Charlois

May 1^st, 2025, some interesting things have happened financially over the last couple of days.  As usual, the first of the month is payday.  The 1^st is payday for my VA pension and the 3^rd is payday for my Social Security.  So today I received my VA money and as usual spent most of it.  I paid my share of the household expenses, picked up my monthly prescriptions, bought a few things at Dollar General, and took Dinah and our Granddaughter, Keni out for lunch.  So now I’m almost broke again.  Tomorrow, I get my Social Security money and with that I’ll pay the rest of the month’s bills and a few other things.

The problem is my budget is not working.  There is more scheduled to come out than I have going in.  Usually, I have a budget that balances out, not this month. There are several items that are not part of the usual calculations, and they are throwing things off.

Which brings me to another issue.  Yesterday, for some unknown reason, my credit card company increased my credit limit from 200 dollars to 2700 dollars, an increase of 2500 dollars.  I did not request an increase, but it is tempting to use it to get through the dilemma I’m in this month.  I really don’t want to do that because I’ll eventually have to pay the balance.

On another front.  The VA is reviewing my pension case to make an adjustment in the amount I receive each month.  When I moved from the Manor to Dinah’s the amount that I’m expected to pay has changed.  When they finally decide what my new rate will be I’ll be informed.  If the amount goes up, I’ll get some back pay.  If the amount goes down, I’ll owe them for an overage I’ve incurred by getting my old rate since December.

All this to say, we never know for sure what our financial situation will be like until it happens.  We can plan and set up a budget, but things can always change.  That is why financial advisors suggest having an emergency fund.  That is one of my financial goals: have 6 months’ income in an emergency account for the unforeseen.

That is my confession for tonight.

Have a blessed day.

Yancy

About two weeks ago one of our cats, Darling, gave birth to her first litter of kittens.  Because she was so flighty she had them outside, against our best efforts otherwise.  As much as we tried, we couldn’t find them anywhere.  And we were concerned as to whether she was caring for them properly.

Yesterday we had a breakthrough.  It started raining hard at times. Much to our surprise Darling became concerned for the kitten’s safety.  And so, she started bringing them inside one at a time.  We now have seven little furballs sharing our bed.

We are pleased that our concern for her parenting skills was unfounded.  Since bringing them in she has thoroughly bathed them and is nursing them frequently.  She has turned out to be a very conscientious mother.

The reason I mention this is because throughout the universe certain rules seem to exist.  We have responsibilities, things that most people believe are important if we are to be a part of society.

In our household it is expected that everyone contributes something for the good of all.  Granted, it doesn’t always work the way it should, but we strive for a balance.  It is my belief that whether it’s a family, place of employment, or community at large, when everyone works for the good of everyone involved, we all benefit.

So, I urge us to take responsibility for our part, it’s the least we can do.

Yancy Adamson

A new phase of life is starting.  The next few days: the end of April, through the beginning of May marks the end of my first 6 months in Florida.  October 11^th, 2024, we were told the Manor was closing and we had 30 days to move out.  Essentially, I was homeless until Dinah, my ex-wife offered to let me move in with her in Florida.  That change came about starting on November 4^th, 2024.  I unpacked my suitcase on November 6^th, 2024, and started a new phase in my life.

Here it is nearly 6 months later, (Next Tuesday will be my anniversary) and a lot has happened.  We made room for me and my stuff on my side of the master bedroom, finally getting all my furniture in place at the beginning of March.  The rest of my things: books, office stuff, and my winter clothes are still in storage.

Other successes have occurred as well.  Dinah and I have become regulars at the NAMI Pasco support group on Friday mornings, after which we have a weekly lunch date.  There is also the YMCA; our goal is to go there 5 days a week, Dinah for the pool and me for classes and cardio.  As of a week ago I now have a psychiatrist, which rounds out my healthcare team of primary care physicians, urologist, and pharmacy.  Still getting all my meds organized but getting close.

I’ve had a therapist for a few months, but she is leaving.  I met her replacement today who will provide my therapy for at least 6 months.  Her name is Maggie, and I believe we will work well together.

The reason I mention all this is that we all have transitions occur in our lives.  Everything from birthdays and anniversaries to school graduations, job changes, and health issues to name a few.  When these things happen, we need to adjust.  This adjustment can be the difference between advancing ourselves with our dreams, or caving and letting circumstances dictate our lives.  To keep this from happening we can take steps. Finding the professional services we need, setting up support networks, and finding social connections, all aid in minimizing the trauma associated with life changes.

In my own life it has been a struggle, however, I’ve worked at taking appropriate steps and set myself up for success.  It hasn’t been easy.  I have peculiar issues that make changes more problematic.

Never give up.  Keep working at getting established and you will be amazed how these changes can benefit your life.

Until next time, Yancy

We have shared that some of our Foundational Documents come from the Sacred Scriptures of the world’s faith traditions.  Then last week we added The Charlois Manifesto to the list.  Today I wish to add the Great Literature of the world.

I’m not familiar with the literature of the east, so I can’t comment about those sources.  However, with the tradition of the west there are several collections of great pieces.  The one I am most familiar with is The Great Books of the Western World, by Britannica.  It is a 54-volume set that includes pieces covering 74 authors’ greatest works.

While not insisting that this is the only collection available, I do recommend finding a good set of some sort and reading these collections.  When we read great literature, our minds are opened to the world’s great minds.  This can be of immense value in furthering ourselves.

Read widely and deeply for the benefits.

Yancy Adamson

Luke 14:28 NLT  “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?

Planning, the Bible clearly speaks of it throughout scriptures.  Yet, people are quick to point out that it also speaks about letting tomorrow take care of itself.  Isn’t this a contradiction?  I don’t think so.

There is nothing wrong with having a good plan in place, in fact it is essential for some situations.  The problem is, when people rely too much on their plan.  When we think that the plan settles everything, and we start fretting when things don’t go as expected, it is then that we get into trouble.

In the ideal situation we gather as much information as possible and set up our plan based on that.  The next step to take is, do your best in the execution of the plan.  Finally, once we have done everything in our power, then we turn the outcome over to God.

Just remember, when you ask God to move mountains don’t be surprised when He hands you a shovel.  Sometimes we rely too much on God’s intervention when we are capable of a lot on our own.

In other words, make a plan, do your best to carry it out, and trust God.

Words from a pastor.

God’s blessings on us all.

Yancy Adamson

The book review page is back.  This week’s instalment is covering “The Path To Inner Peace  The 44 Zen Stories that saved My Life and Will Change Yours,” by Sumitra Shakya.

I’ve just finished reading this for the second time.  It is recommended you read it three times or more, no more than a chapter a day, to get the most out of it.

Broken down into 4 sections of 11 chapters each it covers several approaches.  Section 1 is on Mindfulness.  Section 2 is on self-reflection.  Section 3 covers Positive Thinking.  And section 4 is about Inner Peace.  The chapters are generally 3 pages long with a short story followed by reflection questions.

These stories will get your brain working and the reflection questions will point you the right way.  As I’ve said, I’ve been through it twice and getting ready to begin a third time.  Using it as a primer, it gives me lessons to meditate on.

As a change of pace over a more traditional meditative practice this book holds some valuable insights that can bring peace.

Read it once and if you find it beneficial then read it several times.  I am and enjoying it immensely. 

Last Friday at our NAMIpasco support group I was asked what my goals for the coming week were.  I shared my biggest goal was to write my Blog.  The Executive Directo, Debbie P. asked how many instalments I was going to write, my answer was, shooting for 6 but no less than 4.  Sounded like a reasonable answer.  This is my 4^th one this week.

I’m really surprised I’m doing it.  This has been a blah day.  I got up at 7:00 am and went through my morning ritual.  After relaxing for about an hour I took my shower and shaved in preparation for my Dr. appointment.  It was uneventful and I’ve been lounging ever since.

To wrap things up, I plan on eating supper and posting this.  That will be the end of this day.

There is not going to be a NAMIpassco support group this week, so I need to find other things to do.  Here’s to a more productive day tomorrow. 

That’s all for this instalment, enjoy your day.

Love and peace,

Yancy Adamson

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been writing on Charlois Odds + Ends about my seven-year plan, my Franklin Covey Planner, And my short- and long-term goals.  Having goals and planning for the future is a good thing, however. As I was reminded at our NAMI support group and then again in the book I’m currently reading, there is time to plan and a time to act.  Lately I’ve been doing a lot of reading and planning and a minimum of acting.  It is time for action.

My morning routine is an attempt at action.  Getting up at 7:00am, going to the bathroom, checking my sugar, taking my meds, finishing my 16.9 oz bottle of water, and finally my Miracle Morning.  Start at 7:00am and finish at 8:30am.  That gets me started on a more productive trajectory than I have been on.

Another item I have been working on is doing piecework on daily chores around the house.  I’m really not very good at going from start to finish on things like dishes, laundry, and making the bed, but by breaking things down into smaller activities gets mor done in the long run, at least for me.

I’m still going to be working on the goals and plans, just with more action items mixed in.  Goal setting and planning are essential to long term success.  It’s just a long process that needs constant tweaking.  Life is not static, and things change as can be seen in my life over the last 6 months.

So here it is to an active process that includes both planning and action.

May God’s will be done, His blessings on it all.

Yancy Adamson

Tuesday, and a lot has happened.  Rob is still with us; basically, some things happened, and he missed his bus.  That threw him into a tailspin and so he is still around, more irritated than ever.  Another situation to work on over the rest of this month.

Spoke with Maria, my Life Coach, and we discussed the transitions I’ve been going through these last 6 months.  I believe change is inevitable if you’re growing, however this is ridiculous.  I don’t want to rush the process, but it would be nice if I could see some progress.  As it is, I’m celebrating every little victory that comes my way; even if I don’t accomplish everything I set out to do.

I’m currently working on this blog post, washing dishes, and reading a book.  I’ll celebrate each of those accomplishments as they are completed.  Never mind the other things I need to be working on, they will get done in due time.

Oh! I did May’s budget; that wasn’t easy because I still haven’t heard from the VA.  I can only anticipate their financial contribution based on the past month’s income.  When they decide what my pension will be, then I can adjust my budget based on that new information.  That is still a big victory as things go.

Bet you didn’t know I was gone.  Finished up a load of laundry, fixed supper, did some more dishes, and read a chapter in the book I’m reading.  I hate multi-tasking but sometimes there isn’t a viable option.

Still, I wrote this blog, short, but done.  I think things will settle down someday, until then I’ll keep chipping away.

Until next time, blessings.

Yancy Adamson

It has been quite some time since I have made an entry in this column, so, I’ll try and refresh our minds as to the sources of this Philosophy.  The authors seek not the giving more authority to some faiths over others.  We believe all traditions seek the same goals, love and peace among all of creation.

Summarizing our beliefs is a book written by Yancy.  The Charlois Manifesto by Robert A. Charlois III.  It outlines an approach to life whereby a person may attain the highest level of consciousness.  Thus, becoming the best version of themselves.

This book can be obtained from a few sources.  Several of these are listed on the website under The Charlois Co. LLC.  You can click on an appropriate link and order from there.  This is not to say other books and documents are not important, they are.  We are encouraged to read as broadly as possible, to have a complete understanding of our options.

The more widely read we are, the greater chance we have of becoming our best selves.  That is the driving force behind everything Charlois; to become the best versions of who we were created to be.

Yancy Adamson