Lessons to be learned from a Pencil.

We can learn all kinds of lessons from life. The above is just an example with word play.  The trick is to pay attention to what is happening and what you are learning, while putting it in a positive way. Not always easy, in fact, rarely it is easy. It does get easier with practice. Again, as with writing, it gets easier the more you do it. Pay attention to what is going on in your life today and start practicing!

Advice from a hummingbird

What great advice from a little bird. We often take ourselves too seriously. It is not always about us but what is happening around and to us with others. Every moment of every day is different. Be sure to saveur each one. They won't come around again!

Dreams

Have you ever noted your dreams? Not those that happen during sleep, but what you dream of happening... It may be a good idea to try this. You can always change them later, but writing them down and each year go through them. See how many you have accomplished, which ones you no longer want to aspire to and add new ones. Give it some thought. If they are written down, perhaps we would try harder to make them come true.

What it takes...

Three words which say a huge amount. They are all intertwined. Without one chances are you will not have the other two. Stop and think about it. I look at any of the three and without that one, the other two would not be. 

Many of us have gone through things that others think, I could not have done that. But we never know what we can really do until we are put to the test. I personally think faith should be listed as well. With faith, the other three are easier to bear. 

If you have gone through things and come out the other side, be grateful and thankful. If you are going through something now, hold on, keep the faith. Strength, Endurance and Courage will get you through this. 

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?