I went to the doctor Monday. It’s not that I had any major problems, but I did have some questions, and it was time for my yearly female check up any way. I wanted to check on my weight/diet, as well as ask some questions about menopause.

My body is starting to change, and the doctor thinks that is the reason that the weight has risen slightly. I asked what I could do. Her answer? Exercise more.

I had discussed this weight problem with Master, and he also wanted me to exercise more. He has increased my exercise requirement. I used to do 30 minutes a day; now I am up to 50. I handed him a problem, he handed me a solution.

Although I don’t particularly enjoy my exercise, my focus has once again been wrong. WWBD? What Would Bennet Do? Why Would Bennet Do? Instead of focusing on my negative feelings, I could have focused on the positives: The exercise would help with the weight, as well as make me look and feel better. I would have improved muscle tone and more energy.

Master does this because he cares. He wants me healthy. He wants me happy. He wants what’s best for me. During my upcoming walks, I will focus on the positives. I will consider those 50 minutes time spent with Master, time spent in his service, time spent enjoying his love and appreciation for me. I take care of myself not just for me, but for him.

When I posted the latest post, Master read it and then asked me, “When are you going to get back to writing about the lifestyle?” I imagine some people here have thought the same thing. Master pointed out that I could have taken what I had written and related it to the lifestyle, talked about it more. Specifically, the issue of the lifejacket.

First of all, I must apologize to Master. I trivialized the use of the lifejacket. What I didn’t say is the fact that I felt good that he required me to wear it. Having him tell me I had to wear it made me feel loved, cared for and looked after. I did tell him that, but I said nothing of the sort in my writing. Despite the fact that the river was shallow and not very swift, the jacket was important. Suppose I had fallen out, hit my head on a rock or become incapacitated in some other way? I knew and felt that Master was looking out for me.

But my biggest sin was not concentrating on that fact. Every time I looked down at that jacket, I should have thought about Master, about his arms of protection around me. Master said, “You used to ask, What Would Bennet Do? What happened to that?”

It is true. I haven’t been asking that. That means I am no longer focused. I haven’t changed my focus, so much as lost it. I am not focused elsewhere, I am simply floundering. And now I know why. I have not been focusing on U/us.

Master has a tendency to see the big picture, while I see the small. The river is shallow and slow. Why use a life jacket, I say. Master sees the other possibilities, the rocks, a stray current. I want to be with my Master. Master sees the need to be financially prepared to do that.

On several of my recent posts, Master said, now relate it to the lifestyle. I finally understand what he is saying. Not so much relate it to the lifestyle, but relate it to U/us.

On Sunday, I went on a 4H canoeing trip with my youngest son. When I told Master I was going, he said, good. I have a tendencies to be a solitary person, and he is always happy to see me get out among others. He also said that I was to wear a life jacket. No jacket, he said, you don’t go.

I was a little concerned about that, since I didn’t know what the life jacket situation would be. Luckily, there were enough. I felt somewhat silly wearing mine, since the river was shallow. I could have walked through the entire route we took. However, I am bound to do as Master wishes. I told people that I had promised a friend that I would wear a jacket.

I had only been in a canoe once before, when I was a little girl in girl scouts. We rowed around a lake once. My mother was afraid of water, and as a result we kids didn’t go around it much. We didn’t learn to swim or go to the beach or anything like that. I didn’t learn to swim until I was in my 30’s, when I decided I wanted to do it anyway.

Because of my inexperience, I rode up front and let my partner sit in the back to steer. We bumped our way along the river. We got stuck on some concrete once, but managed to get off without getting out of the boat. And we didn’t tip it over, although there was a little splashing around with the boat that held my son. I’m not sure how long the canoe ride took. My only watch is on my cell phone, and I wasn’t taking that anywhere near the water. The view from the river was not what I expected. For some reason, I envisioned a leisurely float through the countryside. I got that, but the river sits lower than the surrounding area. All I got a good look at were the sides of the riverbed. Not quite as picturesque as I had imagined.

After we were finished, the kids played and swam in the river. I thought about my mother and what she would think about that. I tried not to worry about my son as he frolicked in the muddy water. But everyone stayed safe and we went back for a picnic.

Both of my children are boys. Today I was talking with my youngest, and I told him I was glad that both he and his brother are athletic.

I know that life is easier for a kid, especially a boy, if he is athletic. Athletic boys tend to be more popular with their peers. It is kind of sad that this is the case, and I told my son so. Non-athletes have a much more difficult time.

I was glad to hear my son say that while athletics are important, kids do look at other things as well, like a sense of humor, for instance. I loved hearing that. I thought about the kids he hangs out with. Most are athletes, but I realized something else. Most of the kids he hangs around are good kids. I also noted that the parents of these kids, for the most part, are involved with their children’s lives.

As my son gets older, the people he surrounds himself with are going to be more and more important. Someone told me that my oldest son is incorruptible. He could not be led astray. That was really nice to hear. I hope I can get the younger son to make similar good choices.

A couple of true stories from the high school I work at:

#1
I remember a student who, shall we say, didn’t particularly like high school. It was clearly not his thing. One day he said, “I have trouble with authority figures.”

“What do you plan to do after school?” I asked.

“I’m going in the army.”

The funny thing is, that’s exactly what he did. And he loves it.

#2
Several years ago I remember a young man who had a football injury. I never knew the particulars, but I remember hearing the words “testicle” and “tear” in conjunction with his problem. Surgery was required.

Severl months later, I saw this young man at a basketball game. He was wearing a shirt that said, “Bust A Nut.”

I told him I wasn’t sure that it was appropriate.

“Hey,” he said, “I earned it.”

And so he did.