Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday from my Atlantic Life in Hatteras đ
(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 thatâs when I noticed the stuff on the floor
the holdalls and trunks and suitcases galore
âWhatâs in them?â I asked and he shrugged with a sigh
âjust things I thought mattered, the things I could buyâ
Then he drank up his drink and whilst shedding a tear
he smiled at me sadly and then disappeared
And nobody noticed âcos 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 âtil they cried as he told them a joke
So I took myself over and stood at the back
and noticed he hadnât got cases or sacks
But the stories he told of the oceans heâd sailed,
the countries heâd seen and the mountains heâd scaled
His stories were epic, his life had been full
then he tapped on is glass and he said to us all
âItâs time I must go, but Iâve loved growing old
and I know Iâll live on through the tales that Iâve told
Please believe when I say that to live is enough
your life should be measured by memories not stuffâ
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.... Iâve 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.... youâre probably the type of person who waits, is patient, listens to all the advice your given, and therefore rarely suffers "buyerâs 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 havenât always had buyerâs remorse, but I did end up with a lot of âstuffâ I really didnât 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 â I thought that being able to buy or attain the âthingâ I set my sights on, whether it be another horse, a Mercedes convertible, the latest high-tech gadget, or my next promotionâŠ. would make me happier.
"If I just had a newâŠ.", "if I just had anotherâŠ.", "if I just held that positionâŠ."
When what I really needed was time â with my family, with my friendsâŠ. with myself đ
I wasnât the person that wanted to keep up with âthe Jonesâsâ â I was the "Jonesâs"!!!!!
All that time, effort and money spent when the âthingsâ that could make me truly happy couldnât be bought! When I think of special moments in my life â the best ones were usually unplanned and freeâŠ. they were "experiences". Itâs walking barefoot on the beach and feeling the cool waters lap over my toes, itâs 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), itâs hugging my son Lloyd or my (step)daughter Kaseen, when they come home to visit, itâs being able to see my Mom in Scotland over Zoom and telling her how much I love herâŠ.itâs making friends with an incredible pelican on a cold winterâs day đ
None of those âthingsâ came with a huge price tag â but, they are more than worth their weight in goldâŠtheyâre priceless to me!
My favorite view.....My Hatteras Home đ
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 đ
JB and me at the family cabin in Colorado....quite some time ago đ
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 đ
Meeting Mr Pelican...
And a new day dawns....no amount of money can buy thisđ
So, as we go through the next few months, Iâm 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 adventuresâŠ. Itâll be quite the garage sale đ
Until Next Time,
Take care, Stay safe and......have you got too many suitcases????
Love and Hugs,
Pam
If you would like to receive notifications directly to your in box, you can sign up on the homepage by clicking the button below