Pigskin

Ahhhhhh, Pigskin!

The beautiful return of . . . football!

I'm not sure if it's the six brothers, or growing up in New York, or what exactly that instilled the love of this game . . . but it dwells deep within me. And, thanks to my magnificent hubby, I was introduced to the world of college football many years ago and, quite simply, adore it.

It's a brutal sport, big hits, big plays, anxiety-packed, and most celebratory. You find yourself leaning on your couch as you're hoping for a touchdown or holding your breath while awaiting the next big sack. It draws you in, lifts you up, slams you down, and gets you all excited.

Here's to a season that is hopefully filled with enthusiasm, fingertip grabs, mind-blowing tackles, tip-toe touchdowns, and last second scores.

It's football time in America!

Woo Hoo!

Equality

This is not about man vs. woman. This is not about boss vs. employee. This is not about wealthy vs. destitute. This is not about the celebrity vs. the average Joe.

This is about people!

I believe in the relative core goodness of people. I believe most people have within them a gracious heart full of love and compassion and joy. Now there might be a person out there who thinks that life has taken advantage of them. And maybe, just for a short span of time, it has. That does NOT give you the right to yell at me, belittle me, call me names, insult me, and defile me.

You have your right to believe what you choose. I have my right to believe what I choose. It really is as simple as that. You have not lived my life. I have not lived yours. I am not going to judge you - with words or actions. You should steer clear of doing the same.

Now, before anyone sends me a flurry of emails, no one made me mad. No one upset me. I am peachy keen! I am, however, tired of folks and their rantings of THEIR opinions as if it's set in stone and the only possible course of earth's progress. Add to those rantings the use of belittling, yelling, name-calling, insults, and basic defiling of others. It's disgusting!

Civility and communication are lost arts. It's a little disturbing. There's no detached debating any more. It's all or nothing, out-for-blood, my way or death sort of conversing and it is just plain sad. Makes me weepy.

I am equal to you. You are equal to me. Our thoughts are equal. Our beliefs are equal.

Can't we all just get along?

True Colors

With the political bs meter off the charts these days, it's important to try to see folks in their true colors. I think it was Lauper who sang it in the early 80's, although I'm sure that was not the first version. It almost never is!

You can confirm with my children that as they were growing up I asked and taught them to never lie. If you tell the truth, you don't ever have to remember which lies you told to which people and then try to behave a certain way in front of different sections of acquaintances. It's baffling! Some people live lie after lie after lie.

One of the things I have done with this blog is to try to share with you all some of my life's experiences. This is honesty in its most glaring form. To open yourself up to comment, non matter the subject, is to freely put yourself up on the chopping block. To know and have faith enough in yourself that maybe just ONE person needs to hear or see or feel that they are not alone, because you have been where they are, have been through what they are dealing with, or are ~ at the very least ~ compassionate to their situation.

Truth is empowering. Truth is humbling. Truth is beautiful!
Who are you really? What lies beneath your facade? Are you real or are you painting some mystical, magical tapestry of some vision. If you are anything but YOU . . . you are cheating the world of your wonder, your inspiration, your incredible gifts, your strengths, and your beauty!

Show us your true colors ~ shining through. Show your true colors ~ that why we love you.
Don't be afraid to let them show. Your true colors are beautiful . . . like a rainbow!

The little things

Maybe I'm just a little wacky, but for me . . . the little things truly mean a lot!

I woke up to a note to take a specific vehicle to work. It said, "Please take the car. Luv ya!" Nothing more. Nothing less. Just a sweet little pick me up at this horrid hour of the morning.

If more folks learned to take joy in the tiny pleasures that life has to offer, the world would be a much happier place. Maybe instant gratification is NOT the answer. Maybe, just maybe, a short wait for something you want; working really hard for the item you truly desire; and an intermittent random smile from a stranger is the makings for a perfect day. Yeah, that's it!

The "headed home" text from your child. The "just checking in" phone call from family members. The "Hello Friend. Just thinking of you." email from someone close. These things need not be complicated. It is the joy within you that is released when someone else acknowledges you. Imagine how good it would feel, if you did that for someone else.

And then . . . the little things would make the world a better place.

Go make the world a better, happier place!

Cheer

I'm not quite sure who this brilliant person is . . . but he/she sure is brilliant.

Obstacles can't stop you.

Problems can't stop you.

Most of all, other people can't stop you.

Only YOU can stop you.
~ J. Gitomer

Don't stop you! Cheer you on!

Heart

My son recently asked me to name a favorite 'hero' of mine; someone who made a real impact on me. Well, that's an unusual question so I truly pondered the question. Thinking back . . . way back . . . straining the old gray matter . . . I told him that I had read her story a million years ago and it truly struck a chord with me. I sympathized with her struggles and joined in her triumphs. She overcame so very much and could have shut down at any of a zillion moments. But she chose to live, to improve herself, to create a new life, to make a difference. I told him that one of my favorite 'heroes' was Helen Keller.

And today's little snippet . . . something to sit and stew upon for the weekend . . . is one of my most favorite sayings EVER!

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched.
They must be felt with the heart.

There are plenty of beautiful things to see and touch is an extraordinary gift, but to have the simple exuberance of a joyful heart . . . is a blessing unlike any other.

Today . . . I hope your heart feels wondrous things. I hope your heart sings. I hope your heart, with all its aches and pains and empty spots, is happy!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

I have a few friends who would like me to write about recycling. Unfortunately, although I believe in this, I don't normally use my blog for anything but positive, simple, uplifting things and I try NOT to use it as a soapbox for spouting off about different topics!

Today, I will talk about recycling. But I will also stay true to myself. This is what I do.

YOU are recyclable. You are renewable. Whatever your dreams and inspirations might be, there is no age or condition that can stop you. There is a tremendous source of untapped possibilities within every single one of us just waiting to be put to use. We have hopes as a teen. If you didn't quite reach that potential; you can reinvent yourself in your 20's. Don't like where you are in your twenties? Recycle those fantasies and create a new you in your 30's.

Better yet, don't wait decades. Improve upon yourself each and every day! There is, inside of you, a brilliant beauty just waiting to be born. Take all those visions you had as a youngster and stir 'em up. Dust them off and reuse what excited you so long ago, to invigorate you today. There is nothing to stop you . . . but you.

Reduce the negativity in your life. Take out of your day, and out of your life, the things that tie you down, hold you back, oppress you, and make you feel less than you are. Reduce the stress. Reduce the hurtful things you allow into your positive space. The product you are left with is a beaming, incredible person capable of nearly anything.

So . . . for your planet, your country, your community, your self . . . reduce, reuse, recycle! It really does begin with YOU.