2021

2021 was supposed to be better.
Better than what?

I guess it was better than 2020,

but ...

really?

However ...

perspective is everything ...

if you choose to look carefully,

there are beautiful things

that 2021 brought to us.

It taught us to slow down,

to reconnect - on a plethora of facets,

to pause and reflect,

to mourn loss with dignity,

to welcome new love and new life,

to try to things,

to tackle new tasks,

to not just be outside of our comfort zones,

but to actually be outside,

to enjoy one another,

to choose to see the good,

to chase the dreams,

to realize our potential and our worth.

There is still much work to do ...

to be kinder,

nicer,

gentler people.

Perhaps we will meet those goals

in 2022.

Be safe. Be well. Be happy. Be.

Happy New Year's Eve!

A little swed on you

A Swedish proverb caught my eye.
Thought I'd share:

Those

who wish to sing

always

find a song.

Pay Attention!

from Glennon Doyle Melton:

I understand now

that I'm not a mess

but a deeply feeling person

in a messy world.

I explain that now,

when someone asks me

why I cry so often,

I say,

"For the same reason

I laugh so often -

because

I'm paying attention."

Some Stanley

On this fine Tuesday morning,
I thought I'd offer up a little Stanley Kubrick for you.

However vast the darkness,

we must supply our own light.

Now read that again.

Then go be your own light

and in doing so,

shine for countless others, too.

One Day

I didn't write all of this.
I expounded on something I saw.

One day,

you will be

just a memory

for some people.

Do your best

to be a

good one.

Do your best

to be a

bright one.

Do your best

to be one

that brings smiles

and laughter

and lessons

and hope

and faith

and joy

and love.

Merry Christmas

To each

and every one

of you ...

Merry Christmas!

God bless

and be well.

Angels Among Us

Oh, I believe there are Angels Among Us.

So yesterday, I posted about finding the positives instead of accepting the negatives.

Here is yesterday's story.

God shared my shoulders with not one, not two, but three people yesterday morning.

I was their go-to vent and they let it all go.

I listened, talked, virtually hugged them, tried to lift them up,

and tried to be what they needed at that time.

I was thankful they chose me, but, truth be told ...

it was very draining.

I wouldn't want to change their choice, but my heart was heavy.

So, on about my daily chores.

I found myself at a second grocery store for a few items.

A very tiny, frail-ish older woman was standing behind me.

We were just two of many, many people in the store.

As I finally reached the belt and was able to put my few items on,

I turned to see she really had just a few small item; probably less than 20.

For whatever reason, I asked if I could help her put her items on the belt.

And that was that ...

she smiled a beautiful smile and told me that would be wonderful

as her sciatic was acting up and her husband was sick and couldn't come to the store.

She was wondering how she was going to manage.

I unloaded her buggy and she proceeded to tell me

she was thankful, at 85, to be out and about 

and she thought it was because God needed her to teach Sunday School each week,

that she was lucky to be around and able to do so much because her husband was so good to her.

She added that they ought to change the name from

"The Golden Years" to "The Tarnished Years".

I interrupted her, just the once, and said,

"Ma'm, you have no idea how well you shine. 

Thank you for being you and for being here."

She thanked me and wished me a blessed Christmas.

Sometimes ... Angels don't have wings ...

they are tiny and frail and push grocery carts.

Enjoy your days.

Oh My ... This

This, my dear,
is the biggest challenge
of being alive.

To witness
the injustice
of the world,
and not
allow it
to consume
our light.

Not sure who said it,

but dadgummit ...

it couldn't be more true!

Claude

Claude Monet said:

I would like to paint
the way a bird sings.

Now think ...

for just a minute ...

on how beautiful

that statement is.

It is not a tangible.

It is felt.

And to try to capture that

in another medium

for someone else

to feel ...

wow!

I would like to behave

in such a manner

that I alleviate

just a tiny bit

of whatever pains

life has caused you ...

if only passing you by

in a shopping mall.

Same dadgum thing.

Enjoy your day.

Ch-Angels

Hey there, Ch-Angels!
You know who you are.

Those childhood friends,

who still are friends.

The ones who stood by me,

always,

lifting my spirits 

and raising my hopes.

The young adult friends,

who still are friends.

The ones who stood by me,

always,

guiding my choices

and holding my hand.

The older adult friends,

who still are friends.

The ones who stand by me,

always,

cheering,

supporting,

loving,

caring,

listening,

hugging,

accepting.

Some are all three.

I am blessed

and so incredibly thankful

for you all ...

My Ch-Angels.

Worth

I do hope you enjoy another original ...


Worth
by Lyn Marinello

Scars and spots and wrinkles and grays
Are nothing more than a sign of the life in my days
The storms I have weathered and battles I've fought
These badges of honor bare what I've been taught
My beauty may have been outwardly altered
But I'm better for rising each time I have faltered
The lessons I've learned from each scab I've received
Bolsters my worth on which I've desperately cleaved
My skin may have sagged, my curves have evolved
Though my self-doubt has suffered, my soul's been absolved
My core has developed Herculean intent
Broadening horizons, life sans lament
Know that the mirror holds only reflection
See something of value and not of rejection
Time molds the body, but life holds the grit
Your worth can be found in what you permit

Bravery

This is a quote by Franklin P. Jones.
I do not know its reference point,
but boy, howdy, is this little sentence powerful.

Bravery

is being the only one

who knows you're afraid.

Baby Boy

You kids that get the blog get a sneak peek at this.
Enjoy!


Baby Boy
by Lyn Marinello

'Twas the week before Christmas and all through the land
Spirits seemed heavy, perhaps a bit bland
Confounded with wearing these dang covid masks
It hid all the smiles accompanying holiday tasks
The children were hoping that school would soon end
But sat rapt in algebra, or so they pretend
Dad in the car line; I'm checking on files
The Amazon driver just keeps leaving piles
When all of a sudden, a brief, fleeting thought,
Perhaps Christmas memories don't have to be bought
Away to the Publix I drove like a fool
I just had to beat those kids home from school
I grabbed us some popcorn and movies galore
Sorry, Checkers and Twister, we'd play on the floor
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But all kinds of baking stuff, the mission was clear
Behind an old driver, neither lively nor quick
I raced right around him, he shared a festive one-finger flick
I pulled in the drive, grabbed every bag, box and can
Rushed in the house and set forth my plan
Now honey! Now children! And even the hound!
They all looked right at me and made not a sound
From the top of the counter to the dining room table
They cleared it all off so we would be able
They popped all the popcorn but none of them fed
They grabbed needle and string and made garland instead
We played many games and laughed the whole while
And it struck me how gifted I am with each smile
Next day, we baked. Made cake, cookies and fudge
Friends called and texted, but not one kid budged
They stayed and requested making Christmas treat platters
They said, "It's not the receiving, but the giving that matters!"
So we all dressed up festive, holiday masks as we should
And delivered great cheer wherever we could
A carload of goodies, just trying to give back
Kind of like Santa, just opening his sack
Their eyes, how they twinkled! Their smiles, how merry!
"What do we do now?" was the children's next query
We pondered a moment and came up with a scheme
We couldn't do it alone, we'd have to work as a team
We went to the church and asked who was in need
We had our directive and we'd meet it indeed
There was a young family with quite a big brood
Both parents were jobless, in a destitute mood
We took a big wish list, shopped till we collapsed
Then took it all home, bagged it, boxed it and wrapped
Dad dressed in a suit, a right jolly old elf
Snuck all of those presents on their porch by himself
The parents peered out, just a silhouette of each head
And they hugged one another, they had nothing to dread
And as we lay down on that cold Christmas eve
We reveled in knowing that because we believe
In the real and true Christmas meaning and reason
Those children, and ours, would have a memorable season
Of laughter and kindness and of faith and of joy
Merry Christmas and thank you, sweet swaddled Baby Boy.

Energy

You give life
to what you
give energy to.

Choose wisely.

A little reminder ...

Hey you ...

Yes, you,
who is feeling down,
overwhelmed,
lost,

unloved,

unwelcome,

sad,

bitter,

and/or lonely.

Here's

a little reminder ...

You are incredible.

You make this world

a bit better by being in it.

You are so strong

and have so much potential.

You are beautiful

and bold

and brave

and blessed.

You are important

and integral

and loved.

Double Dose

These are two separate quotes I found,
but I kind of really like them together.
Sometimes,
in the connecting,
there is more to see and
more to reach.

Everyone we encounter

is a messenger.

and

Maybe

you are searching

among the branches

for what only appears

in the roots.

Glittering Eyes

A Roald Dahl quote:

And above all,
watch with glittering eyes

the whole world around you

because the greatest secrets

are always hidden

in the most unlikely places.

Those who don't believe in magic

will never find it.

Lines

Came across this tidbit yesterday.
Fell in love and thought I'd share.
Hope it reaches who it needs to ...

You can

waste your life

drawing lines

or

you can

live your life

crossing them.

The Difference

You and your attitude
are the difference

between an ordeal

and an adventure;

between a lesson

and a blessing;

between happy

and crappy;

between joyful acceptance

and tearful remorse;

between walking in faith

and stumbling in sight;

between positives

and negatives.

The difference

begins with you

and radiates outward.

Make a difference ...

for you

and others.

Remember This

The darkest nights
produce

the brightest stars.

When you see someone

without a smile,

give them

one of yours.

When you find a soul

that's in a rage,

sit and share

some of your peace.

When you see the opportunity

do the right thing.

In the dark,

be the bright.

Tired?

Tired?

Do you often feel tired?

It's not because

you've done too much,

but because

you've done too little

of what sparks a light

in you.

Reach Out

I did not write this.
I wish I had.
My brain is too tired to think right now and this seemed
like something some folks might need to hear.

Reach Out

to someone you know,

tell them how

they make your life better

and how

they are important to you.

It only takes a moment

to give new hope

to someone

that is trying to find light

in the darkness.

Yasssss!

By E. Russell:


Be Your Own Muse

Joy

When you choose joy,
you feel good
and

when you feel good,
you do good
and
when you do good
it reminds others

of what joy

feels like

and

it just might

inspire them

to do the same.

Self

There is much to be said
for the care of one's self.
You cannot pour
from an empty cup.

You will not find someone

who makes you happy

until you make you happy.

You speak to yourself

the most;

speak kindly.

You are braver

than you believe,

stronger

than you seem,

and smarter

than you think.

You have purpose

and worth.

Fall down seven times,

stand up eight.

You are beautiful.

Take care of you.

I love you.