Resilience matters

Part of resilience is deciding to make yourself miserable over something that matters, or deciding to make yourself miserable over something that doesn’t matter. – Elizabeth Edwards

True to my randomness - I took a mini-break and am posting 1 1/2 days late from my normal routine.  I'm a morning person and would much rather post at that time.  But today...I ran out of time.  So here I am, posting in the evening and seeing how that works for me.

Tonight when I took my dog Copper for a walk, as we walked back into the yard, I noticed the pile of tree branches finally uncovered from the snow piles.  The sunlight was shining just right for me to notice the difference in color on the branches.  Upon closer look, the trees had been partially stripped of the bark.  The rabbits had built their community there through the winter.  They used their resourceful nature and ate the tree bark when they couldn't find grass to eat.  They were also incredibly resourceful in producing a large pile of rabbit do-do while staying alive through the winter.

I wondered, if I was a rabbit, would I be miserable by a huge pile of snow that required me to live in a brush pile or would I be less miserable because I had a place to sleep while the snow fell throughout the winter?  Either way - it appears they had a feast, had a place to sleep, and had a place to survive through the long winter.  Resourceful?  Yes, I guess so!

Happy Tuesday - thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy your moments of resourcefulness!

A rabbit mansion.

Grass for bedding, trees for nibbling on.

How did they reach some of these
branches, and how did we not see them?

Rabbit do-do - I think I'd be miserable without
a separate room for this...

I guess this is the other room....

De-lovely indeed

It’s delightful, it’s delicious, it’s de-lovely. – Cole Porter

The smell of the grill, the fresh air and breeze blowing, the birds singing, and the sun shining.  Yes, delightful, delicious and de-lovely indeed!

Happy Sunday - thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy your moments of "de's" today!

Steaks and veggie pockets

Mouth wathering yummmm...

Delicious indeed!

Spring landscapes

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes. – Marcel Proust

In case you missed my previous messages, I've been talking about the pending Spring!  It is a great time to reflect on how the landscape changes.  Seeing the old familiar landscape begin to appear is refreshing.  How it has changed at the same time remaining the same as it was before the winter took it over keeps things in perspective.  In a way, just like life...sometimes a big coat of fuzziness covers your thoughts for a period of time.  When you gradually let go of the layers of frustrations, you begin to see things with new eyes and a allow a fresh new perspective to appear.  No matter how familiar the landscape is, a new look at it is always refreshing.

Happy Saturday ~ thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy the new perspectives in your journey of discovery!

Earlier this week the snow was persistent

Yesterday, it was barely there.

The full moon shining on it,
today with the bright sun...it will
finally be GONE!!!!!!!!!

Judgment to discernment

The practice of discernment is part of higher consciousness.  Discernment is not just a step up from judgment.  In life’s curriculum, it is the opposite of judgment.  Through judgment a man reveals what he needs to confront and learn.  Through discernment, one reveals what he has mastered. – Glenda Green

 Interesting quote.  If I think back to moments in life where I've had to research on a topic, there is a point where it changes from judgment to discernment.  That moment when you master the topic or skill at hand.  It can be a long journey through the confrontation and learning process.  The reward of mastery is worth it, don't you agree?

Hmmm...very interesting indeed!

Happy Thursday - thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy your moments of discernment!

What are you waiting for?

Go master something! 

Never give up

Never give up on something that you can’t go a day without thinking about. – Unknown

I'm beginning to see my daily thoughts that spring and warmer weather will finally arrive are coming true.  The activity of the birds has increased and I'm thinking our cats are excited about the change in weather too.

We've made it together through this long winter!  While the change in season has really nothing to do with us thinking about it daily, it's still fun to welcome it now that it is finally here.  I know a day hasn't gone by in April that I haven't thought about spring.  The persistence of keeping positive and hoping for the new beginning is what has kept my spirits up.

Happy Wednesday - thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy your moments of persistent thinking!

These two never give up on the idea that
they will catch the birds.  

Life is one big road

Life is one big road with lots of signs.  So when you are riding through the ruts, don’t complicate your mind.  Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy.  Don’t bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality.  Wake Up and Live!  - Bob Marley

Great thoughts Bob!  Enjoy the journey on the road of life!  You only get one chance to enjoy it or destroy it.  What do you choose?

Happy Tuesday - thanks for stopping by!  Time to wake up and get busy living!

Through the hills and valleys

The miles in between

Don't let the momentary stops
take a toll

The true value in life

Is being willing to be a geek and have
some fun once and awhile

Fill your gaps with laughter on the
journey!

This must be the place

There’s no place like this place anywhere near this place, so this must be the place. – John C. Maxwell

Think about a time where you really felt like this must be the place.  Were you with the right people, in the right spot, at the right time of the day, or the right time in your life?  No matter what, you just knew it felt right.  The "Ahhhh...this must be the place" feeling is a great feeling.  Think now of a time when you didn't feel that way.  No matter which way you turned to try and make it work, it just didn't feel right.  When you're in the right place, things just seem to click.  When you're in the wrong place, things just seem to fight you at every turn.  Keep searching, there is a right place for everyone.

I often think that pets are better at discovering the "this must be the place" feeling.  Well, at least they know how to look like they feel it is the right place.

Happy Monday - thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy the moments in life where you feel "this must be the place."

Copper's perch - he can see
everywhere and still relax.
Ah...this must be his place!

Be patient, wait until the storm passes

Never cut a tree down in the wintertime.  Never make a negative decision in the low time.  Never make your most important decisions when you are in your worst moods.  Wait.  Be patient.  The storm will pass.  The spring will come. – Robert H. Schuller

I wonder if Mr. Schuller coined the phrase above while experiencing a spring just like this one?!  I agree with his thoughts.  Isn't it true that if you let yourself make a decision when you're really down, or when you're seeing only the negative, it's the worst time to do so?  It is best to wait...wait...wait...the spring will come.  A new and fresh viewpoint always helps.  You might just find that you choose differently?  Or you might confirm your original decision by being able to put a positive spin on it?  Either way, the waiting helped.

Yesterday's snow storm has past.  The sun is shining and the frost is beautiful this morning.  The birds are flying around.  Ah...the sunshine brightens my spirit a bit.  How about you?

Happy Saturday ~ thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy the sunshine, enjoy the moments you've patiently waited for.

The sun will melt the white - revealing the green!

I'm still amazed at the beauty of the sunshine
hitting the frost. 

The sun's frosty glow,
warming my chair...soon
I'll be sitting there.  (Kinda
poetic eh??....or dorky!)

Tizzie loves the view of the
birds flying around.  

A blur to the seasons

A good maxim is never out of season. – English Proverb

So my maxim for the day  - in light of the relentless winter we're having, after all it is always good to look ahead and plan.  You'll be ready for the event when it arrives.  The event...

Dare I say...yes, I will....there are only....

250 shopping days until Christmas  

I think I'll need a shovel.

And a waterproof outfit to sit in while I make my list

Oh and waterproof paper, insulated cup to keep
my coffee warm, and maybe a warm jacket.

Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy your pre-planning moments!

A cat's self interest wins

There is an ongoing battle between conscience and self-interest in which, at some point, we have to take sides. – Robert Brault

This morning, as I walked into the kitchen to get a cup of coffee, I found the evidence of "self-interest" winning over.  We recently purchased a new bag of dog food.  Our cat Dessy apparently likes it.  Last night after our dog at dinner, she honed in on the bowl and began chowing down on the food.  So I carefully moved it to safer ground before bed-time.  Apparently, I was unsuccessful in safer zone placement.  I wonder how long it took her conscience to lose the battle?  She "knows" better...or so I thought.  The crime scene was void of the offender.  Probably napping after the big snack.

Good thing humans are better at picking sides than pets!

Happy Thursday - thanks for stopping by.  How about you, when temptation appears, does your conscience win or your self-interest?

A few sensible words

Every day we should hear at least one little song, read one good poem, see one exquisite picture, and if possible, speak a few sensible words. – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I recently read a fable in reference to our ability as humans to move on after a loss.  I liked the message, so I'll share it here as my "read one good poem, aka, one good fable".  A few sensible words in the message as well.

"There once were two monks, a young novice and an older monk, walking on their way through the countryside; they were observing vows of silence until sundown.  The monks came to a stream where a woman stood on the bank, helpless to get across.  Another vow of their order was never to touch or make any contact with women.  Yet, without hesitation, the older monk picked up the woman, carried her to the other side of the stream, set her down, bowed and continued on his way.  The novice was stunned.  He could hardly wait until sundown to ask his questions.  Finally, the sun set, and the words came rushing out of the young monk's mouth: "How could you do that?  How could you pick her up like that?"

The older monk replied, "I put her down on the other side.  You are still carrying her."

Words of advice - you can't put something down unless you pick it up, you can't move on from the past unless you've grieved for it.  It's okay to recognize, acknowledge and accept your past.  It's okay to move on from it too.

Happy Wednesday - Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy your day ~ listen for the birds singing!

I'm ready to move on from the snow.  No regrets.
I'm thinking I need a better telephoto lense for my
camera.  In the tree to the far right is what
I saw as an exquisite photo op.  There were
9 Robins in the tree - celebrating the arrival of
Spring (that's what we're in now right??)

My color of the day - green

You are the colors you choose.  – Vicky Wall

Happy Monday - today I choose the color green.  It's green somewhere!  I'm green with envy about it being green some where.  There's green grass under the white snow.  Yada, yada, yada!

Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy your colorful moments of the day ~

One step at a time

Every step you take is a step away from where you used to be. – Brian Chargualaf

Yesterday, another milestone on our journey to watching our youngest move off to college.  We've been to the big city of Chicago before.  We walked the same paths from the last time we visited.  We brought along a few more people to enjoy the journey of discovery.  Seeing their excitement to learn about a different culture and their love of adventure helps bring in a new perspective.  The excitement of something new helps make it okay in a way.  In some ways, it was easier, because of the familiarity of having them along as well as having been there before.

This time, it was a bit more real...she's really going to go there.  The next time we go there, we will be leaving her behind.  As I look back through the pictures from yesterday, I realized I was walking behind most of the time, just watching and letting her discover this new journey.  The steps away from us are only steps of growth, for that I'm grateful.  I know her path will eventually lead back home.  For now, it is simply great to see her grow, be brave, and to follow her dreams.

Her two favorite guys -
walking with her to discover
yet more about the school

These two - never afraid of an
adventure - ready to discover
"some new culture"

Dad - starting to let go, walking
a bit further behind.

Letting go can be an
up hill battle...

A big city - a little girl - ready to discover her new
journey in life.  

Dad - excited to show off the
city to the new visitors!

A moment of Nothingness

If you give people nothingness, they can ponder what can be achieved from that nothingness. – Tadao Ando

Happy Saturday - Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy your moments of nothingness - what will you achieve today??

I just know the grass is doing
nothing but waiting for spring...

A little music uplifts the spirit

Musicians from the beginning of time have been there to express the mood and the musical feelings in the air for whatever’s going on in that particular culture.  It’s the greatest joy as a musician to be able to translate that, be part of something and watch the scenery around you. – Trey Anastasio

Today I was thinking about warmer weather.  My mind wandered back to a year ago and our visit to Jamaica.  I started to look through the pictures for a little uplift to the mood.  One more day of snow and I think the whole state of WI is going to blow up due to the bad moods the weather is helping create.  Enough already!

Bad moods are contagious and hard to avoid.  What's the cure to avoid a bad mood?  It is choice to pick it up and carry it throughout the day.  It's a choice to brush it off and dump it.  Which one do you choose?  Do you listen to some music that lifts your spirits?  Don't worry - be happy?

Happy Friday!  Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy the positive mood swings of your day - catch one and fly with it to a happier state!

No worries - just a song in his
heart and a desire to share, in a
culture of tranquility....
Ah....see feeling better already!

Unconditional love

I have never met a person whose greatest need was anything other than real, unconditional love.  You can find it in a simple act of kindness toward someone who needs help.  There is no mistaking love…it is the common fiber of life, the flame that heats our soul, energizes our spirit and supplies passion to our lives. – Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Today marks the one year anniversary of my mom's death.  Thinking back over the year, I'm grateful for all the moments of compassion shared with our family.  I'm thankful for the caregivers she had and the compassionate way they loved her too.  While the journey with dementia leading up to her death was long and hard, our unconditional love for each other was the one tie that kept us together.  While death at the moment it happens is overwhelmingly sad, the freedom from a disease isn't sad, it is a relief.  I know in my heart, she's happier free from the confusion and frustration.  Her peaceful and accepting passing remains a beautiful and comforting memory to me.  The lessons on compassion I received during the journey have blessed my life and has energized my passion.  I can't help but think she's smiling and proud of how I've let the experience grow in me.

If you're going through a difficult time with your aging parents or a loved one, here's a poem that I found in my mom's papers.  I've kept it as a treasure, as she wrote it in her beautiful handwriting.  I can't help but wonder if she knew long before the disease was visible to me that she was worried about it happening to her?  She didn't make it to seventy five, the disease took her at 70.  But the poem hits the highlights of what she went through and felt.

Wishing you moments with loved ones while they are still alive - treasure the memories when they are gone too!

I am still a Person

My steps are much slower and unsteady now.

My eyesight gets dimmer each day. 

The terrifying blanks in my mind keep growing

As memories and dreams fade away.

Smile, or look.

Please, notice me.

Let me hold your hand.

Will you stay and talk awhile?

Please try to understand.

All my days now stretch before me,

Full of loneliness and fear.

My youth and vigor have slipped away,

Replaced by the wrinkles I see in my mirror.

The doctor gives me medicine,

My Pastor says his little prayer.

But there's still an emptiness inside

I need to know YOU care.

I can live with my aging body,

After all, I'm seventy-five.

But there's one thing that I do ask

Don't forget me while I'm still alive.

By - C J M

I love you mom!

Choices, choice, choices

You have many choices.  You can choose forgiveness over revenge, joy over despair.  You can choose action over apathy. – Stephanie Marston

Choices, choices, choices, that is what life gives us on a daily basis.  Having the power to choose your response to a situation is a blessing and a curse.  Some days you are presented with situations you had no choice in having to deal with.  If you're already overwhelmed, new additions to the long list might just put you in the "not too nice" mode of being.  Especially when the situations show up smack dab in the middle of an already busy life.  You have to chose between being immobilized or energized.   Your response is always your choice.

It is true, no matter what, you're going to be presented with opportunities to exercise your brain power to choose the positive over the negative and move on through the situation.

Today...snow again.  Tonight...snow predicted again.  I guess, that makes it easy to choose what footwear to wear.  Today, I'm choosing apathy for the weather, while at the same time wearing a smile on my face that my feet are protected from the dreaded snow!

Happy Wednesday - thanks for stopping by!  Best wishes for you as you make choices today ~

I would choose the running shoes,
but the boots will work better today.

I would choose to sit here in the sun,
but with the snow, I choose to
just admire how it looks cool
through the lattice work on the chair!

A little humor for the day

Humor is the great thing, the saving thing.  The minute it crops up, all our irritation and resentments slip away, and a sunny spirit takes their place. – Mark Twain

I'm sure I'm not the only person who has experienced an irritating day.  You know, the kind of day where no matter what you try it just doesn't go as smooth as you'd like.  Throwing a little laughter or humor into the situation helps to lighten the mood.  It helps you step back from the irritation and take a fresh look at things.  Staying away from bad news helps too!  I'm trying desperately to find the humor in the pending snow storm............!  When nothing else seems funny, I find a little laughter watching Dessy pose for the camera.  From the beached whale look to the big grin - there's always something to smile about with her around.

Happy Tuesday - thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy the moments of humor in your day!