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!
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.
A British doctor brags to colleagues: “In Britain, medicine is so advanced that we removed a man’s backbone, put it in another man, and in 6 weeks, he was looking for work.”
The German surgeon replies: “In Germany we removed a section of a brain, put it in another man, and in 4 weeks he too is looking for work.”
The Russian doctor says: “Gentlemen, we took a beating heart from a man, put it in another’s chest, and in 2 weeks he started a new job.”
The American doctor sighs, saying: “You are all still behind us. A few months ago, we took a man with no brain, no heart, and no backbone and he got a job overnight as our President!”
Donald Trump and Barack Obama ended up at the same barber shop. As they sat there, each being worked on by a different barber, not a word was spoken.
The barbers were both afraid to start a conversation, for fear that it would turn nasty. As the barbers finished their shaves in silence, the one who had Trump in his chair reached for the aftershave. But Donald was quick to stop him, jokingly saying, “No thanks. My wife, Melania, will smell that and think I’ve been in a brothel!” The second barber turned to Barack and said, “How about you, Mr. Obama?” Barack replied, “Go right ahead, my wife Michelle doesn’t know what the inside of a brothel smells like.”
I picked up a hitchhiker. The man got in my car and said, “Thank you for picking me up, but I mean how do you know I am not a serial killer or something?”
I said, “I don’t know for sure, but the chances of 2 serial killers being in one car would be astronomical.”
Quotes have the ability to boost up your mood, they can also help you out of the doldrums and just a dose can put a pep in your step and get you going. Here are a few of my favorites to put a positive spin on your day. Enjoy!
“The pages of yesterday cannot be revised. But the pages of tomorrow are blank – and you hold the pen. Make it an inspiring story.” NotSalmon.com
“Don’t worry. Just when you think your life is over, a new story line falls from the sky and lands right in your lap.” Rebekah Crane
Here’s the problem. I don’t want a new story line, I want the old one with a view to the finish line! Doable?
“To be a champ you have to believe in yourself when no one else will.” Sugar Ray Robinson
“Problems are like washing machines. They twist, they spin and knock us around. But in the end, we come out cleaner, brighter and better than before.” Unknown
Fingers and toes crossed and hoping!
“I love it when the coffee kicks in and I realize what an adorable badass I’m going to be today.” Unknown
Coffee does the trick every time!
“Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.” Marilyn vos Savant
Never ever give UP!
“Every morning starts a new page in your story. Make it a good one today.” Doe Zantamata
What are you writing in yours today?
“The most courageous decision that you can make each day is to be in a good mood.” Voltaire
This is a hard one but I start with a smile on my face.
Look at the stars……
“It won’t fix the economy. It won’t stop wars. It won’t give you flat abs, or better sex or even help you figure out your relationship and what you want to do with your life. But it’s important. It helps you remember that you and your problem are both infinitesimally small and conversely, that you are a piece of an amazing and vast universe.” Kate Bartolotta
How amazing is that?
AND FINALLY:
“Life is short. SMILE while you still have teeth.” Unknown
Looks like rain moved in and it had rained last night. I had planned on a long walk this morning but had to think twice about being out there in the fields with the winds picking up speed. I looked for my raincoat that I bought last year but never had a chance to wear and it was just taking up space in my cupboard.
Today, I reached for it. It is a black and white striped number that has sweatshirt material sewn into the hoodie. Nice looking and since I was hell-bent on going for a walk, I slipped it on, paired it with a pair of maroon sweats and grey boots. Piling my long hair on my head and fastening it with a clip, face bare of anything except for a light lip conditioner and I was ready to go.
The wind was blustery as I approached the fields. The indigo-colored clouds seemed to be holding more rain. They were moving in waves across the mountains. Nothing else was moving out there except for the occasional crow flying overhead and the pigeons grazing in the fields. The farmers had done a good job of clearing away the cornfields and the rapeseed plants were down to the roots.
I walked hands shoved into my pockets. It wasn’t cold but the wind was strong and I was glad I had my hair up because the wind was doing a job picking out strands as they whipped around my face. Something about the wind when it pulls and tugs. I like the feel of it brushing against my face. All was quiet today except for the cawing of a lone crow or two. Fall was definitely moving in on silent feet. Soon the leaves will start to turn and then they will fall and gather on the ground. It will be colder and much nicer for walks!
The walk took all of 40 minutes but my mind is clearer, my thoughts are taking shape and I am thankful for a brand new day. I know not what this day will hold and if it will be good or bad. However, I know I am equipped to handle whatever comes my way just as nature is doing.
This is a nice one. I read it somewhere and it made me sit up and take notice because quite often we let our “value” go unnoticed and settle for way less than we are worth.
A father said to his son, “You graduated with honors. Here is a Volkswagen Beetle that I bought many years ago….it is over 50 years old, but before I give it to you, take it to a dealership downtown and ask how much they are offering you.”
The son went to the dealership, came back to his father and said, “They offered me $10,000 because it looks very used.” The father said, “Take it to the pawn shop.”
The son went to the pawn shop, came back and said, “They only offered me $1,000 because they say it is too old.”
Finally, the father asked his son to take the car to a classic car club and show it there. The son took the car to the club, came back and said, “Some people at the club offered me $100,000 because it is a very rare car and sought after among the members.”
The father said to his son, “I wanted you to understand that the right place appreciates you in the right way. If they don’t value you, don’t be angry, it just means you’re in the wrong place. Those who know your value are the ones who truly appreciate you. Never stay in a place where they don’t recognize your value!
Know your worth, know your value and if you are not appreciated, LEAVE The right person will know your worth and will appreciate you for who you are.
Movement is needed in all aspects of our lives. Digging in your heels and staying put never works. It might for a short time but never in the long run. When life shows us its idiosyncrasies, human nature is quick to respond and oftentimes we respond by digging in our heels and thumping our nose at it. The problem is the more you dig in your heels, the bleaker life feels, that’s because:
“If we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have roots instead of feet.” Rachel Wolchin
What is the true meaning of life? Many have tried to find a definition but no one knows for sure. One thing is for sure and that is life happens. It doesn’t stand still and it moves faster than we want it to at times.
“Once a wise man was asked, ‘What’s the meaning of life?’ He replied, ‘Life itself has no meaning. Life is an opportunity to create meaning.’
However, to create meaning out of something that is handed to you and you don’t want to face head on is hard, very hard. First thought that comes to mind when I’m faced with ‘hard’ is, I am going to dig in my heels and ignore it for all its worth. Life, on the other hand, is not going to take no for an answer. Adapt or stay where you are and deal with the consequences of your non-action and that could be worse than what it throws your way. If you want to have the upper hand, you’ve got to MOVE!
John Wooden says,
“If we fail to adapt, we fail to move forward.”
Isn’t that the absolute truth? In order to accept and move on, you first have to change your mindset and make a conscious effort to move on. Where? There are no clear-cut answers and that is the scary part. It seems the outcome is all up to you. Putting one foot in front of the other is needed and taking small steps is needed too. Staring at the four walls in front of you and howling at the moon is not going to do it. You need to MOVE!
You need to take what is handed to you, sieve through the pieces and make sense out of it. Say, I can do this and go do whatever it is that needs to be done and do it. This move is not for the weak of heart. It takes courage and unrelenting strength plus trust that it will all turn out well in the end. Sometimes all it takes to climb that insurmountable mountain is attitude. A positive attitude combined with never giving up will get you to the top of the mountain and beyond. MOVE!
Albert Einstein once said:
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”
I like this one better.
“Life is like a ten speed bicycle. Most of us have gears we never use.” Charles M. Schulz
Always remember, you can’t start the next chapter of your life, if you choose to stay in one place and refuse to MOVE! Don’t let life pass you by. Keeping up is what it is all about.
What is peace? It is not only the absence of war but there is this other kind that is of the utmost importance to some of us. The personal kind where a state of “calmness, inner quiet, and freedom from stress, anxiety, or internal emotional conflict,” reigns supreme. This form of peace is hard to achieve and even when we do find it, it is usually temporary and doesn’t last for long.
I had every intention of embracing peace and tranquility in my life yesterday but it took but one person to smash it to pieces. What happened? It is not important what it was about but it is important that I let that person control how I reacted and responded to what he had to say. I found that the rest of my day was ruined and no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t get back to where I had started from. One of peace and tranquility.
The following quotes speak to the heart of the matter and on how to find that state of unshakeable peace one that remains regardless of whatever happens around you.
“Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.” Dalai Lama
I let someone else’s insensitivity and utter carelessness shake what I had built piece by piece. Time to take note and do it differently.
“Nature is the purest portal to inner peace.” Angie Weiland-Crosby
I agree totally. Nature is my sanctuary in moments of stress and chaos and it never fails to soothe and to calm my frazzled nerves.
“Inner peace begins the moment you choose not to allow another person or event to control your emotions.” Pema Chodron
I did exactly that yesterday, I let someone else control my emotions.
“Let go of thoughts that don’t make you strong.” Karen Salmanshon
Thoughts like you are not enough, you are not strong enough and you can’t do it! These are all geared to bring you down and make you smaller than you are.
“Be like a tree and let the dead leaves drop.” Rumi
This is beautiful. Why hold on when you know that it is dead. Let go and move on.
“Be selective with your battles. Sometimes peace is better than being right.” Unknown
Says it all.
“Welcome to your new era where you prioritize your peace over everything.” Unknown
How do you achieve peace?
According to one source, “to achieve peace, practice mindfulness through meditation and focusing on the present, and cultivate positive habits like gratitude, self-care, and by connecting with nature.”
Most of all, stop letting people rattle you because they know they can. Approach a situation with caution and if you sense that your peace of mind is being taken for a ride, LET GO and move on. Don’t forget to shut the door behind you!
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