Bound

We are all bound to one another.
Whether family by blood
or through happenstance and bonding
or circumstance and passion.
The acceptance of one another
should be simple.
Instead,
we have muddied the waters;
blurred inclusion and acceptance;
laid expectations and stipulations.
Can we not just be?
Can we not just be together?
Bound (this bound) does not mean tied up.
It means tethered to -
regardless of a great many differences.
We are one.
We are bound.

The Sun Will Rise

Does your world seem dark?
A little gloomy or foggy?
Troubles darkening your doorstep?
Rain clouds following you?
Life's waters muddied?
Do not worry.
Do not stress.
Rest easy.
Rest assured.
The Sun Will Rise.














see what I did there?  :-)

Learning

Found this quote
and thought I'd share . . .
for myself
and for others
who may need to hear it today.

I am learning
to love the sound
of my feet
walking away
from things
not meant for me.

It is an incredibly empowering stroll!

Thankful

I am thankful
for another morning;
for family and friends;
for (mostly) health;
for laughter;
for beauty;
for connecting;
for listening and learning;
for grit and perseverance;
for love;
for hope;

for faith.

I am thankful.

Here's Your Sign

Often times,
if you are a person of faith,
there are moments
that you realize are bliss bombs
from The Man Upstairs.
Little hints and cues
to help us, guide us, keep us.
Sometimes, though,
as we ask 'for a sign'
He really knows we're being difficult
and answers quite literally.
This past weekend,
in the mountains of north Georgia,
I 'saw a sign'!
:-)
I thought I'd share . . .

You cannot stumble
from your knees.

Words

It does not take a lot of effort to speak.
It takes less effort to speak kindly.
It causes more emotion and elation
than you will ever know.

I received quite a few birthday cards.
Thank you one and all.
One of them had a little handwritten note.
It said . . . simply . . .

Do you know what a difference you make
every day?

Now this pal has had some serious impact on our lives.
She has walked us through some incredibly rough patches.
She has brightened dark days.
She has lifted my kids up more times than I can count.
She has lifted me up even more than that.
She's just a Ch-Angel beyond description.
And she says that I make a difference?
What a beautiful gift that card is.
Keeps making me cry.
Thank you.

The point?
What you say matters.
What you do matters.
You have no idea how or who you may impact.
Words matter. Use them for good.

Great Find

I did not write this.
I wish I did.
I am, however,
completely smitten with it:


May you have
Heaven in your heart;
Starlight in your soul;
and
Angels all around you.

Yes, please.

THIS!

I'm a big advocate of KISS
(Keep It Simple Stupid).

Short and poignant quips
that dive straight to the heart
and deliver something great.

Are you ready???

One chance
is all you need.

Not months of strategizing.
Not years of well planned efforts.
Sometimes . . .
just a simple leap of faith . . .

Be An Angel

Today is Be An Angel Day!

Take a moment today,
to move beyond yourself,
outside your comfort zone,
and do something fabulous
for someone who cannot thank you
without a chance or expectation
of being rewarded.

Be An Angel!

"Frankly"

This is a quote by Anne Frank.
It is brief.
It is purposeful.
It is fantastic!

How wonderful it is
that nobody need wait
a single moment
before starting
to improve the world.

Broken

No matter what you see
when you look in the mirror,
I see someone of value;
someone of worth;
someone integral;
someone important;
someone I love.

There are times when each of us
feels used,
unworthy;
abandoned;
disconnected;
broken.

But broken crayons still color.

Good Happens

I hope no one takes offense to this.
Actually . . . I don't care!

Recently, a high school chum had come upon some hard times.
This person is going through work issues, health issues, and
quite possibly, depression issues.
A dynamic duo decided to do something about it.
They organized a secret on-line page and shared this hardship.
Folks were encouraged to help an old friend out.
There was ZERO political debate.
There was ZERO religious nonsense.
There was ZERO monetary expectation.
There was ZERO personal static.
We each took whatever time was available,
whatever resources were available,
whatever talents were available,
whatever love we could squish in a package,
and tried to lift the spirits of someone
who needed a little lifting.
It worked!

When we put aside the white noise
that seems to be filling our lives these days;
when we forget to 'pick a side' or 'point a finger';
when we realize we can actually make a difference,
good happens.

Good Morning

What a fabulous day
to have a fabulous day!
It's a little foggy here,
the sun has not yet peeked through,
a smidge damp out,
and I didn't sleep too well.

But!

A good morning
is not made by your surroundings.
A good morning
is made by opening your eyes.

Make this day magnificent.
Make today a beautiful bouquet of hours.
Fill it with laughter and memories.
It is what you make it.
Make it a

Good Morning!

Lesson #4307

So I sometimes write about
hard life lessons.
Things I have to teach and reteach myself
over and over.
Hoping that someone else
might benefit by my sharing.
I'm definitely getting better at this one.
Walking away from the drama and static
is getting easier and easier.
Realizing who and what depletes me
is a grand step.
Removing them . . . harder but essential.

Forget about what has hurt you, but
NEVER
forget what it has taught you.

Fortitude and tenacity
were traits I never knew I had
until I needed to have them.
I wish no one harm,
but I deserve my own happiness.

As do you . . .

Relaaaaax!

Today is National Relaxation Day.
Good thing it wasn't yesterday.
I would have really messed up.

Sometimes,
and every now and then,
you just need to chill and out
and do a whole lot of nothing.
Watch the birds.
Sit in the sand.
Wait for critters.
Enjoy the air.
Embrace the quiet.
Relaaaaax!

Today's a good day
to do just that.

Live!

So I absolutely stole this
from a Ch-Angel's Facebook.
Thank you KK.

You can lie down
for people to walk on you
and they will still complain
that you're not flat enough.

You are in charge of you.
Do not permit other's perceptions
dictate who you become.
What you allow
becomes the norm.

You are a miracle.
You are a blessing.
You are extraordinary.

Excel.

Thrive.

Achieve.

Live the life
that you were destined to live.
Live Out Loud!
Live!

Tears

Tears are NOT a sign of weakness.
Tears are NOT a tale of defeat.

Tears come
to cleanse,
to grieve,
to release,
to speak wordlessly,
to care,
to pray,
to envelope,
to clear our vision,
to make way
for smiles.

Fear not the tears.
As with any storm,
the rainbow after
is always extraordinary.

Sons and Daughters

In celebrating National Sons and Daughters Day,
I am terribly blessed with the gifts I have been given.
My children are Ch-Angels!
As an only daughter,
to a mother who had six sons,
I was blessed to be among them.
Whether you have them or are one . . .
enjoy it all.
Hold tight.
Embrace the exceptional gift
that is given to you.

Step Back

Sometimes
life seems a little like
having some wine,
putting on a straightjacket,
and a blind fold, and then
trying to spar with Conor McGregor.
It's a little messy.

But,
we've got to learn to step back . . .
to see a broader view
instead of the tiny hole
that we've seemed to stick ourselves in.
We have to realize our value.
We have to understand
how very important we each are.
We have to comprehend
just how many lives we've touched
and that every single one of those lives
is better for you having touched them.

Step Back.
See how special you are.
See how integral you are.
See how loved you are.

Think! Think! Think!

With the new Christopher Robin movie coming out,
I'm brought back to childhood days
with one of my favorites . . . Winnie the Pooh.

(Few know this, but I was 'Lynnie the Pooh' which
then became 'Pooh' which then became 'Pooker'.
You're welcome for the history lesson!)

I adored when he would sit on a log,
bopping his little head
with his meaty little paw
saying,
"Think! Think! Think!"

Where is Pooh now?

Happiness Happens

Today is National Happiness Happens Day!

Go forth.

Be Happy.
Do Happy.
Make Happy.

Happiness Happens
and it begins with
YOU!

Be

Be polite.
Be nice.
Be genuine.
Be helpful.
Be silly.
Be sincere.
Be hopeful.
Be kind.
Be supportive.
Be happy.
Be bold.
Be brave.
Be gracious.
Be grateful.
Be beautiful.
Be loving.
Be caring.
Be tenacious.
Be spontaneous.
Be lieve.
Be you.
Be.

Enjoy. Every. Second.

When we are young,
we cannot wait to have freedom.
As we enter early adulthood,
we are grasping at opportunities.
As parents,
we prepare our kids to thrive on their own
and never really want them to leave.
As our forties and fifties approach,
we are yearning for youth.
As parents pass away,
we seek to savor memories.

We wish for time to hurry up,
then pray that time would just slow down.

If you wake up, be thankful.
Bask in the sunshine.
Absorb the scenery.
Envelop friends.
Embrace family.
Breathe deep.

Enjoy. Every. Second.

Facade

A little something
I've been toying with . . .

You do not know
your neighbor's woes
Not every wound
is one that shows
Their smile is
a false façade
That cloaks the weight
with which they plod.

Should I leave it,
or pursue it?
What say you . . .

Grateful

I have been sick.
I have been very healthy.
I have been poor.
I have been very comfortable.
I have been devastated.
I have been euphoric.
I have been angry.
I have been just giddy.
I have been judged.
I have been vindicated.
I have been anxious.
I have been unencumbered.
I have been betrayed.
I have been amazingly supported.
I have been lost.
I have been beautifully found.

I am grateful
for every single second.
It is all a gift.

Hey! Listen Up!

Everything is beautiful
in it's own way
like a starry summer night
on a snow covered winter's day
and everybody's beautiful
in their own way
under God's Heaven
the world's gonna find the way

You're welcome.
Continue singing . . .

and Being Beautiful!

Cowboys . . .

I happened upon a cooking show last night
that pitted four grill masters against one another.
They were from all over the place.
One was a cowboy - a real, literal cowboy.
I have learned that these are seriously
humble, respectful, genuine, gracious folk.
This cowboy was in the finale, but lost.
His closing statement:

A man is only as strong
as the woman who holds him.
I am very strong.

Wow!
Just wow!
On a dadgum cooking show . . .