Jeni Roper - Blog

The World

12/10/2017

December 9, 2016

Today I saw...

The world. I went for a ride on my new scooter. Been trying to find the right words to explain what it felt like. I rode around the new neighborhood nearby. No cars, wide roads. One I got the hang of things, it was quiet and peaceful. I said hello to people in their yards and giggled when I put my turn signal on. I feel so silly but I even teared up a bit. 45 years old and have never driven a car. And yes, I understand that my lil' 7mph vroomer doesn't even compare in the real world, in MY word, a world where my body is becoming frustratingly less reliable, this amazing miracle that sits in my parking spot means ... freedom. Lame explanation, but if you need more, I'll just have to zoom on over to your house and we'll chat. ;)

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Today I Saw...

12/6/2017

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So I haven't posted in a loooong time. This isn't ok. So I'm starting my attitude of gratitude thingy again, with a twist. Often when I'm trying to think of my nightly gratefuls, my day passes before my eyes and I feel an overwhelming flood of emotions. I always try to pick the thing that made me the happiest that day. And yeah it changes my life for the good every freakin' time.

Telling my story isn't all ups, duh. My friends can attest to that. But my story, ups and downs, is made up of me noticing things; being aware of my surroundings and -- watching. And I see lotsa cool stuff. Let's try this and see what happens, shall we?

Today I saw ... my kid working harder than I've ever seen him work at Taekwondo. My heart melts every Wednesday and Friday night as I watch him excel. He said to me the other day, "Dang it mom! I can't half-butt it anymore in P.E. class anymore because Master Cole has taught me to give it everything I have!" Proud, proud, proud!

I saw my other kid old open his first checking account. Wowza. For a moment I wanted to contradict myself every other time I talk to him and say, "It's time to stop growing up!"

I also saw a freckle-face kid and his mom walk out of the DMV grinning from ear to ear as he stared at his temporary learner's permit. You GO, dude!

I saw a friend - and when I say my friend I mean my happy pill prescriber - say that I looked better than I have in a long time. I realized that I've felt better than I have in a long time. Pretty dang weird because of the life happening around me right now. Through her eyes I saw myself as a good mom, an awesome speaker, a um...writer, a spiritual being, and yes, a fierce fighter for everything I believe in. Go figure. RAWR.

...be patient with me, I'm just starting. More sightings tomorrow.

#greatfulfor

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Spiritual Slap in the Head

10/28/2012

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So today in RS, the teacher gave this amazing object lesson with rocks, and carrying around so much more than she need. She had a sister come up, put on a backpack, stuff a buncha rocks in it, THEN carry a basket with even more rocks. She then had the sister walk all over carrying these rocks. It was a wonderful object lesson, but not the lesson I needed to learn today. The sister with the rock's final task was to go out one door, down the hall, then back into the other door.

As she went out the first door, without hesitation, a sister by me, Becky, older and quieter, but always has a spark in her eye, gets up and heads for the door to open it for the rock-burdened sister. Our teacher, said, "No, no, no, Becky! She HAS to do it ALONE!" (after all, it was just a fun object lesson)

Without slowing down, stopping, or even turning back, Becky says very quietly, "No one has to do ANYTHING alone," and opens the door. There were a few giggles, and the lesson got back on track.

But for me, it could have ended right there. Wow. What a powerful thing to experience. No one has to do anything alone. Period. Nothing else really needs to be said, except that in ten seconds I received the spiritual slap in the head that I had been needing for a very long time.

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THE Story...

8/1/2012

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Squirming...

7/12/2012

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A close synonym to WIGGLING, but right now, this day, this hour, this minute, this "squirming" thing has an entirely different connotation.

A huge commonality among us imperfect people (AKA all of us) is having a hard time believing in ourselves. Having been one of these people for most of my life, this new adventure of telling my story to the world has been quite the stretch ... and squirm.

This next events coming up are going to be better than ones in the past. Much better. I'm learning lots and lots from the best of the best, and am looking forward to getting better and better ... and I'm squirming.

I've been advertizing like crazy, and praying that the Lord will send people my way who would benefit from my message. Honing my presentation, practicing, getting very excited ... and squirming.

My events are Friday and Saturday. T-minus eight days and four people have registered. Two each day. ... SQUIRMING.

Believing in myself. Squirming. Grateful for the stretch (I think). Not as fun as Wiggling though.

Anyone have any Pepto?

I love y'all!

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It Was Never About Me

7/6/2012

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I inspire people. Just by walking into a room.

I've fought this fact most of my life. I'm not Mother Teresa. I don't have a cause to fight. I don't try to change people's lives (well let's hold off on that last one for now).

How could I possibly inspire someone, or even a group of people just by walking into a room? They don't know me. I could be a horrible person.

Just because I wiggle? No. Heck no. To be inspired by someone, you need to know their heart. Watch them do something good. Hear them share their life-changing views of life. Not me. When I walked into a room, I invoked curiosity, pity, and yes sometimes fear (a cute little four year old once saw me coming and said, "Oh, PLEASE don't eat me!").

Except this way of thinking is just NOT true. Period. It's taken me thirty-*ahem* years to just START to understand. It's not about me; never was. Yes, I had my stuff ... my struggles, my own journey. But the feelings that people felt while they are around me...wasn't and still isn't about me. It's about them--the people in my life; even for a brief moment. Who am I to say how they're supposed to feel? If I can inspire in ANY capacity, that's a good thing. Period.

And if I can take it one step further to share my journey I've had with my amazing, wiggly, imperfect body with others, that's a good thing too. So, this is what I do.

'Cuz it was never about me.

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The World

Today I Saw...

Spiritual Slap in the Head

THE Story...

Squirming...

It Was Never About Me

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