letsgetitoutfront

The Breakthrough!

Remember the guy I wrote about, the one who walks his dog but is tongue-tied and never says anything and just stares every time we see each other? I had given up on him because the last time I smiled, I mean really flashed my 100 watt smile and he froze completely! So I decided this guy is a lost cause.

I just did my second walk today. Why? Just felt like it and because I love windy days. So I bundled up and headed up the hill again. It was quiet like it was this morning. I walked up to the apple trees and turned around, still no one. Then I made a turnaround and went the other way. Just then a crow let out a loud squawk which startled me. I looked up at the trees but couldn’t see it. I heard a sound behind me and this big black pit bull came walking up to me and sniffed my hand. I don’t like dogs especially pit bulls. Anyway, I looked up and there he was all bundled up against the cold with a big smile plastered on his face.

Hmm….I told myself, BE CALM. He said, “Good morning!” That threw me for a loop. Had he been practicing?!! Anyway, I greeted him back with a smile. He said, ” I see you a lot around here.” I nodded and asked, “Do you live around here?”

He pointed to a big yellow house and said he lived over there. The way this village is set up is that most of the houses are clumped together. However, farmers who owned a big portion of the land before have their houses separated from the rest. These properties usually have the main house and several smaller houses which are rented out. So he was a Little Lord of the Manor.

We talked for a while about nothing much in particular. Just about the weather and he came in with, “It should be this way sometimes don’t you think?” I agreed and told him that I love this weather and he laughed. We waved and he went on his way. That was it!

I will see what the next time brings. If he will be as forthcoming as he was today I don’t know. Perhaps he has a twin who freezes every time a woman greets him. This guy today was friendly and ready to mingle!

Fall Marches In

The walk this morning brought some surprises. Fall was finally here and it wasn’t taking NO for an answer! There was no mistaking the signs as I trudged along mud-covered pathways with the wind picking up speed. It was a day where people would choose to stay indoors with a cup of hot coffee and or sit on their window sills and watch as nature did its thing.

I needed to be out to clear my mind so there I was alone again with only the fields for company. It suited me just fine. The wind brushed against my face, its almost icy fingers sending chills down my spine. I had a heavier coat on but it was still cold as I pulled it closer around me. The thing is I love days like this. Windy, cold and with not a soul in sight. The animals have taken cover as well and except for the crows, the fields were empty.

Walking with no purpose in mind except to just let nature do the talking for awhile was calming. However, it had plenty to say. The changing of the season was in place and it was marching in with boots on! The fields were looking drab with not a touch a color. It was getting ready for a well-earned rest. The trees were rustling and playing their own kind of music. I love it when they dance with the wind, swaying and moving like dancers caught up in a rhythm of their own. The sound is something between a rush of a waterfall or soft rain as it falls on the rooftops. A beautiful sound that helps to soothe frazzled nerves as mine was today. I listened as I walked taking it all in.

The apples had been harvested with a few remaining on the trees. I did my own apple harvesting yesterday and it was bountiful. I can’t believe that one apple tree could give so much but it did. The apples are a smaller variety but they are crispy and very sweet. Good apples I would say but too much for one person so I have little bags prepared to give away to neighbors. The figs, however, are taking their time. They always do that. It seems they are always late for the party! Nothing different this year. I looked at them this morning and got two ripe figs out of a hundred or so on the fig plant! Will they make it before cold weather moves in? Your guess is as good as mine.

Coming back to my walk, it was beautiful. Interesting how seasons move in on silent feet at first and before you know it, they are full-fledged and ready to go. The colors are not there yet but at my feet are golden-hued leaves rustling in the wind. It won’t be long now as fall puts on its spectacular display of beauty as it is known to do and I will get to take in its glory as I make another walk bundled up against the wind but reveling in a brand new season.

I love this time of year.

“Fall is proof that change is beautiful.” Unknown

Now, I just have to convince my mind of that!

Have an amazing day.

Brene Brown (Archives)

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She is the author of six #1 New York Times bestsellers and is the host of two award-winning podcasts, Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead. The lady has spent two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame and empathy. Her advice for life is, “Don’t let fear stop you.” Here are some of her quotes that will take you on a journey of self-discovery. Enjoy.

“Authencity is not something we have or don’t have. It’s a practice – a conscious choice of how we want to live.”

“Trust is not built in big, sweeping moments. It’s built in tiny moments every day.”

“Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.”

“The truth is that falling hurts. The dare is to keep being brave and feel your way back up.”

“Here’s what I think integrity is: It’s choosing courage over comfort, choosing what’s right over what’s fun, fast, or easy, and practicing your values.”

“Empathy has no script. There is not a right way or wrong way to do it. It’s simply listening, holding space, withholding judgment, emotionally connecting, and communicating that incredibly healing message of, “You’re not alone.”

“I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.”

“Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.”

“When we have the courage to walk into our story and own it, we get to write the ending.”

AND

“At the end of day, at the end of the week, at the end of my life, I want to say that I contributed more than I criticized.”

Have an amazing day.

My Favorite Brands?

I’m no longer into brands as I used to be. I used to be a Fashion Editor and back then I knew every brand inside and out. These days I go for the simple stuff but two brands that I really love and still stick to are Zara and Massimo Dutti.

Zara, I love for their wearable styles and it fits my lifestyle now. Nothing too fancy but it is stylish and wearable. The lines are simple and clean. Just a pair of Zara pants paired with a cardigan or jacket and a blouse from the same collection is a put-together look that will take you from doing your daily chores such as shopping for your daily essentials to a much fancier meeting later in the day. Add a few pieces of jewelry and you’re set to conquer the day or rather the evening! The style factor is timeless but still trendy and I have many pieces from Zara in my wardrobe.

Massimo Dutti, what can I say? It used to be my go-to for a tailored look. Fashion lovers love this brand for its “quiet luxury aesthetic” but these days it is still an expensive brand and although better quality than Zara, it is mass-produced and considered a “fast-fashion” brand. However, it is of good quality and a few pieces in your wardrobe helps to bolster the look of understated elegance. A white Massimo Dutti blouse paired with a pair of blue jeans and a jacket says classy but still fashionable.

Not that anyone cares over here! This little village moves to a different drumbeat when it comes to fashion and dressing. Most of the women here don’t give a hoot about what you wear. So dressing up or brand names don’t matter much here. People or rather women wear the same stuff day in and day out and it is ok for working in their gardens or for doing their chores. I haven’t given up yet! I still do dress up presentably when I leave the house but indoors is another story altogether! PJs are my pick!

Daily writing prompt

What brands do you associate with?

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LOL!

Nothing against blondes but I thought this was hilarious.

The other day my neighbor, who is blonde, came running up to me in the driveway just jumping for joy. I didn’t know why she was jumping for joy but I thought, what the heck, and I started jumping up and down along with her.

She said, “I have some really great news.”

I said, “Great. Tell me why you’re so happy.”

She stopped jumping and breathing heavily from all the jumping up and down, and told me that she was pregnant.

I knew that she had been trying for awhile and told her I thought it was great and that I couldn’t be happier for her.

She said, “There’s more.”

I asked, “What do you mean?”

She said, “Well we are not having just one baby. We are going to have twins.”

Amazed at how fast she could know that so soon after getting pregnant, I asked her how she knew.

She said, “I went to Walmart and they actually had a home pregnancy test in a twin pack. Both tests came out positive!”

🤣🤣🤣

RELAX!

I could do more relaxation and no matter how hard I try, there is always something that keeps me on a hectic rush and relaxation is nowhere to be seen.

Having time on my hands doesn’t always mean that relaxing is easy. There are things that crop up unexpectedly that need taking care of. I could do more of just staying still for a couple of hours with no phone calls, nothing to bug me and my mind backing off from the constant chattering all the time!

Just when I grab a cup of coffee and decide to relax, my mind comes in with a hundred things that I should have done or should check on to make sure that it gets done. I have an unruly mind and that’s where meditation comes in handy. When I first started, 10 minutes of sitting still was way too much. I’ve worked my way to 30 minutes at a time and the “monkey” I call my mind is behaving and even liking it I think! However, I am not where I should be.

This is my goal. I would like to spend 2 to 3 hours just meditating. I think it would be delicious and my mind could use a much deserved break and come back stronger with new ideas that I could put to good use.

So more time for meditating, that’s what I could do more of. Where there’s a will, there’s a way as they say. I made it to 30 minutes so two hours might just be around the corner.

“Oh God, No! ” That’s my “mind” putting up a fight!

Daily writing prompt

What could you do more of?

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MY BOOK UPDATE

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

My children’s book has been out on the market for about three weeks now and it didn’t look like it was doing anything. I came across this review today and it looks like I was wrong!

The Review

Reviews for the children’s book, The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie by T. J. Mueller are generally positive, describing it as a “fun story,” “cute, lighthearted read,” and having a “magical world of colorful characters” that capture children’s imaginations. The story teaches young readers about the importance of friendship, with reviewers highlighting its creative approach and real messages.

Positive Aspects:

Engaging Story: Reviewers call the story “fun” and “cute” noting its lighthearted nature and ability to capture children’s attention.

Imaginative World: The book is praised for its “magical world of colorful characters” and imaginative storytelling.

Friendship Theme: The book carries a “very real message aimed at young readers” about the importance of friendship.

Good for Young Readers: The story is noted as being suitable for children, with parents confirming their kids enjoyed it.

WHO ARE THESE REVIEWERS?!! I asked but the publisher doesn’t even know. Whoever you are, THANK YOU! 🙏🙏🙏

The book has a global rating of 5 stars with Singapore, South Africa and Germany giving it five stars as well. No idea who the others are.

Get a copy and give me a rating or review please. Be Kind!

Scammer Update

A few days ago I wrote about this guy who contacted me from a dating website. He seemed alright. His ammo, well-heeled, has a good job, humble, nice- looking and so on….

If you want to see what that was about, read my post, “Dating Sinkholes.” Anyway, I had more than a hunch that he was a scammer but he turned the tables on me for a little while anyway. He’s not your normal fly-by-night scammer. This guy was well-versed in the art of scamming. He came across as this awfully sweet guy who wanted to meet up.

He knew how to keep the charade going. Messages were exchanged and he was supposedly on a business trip and would be back over the weekend. Then I received a message saying, “I just got my haircut. Hopefully you will approve.” Hmm…why send that to a stranger? The one other guy who sent me a message like that was when he got that haircut because he had a date with another woman that day! I didn’t know it at the time. Yes, I do attract the same kinds. Must be something in the water or in my DNA!

Moving on….then I got a message that he had just finished dinner and was standing at the harbor looking at a beautiful sunset. He said, “If I had your Whatsapp, I could share this with you.” Right….I had told him I do not give out any personal information until I get to know the person better. Another ploy to work on a woman’s heart. I ignored that remark.

It went on…sweet messages coming from an absolute stranger but he was acting like we had something going. Saturday rolls around and I get this message. He was totally pooped from traveling and needed a day off to recuperate. Normal? Could be or he was accepting the fact that the live fish he thought he had wasn’t biting!

Here’s the thing. Scammers have a well-rehearsed script. Romance scammers try to work on your heart. They usually try to paddle sorry stories and they are pros at it. They will try to get as much personal information as they can use. The first thing is to get your Whatsapp information. They can do a lot with this. My advice, never ever give it out to someone you don’t know. The more important aspect of a scammer is that they will never meet up in person. They will agree to make a date but they will always make excuses as to why they can’t show up. Their pics are usually blurry and they won’t have more than one on there. If they do, the other person may look different like this loser’s profile pics showed.

Scammers are evolving rapidly and they are coming in with more sophisticated methods of conning or rather scamming you. Their goal is to make you part with your well-earned money. If a guy comes calling and he is too good to be true, it is probably a SCAM!

Be careful out there if you are on the dating circuit. Keep your eyes and ears open and definitely pay attention to your intuition. Take small steps and if something smells fishy…..throw it back into the water!

Have an amazing day.

Five Ways to Transform (Archives)

If you’re looking for ways to transform your life, here are five tips that will get you on your way. These five rules come from Buddhist teachings and if applied daily and in the mornings before your daily grind starts or even before having your first cup of coffee, they will help you to see life in a different light. I’ve been practicing these five rules for about a week now and it has made me calmer, more in tune with myself and believe it or not, my mind is under control as well!

Find a quiet spot and take three deep breaths to center yourself. Repeat each affirmation two or three times to let it sink in and take hold.

I am grateful for this new day.

Really simple but not so simple for some of us. Gratefulness needs to be learned and if practiced daily, it can transform your life in a positive way. Come up with one or two things you are grateful for and go from there.

Let go of yesterday.

This is a hard one. How often do we carry “yesterday” and all its disappointments, anger and sadness like an albatross around our necks? More often than not is the answer. Let go and let yesterday lie where it should. It is done with and today is a brand new day to make it all better.

I am calm and in control of my mind.

It has been said, “Rule your mind or it will rule you.” This simply means, “you have the power to train your thoughts and control your mental state, rather then being controlled by your thoughts and emotions.” Be in the present and use conscious effort to train your mind to shape the thoughts you entertain. “Nothing can harm you as much as your own thoughts unguarded.” Guard them with care.

I will respond with kindness today.

Listen without judgment or interruption. Show appreciation for the people around you and an act of goodwill doesn’t hurt either. Wear a smile while you’re doing it and change the world one act at a time.

Everything is temporary.

Know that change is inevitable, it will come whether you want it or not. Nothing is forever except change so learn to let go when it happens. Accepting impermanence can help you to appreciate the present moment and adjust to new situations as they happen.

Five rules to live by but it takes practice to get it down pat and to apply it to your life. Not easy but with practice it is doable. Good luck and see you on the other side of a life well-lived! 👍

Have an amazing day.

When One Door Closes….

No one gave me this bit of advice. I was down in the dumps after a bad breakup and was Googling when I came across the saying, “When One Door Closes Another One Opens.”

It’s hard to take that bit of advice or rather suggestion to heart when you are in the throes of a painful time in your life but somehow I held on to it for dear life and those words helped me to move forward. The problem is:

“To keep opening the closed doors of our past is to miss the adventure of a new door we’ve never opened before.” @jeremy.jennigan

I kept opening the closed doors of my past over and over again and I refused to see the other door cracking open. When it finally did open, there he was “my angel” sent to save me from my misery and to teach me how to fly again. He didn’t stay for long. His time on earth was short but during the time we were together, he showed me what real love was all about. It is not about being selfish. Real love is caring, it is unconditional, you become a priority but most of all it teaches you to fly high and that you are capable of doing and achieving anything with that special person by your side. I call him “my friend” because at that time in my life I had fences or rather stone walls around me. I didn’t want to love again but he understood and still stood by me with these words, “When you are ready, I’ll be here. I’m in it for the long run.” Unfortunately, I was never ready when he was here and now that he is gone, guilt surrounds me. I was broken and there was just no way I could have loved him like he wanted to be loved. Yet, “my angel” didn’t care. When I was just learning to take off, he left.

Unfair I know. However, I have turned to that saying time and time again. It is getting easier to leave the past behind. I do it by refusing to look back and I remind myself there is no rewinding because life is not a movie script where you get to go back, rewrite and change the story the way you want it. However, we still have those speed redials of memories to deal with and they do crop up when a memory hits me hard or a song reminds me of how close we were. I look at the memories, listen to the songs, cry if I must and then I leave it behind knowing that it is a part of my past and it is done.

Remember:

“When one door closes, another one opens.”

Daily writing prompt

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

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