Welcome

Such a simple word but it means so much. It is something I hope everyone who comes over to my home or visits my pages or blogs feels... welcome. 

It actually means:  1. To greet or extend hospitality cordially to. 2. To accept willingly or gladly, a warm greeting or reception. 3. Willingly invited or allowed. 4. Used in the phrase "you're welcome"  to acknowledge thanks.

It goes back to a post I did earlier about hospitality. I don't expect people to always wait to be invited over, many times people just drop by. 

When I go somewhere I hope to feel welcome. If I don't, I do not go back. Simple. 

What are some ways you make others feel welcome? 

Your day, how to make it better.

1. Make a list of things that make you happy.
2. Make a list of things you do every day.
3. Compare the lists.
4. Adjust accordingly.

Life and memory...

Ha!!  I have a terrible memory for names, that includes book titles, authors, tv programs...and it can continue. Someone will ask me about what kind of car someone drives, red pickup. Beige car. A small blue car. Semi. That covers it for me. Color and maybe size. 

Mom used to own a used bookstore. People really do come in and say things like that. She also had other things, gift items. Her sign said: If your child breaks/ruins it, you buy it. She could remember titles and authors by color also, especially the popular ones. She also could remember out of all of her many books if she had certain authors. 

When you deal with others in your life, expect to have to help them at times. No one remembers everything all the time. Don't be ashamed if you don't remember, others may be able to help you. If you are on the good memory side, be ready to help out. Life is about giving and the little moments. Be a part of them! 

This so reminded me of living in France. You are headed off in a car that you rented, in a country you don't know, depending on signs to tell you where you are going. Well, it is NOT happening. The signs tell you where you are not going. They don't tell you that the place you want is so many kilometers away and you are heading in the right direction. Nope, they say you are not heading toward a certain place.

This series of signs tells you are stuck right where you are. Can't go back, left, right or forward. Some circumstances are like that. You feel stuck where you are, emotionally and physically. Trying to deal with an addiction, trying to lose weight, trying to get out of a bad relationship... and on and on. 

But life is not regulated by a series of signs. YOU make the choices and you do the work to move on. If you are willing to make a move, do the work...you CAN move on in any direction. Please don't make that direction backwards!

Your story

I am not sure I would have believed this in the past, but I do now. Curiously, the more you tell your story the more it seems to help as well as you work through things with the telling. There were stories that I could not get through without crying in the past. Now, only the recent hurts bring tears, the older things I can talk about freely. 

When you tell your story there is always someone who relates with it and you help by telling. Something else I would not have believed in the past was there were others who had gone through what I have. Not only are there others who have gone through the same thing, you can always find someone who has gone through something even worse. 

So when you think you are all alone and there is not anyone who will understand, WRONG.  There is someone out there who will understand and you are never alone. It may take some work to find them, find a support group, talk with your pastor, friends, get that story out. It is part of who you are and if you keep it hidden, you never really know yourself. We not only hide things from others but ourselves as well. How can you really know who you are and become who you are meant to be if you are hiding parts of yourself?

Choosing Happiness

It is interesting how easy a negative thought in the morning can ruin your entire day. They tend to sneak up on you and before you know it you are in a funk. I try and start each morning by getting out of bed and in my sleepy fog, try and find something good to think about while waking up. I take care of the pets, get dressed and get on my pages each morning on FB. Then I try and do at least one blog. My one page, Smoothing Ragged Edges (also a blog the same but with different posts) is all entirely positive. That is really where I get my mind in order and try and keep it there for the day. A few days ago I posted a post about enjoying the journey. It helped me through that day as I had a trip for the day to make. Yesterday, I was in a hurry to get things done and the subject of lunch came up. I really wanted to go home and work in the yard, but the thought came through, "enjoy the journey"... so we went to lunch. Had a great lunch and I relaxed, laughed and had a great time and a great rest of the day. Nothing got done except the errands but I did enjoy the day. When I saw this post this morning I thought about yesterday and decided, yes, we can choose happiness if we let ourselves. I hope something that I have related to you today helps you in choosing happiness for your day!

Peaceful and calming

I kept coming back to this photo as just looking at it brought me some calm. I have a rather long day today and maybe this post is trying to tell me to just go with it, relax, enjoy the day what ever it is. It will make it a better day for all involved if I do that!! I hope this helps you today...

Waiting for life to begin

And what are we waiting for? 

I look back and realize I did not wait for a lot during my life. I was married and had a daughter before 16. I have lived in different places, including Paris France. People thought I was crazy to do some of what I did but I had faith I was being led where I was supposed to go. We can always change course and move in another direction, but we can't undo not doing something. 

So, waiting for??? A special invitation? Make your own!

Enjoy, create, ethics and learning

This single post covers a lot of ground in a very short area. I will say what I think about each area and how it is in my life, I hope you at least think about each in yours.

If we could always enjoy what we do/create, the world would be a much better place and we would be happier. 

I seemed to have my nose stuck in a book a lot of the time, when it was not, I was outside exploring nature around me. Probably why I need it in my life now. 

The friends? I was never one to make a lot of friends. I seem to make them on line easy enough... but not in real life. I tend to push people away. Partly because my BS meter is non-tolerant. Partly because I expect people to do what they say and if they don't, well...I don't stick around for a lot more. I also say what I think which often gets me in lots of hot water. I don't have a great filter before it exits the mouth I guess. 

Ethical... yes. Speak the truth, be a good example, follow your faith. I really don't need to continue, you get the idea.

Never stop learning. If we do anything other than set in a dark room and do nothing we should always be picking up something. TV is full of things to learn, books, outside, our jobs...our life in general. Often we don't pay attention that we are learning, or maybe we are not 'seeing or hearing' to learn. 

Yes, a great deal was said in a very small space...and what did you think?