Walk confidently . . .

The unpredictability of life is one of the only things you can be certain of.

You never know what curve balls life may toss. You can never be sure if bunting or a full swing is in order, but you've got to give either 100% of your efforts. And that home run you're sure you hit, sometimes goes just foul. You just never know.

We named our daughter "beautiful calm," and she is beautiful, and has the capacity to be calm, but rarely ever is. She is a whirlwind of activity and energy, sitting still only long enough to catch her breath before moving on to the next activity.

Our son came into the world after a wild ride down the suicide lane in Marietta, Georgia. The cord was around his neck, he had the worst croup the docs had seen in their years there, and the same went for his bout with Dermatomyositis. Yet . . . here he is, determined and dedicated to reach his dreams. He is healthy, happy, and a gift.

I got a phone call to come help my step-dad after my mom fell and broke her collar bone. I bounced over to Boca and, within a day-and-a-half my mom passed away. You just don't ever know what is going to happen on any given day. Tomorrow is promised to no one.

So . . . today . . . as those little sayings go . . . live like there's no tomorrow; dance like no one is watching; love wholly and completely. We cannot predict the day's events, but we can proceed in the most positive manner possible. Walk confidently into each tomorrow . . .

Cloak of Anonymity

It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.
~ Harry S. Truman

What a short, sweet, and simple truth! I have been involved in about a bazillion volunteer activities in the last ten years. Some with schools, some with hospitals, some with dream-granting groups, some with veterans, some with fire departments, some with friends, and some with strangers. The absolute best part of giving of your self, your time, and your talents is knowing that it is making some small difference to someone else! What a joy and a privilege to go beyond your own needs and fulfill someone else's.

My best friends, as I ponder this fact this morning, all do the same thing. Those folks I would call in a crises are the kinds of folks that would do whatever it takes to help, without expectations of reward (or even thanks), simply because it's worth doing. What a comforting feeling it is to know that I am blanketed and buffered by such amazing people.

Selflessness is arrived at by pursuing, wholeheartedly, a passion. It is a continuous cleansing of the soul and broadening of the heart. It is uplifting, enlightening, and infectious. Today I wish for you to soak up some of the savory sweetness that is selflessness. Pursue a passion that ignites your initiative. Don the cloak of anonymity, go forth and do good. Be the unknown superhero of the day! It just might grow on you.

Travel Well . . .

There was this tiny little mouse who, very contentedly, tip-toed out of his hidey hole each night to grab the ever-present scraps that lay just beyond his lair. Thanks to this daily banquet, he grew into a large and sturdy mouse who attracted a Mrs. mouse. He happily shared his evening finds and, although he trimmed down a little, the two were quite satisfied with their home and their abundant food source. Then, as one might expect, Mr. and Mrs. Mouse became a very large family. Although the food was initially plentiful, and the bounty never changed, the mouths to be fed surely did. Woefully disheartened, Mr. & Mrs. Mouse decided to pack up their many, many children, leave their home with all its fond memories and happiness, and strike out into the great big world to find another home where Mr. Mouse could better provide for his family. Two days later, the owners of the bakery and cheese shop were doing some cleaning to prepare for a remodel when they noticed a tiny mouse hole next to a cutting station. They quickly repaired it and set off to redesign their store.

Had Mr. Mouse ever ventured just a little further he would have seen the splendor that lay before him. His safe and tentative nature, kept him fed ~ indeed, but it also kept him tethered to a routine which greatly hindered him and eventually his entire family. Just a few extra steps, that little bit of bravado mixed with faith, could have enlightened him to realize a plethora of food for his many children and probably generations to come. But his tunnel vision, his "this is what I've always done" mentality, his lack of hopeful adventure, forced him to leave everything he really ever needed.

How often do we find ourselves stuck in our daily grind? How often do we complain that our little worn down rut continues to produce the same results? How often do we point fingers, blame others, and make excuses about our predicaments?

How about today, you pull yourself out of your rut. You change up the daily grind with a new activity. Take a new way home, go to a new store, do something different! We cannot wait for the actions of others to filter down to somehow altering our lives. Sometimes, we have to take those few extra steps, outside of our normal hidey holes, to see what might lie beyond our regular realm. Today, I wish for you your own little bakery and cheese shop. Travel well, my friends!

It Is Good!

With an incredible friend's wedding coming up very soon, I would love to focus, today, on that comfort that we find in that special extension of ourselves. What an amazing gift to stumble upon that one person, out of the masses, that truly makes you a better individual. And also to take, maybe from some failed relationships, those integral positive moments that define us!

My own mother, thought she found that person in Calvin. Although he made a few mistakes, he also helped her to create five incredible people that my mom thrived on for decades. He may not have been perfect, but he helped to create some outstanding folks. She then married Alfred who, again, made a few errors, but he pushed her to believe she could be a wonderfully savvy business woman. And she was! Once she took that first leap of faith . . . she could not be stopped. She dabbled in all sorts of things. Then she found Alfonso. Alfonso, although a bit stubborn, treated my mom with such adoration and respect that I'm not sure she knew what to do with it. Never before had she had that. I thank him for being that integral addition to her life.

A high school friend, whose initial pairing left a little to be desired, left her with the most amazing offspring. There are silver-linings in all things. Years later, she reconnects with someone else from high school and they find there is a spark. Although that spark is cautiously being tended, there is the chance it could fan into a flame of beautiful warmth. They have both accepted, however, that even if it does not, it has encouraged and rekindled something very special. I hope wonderful things come from this newly forged old friendship! I find it comforting to know that you both cherish that small and special spark.

I was flailing in Atlanta, newly single and hip-deep in bills. In an attempt to find a second job, I found something much more meaningful . . . my husband! He is my strength and my source of persistence and patience. He lives at the core of my soul and I am thankful that fate intervened and our paths crossed. I am truly blessed.

Whomever you stare at as the day comes to a close, know that you are within reach of a tangible blessing. You are lucky and graced with goodness. Whether it lasts for a lifetime, or only a little while, it lasts for a reason. Find the reason, digest and savor it, and know . . . it is good!

Best wishes C & K!!!

FEAR

In an attempt to shield ourselves from physical, mental, and emotional injuries; we develop FEAR. No one likes to be injured. No one enjoys nursing wounds, down time, or battling back from emotional scars. Instead of thinking of that effort as recovery, though, maybe ~ once again ~ change your perspective. Take that nursing, down time and battling as a workout! Know that you will emerge from the opposite end of this endeavor leaner, stronger, and more stable!

FEAR ~ Failure to Engage And its Repercussions

I loathed speaking in front of people. So, what did I do? I started a home-based party plan where I forced myself to stand in a stranger's living room for two to three hours and sell things to them. I was actually quite successful and ended up enjoying it quite a lot. I still would prefer NOT to get up in front of folks and talk, but now I know that I absolutely CAN do it!

I realize that I am aging (probably quicker than I'd like), but it doesn't stop me from taking on my 18 year old son on the racquetball courts. It certainly is rare that I win a game, but I can usually give him a run for his money. It is fantastic exercise and I enjoy seeing him beam with excitement at his victories. Would it be easier to play Scrabble with him and whoop him squarely? Sure, but I'd lose all the benefits of activity and the maternal joys of his enthusiasm.

I grew up with six brothers. I have five uncles on my mom's side of the family and only two aunts. There are more uncles on my dad's side. Most of my six brothers had hoards of buddies ~ all of the male species. In other words, I am extremely comfortable in the presence of the male gender. So, what am I doing currently? I am the president of one branch of a guild of about seven hundred people - 98% of which are women. I am working on my issues!

To shrink away from things we don't like, have concerns about, or harbor ill feelings of doesn't make you weak. But it certainly doesn't make you any stronger. It doesn't make you less of a person to take a safe route; but you will certainly not discover new and amazing things about yourself if you don't ever leave that route. Bad memories can cause disparaging reactions. If you don't force yourself to create new and better memories, that reaction will probably never change.

FEAR ~ Failure to Engage And its Repercussions

Change your perspective and your actions will follow.

FEAR - Find an End. Alter your Reality

The choice is yours!

Open Book

Been to the book store lately? Picked something up and put it back down because it just didn't look very interesting? Hmmmm. Sound like a cliche your mom used to say?

Quite literally, some of the best books you'll ever read are books you wouldn't normally have picked up just because of the cover. In turn, some of the best folks you'll ever encounter are folks you would never have initially chosen to interact with.

Kite Runner is an amazing book. The cover is quite misleading to the whole realm of the book. And yet, it is a fantastic read. To most, when cleaned up properly, I look like a fairly proper, pretty feminine woman. Little do most folks know that I can leg press over 500 pounds and kick most of you squarely in the face if you made me really angry. (Thank goodness that doesn't happen often!) There are plenty of folks within your day that you might steer clear of for one reason or another, and that may be the biggest mistake of your life.

When we pre-judge a person, we lose out on getting to know what's inside. We let perceptions make our prejudices for us. What a sad and sorry situation. Give Same Kind of Different as Me a read and you will find a profound statement about taking that step, outside of your comfort zone, to realize new talents, opportunities, and graces. We are all humans. What life has done to each of us chisels a diversity that makes our community amazing. What we choose to with that diversity is what makes our community a working, productive, progressive, positive place within which to exist.

Please, today . . . and always . . . read whatever 'book' is given to you. Take it in. Absorb its cerebral and emotional nutrients and filter the rest. Say "Hi!" to that person you'd normally switch aisles to avoid. They just may hold the key to something you've been searching for. Do not judge, lest you be judged yourself ~ that golden rule that most of us disobey, but believe we are above. Acceptance is a beautiful thing. Be that open book . . .

Autumnal Inspiration

Autumn begins today!

Autumn is one of the things I miss most about New York. In Florida, we only have two seasons: Summer and Almost Summer. They would consist of Hot and Really Freakin' Hot. But if I could impress upon anyone, a visual feast of travel, I would urge you to head north during Autumn.

I lived in and around Atlanta, Georgia for quite a few years. It sure was pretty during Fall and wonderfully crisp and clear. It was, I suppose, a good transition state from New York to prep me for Florida. But, as beautiful as Georgia was, it still does not compare to upstate New York.

Amidst the Catskill Mountains, there are a myriad of vistas to take in the vivid landscape. Georgia had some pretty gold and red leaves, but the page does not permit the length of text to convey all the colors that paint the countryside in New York. Only weeks before, if you sat in the same place, things would have been green and lush and tranquil. But now, as Fall flaunts her fancy flora, the tapestry of tantalizing tinctures just leaves you both breathless and speechless. That all those very common and similarly green leaves could spring forth into such a vivacious symphony of brilliance is just astounding. Try this site on for size:  http://www.vandykephotography.com/Photography/Autumn/14405499_qkw23#1067937144_dkZbT

Enjoy the splendor of Autumnal Inspiration . . .