Strength

Booker T Washington gave us this gem ...
and what a gem it is!

There are two ways

of exerting one's strength:

one is pushing down,

the other is pulling up.

Make good choices, peeps.

Today

Today,
in the midst of my own chaos,

there is light and lifting.

When we pay attention,

we can find the detours,

the opportunities, the gifts

that buoy us in our troubled waters.

Look what today is ...

I Want You To Be Happy Day

I do.

Happy Trails

It's been a sleepless few nights over here.
Whether the pooch or the prose,
I have not seen the Sandman in a minute.
I do hope you enjoy the outcome.

It is a few of my favorite things

all kind of mashed up together.
Please let me know whatcha think.

Happy Trails
by Lyn Marinello 3/1/26

Of all the paths you wander down
Make sure a few of them are dirt
And when the trail is dimly lit
Be certain to stay alert
Pathways lead not just north or south
There is purpose to the casual stroll
It often leads to clarity
Of the body, the mind, the soul
Be sure to walk in balance
Know that even the hardest climb
Leads to beautiful destinations
And view spectacularly sublime
What are sometimes seen as wrong turns
Are merely redirections
Routes that were not planned on
Are serendipitous course corrections
Take the road less travelled
Leave the beaten path and blaze a trail
Struggle through the underbrush
There is beauty to unveil
It is said between any two pine trees
Lies a doorway, explorations to exhaust
To roam may not define one as wayward
Certainly, not all who wander are lost
Remembering the journeys
And the barriers surmounted
Pairs of steps supporting yokes
And the victories recounted
When the body and soul are spent
And in retrospect we view
In those moments of single footprints
It was then that He carried you.

If

Short and sweet on this Saturday.

Fear is "What if?"

Faith is "Even if!"

Which if are you choosing?

Journey

Found this and it spoke to me.
Perhaps it needs to speak to someone else as well ...

It's funny

how we outgrow

what we once thought

we couldn't live without,

and then 

we fall in love

with what we didn't even know

we wanted.

Life keeps leading us

on adventures

we would never go on

if it were up to us.

Don't be afraid.

Have faith.

Find the lessons.

Trust the journey.

Enjoy your day ... and your journey.

"You-man" Sunshine

A person whose smile

can light up a room,

whose laughter is infectious

and whose energy

is like sunshine on a cloudy day.

They spread joy and happiness

wherever they roam,

and their positivity

is simply contagious.

YOU 

are the Sunshine!

Life

This is one of my favorites.
Hope you enjoy ...

When life

gives you more

than you

can stand ...

kneel.

Yessirreebob!

Bloom

I'm over here ...
willing on Springtime ...
(and stuff) ...

Like flowers,

we bloom again ~

not because

life is easy,

but because

the light

keeps finding us.

Seek the light, folks. 

It is in that warmth

that you will bloom so beautifully.

Sense

This seems purposeful right now,
for a great many people.

I hope it finds who needs it ...

The things

that make you happy

don't have to make sense

to anybody else.

Be so bold

as to simply be yourself.

Believing

This is a great little tidbit.

Both fear and faith

ask you to believe

in something

you can't see.

You choose.

Simply ...

This text was actually posted
by a picture of Snoopy!
Who doesn't like Snoopy??

May this new day

go easy on your heart,

be gentle on your soul,

comfort your worries,

and grow your hope.

I pray for you all

to find peace today

and always ...

THIIIIS!!!!

Found and absolutely sharing ...

Forgive yourself

for not knowing earlier

what only time

can teach.

That's some good stuff!

Have a great day.

Ripples

So, in honor of hubby's birthday,
and a discussion that we had yesterday,
what was started long ago ... has been completed.

I hope you enjoy!
Please let me know whatcha think ...

Ripples of Remembrance

by Lyn Marinello   2/17/26

 

Some Simon & Garfunkel, a stroll down a flowered aisle

An evening at a fresh fed spring; a babe's first precious smile

A walk along a sandy beach; a hike on wooded mount

Little bitty tiny things that really, truly count

The comradery of teammates; a recital all alone

Learning how to bait a hook or find the perfect skipping stone

Excitement for a formal; fingers interlaced

A multitude of magic of which we each are graced

Trophies gleaming on a shelf; poetry in tatters

Corsages pressed ‘tween pages; each recollection matters

Concert tickets, movie stubs, wine labels in a frame

A whopper of a catch at sea and its ever-increasing claim

Lace and beads and flowers, promises and rings

Sharing little tidbits of all your favorite things

Silly little phrases; road trips and dead ends

Dancing in the kitchen and laughter amongst friends

Complicated handshakes and tales of travel lore

Tears we cried at funerals while wishing there was more

Anniversaries with the masses; at Arlington ~ farewell Taps

Your waves may be different; some tsunamis, some gentle laps

With these ripples of remembrance, there's a certain ebb and flow

Emotional mementos; precious gifts we've had bestowed.

RAK

Today is
Random Acts of Kindness Day!

Whether you

buy the coffee for

the person behind you;

grab a grocery check out

for a stranger;

gift someone with 

a simple, honest compliment;

take a cart back,

help someone reach something,

assist with some arbitrary task,

or just graciously

share a beautiful smile ...

you simply do not know what good you are doing.

The ripples of randomness emanate from kindness

and reach places you may never know.

RAK 'em up, friends! 

Two Things

Love this
and it couldn't be
more true!

In life,

there are 

only two things

you can control ...

your effort

and your attitude.

Make good choices.

Hold On

Found this and Lynified it ...

Hold on

to what grows you,

inspires you,

encourages you,

heals you,

indulges you,

uplifts you,

and blesses you ...

and I hope that today,

on Valentine's Day,

that's the person

next to you.

Have a beautiful day, friends!

Simple

Before you go getting all wrapped up
in the Valentine commercialism ...

here's a little reminder

to stop ... and grab hold of the simple ...

Behold,

the wonder

of blowing the fuzzies

off a finished dandelion.

Share a smile,

compliment freely,

hug often,

share the love,

enjoy the day.

Lost

I am fairly certain
that I have posted this prior,
but ...
it's so absolutely true.

You are

never so lost

that your angels

cannot find you.

When you are weary,

release the worry.

Joy

Stole this from another page.
Thought it was worth sharing ...

Joy

doesn't have to wait

until the hard stuff is over.

It can exist in

simple, ordinary moments

alongside the mess.

Joy isn't a reward

for overcoming pain;

it is the practice

that helps us

move through it.

I wish you joy today ...

and every day.

Parts

Very few of us are armed to make worldly changes.
But every single one of us

can make a change where we stand.

We can reach the world around us ...

with what waits at the ends of our arms.

Are your hands balled in fists?

Or are they open to hope?

Are you pointing fingers?

Or are you shaking hands?

You can stand for what you believe

and still sit and listen.

You can fight for what you want

and still love your opponent.

Your back can be turned

on what you disagree with

or it can help carry

the weighted loads of others.

Your eyes can blaze

with anger and envy

or they can shine

with light and love.

What will your parts do?

Journeys

Thought this appropriate
for a Monday morn ...

All journeys

have secret destinations

of which

the traveler

is unaware.

~ M Buber

Take that step,

however small,

and see what

your secret destination

looks like.

SAC

Today, February 7th, is
Send a Card to a Friend Day.

Before you leave your house today,

grab a blank card, a little piece of note paper,

some little scrap of something ...

write a little letter ...

a thank you,

a 'how are you?',

a thinking of you,

an I love you,

a hope you're well ...

and pop it in the mail.

Receiving tangible kind thoughts

does wonders for one's soul.

Enjoy your day

and ...

get to writing!!!

Gift

One of the greatest gifts we can be blessed with

is children.

Today, I celebrate my son.

Not sure how he can be in his thirties.

That doesn't make much sense.

:-)

For those of you

who have touched his life;

guided him,

healed him,

helped him,

prayed for him,

loved him,

Thank you.

He has surely improved this planet

with his presence.

In his honor, have a beautiful day.

Looooooove!

In the theme of the month ...

For small creatures

such as we

the vastness is bearable

only through love.

~ Carl Sagan

Get out there

and make it bearable.

A little Hep

Let's put a little Hep in your step
this Wednesday morning ...

The best thing

to hold onto in life

is each other.

~ Audrey Hepburn

You get ONE chance ...

do the right thing.

Space

I guess I'm in a pondering mood these days ...

Don't make space

for more stuff.

Make space

for more life.

Surround yourself with love and light,

hope and healing,

purpose and positivity.

Much love, friends.

Journey

So so so many ...

Sometimes,

God takes you on a journey

you didn't know you needed.

Just let that one seep on in there.

Have a beautiful Monday.

Both

So one Julia Alvarez stated:

The point is not

to pay back kindness,

but to pass it on.

I am just wondering ...

why can't it be both?

Walk

Friday exercise is to walk ...

Walk away

from arguments

that lead to anger,

from people

who put you down,

from anyone

who doesn't see your worth.

Walk away

from mistakes and fears,

they don't

determine your fate.

The more you walk

away from the things

that poison your soul,

the healthier and happier

you will be.

Lace up those kicks ...

Voice

This just seemed to hold a
lot of weight
and served for breakfast brain food ...

... last year's words

belong

to last year's language

and 

next year's words

await

another voice.

~ TS Elliot

More

You
build more

than you see.

You

touch more

than you know.

You

create more

than you think.

You 

feed more

than it seems.

You

do more

than you believe.

You are more,

in so many ways,

than you could imagine.

May

I know it's not even February,
but that's not the May I'm referencing ...

May you have hope

when you need it most.

May you have peace

when the world becomes chaotic.

May you have faith

to see the beauty that surrounds you.

May you have heart

to feel the love that you deserve.

Sending you love and light and levity.

Look

A good Monday mantra ...
(and it kinda works for every other day, too!).

Look

Look ahead with intention.

Look out with awareness.

Look within with honesty.

Look around with gratitude.

Look up with trust.

We each see what we choose to see.

We can see what we are shown ...

or ...

We can see good.

We can see positive.

We can see truth.

We can see love.

What will you be looking for?

Try It

Today is National Compliment Day!!

I know. I know.

EVERY day is a good day for compliments.

You are not wrong.

But if there's a day 

that takes a moment

to acknowledge and promote

such a thing ...

then get out there and be nice.

Throw those sincere compliments around

like confetti.

You don't need to know anything

about another human

to be kind to them.

Enjoy your day!

Magic

So this was delivered to me today ~
as if upon a silver platter.

And so I'm sharing ...

I have always been

delighted at the prospect

of a new day,

a fresh try,

one more start,

with perhaps

a bit of magic

waiting somewhere

behind the morning.

~ JB Priestley

Surrender

So this came to me in two very early morning sections
and actually came backwards ~ or so I have perceived.
Would love to know your thoughts ...


Surrender
by Lyn Marinello - 1/21/26

The anguished cries and whispered fears
Are heard by His almighty ears
The answers, though, may not be what you’re asking
His wisdom is beyond our scope
With unfaltering faith, belief and hope
We trust in all the newness He’s unmasking
Flaws overlooked, the broken mended
Acceptance that is open-ended
There need only be a spirit that is willing
Overcome the pejorative
Embrace what is restorative
And His bounty full of blessings overspilling
Dismiss the lust, the envy, greed
And with trust the size of a mustard seed
We build a peaceful haven of existence
We will falter and fall short each day
But, humbled, we will find our way
Through unwavering and purposeful persistence
He’s the answer to your fitful qualms
You are precious ~ etched upon His palms
Release the weight of anger and defiance
He hears you in the church’s pews
In parked cars, showers, grocery queues
There is no mandatory place to seek His alliance
Sit sturdy on ‘be still and know’
The power of ‘let God, let go’
How it loosens all of life’s constrictive clothing
Surrender on the bended knee
The only way to be set free
Cauterize the hurt, the pain, the loathing

Hugs

Today is National Hugging Day!

How appropriate 

that it comes when

it's so very chilly out there.

But ... a good hug,

the bear-type,

completely enveloping,

world be-gone,

two hearts speaking ...

does so much more

than warm you.

It reaches into your very soul.

It touches every part of you.

It lingers and lets you know

you're loved.

I wish you THOSE

sorts of hugs today.

I had TWO yesterday!!!

Choke

A quote I came across yesterday and
found most important from T. Madsen.

What do you think?

You may choke

in the effort,

but pray

for your enemies.

You will be filled

with compassion

instead of spite.

Make good choices today ...

Time

In honor of MLK ...

Time

is always right

to do

what is right.

Do not judge a man

by the color of his skin,

the title on his resume,

the letter on his voter card,

the choice of who he loves,

the weights he chooses to carry ...

but by

the content of his character.

Any gift

A beautiful little Saturday sentiment
for you ...

If I could give you

any gift,

I'd give you

love and laughter,

a peaceful heart,

a healing hug,

quiet strength,

fortifying faith,

and joy forever after.

Enjoy your weekend ...

It's Okay

Found and Lynified ...

The biggest lesson

I have learned is:

It's Okay.

It's okay for me

to be kind to myself.

It's okay to be wrong.

It's okay to stay silent.

It's okay to speak up.

It's okay to get angry.

It's okay to cry.

It's okay to need space.

It's okay to be flawed.

It's okay to be happy.

It's okay to move on.

It's okay to not be okay.

It's okay.

YOU are okay.

TT

Thankful Thursday!
One of my favorite days of the week ...

Every day holds something

to be thankful for,

even if it's just

the air that you breathe

or the sun on your face.

Gratitude

does not have

to be grand ...

it's in the little moments

that make life 

beautiful.

I am thankful for you!

Enjoy this day.

BTR

Good morning, friends!
Here's hoping that you 

realize how amazing you are today ...

Be the reason 

someone believes

in kindness,

in humanity,

in decency,

in grace,

in love,

in the goodness

of God.

One Little Sentence

Saw this.
Saved it.
Sharing.

It is one of those

incredibly universal truths.

Forgive yourself

for not knowing earlier

what only time could teach.

Be gentle with yourself.

You are a work of heart.

Value

This came across my vista on multiple occasions recently.
Usually, that's a sign that I am to share.

So ...

When you realize

that each day

is not one more day,

it's one less,

you will start giving

more value

to the things

that truly matter.

So appropriate for this day ~

and always ...

Candles ...

As my heart strings are being pulled
by a few friends who are struggling with loss
and every other person
who just needs a little more light ...

Let's light a candle ...

not just in a season,

but for the ones

who should've been,

who should still be;

the voices we still hear

within our hearts;

the empty chairs around tables

that feel too quiet;

the memories that never fade

and often illuminate the way ...

Power

A classic, but a fave ...

You've always

had the power,

my dear ...

you just 

had to learn it

for yourself.

Make the day yours.

Make it magical.

Stop

This is not a bad thing.
It is a true thing
and something
many of us need to learn ...
including me.

Stop

expecting you

from

other people.

Light up your Wednesday

This is a little Mother Teresa tidbit.
Can't go wrong there ...

Go out

into the world today

and love

the people you meet.

Let your presence

light new light

in the hearts of others.

You don't need to inquire

as to their social stances,

political propensities,

or basic beliefs.

Just love them and leave them

better than you found them.

May

May ...

I know it's only January,
and I'm not rushing things,
but ...
hoping that you MAY
get what you need from this.
I borrowed from a friend and Lynified it.

May you awaken

with purpose in your breath.

May you rest at night

knowing you did enough.

May opportunity meet your effort,

patience walk beside ambition,

and challenges sharpen you

without ever hardening you.

May laughter arrive often

and stay awhile.

May you give freely

without losing yourself

and may you receive fully,

without hesitation.

May you trust 

the strength you've earned

and the wisdom you carry

to guide you through life's twists and turns.

May love, old and new,

grow deeper, truer and unwavering.

May you realize

that you are a unique and extraordinary gift

that the world needs to see.

A Good One

This is not meant to be a negative.
This is meant to make you think
and make you respond
and make you be a better you.

One Day,

you'll only be

a memory

for some folks.

Do your best

to be

a good one.

Love you, my peeps!

Silence

Thought this might be appropriate for a few ...

It is not burnout ...

it is your soul

asking for silence;

seeking a moment

to steady itself

against a constant wave

of life and demands

and expectations.

Take a second.

Be still and know.

Quiet the world -

find your silence.

Yes You Are

One of my favorites ...
to start your year off correctly ...

Believe

in miracles.

In case you forgot ...

you are one.

2026

This began on New Year's Eve and
rolled off the pen tip on New Year's morning.

It could have gone on and on and on and ...

I do hope you enjoy what is here and what it means.
Please let me know your thoughts ...


2026
by Lyn Marinello

As we begin the countdown
to a farewell to December
Let us breathe and take a moment
to reminisce; remember …

Celebrate the magic
Hold the memories in your hearts
Let them be the base
On which this new year starts

Grab a hold of yesteryears
The love within the laughter
The tenderness of touches
And happily of ever-after
The grasp of baby fingers
Wooded wisdom walks
Carefree days upon the beach
And intimate heart-felt talks
How the hugs held you together
And the tears just drained you dry
The promise of a yes
The devastation of a why
Carry memories of road trips
Of getting lost and getting found
The images that stole your breath
That simple words could not expound
Count the friendships you have made
And the dearest ones you keep
Embrace the euphoric comfort
As you watched your children sleep
Store away the kindnesses
The graces you’ve been gifted
The departures and additions
As priorities have shifted
Acknowledge all your efforts
How your weaknesses have waned
The struggles that you’ve overcome
The new perspectives that you’ve gained
Retain sweet recollections
Add only positivity to the mix
Greet this year with gratitude
God bless your 2026!