10 Day Writing Challenge-Day 1 (Today)

For the next ten days, I will be participating in a writing challenge sponsored by Kate Motaung at Five Minute Friday. Each day has a one-word prompt. For some reason, a challenge keeps me motivated to write more consistently.

The word for day one is Today.

Today is the first Monday of March.  The month of March signals the transition of Winter into spring. It can be a little windy, but we all know… March winds and April showers bring May flowers.

It is the hope of May flowers that prompts us to rush March along so we can get to the sunshine and happiness of warmer weather.

Most of our “todays” are spent like March. We squint our eyes towards the promise of sunny days ahead or gaze at what was.

Petty disagreements, insignificant purchases,  comparison,  and worry fill our present moments and attempt to choke the very life out of us.

This past weekend, my husband and I took a quick getaway trip to Myrtle Beach in our RV. We met up with new and old friends and spent Saturday without an agenda. IT WAS GLORIOUS!

Jeff slept in Saturday morning and I enjoyed a little quiet time by the pier.

 

While scrolling Facebook, I noticed my friend (Lori) and her husband (Jackie)were in North Myrtle Beach for his basketball tournament.  Almost immediately, I knew we had to go watch him play.

This wasn’t your average basketball tournament.  Jackie plays wheelchair basketball. Y’all, I had NO IDEA wheelchair basketball was so intense. The players literally block each other by crashing into each other with their wheelchairs. I was not ready!

More than anything, I was not ready for the display of sportsmanship and determination of the players.  The game was the highlight of my weekend.

All of the players were amazing but Jackie is truly an inspiration. He suffered a spinal stroke last year yet everyday he chooses to be thankful and move forward.  Although I am sure he has bad days, you won’t catch one “woe is me” post on his social media or hear him complaining.

If you follow him, you will find him doing push ups, driving his truck with hand controls, or cutting grass on a riding lawn mover. Last week, he posted a video getting on an escalator in his wheelchair without help.

Jackie understands the power of today.

After we left the game, Jeff and I both felt blessed just to be in Jackie and Lori’s presence. They have taken their challenges in stride and are true examples of what marriage is all about.

To seize the power of the present, we went to the beach even though those March winds almost blew us off Cherry Grove Pier.

 

My friend Jamie and I also took a few laps around the campground in her adorable golf cart.

And I exhaled!

Saturday night, Lori posted Jackie won “Rookie of the Year” for the season. I’m so not surprised.

Bravo Jackie.

Thank you for teaching us to value today.

yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.  James 4:14

Exhale. Move Forward. Be thankful.

Wanna join the writing challenge?  Go HERE.

(You don’t have to have a blog to join. Pen and paper still work and writing is therapeutic.)