Appearance

Appearance. The new Star Wars movie is the latest rage, and I have plans to see it today. Although this movie is a fantasy, there is a bigger reality to the aspect of original cast members. Stars who appeared in the original movie back in 1977 have aged. Apparently Carrie Fisher is getting the brunt of this reality in the reaction to the viewing audience. However, I think she handled this beautifully with the following words, "Youth and beauty are not accomplishments, they're the temporary happy by-products of time and/or DNA. Don't hold your breath for either." What wise, and wonderful words. These are words a girl could never have uttered. Now that Fisher is on the cusp of sixty, she has traded her physical beauty for an even better type of beauty; wisdom. I see too many young stars as they start to enter aging take drastic means to stay young. Staying healthy, and taking care of yourself are all important as we age. However, as gravity has a way of taking over, so does bravery and self-acceptance. Feeling comfortable in your own skin, albeit a more crepy version has merit. You go Princess Leia!

Limitations

Limitations. We all have them. Not one person is spared. Why is it that we seem to be so possessive of them? Why do we seem to even brag about them? " Why I don't have a creative bone in my body?" "Who me? I can't draw a straight line." Novelist Richard Bach states, "Argue for your limitations, and sure enough they're yours." The irony here is, that you are arguing with yourself. Most of the time the people around you champion your efforts. This is a convenient game you play with yourself to avoid failure. If you never try, you never have to try again. Regardless of those limitations, you are still capable of making the effort, improving and even succeeding. Stop arguing in favor of your limitations. Rather move forward in spite of them. Now start arguing for all the awesome things you plan to do.

Wings

Wings. Muhammad Ali of all people said, "The man who has no imagination has no wings." Isn't this the same man who said, "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee?" Maybe he was on to a thing or two. It is our imagination that allows us to soar to greater heights. When we limit what could be, when we discount the possible to impossible, then we are clipping our wings. I like to challenge myself to think, "Why not?" Often we are quick to only consider one or two possibilities. Often we are quick to say, "That will never work." We stick to the tried and true, never questioning why. We give up too soon because we do not allow our imagination to take off. Know that although your wings are unseen, they are ready to transport you to a fuller life. Allow imagination back into your life.

Better

Better. With the new year approaching tradition dictates a new and better you.  New Year's resolutions are on everyone's mind. Gyms are packed. The line at Weight Watcher's heads out the door. Unfortunately, few of these resolutions will still be around a month or two from now. However, if you are really serious, and committed to change, then this might be the book for you. As you know, one of my favorite bloggers and author is Gretchen Rubin. I had the good fortune to hear Rubin speak this past year when she visited a neighboring town. Her latest book,  Better Than Before, is chock full of habit forming strategies. Her four tendencies allow you to understand your own inclinations more fully, and why a one size fits all approach does not work. Habits are the key to successfully keeping your resolutions. I know for me, that I do better as an abstainer vs a moderator. Don't even get me started on that bowl of chips at a Mexican restaurant. However, for others they do perfectly well with a chip or two, and seem to know when to push away from the bowl. With Rubin's guidance you can either jump into the deep end or stick a toe into the shallow waters depending on what works best for you. Here's to a Happy New Year of successful resolutions!

Grumpy Cat

Grumpy cat. I live with a grumpy cat. Since my daughter and grandson have arrived she has become quite Grinch-like. Now there has always been a mutual dislike between these two, but what has the poor baby ever done? All I can figure is that the cat knows he's her offspring. So I'm spending my time keeping an eye on her, making sure she gets a little bit of extra attention from me, and pondering the wonders of the universe. I would say Merry Christmas from her, but she's too busy complaining to comply! 

Thoughtfulness

Thoughtfulness. It really is amazing the power of a thoughtful act. I received a card the other day from my sister expressing sympathy for the passing of our sweet dog Zoey. Now it took some effort and thought to take the time to go to the store, purchase the card, sign and then mail it at the post office. I know how busy everyone's lives are, but this one act of thoughtfulness made my day. Sometimes we think we need to do grand acts, when a small act of thoughtfulness can be very meaningful. Thanks Sis for your sweet card.

Boredom

Boredom. Are you comfortable with being bored? For most of us boredom is something we find unpleasant. But what if there was an upside to boredom? What if boredom could be a springboard toward creativity? Sometimes to alleviate boredom we fill our days with obligations. Busyness allows us to check things off a to-do list so we don't have to deal with boredom. However, when  children complain of being bored, we often encourage them to find something creative to do. Once when I was administering a test which basically required me to do nothing more than monitor without interacting with the students, I found myself struggling with boredom. I have a mind that needs to be actively engaged pretty much all of  the time, and I was not allowed to read or use the computer. In my attempts to do away with boredom, I noticed that one of the students had brought her snack in a Walmart bag. The letters were clearly 
displayed and before I knew it I was challenging myself to see how many words I could make in my head. You'd be surprised at the amount. Instead of allowing myself to complain about being bored, I used it as an opportunity to do  something creative. I like this quote by Dorothy Parker: "The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity," Stay curious my friend.

Mom's Potato Masher

Mom's potato masher. It's been almost forty years since the death of my mother. Her illness was short, and her passing unexpected, so we did not make time for goodbyes. In the process of going through her possessions I ended up with a few of her cooking utensils; a slotted spoon, a rolling pin, an egg beater, a soup ladle, and a potato masher. Now none of these have any monetary value, and would generally not be considered valuable. However, for almost the last forty years every meal I have prepared, and there have been many, have brought back memories of my Mom.Each time I reach for that potato masher, I think of her because growing up we had mashed potatoes for dinner almost every night. Now I can honestly say that I don't think Mom was a gourmet cook, as every vegetable I ate as a child was out of a can. But more importantly, my Mom cooked and served dinner each night as we sat down as a family at our kitchen table. Now I do remember a few tears because we were required to clean our plates regardless of how we felt about the food. We shared laughter, quarreled with a sibling or two, and talked about our day. It was at the dinner table that our Dad announced the upcoming birth of our baby sister. It was here that he read the itinerary of what would become our favorite vacation to New England to celebrate the Bicentennial in 1976. What I do know is that that the tradition of eating dinner at home was carried on with my own family. Eating out was usually reserved for the weekends and we shared many a meal around the kitchen table. I'm proud to say that my mother's legacy continues today in my daughter's home as she cooks for her family and sits down to a nightly meal around her own kitchen table. Thanks Mom for teaching me the importance of family. 

Christmas Music

Christmas music. I don't know about you, but I love Christmas music. Each year I treat myself to a new Christmas CD. I have quite a collection, and have been guilty of sneaking a listen before Thanksgiving. There just doesn't seem to be enough time to listen to them all. Collections have a way of doing that; starting out small, and eventually getting out of hand. I think one of the reasons I enjoy Christmas music so much is because I actually know the lyrics. These songs have been etched into my heart and mind from childhood. I remember going Christmas caroling as a child, and singing carols in the car as my family was looking at Christmas lights. Unfortunately, my ability to carry a tune at that time was somewhat questionable. But even so, the joy the carols brought was undeniable. I hope you take the time to enjoy listening to Christmas music this year.

Doing

Doing. I'm reading a book called The Book of Doing: Everyday Activities to Unlock Creativity and Joy by Allison Arden. I've found that for me I'm not always that good with action. I spend a lot of my time "in my head" thinking about all the things I want to do. I spend hours pinning ideas on Pinterest, but never actually getting around to doing them. I analyze, reflect, and ruminate way too much. But, I do know that, "nothing ventured, nothing gained" rings true. In her book Arden lists the Laws of Doing. These include ideas like: "It's never too late to start doing," and, "Disengage from your device," to name a few. She gives lots of fun, simple activites to help engage creativity. It sounds like this might be a fun way to jump start my own creativity through action.

The Ugly Christmas Sweater

The ugly Christmas sweater. I have noticed that the ugly Christmas sweater has found its way into Christmas tradition. Whereas, for several years you had to scour the Goodwill to find one of these gems, they are now actually being sold in retail stores. For those of us who were adults during the 90's, at least in the teaching profession, these sweaters were considered quite fashionable, and we wore them with great pride. In fact over time many teachers had enough sweaters to wear a different one every school day in December. As I scroll through Face Book I can't help but think that many of these "vintage" sweaters are still pretty darn cute. I guess it just goes to show you that "beauty" really is is in the eye of the beholder!

Life Lessons

Life Lessons. "Learn from everything," are the words of comedian Laura Weinblatt. Now as a proponent of life-long learning , I knew I had to share her simple, but powerful words.  There is a lot of truth to this message, as the world really is a classroom. It offers not only lessons, but teachers along the way, and we are given homework daily. I want to learn from my mistakes, learn new things, travel new places, meet new people, and soak up what the world has to offer. Once when I was in graduate school, I had a professor who said if we continued to make the same mistake over again, it became a choice, and not a mistake. That was a powerful lesson at the time, as I was turning a blind eye to my situation. Her wise words allowed me to reevaluate the situation and choosee a new direction. As I look forward to the start of a new year, I'm ready to embrace the learning it will bring.

Advent Calendar

Advent Calendar. Advent is the four week period prior to Christmas. The idea of the Advent calendar is a German tradition. When I was little and lived in Germany we had a calendar that had little flaps that opened each day to reveal a hidden Christmas picture. It was a fun way to count down to Christmas. When my daughter was younger her first Advent calendar revealed a piece of chocolate each day. When she was a little older she had an Advent calendar with little pockets. Each day there would be a small trinket, candy or note about a fun Christmas activity we could do together. Today I have my favorite Advent calendar of all. It consists of Santa and a small candy cane that gets moved over to the next pocket as the count down to Christmas continues. No candy, no toys, just the anticipation of the coming holiday. I think the anticipation is what makes the Advent calendar so much fun. I once read that for some people the anticipation of the event brings as much enjoyment as the event itself. I find 
this to be true for me.

Creative People

Creative people. Artist Henri Matisse says, " Creative people are curious, flexible, persistent, and independent with a tremendous spirit of adventure and a love of play."  Now if you can honestly say this is not you, wouldn't you love for it to be? Imagine how rich your life would be with your curiosity as your guide leading you from one adventure to the next. It's easy to get bogged down by all the things we have to do, but finding a creative outlet will sweeten your life. One of my favorite things about teaching was the opportunity to be creative. Over time those opportunities became fewer and fewer as the curriculum became more standardized. Today I look for creative outlets through my writing, art, photography, poetry, and even my cooking. If you are one who is quick to insist that you are not creative, please think again. Start to look for ways that you can express yourself, and you might be surprised at how creative you really are. Take to heart the words of Matisse and claim your rightful place as one of the creative people.

The Classroom

The classroom. I've spent the majority of my life in the classroom. First as a student and then as a teacher. As a child I aspired to be Perry Mason or Nancy Drew. I never once seriously considered being a teacher. However, when the time came to attend college, I fell in love with my education classes. They were right up my alley. Just enough psychology combined with a good amount of crafting made my coursework fun and not a burden. I remember having to track the phases of the moon for a month. Each night I stood outside my dorm sketching the changing phases at exactly the same time. This and collecting aluminum foil potato boats from the cafeteria for my required science box were all fun things to me. Something else I have noticed about the classroom is how much I enjoy the physical space that it offers. Elementary classrooms are full of stuffed animals, games, books, seashell collections, and colorful posters. Just walking in each morning brings a smile to my face.  I've noticed over the years that whenever I visit a different workspace I find myself wondering if I would be happy working there. I must admit, I've not found a space I like more than the classroom. So although, I cannot say I grew up wanting to be a teacher, I'm glad the profession found me.

The Blank Page

The blank page. Have you ever found the blank page to be intimidating? Have you ever not attempted something because you feared the imperfection of the finished product? I once took an on-line class offered by a favorite author. I had read several of her books and looked forward to the class she was offering. I bought all the materials required; a fancy sketch book, an array of watercolors, and scrapbooking supplies. But, from the first lesson my discomfort grew and grew. As I looked helplessly at that blank page, I had no idea where to begin. What the author had envisioned as a fun, hands-on workshop was turning into a very uncomfortable experience. About three lessons in, I just put the materials to the side and stopped participating. I wasn't enjoying this creative endeavor. I just wasn't pleased with my product, and I couldn't shake the feeling that it needed to look a certain way.  Jennifer Moraitis, the author of The Creative 
Retreat Workbook says, that although, the blank page can be intimidating, "...if 
we stay in that safe place, if we don't take risks, we can't grow as artists." Is 
the blank page holding you back?

Ornaments

Ornaments. I'm a sucker for a sentimental Christmas ornament. Years ago I started collecting Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments. As I've been unwrapping them this year I am reminded of so many great memories. I've got a gallery collection of past and present pets, my daughter's activities throughout her childhood, and  funny moments that make us laugh. This year I added a new ornament celebrating the birth of our little grandson. In addition I chose a really cute camper to help keep the dream alive about some future travels. Along with the Hallmark collection I have ornaments given to me by former students, from friends and family, and from ornament exchanges. Although, a beautifully decorated tree is quite eye appealing, I get a kick out of adding those special personal ornaments each year. About twenty years ago we accidentally gave away all our ornaments from the first years of our marriage. They had been packed along with an old tree by the movers, and we were unaware that they were there. It sure made for one sad tree that year. I still remember that cute wooden reindeer from our very first Christmas as a married couple. Luckily, I still have a picture of it, and over the years I've been able to add to our collection. Well, I better get back to work. That tree won't decorate itself!

Color

Color. I was drawn to a box of Sharpie markers the other day. Not just any box, but a big, beautiful box of thirty different colors for the unbelievable price of ten dollars. I passed it by several times convincing myself that I didn't really need it. I even left the store and tried to forget about them. But somehow they kept calling my name. I'm partial to Sharpies because they don't run, and are perfect for outlining. You can fill them in with Crayola markers or colored pencils; it's really just up to you. A few days later when I returned I knew I had to buy them before they were gone. I try not to fall prey to a lot of impulse buys, but every now and then you just have to succumb. Especially when you can't wait to try them out. I've been out of pocket for the last week, so today's the day I plan on getting my color on. As Oscar Wilde likes to say, "Mere color can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways." I'm glad I listened.

The Toy Bully

The toy bully. Cooper is a toy bully. While visiting my daughter, son-in-law and new grandson this week, I brought along my little guy because he's such a momma's boy. He's had a fun week hanging out with his canine cousins, but it became apparent the other morning that Cooper does not know how to share. In a matter of minutes he had drug as many toys as possible into the guest bedroom so that Duke and Ellie would not have an opportunity to play with them. The funny thing about Cooper, though, is he refuses to actually take the toys out of the toy box. But I guess as soon as Duke gets them out, all bets are off! I couldn't help but laugh when I caught him in the act. I sure do enjoy this curly haired fellow.

Dogs and the New Baby

Dogs and the new baby. It's just me and the dogs right now. Grandmother duty goes beyond just the new little guy, it also includes the furry four legged ones as well. Dogs are usually our first and last babies, but along the way they have to give up their place of honor to a tiny bundle of joy that sure cries a lot. It's funny though, one of the dogs is extremely interested, and the other could care less! So I'm surrounded by dogs here in the bed while the new parents are getting a little more sleep. Fortunately, I don't mind one bit!

Artist

Artist. Do you consider yourself an artist? In my mind an artist is someone who can draw really well. Someone who lives a really unconventional lifestyle. For some reason the term "starving" always comes to mind. I've begun reading a new book by Emily Freeman called A Million Little Ways. She defines an artist as, "being brave enough to move toward what makes you come alive. She states, "Art is what happens when you dare to be who you really are." Apparently, I've painted an artist with too narrow a brush. My drawing ability is limited, but I am embracing the artist within. When I was ten, I knew exactly 
who I was. I never questioned for a moment what I liked, what I wanted, or whether the world would deliver. Now almost five decades later I'm 
rediscovering that girl again. I'm embracing my art in many ways; visual, writing, and photography to name a few. You've heard the expression, "Coming full circle." That's the opportunity that age offers. 

Baby

Baby. Life changed yesterday. A precious new life entered this world with a wail. Is he handsome?  Well of course he is! Is he the most amazing grandson ever? No doubt. Life really is a miracle. The day we found out that we were going to be grandparents he was the size of a peppercorn. Looking at him last night brought tears to my eyes. God is so good, and I can't wait to get to know this little man.

Waiting

Waiting. It's hard to wait. As a child I remember Christmas Eve being the longest night of the year. Now we are finding ourselves waiting on the birth of our first grandson. We saw our daughter and son-in-law over Thanksgiving and were hoping not to have to wait any longer. But, that little guy had other plans. So now we are back home awaiting the call. I remember when I was awaiting the birth of my daughter, I reluctantly had to accept that she would be born on her own time. In fact, she was born almost two weeks after her due date. I'm not naturally good at waiting. I'll go inside a fast food restaurant over waiting in the drive through any day. I'm quick to move, talk and act. However, I do remember when my daughter was young, I made the conscious effort not to rush her. I decided that allowing myself to wait would benefit her the most. I'm glad I did, because I didn't rush through those years. So I'll continue to wait on this new little guy and look forward to not rushing through them.

Freedom

Freedom. "Our freedom can be measured by the number of things we can walk away from," are the words of author and philosopher Vernon Howard. The summer after my first year to teach I moved back to my alma mater to begin working on my masters degree. It was an easy move. I was still living at home and owned relatively few possessions. It was a move I needed to make, and I had the freedom to do so. A few years later I had an opportunity to study in Colorado for the summer, however then I had signed a lease on an apartment, and had filled it with furniture and possessions. Needless to say, I stayed put. My freedom to just pull up and go was over. In life we spend a lot of time and money adding to our growing number of possessions. In the long run we end up not being able to walk away. We are obligated to our job, our debts, and the upkeep of our stuff. It's interesting that as you move deeper into life, all those things that seemed so important a decade or two ago, no longer hold the same appeal. Downsizing seems to be the name of the game. How free are you?

Turkey

Turkey. I remember the first Thanksgiving turkey I ever made. It was my first year to teach and my mother was in the hospital. She had been diagnosed with lung cancer and little did we know that this would be her last Thanksgiving. Because she was in the hospital, the job of Thanksgiving dinner had fallen upon the shoulders of my sister and I. My dear teacher friend, Linda Boatright had coached me through the turkey preparation, insisting that I could not go wrong with a roasting bag. She was not only correct then, but I've been using the same method ever since, and my turkeys have all come out great. That is to say with one exception. That was the year I decided to purchase a roaster, instead. My thinking was that it would free up the oven for sides. Being a rule follower, I dared not deviate from the directions, and did not even peek once to see how the turkey was doing. I had been warned that often times turkeys cooked in a roaster did not brown properly. You can imagine my delight when I lifted the lid and found my turkey to be a dark brown; unfortunately a too dark brown. Let's just put it this way; if you've ever watched Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase then you know what I'm talking about. My husband did his best to carve it, and he  said he felt like Jesus with the loaves and the fishes, praying there would be enough to go around. This Thanksgiving we're ordering some smoked turkey from Rudy's just in case that little grandson of ours decides to make an early appearance. We're kind of hoping he does! Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours.

Nature

Nature. What is it about spending time in nature? It just seems good for the soul. Yesterday I took advantage of a beautiful, crisp sunny day to spend some time investigating a local park that I had passed by several times. My husband, and I, and Cooper enjoyed some well earned down time and added some steps to our fitbits. I answered the question, "What are you waiting for?" and made a point to check it out. I enjoyed taking pictures, and walking through the wooded area. I agree with Aristotle, "In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous." I hope you get an opportunity to spend time in nature sometime soon.

What Are You Waiting For?

What are you waiting for? Is there something you've been wanting to do, but just haven't gotten around to it? Now this could be something relatively simple or maybe a whole new life. Two things have happened lately that has caused me to ponder this. A co-worker of my husband unexpectantly lost their spouse, and an acquaintance I barely know has chosen a whole new career, totally unrelated to her past life. I've watched co-workers, classmates and family members pass away, always thinking that there will be plenty of time tomorrow. I understand responsibilities and obligations. I've lived my entire life an honor student to such things. I'm not saying I'm moving to Tahiti, but what if I did?

Loyalty

Loyalty. When I think of loyalty, I think of my dog Zoey. Now Zoey has pretty much lived her entire life taking second stage to the more alpha dogs around her. The interesting thing though, is that she seemed very content to do so. Zoey never intentially ever gave us any trouble. She was always obedient, sweet, and accommodating. She was very in tune to my moods and was the first to show concern when I was upset. She was the kind of dog who would even check on you when you were under the weather. She somehow would curl up in such a way that you didn't even know she was sleeping in the bed with you. Her herding instincts were put on display at our farm once, when she chased a runaway calf out of the woods and back to her mother. She had never received one bit of training, and it was obvious it was pure instinct. Zoey was a trooper as she recovered from surgery on a torn ACL many years ago. It was during this time that we really bonded. Her recovery was long and arduous, but she never complained. Zoey has come to the end of her life,  and we are having to make the hardest decision a pet owner makes. Her quality of life is not good, and she is struggling more each day. I've learned a thing or two about loyalty from this sweet dog, and I will miss her when she's gone.

Coloring Books

Coloring books. Everywhere you look these days you are seeing coloring books for grown-ups. I think it's a great idea. Coloring was always one of my favorite things to do as a child. I loved having coloring contests. In fact it's the only kind of contest I ever really enjoyed. I think it was because I always was a good colorer. I took great pride in outlining very darkly and coloring lightly inside the lines. Yes, I'm an inside the lines kind of girl. I always have been and probably always will be. Once my Dad brought me home a Christmas coloring book when I was around ten years old. I remember making the commitment to faithfully color each page in sequential order. I loved every minute I spent coloring away to my heart's content. As a child one of my fondest desires was to own the illustrious box of 64; crayons that is. Unfortunately, I never achieved that honor. I think the box of 48 was the highest I ever owned. I continue to enjoy coloring even today. Of course I mix it up a little beween markers and colored pencils. Sometimes it's fun to be a kid again!

Opinions

Opinions. Do you care about what other people think of you?  Are you the kind of person that expresses your opinion freely, not worrying if it is not well received?  I have been thinking about this lately, and have come to the conclusion that although I would love to be one of those people, I am not. It does matter to me what people think. Just writing this blog was a huge step for me, because I'm uncomfortable with possible rejection. Putting yourself out there can be intimidating, but I'm glad that I have. I try to make my postings more thought provoking than controversial. The other day I was quick to react to someone I disagreed with, and regretted it later. I seem to have a need to be right, but when it gets in the way, and doesn't end well maybe I should reevaluate and look for a better way. How do you respond to those you disagree with?

Let Sleeping Cats Lie

Let sleeping cats lie. What is it about cats and the way they pretty much do whatever they want? Right now my cat is contentedly sleeping in the crook of my arm. If she could I think she would remain in this position all day. Now it doesn't matter that I might be wanting to do something that doesn't include her. Somehow she weasels her way back into my lap because that is her purr-fered
spot. Meanwhile, my obedient little poodle rests peacefully about two feet away on the couch. He's learned the infamous truth, "Cats rule and dogs drool!" Oh, what a world! I'd like to think this animal is truly devoted to me, as I know my poodle is, but if truth be known I'm just another warm spot along the way of her nine long lives!

All or Nothing

All or nothing. I've been guilty of this time and time again in my life. As long as everything was going well, or the way I wanted it to go I was fully engaged. This worked with my weight, my endeavors and even some relationships. However, if things began to go astray, I found myself giving up. If it couldn't be "perfect" then it wasn't worth doing. What I'm learning, though, is that life is never perfect. It doesn't matter how hard you try, something will not work out exactly as you envisioned it, especially when you allow others in the mix. So now I'm trying to be satisfied with "good enough," rather than all or nothing. Something happened the other day that was a setback. Now in the scheme of life it wasn't anything life or death, but it was frustrating. My first inclination was to just give up. It appeared that I really had little control over the situation. But in giving it some more thought, I realized that I had made a lot of progress and it was just going to take a little longer than I had hoped to reach my goal. I'm glad I'm looking at things differently now, and giving up the all or nothing mentality.

Drip by Drip

Drip by drip. I've noticed lately that there has been much ado about a certain coffee shop's cups. The elephant in the room is that although the cups are traditional Christmas colors now, they are missing the words Merry Christmas. Now, I think it is interesting how Christians are reacting to this. One pastor has suggested offering your name as Merry Christmas to your barista. That way they have to write the words on the red cup. Pretty stealthy if I do say so myself. The other, more popular reaction seems to be, "What does it matter? It's just a cup. We know the true meaning of Christmas." After giving this some thought, I'm not so sure this is the right attitude. What this coffee shop, along with many others have done, is created a faux Christmas. In an effort not to offend they have offended. Growing up in the 60's Christmas was an integral part of Americana. Everywhere you turned in the month of December, Christmas was proudly displayed. The words "Merry Christmas" were heard
regularly. When I began my teaching career in the late 70's we embraced the secular side of
Christmas, and left the birth of Christ for Sunday School. Bit by bit, in our attempts to never make
someone feel uneasy, we have removed Christmas from our culture. We have replaced it with some
sort of "Holiday of Your Choosing." I think it does matter that Merry Christmas has been left off that cup. Any color could have been chosen, but they chose a traditional Christmas color, and thumbed their noses at us that they would not acknowledge the traditional holiday. Now what you do with this is up to you. Maybe it doesn't matter and you may think it's "much ado about nothing." But drip by drip, everytime we stop paying attention and let another tradition go by, we might just be surprised when it all becomes a distant memory of an America we no longer know.

Macintosh Apples

Macintosh apples. Oh, the Macintosh! In my opinion the quintessential apple! If you've never tried one, I encourage you to take advantage of Macintosh season. Even if you are not a particular fan of apples, this one just might make you a believer. Macintoshes are not sold year round, so you have to be on the look out for them around the month of November. These apples are from New England, my birthplace, and I was introduced to them by my mother. I remember my favorite English teacher, who was from New England as well, meeting my Mom and discussing their mutual admiration for the Macintosh. In fact, my mom literally sent me to school with an apple or apples for my teacher- Macintosh of course. I was just about to bite into its juicy goodness, when I was inspired to write a little homage to its amazingness. Tell me what you think if you try it out.

Proud Daughter

Proud daughter. Yesterday was Veteran's Day and I had an opportunity to see my Dad dressed in his Army dress blues again. My Dad served in the military for twenty years and was in both World War II and the Korean War. He was being honored as the highest ranking, oldest veteran of the assisted living residence where he lives. Now what made this even more special is that my Dad has asked to be buried in this uniform. It has been hanging in my closet since February, and I never thought I would get an opportunity to see Dad wear it again. He looked as handsome today as I remember him when I was a child. I felt quite proud as the veteran honor guard came up to shake his hand and thank him for his service. I'm especially appreciative of the wonderful people who care for him each day that went out of their way to honor Dad. Our World War II veterans are dwindling and I felt blessed to be able to spend another Veteran's Day with my Dad.

The Things We Take For Granted

The things we take for granted. For most of us when we think about Memory Care, we envision a group of frail, elderly men and women. And most of the time we would be correct. But, unfortunately this is not always the case. I met a woman the other day in Memory Care who was in her early sixties. In fact, she was celebrating her birthday, and when asked her age, I found out that she was only two years older than me. It was a very humbling experience. I thought about all the things I complained about daily, all the times I felt sorry for myself, and all the things I wish I had and did not. And I felt ashamed at my selfishness and pettiness. I guarantee she would take on all those "troubles" if given one more day to spend outside of the confines of Memory Care. When you get to be my age, you find yourself dreaming about retirement and all the things you are going to do. You dream about traveling, building your dream house, spending time with your grandkids and starting all those hobbies you never had time for before.The reality is that your best made plans may not be up to you. I hope after this experience that I learn that all those complaints pale when given the opportunity to embrace a brand new day.

Advice

Advice. I got some good advice the other day. As you know, I find myself struggling to maintain the twenty pounds I lost two years ago. I did very well for about a year, but ever since this summer I keep gaining and losing the same few pounds. More than anything though, I have found myself going back to those old, destructive eating patterns. I was at a a Weight Watchers meeting this  past weekend discussing the fact that I already know HOW to work the program, I just couldn't stay motivated to do so.  My leader told me for this week to do simply one thing. She said each time you are getting ready to eat something, ask yourself, "Is this the best food choice I can be making at this time?" I've found this to be quite  helpful, as I am holding myself accountable for my choices. It's easy to turn a blind eye to what I'm eating at the moment and act as if it doesn't matter. But, I know better. I know the truth. So this week, I'm asking myself that simple question, and I AM making better choices. I look forward to seeing a weight loss at my next meeting. It may be as little as a half a pound, but that's okay. I appreciate knowing that there are those people out there willing to offer a kind word and the help you need.

The Hamster Wheel

The hamster wheel. A friend of mine posted the other day about how busy her life had become. Inspite of it, she expressed gratitude in the wake of a serious health crisis a few years before. I thought about her words and agreed that the glass half full was the best way to approach life. However, I began to wonder about the reality of the hamster wheel. You see a hamster wheel keeps going faster and faster, but it really doesn't get you anywhere, but tired. I realized how easy it is to just jump on board and begin the trek. It made me wonder if there was a different way? Was everything so important that nothing took priority? Is modern day living just one massive to-do list? I've started working again, and although it is not full time, it is sizably more than what I was doing before. My comfortable life of routine and structure has been tilted and I'm having to adjust to fewer hours to get things done. However, it really has me questioning the importance of all the "stuff" I once deemed so necessary. Maybe it's time to get off the hamster wheel and approach life a little differently. I think busyness is kind of like a reptile that grows to the size of its cage. I can always think of one more thing to do if I allow myself.

Ambiguity

Ambiguity. The other day I was walking down the hall at my school and I saw a sign that caught my eye. "Be able to accept ambiguity." Now I wondered how this could be a good thing? The definition of ambiguity is uncertainty. How can uncertainty be beneficial. Isn't it better to be certain, and confident in what we already know? However, my school has taken on the the concept of having a growth mindset over a fixed one. If you are resistant to ambiguity you might not allow yourself the opportunity to consider something new or different. It is easy for me to want certainty in my thinking. But I want to consider embracing some ambiguity in my life; allowing myself to be open to possibilities. Businessman Roger Von Oech says it well, "Take advantage of the ambiguity in the world. Look at something and think what else it might be."

Don't Know

Don't know. I heard an interesting statement the other day. "You don't know what you don't know." It hit me how true this was. Nine months ago I began the process of investigating the concept of assisted living. I knew nothing. Every step along the way was something new for me. Fortunately, I found that there is a community of people all willing to share with you their expertise. You will find along the way that you are not alone. Now this has been an invaluable lesson for me, because up until this point in my life I was reluctant to ask for help. But since then I have reached out to others for help in other areas. With the technological help of a friend I was able to participate in the blogging challenge I did last month. Prior to this I probably would have not participated because I didn't know how. More than anything I have learned that it is okay to not know what you don't know. You aren't expected to know it all, and there will always be someone willing to help; you just have to ask.

Disappointment

Disappointment. Olympic champion David Rudisha believes, "Sometimes when you get disappointment it makes you stronger." I tend to agree. Although, no one likes disappointment it is part of life. Those disappointments, and the way we respond to them shape us. My concern though, is that as a culture we seem to want to shield our children from disappointment. We want to orchestrate "perfect" lives for our children that result only in happiness. The hardest thing to do as a parent is to allow natural consequences that might result in disappointment. But, oh what an amazing lesson we can teach our children. Learning to try again, learning to get past hurts, learning to take responsibility for actions will all guide our children to deal with the disappointments of adult life. Protecting them from the hurt leaves them powerless to cope. Let your children know that you are there to love and support them through the disappointments of life, but don't deny them the opportunity to grow into healthy adults.

Open Doors

Open doors. Ralph Waldo Emerson advised,  "Be an opener of doors." I like to consider myself a door opener. I'm always on the look out for the next challenge; the next new thing. I'm not content to rest on my past accomplishments. I find life to be much more exciting when I'm opening the door to something new. Now the paradox here is that sometimes my need for perfection has held that door at bay, as I've hesitated to push through. However, I can't think of a single time that I regretted taking the risk. Now this  doesn't mean that everything always turned out the way I had anticipated. In fact, often times it was the exact opposite. But, what I gained from the experience always made it worth my while. Think about the doors you come across in your own life. Have the courage to turn the knob, because living a life behind closed doors is not really a life.

Anticipation

Anticipation. About a week ago I had the pleasure of sitting in the nursery of my soon to be born grandson.  As I looked around, I saw that my daughter and son-in-law had lovingly taken care of every detail in preparation for his birth. His room was decorated in a western style so typical of his daddy. They had handcrafted his changing table, the shelves above it, and had even made a sign with his name written in rope. His toy box was brimming, his closet packed with clothes of every size, and his book collection growing. The excitement of meeting him, and getting to know him increases each day. Loving him is already a given, but loving him more is eagerly anticipated. There is something extra special about that first born child; that first grandchild. I've lived vicariously through the grandchildren of my friends, and can't wait to join the club. Welcome little one!

Discover a Quest

Discover a quest. After thirty one days of discovery, I hope you have learned something new about yourself. I hope that you will choose to include adventure in your daily life. Chris Guillebeau defines a quest as, "...a journey toward something specific, with a number of challenges throughout." We've spent the last month together finding ways to embrace discovery through individual challenges. My final challenge to you is to reflect on the Discovery Journal you have created. Jot down a few changes that you want to incorporate in your life, and continue on that exciting path. The mother of author H. Jackson Brown has been attributed to this sentiment, "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."  Begin your quest today.

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Discover Change

Discover change. To quote my favorite childhood president, John F. Kennedy,  "Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future." For many of us change is something not always welcomed. However, the reality is that change happens. Sometimes we have control over that change, and sometimes we don't. This is where discovering change comes into play. Don't be so reluctant to change. Don't be so set in your ways that you allow the discoveries that change might bring to pass you by. Change doesn't always have to be something earth shattering. Rather simple, small changes might be just what you need to add a little more novelty to your life. Keep your eyes, and your heart open to change.

Challenge: Think about an area in your life that you have been considering changing. Using your Discovery Journal list ways you can accomplish this. Choose one step and get started.

Discover Discomfort

Discover discomfort. Now this may sound odd. Who would willingly choose discomfort over comfort? But take the advice of motivational speaker Brian Tracy, "Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new." Not only discover discomfort when it comes to trying new things, discover that discomfort is not the end of the world. Learn to just go through those moments, and allow yourself the time  it takes to adjust to your new circumstances. Rarely is discomfort something that should hold you back from attempting. The value of the growth involved makes the discomfort all worth the effort. Think about something you gave been wanting to do, but have been holding back. Know that you may feel a little uncomfortable, but push yourself forward to the challenge.

Challenge: List three things you have been considering doing, but have had some reservations about because it was outside your comfort zone. Choose one and get started. Journal daily about your discomfort. See if your feelings change along the way.

Discover Uncluttering

Discover uncluttering.  I love the quote by Alexander Pope, "Order is heaven's first law." Clutter seems to be a constant battle. I know at times many of us have thrown our hands up and surrendered to its powerful pull. However, discovering a way to keep your clutter at bay might be just worth the effort. One of the best, but not always easiest ways, is just not to own too many possessions. If you stop bringing items in you have fewer to manage. If possible don't invest in storage containers, rather find a way to rehome items you no longer use. Things that are easy to replace, and are used infrequently might be a good place to start. Discover that when your environment has some order you might find that you feel more peaceful as well. Now this is all relative, and you need to discover what level of uncluttering that works for you. But you might just be surprised at the benefits of uncluttering.

Challenge: Choose one small area, like a drawer. Empty it completely, and go through each item. Only keep the things you really like. Record your feelings in your Discovery Journal. How did you feel during the process? How do you feel now looking at the uncluttered drawer?

Discover Expression

Discover expression. The human heart and soul seems to crave a vessel for expression.  Author Oliver Bowden believes that, "Self expression is a vital part of understanding life, and enjoying it to the full." As children expression seems as natural as breathing. Free from the constrictions of judgement children literally dance through their days unaware that they shouldn't. Discover in your adult years a way to express yourself. Use your words, your writing, your voice, your music, your culinary arts, your humor, your body, your painting, your doodles to name more than a few. In the end you will have shared with the world your gift, your uniqueness, the mere fact that you existed. Resist the urge to quiet your expression. Share it with the world.

Challenge: Choose a vessel for expression. If it can be recorded in your Discovery Journal do so. If not, record your thoughts about your experience. How did it make you feel? How can you make more room in your life for expression?

Discover Knowledge

Discover knowledge. Knowledge is an accumulation of facts acquired through experience or education. Science fiction writer, Frank Herbert, of the Dune series professes, "The beginning of knowledge is the discovery of something we do not understand." Now I know that not everyone holds the same level of enthusiasm for knowledge that I do. However, with today's information explosion and easy access to resources there is no reason not to expand your knowledge base. Discovering new information can be both fascinating and fun. As an elementary school teacher I always loved to hear these words, "Did you know?" Children are natural discoverers of knowledge. They are like sponges when it comes to learning. Take advantage of discovering new things in many areas of your life. Your added knowledge will allow you to be more informed and to speak with more authority about things you know. 

Challenge: In your Discovery Journal brainstorm a list of areas you would like to know more about. Check out You Tube for videos that go along with one of the subjects you picked. Jot down three new learnings.

Discover a New Path

Discover a new path. Are you bad about always taking the beaten path?  I know I am. However, I like the words of scientist and salsa dancer Erol Ozan, "Some beautiful paths can't be discovered without getting lost." I remember when I was in second grade I decided I would try a different way home. I remember the thrill of trying something new. Although my neighborhood was perfectly safe, it seemed a daring thing to do. As children the thrill of discovery comes easy. As we age we seem to follow that same well worn path. Perhaps that is more out of convenience than anything else. Try a new route home today. Pay attention as you drive by as to what new things you can discover. Never allowing yourself to seek out a new way, a different way may prevent you from an amazing new discovery just around the corner.

Challenge: Take that new way home today. Make a mental note of a few new discoveries. Record these in your Discovery Journal. Make a point of trying out one of your new discoveries.