March 2026 – Site Title

Your Reaction Matters

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“It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” Epictetus

This basically means that while, “life brings uncontrollable events, your response is a choice.” How often do we react without thinking when something of the unsavory nature happens to us? The reaction that often follows is anger, sadness, depression, unworthiness and a whole host of other emotions. More than that, we carry those feelings on our backs or in our hearts and each one adds to the heavy burden until that load becomes too heavy to carry and to bear.

“The first reaction is surely the most natural one, but not always the most correct one.” Criss Jami

Depending on what was dished out by someone else, your reaction follows a natural path. Was it an insult? Did it bring you down? Was it something that cut you down to size? How about someone’s envy and jealousy? Yes, sometimes those two go together and they can be a powerful deterrent to your mindset and have the ability to make you question yourself. Your reaction to all or some of the above may seem like a normal response but there is a heavy price to pay for those reactions. Just react like “water off a duck’s back,” you say. Not everyone can do that. There are those who take some of those nasty and often hurtful things to heart and it stays and cuts them down to size.

“How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.” Wayne Dyer

This particular quote opened up a door that I had kept closed. I, like many of you, chose to react a certain way when I was faced with events of an unsavoury nature. I would spend a lot of time mulling over the event, wondering why it happened, did I contribute to it, and it just went from bad to worse from there until I was so deep in the rabbit hole that there was no coming up for air!

“NOT EVERY ACTION DESERVES A REACTION.”

That right there is what I had to learn to make things easier, to let go of things that don’t matter and to carry on with a lighter load. The next time someone says something mean or tries to cut you down to size, DO NOT REACT. Easier said than done, I know. Try not to pick up whatever they are throwing your way for whatever reason, that reason is not yours to bear. Go forth knowing that your reaction matters, and your mindset matters too. The less you choose to take on and allow to accompany you on this journey of life, the better.

“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” Charles R. Swindoll

AND

“Failure happens all the time. It happens every day in practice. What makes you better is how you react to it.” Mia Hamm

The next time you want to jump on that bandwagon of reacting because it is the normal thing to do, take a deep breath, step back, think carefully, drop that stone to the ground and move on leaving it where it belongs. It doesn’t belong with you, let whoever sent it your way have it back. Watch as the power is taken away from them and you walk away the winner.

Have an amazing day.

Three Things

I could go with more but I’m going to stick to what I think makes a person unique.

Honesty

I place a lot of importance on honesty. It is hard to find because people tend to lie like there is no tomorrow! However, without honesty it is hard to trust someone and honesty is an essential component of a relationship where respect for the person comes into play in the form of honesty. You are unique if honesty is your stronghold.

Integrity

Without integrity there are no moral principles. Someone who does whatever he/she wants without moral principles is someone I try to avoid at all costs. A person with integrity has a strong moral code and tries to do the right thing and it is indeed a unique quality to have and to treasure.

Humility

I find this quality extremely attractive more than looks or stature in life. These people are usually very modest and do not think they are better than others. There is a certain kindness that shines through and they don’t mind getting their hands dirty. This is definitely a unique quality and one that is extremely attractive and makes the person stand out even more.

Now for my second cup of coffee!

Daily writing prompt

Which aspects do you think makes a person unique?

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Chachi’s Battle

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The little guy didn’t know what hit him but life as he knew it is gone and he has to put up with two intruders! He hadn’t see them in a long time so they are strangers again. Mommy is acting strange and is trying to butter them up and THAT is not settling too well with the Little Macho. It was talk time. Lord, have mercy!

Chachi: “Mom, why are they here? I don’t like them touching my stuff and using my toilet!”

Me: “You have to be nicer to them. They are missing their daddy.”

Daddy is my son who has moved away because of a new job and he has an apartment that doesn’t allow cats. It will take some time to rectify that situation so in the mean time, I am stuck with them. Chachi, the brat, just has to cool it and learn to share. There are three litter boxes in the house but for some reason, the two love using his!

Chachi: “I don’t think they were brought up too well. The big guy, Galli, hasn’t learned how to use the toilet yet and that little white one, Shiro, thinks toilets are beauty salons! She loves sticking her nose in them!”

Me: “I think she likes clean toilets. I noticed she was in the bathroom after my shower and was sniffing the air like it was something wonderful. Just part of being a girl. You should try to be friends with her.”

Chachi: “Grr! No way that is going to happen. I DON’T LIKE HER! I can tolerate Galli but I want you to stop kissing his forehead!”

Me: “Can you help me just a little? What’s with the hissing? You sure do act big for your size.”

Chachi: “Mom! I can take them both with one go!

Me: “Okay, no fighting. No hissing. No growling, and no “I’m the big man crap!” If you are nicer to them, you get extra kisses tonight and you get to cuddle with Mommy.”

Chachi: “Well, I get that anyway. Okay, I will try but you have to stop kissing them!”

ME: “Deal!”

I’ll sneak in those kisses when he’s not looking! They need loving too.

This morning there was a definite turnaround. The Little Brat has been out there for about an hour now. When I walked up the stairs to check on him, he was on the floor with Galli and they were trying to figure out how to make the ball move in the cat toy. Shiro walked past with a flippant glance at him and he didn’t hiss!

I’m hoping that the “white flag” will survive the day and they become friends.

Just another day in Casa Del Gato!

Have an amazing day.

The Fields

You’ve heard me talk about it, rave over it, and speak about the comfort and joy I get from it. I call it, “The Fields.” It is a stone’s throw away from the house and once there, I find peace and a sense of calm that invades my whole being. I don’t know why. It could be that I love open spaces and even though there is the mountain to one side and the forest on the other, however, in the middle and for as far as the eye can see, it is just open fields. I have a slight case of claustrophobia, it could just be in my mind, but when I am out there I can let my soul fly and calmness descends and surrounds me.

It is beautiful in any season. Each season brings something new to discover and each one brings forth its own unique kind of beauty. Winter is dark and grey but even then there is a certain charm that beckons and envelops me in its midst like I belong there. Spring is a glorious affair. The apple trees come into bloom and the air is scented with something sweet that goes wafting by as I walk past. The red, pink and white blossoms are gorgeous. Summer is when I stay away from the open fields and stick to the forest line. There is shade there but I can still look across at the open fields and see the bright blue skies and the fields wearing their summer green. Absolutely mesmerizing. Fall is when everything takes a step back and the fields prepare for their long-awaited rest. They’ve done their job and it is time to snooze.

I spend a lot of time there. Most days, I am out there enjoying the company of nature listening to the birds in the trees, watching the crows as they gather in the fields, and paying attention to the deer and the rabbits as they come out to play. Once I jokingly said to a friend, “When I die, I want my ashes to be strewn out there.” I can’t see myself being buried in a graveyard somewhere, I want to be free even in death!

He laughed and said, “Unfortunately, they don’t allow that kind of thing here.” There is a strict protocol as to how ashes can be dispersed and they stick to it! Oh well, a nice thought but an impossible one to achieve.

The next best thing is to have the fields named after me. “Tia’s Fields” It does have a nice ring to it. I think so anyway. Let’s see if that works out!

Daily writing prompt

If you could have something named after you, what would it be?

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LOL!

I saw this joke and thought it was absolutely hilarious. Enjoy.

A senior citizen drove his brand new Corvette convertible out of the dealership. Taking off down the road, he floored it to 80 mph, enjoying the wind blowing through what little gray hair he had left. Amazing, he thought as he flew down I-94, pushing the pedal even more.

Looking in his rear view mirror, he saw a state trooper behind him, lights flashing and siren blaring. He floored it to 100 mph, then 110, then 120. Suddenly he thought, What am I doing? I’m too old for this, and pulled over to await the trooper’s arrival.

Pulling in behind him, the trooper walked up to the Corvette, looked at his watch, and said, “Sir, my shift ends in 30 minutes. Today is Friday. If you can give me a reason for speeding that I’ve never heard before, I’ll let you go.”

The old gentleman paused. Then he said, “Years ago, my wife ran off with a state trooper. I thought you were bringing her back.”

“Have a good day, sir,” replied the trooper.

🤣🤣🤣

What Makes Me Laugh?

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I would say a lot of things. I look for laughter everyday and it is an effort that I take seriously. It has been said, “laughter is the best medicine,” and I totally agree. A day without laughter in my world is like a day without sunshine. It is tinged with grey and something seems to be sorely lacking.

Seeking laughter is in my daily to-do list. Stand-up comedy is a good source. I love Max Amini and his brand of comedy. He always has me laughing and if that gets boring, I watch comedies which definitely does the trick and puts a sunshiny spin on my mood. Then there is the abundant supply of jokes out there that tickles my funny bone and I have posted some of them here. Not always funny to some but it is to me and that matters.

My most important laughter maker and stress buster is Chachi, the cat, aka Little Einstein. Not a day goes by without laughter from that angle. He doesn’t even have to do anything, just standing there with his front paws crossed has me breaking out in laughter. There is just something about the little guy that brings smiles and laughter in my direction. Perhaps it is called love, the unconditional kind. Whatever it is, I have found my perpetual source of laughter and it is of the happiness kind. He instigates it sometimes unknowingly but it does the trick and most days I wear a smile on my face having indulged in rip-roaring laughter. Laughter is there to be harvested if you just pay attention and decide to give it a chance. Try it, it is a beautiful thing and it gives stress a boot out the door!

Daily writing prompt

What makes you laugh?

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Growing Pains

It is going around here and there is no stopping it no matter how hard I try. Some of you may know that I have three cats now. One is my own called Chachi, or rather Little Macho and sometimes Little Einstein. He is one smart cookie but he’s not too happy these days and that is putting it mildly. The other two belong to my son who has moved away to pursue the rigors of having a new job and cats don’t fit into that equation, not at the moment anyway. Hopefully, in six months. Yes, you heard right. I will be playing babysitter for that amount of time or maybe even longer. The two in question are, Shiro, the white Persian who looks sweet, pretty, and spoiled as they come! She is quiet until something rubs her up the wrong way and then her claws come out. Right now, Chachi seems to be bringing out the “not so nice her” for some reason. The other partner in crime is Gallahad, a dark grey British long-hair with orange eyes. He looks menacing at first glance but is a sweetheart at his core.

The two moved in here about three weeks ago and life hasn’t been the same since then. When once I was surrounded by calm, chaos reigns supreme now! Keeping the place clean from the minute I get up, feeding all three, and keeping them happy seems to be my daily routine. It is wearing me out but I love challenges so I am trying my best and sometimes my best is not enough as I am finding out.

This morning I woke up to my little guy running around the bedroom. He decided that I was sleeping too long and it was time for mommy to wake up and get going. He wanted to see what the other two were doing. They are not friends yet, however, the “thaw” is taking place slowly but surely. I wasn’t too pleased with his method of waking me up so I told him to cool it. He did, but decided he’d try a different strategy. He threw up on the floor! I jumped out of bed and wasn’t too pleased. First, I had to clean up the mess. Then, I heard them. The two outside the door striking up their chorus of, “Where are you? We are hungry!” I walked out of the room and asked, “What do you two want?”

The answer, “What do you think?”

Then I noticed that the litter box was full! It couldn’t get any worse? It did. One had missed his or her mark and it was there right on the floor! I cleaned up all the litter boxes, disinfected them all before breakfast and I was not in a good mood. Then it was feeding time. They got their food, ate like they hadn’t been fed for weeks! Little Snort, that’s my guy, was behind the bedroom door demanding that he be let out. Lord, have mercy!

It was time for my cup of coffee and breakfast. I made it and walked back into the bedroom to listen to news and to see what was going on in the world, more specifically what Taco Trump was up to. Nothing new, he’s doing his normal, talking out of both sides of his mouth. They (Iranians) are good and smart people and the next, they are evil and we are going to blow them to kingdom come! Time for him to go? What do you think?

Anyway, by now all three were in symphony demanding to be let out or let in depending on their standpoint. It was time to get the day started. I walked out looking like Aunt Jemima on one of her worst days to tackle the cleaning. First, it was vacuuming from top to bottom, then mopping the floors, taking out the trash, and making sure the “cats” were all clean. What a day and it is just starting.

Chachi wanted to play with his best buddy, Galli. They have a love hate relationship and that means keeping a vigilant eye on them. Shiro, like a good little girl ate her food, and is now sleeping by the window. Guess what? Snow has moved in, it wasn’t in the forecast, and is coming down.

Weekdays and weekends are all rolled into one as far as I am concerned. I HOPE they learn to love each other and my days and nights get better. I can hope but the three marauders are not complying and that right there is the problem.

Have an amazing day.

Solitude

“A place where you meet yourself, where you embrace and appreciate your own company. Exactly, where you face your fears and rethink your decisions. Solitude is that essential place to recharge our inner energy.” Tuwalily

It’s a place I go to where I can shut out the noise, the distractions and the clutter that make up my life. I go within where there is peace to be found, resilience and strength. Solitude and stillness is where answers can be found and I get the strength to move on from where I’m at.

Solitude is defined as a “healthy, personal discipline that allows you to engage in meaningful self-reflection. Loneliness, however, is a state of sadness because one has no friends or company.” fullsailleadership.com

I embrace solitude and there is a certain deliciousness that comes from being still and listening to what is being told to you. When you get rid of the chatter, you get clarity.

“Solitude is where I place my chaos to rest and awaken my inner peace.” Unknown

Meditation, yoga or just a simple walk in the fields helps to open up a world of possibilities. A world where you are not confronted by what others think of you, of having to measure up, or of conforming to what is considered the norm. You can let go and just be yourself. It’s a place where you can go deep within and really see what you’re holding there, find out who you are and a place where you can learn to let go of what doesn’t serve you. There is peace within and unlimited resources but in order to reap the benefits, you need to come face to face with the ugliness, the so-called remnants of your past and retrain your mind to see different. Change your mindset and everything will start falling into place as it should. Solitude is where I find my peace and if I’m willing, it shows me who I am and what I need to change to get to the other side.

“Solitude is dangerous. It’s addicting. Once you see how peaceful it is, you don’t want to deal with people anymore because they drain your energy.” Unknown

I spend a lot of time by myself. I’m learning to love it to the point that I choose my own company to that of being with friends or family. I think that I am my own best friend which is a good thing but as the quote says, it can be addicting and like I sometimes say, I’m a recluse or at least feel like one at times. I’ve come up with a solution to this predicament. I’m really going to make an effort to spend more time with people to break this monotony because both is needed to make me a complete person. However, home is where my heart is.

My bouts of solitude has made me stronger and fully capable of dealing with what life throws my way. There is strength in solitude so seek it, use it and learn that there is a source you can go to when life decides it’s that time again. What time? Time to learn another lesson and before you go, “Oh no!” make solitude your friend and ally and things will start looking up.

“Make yourself a priority once in a while. It’s not selfish. It’s necessary.” Unknown

AND

“I’m not Anti-Social. I’m Pro-Solitude.” Unknown

Have an amazing day.

When I was Five….

I don’t think I had any big dreams way back then. Thinking about what I wanted to be was nowhere to be seen. I was given the freedom to be whatever I wanted to be when I was five.

Playing with my make-believe friends in the woods behind my home was something I relished. I didn’t know then what dangers could lurk out there in those dark woods, all I saw was the tremendous possibilities hidden in those dark corners and fantasy was in the making. Strange that back then I was fearless. When did fear step in? I don’t really know but it did at some point in time and decided to stay for a while.

Five was an age that was filled with magic. I talked to the ducks, the chickens, my pet rabbits, the trees, the flowers, and everything else in between! My days were filled with wonder and my best friends were the gnomes and little people living under every mushroom! The wild orchids growing way up high fascinated me and so did the rainbow-colored fish swimming in the streams.

I was a fairy or at least I thought I was. My head was filled with wondrous things and most days, I was humming in the woods and waiting for some new make-believe world to open up and to invite me in. I guess I got my first interest in nature at that time even though I didn’t know it then. It would be a lifelong love affair.

Coming back to your question, I had no clue what I wanted to be when I grew up. Perhaps, a fairy with glittering stardust around me and a wand in my hand granting wishes like there was no tomorrow! At that point in time, it was what I wanted to be.

A Stressful Day

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Yesterday was a stressful day. I had to take my car to the car repair shop to get the airbag replaced. It had a recall on it. Yes, that was frightening so it needed to be done. I should have bought the new car? The thought did cross my mind but I pushed it away since I like the car I have and wanted to hold onto to it.

I roped a friend into going there with me. It was the guy from Chile. He had just got back from spending summer in Chile and he hates cold weather! We wanted to catch up on things, plus I like him. Just a nice guy who goes out of his way to be helpful. He followed me with his car as I drove mine to the workshop. Once there, they told me it would take about three hours so we decided to go get some breakfast and headed to a couple of dealerships to LOOK at cars, sort of window shopping but not looking to buy. I did see a few cars that I really liked but I stuck to my decision and just glossed over them.

After a nice breakfast and a good talk, we headed back to the workshop. One other thing, the workshop was supposed to replace the headlight on the driver’s side as well but after three weeks of waiting, they told me the part was in but it would take another two weeks before someone could replace it. I wasn’t too happy with the delay but went along with it. The cost would be around 2,500 euros for one headlight! Anyway, I was told yesterday that they couldn’t replace the headlight because there was a defect and the NEW part had to be sent back. When will they get a replacement? No idea, it could be one week, tomorrow, or at the end of April! I was getting PISSED but decided to bite the bullet. However, they would replace the airbag.

Once there, they told me that it would be done at no cost and I only had to pay for the cleaning. The car was spotless and my friend said, “It is a dark brown car, I thought it was black!” Right, that’s because it hadn’t been cleaned for quite a while. Anyway, I paid for the cleaning, thanked them with a promise from them that they will call as soon as the new part comes in. So far, so good.

My friend followed me home just to make sure there were no problems and then left. I was pleased as punch with the way things were going. Then at 5:30, I got a call from the workshop. “Can you come by here early tomorrow morning?”

ME: “Why?”

Receptionist: “We need to fix something.”

ME: “What?!!” Irritation trying to get the upper-hand.

Receptionist: “They made a mistake and installed the wrong airbag!”

Ok folks, this wasn’t any fly by night operation. It is a reputable workshop which specializes in my type of car.

I was mad and I did tell them that. They said it wouldn’t take that long to rectify the problem.

ME: “Is it safe to drive the car?”

Receptionist: “Hmm….it SHOULD be safe. Just don’t drive it too much tonight!”

I turned to Google and it said, driving a car with the wrong airbag is dangerous and it could cause some severe injuries if it deploys!

Now, I am all stressed out. Should I drive the car? I don’t know. Most probably I will. The same friend will come by and follow me there just to make sure that the airbag doesn’t explode in my face! Just kidding or maybe not.

Update: I didn’t get much sleep last night. I tossed and turned with airbags floating by in pieces in front of my eyes! This morning, I drove there feeling jittery. My friend followed and he was mad as well. We got there early and they were very apologetic. It seems, there was someone else with the same last name and that was how the mistake happened. Anyway, this nice guy took my keys and promised that it would be done in minutes and as promised he walked back in with the keys in five minutes! It was done. Then to my surprise, they told me the headlight came in yesterday and they could replace it after Easter! Wow, that was good news.

Sometimes worrying doesn’t bring anything but unwanted stress. Just tell that to my hyperactive mind! Getting it to heel takes superhuman effort. All’s well that ends well? We shall see if the part they got in is fine and they get it fixed. Fingers and toes crossed!

Have an amazing day.