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PURPOSE, JOY AND POSITIVES

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NOSTALGIA!

“A wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of some past period or irrecoverable condition” (Merriam – Webster).

Within the last few weeks, I have attended my family reunion and met up with 15 of my 21 remaining first cousins on my father’s side, attended a book signing of an author friend that I knew for many  years before she moved to the Northwest, had lunch with a dear college friend,  and experienced a day of visiting at my sister’s with another cousin and husband from the West Coast. Each of these events brought about its own memories of things gone by, laughter in sharing the memories, mine and the others involved, and a few thoughts about longing for those times.

I would have to say that I am deeply grateful for those memories and am experiencing a desire for ‘more’ of this in my life. Maybe it has to do with the age and space I am in and the loss of a brother within the last year. It encourages you to cherish each day a little more and want to work positively toward continuing to create life defining memories that perhaps a few years down the road will bring  ‘nostalgia’ and JOY.

“Distance not only gives nostalgia, but perspective and maybe objectivity” (Robert Morgan, American poet, short story writer and novelist).

 

PURPOSE, JOY AND POSITIVES

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ART AND MORE ART

A few weeks ago, I had the great experience of attending a week long workshop on watercolor painting at THE CLEARING in Door County. A dear friend and I attended together and had plenty of time to dine out and catch up on our lives.

Although I have been painting since 2003, with a few years off, I decided to challenge myself to take this class. What an inspiration and enlightening week it  was! Wow….my head was bursting with all the information and new ideas I wanted to implement in my own painting. I came home really fired to rev up my painting schedule. Now a couple of weeks away from that experience, my fervor has calmed, but not gone, perhaps just on a more even keel.

Isn’t that so true with most new experiences in life? As we are in the midst of it, our senses, heart and mind want to take off and run with it…soar to the sky. Then life happens and you become a little less enamored with what you were going to do. I decided that to avoid that if I could, I should set some goals around the excitement I experienced during that week. Well, it is a couple of weeks down the line, but today I am setting those goals…….keeping in mind they need to be realistic, yet involve a little ‘push’ to move myself out of the comfort zone.

Dan Stevens said: “The comfort zone is the great enemy to creativity; moving beyond it necessitates intuition, which in turn configures new perspectives and conquers fears.”

What do you want to do to move out of a comfort zone for yourself?

 

PURPOSE, JOY AND POSITIVES

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ACCEPTING OUR FAULTS

Faults….who me? Of course, me. The issue is that we would just like to overlook those little things that are less than perfection in our character…….yes…no?

It is a hard task to take a good look in the mirror and really ‘see’ ourselves. We know that there are three ways of seeing who we are:  what others see, what the Lord sees, and what we ‘allow’ ourselves to see. There is also the matter of our masks, what we let others see, but that is another chapter for another day.  Understanding ourselves for both the positive characteristics and the faults we have is part of our responsibility to own who we are. Without addressing our faults, it is hard to become the ‘best version of ourselves’, as Matthew Kelly from Dynamic Catholic would say.  I have found that there is often a silver lining to the fault I find in myself,  if I can  change it into a better way of being that becomes a benefit rather than a liability.  John Kuypers, author of The Peace Promise, says: “When we accept our faults, we gain compassion for the faults of others.” In the end, teaching ourselves to do less judging of others must start with our inner being first.

When you look in your mirror, what do you ‘see’? Continue reading “PURPOSE, JOY AND POSITIVES” →

PURPOSE, JOY AND POSITIVES

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BEING APPRECIATED.

One of the nicest things that happen to you in life is a surprise that says “I appreciate you and what you do/are”. The flowers above appeared one morning on my table at school where I volunteer once a week, from my daughters with four personally handmade notes attached from each of my grandchildren. My heart could not have been fuller, filled with more joy or been more grateful! I know of course that they all love me, but this said “I am happy you are here and love what you do for us”.

There are many opportunities in life for each of us to show our appreciation in simple ways that cost only a little thought and a few minutes. My guess is that we miss many of these opportunities and once the moment is gone, it can’t be recaptured. You have to observe and find another time.

Here are some thoughts: Smile  at those who wait on you or bag your groceries with a genuine ‘thank you’; holding a door for someone who may or may not need that; letting someone go ahead of you in a line because they have only one or two items;  telling your children/grandchildren that you appreciate their good work/help; thanking your friends for their friendship and support (in good times and bad); and above all find small ways to let your partner/significant other know they are appreciated on a regular basis.

“Appreciation is the highest form of prayer, for it acknowledges the presence of good wherever you shine the light of  your thankful thoughts” (Alan Cohen, inspirational author).

Who can you shower with appreciation today, tomorrow, next week, next month …any day?

DIGGING UP THE PAST

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A few weeks ago we had our original drive way of about 28 years, completely dug up, filled with asphalt and then sealed. As I watched the machines easily gliding across the driveway, chewing up the old asphalt and spitting it out into the dump truck, I could not help but think about the ‘past life’ of this drive. How many different cars carrying our family members,  friends, and household repair workers had driven on it? There have been parties on the drive, cookouts and a few firecrackers lit. There also have also been police cars, ambulances, doctor’s cars, UPS, the mail truck, and sadly a hearse. Yes, this driveway has lived a full and busy life. The digging up brought back some interesting reflections for me.

Isn’t that how life is too? Some event happens and it brings back a flood of past recollections, some good and some less than good. Suddenly, you find yourself immersed in ‘digging up the past’, bringing about perhaps some sadness, anger, and hopefully some JOY with beautiful memories. It is a funny thing about memories. A wise lady once told me that you have to cull through your memories and selectively pick the one’s that have special meaning to you because you could never hold all your memories in that bank, the brain. Words of wisdom for sure.

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards”  (Soren Kierkegaard).

PURPOSE, JOY AND POSITIVES

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FIREWORKS!!

Fourth of July has come and gone, which makes me sad because in my mind that means that summer is half over. So, I engage myself in a different conversation – thinking about all the things I can still do during the last couple of summer months.

What can I do to create some artificial ‘fireworks’ in my life? For starters, I could just sit and enjoy this nice 75 degree weather filled with sunshine and cool breezes. Just enjoy the day for what it is…today. One thing I am working on during the next couple of months is reconnecting with friends for lunch that I have not been in touch with, for one reason or another for a while. One is a college friend from 1975 that I have not seen for about three years. Reaching out to a neighbor for lunch that I do not know very well was also worth the time. It seems that I think of these people in my life but don’t go to the phone and make the plans. My new commitment is to make the plans!

One other adventure I am taking part in is to attend Watercolor Classes for a week long intensive session with a friend who also is a watercolorist! This will be ‘fireworks’ for me and I am truly excited about the new things I will learn, as well as looking forward to catching up on life with a dear friend.

Eleanor Roosevelt said: “The PURPOSE of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly without fear for newer and richer experience.”

What fireworks do you want to create for yourself before summer ends?

 

 

PURPOSE, JOY AND POSITIVES

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Summer reading!

Summer is a favorite time for relaxing, vacationing,  enjoying the outdoors, getting together for family reunions, and just plain having fun! It is always a challenge to keep our kids, or grandkids, engaged and hopefully not hearing too many “I’m bored” comments. Suggestions today will center around reading/literacy.

The local library usually has a few reading challenge programs so that kids view reading as fun and in some  ways a ‘game’ as they earn points. There are also many IPad apps that have a wide range of books to chose from, such as EPIC. One of my favorite apps is STORY MAKER. Kids can hand write or type their own experiential story page by page, add pictures from a pre – set vocabulary, draw pictures, record their own voice, and retell the story. It is engaging and quite user friendly. For younger kids, Tab Tale and Grasshopper apps are great for engaging learning through animation. There is nothing wrong with encouraging the use of IPad apps,  as long as the time spent on electronic devices is limited to not more than an hour to an hour and a half a day.

Other ways to encourage reading and writing include having the kids write notes with drawn pictures to their grandparents or friends, write the weekly grocery list (yes the use of invented spelling is great), write their personal invitation for play dates with friends, and write little notes to family members on post-it notes and leave on the refrigerator.

Parents and grandparents, don’t forget to model reading for your little ones! Keep a book or two in each room of the house that you have either read or are in the process of reading. My book for this week is “Column of Fire” by Ken Follet.

“There are many ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all” (Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis).

Happy Reading!

PURPOSE, JOY AND POSITIVES

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SEED!

Today the featured article is from Mershon Niesner, Certified Personal Professional Coach, a guest blogger for PURPOSE, JOY AND POSITIVES.

“You’re a Seed”

“They tried to bury us but they didn’t know we were seeds. Mexican proverb.

As a woman entrepreneur in the ’80’s, a single mom, a motherless daughter raised by a dad, a sudden widow, a board chair leading mostly men, there have been times in my life that I’ve felt the pressure of “being buried”. However, little did society, neighbors, corporate men, know…I was a seed. In spite of the difficult environment, I grew, I blossomed, I thrived.

I recently heard this great metaphor from a young Mexican American, disabled woman who was speaking to her fellow graduates at a college commencement. No doubt she has felt buried many times but on that commencement day she was a seed who had blossomed.

Affirmation: I am a seed.

Coaching questions: What’s causing you to feel buried? What will help you bloom?”

Thank you Mershon for your thoughtful insights.

I hope that you have enjoyed Mershon’s blogs that I have shared with you.  Should you wish to follow her blog, you can find it at: http://motherloss.blog.

PJP

PURPOSE, JOY AND POSITIVES

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Today’s post will be from my guest blogger, Mershon Niesner,  who is a Certified Personal Professional Coach, Welcome Mershon.

“Coaching helps people get unstuck, move forward, and live a healthier, happier, more productive personal/professional life. Mershon Niesner, CPPC

Ever wonder why there are coaching questions or requests at the end of each blog? I’m a retired, Certified Life Coach and I want to share my expertise. Here are three things I’ve learned while coaching people.

People generally know what they need to do to move forward. Solutions may need to be “teased” out with good questions.
Big changes may start with small steps. Simple requests like, “make your bed everyday” or “buy yourself flowers” have been the beginning of major change.
Most people thrive with accountability. Paying a coach and knowing that they are going to ask how you did during the week, often helps folks stay on target and make progress toward their goals.
Affirmation: I want to grow. personally/professionally.

Coaching questions: What is one thing you want to achieve this week? What step can you take today to move forward? How will your life be different if you reach your goal?”

Mershon’s full article 6 Insights From a Retired Life Coach can be found by contacting her through her blog: http://motherloss.blog

Thank you Mershon!

Purpose, Joy and Positives

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RETURNING:

Hello family, friends, fellow bloggers and faithful followers!

The last eight weeks have been an interesting and painful experience for me. Please pardon my absence from the blog. It has not been all sunshine and walking through the daffodils as pictured above.  No, I broke my upper left arm in two places which required a surgery, slings, pills, physical therapy, pain and sleepless nights. But the good news is that within the last few days, I feel some relief and life is beginning to resume the normal state! Wow…what an experience! I am in my seventies, grew up on a midwestern farm, rode horses, jumped from the hayloft, climbed trees and drove tractors and never broke a bone. So, the moral of the story is: NEVER EVER FOR ANY REASON STAND ON A SWIVEL CHAIR!!!  Enough said.

In my next blog, I will introduce a guest blogger for your reading. Mershon Niesner, a Certified Personal Professional Coach, authors books, articles and the blog Life After Losing A Mother. Her insights on this and many important life topics will be a fascinating read for you. I met Mershon back in the nineties as she led a woman’s group I belonged to. Somehow over all these years,  our lives keep crossing paths, She has always inspired me and I believe you will enjoy her writing and reflective coaching questions.

See you all soon and truly thank you for your patience.

PJP