Fortunately there was a solution to each situation. The shredder was exchanged for a new one. The Fitbits are doing their own thing; yesterday they worked perfectly. I found a solution to my paint problem on YouTube that was simple and effective. I had to rest and take meds with the pleurisy. The correct mirror should be in next week. And with the friend, sometimes you just have to pray and let God work it out. Surgery is coming up next week and I am as ready as I'm going to get.
Someone once said that 'life is what happens when you are making other plans.' And there is a Yiddish proverb that says, 'Man plans and God laughs.' Life can be a series of aggravations and interruptions. Life is often messy and rarely goes according to our plans. But through it all we have to trust that it will work itself out. When we realize that we really don't have control over as much as we like to think we do, then we are open to God's grace and the wisdom to remedy the situation.
All of these situations were temporary but in combination they could be overwhelming. But I am blessed to have people that I can vent to and I know how to pray about everything. I realize that in these 63 years, there have been ups and downs but I have to keep focused on my Savior and take one day at a time. (Sometimes it goes down to an hour or even a minute at a time.) My situations may not seem important anyone but me. But they were important to me.
There have been two notable suicides this week, Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain. You would think that these two celebrities had it all together. They had the fame, talent, and fortune but something was terribly missing that caused each of them to take their lives. They made a permanent solution to a temporary problem. We don't know what they were going thorough, but I am guessing that it was probably a series of issues that they could not see a way out of. We don't know if they had reached out to their friend and loved ones or given hints that something was terribly wrong. We may never know the answers.
But we know that suicide a mental health issue that crosses all racial, ethnic, gender, age and socioeconomic lines. It is estimated that many fatal 'accidents' are actually suicides. We live in a world of stress. Most of the time we handle it and even minimize it. But the truth is that our problems are real and no matter how slight they may seem in comparison to others' problems they can be devastating to us.
It's time for us to take care of each other. Everyone needs a safe space that that can vent. Agree with some friends to be that space. We need to remember that no problem is small if it affects our lives. Take the time to stop and respond to anyone talking about suicide, even if it's in a joking manner. Intervene with a call to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 or even take them to the emergency room of the nearest hospital. Don't worry about overreacting or getting in someone else' business. I've done this twice with no regrets. This is a life and death issue. Suicide will claim 121 people today. Don't let it be one of your friends or loved ones. Don't let it be you. Reach out before it's too late.