Memes That Have Spoke Truth in 2021; December 31, 2021

Just some recent memes that have resonated with me the last month:

+ Relationships don't work because people think it's okay to ignore somebody when they're mad instead of being mature and communicating.  (Friendships - or so-called friendships - apply here too.)

+ Sometimes it doesn't work out with someone because they're a piece of shit who deserves a piece of shit and you're not a piece of shit.  (I'm far from it.)

+ You don't "get over" narcissistic abuse.  You learn to work through what happened.  But you are never the same.  (Call on God for this.)

Narcissists & Boundaries

+ Ghost you when you dare to confront them.  (Ghosted and then gaslighted when I asked for time.)

+ Use the silent treatment against you.  (Experienced this.)

+ Play the victim to avoid responsibility.  (I think where I messed up ...)

+ Ignore your feelings completely.  (Experienced this.)

+ Act in a passive aggressive way.  (Experienced this.)

+ Take your words out of contact.  (Hard to do when I don't engage.)

+ Twist your words.  (Hard to do when I don't engage.)

+ Completely miss the point on purpose.  

+ The most important lesson I've learned over this past year is don't let anybody make you cruel.  No matter how badly you want to give the world a taste of its own bitter medicine, it is never worth losing yourself.  (This is the extent of the give, right here.)

+ My 2022 resolution is to stop wondering if I'm good enough for other people and start wondering if they're good enough for me.  (My friend Amie said last year, "Jon, they don't deserve you."  She's right.)

Things that narcissists hate

+ Boundaries (Because I don't - and will no longer ever - engage.)

+ Being ignored (This is the TRUTH.)

+ Being questioned about their behavior

+ Seeing a victim engage in happy and healthy relationships (Heck yes, when I got a hug from another female before a race, it drove her nuts.)

+ Not having control and power

+ Becoming irrelevant  (She may think that she gets ancillary power from certain things.  Nope.  It is just business to me, like the recent blog post.)

+ Being wrong (She'll never give me a full-fledged apology.  Never.)

+ There's no such thing as "staying friends" with a narcissist.  They have never been, and will never be your friend.  They are your enemy.  (I agree with this.  They fear you will share their secret with everyone.)

Movies Seen in Theaters in 2021 - 77

"12 Mighty Orphans", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (June 11)
"A Quiet Place Part II", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (June 1)
"Assault on VA-33", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (April 6)

"Being The Ricardos", ShowBiz Cinemas Kingwood 14, Kingwood, TX (December 20)

"Black Widow", Regal Benders Landing, Spring, TX (September 6)
"Blithe Spirit", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (February 23)

"Boogie", Cinemark Spring-Klein, Spring, TX (March 7)

"Brothers By Blood", ShowBiz Cinemas Fall Creek, Humble, TX (January 24)
"Chaos Walking", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (March 15)
"Come True", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (March 18)
"Cosmic Sin", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (March 12)

"Crisis", Cinemark 17, The Woodlands, TX (March 8)
"Don't Breathe 2", Cinemark 17, The Woodlands, TX (September 13)

"Don't Look Up", Cinemark 12 Cypress and XD, Cypress, TX (December 17)

"Don't Tell A Soul", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (January 17)

"Dutch", Studio Movie Grill Pearland, Houston, TX (March 20)

"Encanto", Cinemark Spring-Klein, Spring, TX (November 24)

"Ends Of The Earth", Cinemark Spring-Klein, Spring, TX (October 21)
"Finding You", Cinemark 17, The Woodlands, TX (May 19)

"Four Good Days", Cinemark 17, The Woodlands, TX (May 11)
"Free Guy", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (August 28)
"Ghostbusters Afterlife", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (November 23)

"Godzilla vs. Kong", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (May 6)

"Heaven", Cinemark 17, The Woodlands, TX (January 21)
"Here Today", Cinemark 17, The Woodlands, TX (May 19)

"Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard", Cinemark Spring-Klein, Spring, TX (June 16)

"In The Heights", Regal Benders Landing, Spring, TX (June 17)

"Initiation", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (May 8)

"Judas and the Black Messiah", Cinemark Spring-Klein, Spring, TX (February 19)

"King Richard", Regal Benders Landing, Spring, TX (December 16)

"Land", Cinemark 17, The Woodlands, TX (February 11)

"Little Fish", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (February 10)

"National Champions", Cinemark 17, The Woodlands, TX (December 14)

"No Man's Land", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (January 22)

"Nobody", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (March 29)

"Nomadland", The Grand, Conroe, TX (February 19)

"Old", Cinemark Spring-Klein, Spring, TX (September 4)

"One Night In Miami", Cinemark 17, The Woodlands, TX (January 11)

"Our Friend", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (January 28)
"Percy Vs. Goliath", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (May 1)

"Peter Rabbit 2 The Runaway", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (June 20)

"Profile", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (May 21)

"Protege", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (August 23)

"Raya and the Last Dragon", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (April 9)
"Red Notice", Cinemark Spring-Klein, Spring, TX (November 22)
"Red Rocket", Regal Benders Landing, Spring, TX (December 30)
"Redemption Day", ShowBiz Cinemas Kingwood 14, Kingwood, TX (January 18)
"Ron's Gone Wrong", Cinemark Spring-Klein, Spring, TX (November 14)

"Separation", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (April 29)

"Siberia", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (June 22)

"Silk Road", Showbiz Cinemas Fallcreek, Humble, TX (February 25)

"Spencer", Cinemark at Market Street, The Woodlands, TX (November 18)

"Spiral:  From the Book of Saw", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (May 13)
"The Boss Baby 2:  Family Business", Regal Benders Landing, Spring, TX (July 17)

"The Courier", Cinemark Spring-Klein, Spring, TX (March 19)
"The Dry", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (June 3)

"The Father", Cinemark Spring-Klein, Spring, TX (March 12)

"The Girl Who Believes In Miracles", Cinemark 17, The Woodlands, TX (April 5)

"The King's Man", Regal Benders Landing, Spring, TX (December 22)

"The Little Things", The Grand, Conroe, TX (January 30)

"The Mad Hatter", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (February 9)
"The Marksman", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (January 14)
"The Many Saints of Newark", Regal Benders Landing, Spring, TX (October 2)

"The Mauritanian", Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas The Woodlands, The Woodlands, TX (February 21)
"The Night of the Sicario", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (April 16)
"The Night House", Regal Benders Landing, Spring, TX (September 5)
"The Vigil", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (February 28)

"The Unforgivable", ShowBiz Cinemas Kingwood 14, Kingwood, TX (November 25)

"Those Who Wish Me Dead", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (May 23)
"True To The Game 3", Regal Benders Landing, Spring, TX (December 9)

"Under The Stadium Lights", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (June 10)

"Venom:  Let There Be Carnage", Regal Benders Landing, Spring, TX (December 13)

"Willy's Wonderland", Xscape at 1488, Conroe, TX (February 22)

"Wonder Woman 1984", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (January 12)
"Wrath of Man", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (May 7)

"Wrong Turn", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods Village, Spring, TX (March 2)

"Zola", AMC Willowbrook 24, Houston, TX (July 16)

Always Ready To Listen; December 29, 2021

When you fail to pray, you end up feeling distant from God.  And that, in turn, makes you even more reluctant to pray.

No matter how distant you might feel from the Lord, God is always close by.  He hasn't changed, moved, disappeared, or lost interest in you.  So close the gap.  Take a simple step toward God and talk to Hi.  The more you di this, the more comfortable you'll become communicating with Him.  And the more you pray, the more opportunity you'll have to ask for His help for yourself and on behalf of others.  And the more you ask, the more answers and guidance you'll receive.  No matter what your situation, God is always ready to listen!

Source:  One-Minute Insights For Men, Jim George, page 5.

Copyright 2013 Jim George

My thoughts:  I think I grew up either knowing or thinking that I had to be on my knees to pray, which, of course, is certainly maybe a foolish thought, but I'm certain that I let that be a stumbling block for me not to for so many years.

Yet, at times, I know that, even though I'm focused on it being just a conversation with God, I feel foolish almost if I don't.  Something I still struggle with I suppose.

Intellectually, I believe that God is always available to listen to us.  

The hardest part of me is when I feel a burden to is that I don't steal some time away and go get alone and have a short conversation with God.  

It is like I'm stopping myself from doing something that I know is right.

I know this year I'm thankful to God for steering me out of things that I didn't need to be in as much as my heart - and desire to be loved as a friend - tried to pull me into something that I shouldn't have been in.

It is almost why I want to focus on putting together a book for private and parochial high school athletics to keep myself from that area of my world to not be subject to one person's projection of a lot of hate on to me, when I've done nothing other than maintained boundaries from them the most of the time that I've known them.

Miles and Miles - 11/25/21 to 12/24/21

November 25 - December 24 - 47.403 miles running - 27.753 miles walking - 56.877 miles walking (Apple Health) - 118.7 miles cycling - 4,519 meters rowing

November 25 (Thursday) - 3.8 miles walking (Apple Health)
November 26 (Friday) - 3.1 miles running at Friends of the Running Community 5K (46:53 with Ken Johnson) - 3.7 miles walking (Apple Health)

November 27 (Saturday) - 3 miles walking (Apple Health)

November 28 (Sunday) - 1.2 miles walking (Apple Health)

November 29 (Monday) - 4 miles walking along The Woodlands Waterway (1:02:44.57) - 0.6 miles walking (Apple Health)

November 30 (Tuesday) - 5.742 miles walking at Knox Junior High track (1:29:19.68/15:33) - 0.658 miles walking (Apple Health)

December 1 (Wednesday) - 4.334 miles running at Knox Junior High track (46:33.78/10:45) - 0.49 miles walking (Apple Health)
December 2 (Thursday) - 0.8 miles walking (Apple Health)

December 3 (Friday) - 1.9 miles walking (Apple Health)

December 4 (Saturday) - 3.1 miles running in Dasher Dancer Prancer 5K - 5.3 miles walking (Apple Health)

December 5 (Sunday) - 6.2 miles running in Tiger 10K - 2.4 miles walking (Apple Health)

December 6 (Monday) - 10.0 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (30:00) - 0.75 miles walking (Apple Health)

December 7 (Tuesday) - 1.2 miles walking (Apple Health)

December 8 (Wednesday) - 3.336 miles running at Knox Junior High - 0.98 miles walking (Apple Health)

December 9 (Thursday) - 1.3 miles walking (Apple Health)

December 10 (Friday) - 10.0 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (30:03) - 1.1 miles walking (Apple Health)

December 11 (Saturday) - 3.1 miles at Terry Hershey parkrun 5K (31:38.47) - 1.4 miles walking (Apple Health)

December 12 (Sunday) - 4 miles walking along The Woodlands Waterway (1:02:33.11) - 3.6 miles walking (Apple Health)

December 13 (Monday) - 4 miles walking along The Woodlands Waterway (1:02:12.37) - 1.1 miles walking (Apple Health)

December 14 (Tuesday) - 3.133 miles running at Knox Junior High track (33:39.21/10:44) - 10.2 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (30:00) - 0.81 miles walking (Apple Health)

December 15 (Wednesday) - 4.176 miles walking at Knox Junior High track (1:05:21.43/15:39) - 10.0 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (30:06) - 1.024 miles walking (Apple Health)

December 16 (Thursday) - 4 miles running along The Woodlands Waterway (45:32.52/11:23) - 1.1 miles walking (Apple Health)

December 17 (Friday) - 17.3 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (52:50) - 1 mile walking (Apple Health)

December 18 (Saturday) - 20.4 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (1:01:50) - 1.7 miles walking (Apple Health)

December 19 (Sunday) - 13.1 miles running in Santa Hustle Half Marathon (2:27:31.95) - 2 miles walking - 1.8 miles walking (Apple Health)

December 20 (Monday) - 9.9 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (30:01) - 1.1 miles walking (Apple Health)

December 21 (Tuesday) - 2.652 miles walking at Knox Junior High (40:40.29/15:20) - 10.5 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (31:42) - 2,015 meters rowing (11:03) - 0.748 miles walking (Apple Health)

December 22 (Wednesday) - 10.1 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (30:00) - 3.183 miles walking at Knox Junior High (49:18.76/15:30) - 4.017 miles walking (Apple Health)

December 23 (Thursday) - 10.3 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (30:07) - 2,504 meters rowing (13:24) - 3 miles walking (Apple Health)

December 24 (Friday) - 4 miles running along The Woodlands Waterway (44:17.10/11:04) - 3.3 miles walking (Apple Health)

Waiting For God's Answers; December 23, 2021

When you think your prayers aren't being answered , you tend to get discouraged and cry out, "God, why aren't You helping me?"

Yet God promised to answer your prayers:  "Ask, and it wil be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you" (Matthew 7:7).  However, sometimes you don't see the answer for a while, or God may say no because He has a different - and better - plan.

So you are exhorted to ask,  But your request must be ..

* in faith (Matthew 21:22),

* without selfish motives (James 4:3), and

* according to the will of God (I John 5:14-15).

Source:  One-Minute Insights For Men, Jim George, page 4.
Copyright 2013 Jim George

My thoughts:  I can't say that I know whether or not God answers my prayers in that mine are very general.

Maybe I'm afraid to ask for things specifically, largely because I feel that I'm selfish for doing so.

I've had an issue this past year that I've battled and all I've asked God from that is to meet that person and their families' needs.  What more can I do in that situation?  I don't know what they are, because they've never let me in, but I know that God knows what they are.

Generally, the majority of my prayers just focus on thanking God for providing health to family members.

Perhaps I need to be more specific in my prayers - or seek things that need specific attention - and focus on those in the coming year.

New Restaurants in 2021 - 16

Blancos Tacos + Tequila, Houston, TX (December 8)
Center Court Pizza & Brew, Pearland, TX (March 20)
Chupacabra Kitchen, Salado, TX (January 16)

Fronteras Mexican Grill, Spring, TX (December 13)
Garcia's Famous Mexican Food, Covington, LA (January 9)
Kosse Cafe, Kosse, TX (May 30)

La Unica, Lufkin, TX (June 12) *Edwin Quarles
Milano's Pizza, Waxahachie, TX (June 5)

Napa Flats, College Station, TX (December 11) *Volte Group
Newman's Bakery, Bellville, TX (May 22) *Becky Nesbitt
Smitty's Cafe and Bakery, Brenham, TX (April 10) * Waverly Walk

Tele's Mexican Restaurant, Van, TX (January 2) *Waverly Walk

The Nook Restaraunt, Tomball, TX (July 17) *Waverly Walk
Tito's Cantina, Cypress, TX (December 17)

Tolbert's Dairy Treet, Victoria, TX (March 27)

Woodson's Local Tap + Kitchen (Grand Parkway), Spring, TX (June 20) *Waverly Walk

Count It All Joy; December 1, 2021

I wrote this very early this morning - just after 12 midnight on December 1, 2021 - originally as an Instagram post, but decided to pull it back to this very, very small audience.

I'm up late as I had something to do that was time sensitive for my job and then I was preparing a post for the Volte Endurance Training Facebook page for Wednesday.

I was going to use (and probably still am) a picture that Bill Dwyer took of Mike and Michaela Csikos running together in the rain at Run Thru The Woods.  My idea was to attempt to convey the joy of - as a parent - being able to run with your child.

However, my mind - in the quirky ways it works - brought me to the "count it all joy", which are these verses here in the image (above).

Some commentary states, "Trials are difficult and painful.  But they exist for a purpose.  Trials have the potential of producing something good in us, and, for this reason, they are an opportunity for expressing joy.  Knowing there is a bigger picture, we can consider trials as things to rejoice in.  Even though joy is contrary to our normal reaction, James urges us to work on changing our attitude toward troubles from dread to positive expectation, faith, trust and even joy."

In my current season of trials, I take "steadfastness" to be "establishing and maintaining boundaries."

For my personality type, i.e. an empath, it is very, very hard to have to take certain actions - such as "no contact" with individuals or various groups of people, let's say -- to protect my emotional state and sense of mental well being because of the actions of others.

While walking earlier this evening, I thought that if I were able to be in close quarters with someone that I have an issue with (but am not given a path to resolve my end of it with them) and be able to walk right by them as if they weren't there, then they would be a total lost cause to me.  Or as if I never knew them, even in the most casual sense.

Yet, as believers, our charge is that we would never write off somebody as a lost cause, especially as it relates to them coming to know Christ as their personal Savior.

Therefore, we're just uncomfortable around them - something I've lived - because they don't subscribe to the same sense of principle that we aspire to live by.

Miles and Miles - 10/25/21 to 11/24/21

October 25 - November 24 - 2.544 miles running - 30.501 miles walking - 60.865 miles walking (Apple Health) - 117 miles cycling - 5,513 meters rowing

October 25 (Monday) - 4.5 miles walking (Apple Health)

October 26 (Tuesday) - 4.244 miles walking at Knox Junior High (1:06:23.15/15:39) - 2.056 miles walking (Apple Health)

October 27 (Wednesday) - 4.244 miles walking at Knox Junior High (1:05:25.26/15:25) - 1.756 miles walking (Apple Health)

October 28 (Thursday) - 1.5 miles running in Springwoods Village - 1.15 miles walking in Springwoods Village - 10.9 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (33:01) - 0.75 miles walking (Apple Health)

October 29 (Friday) - 4.26 miles walking in Springwoods Village (1:04:42/15:11) - 10.0 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (30:11) - 0.64 miles walking (Apple Health)

October 30 (Saturday) - 10.0 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (30:04) - 1,105 meters rowing (6:00) - 0.25 miles walking (Apple Health)

October 31 (Sunday) - 6.1 miles walking (Apple Health)

November 1 (Monday) - 4.9 miles walking (Apple Health)

November 2 (Tuesday) - 10.0 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (30:11) - 0.82 miles walking (Apple Health)

November 3 (Wednesday) - 0.61 miles walking (Apple Health) - 9.9 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (30:07) - 1,905 meters rowing (10:01)

November 4 (Thursday) - 0.97 miles walking (Apple Health)

November 5 (Friday) - 5.3 miles walking (Apple Health)

November 6 (Saturday) - 2.7 miles walking (Apple Health)

November 7 (Sunday) - 2.1 miles walking (Apple Health)

November 8 (Monday) - 1.1 miles walking (Apple Health)

November 9 (Tuesday) - 1.044 miles running (11:34.4/11:05) at Knox Junior High - 3.132 miles walking (48:26.2/15:28) at Knox Junior High - 1.524 miles walking (Apple Health)

November 10 (Wednesday) - 10.0 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (30:00) - 0.53 miles walking (Apple Health)

November 11 (Thursday) - 10.2 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (30:00) - 0.66 miles walking (Apple Health)

November 12 (Friday) - 0.85 miles walking (Apple Health)

November 13 (Saturday) - 3.1 miles walking (Apple Health)

November 14 (Sunday) - 1.5 miles walking (Apple Health)

November 15 (Monday) - 0.36 miles walking (Apple Health)

November 16 (Tuesday) - 5.2 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (15:03) - 4.244 miles walking at Knox Junior High (1:05:45.34/15:29) - 4.356 miles walking (Apple Health)

November 17 (Wednesday) - 4.044 miles walking at Knox Junior High (1:02:30.84/15:28) - 3.556 miles walking (Apple Health)

November 18 (Thursday) - 10.2 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (30:13) - 1.1 miles walking (Apple Health)

November 19 (Friday) - 2 miles walking in Hannover Forest (30:50/15:25) - 10.2 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (29:55) - 0.6 miles walking (Apple Health)

November 20 (Saturday) - 4.6 miles walking (Apple Health)

November 21 (Sunday) - 0.49 miles walking (Apple Health)

November 22 (Monday) - 2,503 meters rowing (13:23) - 10.2 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (30:05) - 0.96 miles walking (Apple Health)

November 23 (Tuesday) - 10.2 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (29:54) - 3.183 miles walking at Knox Junior High (49:40.24/15:36) - 1.217 miles walking (Apple Health)

November 24 (Wednesday) - 0.91 miles walking (Apple Health)