Dear Happy Asses!!!!!
If I could title this note to you — and I can, so I will — it would be: The First Day of School and Spider Monkeys!!!!
First of all, can I get a hallelujah and a 1,000 amens? School is back in session and I am ELATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean really, really elated, and I think yahoo now I am also back in school and on my schedule, and I don’t have to be an activity director anymore for teens and preteens. Praise God and all the saints of Glory for teachers and all the saints that make schools happen.
I know I said this was about the First day of school and spider monkeys, and we will get to that, but just a word up to those brave souls who do homeschooling. My only foray into homeschooling was when the nasty Rona shut down the school and opened up the school of Ya Ya. Let’s just remind those of you who may remember that I had a total breakdown trying to educate my two grands while running my company. Suffice it to say I would not have been classified an A school.
I made several decisions before this school year began, and one of those was to stop my daily broadcast of Happy Ass and transition to a weekly podcast. I had a very difficult time making that decision, and I wrestled with it for at least 6 months when I decided I knew in spite of my sadness and trepidations, it was the right thing to do. When the kids came to live with me I did not change my schedule and tried mercilessly to fit all that I was doing along with full-time Ya Ya parent, and needless to say, that was not working, even a little bit. Something had to give!!!
So I am filled with so much excitement and a little fear, just like the kiddos starting back to school. I know it is the right time and the right thing, but not so sure how to do it. I am excited and also a little fearful about creating a weekly podcast, but trust that God will show me the way and If I am smart, I will follow!!! I also know that all of my happy asses will give me grace as we embark on this new adventure.
So, where do spider monkeys come into this thought process? Hang on I am getting to that. I was compelled to make decisions that would allow me to do the most important things at hand such as raise kids and keep my sanity while also following my bliss of creating more Happy Ass content and creating a community of people that truly want to make life brighter and sweeter for others. My whole focus is on that and anything that distracts me from that needs the old heave-ho!!! ( Oh yes, I do still have that paying job that keeps the lights on and my heart lit up at Beachy Beach)
I started walking daily, and then that led to a little run /walking, which I love because I like running more than walking because walking is boring and not running!!!! So I got the bright fleeting idea that since I was running a little and having such a great time listening to Motown I should sign up for a 10k!!! Of course, I should because if running a little is good, then running a lot is better right????
NO NO NO, Karen, we have been over this before. You can not sign up for everything if you want to do anything of lasting value. I realized as I was walking this morning that I am a huge goal setter, we already know that but………….. My goals are like spider monkeys: they are all over the place, jumping quickly from branch to branch and never landing anywhere for any amount of time. So my spider monkey’s thoughts brought me back to the reality that in order to accomplish my most important goals I have to stop my spider monkey ways.
So I will NOT be signing up for a 10k, but I will be working on the things that God has impressed on my heart. Happy Ass will continue with pop-ups and weeklies, and God willing, and the creek doesn’t rise, I will finish my first book and have it to press by October so it can be ready for your Christmas tree!!!!
So if you see me swinging from tree to tree, please for all the saints of Glory, remind me that I am NOT a spider monkey but am a full-blown Happy Ass.
Love ya, mean it!!!!
Karen Key Smith
