Trust

There will very rarely be a billboard
with directions on how to proceed.
One must trust in those minute, tiny,
nearly-missed signs that urge you on your way.
Sometimes, you just have to square your shoulders
and push forward.

Trust in the knowledge that
you will weather the storm,
you are worth the journey,
you can overcome whatever is in front of you,
you have talents you never knew,
you are stronger than you can imagine,
you can do this.

Trust . . .
in yourself!

Tell them

A dear and wonderful friend posted something
quite purposeful today.
It was in reference to actually letting people know
that you love and care about them.
We all have a plethora of friends.
We enjoy our time together.
We laugh and chat.

How often, though, do we express our feelings?
Our thankfulness for their existence?
Our appreciation for their kindness?
Our affection for them as human beings?

Today, I challenge you . . .
to express yourself.
To allow yourself to be humbled enough
to share your thoughts,
your admiration,
your adoration,
your real self.

Don't take for granted that people 'know'.
Tell them.

Good Neighbor

Today is National Good Neighbor Day.

By small minded folk,
this may be interpreted as to be nice
to the folks who live to your left
the folks who live to your right
and perhaps even the folks who live behind you.

To those whose view is larger . . .

This means EVERY SINGLE HUMAN BEING.

We are all neighbors on this giant whirling ball.
We are all connected and intertwined.
We all can do a little good each day.
We can offer a smile, a hand, a hug, a shoulder,
an ear, or an open heart.

Be a Good Neighbor today.

and every day . . .

My Favorite Ch-Angels

My favorite Ch-Angels . . .

Those folks that perk up any day,
no matter how dismal,
no matter how dreary,
no matter your mood,
no matter your madness.

Those folks that just walk with a spring,
speak with a joy,
hug with a purpose,
spread love with their mere existence.

Those folks.

They are my favorite Ch-Angels!

Thank you.

Peace

Take refuge where it suits you best.

For some, it's the ocean.
For others, the mountains.
I adore an open field.
Or a babbling brook.
Some enjoy the company of others.
Some indulge in music or art or creativity.
Some bask in the glory of getting sweaty and dirty.

Wherever you find yourself most calm
and able to center yourself,
go there.

Find your peace.

My Apologies

As life occasionally will do,
I was handed a curve ball when my computer took a dive.
I was forced to take a few days off.
I checked email via my phone.
I have not put Facebook on my phone mostly because
I'd never again accomplish anything if I did.

So . . . I was forced to breathe.
To sit and reflect.
To clean.
To converse.
To communicate with other humans with my voice.

I highly recommend this to everyone.
Not the having to get a new computer thing.
Just the taking a break thing.

It's quite refreshing.
Back at it though.
Make it a great one!

Blue

Today, I'll wear my blue,
not for autism - which needs much support;
not for police - who deserves our respect;
but for myositis.


Juvenile Dermatomyositis
is the life-threatening auto-immune disease
that my son was diagnosed with in the 3rd grade.
It attacks the skin and muscles and organs.
There is no cure.
2 in a million are diagnosed.
It is rare.
The path of treatment is different for each child.
We were told maybe two years . . .
we were treated for seven!
But we are a victory!
My son is doing well.
He is healthy and thriving.
We have lost others.


Spread the word.
Raise awareness.
Get your blue on!

Every Now and Again

As taught by my wise and wonderful mother,
every now and again . . .
you need . . . actually NEED . . . to be silly.


Sing out loud with store music.
Join in a street performance.
Offer someone money to juggle.
Pretend to speak a foreign language.
Spend the day people watching.
Wear polka dots and plaid together.
Sometimes . . . silly needs to be set free.


Today is National Talk Like a Pirate Day.
Why not start there
and see where it leads . . . Matey!

Open

Up and at 'em early today.
Throughout my little morning ritual
one word keeps popping up:


Open


Open eyes to see the good.
Open ears to hear the melody.
Open hands to offer help.
Open arms to give a hug.
Open heart to welcome love.

Still

There are many days
when dark clouds fill my sky.
I wake up still.
There are many days
when people seem unusually mean.
I smile still.
There are many days
when things don't go as planned.
I walk on still.
There are many days
when life seems a little harsh.
I believe still.
There are many days
when I may feel a little defeated.
I carry on still.


You can be defeated;
or you can face your troubles,
continue on your path,
put your shoulders back and hold your head up high.


You are here  . . .
Still!

Accountability

Imagine this . . .


What if we were all accountable for
our words?
our actions?
our efforts?


What if we faced the consequences for
our words?
our actions?
our efforts?


What if we faced the blessings of
our words?
our actions?
our efforts?


The choice is yours.
What will you be accountable for?

Vessel

I am but a vessel.
As are you.


If you have the opportunity
to improve the life of another,
do it.
If you can positively impact
someone else . . .
do it.


We are but a vessel
moving through the madness
trying to make the world better
in whatever way we're able.

Recharge

To Recharge.


To sit quietly.
To laugh.
To unwind.
To breathe.
To be rained on.
To be in the company of those you love.


Good stuff.
Go get recharged.

Always Remember

Today is a day that will live forever so vividly
in the memories and hearts of Americans.


It was a day of violation and loss and anger and hurt.
It was a day when cowards attacked us.
The normal phrase for today is 'Never Forget'.
I choose, as always, to remain positive.


I will 'Always Remember'!


I will remember countless stories of bravery.
I will remember patriotism oozing from everywhere.
I will remember and honor the lives taken. (They were not lost.)
I will remember this country coming together.


I will Always Remember.

Speak Up. Speak Out.

If you see something wrong; Speak Up. Speak Out.
If something truly upsets you; Speak Up. Speak Out.
If you are unhappy with your situation; Speak Up. Speak Out.


Change will not come with the wind.
Correction does not wait for an invitation.
Happiness comes to those who choose to take it.


Speak Up.
Speak Out.

Interrupted

I was reminded last night, by a dear friend,
that in helping others we help ourselves.
And in our mutual misery, for the moment,
this seems to scream at me:


"For sleep, riches and health to be truly enjoyed,
they must be interrupted."
~ Jean Paul


When pondered, it is quite a grand statement.
Truth in its simplest form.

Worry

I have told you before that when things pop up repeatedly,
I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to do something with it.
This morning alone, I've seen the word 'worry' about a dozen times.
Maybe it's a message to me.
Maybe it's for me to send a message.


It is a normal, natural emotion to worry.
We fret about a great many things.
Does it ever help?
NO!
Does it ever make us feel better?
NO!
Does it make the situation improve?
NO!


It only robs this moment of its joy.
It dilutes the day's blessings.
It obscures the opportunities before us.


Today, I'm taking the hint.
I received a prayer box for my birthday.
I'm taking my tiny pen and my tiny stack of paper
and I'm giving my worries over to God.
I can't do anything with them.
I will focus instead on the great blessings that surround me.
I will focus on the positives.
I will focus on faith and family and friends and frivolity.


What will you do?

Labor Day

Do what you love.
Love what you do.
You'll never labor a day in your life.

Remain Calm

Life tends to whip itself into an occasional frenzy.
Sometimes, we are caught up in the chaos,
the fury,
the fragility,
the madness.


Remain Calm.


Really breathe in the situation.
See it for the opportunities it presents.
Value its lessons.
Realize it's just a test.
This too shall pass.
Do not add to the volatility.


Remain Calm.

Redirect

Redirect.


We are taught it when we're children.
We just don't know it.
When we're having a tantrum
and someone distracts us with something else,
we are redirected.


As we become parents,
it is a natural and effective tool
to use on our own children.


What has happened, then,
to adults?
It seems we are only redirected
by newer gadgets,
bigger toys,
grander illusions of tangible toxicity.


We need to redirect our attention.
To those in need.
To those who hurt.
To those that need support.
No one gets out alive.
Let's make it better while we're here.

Stop!

It's time to stop.


Stop with colors;
Stop with genders;
Stop with religions;
Stop with race;
Stop with beliefs;
Stop with locations;
Stop with anything but
realizing that EVERY life matters!
From the fetus to the feline.
We are one -
connected by our mere existence.
We will either stand united,
helping one another;
or we will fall short separated,
labeling one another.

Determination

Where there's a will . . .
there's a way.


Get in a mind set of completion;
of victory;
of the impossibility of failure.


If I can do it . . .
anyone can!

Ch-Angels Everywhere

When there is a specific Ch-Angel to take note of,
I will inform you.
Today, though, I want you to be conscious of ALL
the Ch-Angels EVERYWHERE!


Those folks whose smile brightens your day.
Those whose kind word brings you joy.
Those whose happy heart lightens your mood.
Those whose hug might fix your woes - if only momentarily.
Those whose ear is always listening;
Whose shoulder is always sturdy;
Whose light is always shining.


THOSE Ch-Angels.
I love those Ch-Angels.


They are everywhere!