What's important to you...

From time to time, do you ever stop to think about the things that are important to you? Off the top of my head I would assume that many people do think of the important things, but do you do what you can to ensure that those important things are really important?  There is no scientific test to determine the importance of things to you, you have to evaluate things on your own.  Lately, I have had to re-evaluate those things that are important to me in my life and I must say it is rather hard.

We can start with the basic issue that nearly everyone has to ask themselves at some point in time...are you being loved in the way that you want to be loved?  Now you can take "love" and split it into emotional love, spiritual love and physical love.

• Emotional Love - I love myself and I am happy with myself, even though I may not love the exact way I look all the time...I still love myself.  That is one of the things that people just seem to forget.  How can you love anyone else if you don't love yourself first.
• Spiritual Love - I love the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.  I may not live my life as a devote christian, but I still love the Holy Trinity.  I know of his teachings, and I respect and believe in his word and power over creation.  All things are possible through spiritual love of the Lord.
• Physical Love - Let's just say, I wish that there was more to say on this issue, but that is a two way street and right now, there is nobody driving in my direction.  Not really sure what happened to put me on this street all alone, but I will stay on the street in the hopes that the traffic will return.  That is the good thing about staying on the street, there is always someone new travelling on the same street.  In the meantime, I have to just continue to window shop and walk into a few stores along the street to find a new driving partner.

Ok, so those of the love related issues, what about happiness?  Is happiness important to a person?  If you said no, then you really have issues already and I would suggest that you get professional help...I did!  You would be amazed about the things that have occurred in your past that have an impact on your happiness.  I know some of the things that have impacted me are rather tragic and some are down right terrible.  But I am still here because I firmly believe that "what doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger".  Well you can believe that statement, but it is not always true.  I are stronger because you have made it through the event(s), but the problems stick with you for the rest of your life.  Unless you are one of the lucky ones that have the ability to completely block certain events from your memory.  I am not one of those people, because I remember every bad event in my life.

I remember those events so much that it causes me to be a little fearful of similar events developing in my life.  I have seen a few relationships begin with friends that remind me of bad relationships from the past.  I know the new friend(s) is not the same people involved from my past but I tread carefully.  Some people mistake that for weakness and quickly find out that I am not weak at all.  I can be a force to deal with, or a person they can add to the list of "life long friend".

Another important issue in my life is friendship.  A good and true friend is not a rare thing to find, provided that you deserve to have a true friend.  This goes back to the issue of loving yourself.  If you don't care anything about yourself, then you are bound to find those friends that don't care about you as well.  They will see you as a user, opportunist or just plaining a waste of time.  I have seen my fair share of "user" friends and I quickly let them know that I am not to be used.  I have had people around me that love to ride "on my coat tails" just to get some where and not to my surprise they forget who I am after they jump off my tails.  But that is ok, because the people that have done that, get a reality check really fast.  When that person needs more of my assistance, they find out that I will not help at all, or I give them a wrong answer to teach them a lesson.

Normally I do not hold a grudge against anyone, but there are a few of you out there that have really gotten under my skin and I willl get even.  I am a firm believer in "what comes around, goes around"...I have seen that statement come true on a few people already.  I don't rub it in their face, but when I do see them from time to time, I just give a little smile to let them know that I do remember.

So what is important to me....lately...I have no clue any more because all of my priorities have changed.  My kids are both over 18 so my job as a parent in raising my kids is coming to an end.  Now all I have to do is continue to provide guidance as needed.  I will always love my boys and will pray for success for both of them in whatever they want to do with their lives.  A love life is on the back burner yet again because like I said before, the two way street has become empty or at least the "car" I was traveling with has been having "engine" problems. Sounds like I need to find a "used car" lot to do some shopping...lol!

I know this is just me going on a small rant about things in my life right now, without full details, but at least I am willing to make the effort to try and find out what is still important to me.  The hard part...balancing my important things with what other people think is important to me.  Meh...I really don't care what other people think is still important to me...because more than likely...they don't know me well enough to know what is important to me.  To know if you are one of those people that know me well enough...just ask yourself one question..."Has Michael told me what is important to him?".  If the answer is no, take the hint...you don't really know me at all and that is because I don't want you to know!