Getting Rid of the Gunk

I’m spending the week pet sitting for my sister.  I'm actually staying at her house.  

Disclaimer for some of the info below:  I don't mind doing this and I'm extremely happy that I am able to help her out.  I would do anything for my sis.  

Any who, since I'm not at home, I've been a little out of my element and not doing the things I normally do.  

This morning while Yukon, her dog, and I were out walking, I started evaluating the past 96 hours and came to a few realizations.  Well, maybe not realizations, but confirmations of things I've thought about before.

For one, I love, love, love condo life.  I do not miss having a house and all the upkeep that goes with it.  Who wants to water hanging baskets and pots every night?  Not me.  Who wants to cut the lawn and make sure it’s edged and weed free?  Not me.  This may be the life for some...but it's not for me, I love my condo.

Another thing is that although I occasionally have thoughts about having another dog, pet sitting cures me of this want. Not that I don’t love my furphew, because I do…even though I may call him Satan and Stink Bomb, I love him.  Feeding in the morning.  Walking.  Picking up poop.  Hair everywhere.  Letting him out to do his business.  Letting him in from doing his business.  Feeding at night.  More pooping.  It’s a lot of work and takes a good amount of time.  I’m happy in my pet free condo.  I did mention I love my condo, right?

The other thing is TV and how our viewing choices impacts me.  I am so over it.  I do not have cable at home.  I sheepishly admit that I have been watching the Lifetime Movie Network and I must say…I have allowed it to warp my thinking.  And it happened so quickly.  Within a few nights.  It’s crazy.  And I didn’t even realize it was happening.  Until this morning that is.

Last night, I was sitting there watching some movie which I can’t even recall the name of and before I knew it I was thinking about the past (Ugh!!!!!!  WHY???) and balling my eyes out.  I started thinking my life was a little out of whack.  Thinking that maybe I needed something else to complete myself.  WTHeck is that all about?  I mean, seriously, WTHeck?

It’s no wonder us women have such high expectations and want the perfect life.  The perfect life according to mass media that is.  So many of these movies’ messages is that if you don’t have a man, something is wrong with you.  That if you don’t have the perfect life, according to mass media and the cultural norm, that you should actively pursue it.  

Crazy.

I love my life.  I do not need a man to make me feel complete.  I don’t need things to make me happy.  I don’t need to conform to what the world thinks my life should be life to be content.

I have peace.  I have joy.  I have contentment.  

Looks like I am going to have to peel back this new layer of gunk.  And good thing it's just a thin layer.  I am going to stop being complacent about things because I am out of my element.  I am going to get back to being intentional in all I do.  

The things we surround ourselves with, the things we listen to, the things we indulge, yes indulge, in (like binging on Lifetime Movies)…they all impact us...er, um I mean me.  They impact our thoughts and our actions.  And if we are not careful…if we are not intentional…we can allow those things to take us down a slippery slope which leads to nothing good.  Or rather, "No Good", as my gramps used to say.

Needless to say, there will be no more Lifetime Movie Network in this girl’s future.

So, I’m peeling it off.  I’m owning my choices.  I’m acknowledging that I need to refrain.  I don't like the slippery, gunked up slope of the cultural norm.  I am moving back to being consistent and intentional because not conforming requires 24/7 intentionality.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.