What I Am Good At

Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones Deck prompts - Write for ten minutes, telling me something you are good at.

Because I have been in recovery from the family illness of alcoholism and addiction, I have gotten pretty good at doing what it is I need to do to keep myself in a happy, joyous, and free life.

I had to learn to live in this day only, as I was always in the past or the future. I learned the Serenity Prayer, and that did it for me. By saying that over and over many times, some days, it brought me into the present and doing only what I can on this day, and changing me, and no one else.

In addition, I learned so many things by doing this. I had a mentor/sponsor to assist me in working the spiritual program of family recovery. I had drifted away from a church family many years before and had no support for that way of life.

My culture got religious freedom only that year I got into recovery.

My sponsor put me in a treatment of sorts. It was a little card that said Just for Today. On that card were things I could take, day by day, step by step. One of those ways was to do a good deed for someone without getting caught. If I get found out, then I will do another one on the same day.

I have been doing that for many years. It has become easier and something I am good at. Now, it is a lot of picking up after others. Especially another's trash. It is something for me to make me feel good about helping others and not getting credit from anyone but me.

Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones Deck prompts - Don't be modest. You might have several things you are good at. Go all the way into one. Now ten more minutes on another one.

Make a list if you like.

Not good at anything? I don't believe it. How about cutting your fingernails, kissing, eating an apple? Fish around - being a good sister, the way you lick an ice cream cone, planting trees? Or write about how come you're not good at anything - now this could actually be a fun topic; you may even be given permission here to complain - but make sure it's specific.

I work on being a good grandma and mother. I love my family. It is important to stay in touch with family. My daughter lives the closest, and she has eight children who also live close. Everyone has busy lives. I see my great-grandchildren not enough in my mind, even though they are close.

So it is important that I keep up with what is going on in their lives, by staying in touch on social media, quick text messages, and by allowing my daughter to include whomever in gatherings. Sometimes it is just the youngest, and sometimes it is everyone.

Everyone is a lot. She has eight children and five, soon to be seven, grandchildren.

I contribute to the meals by cooking or bringing whatever I am asked to bring. For one grandson's birthday, he wanted Grandma's carrots. His mother was surprised. I had made him carrots in maple syrup one day, and he remembered that. Something special.

Another grandson always wanted cherries for his birthday from this grandma. He loved getting a cherry on top of his sundae at Grandma's.

The dish they will ask for the most, though, is my wild rice hotdish. That is what I took to my daughters for Mother's Day. I put out the ingredients, and my son fixed it while I was at the water ceremony yesterday morning.

I work on maintaining a relationship with each of my children and grandchildren. Then my siblings, and friends in the best way that I can. I feel I am good at this now.