Pam's Daily Wave...

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday from my Atlantic Life in Hatteras 😊

(if you can, this reads much better on my blog)

This morning, I would like if you would take the time to read the poem below...

Initially, it may seem a little sad, but please don't take it that way - I think it's a poignant and very beautiful reminder to us all.... that "things" aren't as important as we may think - they're just "stuff"!!!!

The pub I was in smelt of wine and cigars

when I saw two old men who were sat by the bar

One was surrounded by laughter and cheers

the other was sitting alone with his beers

I felt really bad for the man on his own

so I walked up and pulled up a stool of my own

And that’s when I noticed the stuff on the floor

the holdalls and trunks and suitcases galore

“What’s in them?” I asked and he shrugged with a sigh

“just things I thought mattered, the things I could buy”

Then he drank up his drink and whilst shedding a tear

he smiled at me sadly and then disappeared

And nobody noticed ‘cos all he had left

was the stuff in the boxes, the trunks and the chests

Then I looked at the group where the other man spoke

and they laughed ‘til they cried as he told them a joke

So I took myself over and stood at the back

and noticed he hadn’t got cases or sacks

But the stories he told of the oceans he’d sailed,

the countries he’d seen and the mountains he’d scaled

His stories were epic, his life had been full

then he tapped on is glass and he said to us all

“It’s time I must go, but I’ve loved growing old

and I know I’ll live on through the tales that I’ve told

Please believe when I say that to live is enough

your life should be measured by memories not stuff”

Then he rose from his chair and we all shed a tear

As held up his drink to us then disappeared

By Becky Hemsley

Now, confession time for me.... I’ve always been an instant gratification kind of gal - if I set my sights on something, I will go all out to get it, often regardless of the cost physically or mentally to me.

Although a super useful talent when you have goals to reach, it can also be an extremely harmful attribute, when you become so focused on your "goal de jour" at the expense of all else.

You so often miss the "warning signs" like - you don't have enough money, you don't have enough time, it's too big for you, it's too small for you, too strong for you, not enough for you, you'll get hurt, you'll be disappointed, you only want it because someone told you, you can't have it.......is this ringing any bells for you?

If not, awesome.... you’re probably the type of person who waits, is patient, listens to all the advice your given, and therefore rarely suffers "buyer’s remorse".

Unfortunately, for a long time I was the former, in fact I think I've used the excuse - "I work so much...I deserve this", more than a few times. I haven’t always had buyer’s remorse, but I did end up with a lot of “stuff” I really didn’t need, or in some instances, even liked.

The sad thing was, that it took me a long time to figure out where I was going wrong – I thought that being able to buy or attain the “thing” I set my sights on, whether it be another horse, a Mercedes convertible, the latest high-tech gadget, or my next promotion…. would make me happier.

"If I just had a new….", "if I just had another….", "if I just held that position…."

When what I really needed was time – with my family, with my friends…. with myself 😊

I wasn’t the person that wanted to keep up with “the Jones’s” – I was the "Jones’s"!!!!!

All that time, effort and money spent when the “things” that could make me truly happy couldn’t be bought! When I think of special moments in my life – the best ones were usually unplanned and free…. they were "experiences". It’s walking barefoot on the beach and feeling the cool waters lap over my toes, it’s going out on the deck with JB on one of our beautifully clear nights (as we have little to no light pollution, the skies over Hatteras at night can be absolutely magnificent), it’s hugging my son Lloyd or my (step)daughter Kaseen, when they come home to visit, it’s being able to see my Mom in Scotland over Zoom and telling her how much I love her….it’s making friends with an incredible pelican on a cold winter’s day 💗

None of those “things” came with a huge price tag – but, they are more than worth their weight in gold…they’re priceless to me!

My favorite view.....My Hatteras Home 💗

Swimming with the Pups Fall 2021

Lloyd ready for school in England....in 2006

Lloyd loving the Outer Banks!

Kaseen and me, just hanging out 😊

JB and me at the family cabin in Colorado....quite some time ago 😉

Another day in Hatteras paradise

If you live in the South, you have to go to Nascar at least once...

Bodie snuggles....

Once a horsegirl......always a horsegirl 💗

Meeting Mr Pelican...

And a new day dawns....no amount of money can buy this💗

So, as we go through the next few months, I’m going to unclutter my life (yes, like a huge Spring clean), sort through the many "things" I have kept over the years that I really don't need - and to make space for lots more fun and adventures…. It’ll be quite the garage sale 😁

Until Next Time,

Take care, Stay safe and......have you got too many suitcases????

Love and Hugs,

Pam

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