Mindless Thinking©

Mindless Thinking©

A Limerick A Day To Keep You On Your Way©

There once was a mindless man named Ted.

He thought about these wise words that read.

You are what you think,

Your mind is the link.

But having less mind kept him brain dead.

Friends, being an entrepreneur requires a mind that rarely stops thinking and creating.  It can be overwhelming at times. But I love it!

The picture I chose for this month’s blog is from a recent vendor event I attended.  It was the very first one that I did live for promoting and selling my limerick wall art. It required much thinking beyond creating the limericks. I probably overthought and brought way more limericks than I needed.  I chose the Mother’s Day Theme since it would only be a week away.

As I reflected on the day and my own wise words (really the Lord’s) that I crafted in these limericks, I was reminded again of just what I wrote.  You are what you think. Your mind is the link.

This is how the event unfolded….

As I began to print the artwork a few days prior, my printer kept saying low on ink. WHAT!   I just spent a fortune on the four laser color cartridges that said 2500 copies each. Why are you lying to me, I pleaded with my printer. I tried everything I could think of. Four useless calls to the manufacturer, YouTube videos, Google, and loud rebukes to my printer – which later I would be repenting of.  My patience was gone. After two days and many hours of heated words, I was drained.  The last resort was to go and have it printed at Staples. I was very frustrated, thinking, “Why am I putting myself through all this stress?  Didn’t I buy an expensive laser printer to bypass this step?”

My youngest daughter came by and asked if I had figured out the problem.  She attempted to do some things, also.  We discovered this printer is so sensitive to the paper you use that if you don’t have the right setting, it WILL NOT print double-sided. And if you are off by one wrong choice, you get line shadows, thereby wasting paper. Every good Polak (my father’s generational programming) knows you can’t waste anything or the universe gets angry at you. My printer must be Italian, like my mother, who always knew just the right amount of ingredients to make the perfect tomato sauce but never wrote the recipe down. But at least my thinking was becoming more hopeful.

Printing complete, art pieces assembled, all supplies ready and packed in the car by 10:00 p.m. My evening prayers were, “Lord, send someone to help me put up my canopy and have my limericks sell.” I never doubt God hears me, but He often has different answers. 

There were over 100 vendors.  The weather forecasted clouds and some sun. Well,  it turned out to be a very warm day for May. My canopy had only arrived in the mail the day before, so I had not tested it out yet.  God answered my request for help in putting it up so quickly, I was awestruck.  I had barely gotten it out of the package, when a wonderful gentleman named Richard came over and assisted me.  He was eager to tell me about the books he was selling and that he had brought 50. I was thinking about what confidence he had. I wanted that too. Thank You God, for his help and attitude!

By 10:00 a.m., the people began to stroll in. I had already adjusted my display repeatedly because the wind was just light enough that it kept blowing my things over. More and more people were coming, and as I kept looking across the way, that nice gentleman was selling book after book. My mind was thinking, “Okay, what can I be saying and doing that people buy my beautiful limericks?”

The wind began to pick up at about 1:30.   I had already secured my artwork several times from the wind blowing them over. It was discipline not to think, “I just want to go home!” After several hours of readjusting my display, I focused more on the people. The event was from 10 to 4, and Richard came by around 2 to say he had sold 48 books. I was genuinely happy for him. What thoughts had he generated that his energy output continually drew people to him? I found myself ministering to people’s physical and emotional needs apart from the actual prints I was selling.

By 2:25, the wind was ruthless. Most of the vendors I could see had some serious toppling over of their products. Vendors and customers scrambled to help the items not blow away completely. For me, I ended up putting four of my art pieces away and showing only three.  I still had hopeful thoughts.

It just got worse.  By three o’clock, most vendors were packing it up.  That would include me.  There was too much concern that my canopy was going to be airborne.  Even canopies with weights were no match for the wind.  All my gear was in my car by 3:30.

Okay, so I did not do well with sales like I anticipated.  I sold more of my little Jesus figurines then my limericks, which were really for display, but people wanted to buy them. People need Jesus. 

Driving home, my mind was filled with thoughts of the amount of time and energy I put into this day. Was it worth it?  Help me understand, Lord.

Home now and unpacking the car, I thought of my sister, now in a nursing home.  She used to sell her handmade crafts at events like this. I thought about how often her body was in pain from the constant loading and unloading of all the wonderful things she sold. She did it because she had to provide for her family. I create limericks because I love them. My sister is not capable of thinking sensible thoughts now. How privileged am I that I still can?

Our days are relatively short in this life.  Jesus told us to redeem the time.  It is far too easy to go through our days with mindless thinking.  I have gotten lost at times in mindlessly playing solitaire until I finally get my thinking back, realizing all that time wasted.

Let’s not be like Ted. The Word tells us to think of these things in Philippians 4:8.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Thinking of the lovely things would be the woman who needed to sit in the extra chair I provided because her knee was in pain from walking. Then there was the little pink fish toy I just happened to notice on the ground. I picked it up and put it on my table, for surely there was a sad child who lost it. A praise indeed, for sure enough, her parents helped her come back and look for it. She was so happy. Then the pure heart of Richard, who helped me put up my canopy. And the kind neighbor who lent me some hooks to display a canvas art I made.

Those are just some of the thoughts I am left with from that day. Others are business lessons I learned for the next event. It’s coming soon. I will rethink some things.

In the meantime, here is a last-minute plug – if you are within a small radius of Cumberland, RI, feel free to email me at Unmuteyourself@gmail.com and pick up a unique Mother’s Day gift.  I have three different Mother’s Day Limerick Wall Arts to choose from.  A Mother’s Smile, A Mother’s Debate, and A Mother’s Grace.  They are ready-made  to frame.  $10 each.  I  have frames also for $3.

Let’s think good thoughts!

Pray this prayer with me.

Dear God,

Thank You, Lord, for creating us with the power of thought. Help us be fruitful all of our days on earth. Forgive us for the many hours we fall into mindless thinking. When we link our thoughts with Your thoughts, wisdom comes. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Written by Paula Ann Kochanek

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