Soft soulful notes swirl and dance in the surrounding invisible air. Hard driving beats of a drum set cut right through your chest. Guitar twangs, leg-slapping timing, head-bobbing motions, contagious smiles.
Music plays all around me. Everyday. Immersion is a relief. A pleasure. A douse of pure delight. Refreshing. Rebirth.
Smooth Jazz ~Soothing background sounds for driving; great for 'white noise' when hard-core concentrating is necessary for a project deadline. Feels like small, intimate club atmosphere in Chicago or NYC. Relaxing and sophisticated yet energizing and urban.
Country ~ Toe-tappin', sing-along tunes. Honest lyrics. Thoroughly and truly all our own. Fun, happy, sad, thoughtful, tearful, joyful, painful, God-fearing, poignant. Filled with values, laughter, shared experiences, emotions laid bare.
Top 40 ~ Monday through Friday work-day mornings. Tuned to a station that broadcasts what's happening in the mainstream by a team of hip DJ's. Trendy updates on who's hot and who's not.
Ecclesiastical ~ The old favorites. The contemporary offerings. Colorful melodies that act as modern reminders of the Lord's rainbow covenant.
Celtic ~ Generations from ages ago speak through the tales sending messages only my heart understands.
New Age/Deep Relaxation ~ Thorough, cleansing "exhaling". Re-centering balance. No concentration. Only feel.
Steel Drums/Caribbean ~ Dig the toes deep into heated white sand. Soak in the warmth of the golden sun on your face, your shoulders, your arms. Gaze out at the glorious sea shades of turquoise, aqua, green, teal. Sip a cold, fruity drink garnished with a vibrant hot pink paper umbrella. Now close your eyes......aahhh......
I hope music is a thread woven into the fabric of your everyday, matching mood and mind-set and need. Another beautiful dimension of life on this planet.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
It Does Take a Village
When Hillary Clinton published her book, I had absolutely no interest in reading it. Seemed like a waste of time. Didn't like her politics, wasn't going to support this avenue of revenue for her.
One Sunday, months later, I was in our church's library and I saw a copy lying on the bookshelf. I walked over and picked it up. Flipped through it. Not a very thick book. An easy, quick read. So I sat down and skimmed through it. Aside from her pointed left-wing comments, the concept of the book was a logical one: We do depend on each other to guide, nurture, educate, prepare, protect our children. BUT...BUT... I, as the parent, am ultimately responsible for my own.
We cannot put the blame on a teacher or a scout leader or a coach or a neighbor when we are disappointed in the behavior or choices of our children. Morals, manners, personal integrity, faith, self-esteem, discipline must be given the means to grow and thrive in our own homes. As parents we most definitely have the right to choose who we want surrounding our children to keep them safe, act as good examples, and broaden their horizons in new and healthy and strengthening ways.
That's what LOVE means. That's how RESPECT develops. That's an EXPECTATION. That's our JOB.
One Sunday, months later, I was in our church's library and I saw a copy lying on the bookshelf. I walked over and picked it up. Flipped through it. Not a very thick book. An easy, quick read. So I sat down and skimmed through it. Aside from her pointed left-wing comments, the concept of the book was a logical one: We do depend on each other to guide, nurture, educate, prepare, protect our children. BUT...BUT... I, as the parent, am ultimately responsible for my own.
We cannot put the blame on a teacher or a scout leader or a coach or a neighbor when we are disappointed in the behavior or choices of our children. Morals, manners, personal integrity, faith, self-esteem, discipline must be given the means to grow and thrive in our own homes. As parents we most definitely have the right to choose who we want surrounding our children to keep them safe, act as good examples, and broaden their horizons in new and healthy and strengthening ways.
That's what LOVE means. That's how RESPECT develops. That's an EXPECTATION. That's our JOB.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Writing Letters
I don't care how addictive the lure of email and Facebook and texting is, nothing can replace seeing a real honest-to-goodness letter in your mailbox.
Admit it. Amid all this electronic community we now inhabit, there is nothing nicer than to be the recipient of a handwritten missive, knowing it took a commitment of time, a personal choice and a feel-good emotion on the part of the writer who understood you would share that same feeling as you read what was being shared on each page.
I'm issuing a friendly challenge:Sit down TODAY and write to someone who has touched your life. Or someone you miss. Or someone you have been thinking about but just haven't taken the time to contact. Or a family member you haven't heard from lately. Simply jot a friendly note ~ Or ~ write page after page after page. Whatever it takes, whatever feels good to reach out and put a smile on a face that will appreciate being remembered.
Admit it. Amid all this electronic community we now inhabit, there is nothing nicer than to be the recipient of a handwritten missive, knowing it took a commitment of time, a personal choice and a feel-good emotion on the part of the writer who understood you would share that same feeling as you read what was being shared on each page.
I'm issuing a friendly challenge:Sit down TODAY and write to someone who has touched your life. Or someone you miss. Or someone you have been thinking about but just haven't taken the time to contact. Or a family member you haven't heard from lately. Simply jot a friendly note ~ Or ~ write page after page after page. Whatever it takes, whatever feels good to reach out and put a smile on a face that will appreciate being remembered.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
St Joseph's Indian School
My maternal grandmother was a proud DAR member. With documented proof of her ancestors who fought in the American Revolution, she moved up the ranks to become Regent of her chapter. (I became a card-carrying member just to act as a silent supporter for her!)
As a member there were opportunities made available to which ladies could make financial contributions and one of these was the St Joseph's Indian School in Chamberlain, South Dakota. At that time (in the 70's and 80's) it was an all-girl school. And my grandmother received a quarterly newsletter which she saved just for me when she had finished reading it.
I poured over that publication. The high school classes were very small and the girls mostly went to vocational or community colleges when they graduated, becoming nurses aides, teaching assistants, office staff, etc, through those programs. I would absorb all the info in every single article I read concerning their field trips, their academic classes, special visitors and the arts/crafts projects.
But you want to know the most wonderful part of this cultural interfacing -- all the way from the western plains to the Ohio Valley, from the tribe of the Lakota to a midwestern urban student? Their names. Their beautiful last names. Like Running Bear and Soaring Eagle and Shining Star and Whispering Winds. I was positively enthralled with those vibrantly descriptive, 'visual' names. I thought those girls were so so so lucky. And because of those very names I was able to follow some of them on their educational journey as I traveled along mine.
St Joseph's still exists, still educates, still contributes....and my heart is still touched by the ancient heritage and deeply rooted traditions illustrated by those young women with those incredible surnames which, in turn, had enlarged and enriched the dimensions of the world for a very lucky granddaughter.
As a member there were opportunities made available to which ladies could make financial contributions and one of these was the St Joseph's Indian School in Chamberlain, South Dakota. At that time (in the 70's and 80's) it was an all-girl school. And my grandmother received a quarterly newsletter which she saved just for me when she had finished reading it.
I poured over that publication. The high school classes were very small and the girls mostly went to vocational or community colleges when they graduated, becoming nurses aides, teaching assistants, office staff, etc, through those programs. I would absorb all the info in every single article I read concerning their field trips, their academic classes, special visitors and the arts/crafts projects.
But you want to know the most wonderful part of this cultural interfacing -- all the way from the western plains to the Ohio Valley, from the tribe of the Lakota to a midwestern urban student? Their names. Their beautiful last names. Like Running Bear and Soaring Eagle and Shining Star and Whispering Winds. I was positively enthralled with those vibrantly descriptive, 'visual' names. I thought those girls were so so so lucky. And because of those very names I was able to follow some of them on their educational journey as I traveled along mine.
St Joseph's still exists, still educates, still contributes....and my heart is still touched by the ancient heritage and deeply rooted traditions illustrated by those young women with those incredible surnames which, in turn, had enlarged and enriched the dimensions of the world for a very lucky granddaughter.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
"Christians Don't Gossip....They 'Share'!"
Oh, yeah. Put me at the top of the list. I will be the first to admit I enjoy some juicy gossip. I do! I think it has something to do with wanting to be "in the know", up on all the newest and most current info. I sure want to know what's going on in the office or the neighborhood or the church or the high school or the community. Who wants to be in the dark and feel stupid or awkward in certain situations?
People have always told me confidences because I'm an excellent sponge. I just keep my mouth shut when I'm asked to. Have I spread other whispered tales and innuendos to friends and co-workers? Without question. Call me bad. Call me human.
It's when you have a person in your corner of the planet who is mean, conniving, rude, jealous, manipulative using a secret or a rumor or a lie to advance themselves or get their kicks while hurting someone else that makes me mad. Or sad. Or defensive. Or want to strike back. So that makes two pathetic people, doesn't it?
Have I stepped up and verbally expressed my opinion to deflate a tidbit or two? Absolutely. Have I done it enough? Absolutely not. Gossip is a slick, tricky path. We all know it. We all spread it. We've been personally touched by it. We've used it. We've denied it. We've felt righteous because of it. We've been stung by it. We've been shocked. We've been doubtful. We've ignored it. We've fueled it.
I saw a comedian, Mike Warnke, on television many years ago, doing his schtick. This one-liner has stuck with me because it hit home. I still laugh when I share this: "Christians don't gossip. They share!" Don't you love it? We can rationalize anything!!
We can label it whatever we want, use it however we will. Justify the end by the means. I still listen to it. Hopefully my sharing days, though, have been narrowed to passing on the good news and not the ugly.
People have always told me confidences because I'm an excellent sponge. I just keep my mouth shut when I'm asked to. Have I spread other whispered tales and innuendos to friends and co-workers? Without question. Call me bad. Call me human.
It's when you have a person in your corner of the planet who is mean, conniving, rude, jealous, manipulative using a secret or a rumor or a lie to advance themselves or get their kicks while hurting someone else that makes me mad. Or sad. Or defensive. Or want to strike back. So that makes two pathetic people, doesn't it?
Have I stepped up and verbally expressed my opinion to deflate a tidbit or two? Absolutely. Have I done it enough? Absolutely not. Gossip is a slick, tricky path. We all know it. We all spread it. We've been personally touched by it. We've used it. We've denied it. We've felt righteous because of it. We've been stung by it. We've been shocked. We've been doubtful. We've ignored it. We've fueled it.
I saw a comedian, Mike Warnke, on television many years ago, doing his schtick. This one-liner has stuck with me because it hit home. I still laugh when I share this: "Christians don't gossip. They share!" Don't you love it? We can rationalize anything!!
We can label it whatever we want, use it however we will. Justify the end by the means. I still listen to it. Hopefully my sharing days, though, have been narrowed to passing on the good news and not the ugly.
The "I FEEL" Generation
With all the marketing/sociological/demographic buzz terms such as Generation"X" , "Y"and "Me", I want to add my take on the current 20-somethings who flow in and out of my days.
They 'expect' a lot, take much for granted, seem to live in a very cushy bubble and, I fear, have no concept of what's outside that bubble once it bursts when they're handed their diploma and leave the ivy-covered walls of their selected institution of higher learning.
Am I lumping them all into one big pot? Yes, but merely for the sake of this entry. (We all know kids who are born knowing what they want to do and where they want to go from the moment they leave the womb. Many work very hard in the college classroom and many more work simultaneously at jobs to pay for that privilege.)
I just have one question for you: Have you listened to this generation and how they state their opinions? They ALL say the same thing. It's incredible. It's unusual to hear "I think..." or "My opinion is..." , the current catch phrase is "I feel....". Has this been your experience as well?
How are you supposed to react when you are told, in response to your inquiry as to when a certain someone will be arriving at your home for the weekend in order for you to make plans, "I feel I will be coming in on Friday or Saturday." WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN? Talk about gobbledeegook. So does that give me the liberty to be home or not when they knock on my door because I "felt" I didn't have to be?!? (I actually had this conversation last week. I gotta tell ya I was NOT a happy camper. To that person, whom I love dearly and cherish even more, I explained that they needed to figure out the definitive answer for their arrival. Period. And we'd go from there.)
This warm and fuzzy stuff was huge when these kids went through elementary and middle schools. Self-image and self-confidence and fitting in and everyone is special was all the rage. I get all the psychology behind the concepts. I do. But the first time one of these kids says to their boss (who is a member of my generation) something like, "I feel.... that the work day is too long" or "too strenuous" or " this deadline is too soon" or "I won't be able to work overtime because I have plans", I guarantee you they will gain some valuable first-hand on-the-job in-your-face knowledge. Initially they will receive the cold, hard look of incredulous disdain which will be followed immediately by verbiage designed to clearly remove any and all misunderstanding that the aforementioned facial expression did not already convey. (And most certainly, another guarantee, this boss will care less about their employee's tender feelings of self-image!)
Bless their inexperienced hearts. I know how smart they are and how they will adapt quickly as life teaches them lessons. This age bracket will become stronger and more resilient as their resume of situations grows. Just as generations before them have done. I truly really feel very strongly about this. (touche'!)
They 'expect' a lot, take much for granted, seem to live in a very cushy bubble and, I fear, have no concept of what's outside that bubble once it bursts when they're handed their diploma and leave the ivy-covered walls of their selected institution of higher learning.
Am I lumping them all into one big pot? Yes, but merely for the sake of this entry. (We all know kids who are born knowing what they want to do and where they want to go from the moment they leave the womb. Many work very hard in the college classroom and many more work simultaneously at jobs to pay for that privilege.)
I just have one question for you: Have you listened to this generation and how they state their opinions? They ALL say the same thing. It's incredible. It's unusual to hear "I think..." or "My opinion is..." , the current catch phrase is "I feel....". Has this been your experience as well?
How are you supposed to react when you are told, in response to your inquiry as to when a certain someone will be arriving at your home for the weekend in order for you to make plans, "I feel I will be coming in on Friday or Saturday." WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN? Talk about gobbledeegook. So does that give me the liberty to be home or not when they knock on my door because I "felt" I didn't have to be?!? (I actually had this conversation last week. I gotta tell ya I was NOT a happy camper. To that person, whom I love dearly and cherish even more, I explained that they needed to figure out the definitive answer for their arrival. Period. And we'd go from there.)
This warm and fuzzy stuff was huge when these kids went through elementary and middle schools. Self-image and self-confidence and fitting in and everyone is special was all the rage. I get all the psychology behind the concepts. I do. But the first time one of these kids says to their boss (who is a member of my generation) something like, "I feel.... that the work day is too long" or "too strenuous" or " this deadline is too soon" or "I won't be able to work overtime because I have plans", I guarantee you they will gain some valuable first-hand on-the-job in-your-face knowledge. Initially they will receive the cold, hard look of incredulous disdain which will be followed immediately by verbiage designed to clearly remove any and all misunderstanding that the aforementioned facial expression did not already convey. (And most certainly, another guarantee, this boss will care less about their employee's tender feelings of self-image!)
Bless their inexperienced hearts. I know how smart they are and how they will adapt quickly as life teaches them lessons. This age bracket will become stronger and more resilient as their resume of situations grows. Just as generations before them have done. I truly really feel very strongly about this. (touche'!)
Sunday, May 2, 2010
New Hair, New Glasses...New Me!
Isn't that nice to know we can 'reinvent' ourselves? First I cut 6" off my hair then I changed my hair color just a bit and now I have these very trendy new frames. I feel like a whole new me! (Still scare myself when I walk in front of a mirror ~ who is that staring back at me??!)
I'm pairing the new look with some subtle changes in my attitude. How easy it is to soften a spoken opinion or be able to see both sides of an argument or stand up with someone who is being bad-mouthed by coworkers. With well chosen words and a calm demeanor you can sway those around you easier than you think. Defuse a volatile situation. Re-direct energies in positive directions. By showing your heart and using your head, you will see changes in those around you. I already have.
I'm pairing the new look with some subtle changes in my attitude. How easy it is to soften a spoken opinion or be able to see both sides of an argument or stand up with someone who is being bad-mouthed by coworkers. With well chosen words and a calm demeanor you can sway those around you easier than you think. Defuse a volatile situation. Re-direct energies in positive directions. By showing your heart and using your head, you will see changes in those around you. I already have.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Best Lip Balm EVER!!!!
My niece has discovered, in my humble but accurate opinion, the greatest lip balm recipe on the planet. Her line is called 'Anne's Garden' after her darling little girl. You have to try her Butter Cream Lip Balm. For only $3.50 (plus $1.00 postage), you will be absolutely amazed. This particular product is fantastic. I tried Chapsticks, Carmex, Blistex, Burt's Bees and all the other wannabes out there on the market. I finally settled on Mentholatum and have been a devotee for years. But not anymore. When I rubbed this on my lips I became an instant fan. It is light. Smooth. Not crusty or waxy. I was surprised how it lasts for hours. Great by itself or under lipstick. Pleasant fragrance. Moisturizes beautifully.
You can find it on her blog site (tidbits365.blogspot.com) or at her Etsy listing (annesgarden.etsy.com). If you have any trouble ordering, just let me know. You must try this product. You will love it just as much as I do!!
You can find it on her blog site (tidbits365.blogspot.com) or at her Etsy listing (annesgarden.etsy.com). If you have any trouble ordering, just let me know. You must try this product. You will love it just as much as I do!!
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