Sometimes . . .

Sometimes, I just amaze myself with the goofy things I come up with in completely unrelated situations.

Last week, I was discussing a frustrating topic with a dear girlfriend. We were venting about folks who do good work for not so good reasons or reasons that are completely foreign to us. Now, although these persons may have good intentions, they come across all self-gratifying and self-absorbed and motivated only by 'the self'. This does not compute to myself and this wonderful friend.

So, during this discussion, I typed,

"Hopefully we can slowly get said persons to not be so abrasive and/or condescending. Maybe, just maybe, if we support them long enough, we can get them to see the 'big picture' instead of them constantly seeking that 'self portrait'."

See, now . . . sometimes . . . in the midst of an outburst, something amazing comes! This can apply to so many people in so many cases. I hope I didn't steal it from someone subconsciously. That would make me sad!

Oh, well.

Today, folks, I hope for you to paint with broad strokes, on a grand canvas, to create a big picture and not a tiny self portrait!

Learning

I saw this on an old friend's post and could not help myself!
I simply had to share!

If you are not willing to learn,
No one can help you.
If you are determined to learn,
No one can stop you.

That "old dog" adage is a bunch of malarkey!
You can do ANY thing you put your little mind to.

Go . . . Learn!

A Happy Heart

The world is full of tumultuous and trying times. There is much sadness and loneliness and bitterness and dismay. There is hurt and there is pain and there is envy and there is ignorance. There is betrayal and there are lies and there is selfishness and hatred. There is bullying and fighting and disease and filth.

But . . .

There is also joy!
Without the rain, there'd be no rainbow.
Without the hardships, there'd be no appreciation for the overcoming of them.
Without the trial, there'd be no victory.

If you knew the journey I've been on, you'd wonder how I ever got out of my teens.
Yet, I am no different than any other person out there.
The only separation between myself and the whiner, the crier, the mopey, the dopey, the angry individual; is that I have chosen to have a happy heart.

I know there are better times.
I believe the sun will shine tomorrow.
I have faith in miracles and new beginnings.
I walk, upright, knowing that I have a purpose and a value.
I have a happy heart!

I hope yours is happy too!

Ch-Angels

It has been a while since I acknowledged a Ch-Angel on here.

For those of you that are unaware . . . this is NOT about the 70's TV series or the movie series with Cameron, Drew and Lucy.

This is about those special folks out there in the world. The regular 'Joes' who take on seemingly Herculean tasks without question or hesitation. This is about those Angels who walk among us who create a positive, productive, and philanthropic change  ~  Ch-Angels!

It would seem that I have surrounded myself with Ch-Angels and I'm loving it! I am buoyed each day by their presence and their interjections in my life. I am blessed with their offerings ~ to me and to the world.

The first Ch-Angel I believe I ever acknowledged was my Mom. She cannot sit and play Scrabble with me any more, and I miss her terribly in this earthy realm, but I know she walks with me ~ always! My children and husband are the next Ch-Angels in my life. So supportive and caring and loving. They inspire me and motivate me to be a better person.

Today . . . I want to hear about the Ch-Angel in your life! I usually just use first names (Ch-Angel Fran), but feel free to acknowledge away. I'd like to expand the list of Angels that I know!

Let's hear . . .

Just Stunning

By Friedrich Nietzsche ~

At bottom every man knows well enough that he is a unique being,
only once on this earth;
and by no extraordinary chance
will such a marvelously picturesque piece of diversity in unity as he is,
ever be put together a second time.

Elaborate and eloquent but, simply put, YOU are the only YOU there will ever be.
YOU are amazing, magnificent, marvelous, and extraordinary!

Be YOU!

Be kind ~ Always!

Everyone you meet
is fighting a battle
you know NOTHING about!

Be kind ~ Always!

Knock Knock

I saw this wonderful tidbit on a beautiful friend's wall. It immediately screamed to me to be brought over here. It is short and sweet and wonderful and does not need a whole lot of embellishment. It may, however, require a little deep, pensive thought.

People . . . think about this . . .

Wherever there is a human being,
there is an opportunity for kindness.

See what I mean?

Enjoy your day!

Motivation

If given the proper motivation, it is absolutely incredible what people can achieve.

Please know that the opposite is also true. Negativity can tear a person down quicker than a wrecking ball during a hurricane.

Choose wisely!

And, as my dear friend Uncle Lenny would say, "Just do the right thing!"

A Ch-Angel for National POW Day

Today is National POW Day ~ a day to celebrate those who suffered at the hands of our enemies. But if you know me, I won't fall victim to the negative or sadness.

So . . . today, I not only celebrate POWs, but I am honoring a beautiful Ch-Angel who was ALSO a POW ~ William Botsakos, my grandfather.

Bill, Billy Botts, Grandpa, car guy, boxer, gambler, family man, veteran, POW. It doesn't matter how you knew him, but if you were lucky enough to know him . . . you were lucky!

This man helped to raise EIGHT children. He was a veteran and a POW. He was a professional boxer. He was a tinkerer, a fixer, a baseball guy, a gambler, . . . my friend!

He taught us all how to box . . . the old fashioned way. The way where you finish the punch with a squarely placed elbow! Or perhaps to step on the toes of the opponent so they could not retract from your onslaught. I remember after 'boxing lessons,' he would have us each grab a bicep and he would carry us around by his muscles.

He liked music and dancing and was really a lover - even with his love of fighting. He was a big giant teddy bear! He loved cars and playing ball with the family during picnics and outings. He taught us how to gamble. He was a lover of the craps table. Oh . . . the mighty YO!

And, to me personally, so much more.

When I could not choose between my dad or step-dad to walk me down the aisle at my wedding, I asked him if he'd have issues taking on the task. I wanted to ensure he could handle whatever came his way from either of my dads. He wouldn't even let me finish the question. He agreed immediately. It is a beautiful memory I will cherish forever.

I have a photo of him pushing my daughter around in a box he 'turned into a car' for her first birthday ~ complete with car noises and 'up-on-two-wheels' turns. Priceless. And, sadly, it breaks my heart that my son missed meeting him by just one month. That sadness is erased only by the fact that I know my son is every bit the fighter my grandfather was. What a terrific trait to carry!

So, today, I acknowledge and share admiration and respect with all you POWs. I thank you for what you endured for our Country and our freedoms. But, with a tiny bit of selfishness, I acknowledge William Botsakos - my Ch-Angel POW just a little bit more!

Miss you!

The essence of optimism . . .

With the hope that while focusing on the positive, it will come my way . . .


The essence of optimism is
that it takes no account of the present,
but it is a source of inspiration,
of vitality
and hope
where others have resigned . . .


I refuse to let the whiners, the negative Nellies, the Debby downers, and the party poopers rain on my parade. I will rise above the drama, the nonsense, the boredom and tedium that is their tired existence to focus on my own inspiration
and vitality
and hope!

ONE

One.

It is a tiny, little, insignificant number.
Or is it?

I am only one, but still I am one.
I cannot do everything, but still I can do something.
~ Helen Keller

You can do anything.
You can make a difference.
You can be a difference.
You can make the day better.

Go be special!
Go be you.

Change

Not the empty promise of five years ago.
Not the spare kind that you might find on the ground.

I'm talking about the kind you have to undertake if you're unhappy with the way things are.
It doesn't have to mean that things are terrible.
It just means that you are tired of the status quo, the 'it's ok', the ho hum doldrums of each day.

If you want to lose weight, you have to Change your routine.
If you want to move ahead at work, you have to Change your endeavors.
If you want to expand your friendship base, you have to Change your activities.
If you want to alter your results, you have to Change how you achieve them.

You cannot expect life to magically evolve into something it won't be unless you put the effort in to get you there.

There are no magic diet pills.
There is no secret to success other than hard work.
There isn't a friend fairy who brings you honest, loyal, and supportive pals.
There is Change.

If you don't like it, Change it!
If you're not happy, Change that!
If you're no where you want to be, Change your surroundings!

Change is only a step away.
Start that journey NOW!

Death and taxes . . .

The old adage goes something like, "There are only two certainties in life:  death and taxes."

Of course, for any of you that have read me or know me at all, I can't ever leave well enough alone!
Ha! And this is for my 'beautiful calm' Ch-Angel!

What else can you add to that?
How about the only things you have control over are your actions and your word?!

What you say - you do!

If you say to someone, "I'll be there at eleven," is it really all that difficult to actually show up at eleven? If you say to someone, "I'll text you tomorrow," is it really all that difficult to actually text them tomorrow? If you say to someone, "I'll hang out with you on Tuesday," is it really all that difficult to actually show up and hang out on Tuesday?

We've become this world of instant everything - including changing our minds and changing our plans. Folks have forgotten the importance of being true to your word. They've also forgotten that once you've spoken, you've only got your actions left. Being honest, sincere, and truthful all stem from your word. You ARE your word. It is, in today's terms, your "branding"; the message you send to the world.

For those of you who have ever been stood up, left out, and forgotten ~ on behalf of those ignorant wrong-doers ~ I apologize. They do not realize the hurt they cause. They do not understand what damage they do to themselves. But . . . it will come full circle. It always does.

So, do not change that you are polite, kind, giving, moral, ethical, supportive, and true to your word. Be your fabulously wonderful self - all the time.

And that too will come full circle!

I Dream of Jeannie

There are so many instances that I would like to simply cross my arms, blink, and have a different outcome to a situation.

Oh . . . I Dream of Jeannie!!!

I'd like to blink and have so many bad things undone.
I'd like to blink and have so many hurts taken away.
I'd like to blink and save so many friends from pain and suffering.
I'd like to blink and keep folks from harm.
I'd like to blink and stop the devastation.
I'd like to blink and make the aches and questions disappear.

But . . .

Then we'd all be the same.
There'd be no growth, no wonder, no strength, no resilience, no tenacity.
I abhor adversity, but it truly defines us as humans.
We all have within us the capacity to overcome absolutely whatever that comes our way.

I Dream of Jeannie!

Cross your arms.
Blink.
And know that YOU can do ANY thing!

Time for a Ch-Angel . . . or two . . .

I find great comfort in surrounding myself with some VERY Godly and faith-filled folks. It seems, too, that I am drawn to those who exude that calm serenity of walking so closely in His word. I garner great strength from their courage, their wisdom, and the pillar on which they base their existence.

There are a few, in particular, who just emulate and ooze this fortitude in everything they do and say and are. It is an honor to stand next to them. It is a privilege to have their prayers and thoughts rain down upon me. And it is a blessing to call them my friends!

Ch-Angel Donna, Ch-Angel Jackie, and dearest Ch-Angel Edie . . . thank you SO much for all the love and support and strength and wisdom and peace that you have sown so richly and deeply into the tapestry that is my life. You are a gift and I am thrilled to have you in my life!

Thank you!
May you all have Ch-Angels of this nature in your lives!

Unforgettable

The 'tag line' of today is "Never Forget". I must be honest, though, and tell you that it was truly Unforgettable. I remember every minute of that morning and will for the remainder of my life.

I, like everyone else, watched to get clarification that a small aircraft had simply veered off course and hit the tower.
I, like everyone else, watched in horror as a second plane hit the other tower. This was no accident. This was no miscalculation in course. This was a cowardly and brutal attack on our United States.

I, like everyone else, watched the horrors of the day unfold.
My heart aching and bleeding and the sobbing. It was not just tears. It was sobbing.

As I always try to find something favorable in any situation, I was left with only these few tattered things . . .

We lost nearly 3,000 people that day!
What a tragic, nonsensical, hurtful loss.
Do we realize how many people were in or around those towers on any given day?
The Pentagon is quite a bustling little building as well.
And we will be forever grateful to those who took control of Flight 93.
Each of those nearly 3,000 lost hold a spot in our hearts.
Each of those nearly 3,000 lost solidified this country into one United nation.
That number could have easily been so much higher.

Today, we salute those Ch-Angels that perished on that day.
We salute the brave souls who ran into the chaos to help while so many others ran away.
We acknowledge those who have given their lives to protect our freedom since that day.
Truly Unforgettable.

God bless the U.S.A.!

Miracles

The next time you question miracles . . .

please don't forget you ARE one!

Gratitude

Coming from a gimongous family, you learn to be grateful for what you have. We had some rough patches and folks were generous. We were always gracious and thankful for whatever came our way.

Now, so very involved in volunteering, I do a tremendous amount of asking (or perhaps more eloquently . . . 'begging') for good, services, donations, sponsorships, and assistance from other people. These folks don't have to give me a dime, much less the time of day, but generally ~ and more often than not ~ they give freely. And little old me . . . could not be more grateful!

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of what life offers. It turns what we have into enough and then some. It transforms denial into acceptance, chaos into some sort of order, and usually helps to clarify confusion.

Gratitude is as essential as the ask. Without a sincere thank you and a humbled realization that you just received a blessing, you have not conceived the entirety of the situation.

Gratitude is an opportunity.

It brings joy to its recipient and brings belief and hope to its giver.
And . . . if done properly . . . it also brings joy to its giver and brings belief and hope to its receiver!

I am grateful for you!

Use It

Being involved with a children's hospital, I know a tremendous amount of folks with children who have been injured, sick, or have serious chronic illnesses. It could be a sad thing, and it certainly drains a tremendous amount of emotional energy from me, but . . . I choose NOT to let it define or beat me.

When my kids were sick, we faced the trials and tribulations with laughter and sarcasm. Of course we cried and yelled and screamed, too. I wrote a couple of children's books to try to expand the brains and conversations of those who might not understand. We did a whole lot of fundraising to raise money and awareness of the illnesses of my kids and the illnesses of so many others. The point is, we USED IT for good.

I met a family years ago whose little girl had several auto-immune diseases rolled together. I would spend hours with mom during our kids' infusions just chatting about whatever came up. My favorite line of hers, in regard to dealing with treatment and disease was this, "We refuse to be the parents of a kid with 'such-and-such a disease'. We are a family whose child happens to be sick. We will not be defined by this illness."

Stronger, more brilliant words, have never been spoken!

Whether it is an illness, a job loss, a betrayal, a low point in your life . . . do NOT let it define you.

USE IT!

Allow it to make you stronger, bigger, bolder, better than the issue.
That choice is entirely up to you.

Open Your Pie Hole

Every now and again . . .

Once in a blue moon . . .

There comes a time . . .

When you have to open your pie hole!

I am, by no means, superior or highly intelligent or extraneously educated or presumed to be correct a majority of the time.

BUT . . . when I know or strongly feel that I am right or in the right, I will open my pie hole!

It has gotten me in trouble on more than one occasion.
It has gotten me in controversial situations.
It has gotten me in confrontational situations.
But . . . I will stick to my guns, say what is on my mind, speak the truth, and not be quiet.

Sometimes, too, it really does some good!

NOW

I have a terrible tendency to volunteer a bit too much. My family has told me for years that I need to learn to say, "N . . . O . . . !"  I tell them that when I begin to do so, the person doing the asking usually just follows that up with a "W!"

William Penn expressed the theory of "NOW" quite eloquently in this little tidbit.

I expect to pass through life but once.
If therefore, there be any kindness I can show,
or any good thing I can do to any fellow being,
let me do it now,
and not defer or neglect it,
as I shall not pass this way again.

And that, I believe, should be followed IMMEDIATELY by John Wooden's

It is amazing how much can be accomplished
if no one cares who gets the credit.

What a beautiful chorus of truth!

Signs

Folks are always searching for 'signs' of what to do, what to say, how to act, or how to move forward.

Yesterday was a billboard sort of day for me!

Got a random email about Angels. Started to read a book while sunbathing and kept skimming to pages that said "Angel this" and "Angel that". Turned on America's Got Talent, which we don't watch hardly ever, to see the Military Spouses Choir singing one of my most favorite Angel songs EVER, from one of my most favorite movies EVER! Checked emails before going to bed and had another random Angel email waiting for me. Was kept awake for some reason . . . and my Angels were there!

My Angels are definitely out there and pushing me toward a task that I will tackle today.

Sometimes, there is a small little voice that the entire world must silence itself in order for you to hear it. Other times, there is a billboard erected right in front of you that you CANNOT ignore.

Listen to your Angels!
They will not ever lead you astray!

You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here

 

You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here

Be strong!

Although I am a huge fan and advocate for weight training, this is not about whether or not you can bench press a Buick. This is more about dragging yourself out of bed when you are faced with daily, overwhelming obstacles.

Within each of us, there is an untapped and unused strength that waits to come out and take command. Sometimes, it is eked out inch by inch. Sometimes, it is forced from us in the face of tremendous hurdles. Sometimes, it is drawn out to help shape and reshape what irks us ~ to create a better and more accepting world.

Whoever you are, whatever your dream, you have to be strong.
Strong in your head and strong in your heart.
There's no quitting in the person who wants it bad enough.
Be strong!

Choice

Choose a job you love
and you will never have to work a day in your life.

Have a happy and blessed Labor Day!