Empowerment

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
"Empowerment refers to increasing the spiritual, political, social, or economic strength of individuals and communities. It often involves the empowered developing confidence in their own capacities."


As I move on with my life, I am gaining strength by making decisions and confidence that I am making the correct decisions.


One example is with pests in my home.  It was probably around 2008 that I noticed big, black ants coming from the baseboards in my bathroom.  So, my (then) husband went out and bought ant spray and sprayed the ants.  Ok, they were gone for awhile.  They came back the next year, so he sprayed again.  I thought he knew what he was doing.


Then he walked out in May, 2009.  In June 2009, I remember sitting up in bed, reading and having flying ants flying around my head in the evening.  I knew they were the same ants that we had problems with before, but I wasn't strong enough to deal with anything other than just trying to get up, get dressed, and get through the day.
Then I never saw them again until last summer. 


I noticed big, black ants (which I knew were carpenter ants) on the outside wall by the memory garden I was constructing for my late sister-in-law.  


In August, I got my "Teal Deal" coupon book because I'm a season ticket holder for the Jacksonville Jaguars.  In it was a $100 coupon for Brandon Pest Patrol.  My friend told me that he uses them for their once-a-year pest patrol.  That's where they spray something in the electrical outlets and light switches in your home.  I kept that in the back of my mind, thinking I would give them a call and see how much it would cost.  OK, I looked through the coupon book again and noticed they all expired 2-10-11.  So, I had them come out today.  I mentioned I saw carpenter ants.  Well, they found a nest of them in my attic.  ACCCKKKK!!!  They is a huge nest of big, black ants right now, above my head, crawling around.  I hate it!!
I didn't tell them that they've probably been there for at least 3 years.  But, I feel like I am empowered by taking care of this problem that no one else took care of in the past 3-4 years, or however long they have been there.  The "man" of the house didn't really do anything about this problem, but I did!!!  (Of course it is costing a lot more than a can of ant spray that "the man" bought.)  They can't come out until Friday to treat my house, so I have this icky feeling about a nest of big, black ants above my head tonight and tomorrow night.


Also, I am gathering estimates from fence companies.  "The man" contacted the last company to have the last fence installed, which really was a horrible company.  This was his rationale for choosing a company:  they were the first one listed in the phone book:  Affordable Fence Company.
They were so horrible that my dog was able to escape the yard by crawling under the gaps that the fence left between the bottom of the fence and the ground.  So much for having a fence installed to keep our dog in the back yard.


This time, I feel I will choose a company that will install the best fence better.  I also will be looking into a vinyl fence so maybe I won't have to get another fence in 9-10 years.  I hope I can afford the vinyl fence.  BUT, I feel empowered with the strength that I will do this job correctly.