Ch-Angels

I am surrounded
by Ch-Angels;
those folks who show up
when I need them most,
whether friends, family,
or strangers.

With faith

they find you,

with an email,

a meme,

a text, card, call,

or gesture.

Sometimes,

it is overwhelming.

Sometimes,

you smile at the sweet simplicity,

and know it was

something grander.

Enjoy your Ch-Angels.

They are there.

Thrive

You've no doubt heard
"bloom where you are planted".
But this is more than that.
when flowers fight through sidewalk cracks;

when one species mothers another;

when the sun separates the clouds;

it is more than simply 'blooming';

it is thriving.

And so it is with you.

You will be hurt,

you will be betrayed,

you will face obstacles,

you will be challenged,

you will be knocked down.

Do not let that define you.

Do not just 'bloom'

but thrive

in that adversity!

Become all the things,

be all the titles.

Allow the world 

to see you thrive!

Thrive in spite of it all!!!

Gentle

Regarding a great many things

to include:

goals
faith
understanding
pain
patience
recovery
talents;
it takes as long
as it takes.

Be gentle
with yourself.

Obstacles

On this journey
we call life,
whether brief
or extended,

whatever challenges

we face,
often times
the biggest obstacle
in our way

is our self.

Sharing

Sharing is a beautiful gift.
But ...

it is NOT just about the tangible.
Sure it's nice to literally give
the shirt off your back,
your last little penny,
the food from your table.
But ...

if you think those things

make such a positive impact,

imagine what a smile can do;

listening,

support,

compassion,

time,

kindness,

understanding,

love.

YOU - as an individual

are a much grander gift

that you will ever realize.

Demons

Do not just simply slay your demons;
dissect them.

Find what they've been feeding on,

and please amend

the food source.

Filter

If there's a bully on the playground,
gather your strength and chase him off.
Then, enjoy the playground,
don't chase the bully to do more harm
because you've then become the bully.

Life is all about choices.

YOUR choices.

Don't blame, point fingers, manipulate.

Take ownership of yourself.

You're an incredible creation

capable of extraordinary achievements.

Your limitations are your own.

Your passions are your own.

Being well read doesn't make you smarter.

Being well tread doesn't make you tougher.

You learn from lessons.

You grow from trials.

You find new talents, explore new paths,

and all the while

you filter.

Breathe in the beauty and the good.

Exhale the ugly and the hate.

Be an unexpectant, unconditional,

radically happy and loving human.

NOT

LOVE this:

The world

is changed
by your example,
not

your opinion.

60!

60!

by Lyn Marinello

Thirty some odd years ago
in a Steak and Ale parking lot
a very young girl in a denim dress
interviewed for a hostess's spot.

A very Italian manager

stumbled rapidly her way

they met and chatted quickly

and she got the job that day.

Who knew at that moment

those paths would grow so intertwined

that the God above and all His stars

were so perfectly aligned?

A New York gal in Atlanta

met a Miami city gent

who'dathunk right then and there

their meeting was divinely meant?

Making out in the 20's room

beer taps running all night

number 12 in PCB

the laughter at Hallowscream's fright.

Proposal at Scalini's

wed in sweet little Rosendale

honeymooned in St. Thomas

together just never gets stale.

Moving all over creation

babies to add to the fun

a beautiful calm - Deanna

a Miles, the merciful son.

Happy Happy 60th

here's to sixty more

wished the young girl from NY

to the gent from Florida's shore.

Victory

Enjoy the victory,
but celebrate with humility and grace.
Be that winner
that we want to emulate.
Lead from behind and beside,
not from out front or above.

The gloating winner

is just a sore loser in glorified defeat.

And after the triumph,

you are just another runner

looking for another race.

Enjoy the accomplishment,

but don't dwell too long

in your comfort zone.

A fine line

Not sure where this quote came from,
... and I apologize for the profanity ...
but, come on!

This is so me!

There's this fine line

between gentle and bad ass,

goddess and warrior,

good witch and bitch,

empathy and boundaries,

madness and creative magic.

I personally like to use that line

as a jump rope.

It keeps life interesting.

Yes, please

From good ol' Benny:


I will speak ill of no man,
and speak all the good I know
of everyone.

~ Benjamin Franklin

So, basically,

if you have nothing nice to say ...

And, basically,

you can find some good in every person.

Listen!

Listen!
Not to the tv. Please turn that dadgum thing off!
Not to the ranters. Turn down their volume.
Not to the noise. It is meant to sway you.

Listen

to the birds,

to the water,

to the wind,

to the trees,

to the crickets,

to your intuition,

to your gut,

to your faith,

to your heart,

to the quiet.

Within the quiet

dwells a great many answers.

K.I.S.S.

Kindness
Changes
Everything!

Signs

Signs
by Lyn Marinello

From the bloated underbelly of a gray and gloomy day
Golden fingers of the hand of God break through to stroke the bay
And once the storm has raged leaving nothing safe or dry
God paints an arched rainbow across the great expanse of sky
When emotions reach their peak; with no stable ground on which to stand
The most delicate of feathers drifts from the heavens to the land
And when the snow's deep blanket seems to smother the hope of spring
The holly bush's boughs are graced with the cardinal's brilliant wing
And sometimes in the springtime in the fresh and bright blue skies
The pains from which you're suffering are lost in flitting butterflies
Those days when all goes sideways; emotions and nerves are spent
In God We Trust indulges our path in tiny Heavenly sent cents
Or when the tears are flowing as your world just falls apart
The perfect song begins to play and the lyrics grab your heart
The heat of a sweltering summer; oppressive, heavy and cruel
Is met with the lightest of breezes; comforting, relaxing and cool
We were never promised we would be spared from what maligns

But always assured we're not alone if we're aware of God's simple signs

Today

Use the good china.
Take the road trip.
Call your friend.

Hug your kids.

Do that thing.
Be present.

Smile.

Laugh.

Learn.

Love.
Today ...
is really all we have.

Framily

If in life you are gifted
with 'Framily'
then you are truly blessed.

Framily are those people

who are such close friends

they feel more like family

and, sometimes,

more like family than family.

I've been blessed

with a multitude of Framily.

Beautiful souls

who step in and step up,

stand firm and stand strong,

support and enlighten,

shoot straight and goof off,

visit and chat or sit in blissful silence.

One of those special Framily members

has a birthday today.

Please know how special you are,

how dear you are,

how close to my heart you dwell,

and how much you are loved.

Thank you to all my 'Framily'

and today, for a very, very special one,

Happy Happy Birthday!

Something Greater

From Steve Maraboli


I will be generous
with my love today.
I will sprinkle compliments
and uplifting words
everywhere I go.
I will do this knowing
that my words are like seeds
and when they fall
on fertile soil,
a reflection of those seeds
will grow into
something greater.

Blessed

Today I celebrate
the arrival of my son
for the 28th time!

Nothing has been mundane,

not much has been simple,

some days gut-wrenching,

some days nerve-racking,

some days joy overflowing,

some days tears never-ending,

some days non-stop laughter,

some days powerfully proud,

some days in awe,

some days in question,

but 

always, always, always

in blessed love and amazement.

Happy Birthday, Miles!

Choose Love

Choose love
in everything you do.
Choose love

in everything you say.

Choose love

in all the ways you act.

Choose love

in all the ways you speak.

Choose love

to educate.

Choose love

to understand.

Choose love

to live.

Choose love.

Aha!

 A little morning chuckle ...

Sometimes in life
it's important to know

when to stop

arguing with people

and just

let them be wrong.

Aha!

A little morning chuckle ...


Sometimes in life
it's important to know

when to stop

arguing with people

and just

let them be wrong.

My purpose

I can only speak for myself,
(an item far too many folks can't quite grasp),
but I am truly at my best
when I am doing stuff

for other people.

My soul sings

when a good deed arises.

My heart smiles

when I can help.

My life has purpose

when I can impact others.

My purpose is fulfilled

when you are happy.

No bells. No whistles.

No headlines. No spotlights.

Just the knowledge

that I have managed

to somehow make

your day better.

Giving

Giving

is a universal opportunity.
Regardless of your age, profession,
religion, income, or background,
you have the capacity
to create positive change.
~ Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen

Two things jump out at me:

Giving is an OPPORTUNITY

and

you ... capacity ... create positive change.

(I stuck 'positive' in there.

Made more sense to me.)

One Last Lullaby

Meet me at the garden's gate where we can reminisce
where I might hear your voice again, those dulcet tones emit such bliss.

Find me at the salty sea it's such a pretty, peaceful place

my swimming stroke has lost its strength, please buoy me with your grace.

Let's congregate at the mountain's top, a vista void of just detail

where memories are so alive though my heart is tired and frail.

Let me touch your feathered wing so soft and fleecy white

remind me you dwell within my core though you're sometimes out of sight.

Wrap me in your loving arms, an embrace I cannot feel

yet there is such a welcome warmth, it's indescribably surreal.

And from your world of opulence shed a beam of light on me

for on the sunniest of summer days I find it's still too dark to see.

Drape me in the silkiness of your pure Angelic garb

though the daily walk without you is a heavy, hurtful barb.

Seek me at the gates of pearl if only in my dreams

hold me in my slumber, squelch my tears and fevered screams

Sing me one last lullaby, rock me gently near your soul

and when I wake to a new day's sun,til we meet again, I might be whole.