Attitude of Gratitude!

Things to ponder...., , , , ,

This weekend, my daughter and I talked about the different ways people look at life. We both agreed, those who have an attitude of gratitude are people who are much more pleasant to be around and elude a much more uplifting persona.

For me, I know my life didn’t start out as such. I tended to compare my life to others and felt I had to strive for, whatever…. The list was long!

I cannot point to a time when this changed, but found it to be a gradual transition, which left me in a place where I cannot stop finding things to be grateful for. It is easier to laugh and I don’t take myself so seriously; not taking myself so seriously has allowed me to enjoy life more!

I’ve also found, on those days when I awake and it feels like there is a cloud hanging over me, once I find something to be grateful for the cloud starts to abate. The more gratitude, the less room there is for the cloud.

What are you grateful for today?

Friends….

Things to ponder...., , ,

Isn’t amazing how there are some people in your life that no matter how long it has been since you last saw them, it only feels like yesterday?

I’ve had the pleasure of spending my weekend with just such friends. The time was short, but sweet.

I encourage anyone reading this to cultivate such friendships. They enrich life.

When I think of the friends I have, I know I’ve been blessed.

Feel Good versus What is Good

Things to ponder...., , ,

I read the following quote on Jeff Moore’s Everyday Power Blog. The article contained much more information, but this quote is the one that stood out for me.

“Don’t make a habit out of choosing what feels good over what’s actually good for you.”
- Eric Thomas

How many times do we get caught up in our culture or lives making decisions simply based upon what ‘feels good’?

Do we even spend time thinking about ‘what is actually good for us’?

I know this last year as I’ve jumped off the ‘busy’ train and started to be more conscious about how I spend my time I’ve given thought to how growing more and more into the image of Christ should be lived out.

Do you ever think about these things and if so, how do you put it into practice?

Memories and a Lazy Sunny Day….

Light Hearted Living..., ,

It is a beautiful sunny day here in Colorado. I have the patio door open and I’m enjoying the smell of Granny’s Banana Bread baking in the oven. Yum! This smell brings back memories from my childhood and my parenting years. This bread has always been a family favorite. I’ve had to tweak the recipe a bit to accommodate the elevation here, but the outcome is still the same. A treat that is sure to please all it is offered to. The original recipe can be found in “Granny’s Legacy”, by Linda Flynn offered on Amazon on page 2 of the book. You might find a few traditions to introduce to your family there also.

Now, if you’ll excuse me I’ve got to get back to my memories!

Being a ‘mom’

Things to ponder...., , , , , ,

Being a ‘mom’ is not always easy!

There are many different types of moms and different stages of mothering. Some are easy and fun though may be tiring. Others may cause sleepless nights and worry. Then there is the stage of being a mother to adult children. Even this time offers different emotions, joys, rewards and challenges. Today I’m focusing on the challenges and some of the lessons I’ve had to learn along the way. I’ve given birth to three very strong willed daughters. I have four equally strong willed adult stepchildren. I prefer to think of them all as my children because even if you have not given birth to them, you invest in them, love them and want what is best for them.  That is what being a mom is all about!

As the ‘mom’ of adult children, I’ve had to learn they’re all individual adults with ideas, goals, priorities and plans of their own. It can be highly rewarding to watch them strive for something and find their success. On those days, I get to celebrate with them.

On days when they contact me to just chat or call for my opinion or advise, I get to share in this unique adult to adult bonding and there is little else to compare with the joy this offers.

Then there are the days when I recognized I can only watch as one or another of them struggles with aspects of life, sometimes over and over again. It hurts my heart to watch these struggles. I’ve already learned my life experiences are not viewed with any value; thus any words of advice I might offer fall on deaf ears. I’m left with few options. I’m trying to learn, sharing my opinion or advice at times like this only leaves me frustrated. We’ve each matured to the point where these discussions are not heated, but I know I’ve hit a wall and it would be better if I didn’t try. My heart breaks as I watch the same life lesson being presented over and over again with the same outcome. Didn’t some one once say, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results?” As a mom, hardening my heart and turning away is not an option for me. Nor is focusing on one relationship so much as to allow it to rob me of the joy in other relationships.

Being a mom is not always easy! There are always plenty of reasons to be on my knees. I know sometimes praying is all I can do!

 

Could we make the world a better place…..

Things to ponder...., , ,

Could we make the world a little better if we thought of others and spoke of them in the following way?

Today someone asked me if I liked you. I laughed, and I said, “Ha! That’s funny!! I absolutely LOVE that woman!! She’s funny, caring, crazy as heck, sweet, beautiful, she’s reading this right now & I love her!!”

Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor each morning the devil says, “Oh Crap, She’s up!”

“You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.” -C.S. Lewis

This is another message I have received from several sources. It made me feel good and smile. I share it, hoping the ideas might motivate you to think about how you speak of others.

 

Stress Management for Women!

Things to ponder...., ,

I can’t take credit for writing this and unfortunately, I don’t know whom to credit. It was sent to me via email and had been forwarded many times. I hope you will ponder the message and see if it applies to you.

A young lady confidently walked around the room while leading and explaining stress management to an audience with a raised glass of water. Everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, “Half empty or half full?” She fooled them all. “How heavy is this glass of water?” she inquired with a smile. Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my right arm.

If I hold it for a day, you’ll have to call an ambulance. In each case it’s the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.”

She continued, “And that’s the way it is with stress. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won’t be able to carry on.” 


”As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we’re refreshed, we can carry on with the burden – holding stress longer and better each time practiced. So, as early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don’t carry them through the evening and into the night. Pick them up tomorrow.

The day after Valentine’s Day

Things to ponder...., , , ,

Yesterday was Valentine’s Day! It was a time of reflection for me of the great love I’ve been blessed with. God has surrounded my life with love. Sometimes when I’m struggling with an issue or a person I love, I tend to forget how much love is poured into my life through other sources. I have been blessed! Today provides the opportunity to be grateful for each of these people. You know who you are – and thank you!

Jewelry and A Life Story…..

Things to ponder...., , , ,

My husband surprised me with a lovely bracelet made by a local artist for my birthday.  Meeting the artist was part of the surprise. She studied under her father and eventually took over his business. He established himself many years ago making jewelry. All pieces are totally handmade sporting a silver aspen leaf. Most well-known are the belt buckles. Each leaf is hand cut, engraved, and shaped. As special as the bracelet is, she said something that has not left my mind. When she creates a piece of art, it is not complete until it is worn. Each piece of jewelry tells the life story of the person wearing it. That means scratches or worn marks carry the history of the person who wore it.

How unlike my experience with other pieces of jewelry! I’ve had jewelers tell me if I bring a piece into them, they can buff any scratches out. I also frequently thought when a piece shows wear or scratches, it is no longer perfect.

I love this introduction to thinking that life is reflected in the seemingly imperfections caused by time and wear.

How true that is of us also. None of us are perfect though many spend time, effort and money to appear so. The reality is life leaves its mark on us. Some of those marks may be nothing more than laugh lines as we age. Or they may be more serious scars resulting from accidents or medical care. Some of the marks left on our life are not visible on the surface. It does not matter what they are, they are the marks of the life lived. This has left me wondering what kind of marks I’m leaving behind.