What's your can of spinach?

 

I put on a hoodie, my husband's flannel, and some gloves to go outside to hang the laundry earlier this morning. Boy! Was it nippy.

I had two loads to hang and drudgingly took on the task. I put the hood of my jacket over my head, ensuring the brisk air could not reach my ears, and buttoned up the Adorable One's flannel. I placed some warm gloves on my hands with the instant thought of, "Shoot! These gloves will get wet and my fingers will be cold." Regardless, I embraced myself for the freezing desert air, opened the back door to the porch, and got busy.

I had to grapple with the clothes pins because I kept clamping the tip of my gloves and the clothes and towels. This grew to be frustrating, but I refused to take the darn gloves off, so I calmed my shivering fingers, took more care, and eventually had a rhythm going.

About halfway through the basket of damp clothes, I got to a shirt I love. It was one of the boys, Popeye the sailor man's shirt.

Images started to run through my thoughts of the popular cartoon character. I loved watching Popeye. I loved how he was gentle, with a hint of being a romantic, until he took his can of spinach, scrunched it open, and dumped all of the green goodness into his mouth. He would then become brave, bold, and confident, always conquering over Bluto.

Forever, I believed that spinach was the way to strength and endurance because Popeye became full of energy, strong, and powerful after consuming what many people might say is soggy leaves.

After thawing out my fingers, I decided to muster up the energy to make myself some grub. I don't have spinach, but bacon(a rare treat), avocado coated in pepper (another rare treat), and a hamburger patty covered in jalapeños, green onions, and sliced cheese. **I am on a health journey; don't judge me.

Sitting at the table to eat, I wanted to learn more about Popeye., so I googled. I knew a sailor inspired the cartoon character but didn't realize that the similarities are relatively close to the storylines of the cartoon.

Frank "Rocky" Fiegel was someone Popeye would mimic. I won't begin writing a quick book report on this guy, just a brief line or two. I will say that I loved learning about him this morning—a wonderful distraction from the tedious laundry.

In real life, "Rocky" loved children. He would tell children boisterous stories about his adventures and whatnot. Even though he was known to fight, he was also known to be a kind man who tried hard to be good. I am fond of the idea of sitting, watching, and learning from an old scruff of a man who talked out of one side of his mouth while his corn pipe hung out of the other. I adore Popeye and admire his inspiration, Frank "Rocky" Fiegel.

This brings me to pondering while hanging the laundry out to harden.

Popeye had his can of spinach to give him strength. What gives me strength in the little fights with life that sometimes aren't so little? I wish it were as easy as squeezing a tin can and gobbling something that will instantly give me the courage to be bold and conquer each day.

So, if it isn't spinach, what is it? What could be my boost of confidence that is honestly needed daily?

After thinking about it, I grin with some relief; it is rather simple. I couldn't do this life without a loving Heavenly Father, a redeemer and friend, our savior Jesus Christ, who knows me. The scriptures, endless amounts of prayer, an emotional release through tears, the Adorable One, my children and grandchildren, the voices of my parents cheering me on from the other side, my own determination to survive, and bacon.

 My forearms will never be the size of Popeye's. But comparatively, my determination might match up with his. I don't remember watching a single episode of the infamous cartoon where Popeye gave up. Popeye's motivation might have been the cute Olive oil.

My motivation is to get through this life with an eternal perspective because of what is to come. The end goal is peace within my family, every single member of it, together sitting around the fire pit laughing out loud. PEACE!

“Im strong to finish when I eats me spinach”

What’s your can of spinach?

P.S.

It is important to Know and remember who you are.

 

https://ifunny.co/picture/frank-rocky-fiegel-born-in-poland-on-january-27-1868-BdO9DqcIA?s=cl

**The images do not belong to me; I am not the creator. I found them using the wonderful web of endless information, ideas, and images. Use at your own risk while researching and searching.