An Assignment

With the recent loss of my brother, of course thoughts turn to other losses.
We all wish there was more time, another conversation, another hug, another lunch, etc.
Here is a proposal for a little assignment for you . . .


Maybe not today, but some time in your near future,
sit down and take out some paper and a pen.
No emails, no texts, no tweets, or anything else like that.
Write a letter to someone who has truly made a difference to you.
It could be a teacher, an old friend, a relative, a co-worker.
Let them know how they have touched you and how much you appreciate them.
You will find great joy in reliving a few old memories.
You will also, however, deliver great joy when an unsuspecting someone receives that letter.
There is no reason ~ other than to express your thanks . . . while you can.
Believe me, it is a beautiful effort for the writer and a beautiful gift for the recipient.


Now . . . go do your homework!

110%

No matter the task, no matter the obstacle ~
always give it 110%.
If you are cleaning your room . . .
make it the cleanest room ever.
If you are doing yard work . . .
make it the best looking yard in the neighborhood.
If you are raising awareness about something . . .
talk about it with absolutely everyone you meet.
If you are gathering funds for a cause . . .
ask every single person you see for a penny, a nickel, a dollar,
or to share the ask with their friends.
If you are standing up for a purpose . . .
educate and arm yourself to the hilt.
If you are in love . . .
love with absolutely everything that you are.


What is the point of anything less than all you have?

The Best Medicine

Laughter!


It truly is the best medicine.
For a long while I had built insulating walls around myself.
I had thought it protection from pain and hurt,
but it was only confining and debilitating.
In truly contemplating what I know the folks I love the most enjoy,
I realized that you cannot hide from the hurt.
You cannot protect yourself from the crazies.
They are out there . . . in force.
You simply need to realize that their behavior and actions
are their burdens to carry.
How you react is yours.
I was my happiest when I was singing and playing and laughing.
And so . . .
I am singing
and playing
and laughing.


It is the best medicine.
Be well today.
Laugh.

Work

Expounding on my very simple "Happy or Crappy" daily choice,
Carlos Castaneda coined it in another manner.
Sometimes, we just need a different viewpoint to see that same answer.
I really like his version, too.


"We either make ourselves miserable,
or we make ourselves strong.
The amount of work is the same."


Makes all kinds of sense to me.
Which one are you working toward?

Make a Pearl

The most extraordinary thing about the oyster is this,
irritations get into the shell and,
when he cannot get rid of them,
he uses the irritations to do the loveliest thing an oyster ever has the chance to do.


If there are irritations in your lives today,
there is only one option . . .


Make a Pearl

Sweet Dreams

Today, we say our final farewells to my brother, Skip.
As much as my heart hurts, I have tried to give you a little insight
into what we shared and, in doing so . . . I found smiles.
You may not understand it all, but enjoy it.


Sweet Dreams


Any memory of Skippy brings a smile to my face
And therein lies his legacy; what he left strewn about the place
My little baby brother, who towered high above
Left a trail of laughter through a garden of his love
My earliest recollections begin with Pop-Pop & Nana-Tip
Climbing atop the factory, sharing a NY skyline with Skip
And travelling there was interesting; 9 people and a dog without fidge
And always singing that stupid song, "George Washington Washington Bridge"
Trestle treks in Rosendale, woodsy hikes and quiet rests
Stealing change from everywhere for Saturday night parent-free candy fests
Lazy days grouped on the porch where Skip endured a few Shepherd bites
Saturday morning wrestling; tag team siblings and sometimes title fights
Countless Halloweens and Christmases galore
I cry because he's missing now, I'll go remember more
Secret silly handshakes; Abbott and Costello
Secret presents in my car from a most amazing fellow
Ferris Beuller's Day Off; no guard rail's safe from Crash
Mr. Compost gardening guy, "I'll recycle all the trash."
Monty Python's Life of Brian. Comedy bold and blunt
Was in the People's Front of Judea or the Judean People's Front?
Small raffia attachments; the Roman soldiers "We found this spoon."
"Piss off. I'm not the Messiah." Just whistle a happy tune.
History of the World; Hump or Death with Madeline Kahn
Wacky weedus; double time harch; the jig is up . . . and gone
Christmas movies for my babies; donations from knee deep in sand
Wherever anyone needed help, there was Skippy's eager hand
A veteran with character. A man with a heart of gold
Your absence is unbearable - you were denied of growing old
And though my heart does ache; there's a hole Skip used to fill
I know he's gone in the physical sense, but I'm certain he dwells there still
Skip just wanted laughter and the company of others
He reveled in his family's love; his small army of sisters and brothers
His wit was quite unparalleled, He sure did like to rib
And faced with positive or negative, his response was always "Hib!"
My final text with him is treasured; cemented in my heart it seems
Your words to me now echoed back, I love you Skip ~ "Sweet Dreams!"

Word Breakfast

Man is never so tall as when he kneels before God ~
never so great as when he humbles himself before God.
And the man who kneels to God can stand up to anything.


~  Isaiah 9:6-7 NLT


I can do everything with the help of Christ
who gives me the strength I need.


~  Philippians 4:13 NLT


Just thought that maybe some folks,
including me,
might need to read this today.