Get filled with gumption

Gumption – a Scottish word that describes the Scots! If someone has moxie, guts, spunk or grit, and a good head on their shoulders, combined with a tenacious drive and initiative, one could say that person has a belly full of gumption. Gumption comes from the Scottish “rumble-gumption” (or “rumgumption”), referring to a person’s common sense. Rumblegumption made its first written appearance in the late 1700s, courtesy of the immortal Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759–1796).

1) so, moving into this place has not been a picnic. From the first day there have been problems, escalating to the point 2 weeks back where I looked at the fucking mushrooms growing in my bathroom (MY bathroom!) and just snapped. I emailed the agent, calmly outlaying all of the issues I’d been putting up with over the 2.5 months I’d lived here and told him I had been (more than) patient, and asked for the landlords name because I would need that information for the legal papers I was going to file.

Turns out my landlords are the old letting agents who retired in January—and they got their asses out here quickly and have been fixing things. I got a new fridge last week (yay!) and after my email yesterday, they are replacing the tub panel now instead of trying to reuse the old shit.

2) After calling the power company to complain about the rates – which they insisted were not higher in an attempt to collect previous tenant debt – I got a new meter card and now my electricity costs have dropped by nearly 10 quid a month.

3) Instead of getting drawn into the continued drama of some freak on Match, I simply clicked on the ‘not interested’ button and have ceased all communication.

4) During the phone call today, regarding my couch delivery, I got the person to suggest that instead of me taking a holiday to sit at home and wait for a delivery that could come at any time – they would phone my mobile 1/2 an hour before delivery and I could just meet them at the flat. If all goes well, I’ll finally have my sofa on Thursday!

Come on girl, move your ass!

Non!
Rien de rien…
Non!
Je ne regrette rien
Ni le bien
Qu’on m’a fait,
Ni le mal,
Tout ça m’est bien égal!
Non!
Rien de rien…
Non!

C’est payé,
Balayé,
Oublié,
Je me fous du passé!
Avec me souvenirs
J’ai allumé le feu,
Mes chagrins, mes plaisirs,
Je n’ai plus besoin d’eux!

Balayé les amours,
Avec leurs trémolos,
Balayés pour toujours
Je repars à zéro…

Non!
Rien de rien…
Non!
Je ne regrette rien
Ni le bien
Qu’on m’a fait,
Ni le mal,
Tout ça m’est bien égal!
Non!
Rien de rien…
Non!

Car ma vie,
Car mes joies,
Aujourd’hui,
Ça commence avec toi!

see Edith Piaf sing this song here

I stood my ground with the bus driver today and got the results I was after. Man, that felt really good 1) because I spoke up instead of sucking it like usual and 2) because I actually had something settled in my favour. Yay.

I may not be filled yet, but I’ve certainly felt a couple droplets on my tongue.

I am finding my own strength, learning to say no, and learning to say YES to what I want. And I’m allowing myself to dream again, to want despite the fears.

Until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation) there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plan: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too.

All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamt would have come his way, I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets: ‘Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it..

W.H. Murray
Source: The Scottish Himalayan Expedition

Not sure where I should post this entry—here, or in dress more flamboyantly, or in make new friends…

Saturday night I wore my hair down for the first time in what feels like months and was surprised to see just how long it’s gotten. Since my comfy clothes had shrunk in the dryer I put on a new black slinky thing and heels and headed out to the same bar I went to a couple of weeks ago.

I was greeted with hearty hellos, and had a large rum in my hand before I even sat down.

Anyway, trying not to overshare too much here but I saw something I wanted, decided to stop being a wuss, and went after it.

And. I. got. IT (him)!

I ran across this quote that’s been sitting in my miscellaneous pile—I don’t remember where I got it from…

“You – and every other human being in the world – need three things in order to be fulfilled. You need to feel valued, you need to feel secure and you need to feel in control. These are the underlying motivators in everyone’s life.”

from Zen & The Art Of Motorcyle Maintenance:

“A person filled with gumption doesn’t sit around dissipating and stewing about things. He’s at the front of the train of his own awareness, watching to see what’s up the track and meeting it when it comes. That’s gumption”