Roar Leo

A quote from Leo Buscaglia:

Too often we underestimate
the power of a touch,

a smile,

a kind word,

a listening ear,

an honest compliment,

or the smallest act

of caring,

all of which

have the potential

to turn a life around.

Roar, Leo. Roar!

Beautiful Destinations

Some difficult paths
cannot be found
without first getting lost
and then
through the brambles,

over the impasses,

under the tangled mass,
we stumble upon
beautiful destinations.

Thoughtful

Today is
National Thoughtful Day!

Thoughtful:

defined as being

considerate of others.

To move beyond yourself.

To give without expectation.

To share without hesitation.

To listen without interrupting.

To care without ceasing.

To love without exception.

It does not require

grand or overwhelming gestures.

A simple smile,

compliment,

bit of assistance,

show of kindness.

We are all capable

and able

to be thoughtful.

Today

and every day.

Two Things

Love this
and believe it
wholeheartedly.

Two things define us:

Our patience

when we have nothing,

and

our attitude

when we have everything.

As I sit and let that sink in,

it is not just the peaks and valleys

that create the beautiful journey

of this thing called life.

It is in what you do with them.

It is in how you share them.

It is in how you preserve them.

It is in how you protect them.

It is in how you respond to them.

Just two things.

Patience and Attitude.

In every peak and every valley.

In every little thing.

Women's Equality Day

So today is Women's Equality Day.
Hmmm.
My most favorite quote on this topic
is the following

by Sir William Gerald Golding:

I think women are foolish

to pretend 

they are equal to men.

They are

far superior

and always have been.

You're welcome

and have a nice day.

Why?

Why fit in
when you were made
to stand out?

Why be equal

when you were created

to do superior things?

Why contemplate

if it's half full or half empty?

You have a glass!

Why hide

when you are clearly

meant to be seen?

Why fade

when you are

destined to shine?

You were created

to be your most

extraordinary self;

unique,

spectacular,

inspiring,

purposeful.

Why be 

anything else?

Light

See the light in others
and treat them
as if that is
ALL
you see.

You Are

You Are
somebody's reason
to smile;
to rise;
to conquer;
to take the next step;
to speak up;
to stand up;

to try again;

to listen;

to learn;

to thrive;

to love;

to live.

You Are

THAT important.

Parts

Use your voice
for kindness;
your ears

for compassion;

your eyes

for seeing good;

your hands

for charity;

your mind

for truth;

your heart

for love.

Use all your parts

and use them wisely.

My Ch-Angels

I have a great many inspiring friends,
Ch-Angels, even,
who thrive in the face of
torturous adversity;
who give selflessly
in the void of life's hand;
who offer guidance and solace
in the midst of their chaos;
who love unconditionally
in this world full of hate.

It is in those hearts,

those souls,

those lives,

those people,

in which I connect

and dwell

and flourish.

Hate begets hate.

Anger makes it worse.

Bullying is just self-loathing.

I will stick

with my Ch-Angels.

They make it better.

I thank you.

I love you.

Girls

For a few of my friends,
you know who you are,
(to include my daughter
and hopefully future DIL),
this is FANTASTIC!

Not all girls

are made of

sugar and spice

and everything nice.

Some girls

are made of

adventure,

dark chocolate,

intelligence,

wine/beer,

cuss words,

and courage.

Beautiful Paths

Some
beautiful paths
cannot be discovered
without first
getting lost.

Burn Bright

Not sure who said it, but ...


Do not

put our your fire

because

someone else

does not

understand

your flame.

Burn on!

Burn bright!

Go a Little Wilde

To love oneself
is the beginning
of a
life-long romance.

~ Oscar Wilde

Be and Do

There will always be obstacles, go anyway.
There will always be hate, love anyway.
There will always be negativity, be positive anyway.
There will always be anger, be peaceful anyway.
There will always be ugly, be beautiful anyway.
There will always be darkness, shine anyway.
Be and do all the things that you,
in all of your uniqueness,
were created to be and do.

Legacy

Legacy
by Lyn Marinello

You can't discern your value
By the years within your life
By your accolades and trophies
By the absence of any strife

Did you try to help your neighbor?
Do you best to just inspire?
Did you give when you were able?
Were you someone you'd admire?

Were you kind to every stranger?
Amongst abused, did you defend?
Did you seek out silver linings?
Would you want to be your friend?

Did you look to right the wrongs?
Make improprieties well known?
Would you want to reap the harvest
of the seeds that you have sown?

Was your door an open passageway?
Your arms welcome to receive?
Did you lift your fellow beings
with the faith that you believe?

Were you always at the ready
to resurrect what may be crushed?
Did your keep your word as promised?
Were you someone that you'd trust?

Did you listen without judgement?
Find ways to constantly connect?
Commit to random acts of kindness?
Were you someone you'd respect?

You're not measured by your wealth
Nor the length of your careers
Rather, legacies are built
By the life within your years.

Kwitchyerbellyakin

So, in my house,
there was this needlepointed sign:

KWITCHYERBELLYAKIN

It hung in our kitchen for a very long time.

It was a source of great entertainment,

many discussions,

fantastic phonetics,

and much laughter.

It also was the answer to a lot of whining.

With seven kids,

two adults,

a revolving door of friends, family,

and folks who lived with us ...

there was always whining.

Someone always had some chaos.

Someone was always in a mess.

And there would be chatter,

there would be listening,

there would be guidance,

there would be support,

there would be love,

and ...

eventually,

KWITCHYERBELLYAKIN

and next!

I wonder where that sign is now.

A Love Like That

And still,
after all this time
the sun never says
to the earth,
'You owe me.'

Look what happens
with a love like that.
It lights the whole sky.

~ Hafiz

Blessed

Blessed are those
that see beautiful things
in humble places,

where other people

see nothing ...

Remnants

Remnants
by Lyn Marinello

Handwritten letters in aged envelopes
Tattered lift passes from wintery slopes
Polaroid photos, a dried prom corsage
A mix tape of music, conjures such a mirage
Fragile collectibles inscribed with delicate words
Menus from restaurants, paper origami birds
Dainty flower petals crushed flat forever more
Trophies and medallions holding victories of lore
Matchbooks from weddings, a garter caught upon display
A yearbook full of signatures and well wishes sent your way
Hospital bands from childbirth. Announcements from the same
A pair of tickets that you kept from his very first football game
The first soft lock of hair and the initial lost tiny tooth
The patching of a broken heart when crushed by less than truth
Learning how to bait a hook, taking off the training wheels
Gentle nuances of make-up; how to walk in those high heels
Starting with the doggie-paddle, graduate to learning dives
A first job, paychecks, shopping, taking charge of their own lives
Guiding when to take charge and when to let things go
When to teach a lesson and when to let it make you grow
Gatherings at Thanksgiving. Christmas rituals take root
The proper grip on golf clubs, how to load a gun and shoot
The sad realization that life's not absolute
A folded flag at graveside after a 21-gun salute
Anniversary pictures of family now passed
These pieces of life allow your memories to last
We bid farewell to those who've shaped us in so many ways
We mourn the loss, yet hang on tight, to shared years and months and days
A glossary of memories we keep tucked away internal
Fragments we hold onto offer comfort deep, eternal
The good, the bad, all intertwined; a dance that is collaborative
The heart of who we truly are. Remnants of a life well lived.

Learning

I am learning

to listen.

When 'that little voice'

speaks to me,

I pay attention.

Most times,

it is to write.

To take some phrase,

a quote,

some lyrics,

or a single word,

and make a message.

Whether a gift

or a call to action,

or both,

it works best

when I stop

whatever it is

that I am doing,

and take heed.

There is a gift 

on its way.

From a single word

spoken during a sermon

by my preacher brother.

Hope it hits its mark.

Keep an eye out for ...

Remnants

What do you see?

So,
in an attempt,
to be your
'good morning', 'good day' person,
I look for the good.
I am not -

I repeat NOT -

constantly positive.

I feel anger and hurt,

bitterness and betrayal,

loss and pain and sorrow.

But ...

dwelling in those places

for too long,

does no one any good.

And so I look for happy,

I search for kind,

I seek out love,

I hunt for silver linings,

I chase positive,

I pursue light.

And in searching for those things,

in my day and within others,

I dig myself out of the mire,

and am better prepared,

to do the same for others.

What do you see?

FGL

Live by
Faith

Grow in
Grace

Walk in
Love

The Earth

Another short one,
but ... oh. so. fantastic!

The earth

has music

for those

who choose

to listen.

Time for a Ch-Angel

A few, actually.

It's been a hot minute
since I posted about a specific Ch-Angel.
It'll be another minute, too.

This Ch-Angel shout out is for my brothers.

I was blessed with SIX - four by blood, two steps

and we'll throw in a couple others who have more than made the cut.

Callie, Billy, Danny, Jimmy, Skipper, Skeeter!!!

One has actually already earned his wings.

These folks - basically all with the same upbringing -

are each completely unique and different.

Calculating, Hustling, Creative, Brave, Winged, Giving.

Billy and Donald - my brothers from another mother -

have just always been a grand foundation for me.

They never treat me 'like a girl', 

rather just like one of the gang (and we could be).

They challenge me, support me, test me, request me,

listen to me, help me, and love me.

It is a gift and a privilege to have such an option

of ears and shoulders and hands and hearts.

I am truly blessed.

Thank you Ch-Angels.

Marbles

I will not take credit for this.

I saw it yesterday,

and found it very silly

and fairly true.

I hope it lifts your spirits

and brings a smile to your face.

I may not have lost

all my marbles yet,

but there is definitely

a small hole 

in the bag somewhere.

Have a nice day.