Why I Will Never Say "I Will Never" Again
Posted: Saturday, June 27, 2009
by Teresa Ortiz
Freelance writer/Speaker
There is that old saying that I believe every one of us can relate to, and yet we all say it.
Today, while mowing the lawn for the first time in my life, I was pondering all the "I will never…" statements I have made. Beginning with, I will never mow the lawn, that's for boys – it's okay, go ahead and cringe. It didn't take long to drift back all the way to high school when I said I would never marry a Mexican. Go figure, I married Arthur Ortiz, you can't get more Mexican than that, will maybe you can – point is, I married a Mexican – and I'm glad I did.
No worries, I won't take you through every "I will never" statement – just the last three biggies (four including the mowing the lawn one.)
Fifteen years ago this month, I said I would never move to Oregon. I am a city girl and there are too many trees and gravel roads. July 11, 1994, we pulled into our little town. Talk about culture shock! We lived on 5 acres of land that had a stream running through the property. There were apple trees, cherry trees, and pear trees. Instead of cars screeching to avoid another car, cars were screeching to avoid the deer, cows, chickens, turkeys, or the horses that escaped from their barns.
After a few years of country living, my husband decided he was going to go deer hunting – oh my! "I will never eat Bambi! You can't make me!"
Yes, you guessed it, but that is only the half of it, not only did I eat; I took the meat to the local butcher to have it packaged. To date, it is the best I have ever tasted – and I'm glad I did.
In year 12, I said I would never move back to California – nothing or nobody can make me do it.
This brings me back to mowing the lawn. As I made the 4th loop on the riding lawnmower that I said I would never ride to never mow the lawn, I noticed my husband and my son sitting on the porch smoking a cigar – what is wrong with this picture? Nevertheless, I had fun learning how to drive the contraption – and I'm glad I did.
Three month's from now we will be busy packing and moving back to California. We were fighting, trying everything to stay in this beautiful country, and we will miss the deer coming to eat the apples from the trees. But after a lot of prayer and some insight to the wonderful things and people that await us, we surrendered – and we are glad we did.
After an hour on the riding lawn mower, I was getting tired of all the grass blowing in my face every time the wind blew. Then I heard a loud snap – the belt on the mower broke – and I'm glad it did.
Imagine all this just to say, I Never ever, no do not ever want to go to Hawaii some day.
Amazing the things one can think about while mowing the lawn. Isn't it great when the "I never's" of our life turn out to be the best thing for us?
Thanks for riding along. Have a beautiful life!
Teresa,I love this article and how very true. I never...oh never mind.Thanks, it's a fun read!MarkI am sure you have some great "I never's" Thing is, some of the "I never's" don't turn out so good, but that's another article.Glad you enjoyed the read. Blessings! Teresa
Clever and well-written. Reminds me of an Erma Bombeck-type column. Author has a friendly writing style that feels natural. One suspects she's got a sharp wit.Hi Rob, thanks for reading and the kind comment. Going to have to research this Erma lady, I am . :-)Blessings to you! TeresaRob, wow, thanks. If I could come remotely close to her, I would be thrilled! And I just knew I was going to learn a lot from you. Imagine, I found my way to the Erma Bombeck online Museum. I really do need to get out of my box more often. Thanks for leading me to a wonderful and witty writer. I will be reading more from her!
hi t,it's amazing what a little ride on a lawnmower will do for you.my partner loves to mow our 2 acres, and all the neighbors wonder why-they hate cutting the grass-he uses it to "ponder" as i think you were doing.i always wanted to see california, maybe someday....i never want the brakes in my new jeep to be fixed---this better work, t.my best to you,sueHi Sue, I must admit, it was kinda fun. But at first, I was singing the green acres theme song to my hubby.And about your brakes -- that is too much pressure for this girl, I hope it works as well, but we better say a prayer just in case :-)Hugs, t
Hi Teresa.I loved this article. Very witty.California? Bernd and I left there in 1993 and I nev ... oops! I better be careful with that. :)Love ya'DianneHi Dianne, glad you enjoyed the read :-)Yeah California, remember when we were thinking Arizona? We at least we will only be 6 hours away from J when he starts school. Great weekend trips :-)What the I never's :-) Unless of course you never want to join us in Hawaii.Love ya! T
Very well done. There are lots of sayings we use without thinking, or perhaps without thinking all the way through. I never . . . I mean, I sometimes think things through, but I never . . . I mean, I don't often just blurt out what I'm thinking unless of course the person or subject deserves it. But I never . . . I mean, it's rare that happens unless of course the person or subject who deserves it never . . . I mean, didn't usually see it coming.Whew! Okay, I've blown a belt on my brain. Good job.Ha! My brain is tired just reading your comment. I appreciate your sense of humor though what you say is so true. It must be our nature to exagerate in my levels - just like all the things we "love".Thanks for the smile :-)Blessings! Teresa
Dear Teresa,Best wishes on your new journey.It's so true, the "nevers" are often the greatest things that happen to us.Thanks for sharing!GrammyHi Grammy,Thank you! All the best and God's blessings to you as well.Teresa
Wonderful Article Teresa "Ortiz", lol. You had me smiling all the way through this relating with my own "I will never's", and it brought a smile to my face. It is certainly a shocker when we actually do "I will nevers", but as you so adquately pointed out, usually it is for the best that we do the I will nevers. I think it is all a part of a wonderful plan that God has in mind for us, and I hope your return to California shows you that it is a great place to live. You can do just about anything in California that you want to, wanna go to the mountains?, about a couple of hours away from anywhere, want to go to the beach or boardwalk, a couple of hours, how about water skiing?, Only a couple of hours away. Great article, and it is good to see you are in true form at making me smile....your fan, and friend in pen......Gary......I have been off SearchWarp for awhile working on my book, and writing for a local newspaper.....I am back for awhile as I am taking a rest from my fiction novel about everyday life of today called "Riches to Rags, Rags to Riches", It is coming along just fine......Good to read your articles once again, I missed you guys on SearchWarp, and am back for awhile amoungst the "Elite"!!!!! Smiles to youHello friend! So good to hear from you! I am making my way to your latest article!It will be tough to get use to the city life again, but to be around family and some of our closest friends again will be great! Maybe I will head over to the many little theatres in LA and finally audition for a play - yikes! It's been years!! I am going to look up my old drama coach and I am already in touch with some friends who are still in the business -- get out of my Demi Moore, I'm coming to town!!!!! hahaahahahaha.I am so happy to hear about your book! I will be praying it continues to come together and I look forward to the day when I can purchase it!!! All the best to the family!! Teresa
T, I was just thinking about the "I nevers" I used to say reguarding my children. Like using the word "potty" for some reason it erks me and I didn't want to hear "I HAVE TO GO POTTY!!!" from across the store. But your article reminds me that life never happens as we expect and we just need to follow the God given path that each of us has been given. And I will pick and choose my "I never" battles and the word "potty" won't be one of them.Hi Abbey, I remember saying I would never use that phrase either. It's crazy how flippantly we use the I never phrase.I am going to miss little Drake taking his first steps :-( Unless of course he starts running through the office at 8-9 mths old!!Thanks for reading and commenting. Love ya! Teresa
Maybe we should make a list of all the things that we would never consider doing and intentionally go out and try to do them. That would be an experience.Hi Alex, I like the way you think :-) Well, maybe it depends on which kind of " I nevers" go on the list.Thanks for reading. Nice to meet you, I don't think I have seen any of your work. I will check it out pronto.Blessings to you! Teresa
Sissy T, I enjoyed every word on this! You have been blessed to live where you do now and those blessings will continue wherever you go. Thanks for sharing and I hope you never get to Hawaii! *LOL*
Love 'n hugs,
AvisWell Hello there dearie :-) It's good to hear from you. Glad you had a giggle :-) And thanks for the hoping I never get to Hawaii with me :-)Love and hugs right back!
