The benefits of driving a clunker

This photo shows Daffy bird enjoying the attention of some of my neighbors in our apartment courtyard. Daffy is the most social bird I have ever seen. He is very good about meeting new folks and tolerates many things even if he doesn't like them. I have learned a thing or two from this yellow bird.

This evening while in a parking lot I saw a stray shopping cart careen down a slope and into the side of another parked car. If I'd have been able, I would have stopped this...I was out of reach. Though it wasn't my car getting rammed, I held my breath as I watched. It's the empathetic instinct (in all of us) that caused me to panic for the other vehicle even though I have nothing invested in it. The good news is that the cart did no visible damage and I went on breathing.

As I drove out of the parking lot and onto the street a myriad of benefits (to my 1994 Mazda Protege") ran through my head. For instance, if that shopping cart had been rolling into MY car I wouldn't have much cared. There is the fact that nobody wants to steal a 17 year old economy car. Also, everyone assumes there is nothing of value inside such a car and would not bother to break in.

The financial benefits are there too. My insurance is inexpensive.
And my annual registration is less than $100.

I also feel the old car is good for my soul. It forces me to be humble. Honestly, one does not puff up with pride when entering or exiting this car. I am reminded that the car should get me from here to there...not elevate my social status.

I confess that I would like to have a new car, a bigger car, a prettier car, a car with working A.C. However, I must also thank God that this particular car was a gift from heaven. It still gets reasonably good gas mileage, and it is fairly reliable.
I choose gratitude for my car over frustration with it's flaws.
I am now giving myself a mental pat on the back for this choice.

I also choose to be grateful that I delivered a good check to pay my July rent. It was on time (as always) and I know that I am securely housed for another month. It would be easy for me to focus on the minimal progress of today as a whole, or become agitated with my neighborhood, or some of my neighbors' mannerisms, or the worn and ugly carpet in my flat....I choose to be thankful for my home. I am thankful I am allowed to keep my birds here even though there is a "no pets" policy. I am thankful I do not need to have a roommate at this point in life (have had quite a few in years past, not always easy). I am also glad for my spacious living room.

I can go from sad to glad in a cool minute. I need to choose my focus and dwell on that which is good and lovely and peaceable. The "fruits of the Spirit" come to mind.

I suppose this blog thingy is working because I feel much better now than I did only minutes ago!

GratefulJoy