Everyday A Lesson - paid $14 saved $140

byCarlJDill

1.7K followers

Updated 6 years ago

So this is my come what may 'speech'----

Long time no post, right? I have been following many of the Top Ten posts regularly and commenting on some but now I am finally off work (unless called in - I signed the 'call if needed' list); I am off work so I can post again and also build some much needed content into my websites. But before I get to the content I want to share this from yesterday.

Every morning, every day, is another day to learn something new. Things about yourself. Or to just add more to the wealth of knowledge you can get online. There is an ocean of opportunity out there. Yesterday started out much like any other Sunday. Got up, got online, had my healthy concoction of colostrum and water (Yum), hung out online for a while, had my coffee, then greeted my family as they began getting up and getting ready for church. I get up about an hour early before everyone else because I have this online thing; this affiliate marketing business online thing, the thing you try to explain to people and they don't get it (at first) thing. It doesn't matter if it is Sunday or any other day clear through to Saturday, this is what I do. Although on the days I work the hour early means getting up at 4AM, I know that this diligent focus on all things online will pay off eventually. As in my other posts, eventually means probably much sooner than later. I am anticipating a phenomenal 2018! For everyone who doesn't let the crud of life interfere and who doesn't get so discouraged that they quit. That happens you know. And that is kind of why I am sharing this.

So I did my normal routine and then we were off racing the 30 minutes at 80mph (yike! the speed limit is 70 and I generally do 10 miles over - I was told by a detective friend that most officers will not bother you at 10 miles over); We sped up the highway to get to our community-of-faith place. (that is all I will say about it here because (1) it is not relevant to the story and (2) we have a no religious posts policy that I respect and will abide by) We went to our community-of-faith place and afterward lingered a bit, talking and encouraging folks and then came home for lunch from the crock-pot; A typical Sunday. Then as is my custom, I took a nap. Lol. Sunday being my first day off after working several consecutive 12 hour days and I always feel a strong urge to nap in the afternoon. Pretty normal for me. You know most days seem that way, normal, but everyday provides an opportunity for a fresh start. Every day the sun comes up is a new beginning. It doesn't really matter what happened yesterday (assuming it was a fairly normal day); it doesn't matter what happened yesterday it only matters what you decide to do today.

This was my Sunday. When I got up from my nap I went online again. I went to Facebook and came here; I normally toggle between the two when I am online because I have stuff going on in both places. Probably not much different than many of you. Fairly normal so far. While on Facebook I messaged a bunch of dear-to-me friends that I was thinking of. While here I answered PMs, said hello in Live Chat, got my Notifications caught up, began writing some content, and then it was time to bring my daughter to her Elevate youth group meeting so we began getting ready to go again. All pretty normal. But then this pretty normal day began providing some uncommon lessons.

I am going to speed along this explanation because as I look back I think I may have already said too much and taken much too much of your valuable time. So to quicken things along here is how the next two hours went that day. After getting offline I mentioned to my wife that the house felt colder than normal, the temperatures outside here in the Northeastern United States were dropping fast again into single digits. Then it occurred to me that I didn't hear the furnace running. (Oh no!) I planned on just enough fuel to get me until our delivery today. There has been difficulty with oil deliveries in the state because the demand with the extreme cold has been abnormally high. The furnace wasn't running but I had a plan. We got in the car a raced up the highway then through the town our church is in, then to the town my daughters youth group was to meet in. Then I raced to my home town, bought some diesel fuel, I was surprised it was only $14 for almost 5 gallons, and I went home to get the heat on again. In the process of hurrying while I disconnected tubing to improvise until our oil came I pinched my hand deep and got a large bruise and blood blister, but I got the furnace running again. Then I raced out the door to go get my daughter. But this time while racing through the town our church is in I saw an SUV with side lettering pull quickly into a filling station ahead of me. (no No NO! I don't have time for this!) Sure enough as I continued on my way the SUV pulled out and began to follow me. I didn't even wait for the blue lights I just put my directional signal on and pulled over. Fumbling around my wife's car I couldn't find the proof of insurance, registration, and I already knew I left my wallet at work because I had to take my wife's debit card to pay for my diesel fuel. So here I was with no credentials waiting for the officer to come to the window. Turned my lights on, put my window down, and put my hands on the wheel to signify that I was no threat. It always puts things at ease that way.

Long story short - instead of the $140 dollar ticket that I could have received she gave me a written warning; an electronic written warning that will now tarnish my once perfect driving record. But I am happy to have been spared the $140 and thankful for the grace extended to me by this police officer. It could have gone much differently. Needless to say I was late getting my daughter and after that it was a pretty normal end to our day.

So where is the lesson in all of this? Why did I spend so much time here to describe my day? It is because that in our lives and amidst all of our planning 'life' has a way of getting in the way. Sometimes it does. We are all busy people with busy routines. We haven't got time for interruptions. We race around online trying to get as much done as possible and sometimes we just go a little too fast. We break rules of etiquette sometimes in the process. But when we do we can always find a way to diffuse the situation. We can find a way to treat with respect the people with whom we have to deal. We don't have to race around stepping on and over people in our frantic push to get to our destination. I know we have urgent needs. I get that. But we can be pleasant about it. If I was not pleasant in talking to that police officer I am fairly certain she would not have let me away without having to pay. So perhaps this is lesson number one.

But the biggest lesson to me is this. I had planned on enough fuel in my tank to get me through until today's delivery. If you have read and remember my '$750 blessing' post you will recall that I likened fuel to our desire to succeed online. We all have it or we wouldn't be here in Wealthy Affiliate. I had planned on enough fuel. I checked it twice daily and planned to get diesel fuel if needed. But what I didn't plan on was the sludge that builds up at the bottom of most oil tanks and tends to plug the works when it gets too low. In our lives we have sludge sometimes. Doubt. Discouragement. Pressing needs. Time pressures. Deadlines. All of this stuff, all of this crud gets down into us deep inside and makes our fuel (our desire) not work as it should. But you know what? All of that the doubt and stuff is only temporary. And although we see life as just ordinary day upon ordinary day it is not so for us. We are learning and growing every day. So I guess what I am saying is this; don't give up. Find a way to fuel your situation until Wealthy Affiliate delivers another tank of desire, encouragement, and inspiration. Stick with the stuff. This year- 2018 - is going to be incredible. You, me, and everyone who sticks with the stuff is going to race to the top. No blue lights. No ticket. No lack of fuel. Just don't let the crud get in the way. And remember -- tomorrow is a brand new day.

I hope this encourages someone.
I hope you don't feel I wasted your onlline time.
If this has inspired you at all please comment and share.
It is the only way that I will know that this sort of post helps.

Kind regards friend,

Carl