! That could be an overstatement because I'm feeling down. I feel as if I want to cry. Instead of crying on my keyboard I'm writing. Writing is better than crying because it get the depression on paper where I can see that I have nothing to be depressed about.  I'm not sure why I'm depress. I might be depressed because there is something I need to finish. I have several project I need to finish, so all I have to do is figure out which project I'm putting off today that I can't put off anymore.  Alright, I've stated the problem without say which project I need to finished today. Probably something that I planned to finish yesterday. 

On the First Saturday in August 2016

Jalál (Glory), 7 Kamál (Perfection), 173 BE - Saturday, August 6, 2016 AD about 11:38 AM Pacific Daylight Time 

On the first Saturday in August 2016, 

I fight the tears that want to fall, 

I look into the encompassing darkness 

As it sneaks into my soul and mind 

Like clouds hiding the morning sunshine. 

On the first Saturday in August 2016, 

I want to weep away the disappointment 

My 69 year-old mind feels 

About a body that is no longer young and healthy 

Enough to attract another man into my life. 

On the first Saturday in  August 2016, 

I weep because no one wants to be around me, 

No one wants to know someone who is no longer 

Strong and healthy. 

On the first Saturday in August 2016, 

I write my fears in a poem 

Knowing that I am exaggerating 

The situation. 

Brownout Tuesday: August 2, 2016

Fiḍál (Grace), 3 Kamál (Perfection), 173 BE - Tuesday, August 2, 2016 AD about 1:01 PM Pacific Daylight Time 

Don't you just love it  when you're in the heat of composing a story, poem, or blog entry and there's a brownout. That just happened to me, I was working in one of my writing.com journal composing today's entry and the electricity went off. Fortunately, I had just started the entry, so I don't think I lost too much. I entered the date, saved that (I think) and then begin writing the first  paragraph. 

The electricity went off without  warning, which is normal in a brownout, still it  was a bit of a shock.  I stared at the dark computer, I listened for the song of the air conditioner, and I glanced at the television. I don't know why I glanced at the television because I wasn't watching or listening to it. I think glancing at the T.V. was a reflex reaction.  

I hope we don't have to deal with temporary brownouts for the rest of the summer. When  the computer goes dark in the middle of writing, it throws me off form. My train of thought is derailed for a few minutes and I have to warm up or do something to get it back on track. As soon as I post this I'll go back to writing.com and finish today's entry in Welcome to My Weird Life.