Some back ground information:   The quotes you see in this entry are from the recovery program that I follow.  The program called the "New Life Program" is followed by the members of Women for Sobriety and is based on a set of 13 Statements of Acceptance and Affirmation founded by Dr. Jean Kirkpatrick Ph.D. It's been a very wonderful and successful experience for me.  I wanted to share this recent "story" with you as it has a lot to do with what I'm thinking I'm "standing on the verge of" that I wrote about in a previous post.  I had posted thing on the WFS forum but originally was going to leave out the statements I used when I posted is here as a Journal post.  However I have decided to leave them in.  It is not my intention to offend or prostilize to anyone.  Having said that if anyone is interested in know more about the program please feel free to send me a message.  With nothing but good humor in my heart here is: 

One Happy Little Frog and Two Snapping Turtles

Imagine if you will that I’m the happy little frog in this story (I know not that far a stretch for those that know me.)  I’m perfectly content to hop from one thing to the next (sometimes I’m hyper) and then like a happy little frog bask in the sun for a nap. And like most happy little frogs I leap big time to avoid a confrontation and if backed into a corner may stick my tongue out at you. 

 #3. Happiness is a habit I will develop.

Happiness is created, not waited for.

In the middle of June my job that I really, really liked with the dry cleaners was coming to an end.  The shop was moving and my shifts would be moved to evenings and weekends.  This happy little frog really doesn’t want to do that any more if she doesn’t have to.  So I was very pleased when on my second to last day the owner/baker of the bakery/coffee shop next door offered me a job.  The wage was lower but with the prospect of tips and more hours during the summer made it feel like a grand idea.  And since there would be no nights or weekends I was once again a happy little frog. 

 #10. All love given returns.

Sometimes as a job offer. 

Well the bakery/coffee shop is one small pond and “ruling” over this pond is two snapping turtles; the baker/owner and the cook.  It didn’t take me long to notice the pattern of snapping back and forth that went on between these two…. snap, snap, snap.  However they’d been working together for a long time so I just did my “froggy” best to hop out of their way.  Just not saying anything, staying out of the line of fire, doing a fine job of serving the customers and keeping up the kitchen duties worked fine for awhile.  A lot of folks I know come into the coffee shop and I was totally enjoying just chatting and exchanging jokes.  No time for dawdling mind you but this frog does really well on the “fly” (little pun there – he, he). 

#2. Negative thoughts destroy only myself.

My first conscious sober act must be to remove negativity from my life.

This means staying out of the line of fire and not taking anything personally. 

At first I’d only catch the odd snap.  Like I said it’s a small pond and when the lunch rush is on it’s hard not to get in each other’s way.  Since the “snapper” usually apologized afterwards I tended to just ignore it.  But you know this little frog is not so young any more and after a day of hopping between customers and out of the way of incoming snaps, I was getting tired. Last Wednesday when I walked in I knew it was NOT GOING TO BE A HAPPY DAY.  The turtles were in full snapping mode and I barely got out “good morning” before one of them snapped at me.  Oh dear… this isn’t good.  A large take out order had come in and they were both stressed over it.  Stressed snapping turtles are not something you want to get caught between!!!   Less than 5 minutes later  - SNAP! .. the other one got me.  Holy mosquitoes….. this happy little frog wasn’t feeling very happy.  I wish I could say that was the end of it but I can’t.  SNAP, SNAP, SNAP…for my entire shift.  Even the customers were feeling a bit on edge. 

4. Problems bother me only to the degree I permit them to.

I now better understand my problems and do not permit problems to overwhelm me.

In this case two snapping turtle friends.

So what’s this happy little frog to do?  The next day was much better and Friday was somewhere in between.  I can only leap so far so often before it starts to wear on me.  I’m not hopping up and down at the prospect of going into work tomorrow.  Now this is where a frog’s patience comes in.  You know, how they can sit quietly on a log, still as can be and then ZAAAAP! … faster than the eye they have themselves dinner.  I’m going to fall back on a bit of patience for the next three weeks and then decide if it’s time to look for a new pond. 

8. The fundamental object of life is emotional and spiritual growth.

Daily I put my life into a proper order, knowing which are the priorities.

Emotional growth = patience.  #1 priority = not getting my behind snapped at.

I’ve picked the next three weeks because I only have three shifts this week and then Mr. Frog and I are going on a road trip for a week.  Then the week after that the shop will be closed as both the “Turtles” take the week off.  Maybe, just maybe, this break away from each other will smooth over their jagged nerves.  It’s a long shot I agree, but it wouldn’t hurt to wait and see. If it’s the same thing when I’m back at work…. Then this happy little frog is going to do one giant leap out of there.  I’m too old and life is too short to be getting ambushed with “snaps” all the time. 

Besides, just like I found these past two part time jobs I have a feeling that I won’t have any trouble finding a nice pond with a comfy log to perch my behind on. 

 #6. Life can be ordinary or it can be great.

Greatness is mine by a conscious effort.

Which may mean leaving this pond behind with nice two nice turtles with a need to snap.

Be good to you – Razz                 

ps - this could mean that I am standing on the verge of finding "the perfect" job or not.  But it is definitely making me re-think my present job situation.  As an interesting aside.  A woman I know from recovery meetings we used to have is now working in my small town.  She's the manager of our new Community Center..... hmmm...... wonder if she has any opening?