S M I L E

Today is National Smile Day!
Every day may not be good,
but there is good in every day.
Find the good.
If you cannot find it . . .
be it.
Be the reason
someone else smiles.

Let it out!

Today is National Creativity Day.
Take a little time -
even if it's just on your lunch break -
and do something creative.

Write.
Sing.
Draw.
Take Pictures.
Plant.
Rhyme.
Dance.
Tell stories.
Play music.
Daydream.

Let it out!

A twist

We all know the serenity prayer:

God, grant me the serenity 
to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Saw this little twist and thought I'd share
(for those that might need it):

God, grant me the strength
to change the changeable,
accept the unchangeable,
and to remove myself
from the unacceptable.

Which one do you like?

Oh Boy!

So, first stop on our little vacation
was a quick overnight at my 'nother mother's' house.
She's known me since before I was me.
She's been a rock for me for a long time.
While at her home, she shared some photo albums
which were just an absolute delight.
We talked about my mom,
her departed husband,
and generally just shared the love.
I saw this quote, and she came to mind.
And, by all accounts, so did a great many other people
who are aching and hurting and lonely and sad
and missing folks.
Also thought that since it was just Memorial Day,
this may prove to be instrumental to my military friends.
I hope it helps.

Be the things
you loved most
about the people
who are gone.

Humble Memorial Day

A staunch young person of just 18
Stands with pride and gun in hand
A healthy heart beats patriotically
Eager to defend its land
Cloaked in red and white and blue
Steeped in honor; duty bound
In the air; upon the sea
Constant boots upon the ground
So much more than just a presence
Each intertwining piece is its own force
Defending life and liberty
The very core of freedom's source
Exposed to the unimaginable
Enduring battles we'll not comprehend
Often giving, literally, everything
Sacrificing til the end
All gave some; and some gave all
A heavy and weighted tag
For you and I and country
And that beautiful starred and striped flag.

Diet

Your brain and body
believe and function
on what you feed it.

Feed it faith.
Feed it truth.
Feed it love.

Every Opportunity

Tomorrow is promised
to no one.
So, take every opportunity
to chat with friends,
laugh,
take adventures,
learn,
explore,
help,
and share the love.
Every Opportunity.

R & R & R & R

Rest
Relax
Repair
Recharge

It is so very important,
not selfish,
to intermittently take care of
you.
You cannot pour from an empty vessel.
You cannot give when you're depleted.
Take a little bit
and do what makes your heart happy.
I will be semi-off grid for a bit.
Be back late next week.

In the mean time,
get some R & R & R & R,
be kind (to yourself and others),
and chase your dreams.

Til next time . . .

Endangered Species

Today is National Endangered Species Day.
Now, I'm not joking about those critters
that are endangered.
If you know me - you know I'm a HUGE critter person.
I'm kind of hoping to
save a different sort of endangered species:
the kind-hearted,
the gentlemen,
the ladies,
the polite,
the respectful,
the reverent,
the mindful,
the hopeful,
the prayerful,
the pleasant,
the moral,
the ethical,
the innocent,
the listener,
the conversationalist,
the human being.

Spark

Don't lose the spark
that makes you YOU!
You are necessary.
You are important.
You are vital.
You are worthy.
You are needed.
You are beautiful.
You are loved.
You are YOU!

Yay You

Please don't dwell upon faults,
don't wallow in self-pity,
don't wade in set-backs,
don't reside in hurt and pain.

Look instead
at tiny victories,
steps forward,
how far you've already come,
at lessons learned.

Yay You!!!

Why?

There are days,
weeks,
and sometimes months
where we ask ourselves
(or someone else)
"Why?"
Why so much trouble?
Why so many problems?
Why so much pain?
Why such isolation?
Why? Why? Why?
When . . .
the answer may simply be,
that the world is not here for you right now;
because YOU are here for someone else.

Success!!!

A fabulous quote by Bessie Anderson Stanley:

Read it all. I thought I knew the whole thing,
but . . . there's always more!

To laugh often and love much;
to win the respect of intelligent persons
and the affection of children;
to earn the approbation of honest citizens
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
to appreciate beauty;
to find the best in others;
to give of one's self;
to leave the world a bit better,
whether by a healthy child,
a garden planted or
a redeemed social condition;
to have played and laughed with enthusiasm
and sung with exultation;
to know that even one life has breathed easier
because you have lived ...
this is to have succeeded.

Moms

What a gift it is
to be a mom.
Whether it is biological,
adoptive,
stand-in,
step-up,
fur baby,
whatever.
It is a strength
that lives in your very core
that is so transparent
it sometimes hurts,
but is always rewarding.
It is worry and relief.
It is consoling and cheering.
It is setting boundaries
and pushing envelopes.
It is standing firm and giving in.
It is lecturing and listening.
It is waiting to catch
while watching them fly.
It is an extraordinary gift.
Enjoy. Every. Second.
Happy Mother's Day!

W.I.P.

For those that are unhappy,
bitter,
resentful,
angry,
about where they 'are' in life,
remember this:

YOU are a Work In Progress!

Each day should be based on growth,
education,
learning,
improving.

We are not sedentary creatures.
We are, most definitely, fluid.

Perhaps a Manual

So, one of the hardest lessons I learned as a new parent (nearly 30 years ago),
was this:

Do not be afraid to give a child a balloon because you know it could pop.

And the second hardest:

Just because they don't love you the way you want,
doesn't mean they don't love you with all they are.

You cannot hold back opportunities and passions.
If there are lessons to be learned, you hope they learn them - quickly.
And you are always the biggest cheerleader, no matter the dream they are chasing.
But whether your child is 5 or 95, you will always be a parent.
You will want to guide and protect and steer and suggest.
You always want what is best for your 'baby'.
You don't want to restrain them because you might have had a bad experience.
This is their time, their chance, their experience.
It still scares the crap out of you. And you just hold on and pray for positive things.
But that parenting, mentoring, guidance and love will never cease.

And the third hardest lesson I learned, and had to wait to learn:

Love your parents all the time as much as you can, because they are yours.
They will not be there forever and when that void opens - it just cannot be filled.

Ugh! Perhaps there really should be a manual.

Filter

Never be a prisoner
of your past.
It was just a lesson,
not a life sentence.
Filter and
take the next step.

The Grasp

The grasp of negativity
is foiled
when you choose to ignore its grip.
The grasp of hatred
loses its hold
when you choose to envelope and love.
The grasp of ignorance
is broken
when you educate yourself.
The grasp of belittling
is nonexistent
when you realize your worth.

Bits and Pieces

You fall, you rise,
you make mistakes,
you live, you learn.
You're human, not perfect.
Think of what a
precious privilege it is to be alive -
to breathe and chase your dreams.
The journey may not be smooth,
but there is always beauty.
Our stories are filled
with broken pieces,
terrible choices,
and ugly truths.
It is also marked
by comebacks,
peace in your soul,
and grace in your heart.
And faith.
Put the baggage of others down.
You were never meant
to carry it with you.

Blessed

Things may not be perfect,
but I am blessed.
There are body parts that always hurt,
but I can still work out.
I don't always sing on key,
but there's always a song in my heart.
I don't have the intertwined family I'd like,
but I'd be lost without any one of them.
I may not have the job of my dreams,
but I am very busy.
I may not have fat stacks all around me,
but I am wealthier than most.
I might not be rich and famous,
but I've got some super amazing friends.
I might not have a knight in shining armor,
but my warrior fights for me and mine.
I am blessed.
Amen.
I am blessed.

A Mantra for The Ages

Saw this and loved it!

Grow through
what you go through.

Can't express adamantly enough
how important this is.
What happens to you
does not define you.
How you react
to what happens to you
speaks volumes.
Some folks just want power.
Some folks just like gossip.
Some folks just don't care.
Learn the lesson
and move on.

What will you be looking for?

My name is Lyn
and I have an addiction to Angels.
I have heard a great many folks
share what they believe to be
'visits' from those gone too soon.
Cardinals.
Feathers.
Dragonflies.
Certain numbers.
Light.
Cloud (cloud shapes).
Pennies (heads up).
Rainbows.
Fragrances.
Butterflies.
Hummingbirds.
And on and on.
And since hearing those stories,
I tend to see a great number of those things.
My point is this:
You'll see what you want to see.
If you choose to see the good and the beautiful
and the Angelic blessings that abound around you,
that is what you'll see.
If you choose to see darkness and ugly . . .
The choice is yours.
What will you be looking for?

Be

Be positive.
Be hopeful.
Be faith-filled.
Be prayerful.
Be kind.
Be patient.
Be compassionate.
Be loving.
Be whatever you want,
but be those things
FIRST!