Challenge Accepted….

Its a snowy day here as it is in much of the midwest states. My little solar yard lights are under snow. It has been sometime since we have seen snow like this. I remember the 90s snow we got that was similar. We lived in Overland and I so wanted to catch the snow plow and grab the guy out and beat the heck out of him. I would shovel drive way get it all clear and he would come through and cover end of driveway with mound of snow. So I would have to shovel it to get car in or out. I actually started wondering if he was transporting snow to drop just in front of my driveway.

So I looked out this morning to a beautiful white blanket of snow. Just absolutely beautiful, untouched, just awesome. Then the young me kicked in. I had a strong urge to go out and drive in it. I see this level of snow as a challenge and I so want to accept it. The best times to drive it is when no one else is out. When I was a new driver, I would always take on roads like this. I always accept the challenge of bad weather because I wanted to be a better driver, and only way to do that was to challenge myself and learn how to navigate the most challenging weather and road conditions. Sure, I’ve put a car in a ditch, slid down an embankment that I then hammered the gas and drove straight back up and other various adventures. Though each taught me something and I am a better driver for it.

I am not a competitive person, at least how society defines competitive. I don’t compete with others but I do compete with myself. I always challenge myself with things. I believe accepting challenges strengthen us and give us a great deal of wisdom and knowledge. I love my job at the church because I get puzzles, like figuring out best setup for Christmas candlelight service. I love stuff like that. I like being handed a problem or puzzle that I need to figure out. It is one of the reasons I love strategy games. I’ve played them from childhood on. I use to play games like Civ since they came out.

Just like being handed a home project that needs to be fixed. Something that needs out of the box thinking. I’ll observe the problem ponder it then go walk around hardware stores and contemplate solutions. When I say walk around hardware stores I mean really walk them. I never limit my solutions to an area that seems to relate. Such as I used roof flashing on the bottom of my in-laws garage door to help protect it, etc.

I believe life is all about the challenges and our willingness to accept them. A good example, is the forecast of the coming snow posed a challenge to the church. I thought they had a rather resourceful solution and I loved the solution presented. While various other churches just said no Sunday service, or in the case of a friend’s church, chose to do an internet broadcast. My church did an impromptu service Saturday night and utilized the power of the internet to get the word out. I loved the service and thought it was rather inspired. It also showed me a different side of the associate pastor Joel. He didn’t get a chance to refine his sermon or go through his usual routine to deliver it, and I thought his sermon was one of the best I’ve seen him give. Sometimes accepting the challenge brings out something special in us, as it did Joel Saturday night.

Some of the best knowledge we gain is from those challenges we accept, and it occurs on various level from spiritual to physical. Sometimes we learn the most about ourselves in moments that instead of shying away from the challenge we pony up and say “challenge accepted” and go head first into it. I know the past years I have had many of the “challenge accepted” moments. Also sometimes we actually need to say the words “challenge accepted” it sets our brain and spirit in the direction of finding a solution because you are committing to getting it done.

I have seen some of the best in people when they accept the challenge and commit to taking on whatever is presented them.

So today, I hope you find a challenge to accept and to enjoy. To often people walk into a challenge grumbling. Mind you there is much grumbling while trying to find a solution, but that should come more from the trial than the perception of just having to deal with a challenge. To many people just don’t want to deal with challenges they wish they didn’t have to. They want things to just go smoothly and bring a poor attitude when they have to face something.  

Life is all about challenge, I think I said that up there somewhere but it is. I don’t ever plan to stop challenging myself. I even have challenges already set in place for retirement. Most people call it a bucket list but really when you look at a bucket list you see a challenge because you have to figure out how you will accomplish that goal. 🙂

Also be aware some challenges last longer then others. 🙂 I am facing the anxiety and grief I mentioned in other posts, but I accept the challenge. I always look to improve myself. I have cut my meds in half and see every situation that causes anxiety or would have caused it, that I handle well as a triumph. 🙂 I am getting stronger again and I see another me forming. Though over the years I have “reinvented” myself several times. The 40 year old here today is quite different then then the 20 year old I was. Change is a challenge I accept everyday.

I hope you have an amazing day. For those being impacted by winter storm Ion, when did we start naming winter storms, anyway I hope you stay warm and be safe in your travels.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read my ramblings. May you truly be blessed in all you do and remember when faced with a trial just think to yourself or even say outloud “challenge accepted”.
…. and don’t forget the soundtrack….. always have to have a soundtrack for your challenge. 🙂 Music, just as humor, is a great traveling partner along your accepted challenge that we call life.

It’s my life – bon jovi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx2u5uUu3DE

My editor is currently enjoying a nice cozy warm bath with her nook and bath salts so I am not sure if this will be looked over by her before I post it. Thus the same rule applies as always… forgive the grammar faux pas. 🙂

His editor exited her nice relaxing bath just in time to improve his grammar before this blog was posted. So it should be OK now… 🙂