I posted this entry on my profile at the www.29gifts.org website. If you wanna friend me or join me on what will prove to be an incredible journey, please check it out at: www.29gifts.org/profile/davidkav ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ So, I woke up to some unpleasant news. I got two texts from Rachel in regards to covering my shift this coming Saturday. They read: "Hey David. I looked at my planner and I didn't realize the date for next weekend. I forgot I have an event at 4 at Joes." The next text was simpler: "I'm sorry :(" I saw these texts when Beth Ann handed me my phone in order for me to call hers. This is our ritual when she can't locate hers. Since I have an iPhone 4S (for those who have one, you'll know what I'm talking about,) I see all of the missed messages on my home screen. All I needed to see is "I'm sorry :(" at the top to know that it wasn't good. "S@#$!" I say to myself. "I'm leaving now," Beth Ann was on her way to work while I was still in bed for a little bit. "Bye." She reaches in for a kiss. I kiss her and squeak out, "Say a prayer for me, please." "Ok. Why?" "Just got a text from Rachel. She can't do Saturday." "Ok. I'll say a prayer for you." "Thanks, babe. Love you. Make it a great day." "Love you." She walks out the door. I am determined to sleep some more before I wake up for Morning Pages. However, I am a bit stirred now from the news. I don't like this. I don't know what to do. I finally go back to sleep. I have a vivid dream. I dream that I'm at the hotel but the lobby is a mix between our very lobby and one of the theatres that I used to do shows in back in high school. There is a magic show going on. I'm on duty. However, I have permission to go and watch the show. However, I have to change for some reason. I have no shoes on during the dream and throughout. My GM and one of the housekeeping supervisors were in the dream. I am constantly trying to watch this magic show. However, I keep distracting myself. At another point in the dream, I am talking to two of my colleagues - both whom told me that they can't cover my shift for Saturday. "Yeah," I complain. "I dunno. Bryan can't do it. Rachel can't do it. Selena can't do it. I'm not sure What I'm going to do." At one point in the dream, my GM hears this news and tells me, "don't worry. We'll take care of it." These are the main points that I remember. I wake up from the Many snooze buttons that I hit on my phone. I sleep (out of depression) for as long as I can. 1:18pm. I have to be at work at 3pm. I roll out of bed, weigh myself (I have a Weighmeter app on my phone. Both Beth Ann and me weigh ourselves once in the morning and once in the evening.) I decide today that I'm going to get dressed and have my vitamin and breakfast BEFORE Morning Pages. This way, all I have to do is grab my things, put on my jacket and roll out of the house with enough time to get to work without having to take a cab. I comply with ALL of these tasks and goals. This is good. I get to work preoccupied with Saturday's dilemma on my hands. I really have no idea as to what I'm going to do. As I sit here right now, I can only think about this dilemma, getting through my day with my supervisor sick - plowing through his duties and waiting for his relief this evening around 9:30pm or 10pm (Night Audit was coming in to relieve him one hour earlier.) When I wasn't checking in guests, fulfilling the duties on the Daily Task Sheet, checking the coffee, etc, I was focusing on what was proving to be a much more time-consuming gift than I gave thought about: Reading Blog Posts. Yes, yet again, I wanted today's gift to be something that didn't have to do with money. I have been so grateful to ALL of my friends here at the website that read my blogs and who leave thoughtful comments. I felt guilty that I haven't really taken the time to respond in kind to read their blogs and to leave comments. Therefore, The Next Right Thing was right in front of me: Today's Gift will be to my friends here at the www.29gifts.website: Read their blogs and comment on them. As of right now, I have 16 friends. It was hard enough to go through them, to really give them my undivided attention, and to comment from the bottom of my heart. Therefore, as the evening was winding down, I realized that I was going to have to make compromises. There was just no other way. So, I succeeded in going to 3 of my friends. I read and commented on all blogs from 2 of my friends. However, I have a newfound friend who has, as of this moment, 73 blogs. "Whoa!" I gasped. "There's NO WAY I can scratch the surface with these." Therefore, I had to think on my feet, if you will. "Well, the number 3 has always been good. I'll read the last 3 that she has written. And, I'll stop today with 3 of my friends. That's fair, no?" I hope so. I feel like I've cheated everyone else from not being able to read all of my friends' blogs. But, it doesn't mean that I can't later. And THAT'S the main lesson for today (for I do believe that with each gift we give, we should be able to learn something - whether it be huge or something very subtle.) I love what I once heard from a former peer: "EVERY time I project something, it....NEVER....HAPPENS!" I really didn't want to hear these words - especially when it applied/applies to my life - both then and now. However, it's so true. I'd be lying if I didn't tell you all that I STILL set myself for failure with these lofty goals. Along with said goals, I can project as to what will happen, what I'll feel, the exact reward within. You would think that I'd have learned by now. Can I tell you a secret, though? Between you and me? I'm glad that I haven't learned the secret fully. In fact, I'm glad that I get to constantly rediscover myself more and more from learning the same lesson over and over again - with each time, having the lesson stick with me with a thicker and thicker consistency. I am SO grateful to have you all as friends. I am so grateful to have you all to reap experiences from within your writings. And, furthermore, I'm glad that I'll be able to unearth more of your writings later on (which, I promise, I will do - even the one with 73 blogs....well, give me some breathing room, eh?) ;) I came home to Beth Ann. We had a beautiful, intimate evening together. I won't say that we made some very good love. However, I will tell you that we really opened up this evening. We made ourselves vulnerable with talks and possibilities from all angles about the future, our future, people in our lives, etc. We came to one conclusion: We know where we are at in our lives - RIGHT NOW. We know that, as of right now, we are happy. We also know that, as of right now, that's all that matters. Thank God we were wise enough to leave it there (trust me - in these past 2 years we've been together, we have learned our lessons the hard way.) Thank God they stuck tonight. :) p.s. I am SO excited to announce that I was told that my blogs are about to be featured at this very website (well, one of them. Not sure which one yet!!!!) I must say - I am touched BEYOND belief. Because I am to be featured at this very website, I HAVE to THANK YOU ALL! I KNOW that if it wasn't for your love, your feelings, your support and your faith, I wouldn't have this privilege and honor! Thank you thank you thank you ALL! Whatever you do, make this a beautifully fantastic day! Thanks again!!!