“Rivers do not drink their own water; trees do not eat their own fruit; the sun does not shine on itself and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves. Living for others is a rule of nature. We are all born to help each other. No matter how difficult it is. Life is good…
Category: blessings
Reflecting on Betty and Bob
“The greatest thing you’ll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return.” – Eden Ahbez, “Nature Boy” Gotta give credit to 2021 and 2022; it’s been a fairly seamless handoff of bad news. Somehow we managed to close one year with the death of Betty White and open another with death of Sidney…
Last page
“Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one.” – Brad Paisley Looking forward to a new year and new hope. But before bringing 2021’s book to a close, I got to spend a fun evening with my kids at Union Station and the Foundry – which were still decorated…
Smile
“But God can only smile because only God can know what is coming next.” – Desmond Tutu This was the oddest and most unexpected sunrise through the fog this morning. The color literally only lasted a few minutes and then faded back to gray. It was like a momentary gift for those lucky enough to…
Finnegan
“When was the last time someone was so overjoyed to see you, so brimming with love that they literally ran to greet you?” – Mark Twain We’re just shy of reaching the one year point since this very good boy became mine. I brought him home right after Christmas — my beloved pandemic pup. It…
Winter Solstice
May the longest night and the shortest daybring rest to your mind and soul, I pray. May you find guidance and may you find peace,as the cycle of light will slowly increase. Embrace the magic that the darkness bears.Breathe deep in the chill and shift in the air. May you always be blessed with the…
Highest compliment
Day 26 of the 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge: A compliment that’s stayed with you. Answer: My favorite compliment is when someone forwards a photo of a heart or unusual photo and they tell me that it reminded them of me or they thought it looked like something I would see. I share my photos in the hope…
The Best Medicine
Day 25 of the 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge: Something that always makes you laugh. Answer: Oh goodness, it’s impossible to narrow that list to one thing. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Random faces and smiles in nature. My kids. My best friend and our shared warped sense of humor. Trevor Noah. Tik Tok runner Mrs. Space Cadet. My…
Everyone
Day 23 of the 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge: Someone in your family. Answer: When you have more than one someone, your gratitude expands and encompasses everyone. So here’s my everyone. (Obviously my children are included, just not pictured.)
Joy
I spotted this little heart yesterday and it felt like a love note from earth. Day 22 of the 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge: An everyday item that brings you joy. Answer: The little heart leaf brought me a great deal of joy, but that’s not something you see everyday. So I will say my standing mixer….
Beyond Work
“Just be kind. Please. Just be kind. Especially during the holidays. Have an extra moment of grace, of understanding, of love. There are so many with stories of loss and struggle and hardships. And the illusions of the holiday and perfection and celebrations can make the hurt magnified. So just love. Smile more than you…
This Very Moment, In Fact
“At the end of the day, give up your worries and give thanks for the journey.” – Ben Vereen Day 18 of the 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge: Your favorite time of day. Answer: Right now. This very moment is the best part of today. The time right before sleep has become my favorite…my favorite way to relax,…
Simple Secret
“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” – The Little Prince As I tried to finish out my work day, I could tell that I was missing a gorgeous sky show outside. Admittedly,…
Gems
Day 16 of the 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge: A cherished friend. Answer: This prompt made me smile. I believe that all friends should be cherished. But if she’s reading this, I know the cherished friend that popped into my mind first knows exactly who she is.
Everything
Day 14 of the 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge: One thing you love about your body. Answer: My initial reaction to this prompt? I love my eyeballs because they are capable of rolling in my head. I know I’m not alone in this, but a healthy body image has never really been my strong suit. But then…
I said that?
Day 13 of the 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge: A life lesson. Answer: Okay, I totally cheated on this one. It’s been a long day and today’s prompt was a little deeper than I had the energy to dive. I figured that surely I had something in a past blog post that could give me some inspiration….
Second Act
Check out yesterday’s sky at sunrise when I took the dog out… …and then an hour later when I left for work. I had assumed the sky show would be over once the colors faded. Imagine my surprise when I walked out the door again and saw the show was simply in its second act….
Turkey Trotting
Day 11 of the 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge: A happy memory. Answer: Last Thursday. Thanksgiving, obviously, but beyond that, I got to participate in an in-person race with my older son — our first together since 2018. Which, of course, leads to countless other happy memories of races with both of my kids and others in…
Finnegan (Finn-again)
Day 10 of the 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge: Something that made you smile today. Answer: Otherwise known as something that makes me smile every day.
30 Days of Gratitude
The other day I got an email from a magazine I used to subscribe to (Bella Grace) and it included a link to an item called “30 Days of Gratitude.” It’s a 30-day calendar with a prompt each day to, well, promote gratitude. Here’s the intro: “There is always something to be grateful for, we…
Small journeys
On the way to the office this morning, I realized how much being home for the last year and a half has made me enjoy getting out and about — so much that I even appreciate the stoplights along my route to work. I love to look around, see what’s developing (in nature or man-made)….
Good choice
Every day you have an important choice to make. Whether to cherish or waste the most valuable blessing you have – time. Today you have the choice to spend it wisely, appreciating every minute of your life, loving the people that love you, focusing on all the good you have. Find what makes you happy,…
Things I wish for you
I spotted this wonderful sentiment and thought it was worth sharing with others (along with photos from my morning run in the Park and my later-in-the-morning walk with Finn). Things I wish for you That you go on lots of long walks and enjoy your own company. That you learn that the real magic doesn’t…
hey there, friends 