September 2024 – Site Title

Contrasts

“To me, a rich and satisfying life means one full of contrast. Give me sleep ins. And soft rains. Coffee shops and conversation. But also adrenaline and adventure. And drunken bellows to the stars. I am determined to embrace this extravagant life for all that it has to offer.” Beau Taplin

It wasn’t a great day for a walk, grey clouds were gathering and as promised rain was on the way. What a difference a day makes, weather-wise. Yesterday it was picture perfect, warm and absolutely mesmerizing but today it had turned tables and was ready to show another side, a grey and wet one. There was no beauty to speak off as I trudged nonchalantly through the muddy and leaf-strewn path heading for the forest line. Oh, but I was wrong for I had only to open my mind and my senses to see the contrasts between a beautiful day and a bad one. To my surprise, each had its own brand of beauty if only I wasn’t so quick to pass judgement.

The not so subtle rustling of the leaves caught in the interplay of wind and absolute silence was balm for my anxious soul. I needed peace but somehow it was missing today. Glancing into the forest, I noticed that it was quiet, too quiet. The trees were tight-knit and hidden in shadows of its own making echoing the onslaught of rain that was to come. I usually don’t like walking close to the forest because a feeling of unease usually envelops me and my senses are usually on high alert as it was today. There was no room to relax. I walked on in silence and in the distance, the hoot of an owl could be heard. I welcomed the distraction and made my way to the stream. It’s gorgeous in spring, its banks overflowing with golden daffodils but today it droned on in silence, devoid of color as it made its way to the pond where the storks gather. Today, there was not one stork to be seen. They too had gone hiding from the oncoming force of nature. Standing at the tiny wooden bridge, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. It was peaceful but the unease was still there. Enclosed spaces are not my cup of tea and neither are deep dark forests. I moved on, got back on the path and made it to the fields.

My mind began to relax as I took in the wild open spaces before me. I was free again and standing at the bottom of the hill, I took in the panoramic view. It was grandiose even through there was no sun to speak of, only a light purple haze enveloping the distant mountains. It was beautiful just the same. Just a different kind of beautiful.

Contrasts are necessary to show the light and dark aspects of life and today nature decided to show my jaded mind, come rain or sunshine, there is always something beautiful about each aspect if only I would open my mind to it and embrace it with open arms to reap the full benefits. The rest of the walk was uneventful, an ordinary walk but my mind knew that if I kept my eyes peeled, I would capture the extraordinary. It was just a matter of time and if nature was willing to throw it my way. As the first droplets of rain hit the muddy path, I pulled my jacket tighter around me and ran back home leaving nature to do what it does best.

The ebb and flow of life was at work and who was I a mere mortal to question the order of the day or how it was brought about to life. Just accept and enjoy was the message and I bowed my head to its all-knowing wisdom. I was at peace.

HAVE AN AMAZING DAY

Declutter Your Mind

Photo by Juan Pablo Serrano on Pexels.com

It’s a gorgeous day with light fluffy clouds and blue skies. The weather forecasters didn’t get it wrong when they promised a really nice Sunday but they never do. They’ve got it down to a science.

Sitting out on the terrace with the sun’s rays picking up heat, it feels good. I had just finished decluttering my wardrobe, took the summer stuff out, made room for the warm winter clothes and bagged up the unwanted pieces that had been cluttering up my space for no other reason than to just take up space. Twice a year, I do the changeover but it never ceases to astonish me at just how much stuff I had accumulated in between seasons, unwanted things that is. I can’t seem to say, “Your time is done, it’s time for you to go.”

Perhaps humans have a tendency to hang onto things even when the expiry date has come and gone and doing so not only clutters up the limited space we have but we do the same thing with our minds as well so that it is hard to find our way through the maze that we call our mind.

The Oxford dictionary defines declutter as “removing unnecessary items from (an untidy or overcrowded place.”

How often do we declutter our minds? I don’t because unlike decluttering a wardrobe, my mind contains ‘stuff’ that I have put away under lock and key and opening it back up would be like looking straight into Pandora’s box. I have collected so much baggage from my past that I wouldn’t know what or how to get rid of what no longer serves me not that it had served me before. All that clutter were and are reminders of a past, at times beautiful memories but hidden within the joyful memories are the monsters I would rather forget. I don’t want to frolic there for too long so why do I keep them there like precious trinkets when they are not.

“You can’t reach for anything new if your hands are still full of yesterday’s junk.” Louise Smith

That right there is the truth although most of us refuse to accept the inevitable and declutter if not once a year at least regularly to make space for what needs to be there. Alas, we are good at storing things. We carry along years and years of baggage just for the sake of reminding us how awful someone had been, we hold on to unkind things that had happened and perhaps we need these momentous to feel righteous about why we are the way we are.

Recently I spoke to a friend who lost his wife five years ago and whenever things are not going well in his life, he pulls out his ace card, his dead wife. “She was the best,” he moans trying to convince himself more than anyone else. It’s a phrase he throws out there whenever he needs to but I know and he knows that things weren’t all that great in paradise as he would like everyone to believe. Yet he keeps himself from moving forward by hanging on to the make-believe in his mind and so doesn’t give the new person a chance to come into his life. He then wonders why he can’t keep a woman by his side. No woman in her right mind would want to compete with a dead wife knowing full well that it would be a losing battle from the get-go.

“Mental clutter is the energy we consume everyday and the thoughts that take up space in our mind. It is the ‘noise’ that keeps us from seeing the world through a clear lens.” Unknown

I know someone else who had something awful happen to him. It has been years since that took place but every chance he gets he throws it out like a gauntlet and challenges anyone to pick it up and prove him wrong. He doesn’t realize that all those bad memories need to be put to rest, dwelling on them brings no solutions only anger and the refusal to move on. If you want to move on to something better, the past needs to be laid to rest. There is no other way.

I know that all of us have baggage from the past in one form or another, some less, some more and some are hoarders! Looking into that space I call my mind, I am horrified at the clutter and junk there. Where do I even start? The golden rule to decluttering is to take one room at a time and this works for your mind as well. Look at one unwanted thing, spend some time there, make peace and let it go. This process requires looking at the ‘hard stuff’ but moving on always requires working with something we don’t want to but in the long run we will be thankful that we did. It is also the only way to let go, make room for the ‘new’ in your life. I have to remind myself of that as well. If you don’t know where to start, here are some tips.

8 Ways To Declutter Your Mind:

Accept what is.

Be kind to yourself.

Release your guilt and fears.

Let go of control.

Visualize what’s important to you.

Focus on your life-force energy.

Allow yourself to be vulnerable.

Find what doesn’t serve or interest you and let it go.

HAVE AN AMAZING DAY!

Nature’s Way

“Adapt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

It was wildly windy yesterday but since we had a respite from two days of non-stop rain, I decided I would venture out and see what nature had in store for me.

Approaching my usual haunt, I noticed that I was all alone with wide open spaces before me. The sky was dotted with angry grey-tinged clouds and they seemed to be gathering force, perhaps for another deluge or two. It was in the weather forecast afterall.

I couldn’t take my usual route because it was covered in mud so I kept on the narrow roadway heading to the top of the hill. I noticed that even the birds had taken cover from whatever Mother Nature had in store for us. Not a soul and no animal or bird was out there but I liked it that way. However, I would have liked a rabbit or two for company but not today. The wind was strong as it whooshed past my head and it wasn’t whispering softly as it usually does.

Suddenly I noticed something move in the distance. I stopped and watched as it glided gracefully with the wind. As it got closer, I noticed that it was playing along with the wind, doing a dance of its own. I thought it was a hawk at first but it was much bigger than any hawk I had ever seen and its underbelly was tinged in orange. Was it an owl? Do they fly like that? I had always thought they were nocturnal creatures but I’ve been surprised before. I stood and watched as it got closer with every gust of wind. Right before it got above me, I decided to move and fast! Not sure why but I just did and the unidentified creature took off in the opposite direction.

The wind had picked up speed as I got to the top of the hill and it was playing havoc with my hair whipping it around my face. I looked around and noticed that today my beloved fields were cloaked differently. The trees were showing bald spots where once it had been a lush green and the farmers had harvested all their crops and in its place planted something that was sprouting green. Not sure what but it didn’t matter. They knew what they were doing. Then it dawned on me that I loved the fields in whatever color it chooses to wear. I’ve seen it dressed in white, seen it bright with flowers, golden when it is turning colder and today dressed in grey with its skirt billowing from the wind and that too seemed to suit it just as well.

Stopping at the top of the hill to take in the scene before me, I noticed the wind had picked up speed so I turned around to make my way home and just then I felt the wind pushing me forward and not too kindly either. It seemed to be saying, “C’mon get moving! I’ve got work to do.”

I walked home with a smile on my face, the wind on my back and a new found respect for nature. It has it all planned and execution of that plan is never a problem. Winter will get here when it is good and ready but first fall needs to make one last stand. Golden suits me just fine as well.

THE ONE

“As you awaken, you will come to understand that the journey to love isn’t about finding “THE ONE” the journey is about becoming “THE ONE.” Craig Crippen

Ever since I started putting myself back in the dating circle, I’ve asked this question over and over again. How do I spot “The One?” Will he stand out like a sore thumb or will our paths cross and sparks would fly? The answer surprisingly is you’ll have to look, decipher and discard as you go along to find that one special person. Love like in the movies is for the make-believe theater. Real life is something else.

However, he’s NOT the one if he takes you for granted.

He’s not the one if he enjoys cutting you down to size because it makes him feel good.

He’s definitely not the one if anger is part of his DNA and he goes on a rage fest every chance he gets.

He’s not the one if your feelings do not matter to him.

He’s not the one if he’s hung up on someone else and you are just a substitute.

He’s not the one if he doesn’t take the opportunity to show you how much he cares.

He’s definitely not the one if he doesn’t spoil you!

He’s definitely not the one if he loves you one minute and walks off when someone else catches his fancy.

He’s not the one if being a “woman” in his books means you are the weaker sex.

He’s not the one if he looks down on you. Nope, definitely not the ONE!

He’s not the one if there isn’t tingling in your cells when he touches you.

He’s definitely not the one if he makes you question your self-worth.

He’s not the one if spending time with you is a chore and not a priority.

On the other hand….

IF HE IS THE ONE….

You’ll never have to question

who he chooses because it will be you every day.

He will be the support that you’ve prayed for, the fantasy that you thought only existed in movies and the friend that will never leave your side.

He will love you, flaws and all, & even past any pain that you’ve ever experienced. He will be intentional about his efforts.

If he’s the one,

you’ll know that you’re a priority,

not a backup plan. Unknown

And folks that will show you a clear cut path to true love, at least I hope so!

Inner Peace

A friend asked me recently, “What do you seek the most?” I couldn’t give him an answer right away. It was a troubling question to say the least. I thought I knew because I had been working on exactly this for months on end but now faced with a direct question and I had no answers or rather I was unsure. I wanted to say “love” but the word that jumped in was “peace.” More specifically, “inner peace.” I think without it nothing else matters. It all boils down to just living for the sake of living.

What is inner peace? According to http://www.calm.com, “Inner peace is a deep state of calm, acceptance and contentment. It means being in harmony with yourself, others, and the world around you. It’s not about eliminating challenges or difficulties but navigating through them with a tranquil and accepting mind.”

Do I have that kind of peace in my life? Truthfully, I’m not sure. I have a tendency to let things rattle me, unnerve me, shake me to the core and kick me off balance. I know I have stress and that is nothing new. Dealing with stress has always been an uphill battle but I’m doing better. However, I still have a long ways to go. The question then arose, how do I go about securing inner peace? The kind that gives me a deep state of calm and paints my world a beautiful shade of pink? The quote below might work.

“Inner peace begins the moment you choose not to allow another person or event to control your emotions.” Pema Chodron

Sounds simple enough but let me tell you, it’s a hard one for me. I let people control my feelings, emotions and my reactions and that is the first problem. I needed simpler solutions to a tough question so I decided to go looking and turns out I’ve been doing them already!

Breath it says. Take time out in the day to just breath and let go. I’m learning all kinds of breathing techniques and it is not just about taking a breathe in and expelling it out. The experts have honed breathing to a new high. Breathing has gone high-tech but the original version still works. Try it for a slice of good old-fashioned peace.

Focus is the other technique used to achieve inner peace. Live in the present, embrace it, let it unfold and do not control. Life knows exactly what to do. A really hard one for me as I wanted the answers yesterday!

Meditation is a gold mine and don’t I know it. My early morning and evening meditation practices have worked wonders in my life. I’m calmer, my reaction to unwanted challenges is slower and my mind seems quieter than it used to be. Worth a try if tranquil peace is what you’re searching for. It takes practice to calm that fidgety mind but time and patience will get you there. There is a plus, there is nothing more delicious than unadulterated inner peace.

Nature, connect with it and it will instill peace to the depths of your soul. Something as simple as a walk will take you there. Fresh air and nature’s beauty will clear your mind and you will get a different perspective on life looking at it through nature’s viewpoint. Everything has a time and place, do not rush that is the message.

Practicing gratefulness is a big one. I’ve started practicing this simple concept and my glass went from half empty to actually quite full. Do it often enough and you won’t be lacking anything at all! Too simple? I know. Given time this technique does work because it changes your mindset from negative to a more positive one and we all need that.

If none of the above methods work, do this instead.

“Learning to ignore things is one of the great paths to inner peace.” Robert J. Sawyer

Ever since that question was thrown in my direction, I’ve been thinking about the mindset for inner peace and I have come to the conclusion that all roads lead to “inner peace” first. If you want to have a life free from chaos, disarray and turmoil, work towards inner peace and all the other things will fall into place. Challenges are a part of life both big, small and the daily variety but you can overcome if you focus, work on clearing it and MOVE ON! Standing still in one place for too long would be a big mistake. The Gambler song gives us some tips on how to do exactly that.

If you’re gonna play the game, boy

You gotta learn to play it right.

You’ve got to know when to hold ’em

Know when to fold ’em

Know when to walk away

And know when to run….

Every gambler knows

That the secret to survivin’

Is knowing what to to throw away

And knowin’ what to keep

Those last three lines speak to the matter of inner peace.

Figure it out, have confidence in yourself and HAVE AN AMAZING DAY!

A Walk To Somewhere

Photo by Irina Iriser on Pexels.com

I woke up this morning with a new mindset and ready to conquer the day. Starting the day off with meditation did wonders and being grateful for the brand new day ahead got me revved up to see how this new day would develop.

As usual, I was looking forward to my walk in the open fields but this morning, there were more people than I wanted to see! I could feel my mood sinking and my engine losing power but before it could get all the way down to ground zero, I put my best smile on my face, greeted a few neighbors like I meant it and took off to a quieter part of the fields.

Once there, I felt calm take hold as it always does when I can see blue skies splashed above me and open landscape for as far as I can see. Gorgeous can’t even begin to describe it. It is windy today and there is a chill in the air but it somehow added to my feeling of “freedom.” Walking next to the forest line, the rustling from the tree tops created music of their own. I had my own symphony playing the most beautiful music and my smile got wider as I took it all in and I could feel my soul soaring. I was at peace.

Nature has a way of soothing even the most frazzled nerves and it has worked its magic on me many times over. Breathe I told myself as I took in the biggest breath I could take. It felt good. I decided to let go of what I didn’t need. The anxiety, fear, anger and uncertainty, they all needed to go. Nature was my guide now and I decided to let it take me to where I needed to go to find my inner peace and I did exactly that. I took in the scents and sounds of nature like I was hearing and seeing it for the very first time. The squawking of a black crow was unsettling but the graceful gliding of the hawk above me was mesmerizing. The wind picking up speed and sweeping haphazardly through my long hair felt good and the big puffy white clouds on their way to nowhere was interesting to watch. It was nature at its best and I was paying attention to it.

It took all of 20 minutes and I was a different person altogether. Gone were the anxiety of this morning, the little aggravations that tend to press at your nerve endings and gone too were the feeling of carrying way too much on your shoulders. I was free as a bird and as light as a feather. Nature has a tendency to do exactly that if you let it.

Out in the open, I am in sync with my inner being as I connect with the simplest things possible. The air I breathe, a bird taking flight, nature waking up to a brand new day and all the soft sounds around me. I make my way back my mind free, my nerves settled and my mood ready to tackle a brand new day. I am ready for anything life throws my way. Coffee sounds good and so does everything else!

HAVE AN AMAZING DAY!

Press Reset

Photo by Natasha Fernandez on Pexels.com

“Don’t forget power in resetting, on any given day…you are allowed to start over, if you feel like you’re going down the wrong path, RESET.” Reyna Biddy

When the sun goes down and you find yourself staring at another day ending and you realize that progress is not being made, hit the “RESET” button. You are not stuck even though it might feel that way at times but you have the power to change whatever it is you want to change in your life. You need the mindset, know what it is you’re after, hit “reset” and go after it.

It is not that simple I know. In fact, it might be one of the hardest things you’ll have to do because changing your mindset is not easy and it is not simple either. Old habits die hard and sometimes they are hard to give up because there is comfort in hanging on to things you know best. Laziness, putting out the least effort possible and waiting for the world to reward you for nothing in particular is not going to work and it has never worked.

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” C. S. Lewis

It takes YOU to change your place in the world. Where you stand, how high or low you are in the grand scheme of things all depends on you but one thing is clear, progress needs hard work, it means falling down a few more times than you wanted to but always keeping your eyes on the prize. If you want that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, you’ve got to go after it. We want to make life simple but it has other plans for us. Life is about learning from your mistakes, saying “no” to easy and knowing that you’ve got to throw yourself into “hard” to make it happen. Falling down is part and parcel of this thing called life but standing back up and moving forward gives you another chance, another opportunity to reach your end goal. You need to be better and you need to set yourself apart from the ordinary to make it. Sparkles and sunshine is not always the case but grit and determination will get you there.

Hitting “reset” and doing the same old things over and over again is not going to do it either. You need to “refocus” to get things going again. If something is not working, focus on what it is and change it. Try different angles and attitudes and at some point you’ll get it right, at least I hope I will at some point in time. Until then, I’ll hit “reset” as many times as I need to and I’ll tell the “victim mentality” I carry around with me which keeps me from achieving my goals to hit the door as well!

So if you’re standing where I have many many times before and watching the sun set on another fruitless day, hit “RESET.” Tomorrow is on its way, it’s a new day to work your magic on a blank slate and to have your name written there as a success story. It’s all up to you.

Reset, refocus, readjust, restart, as many times as you need to. JUST NEVER GIVE UP!” Unknown

The Company You Keep

“When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends.” Japanese Proverb

Donald J. Trump loves the strong men type, more specifically the dictator types and that is a well-known fact. The man who once called Neo-Nazis and the like “fine people on both sides,” is not shy about his approval for autocratic dictators.

However, his latest obsession with Laura Loomer, hard-right conspiracy theorist and travel buddy has definitely raised more than a few eyebrows.

The 31-year-old who is known for her anti-Muslim rhetoric and for spreading conspiracy theories one of which is that illegal immigrants from Haiti are eating domestic pets in a small Ohio city which has caused quite a stir. This baseless claim was later regurgitated by Trump on the debate stage between him and Harris.

If that wasn’t enough, Ms. Loomer took it upon herself to come out of the closet as far as her “racist” self is concerned. How better to do it than to bring race into the playbook and she is no novice as far as that is concerned. This time, she went gunning for Kamala Harris by posting, “The White House will smell like curry and White House speeches will be facilitated via a call centre” if she wins the November presidential election. Typical racist insult which comes from the underbelly of racist propaganda. Instead of shutting it down, Trump had this to say:

“I don’t control Laura. She’s a free spirit. She’s strong and has strong opinions, but that’s not up to me.” There’s that word again. “Strong” seems to get his attention if you know what I mean. It also seems to get his juices flowing and he refuses to cut ties with her.

Laura Loomer is an outspoken advocate of all things racist. This far-right activist and provocateur is known for pushing the boundaries of what is not acceptable and her views are rooted in extreme idealogy and conspiracy theories.

According to Loomer, 9/11 was an “inside job.” She calls herself a “proud Islamophobe.” She has posted derogatory comments about Muslim immigrants and stoked the fires of fear and division. She has been banned from major social media platforms including Twitter (X), Facebook and Instagram because of hate speech and inflammatory propaganda. However, Elon Musk has reinstated her account which says a lot doesn’t it?

COVID-19, according to Loomer, was a “scam,” and that it was aligned with broader government controls. There’s plenty more of such rhetoric but you get the picture.

If you want to know the true character of a man, watch who he praises and keeps company with and it will take you to the heart of the matter. Trump is a wanna be dictator and rubbing shoulders with similar people who do the “speaking” for him is his agenda. If you want to know the true character of the man, look no further than the company he keeps!

Finding Yourself

“Finding yourself” is not really how it works. You aren’t a ten dollar bill in last winter’s coat pocket. You are also not lost. Your true self is right there, buried under cultural conditioning, other people’s opinions, and inaccurate conclusions you drew as a child and adult that became your beliefs about who you are. “Finding yourself” is actually returning to yourself. An unlearning, an excavation of remembering who you were before the world got its hands on you. Unknown

I love this quote above because it speaks to the truth of the matter. Quite often we ask who am I? How do I find myself again? These questions often arise after an especially hard or traumatic time and you are feeling lost. Feeling lost and not seeing a clear path ahead is normal, all of us go through it at one point or another. However, staying lost in a jungle of emotions for long periods of time is concerning and needs looking into.

Cultural conditioning does play a big part in how you see yourself. “It’s your upbringing!” I’m sure you’ve heard that one before, I have. I equate the way I react to certain things to my rigid Christian upbringing. Even though I bucked at all the rules and regulations, I couldn’t get away from my conditioning as a young Christian girl. You can take the girl out of that environment but you can’t take the deeply ingrained teachings out of the girl. So it was and is with me.

People’s opinions is a powerful tool indeed. There are good, not so good and extremely biased ones and they can help to build or tear you down. Opinions are a dime a dozen but when used as a weapon, they have the potential to hurt and to fashion your outlook on life and yourself. If you are faced with constant negative feedback, you become conditioned to expect more of the same. It’s the same for positive feedback and so people do have a hold on how you see the world. It’s easy to say let it roll off your back but some of those opinions can break your bones and that is the problem.

In the dating world, you come across many different types of men. The ones who make my skin crawl are the ones who expect “something” from the get go. By date 3, you get the feeling that you’re expected to put out or else you are “COMPLICATED!” Heard that one before? That is an opinion purely designed to make you feel like there is something totally wrong with you if you don’t. I don’t “put out” so I’ve heard that term applied to yours truly many times over. Each time I squirm when I hear it. Two days ago a friend showed up at my door. Friend to me but he’s on another track altogether. First words out of his mouth, “Why don’t you take me upstairs?” And when he saw the look on my face he went on to add, “YOU ARE COMPLICATED!” This time around I didn’t take it sitting down. “Listen, just because you can’t get what you want does not mean I’m complicated. Besides, I’m not accepting your viewpoint of me!”

He didn’t see that one coming. He gulped like a goldfish out of water and before he could say another word, I showed him the door. The moral of this story is, you alone decide which opinions get to you, which ones you keep and which ones you throw out the door! Life is simpler that way. The power is in your hands and yes at times you have to grow a thick skin.

Inaccurate conclusions arising from what you’ve faced through your journey is another one that will make you question your self-worth and who you are as a person. Those inaccurate conclusions can be changed. It is up to you to change how you feel about yourself but only you can do that. Finding yourself takes work and it is a journey of self-discovery and self-awareness.

According to psychologytoday.com, it is a crucial step because it is the key to living a fulfilling and authentic life. Reflect on your life experiences, both positive and negative ones. What have you learned from them? How have they shaped you? Embrace your strengths, accept your weaknesses and show up in the world as your genuine self.

LEARN TO FLY AGAIN.

Take a Deep Breath

Today, I decided to take a walk out in nature after having been down with a cold and being cooped up in my place for little over a week. I was miserable to say the least. Stepping outside, I realized that there was a chill in the air so I put on a thicker jacket and made my way to the fields and open spaces. Freedom from my thoughts was what I was seeking as it suddenly dawned on me that the cold had not only robbed me of my strength by my good mood as well. Normal? Well, I was going to mend, come hell or high water!

I found myself all alone out in the open with only the birds and a duck or two for company. The fields looked empty having been robbed of their normal output of corn, potatoes and whatever else the farmers had thought was a necessity for human or animal consumption. The wind picked up speed and I pulled my jacket closer around me. Is it that time of year again? The time when summer takes leave and fall comes in almost on silent feet? It is one of my favourite seasons and I felt myself relaxing. Summer with its blazing heat and all that comes with it especially the “sweat it out” part was never my cup of tea.

I kept my eyes focused but on nothing in particular. It was just wonderful to be out in familiar territory and I noticed that the apples were halfway harvested which meant we still had a while to go before fall walks in and takes its rightful place.

It seems that nature has a way of taking care of itself. It knows when the sweet apple blossoms should show up, they then give way to apples and when not picked, fall to the ground and make way for the next season to begin with very little fanfare. Humans know about progression too but we often fight it every step of the way. Why is that? Perhaps fighting is in our nature and God forbid if something becomes too easy. Nope, we can’t have that.

I spent the week bundled up feeling miserable and to make matters worse, I decided to take a look at all the things that were not so right in my world. Take it from me, never do that when you’re not feeling well. It’s the easiest way to stumble, fall and go to the depths of depression. That’s exactly what happened. Suddenly all the progress I had made the last few months came to a screeching halt and I was crying, “Poor me!” in no time at all. Add to that the constant nose blowing and nothing tastes quite right feeling and you’ve got the picture I think. Self-pity is often self-serving and it does its job well.

I went from a simple cold to my whole world is messed up! How did that happen? Well, humans have a knack for botching things up. We can take something small and blow it out of the water. Building mountains out of molehills is my expertise BUT I might let it go for a while and than I reel it back in as I am doing now.

The sun feels great on my face and the world is righting itself back into normalcy again. Taking a deep breath, I make my way back thanking nature for having come to my rescue again. It’s going to be an amazing day.

“The difference between a mountain and a molehill is your perspective.” Unknown

AND

“A molehill can only become a mountain if you give it the power to grow.” Unknown