Knock Knock

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once said,

"Perseverance is a great element of success.
If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate,
you are sure to wake somebody up."

Knock. Knock.

Who's there?

Opportunity . . .

V's Secret

Not what you're thinking about!

This is the secret of V's.

Vision and Venture

Vision is not enough.
It must be combined with venture.
It is not enough to stare up the steps.
We must step up the stairs.
                          ~ Vaclav Havel

Bliss Bomb

Along with intermittent Ch-Angel acknowledgement, I always love to share my 'Bliss Bombs'.

Bliss Bombs are exceptional little joyful tidbits that make your day a wee bit brighter.

Last night was quite a Beautiful Bliss Bomb!

While unwinding after a rather brutal and busy day at work, hubby and I had settled into a juicy steak dinner while watching mindless TV. We were chatting about upcoming events and the day and just enjoying one another's company. And then . . .

The doorbell rang!

We are not big 'pop-in' recipients and each questioned the other if we were expecting anyone. Both replies were negative. I dragged my tired self off the couch, trudged my way through the kitchen, poked my head around the corner and the whole world brightened!

At my door stood a wonderful set of friends and their incredibly adorable 10-1/2 month old baby. I eagerly and quickly ushered them in and led them to the living room. Max, my old gray dog, was terrific with the little one who proceeded to warm up quickly to everyone present. She tore up most of what was on my coffee table and we could not have cared less. It was very reminiscent of our kids as little folk, using that same coffee table for playing, standing, and tearing things up.

She let me hold her and came to me a few times on her own. She LOVED the dog and the noisy show we were watching on TV. She is just a precious bundle of joy and love and it was a blessing to have had her in my home.

The visit was much too short, but I'll take Bliss Bombs whenever they come.

Drop another one any time my friends!

That Moment

There comes That Moment when you realize things are out of your hands.

You have done all that you can.

You have instilled good ethics, good morals, good habits, strong beliefs, and good etiquette. You have taught them to be healthy, to be strong, to be philanthropic, to be honest, to be fair, to be generous, to be sympathetic, to be giving, to be kind, to be helpful, to be hopeful. You have taught them to reach for dreams, to set goals, to believe in themselves, and that they are worthy.

You have taught them to laugh, to feel, to be silly, do dance, to do new things, to read, to expand their horizons, to occasionally step outside their comfort zones, to see beyond what lies in front of them.

You have taught them to enjoy life ~ no matter what may be thrown at them.
You have taught them they are overcomers, winners, and successes.

And now comes . . . That Moment . . . when with every ounce of love and pride and joy and caring you can muster, you push that bird out of the nest . . .

And watch them soar!

Management

Management is a task. It is NOT a 'title'.

I have been in management and a 'lowly' employee. As a manager, you are only as good as your worst employee. That means you had best assist that 'worst' employee to be a better employee. You do NOT accomplish this by belittlement or degradation. You do not do this by being their buddy and pal. You set consistent and achievable goals, commend the good actions, privately coach through the bad actions, and celebrate the victories.

It is so sad to see excellent employees dismantled by poor management. Someone's real potential is trivialized by the idiocy of a self-righteous manager. Not only are you losing an asset of an employee, but you are chipping away at their psyche. All this, for nothing more that the horribly short-lived power trip the manager may be on.

When will folks realize that each person is vital to the success of every task? A really good manager finds the strengths of his/her employees and motivates them to use those strengths to assist the weaker employees to become better employees and create a more successful and profitable work environment. Everyone benefits!

Is this really too difficult to comprehend?

Kudos to all you 'lowly' peons. There is strength in numbers. Be strong and know you matter!

It really is THIS simple

Anyone who knows me, knows that when I'm passionate about something, you had best step out of my way!

If it is a worthy cause, I will talk til I have not one breath more.
If it is a plight, I will open my mouth even at my own detriment.
If it is close to my heart, I will talk, cry, rant, rave, and shout from the rooftops til I am heard by as many folks as possible.

You're alive!
Do something!

The directive in life, the moral imperative, is truly uncomplicated.

Look. Listen. Choose. Act.

Victory is won not in miles, but in inches.
Win a little, hold your ground, then win a little more.

You are more capable than you could ever imagine.
You possess powers and prowess that defy comprehension.
You must simply put them to use!

It really is THIS simple!

Walk Tall

Walk Tall!

Be proud of what you are and who you are. Do not apologize for your self, your beliefs, your morals, your ethics, or your decisions. Be confident in the knowledge that you are an amazing creation with meaning and purpose.

And . . . should you intermittently slip in that knowledge . . . remember the other half . . .

Carry a Big Stick!

Enjoy the day . . . and look out!

Meaning and Hope

This little blog does a tremendous amount of good! On occasion, I get word that I touch a heart, or invoke a smile, or receive some positive feedback. What is even more amazing is that . . . it helps ME when I write it.

Yesterday was NOT a good day. Work was full of nasty, horrid people and if my paycheck wasn't going toward a good cause, I would have stormed out of the building. I do not like being lied about and I do not enjoy be condescended to. I abhor when folks target you because you don't behave the way they want you to. It's truly irritating.

But . . . as I sit here this morning with the last few bits of steam fizzling out, pondering what to write today, I am realizing that in attempting to search for some positive tidbit to share, I am enveloped in all the goodness I'm absorbing and will be blessed by sharing it with others.

The way you get meaning into your life is NOT by demeaning others to lift yourself. It is by devoting yourself to loving others, devoting yourself to community, and devoting yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning. There is no joy is spreading rumors or lies. That is a sad product of seriously low self esteem. Instead . . . where hope grows, miracles bloom.

Today, no matter what you encounter, fill your day with meaning and hope.

Dream

Goals.

What you believe, you can achieve.

Once you are inspired to reach one, there's no telling what you can do.
Once you are inspired to act upon one, there's not telling where you can go.
Once you are inspired to move beyond one, there's no telling where the next one will take you.

Dream.
It's good for your soul!

The love inside

Each day, I begin my morning at my computer. One hand patting my dog on his gray-haired little head and the other skimming through emails, Facebook, and a few select games. I am surrounded by photos of family. My mom, Julia, my brothers, my family and the entire room is bordered by alternating photos of my two beautiful children.

I feel lucky and blessed to be in the company of all these people - if only in photographs. I know I am loved and cared about. I do not know if my photo is within their reach, but I know I exist in their hearts. That is what matters.

Family is not always about a tangible hug. Sometimes, and far more integral, is the simple knowledge that I might flit through their mind during the day and evoke a smile, a good memory, or a happy heart, . . . as they do to me.

We all get wrapped up in our own little world. We all have our own little troubles and tribulations and obstacles to jump. But just for a moment today, stop!

Close your eyes and think about someone who means the world to you. Whether they are still with us or have moved on to better things, just hold them in your mind's eye for just a moment. Fill yourself with their goodness and their warmth and their special love.

Now, open your eyes and realize you are lighter, happier, a little more energized than you were before.

Keep the love inside you - always!

Thanks

For any of you that happened to watch The ESPYS last night, the Robin Roberts segment was simply outstanding. She was given the Arthur Ashe award for courage ~ and deserves it. The piece was outstanding and truly validated something for me, personally.

Over a decade ago, my family was handed some devastating news that no family ever wants to hear: "Your child has a life-threatening disease." Where do you go? What do you do? Normally, you turn to family ~ and I did, but the closest relatives were nearly three hours away. You are instantly humbled. And, with that in mind, I did the only other thing I could . . . I reached out to friends. I asked for understanding. I asked for thoughts. I asked for support. I asked for prayers. It was a terribly vulnerable time and it was met with the most incredible outpouring of love and generosity that is almost indescribable.

The quote from last night's piece that struck such a chord with me was:

"Make Your Mess Your Message."

I don't know if I had heard that before, but it's what I've been doing for the past ten-plus years.

I thank you Robin, for putting things so clearly. I thank you for your strength and your courage and your tenacity. I thank you for sharing yourself with all of us. I know that it's not easy, but it is truly helpful in recovery - of any sort.

Folks, we are all going through something. Share your troubles. Lighten your load. Accept the assistance that's offered. Celebrate every victory. We are here to help one another.

Hey You!

Hey You!

Yes, YOU!

YOU can do anything.

Set out each day believing in your dreams, your visions, your ideals, your passions.

Know, without a doubt, that you were created to do simply amazing things.

Now . . . go do them.

Angels On My Doorstep

So I had this beautiful weekend playing with my best friend and husband. It was relaxing and simply wonderful.

As Mondays can sometimes do, it sort of steam-rolled that whole feeling 'chill' thing. I worked out in the morning and then had a looooooong day at work - from 1 til 9:30 pm. An eight-and-a-half hour day may not be much to some, but when you're on your feet the whole time and trying to please customers, it's VERY draining.

So . . . to try to regain a little of the weekend's glory, I did NOT pack a dinner. I chose, instead, to go next door to grab myself a little shrimp appetizer. To my surprise, hubby was waiting for me. Yay! We shared a delicious, albeit far too short, dinner snack together and chatted away my dinner break. I went back to work with a renewed bit of energy.

After another three hours of craziness, I was on my way home. All the lights were green. Things were looking up.

As I walked in the door, there was a big old basket waiting for me. When I inquired about it, hubby said, "There were Angels On My Doorstep when I got home."

What a beautiful surprise. No card. No name. No credit taken. Just a beautiful basket of Angels of every sort. Different colors. Different styles. It was simply scrumptious and an incredibly heart-warming gesture by someone who remains anonymous.

Whoever took a moment, to gather these Angels and put this basket together . . . with thoughts of little old me . . . you have NO idea how very happy you made me. It is a generous heart and a kind soul that made this gesture and I am moved beyond words.

Thank you for the Angels On My Doorstep!!!

Never be the same . . .

Sometimes, I steal ~ or rather borrow ~ quotes and expound on them.

Sometimes, I just step off on a tangent and do a little ranting.

Today . . . it is just perfect as is. Needs no expounding nor ranting.

Extend to each person,
no matter how trivial the contact,
all the care and kindness and
understanding and
love that you can muster,
and do it with no thought of any reward.
Your life will never be the same again.

~ Og Mandino

Angels in Action

True story.

Thursday, on my way home from the gym, all slimy and sweaty and jamming to my Sirius Radio 70's station, I was the first car stopped in the turn lane on Tampa Road, waiting to go south on Belcher Road. All the lights had just turned red. Then the world turned into slow motion.

From my right I saw a large gold car blow through the red light and slam into a smaller white car. I think I sat in shock for a couple of seconds before my brain kicked into gear and told me to pick up my phone and call 911. The next forty minutes were nothing short of amazing.

As I was speaking with the emergency operator, letting her know it was two elderly women involved, both of whom were moving, I watched as people appeared from everywhere. Two young men helped the very dazed and confused gold car driver from stumbling around the middle of the intersection. They tried to walk with her to the corner but she almost collapsed. Without hesitation, the two men scooped her up in their arms and carried her the rest of the way. Another set of folks entered from somewhere else and assisted the other driver out of her car and to the same corner of safety. Still more folks, coming from seemingly thin air, went back to those smoldering cars and retrieved purses and phones and other important items requested.

After I parked my car safely, I got back to the corner to find several females trying to tend to the two accident victims. The gold car driver seemed to be in worse shape and was laying in the grass. She was very disoriented and as I watched these women tend to her, the men who had brought her over and the others who retrieved items seemed to dissipate back into thin air, where they came from.

The fire department arrived, as well as paramedics, and the few initial helping bystanders silently vanished as these uniformed heroes took to a carefully choreographed dance of medical attention, traffic detail, and accident clean-up. I spent a large amount of time with the woman from the white car. She seemed OK at first, but shortly after her husband showed up, she kind of broke down and looked to need some serious attention. I then had to turn my attention to the husband who was progressively getting more and more concerned.

After I gave my statement to the State Trooper, and had given my best thoughts and prayers to the husband of the white car victim, I walked back to my car shaking. There was no blood and guts. There was no super-traumatic scene to behold. What I had witnessed, instead, was Angels in Action. They came from everywhere and each played a vital little role and then faded out of sight. It was very surreal and uplifting at the same time.

Sure hope those two ladies are OK. They were tended to by Angels.

KISS

Keep It Simple Silly

Today is National Simplicity Day.

Be nice.
Be kind.
Be fair.
Give.
Love.
Share.

Couldn't be any more simple than that!

Another "NEXT"!

How you act and respond has a major impact on the issue at hand and everything that ripples outward from there.

Everyone has obstacles and challenges to face in their lives that are well beyond their power and control. These are simply opportunities.

Opportunities to build our faith.
Opportunities to build our inner strength.
Opportunities to build our courage.
Opportunities to build our determination.
Opportunities to build our tenacity.

How we face these challenges plays a HUGE role in the actual outcome of them.

So, as my wonderful, very-missed mother would say . . . NEXT!!!

PPT

Today there are acronyms for just about everything.

CEO, SMH, LOL - you get the point.

I'm creating a new one today . . . PPT!

This, by no means, is a new idea - just a new acronym to toss out there when someone seems a little down-trodden, sad, defeated, or needy.

A great and proper attitude does much more than turn on the lights in our worlds; it seems to magically connect us to all sorts of serendipitous opportunities that were somehow absent beforehand.  ~ Earl Nightingale

It doesn't matter who you are or where you come from. The ability to triumph begins with you. Always!  ~ Oprah Winfrey

Formulate and stamp indelibly on your mind a mental picture of yourself as succeeding. Hold this picture tenaciously. Never permit it to fade. Your mind will seek to develop this picture.  ~ Norman Vincent Peale

It is amazing what your brain can make your body do. It is the:

Power of Positive Thinking!

Believe in yourself. Have a PPT sort of day!

Today

There is nothing worth more than this day!

Use the good china today, for today is everything!

Make the most of every minute, for the next one is promised to no one.

Live. Laugh. Love.

Do it all generously!

Make it a great one!

Morning Cup of Think About It

"Life is like Coffee"   ~  Author Unknown

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old college professor.
Conversation soon turned to complaints about stress in work and life.
Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee
and an assortment of cups: porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite.
He told his guests to help themselves to the coffee.
After everyone had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said:
"If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups have been taken up,
leaving behind the plain and cheap ones.
While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves,
THAT is the source of your problems and stress.
Be assured that the cup adds no quality to the coffee.
In most cases, it's just more expensive, and in some cases, even hides what we drink.
What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup.
But you consciously went for the best cups . . . and then you began eyeing each other's cup.

Now consider this . . .

Life is the Coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups.
They are just tools to hold and contain LIFE.
The type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of the life we live.
Sometimes . . . by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee.
Savor the coffee . . . not the cup!"

Live simply. Speak kindly. Care deeply. Love generously.

Thanks to my Ch-Angel, Cathy!

Safe journeys!

It is not always about where you are going that is so very important.
More often than not, it is about the company you keep to get there.

My forty-plus year journey has been . . . interesting . . . to say the least. But the last twenty-plus have been with the most absolutely amazing man I could have dreamed up. He may not always do things or act the way I'd like, but that is because he is not me. He takes care of me, protects me, loves me and laughs with me. We play together, pray together, and share this craziness called life. We created two incredible human beings and have been blessed to touch many lives beyond our own.

Sometimes we feel isolated from family, but that just brings us closer together and makes us realize that we can do anything we put our collective mind to. We are a good team.

And that family, who is so seemingly far away, I am certain ~ would be here in an instant if I sent out a distress call. That's just who they are. And I have enveloped myself with faux family and the best of friends who share my ideals, my beliefs, my morals, my ethics, and my heart. I am truly blessed.

My path may be the one less travelled, but I would NEVER have it any other way.

Choose your travelling companions wisely.

Safe journeys!

The Original

As I get older, I dwell longer and deeper on each and every word . . .

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there
Oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave

Oh thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just
And this be our motto: "In God is out trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

God bless America! Happy Independence Day!

Compliment the Mirror

Today is National Compliment the Mirror Day.

Do you understand what that means?

Find a mirror. Look at it. Compliment that beautiful creature that's staring back at you.

You are unique, beautiful, and special.

Stop trying to alter this or change that or fix those or amend things. You are as you are meant to be.

Learn that there are things you are in control of . . . your weight, your hair color, and your attitude.

Want to change the first two?

Change the third! 

All the other stuff doesn't matter. Find the beauty that lies well beneath the exterior. Love THAT person.

Compliment YOUR Mirror Today!

Soap box

Excuse me while I step up on my tiny, little soap box . . .

It is my belief that your personal freedom cannot grow beyond your personal responsibility.
You must learn to be fully accountable for your lives and your actions.
Only with this recognition can each of us truly enjoy, understand, and appreciate our freedom.
I cannot respect my opportunities if I receive them on the coat tails of someone else.
I am liable for the consequences of my choices.
I cannot blame others, nor point fingers, for my ineptness.
Neither can you.
Step up, stand up, be responsible, and do the right thing.

I am now stepping off my tiny, little soap box . . .

Dream Your Dream

For today and every day . . . dream your dream.

Follow what is in your heart.
Imagine with all you are.
Listen to the whispers in the wind.
Let your wonders never cease.
Create adventure wherever you can.
Drink in each sunrise.
Savor every sunset.
Be free.
Be kind.
Believe.