Category: Life

Life: Personal Struggles in the Last couple of Weeks - Yes, it happens to me, too.

9/4/2020

If you read my blog on a regular basis you know that I stress keeping a positive attitude and taking positive steps to stay healthy physically and mentally.

While I write about issues like this for the benefit of my readers, I need it, as well. In other words, I truly do practice what I preach and I truly do go through the same things everyone else does. The difference is, I know better.... others may not. Where I know what to do and fail, others may not have a clue and be totally lost. That is why I write this blog, to help others figure this thing called "aging" out while also helping myself.

For a while now I have dealt with some personal issues involving members of my family. No, not Covid related issues, more of attitude issues, lock down breakdown issues, and issues that all families face at one time or another. The details may be different, but the issues are basically always alike.

It started out a few weeks ago with a simple concern over health issues during Covid. Keeping everyone safe, even my grown children. Concerns for their safety during the initial outbreak of this virus became all to common, even though there was nothing I could do except ask questions and offer suggestions. If you're a parent you know how well those two things go over with grown children. Not all that well.

Then there were other little things, but consistent things. Things like my washing machine malfunctioned and over flowed, my hot water tank went out, my big freezer full of beef was failing, my car quit on me one evening and I waited 3 and 1/2 hours for a tow truck in a dark parking lot ... and no matter what I did - I still gained weight (the Covid 15). Then there was the conflicts among my family members that were mostly petty, but were still issues.

During this time, the new owners came to take my horses to their new home. I miss them so much, but I never rode them anymore and my time with them was getting less and less. They deserve people who can give them what they need. Horses are social creatures.

I took a couple of weeks off to collect my thoughts, regroup, and charge ahead once again. During this time, I still tried to walk my 2-4 miles a day and learn something new every day. It helped, but I still felt overwhelmed.

This blog confession is to alert you to the fact that no matter how hard you try and how much effort you put into living a life “on fire”, sometimes you have to take a step back and start again. It happens to all of us.

The lesson here is this:
Do not let a temporary set back
become a permanent one.
Everything is temporary.
Keep pushing forward.
Never, ever give up.

So, I am back at it with some fresh ideas. It was good for me to take a few days to regroup and reset. If you need it, take it...but after a few days, always come back...never stay there.

🙂

❌⭕❌⭕

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Life: New Found Independence - alone with a purpose

8/14/2020

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There is a difference in being alone and being lonely. One is good, the other is sad. Being lonely means that you have no one, need someone, and feel in despair. Being alone, can be one of the best blessings about growing older - IF you use it wisely.

Time is something that has limits. We are only here on earth for a period of time and then we are gone. There is no way to avoid death - it will happen. Once you accept this fact your world will open up. It will open up if you don't dwell on the negative aspects and focus on the positive.

Once your children have left to make their own lives and we find ourselves living in an empty and quiet nest, we suddenly also find ourselves with the freedom to do whatever we want.

No one is there making demands our time and all those dreams we once had when young can become reality.
Embrace this time in your life. Use it to your advantage. You can do so much with this new found freedom.

Finish that pile of books you intended to read, but never had the time.
Join a club and participate (Hiking, Games, Writing, Cooking, Church group, etc.)
Finish all those UFOs (Unfinished Objects) like a quilt, redecorating the empty bedrooms (maybe turn one into your personal space), plant that garden (food or flowers), etc.

You can do anything you want!
Including sleep late,
stay up late,
watch the movies you want to watch,
listen to the music you want to listen to.......
it's your life.......
once again!

XOXO

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Life: Rudeness - What do you do? - 7 Ways to Deal With Rudeness

6/19/2020

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The older I get the less drama I want in my life.
I want peace and loving relationships. Truthful relationships are an absolute must as I get older, I don't have the energy to try to figure something out. Just tell me the truth and let me deal with it. But also, be ready to get the truth back and
deal with it.

Rudeness is probably my biggest pet peeve. People, even good friends and family, can be rude at times. I can be rude at times. They don't intend to be rude, as I don't intend to be rude, but never the less, it does happen. I don't hold that against anyone as it is just part of life.

Rudeness can be a result of not feeling well, being depressed, being too busy, or any number of other reasons. It is not an “old” person's issue, it is a “human” issue.

Then there are those who are rude just to be rude - to show their perceived power or position, to cause or inflict fear, or for any other of a number of 'reasons'. Those are the ones I have issues with. There's no reason to be rude on purpose to anyone. If you have issues with someone, talk to them.

How do I know what to do?
Here are a 6 ways to deal with rudeness:

1. Use humor to turn the situation around. Usually when a person is rude it's because they are upset about something else and you just happen to be the one nearby to receive the reaction. If you can find a common topic of humor you may be able to not only turn this person around, but also change their day.

2. Use kindness to turn the situation around. This is the one of the hardest things to do – be kind when someone is being rude to you or someone near you. If you can be kind, it allows the rude individual to calm down and rethink their position. Generally, they will begin to respond in a more positive way. Either way, you know you did the right thing.

3. Showing empathy or even sometimes sympathy is another way to handle rudeness. If the person thinks you can identify with their feelings, they are most often willing to respond in a nicer way. Sometimes rudeness is a reflection of the feeling of not being heard. When we know that someone understands why we are being rude, that may be all it takes to turn it around to a positive.

4. Set a good example, don't let the person drag you into their rudeness. Respond with kindness, humor, empathy, sympathy, or whatever it takes to diffuse the situation. Do the right thing, you will never regret that decision.

5. Try not to let the situation get out of control and don't return rudeness with rudeness (unless you are forced to and that is rarely the case, there is almost always another way to handle it.) Sometimes no matter what you do, you can not avoid rudeness or change someones attitude so rather that be rude back,
just walk away.

6. Sometimes all you can do is just walk away or avoid that person or situation. Before you allow yourself to return rudeness for rudeness – just leave.
It's that easy.

Remember: Rudeness will always be around. Don't take it as a personal assault, most of the time it has nothing to do with you. Don't be part of the problem, be part of the solution.
Always stay calm.

Have you had this situation with someone close to you? How did you handle it? Did it turn out well or do you wish you had handle it another way? Please start the conversation and share your thoughts and experiences, it will help all of us, including me.

XOXO

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Life: If a Friend disagrees with you, are they still your friend?

5/1/2020

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"My best friend is the one who brings out the best
in me."
Henry Ford

Everyone wants a friend that they can depend on to be there for them when no one else is. Someone who will let them be who they are without judgments. A friend who understands you and loves you anyway, even when they know all your faults.

What if that person doesn't always agree with your way of thinking or doesn't always back you up in a dispute or disagrees with some of your decisions and lets you know it, are they still a friend?

The answer to that question depends on what you want from a friend. Do you want someone who let's you know when you are messin' up? When you thinking wrongly? Or do you want someone who is always in your corner, whether you are right or wrong?

I have known some from both sides of that argument. Some people i know like to have a friend who will be honest with them no matter what, but still stands with them no matter if they are right or wrong. Some people I know will not be friends with anyone who disagrees with them or who doesn't see things the same way they do. Everyone has needs and everyone's needs are different. Or are they?

Deep down to the core of what a true friendship means is the same for everyone - trust. We all want that one friend that we can trust with the bad stuff as well as the good stuff about us. They may not always agree with us, but they always support our right to our thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. They accept us for who we are with all our weaknesses and all our strengths.

If someone doesn't agree with you, it doesn't mean that they are not a good friend. Just as you most likely won't always agree with your friend all the time, that doesn't mean you are not a good friend to them.

Personally, I would rather have a friend who is honest with me, even if I don't always like what they have to say, but still supports me regardless if we see eye-to-eye, than someone who lets me make mistakes that they may have prevented or wants me to agree with everything they say. I want someone who accepts me, faults and all and I will do the same for them.

"A friend is someone who gives you
total freedom
to be
yourself."
Jim Morrison

Sometimes it takes getting older to realize what is valuable in a friendship. When we are young, most of us just wanted to be accepted. Some of us may have compromised our needs or beliefs in order to find that acceptance. When we were young, we may have had a spat with a friend that lead to more misunderstandings and hurt feelings. Now that we are older, hopefully we know how to handle those differences (spats) and not let them ruin a good friendship.

You decide:

1. Do you want a "friend" who always agrees with you even when you are wrong?

2. Do you want a "friend" who will stand with you against others, but then in private tell you where you messed up?

3. Do you want a "friend" who can be trusted with all your faults as well as all your strengths?

4. What kind of a "friend" are you?

"The most I can do for
my friend is simply be his friend."
Henry David Thoreau

No one lives forever and a good friend or two can make getting older a lot easier and happier. Don't let foolish little spats or differences in opinions ruin an otherwise good friendship. People with friends live longer and happier lives than those who are isolated or are always mad at someone.

"Friendship is unnecessary,
like philosophy, like art...
It has no survival value;
rather it is one of those things that give value to survival."
C. S. Lewis

Do you find it easier or harder to make friends as you get older? Do you find that you are more accepting of their faults as you both age? Have you ever lost a good friend over a insignificant difference of opinion or a ridiculous spat? What kind of a friend are you?

XOXO

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Life: A March Wrap-Up - We are still On Fire!

3/27/2020

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The COVID-19 virus has changed our lives this month. Last week I wrote a blog post about how we see it, deal with it, and live with it. I hope you learned something useful.

This week I want to close out the month of March with a few thoughts on life today. Life may have changed (temporarily), but we still have it. We are still alive and kicking!

We are still
ON FIRE for our life.

Things I have written about in the past are still true:

We need to move! We must find ways to exercise, even if in our own home. Doing what you can is better than doing nothing. There are many YouTube videos on in-home workouts for the over 50.

There are many Facebook pages with free videos on short in-home workouts. Being stuck indoors or at home is no excuse for not doing something physical to take care of ourselves. Exercising increases our immunities so we can fight off viruses and illnesses better. It also helps keep our attitudes positive which, in turn, increases our chances of surviving an illness.

My Zumba teacher, Dawn and her daughter, Raven, have used an app called Zoom to connect with us and teach Zumba from her home. It's almost like being there.

We need to keep our minds active! Reading, doing creative projects (like painting, sewing, writing, etc), working puzzles of all kinds, FaceTiming with our family and friends, and any other activity that you can participate in safely.

Just keep your mind active and not just with news and virus updates. After a while, that can drag you down.

Stay social! We have SKYPE, FaceTime, Zoom, TicTok, FaceBook, FaceBook messenger, the telephone (yes, an actual phonecall), and many other ways to connect. Some churches are offering online services. There's no reason we should be alone.

Stay positive! It has been proven that someone with an illness is more likely to recover and recover faster, if they maintain a positive attitude. Laughter is the best medicine. Our body produces good and helpful hormones, chemicals, and such that promote good health when we are happy and positive.

March has definitely been a challenging month and it looks as those the next few weeks and months will be the same. However, if we hunker down at home, practice the safety protocols the government has issued, stay active, stay social, keep our brains active, and above all, not panic, worry, or let this take our joy away – Stay positive, we will come out of this stronger, wiser, and better.

“Love your neighbor as thyself.”
Mark 23:31

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”
Colossians 3:2

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report,
if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.”
Philippians 4:8

Regardless of what others are saying, this is not the end of the world. It may take some things away from us, but it is a temporary situation we are in. We may lose someone we love to this virus and it will hurt, but we must focus on those still living and remember, God is still in control and still hears our prayers.

God bless you all.

XOXO

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Life: Journals : 7 Tips for Keeping a Personal Journal

1/31/2020

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When cleaning out my closet I discovered something in the top of my closet, a box, a large box. Inside that box are journals from 1980. Until I looked in the box, I didn't realize I had been keeping a journal for all those years. I started keeping a diary, like most teenagers did when I was young.
That was the beginning.

I took time to read through a few of the entries from various years and it was awesome. While some of the things I wrote about were sad, like about relatives dying, breakups with boyfriends, arguments with girl friends and family members (brothers mostly, lol), and pets passing, in the early journals most of what I wrote was happy and about good things happening in my life.

I had goals and plans, I was hopeful about the future, about my future.

Later journals contained more troublesome entries, like issues when trying to conceive a child, the complications of treating infertility, then the long, emotional process of adopting my children. Some entries were happy and good, others were complicated, sad, and even worrisome when re-reading them. I went through some really rough times.

Overall, keeping the journals has been a blessing in many ways. It provided an outlet for my deepest feelings and thoughts. It provided a timeline for events in my life. I will be chronicle of my life for my children after I pass.

The biggest blessing of keeping a journal has been the outlet for my deepest feelings and thoughts. This is the blessing I want to discuss with you. The reason I think everyone should keep some type of a journal and start it as soon as you can.

Having a private place to pour out all of the thoughts in my head either at the end of the day before I lay down to sleep or at the beginning of the day before I start, is a huge blessing. It allows me to get all those things out of my head, on to paper, and gone.

Once I write them down, I forget them. Before I started keeping a journal, those thoughts would roam around in my head all day or keep me awake at night. Once I released them to the printed page, my mind was clear and sleep was sound.

Here are a few tips to help you get started:

1. Either purchase a beautiful, lined page, journal that you love or create one out of a cheap spiral notebook by decorating it with things that inspire you and bring you joy. The more you love the way the journal or notebook looks, the easier it is to want to write. (It's a mind game).

2. Choose (or purchase a new one) pen to dedicate just to writing in your journal. A pen can not be erased and it is somewhat permanent. Pencil will fade, you don't want it to fade. You want it to last at least a few decades anyway. I have two pens that I keep just write in my journals with. Two pens that I love to write with.

3. You don't need to write in it everyday. Some days do not have anything eventful to write about. Some days our minds are clear of anything meaningful. But no matter if it is once a month or once a day, write in your journal. Make notes about things you did that day, how you felt about the day or events in the day, your goals and any progress you made towards them, disagreements you had with someone, how you feel about yourself on that day, anything that bothers you, anything that is on your mind.

4. Don't limit yourself to just words on a page. You can draw pictures in your journal to help tell your story, photographs can be glued (using safe glue) to the pages, quotes from books or people, prayers, anything you want to save from the day, like ribbons, pressed flowers, birthday cards, etc.

5. Find a box to store your completed (filled) journals. I don't go by years, in other words, one of my journals may include Jan thru Dec of one year and the first three months of the following year. I try to fill every single page no matter if its one complete year or multiple years in one journal.

6. Label the first page of your journal with the Month and Year of the First Entry and the Last Entry, so that the person who finds and reads them after your death can easily put them chronological order. Put your name on this page also, so that there is not doubt that this is YOUR journal.

7. You do not have rules for this journal except to use it. If you don't write in it, then you have wasted your time and money. So, use it. Write in it.

RECAP: Make the journal YOUR journal with things you love, like stickers, ribbons, lace, photographs, etc. Use it. Write everything you feel in it and get it out of your head. Keep it in a safe place where no one can find it while you are still living. Keep a box for completed journals so that they are all in one place and kept in good condition. Put your name on the first page and the dates contained in the journal.

There are so many useful gadgets to help you with your journal keeping. Some are very cheap in cost, others are a little pricey. For example, stickers. Stickers can be purchased in lost of craft, discount stores, stationary stores, even grocery stores have them sometimes. Printing photographs can cost a little more.

I use an HP Sprocket mini wireless printer to print 2.3 x 3.4 inch photographs on sticky back paper. This is a great gadget, but it cost around $150.
(See photo below)

If you have trouble sleeping or you have thoughts that stay in your mind all day, you need to consider keeping a journal. It is an excellent way to clear your head and sometimes even solve problems by writing them down where you can see them more clearly. There are so many good
reasons to keep a journal.

Here are a few links to articles about the benefits of journaling:
https://bit.ly/3aiecxI
"Pen, Paper, Power!
The 5 Benefits of Journal Writing"
HowLifeUnfolds.com

https://bit.ly/2TBamKi
"Why Keeping a Journal
Can Improve Your Life"
medium.com/betterhumans

https://bit.ly/3anExdS
A short video from "Charlotte Today with Colleen Odegaard
on how to start keeping a journal

Start keeping a journal today.
It can help you in so many ways.

It will take practice and dedication for a few weeks to get in the habit, but once you form the habit of writing your daily thoughts down, you wonder why you didn't start keeping a journal sooner!

Do you keep a journal? Do you embellish your journal with photographs, drawings, memorabilia? Have you found that keeping a journal is good for your health? What benefits have you found with keeping a journal?

XOXO

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Life: Re-evaluating your goals and life at age 50 and beyond

1/10/2020

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As I approached the big 5-oh, I started to re-evaluate my life. Where had I wanted to be by the time I was 50? Did I reach that goal? Was I on target or had I missed it altogether? What changes did I want to make by the time I turned 50?

What I discovered was that until about ten years prior, I was right where I wanted to be and was on target with my goals. So, it would seem reasonable that I would continue on that path and everything would be peachy-keen. Wrong!

What I didn't figure into my life was menopause, empty-nest and how it would affect me, and the illnesses that my parents, children, and husband would be experiencing during the next ten years. All of this thrown together ruined my track record on meeting my goals. It all fell apart. I wasn't expecting the effect that menopause would have on me. That was the biggest thing.

During the time from the age of 48 to 59, I was lost. I was taking care of everyone else and forgot to take care of myself. I had minor menopause issues compared to what other women experience, but I was not prepared for them.

Some of the issues I had were hot flashes, I think that is common with most menopausal women. I had morbid thoughts when I closed my eyes at night to sleep. That is common in about half of menopausal women. I had weight gain issues related to the fluctuation in hormones which I could have dealt with had I not been going through so much family stress.

Between the stress and menopause, I gained a lot of weight, I ate poorly, my health was declining (I was sick a lot with allergies and colds), and I was depressed about my life.

After I evaluated my life, put all stressors in their proper place, dealt with the issues of menopause and found myself again, I lost all the weight, I adjusted to the empty nest and love it, and I quit a job that was sucking the life out of me.

At this point I started my blog and started doing the things I always wanted to do. I rarely get sick now, I feel great almost all the time (thankfully), and I am happy almost all the time. There are times when life still gets to me, but I am able to handle it now, both physically and emotionally. I take care of myself now.

The point I am making is this:
There will be times in your life when you feel lost, you will lose your way, and you will suffer the consequences of your actions (or lack of actions). That doesn't mean all is lost. It means it is time to re-evaluate your life and prioritize it to meet your goals.

It's easy to forget about yourself when you have others who depend on you, but you must keep yourself in the game. You must realize that if you don't take care of yourself, you will eventually not be able to take care of anyone else.

You may also wake up one day and discover your life is near the end and you are dissatisfied with the choices you made.

Looking back, what I allowed to happen to me was not necessary. I could have dealt with it all differently, but I let myself become overwhelmed with the issues of others.

Don't let this happen to you. You can take care of others and still take care of you. I learned this lesson the hard way.

When you begin your evaluation of your life and goals up to the age of 50 (or beyond), ask yourself these questions:

What would I change if I could?
Who really needs me and who is just calling me because I will come?
What would make me happy right now? What would make me happy in 5 years?
Am I where I want to be in life now? (the right job, the right home, the right location?)
What did I want to accomplish by this age that I haven't? Can I still do it?
Finally, what steps do I need to take to get myself where I want to be at this age of my life?

Take time this month to look at your life so far.

Re-evaluate where you are and where you want to be.

Lay out a plan.

Make it SMART.

Stick to it.

End the year with your goals met and well on your way to another productive and happy year.

Are you happy with what you have accomplished so far? Do you have any unmet goals or dreams that you still want to pursue and accomplish? Have you ever taken time to evaluate your life and then make adjustments so that you can meet your goals and dreams? Share your stories and your ideas. If you have suggestions, please share those.
XOXO

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Life: Where do you want to be a year from now? Setting 2020 Goals (not resolutions)

1/3/2020

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Did you set goals at the beginning of 2019?
If so, how many of those goals did you actually accomplish? Are you where you wanted to be at the end of 2019? Are you satisfied with your life? Do you have more goals that you want to accomplish?

Where do you want to be a year from now at the end of 2020?

I am pretty satisfied with my accomplishments for the past year. There are a couple of goals that I made progress on but fell short of accomplishing, but I am happy because I did make progress.

With that progress I will accomplish those goals this year, along with new goals.

In order to accomplish anything that is complicated, you need a plan.

If you go back to my January blogs, you will find information on using the SMART method of setting and accomplishing goals. It works. Its the method I use and as a result, I have accomplished almost every goal I set for myself for the year of 2019.

I suggest you go back and read those blog posts and implement the SMART method today so that you can be successful in moving forward this year.

I want each and every one of you to be where you want to be by the end of 2020.

Start right this minute and make a list of every single thing you would like to do, see, own, accomplish in the next year - everything! Include everything, no matter how small or how big. Get a big piece of paper and fill it up.

Some things you may have on your list could be:
- Pay off my car
- Start a side business
- Clean out my Master bedroom closet
- Sell some of my unwanted books
- Visit Las Vegas
- Dye my hair Green
- Get a tatoo
- Hike the Appalachian trail
- Get a part time job
- Sell my house
- Learn how to paint
- Learn a new language
- Travel to another country
- Learn to Quilt
- Get a dog
- Start a Journal
- and on and on, the possibilities are endless

I want each and every one of you to live a life on fire in 2020!

Don't let your age, health, finances, or anything stop you from making goals.

You can make your goals within your abilities, no matter what they are. But, I suggest that you have a few that push you beyond what you think you can do, even if only a little.

Stretch yourself, challenge yourself, reach higher - you may not make the goal you set for yourself, but you will be farther than you would normally be.

Step outside of those cliches like "step out of your box", "step outside of your comfort zone", or "stop being that someone who's always on the outside looking in".

There is a saying that I love that describes what I am trying to say in a beautiful way:

“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.”
Norman Vincent Peale

Make 2020 a year to remember! A year of bucket lists! A year of adventure or accomplishments! Don't be stagnant a year from now, be fresh!

Is there something you have wanted to do for a long time and never seem to get it done? Have you set goals each year only to fail at accomplishing them? Do you try new things that push you outside your normal day to day or that teach you something new?

XOXO

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Life: It is What it Is. Especially after the age of 50. Live Your Life!

10/4/2019

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Recently I received disturbing news about two of my friends. One had an accident and as a result is paralyzed from the waist down and the other was diagnosed with bone cancer. Neither of my friends expected their lives to change so drastically, so quickly.

This is not a blog about living your life while you can or before tragedy or illness stops us...no. This about how to use our circumstances to our own good and also to good of God. Ours lives are not really our own, our lives are given to us, on loan, by God and therefore return to Him in the end. It's what we do with our lives that matters, not the length or quality. No matter what situation you are in, there is always someone worse off.

You may ask, what could be worse than being totally paralyzed? Well, being totally paralyzed and not having anyone to care for you or also not having your mental functions... AKA: being in a vegetative state. Never complain, there is always someone worse off than you.

We all have circumstances in our lives that could bring us down mentally and emotionally. For example, I have several events going on in my life right now that, if I were to allow them to take over my mind, would bring me down mentally. I choose, however, to look to the bright side and try to make good on these less than welcome circumstances.

Do I get depressed? Yes. Do I cry over things in my life? Yes, at times I do. Do I ever feel like giving up? Never. I realize that every thing in life is temporary. Every thing has a beginning and an end. Nothing, not even life goes on forever.

Having observed people over my lifetime (as I am sure you have, too), I have seen people with obstacles that seemed overwhelming and insurmountable do some amazing things. They have attitudes that simply amaze me. I try to have a positive attitude all the time, even when life gives me a problem, but I still have those times when a positive attitude is only a thought and not an action. In other words, I lose that positive attitude for a period of time.

The thing is, I try. I try not to let circumstances dictate my outlook on life. The only time this is hard if not impossible for me, is if it involves someone I love, such as one of my kids, grand kids, sister, etc. Family is my soft spot. Even then, I try to remain positive and deal with life as it comes.

I still get up every morning and begin a new day. I try to start with a fresh outlook on the new day that God has given me and make plans to use it fully.

The older I get, the more I realize that we should be thankful that we do wake up each morning as there are many who won't.

The point I am trying to make with all this, is:

"Wake up each day thankful to be alive!
Wake up each day thankful that you can accomplish something!
Wake up each day and make it a memorable day!"
- Sheryl 2019 -

“Live today as though it was your last day on earth.
Learn something new everyday as though you are going to live forever.
Experience life everyday – it's more than just another day –
it's another glorious day in your life!”
- Sheryl 2019 -

Here are thoughts on life and living from a few others, hope they lift you up:

“Don't be afraid your life will end;
be afraid that it will never begin.”
- Grace Hansen -

“Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives,
that we are dying.
Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day.
So do it! I say.
Whatever you want to do, do it now!
There are only so many tomorrows.”
- Pope Paul VI -

“Every day, it's important to ask and answer these questions:
“What's good in my life?” and “What needs to be done?”
- Nathaniel Branden -

Eleanor Roosevelt, even during her time, knew the purpose and secret to life, she said:

“The purpose of life, after all,
is to live it,
to taste experience to the utmost,
to reach out eagerly and without fear
for newer and richer experience.”

Gene Simmons , an Israeli-American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, made this statement about life and living. It is worthy of remembering:

“I don't wait for the calendar to figure out when I should live life.”

In Summary, start TODAY to EXPLORE new EXPERIENCES no matter what your CIRCUMSTANCES or your ABILITIES. Start WHERE you ARE and DO what you CAN and FILL each day with WONDERFUL MEMORIES!

What is your plan for tomorrow? Will it be the same as yesterday or today or will you live it fuller? Are you already living a full life? Do you see any opportunities in your life to add more living to each of your remaining days on earth?

XOXO

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Life: Fate or Divine Providence? A Recap and Review for the End of August!

8/30/2019

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Fate or Divine Providence? The purpose the August 3rd post was to get our minds thinking about our lives and our control over them.

Sometimes we think we have no control, sometimes we are right. Sometimes, when we allow him, God is in control and there's nothing better than that.
But more often than not, we are in control or we are trying to be in control.

We have to make the decisions, the calls, the choices. Sometimes God takes over after we decide or choose, sometimes not. There are times after fate has handed us a "bad" deal, that God turns it around, if we choose to let him.

“It is what a man thinks of himself that really determines his fate.”
- Henry David Thoreau -

As we age, we will encounter many times where fate is the ruler. We will also encounter many times when (Divine) providence (God) is the ruler. We must learn to accept and work with what we are given in life and live with the consequences of our own choices.

But this is true at any age, not only as we get older.
For example, if we choose to sit and watch the TV for 10 hours a day and eat the other hours when we are not sleeping, then we must suffer the consequences of becoming overweight, immobile, and at an increased risk of disease or illness. Our immune system will be weak.

If we choose, however, to change that by starting to walk everyday and eating healthier food, we suffer with those consequences, too...increased good health, mobility, and a strong immune system not to mention a stronger brain. So, it seems, we are in control.

Whether you believe in fate, (Divine) providence, or personal choice or a combination of all three, you must be an active player in your own life.

Nothing will happen if you are not engaged in your own choices. Don't let others determine your choices, be the master of your own life.

“One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it.
But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief,
that is a fate more terrible than dying.”

- Joan of Arc -

So what do you believe? Fate? Divine providence? Combination of both?
Or neither one?

XOXO

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Life: Fate or Divine Providence? A Recap and Review for the End of August!

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