What makes people attractive? Hmmm. I think that it changes as time marches ceaselessly forward.
When I was in high school, it was about the perfect "Farrah" hair and the Sweet Orr's or Jordache jeans. It was about hanging with the "in" crowd and performing well in sports. Then it became the flaunting of the ever-fleeting 36-24-36, which has since been much more fleeting! Then it was the going out and seeing how much you could do with the funds you earned.
As I moved from my home state of New York to Georgia, it became more of finding a way to survive and then surviving in as healthy a manner as possible. When I locked lives with my future hubby, it was a matter of 'ensnaring' him in my wily ways. Once that was done, then the 'attractiveness' seemed to shift to my children. It was more about being a good mom and not so much about how people might perceive me. There really was no time to tread in the attractive pool as it was more important to dive into cleaning up after, nurturing, and teaching your kids.
And now, as my children are all growed up, I find that attractiveness has turned itself literally inside out. I no longer seek the disingenuous support of the approval of my physical attributes from others. I may not always like the way my body appears to others, but I take great pride in the attractiveness of my actions, my pursuits, and my endeavors. My efforts, and the sincerity of them, far outweigh the extra curves I might carry along with me. Attractiveness, it seems, blooms from the inside out and the greater the beauty of the soul, the more tremendous the fragrance and brilliance of the flower that is shared.
I sure wish I didn't have to go through so many steps to have wound up here, but it is the journey that tills the earth; the tears that water the bulb; and the obstacles of life that builds the stamina of the roots of those beautiful souls. Know, today, that you are attractive! Not because of your curves, or your hair, or your perfect bone structure. It is because of what lies within you! Cultivate it well!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
Beautiful minority!
Today we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. Quite a human being and a transformer of many things. His quotes are numerous . . . some much more famous and well-known than others. In his honor, I will pick one that hits home for me, and actually a tremendous amount of the people that I mingle with. I am drawn to creative types; whether in craft or in spirit!
Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better.
I think, immediately of my mother who is probably the most creative person I've ever known. My brothers are all very creative and mostly in the construction arena, although a few have dabbled in other arts. My husband who is sometimes stifled by too much work, will intermittently and honestly shock me with his brilliance. My children amaze me with their outside-the-box thinking and varying forms of creativity in writing, photography, and vision and more. Keith, Winnie, Joyce, Tony, Ann, Bill, Joel, Ali, Dayna, Danny, Barbara, Dawn, Analisa, Dianne, Carol, Kathy, Norma, and so very many more of my friends whose brains are not confined by the limitations of what lies directly ahead of them. Instead, they choose to make the world a better place by 'decorating' it with their own special touch. It's a beautiful thing and I am thrilled to be affiliated with all of these 'creative minority' types.
Thank you for the beauty that you add to this earth!
Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better.
I think, immediately of my mother who is probably the most creative person I've ever known. My brothers are all very creative and mostly in the construction arena, although a few have dabbled in other arts. My husband who is sometimes stifled by too much work, will intermittently and honestly shock me with his brilliance. My children amaze me with their outside-the-box thinking and varying forms of creativity in writing, photography, and vision and more. Keith, Winnie, Joyce, Tony, Ann, Bill, Joel, Ali, Dayna, Danny, Barbara, Dawn, Analisa, Dianne, Carol, Kathy, Norma, and so very many more of my friends whose brains are not confined by the limitations of what lies directly ahead of them. Instead, they choose to make the world a better place by 'decorating' it with their own special touch. It's a beautiful thing and I am thrilled to be affiliated with all of these 'creative minority' types.
Thank you for the beauty that you add to this earth!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Hug someone
Communication . . .
That is kind of a broad subject these days. It used to be walking across the street to actually, physically stand by your neighbor and converse with them. Then it involved putting pen to paper and placing your thoughts in a tangible form for someone else to receive. The phone then offered an additional option allowing us to reach across the miles to share our love, good news, and chatter. Then came the internet and texting, myspace, tweeting, facebook, monster, linkedin, youtube, and a zillion other digital distance-closers.
These things, one by one, kind of took the place of actually, physically walking across the street to converse with your neighbor. The interactions between people became less interactive and more computer-ese. Heck, folks don't even write real English any more. I'm not sure some of them know what real English is!
It's not all bad, though. I can easily converse with nieces, nephews, and family that live far away. We can share photos and update each other as frequently as we choose. Prayer chains for problems are almost instantly global instead of sequestered to a small room in a single church. Wrong-doing is viral before the bruises begin to discolor. Sometimes it is good.
Honestly, though, there is nothing better than a hug. It's the best communication out there. It holds. It heals. It helps. It supports. It strengthens. It solidifies. It carries within it the implications of love, affection, concern, friendship, fellowship, family, faith, and fortunes untold. A single hug can truly chase away heartache and hurt. It can relieve the day's stress and heighten the day's jubilance. It is as versatile as the air we breathe! It is beautiful!
Today . . . whether you converse with your neighbor, call a friend, skype your brother, tweet your troubles away . . . take a moment and share yourself. HUG someone!
That is kind of a broad subject these days. It used to be walking across the street to actually, physically stand by your neighbor and converse with them. Then it involved putting pen to paper and placing your thoughts in a tangible form for someone else to receive. The phone then offered an additional option allowing us to reach across the miles to share our love, good news, and chatter. Then came the internet and texting, myspace, tweeting, facebook, monster, linkedin, youtube, and a zillion other digital distance-closers.
These things, one by one, kind of took the place of actually, physically walking across the street to converse with your neighbor. The interactions between people became less interactive and more computer-ese. Heck, folks don't even write real English any more. I'm not sure some of them know what real English is!
It's not all bad, though. I can easily converse with nieces, nephews, and family that live far away. We can share photos and update each other as frequently as we choose. Prayer chains for problems are almost instantly global instead of sequestered to a small room in a single church. Wrong-doing is viral before the bruises begin to discolor. Sometimes it is good.
Honestly, though, there is nothing better than a hug. It's the best communication out there. It holds. It heals. It helps. It supports. It strengthens. It solidifies. It carries within it the implications of love, affection, concern, friendship, fellowship, family, faith, and fortunes untold. A single hug can truly chase away heartache and hurt. It can relieve the day's stress and heighten the day's jubilance. It is as versatile as the air we breathe! It is beautiful!
Today . . . whether you converse with your neighbor, call a friend, skype your brother, tweet your troubles away . . . take a moment and share yourself. HUG someone!
Friday, January 13, 2012
Happy Trails!
I enjoy a long car ride, as long as the scenery is interesting. Four hour interstate drives do nothing for me. I love driving along the coast, adore a beautifully wooded winding road, could not get enough of driving around Teton and Yellowstone, and through places like Georgia with the mossy trees and the Blue Ridge Parkway's vistas. Just delightful.
I usually get sunburned, but thoroughly enjoy a good long boat ride. We never intend to stay out very long, but a beautiful day on the water tends to beckon you to 'stay a little longer' . . . and we happily oblige. The views from the water are different ~ connected but disconnected all at the same time. The things you see on the water are just so soothing and peaceful. I just love it!
And, on different days, I would hurt someone to hope on a motorcycle and hit the open road. Wind therapy, as some of my dear friends call it, is a joy unto itself and just brings you a freedom unknown to most other modes of transport. And, when you find yourself alone on the open road, the peace that ensues is just undeniable!
Not so speedy, but just as thoroughly enjoyable is a bike ride ~ the self-powered kind. I'm not talking about the suited up and sporting the fancy shirts and funky shoes kind. I'm talking about communing with nature on an old dirt road with the bumps and thumps and breeze in your hair. Squinting as the sun gleams through the leaves and you're just free to pedal as fast or as slow as you choose as you absorb all the blessings you pass by.
And, of course, a personal favorite is a simple stroll. Through the streets of . . . say St. Augustine, in the sand on the beach, on a trail through the woods, or simply on the arm of my husband or in the company of my children. Stretching my stumpy little legs, breathing in the air around me, and just taking in the sights and sounds of wherever we may be . . . it's just joyous!
Remember that happiness is not a destination . . . but more a way of travel.
Happy trails!
I usually get sunburned, but thoroughly enjoy a good long boat ride. We never intend to stay out very long, but a beautiful day on the water tends to beckon you to 'stay a little longer' . . . and we happily oblige. The views from the water are different ~ connected but disconnected all at the same time. The things you see on the water are just so soothing and peaceful. I just love it!
And, on different days, I would hurt someone to hope on a motorcycle and hit the open road. Wind therapy, as some of my dear friends call it, is a joy unto itself and just brings you a freedom unknown to most other modes of transport. And, when you find yourself alone on the open road, the peace that ensues is just undeniable!
Not so speedy, but just as thoroughly enjoyable is a bike ride ~ the self-powered kind. I'm not talking about the suited up and sporting the fancy shirts and funky shoes kind. I'm talking about communing with nature on an old dirt road with the bumps and thumps and breeze in your hair. Squinting as the sun gleams through the leaves and you're just free to pedal as fast or as slow as you choose as you absorb all the blessings you pass by.
And, of course, a personal favorite is a simple stroll. Through the streets of . . . say St. Augustine, in the sand on the beach, on a trail through the woods, or simply on the arm of my husband or in the company of my children. Stretching my stumpy little legs, breathing in the air around me, and just taking in the sights and sounds of wherever we may be . . . it's just joyous!
Remember that happiness is not a destination . . . but more a way of travel.
Happy trails!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
'Framily'
Those blessings from above that are either:
Friends who have risen above the intermittent 'hello's' and 'beautiful children' to actually being available to you through thick, thin, good, bad, sweet, sour, failures, triumphs, and every tiny step in between. These are the non-blood-related people who come into your life and plant themselves and grow into the very air you breathe. They touch your heart and take up residence there.
or
The family members who have moved beyond the 'I'll go because I have to' or 'She's my sister so I guess I should,' to the 'I will move heaven and earth to get to her/him because she is a person of value and worth.' Far beyond the values of sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins . . . there is a deeper, more intimate connection that exceeds any relative connection.
These folks are 'Framily'! I could not fathom an existence without them. They make breathing worth while and life a little easier! Thank you to all my 'Framily'! God bless and I love you!!!
Friends who have risen above the intermittent 'hello's' and 'beautiful children' to actually being available to you through thick, thin, good, bad, sweet, sour, failures, triumphs, and every tiny step in between. These are the non-blood-related people who come into your life and plant themselves and grow into the very air you breathe. They touch your heart and take up residence there.
or
The family members who have moved beyond the 'I'll go because I have to' or 'She's my sister so I guess I should,' to the 'I will move heaven and earth to get to her/him because she is a person of value and worth.' Far beyond the values of sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins . . . there is a deeper, more intimate connection that exceeds any relative connection.
These folks are 'Framily'! I could not fathom an existence without them. They make breathing worth while and life a little easier! Thank you to all my 'Framily'! God bless and I love you!!!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Promises
In the quiet of the morning
Still dark with cloak of night
The whisper of the raindrops
Promise flowers blooming bright
The quiet of the hour
Sits with the chill of winter's touch
The sun awaits its travels
Promising warmth and light and such
Not even birds are stirring
Their morning chirp has yet to start
The promise of a new day
Has yet to fill their heart
My weary eyes grow heavy
I might return to bed
So the promises of the yet unknown
Can gently fill my head
The clarity of the hour
Is lost only in the fog of sleep
With the chance to do what's right again
Is my dream I promise to keep
Still dark with cloak of night
The whisper of the raindrops
Promise flowers blooming bright
The quiet of the hour
Sits with the chill of winter's touch
The sun awaits its travels
Promising warmth and light and such
Not even birds are stirring
Their morning chirp has yet to start
The promise of a new day
Has yet to fill their heart
My weary eyes grow heavy
I might return to bed
So the promises of the yet unknown
Can gently fill my head
The clarity of the hour
Is lost only in the fog of sleep
With the chance to do what's right again
Is my dream I promise to keep
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
My little Max!
In pondering what my topic could possibly be this morning, along came a sleepy, furry black face which was laid on my leg, followed by a paw for scratching! Genius!
Maximus Mako Marinello came home with us at just 8 or 9 weeks of age. Max was the runt of a litter of 13 puppies. The folks had been asking $500/puppy but gave us Max for only $350 because he was small and the last little pooch. Hubby held him like a football for most of that first day while we got Max a few toys and a new leash. Right off, Max was brilliant. He was trained to go out within a week. He never chewed up any toys, except for a giant dog bed and Miles' ankles!
He learned commands very easily and even knows hand gestures, too. He is a very chill pooch, although we seriously never thought that would happen. He was pretty hyper for many years. He barks at us when we go in the pool cause he wants to save us, but he won't go in the pool. Silly dog! He is not anti-social but rather non-chalant when meeting other dogs; but does NOT like cats or egrets. He is just content to be out, on his leash, sniffing and peeing on everything!
Max has been with us now for ten years. His paws, face, and eyebrows have all whitened considerably. He 'speaks' to us . . . no, not barking, but rather grunting, grumbling, and whining for attention. He is literally like a little kid who complains til he gets the attention he wants and gets super excited when it's time for a walk or a car ride. His sweet brown eyes would melt the most adamant dog-despiser, and that paw in your lap just invites all kinds of love.
He spends every morning in the office with me while I blog and answer emails. He goes out to the back yard to do his 'business,' but won't leave the patio til I give him his morning hug. He sleeps most of the day now that he's entering his golden years (do black labs have golden years?). He wiggles himself silly when his dad comes home but won't let me near him til Vic has petted and loved on him to his approval. And when Miles comes home . . . WOW! Besides him knowing that it's 'walk time,' there is just a bond without description there. It's very heartwarming and beautiful.
There's nothing quite like that unconditional, constant dog devotion. What a pooch - my little Max!
Maximus Mako Marinello came home with us at just 8 or 9 weeks of age. Max was the runt of a litter of 13 puppies. The folks had been asking $500/puppy but gave us Max for only $350 because he was small and the last little pooch. Hubby held him like a football for most of that first day while we got Max a few toys and a new leash. Right off, Max was brilliant. He was trained to go out within a week. He never chewed up any toys, except for a giant dog bed and Miles' ankles!
He learned commands very easily and even knows hand gestures, too. He is a very chill pooch, although we seriously never thought that would happen. He was pretty hyper for many years. He barks at us when we go in the pool cause he wants to save us, but he won't go in the pool. Silly dog! He is not anti-social but rather non-chalant when meeting other dogs; but does NOT like cats or egrets. He is just content to be out, on his leash, sniffing and peeing on everything!
Max has been with us now for ten years. His paws, face, and eyebrows have all whitened considerably. He 'speaks' to us . . . no, not barking, but rather grunting, grumbling, and whining for attention. He is literally like a little kid who complains til he gets the attention he wants and gets super excited when it's time for a walk or a car ride. His sweet brown eyes would melt the most adamant dog-despiser, and that paw in your lap just invites all kinds of love.
He spends every morning in the office with me while I blog and answer emails. He goes out to the back yard to do his 'business,' but won't leave the patio til I give him his morning hug. He sleeps most of the day now that he's entering his golden years (do black labs have golden years?). He wiggles himself silly when his dad comes home but won't let me near him til Vic has petted and loved on him to his approval. And when Miles comes home . . . WOW! Besides him knowing that it's 'walk time,' there is just a bond without description there. It's very heartwarming and beautiful.
There's nothing quite like that unconditional, constant dog devotion. What a pooch - my little Max!
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