I find it interesting the sorts of things that come to mind.  Something I read reminded me of what I heard a Captain in the Army say decades ago.  I have never forgotten it.  He mentioned something the army did.  I have forgotten the conflict he was talking about, but I do remember the principle.
He mentioned “active patrolling.” In that instant it involved troops patrolling no mans land.  The traditional concept is that no mans land is seen as belonging to neither side.  If any-one ventures there from either side they get picked off by the enemy  (though there was a famous incident where at Christmas two sides declared a truce and celebrated Christmas with each other in no mans land.  The next day hostilities recommenced.)
What the Australuan soldiers were doing was patrolling no mans land like it was theirs.  It meant they held more ground.
The reason I think I thought of that is that so often I feel like I am maintaining rather than advancing.  I may have advanced to claim what I claim but instead of my efforts going towards more, they are going towards what I have.
I reckon for some this sort of thing does not matter.  But to me it does.  I feel I can drift and “go with the flow” or I can work towards my goals and make them happen.  Making them happen involves vigilance and ongoing activity.
It seems to me I am at my most vulnerable when I stop looking forward.  No doubt I need to ensure I hold what I have, and ensure supply lines are in order.  But I have seen it with empires and think it is true for me as an individual too, that comfortable is vulnerable.  I may enjoy a time of tranquillity, but the enemy is at the gate.
What I want is to be at the enemies gate.  R&R matters as does not over-extending, but I reckon one of the most dangerous things I can do is declare pre-mature victory.  I am a work in progress.  There are things about me that need changing for the better.
I do not bemoan what is not mine, but, where legitimate, I work to make it mine.

Twice yesterday we drove past a place that generally for about 11 months of the year has no water in it.  Today there was water and low and behold there were ducks swimming in it.
I thought to myself “there has got to be a lesson in there somewhere.”
So I got to thinking about the ducks and how they are such opportunists.  I admit I have never heard of a duck lying awake at night wondering where the water was coming from and if there would be any again.
It is like as we put it, “they play the hand they are dealt.”  If there is no water in a particular spot they do not stress.  They do what they do.  It seems whatever state they find themselves in they are content.  If there is water to swim in great.  If not they forage and fly and come across water.  I have had ducks land in my pool at one place I lived.
They had me thinking how that is a good lesson for me.  I will do all I need to have what is needed, but it is a waste of time to worry and stress about anything - in particular what I cannot control. 
What I eat and what I have to wear matters less than who I am.  I would be less than honest to suggest that does not matter to me at all as it does but it is not the most important thing to me.
All I possess can disappear so quickly.  I reckon it is important that I can lose everything but still have all I need.  Truth is I brought nothing with me and when I go I can take nothing with me except who I am.
So I reckon those ducks are onto something.  They looked so content and were obviously having a good time.  They just do it.  I aspire to it and do it.

Boy was I glad to have yesterday afternoon off.  I feel like it was a crazy busy week for Merril and I, and yesterday gave us some well needed down time.
This week promises to be busy too.  Everything starts again.   All that we were involved in last year kicks off in February again.  This morning we start early.  We put this on ourselves but prayer is a great way to start the week.  I find I am at my most venerable or susceptible early in the week after the high of the weekend.  So starting the way we definitely gets us off to a good start and helps to keep us grounded.
This morning we have a tradie coming at 7am.  He is doing something we have wanted done for ages.  Later in the morning a friend is coming over for a visit.  Tomorrow morning I have a doctors appointment.  Tomorrow night we are having a number of people over.  Wednesday morning we are running a Market and I see someone.  That night we go out.  Thursday Merril has a doctors appointment.  Saturday it is Menzone which I have here once per month.  I need to prepare for that and some newbie’s have said they will be here.
That is the stuff I remember.  There is a cupboard that was delivered last week awaiting assembly.  There are a number of other things we have in mind to do but will do them when we get around to them.
So yesterday was a needed day off.  We love what we are doing but our bodies tell us when we need a break.  Personally I prefer to be busy and determine what I should not do then to but so quiet that I wonder what to do.
I tend to find like leads to like.  By that I mean that the sacker I am the slacker I get.  Conversely when I am busy I am more inclined to get busy.  They say if you want to get a job done give it to a busy person.  The thinking is that person has learned to prioritise and is in the habit of behaving in a productive way.
But there are times when a break is in order.  Yesterday afternoon was such a time.