Quiet Joy.........

There is a calmness to a Life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy. ~ Ralph Blum

Today I am grateful for.....

That bit of cool air coming through my open window

The smell of muffins...my son & friend are making

Laughter coming from the kitchen

Hummingbird in the garden

Email photo of my son in NY..... smiling from ear to ear

Waking to a clean bedroom....because I made the effort yesterday


Visiting with a friend...just sitting, sharing & learning


Gentle smell of mint as I step through the garden


Knowing that I will be with family & friends for dinner tonight


The creative thoughts & desires that fill my mind
~

 Each day as I acknowledge all that I am grateful for, it causes me to slow down and truly "hear" the quiet joy & calmness that is present in my Life !

"Now" is the time................

"We will forever be known by the tracks we leave behind" ~ Dakota proverb


School is out and we are in summer mode. We kicked off the summer together, a family of four, celebrating Father's Day, just us at a beach house "doing nothing" and having it all! There were naps, board games, lots of laughter, walks, searches for sea glass, curling up with a book, singing at the top of our lungs to Bob Marley, waving to people passing by, just being...a happy family!


As parents we cherish this time with our teenage boys, we know in the blink of an eye we will be in another "phase" in our lives. Still enjoying each other, but schedules not so readily allowing for stretches of time together. It feels so important to make it happen...now....be together...... now....enjoy each other....now!


Living in the "now" has become so prevalent to me in the last five weeks. In that time, five people I know, directly or indirectly, have passed away. It has caused my thoughts to reflect even more than usual on Life and the importance of family and loved ones in it.


If the tracks I leave are embedded with memories of my hugging a little longer, whispering words of love a little closer, listening more intently, extending compassion and patience more freely, touching lives with kindness and living in the moment..... I will have lived a successful and genuine Life!  Living, to leave those I love with special memories and a feeling of being loved and how greatly they matter...enough to last their Lifetime!

Oh I'm Awake............

"Your vision will become clearer only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams: Who looks inside, awakes".                 ~ Carl Jung

Today's quote really made me stop and think, and I realized I fall into both categories. I do look into my heart. Conscious to be awake to all that is happening around me. Taking initiative to do for others, spread kindness and touch lives!  All these aspects feed my soul and I continue to give them power within my Life.

That being said.... I do look "outside" as well. It is the dreaming that guides me, that serves as my beacon to be able to look into my heart and carry out those dreams.

For me......Life is what you make of it and I'm looking inside and out to experience it all!


So go for it....listen to your heart's desires and give Life to your dreams !

I'm Overdue.............

Recipients of our appreciation are apt to express their own gratitude to others, lengthening the unending, golden chain of connections-in-goodness that stretches across the world.   Mary Ford Grabowsky


Looking back at previous posts I realize I haven't shared lately some downright Make a Difference... Brighten Their Day tidbits. Quick recap for those who have just joined us...I believe in making a positive difference in people's lives...and it doesn't have to take all that much. Perhaps the toughest thing is to get in the habit of having it in the front of our minds so it becomes a natural knee jerk reaction.


Now some acts of kindness fall into the common courtesy category, but I must say if that's not natural for ya', you may want to start there. Open a door and step aside as the person behind you walks through it first and give 'em big ole smile. 


So today I am going to share some quirky fun ideas that can brighten a day and bring on a smile. Not  just the recipient will benefit, it's pretty fun for the giver too.


Pass along a carriage at the market where you have to put a quarter in to get one.


Leave a random post it note out in public that says "Smile...You Matter".


When it is your turn at the checkout, turn to the person behind you and say "go ahead, you can go next".


Leave fresh flowers at a neighbor's door with a note saying "Happy National Smile Day".


Send a note of  thanks to the staff  at your dentist, doctor, hair stylist or even favorite coffee shop. Let them know you appreciate what they do.


Leave a note on your child's pillow telling them how special they are.


Spotlight Family Dinner: Pick one person at the table to be the "star" the entire meal. They choose conversation, don't have to help clean up, gets the last piece of dessert...you get the idea.


Send a note to your child's teacher thanking them for their dedication to the class.


Compliment some one you don't know. Little side note here: once in the market I said to a women waiting at the deli with me, "I just have to tell you how much a like your haircut". She turned around with the biggest smile and thanked me. Then we were both smiling.


Give out Kudos snack bars to your child's sport team for a job well done..even if they didn't win ...actually especially if  they didn't win.


When going through a toll booth pay for the person behind you.


Pick up a few $5.00 (plug in your favorite coffee shop here) gift cards and give them out when you see someone could use a little pick me up.


Get a bunch of helium balloons on strings and walk around passing them out at the park.....and I don't mean giving them just to kids either. Watch the reaction when you hand one to an adult and say "here you go, something to brighten your day"!


These are just random ideas that yield some pretty great responses. I'm not going to kid you, some are out of the box and require you to step out of your comfort zone.....but keep in mind, you will be adding to the golden chain of connection-in-goodness...so go ahead Make Someone's Day!


                    

My "Someday" Is Today.................

"The real point of being alive is to evolve into the whole person you were intended to be".
~Oprah Winfrey

Today feels like a day of transition, filled with motivation to organize my thoughts and desires into a "make'em happen" kind of way. I randomly collect articles of interest, jot my thoughts on slips of paper and file them away in my notebook for "someday". 


The collection posses a similar thread through out...living a positive life, doing for others, how to be mentally strong and for the most part, sane. That last part of being sane is purely individual in my opinion....leaves a broad spectrum of possibilities. 


Well, today was the day to go through the notebooks and I was flooded with "omg this is great" moments!! First, I must share why it felt so good. I'm frequently confronted with feeling that I'm alone with my thoughts and ideals of joy, believing in the good of people, trying to make a difference for others and glass half full kind of living. You get what I mean right??


So rediscovering these magazine articles and thoughts I had written, felt like...coming home. I was surrounded by common thoughts and ideas I believe in. A smile came to my face.... I was very happy inside. 


One of the articles that really spoke volumes and helped organize my nagging thoughts of "I need to be doing more or things of deeper value" came from the November 2011 issue of Oprah magazine. I'm going to share an excerpt because I think it could really be insightful for others too.

THREE LITTLE QUESTIONS TO HELP FIND YOUR TRUE CALLING:

1. How does what you are doing make you feel? Ideally our lives should be filled with a collection of non materialistic "things" that provides an undeniable sense of stimulation and exhilaration. 
2. Does it have a positive impact on others? Anything that makes you feel strong, connected and aligned with your truth does the same when shared. Nothing that ever calls you is ever for you alone. 
3. Does it turn up your volume and increase the vibration of your life? Whenever you are engaged in the business of who you're meant to be, you're more awake, alive and ready to play a vital part in your world! When others see your light shining, they'll be inspired to shine theirs, too. 


The question portion of the article resonated within me and mirrors what I think of often. The article then went on for another 8 plus pages describing how to go about making these changes happen. 


Just putting it out there, if anyone is interested in finding out more of the "how to" in the additional pages......just message me! My mind races with the idea of how fun it would be to sit around and chat with like minded people, all on a challenge to find "our calling". There's such power and support in sharing with others. 


My "someday" notebooks opened my eyes today, so off I go on the next part of my Journey !

Today's addition to the kitchen & it feels so timely ~

Release the pressure..............

Knowing that school summer vacation is a mere weeks away I both brace and embrace all that it will mean.


In my constant quest to be at peace, or more accurately stated "to find ways" to be at peace, I have begun redefining my structure of living.


Here's just one example to better explain myself: By wanting things "just so" neat, clean, organized and any other unrealistic task that requires others I live with to uphold......I am setting myself up for frustration and pressure ...which translates/results in the opposite of peace.


So given these guidelines, I'm trying to "soften" what feels ok. Tolerate perhaps a more lenient  acceptable level of neat, clean and organized. I try to convey that in my actions.


Quieter voice, less scrunched up face when I speak, and being aware not to use phrases like "what were you thinking???.... of course a wet towel left in a lump will attract water bugs"!


I have come to realize that saying things like that only increases my stress and doesn't necessarily get me the results I want anyway.


Why didn't I make this connection before:  to release the pressure one must loosen the tight hold of whatever is causing the pressure! For me wanting things "just right" ( by that I mean "MY just right") is the tourniquet creating the pressure. So moving forward if I notice a wet towel on the floor I will simply approach the guilty person, point to the towel and say "now".


I'm thinking I am on to something. Now I'll probably hear things like "mom has lost it" or "have you noticed mom isn't talking as much"? Which quite honestly is fine with me, because the next sentence from them will hopefully be..."yeah, but she sure does seem pretty relaxed lately ".  Bring it on summer....I'm ready!

What I Noticed Today..................

Glistening dew on the grass, first thing this morning

The ivory edges of the variegated hostas

Chipmunk peeking out of a hole

That I was already planning in my head what to chat about with my BFF tomorrow morning, because I don't want to forget a thing

People singing and laughing in a passing car

The gentle scent of wild roses, chives and mint while gardening

That hugs from my teenage sons feel that bit more special because it's not always the coolest thing to do

The warmth of a towel just out of the dryer, brings flashbacks of

when the boys were little and we'd snuggle up while "folding" laundry

 Online conversation with two special friends warms my heart

5 hours of heavy yard work = 2 Tylenol, a hot shower and early to bed

Hanging out around the fire pit with my family brings a smile to my face

Crickets and fireflies mean childhood summer to me

And lastly, I noticed.....that upon finishing this post I'm already looking forward to noticing so many more things tomorrow!