Colleagues and Feedback

I have been the treasurer and newsletter editor of the Utah Valley Artist Guild for more than six years.  Tonight we held our annual potluck and Friendly Feedback.  I worked on a painting with the aim of receiving a critique.  Beforehand Richard gave the same advice as the consensus of the artists.  The Guild is currently thriving and our membership includes a number of successful artists.  I am grateful for this association.

Talent

Today I worked on two projects, one a stained glass depicting the burial of the toddler son of a handcart Pioneer, Job Welling, my ancestor, the other an oil painting of my first great-granddaughter, Tegarion, with the dolly I made for her.  Both required work and craft and talent.  I am grateful that my hands can hold the brushes and the tools and my eyes can see well enough for me to practice the gift and challenge of artistic talent.

Time

I do not fear death although I am slightly worried about how I will get there.  I do not welcome the idea of dying though I came very close to dying four years ago.  I am grateful for the time I have had since the surgery for cancer that saved my life.  I am fairly healthy for a sedentary 76-year-old.  Today I served for four hours in the temple and then after eating lunch and doing some banking I spent another three hours helping a crippled neighbor go to doctor appointments, visit her husband who is in the rehab center with a broken leg and do some shopping.  I drive the special lift equipped handicapped van that her husband usually drives when his leg isn't broken.  I am grateful that I have had time to do these things.

Service

Last night I received a call from April Touchette.  Her husband broke his leg and is in the hospital.  April needed to be driven to an eye appointment.  Fortunately I have given her rides several times before in her handicap equipped van.  Sister Perry and I had visited Birthe Champenois several minutes longer than I planned so I was about 10 minutes late getting on to April's home.  We found good parking at the hospital in a space with room to put the ramp down but April was uncertain about which floor the doctors office was on.  We spent more than 10 minutes locating the office where she had an appointment at 11:20 AM.  Fortunately from then on things went fairly well.   She was called back to see the doctor before too long.  It took another two hours before her appointment was finished, and she received the news that she would go blind without extensive treatment.  As I drove her home she explained that she another appointment tomorrow but knew I wouldn't be able to help her because that was when I went to the temple.  I told her to look at the time of the appointment because my afternoons are free.  Fortunately her appointment is in the early afternoon.  I'm grateful that she thought of me as someone who might help her.  Service takes time but it is gratifying to help those who really need help.  I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve.

Win Win

Based on other things I have been learning I felt it was necessary to address a situation that has been bothering me.  I asked my son for a private council to address the issue but I knew it could be a problem.  I had not yet studied the idea of 'win-win' in depth but I decided against a confrontation with blame at the fore.  Instead I was willing to listen and solicit information.  As a result, not only have we reached an agreement about my initial concern, but I have obtained his help in helping me attain another goal.  I am grateful for conciliation.

Routine

I have been listening to Stephen Covey's "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" and he's addresses scheduling by the week instead of the day, putting a broader perspective on plans.  I  believe long-range planning integrated into the daily needs is wise but the establishment of a basic daily routine has transformed my life.  I am grateful for routine.

Growth

Growth and expansion are not highly favored and they apply to things like waistlines. They can be uncomfortable and inconvenient in other areas as well.  Life is a dynamic it does not stay the same.  Stability is often seen as a very valuable state and stretching our minds and hearts to encompass challenge is rarely comfortable, th