Brighten Up My Day

Writing these words here every morning, brightens up my day. Hopefully along the way you also find something that helps to brighten yours. I hear people say they don't have the resources to make a difference - not enough money. not the right skills, not enough time in their busy lives. Seriously? There is ALWAYS a way!

Some things that don't require money include volunteering to read to kids in your local library, donating some time at a senior center, sharing flowers from your garden, giving blood at your community blood bank, or paying a visit to a homebound person. They don't necessarily require much time either, if you know how to manage your schedule. A very simple thing to brighten the day is to make a point of smiling more often and greeting people you encounter, rather than ignoring them. No special training is required for any of these things to!

Yes, donating money or property is a wonderful thing to do, but not everyone can afford it. There are so many other ways to brighten someone's day. Compliment the teller in the bank. Let the store manager know when you receive exceptional service. (People are quick to complain when things go bad, but way to slow in offering the praise that is so often do).

Oh, and another thing everyone reading this can do - share this with others and add your own ideas in the comments section below!

Start each day with YES!

Sometimes with all the negativity in the world, it can be difficult for us to stay positive, but I have found it helps to have a very simple resolve: start each day with YES!  Our minds are powerful tools though and sometimes just thinking something gives us a very good boost.  Having a yes kind of attitude can go a long way!

 

Now I won't make believe that there are not any problems in the world.  Certainly there are many.  Can we solve every single one of them?  Probably not today.  We can make a start though.  We can do some good.  Of course changing the world means believing in yourself and your ability and trusting and believing in other people as well.  It's a tall order I know.

 

Think about the opposite though for a moment.  You wake up in the morning and ask if it's going to be a good day.  NO!  Am I going to eat a nice, delicious breakfast?  NO!  Will the commute to work be an easy one?  NO!  If you begin each day with negativity, there is no chance there for a smile - no chance for a happy day.  Even when something bad happens, no matter how minor or how big, shrug it off believing that better things are coming.

 

Yes, I'm going to have a good Sunday and a good week ahead!  Yes, you are too!

show the world your joy

Do you ever notice how small children always seem to be happy? Why can't the same be true for adults? Yes, every single moment of our life is not necessarily magic, but I think we could have a lot more joy if only we tried a little more!  Even with a pandemic all around us, increased hate crimes, and a slowed down economy, there is still something to be happy about.

Babies and small children are really good at showing off their happiness too. It seems there is something else we could copy from them!  Did you ever see a toddler giggle?  Oh my!

Someone once said that life is not about making others happy. Life is about sharing your happiness with others! Even those little tiny happy moments are worth sharing! Have I had happy moments in the past year?  You betcha!  Show the world your joy, especially when there seems to be so much darkness. You just might be surprised at the results!

Did you ever know that you're my hero

Remember when Bette Midler sang "Did you ever know that you're my hero"?  The song is Wind Beneath My Wings and numerous other artists recorded it, but the point I want to make is regarding its lyrics.  I think it is talking about a friend or relative, someone who is special and whom she considers her hero and her idol. There is nothing wrong with a little hero worship and I think everyone should have someone like she does!

 

A few months before my mother died, I was helping her set up a new telephone lifeline system and, as a backup password, they wanted to know the name of her hero.  Without hesitation Mom said "Dad," meaning her father.  How wonderful that long after he had died, my mother still looked at her father as her hero.

 

I write here often of people we might consider heroes.  Some are well known and some are folks that would only be known within their community.  What is it that make them a hero though and has anyone ever encouraged them to continue that behavior?  One of the things I like about that Bette Midler song is that it seems to be addressed directly to her hero.  How wonderful!  Let that person know what you think of them.  Oh they my blush and even say "aw shucks!" but acknowledging good behavior only encourages more of it, and that certainly can't be a bad thing!

One person's trash

Something that one person considers to be worthless just might be considered valuable by someone else.  I think the old saying is that one man's trash is another man's treasure. 

You might also look at it as always seeing something positive, even in something as seemingly worthless as garbage.

I know people who always see the positive.  I try to be like that myself.  I would much rather enjoy the everyday experiences and rejoice in the hidden beauty that is so often missed than to spend unnecessary time and money going for the lavish expensive things that so many covet but which all too often are really over rated.

There is so much good - everywhere.  All we have to do is open our eyes and our minds.  Now, I'm not saying we should wallow in dirt and filth, but we can appreciate the less extravagant.  We can also do something about the filth and make it so that everyone might enjoy it!

last request

Do you ever read the obituaries in the newspaper? Sometimes they can be humorous and sometimes they simply gave details of someone's life. Lately though I have come across several that are very inspiring, not just because of the life that had been led, but because of a last request.  There was a wonderful obituary a newspaper last week that brought me to tears.  A brother wrote some very touching words about his sister who had lived with cerebral palsy.  "I wish I could have made you laugh one more time," he wrote.

Frequently in obituaries there will be a "in lieu of flowers" statement, that directs folks to a charity that is significant to the deceased.  I also have seen some very nice "last requests."  In telling of one man who had recently passed away, the obituary said that one of his last wishes was for any person reading the obituary to perform a good deed in his honor for someone that they may have had friction with or disliked. Wow! Someone wanted to continue the love even after they were gone. How wonderful. How many people did a good deed in his honor? There is of course no way to know, but what a wonderful idea!

Maybe this will inspire folks reading this to make other last requests. What would you want your legacy to be? How would you like to be an inspiration to strangers, even after you are gone?  Of course estate planning is another way to help those who come after you while also keeping your name alive.

Happiness is a warm puppy

The wonderful Peanuts cartoonist Charles Shultz said “Happiness is a warm puppy.”  That gives you an immediate image.  You can picture it immediately.  What else is happiness though?  What makes you happy?  What do you do to bring happiness to others?

Obviously, there is not just one answer to my question.  It's going to be a little bit different for each individual.  I really think that being happy is a choice.  We each have the power to bring happiness into our lives and into the lives of others. WE can make it happen!  In fact, Ralph Waldo Emerson makes the same point when he said, “For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.”

Being angry or being unhappy can and does happen, even when we are trying to be upbeat and cheerful, but my point is that we can change things.  We can turn a bad day into a good one, just by changing our attitude.

So be happy, and while you're at it, spread some of that happiness around!

Share a little tea

Is your life at all hectic?  Try though we may, there are moments of tension or stress that we just seem to not be able to get rid of.  Sometimes we try to do too much, or we let things we cannot control overtake us.  Good advice often is to simply slow down and relax and maybe share a little tea.  Peppermint perhaps?

 

All of life's answers are not simple ones.  Sometimes we need help.  Never should we feel alone or under a huge weight of burden that we cannot handle.  Certainly, I don't have all the answers!  If we really want to change the world though, one thing we can do though which is an awful lot of help, if to be present for others!  Being there.  Wow!  That really can be a powerful thing.

 

When things get overwhelming, remember there are professionals out there too.  Don't let stress or worry overtake you.  It's only the middle of the week.  Slow down, relax, and maybe have some tea, and if you feel you need it, get help.

what is the color of happiness?

First of all tell me, are you happy?  Is there something special that makes you happy?  Don't take a lot of time.  There might be several things or perhaps you are just a happy person.  Now, close your eyes for a moment and think of that happiness.  Does a color emerge?  Red?  Pink?  Blue?  What is the color of happiness?

 

Now you may think that I have lost my mind, but there is a point I want to make.  Science might say that there is indeed a happy color.  I say happiness is EVERY color, because happiness is EVERYwhere!  Yeah, we all have bad days and it's certainly normal to feel down sometimes, but even when things are bad, there can be happiness.  Broke but have a family to cook for?  Well happiness can come from knowing how to prepare a wonderful meal for just pennies.  

Have you ever seen a homeless man with a big grin and wondered what he could possibly be happy about?  There are so many reasons to be happy.  So very many.

 

Am I blue?  That usually means depressed.  So blue is a bad color?  No way!  I say they are all good.  Look around you and see all the beauty.  Smile at the abundance of colors.  Be happy.

A Zen Folktale

I didn't write this one.  (Gosh!  I've quoted several "author unknown" tales here over the years).  This is a good story though, so I hope you'll read on.

A huge, rough samurai once went to see a little monk, hoping to acquire the secrets of the universe.

"Monk," he said, in a voice accustomed to instant obedience. "Teach me about heaven and hell."

The little monk looked up at the mighty warrior in silence. Then, after a moment, he said to the samurai with utter disdain, "Teach YOU about heaven and hell? I couldn't teach you about anything. You're dirty. You smell. Your blade is rusty. you're a disgrace, an embarrassment to the samurai class. Get out of my sight at once. I can't stand you!"

The samurai was furious. He began to shake all over from the anger that raced through him. A red flush spread over his face; he was speechless with rage. Quickly, menacingly, he pulled out his sword and raised it above his head, preparing to slay the monk.

"That's hell." said the little monk quietly.

The samurai was overwhelmed. Stunned. The compassion and surrender of this little man who had offered his life to give this teaching about hell! He slowly lowered his sword, filled with gratitude, and for reasons he could not explain his heart became suddenly peaceful.

"And that's heaven," said the monk softly.

Twenty dollar bill story

A well-known speaker started off his seminar holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200 people, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?" Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this."

He proceeded to crumple up the currency and then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air. "Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.

"My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth twenty dollars. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We may feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who DO LOVE you. The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by WHO WE ARE. You are special - Don't EVER forget it."

I've told you about this speaker and the story of the twenty dollar bill here before.  It didn't originate with me.  It is one of those that has floated around and I am simply retelling it here. (I do that sort of thing from time-to-time). But it speaks to a number of things. Mostly it says count your blessings, not your problems.

more

More.  Some of us are never satisfied.  Some of us always want more.  How can we do more though?  What can we do to make more of a difference in this world?  Where are the folks that already are doing more? Day after day I write here, but do I have all the answers?  Of course not!  Together we have a lot of answers though, certainly more of them.  On this Earth Day Weekend, it is important to have more answers and for us all to pitch in and do more.

 

So what do YOU think?  There are more ways of doing things than I have written about here.  Can you share some ideas?  The more who contribute here, there more answers we will have in the end.  Come!  Join in the discussion!

 

I want to change the world for the better and I am doing ________ to achieve this.  What would you put in the blank?  I hope we hear from many of you.  Share some more of your good ideas!

desired things

The 1927 poem, Desiderata (Latin for desired things) by American writer Max Ehrmann, has long been a favorite of mine. I've mentioned it here before. Since I desire happiness for everyone and I desire that everyone realize his or her importance, it seemed fitting and proper to mention this wonderful prose once again on this Tuesday morning. It being in the public domain, I'd actually just like to print it here for you all to ponder and enjoy:

 

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

 

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

 

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

 

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

 

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

 

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

 

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

 

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

 

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.

 

And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

 

                                                                                                                -Max Ehrmann

Live in the now

One of the biggest mistakes some folks make is to live a live filled with regrets.  I'm talking about those who strive so hard to get to another place, that they miss all the joys of being where they are.

 

There is nothing wrong with having goals.  In fact it is quite healthy to plan new adventures and to want change.  A lot of folks just made New Year's resolutions.  It can become unhealthy though if it is an obsession. Stop waiting for Friday to come as if you can only be happy on your days off from work.  Stop waiting for your vacations with the mindset that you are miserable the rest of the time.  Look with joy to relaxation of course, but never feel like the rest of the time is bad or the bus will simply pass you by.  I know of people who dread Mondays. As for me, I'm excited for each new week I'm alive and I greet Monday (and pretty much every day) with a smile.

 

Do you know anyone who is desperately waiting for someone to fall in love with them?  This is the same thing.  Yes, it would be lovely if you had a life partner and who would not want to be loved, but don't focus on that above all else and stop living your live in the here and now.  It certainly won't make you a very attractive candidate for romance.  Even worse, it won't be good for you.

 

When we live in the now and find enjoyment in our daily lives, we are much happier people.  The world can always use more happiness!

Paid in full

Today is Mother's Day.  I think about my own mom a lot.  It's been over over ten years since she passed away.  I'm tempted to tell you something about her this morning, but I've done that before, and after all, this blog is NOT about me.  Instead, here's a story for you that isn't even mine but it is about a mother.   I really like it and hope you do too.  I'm not sure who wrote this - it's been floating around for years, but it just might touch you and perhaps even make you think -

A little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was fixing supper, and handed her a piece of paper that he had been writing on. After his Mom dried her hands on an apron, she read it, and this is what it said:

For cutting the grass: $5.00 For cleaning up my room this week: $1.00 For going to the store for you: $.50 Baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping: $.25 Taking out the garbage: $1.00 For getting a good report card: $5.00 For cleaning up and raking the yard: $2.00 Total owed: $14.75

Well, his mother looked at him standing there, and the boy could see the memories flashing through her mind. She picked up the pen, turned over the paper he'd written on, and this is what she wrote:

For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me: No Charge

For all the nights that I've sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you: No Charge

For all the trying times, and all the tears that you've caused through the years: No Charge

For all the nights that were filled with dread, and for the worries I knew were ahead: No Charge

For the toys, food, clothes, and even wiping your nose: No Charge Son, when you add it up, the cost of my love is: No Charge.

When the boy finished reading what his mother had written, there were big tears in his eyes, and he looked straight at his mother and said, "Mom, I sure do love you."

And then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote: "PAID IN FULL".


Perhaps it's because I miss my own mom, that I think more about the value of mothers.  This story though is not just about the love of your mom, it's also about giving and I guess that's what's so special about it.  Giving is always a good thing, whether from a mother or from anyone!  Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there!

all gone

There is a line in the classic film The Trouble With Angels, in which elderly actress Judith Lowry as Sister Prudence says "All gone."  I have no idea what it meant.  Every time I watch that movie (and I love it and have watched it a LOT), I wonder what that was supposed to mean.  I will most likely never know.  I do know about something being all gone though because that is precisely what happened to all the earlier entries for this blog.  They now are all gone.

 

I don't know how long you have been reading this or if you have ever just wondered what I might have said before this entry, but you cannot go all the way back to the beginning anymore.  Delete keys can sometimes be overridden, but not in this case.  With one motion (well it was perhaps more than one) I wiped out much of the writing.  Prior to this year, you can now only find periodic posts.

 

This might not be a big deal to you, but I really didn't save most of these in any other form, so it's a bigger deal to me.  Another lesson learned of course - back things up!  Yesterday I even printed a paper copy of every blog entry that is left.  Unless any of you happened to save my earlier blog posts though, they are now all gone.

Pollyanna?

To say that I am too Pollyanna, as some have, is not only insulting, but also inaccurate. The heroine of Eleanor H. Porter's famous 1913 novel "Pollyanna," was indeed an optimist and probably a bit too much of one. I am optimistic, but also realistic. I believe in good but know that life is not always sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows.  

There is something else here though - usually we think of Pollyanna as someone who considers themselves better than others, and with me, that is certainly not the case.  I never seek fame or attention.  I don't try to set myself as an authority.  My suggestions here each day are just that and seldom (this being one of those rare occasions) do I even talk about myself here.  This is NOT about me.

This is about all of us though.  ALL of us.  This is about making a bright future.  This is about caring.  This is about change.  This is about love and respect.  This is about justice and equality.  This is about making a difference in our world.  We all have the power to do this and we can me reasonably optimistic that positive things are going to happen.  Optimism is not a bad thing.  Working for good - working for sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows, can never be a bad thing.

Perhaps we are all a bit Pollyanna, or want to be.  The important thing is to never give up and to always strive for the good that we deserve and that is certainly there, if we let it be.

Thursday acts of kindness

This morning I am thinking once again about the importance of being good neighbors. I was thinking especially about random acts of kindness. Feeding the hungry seems to be at the top of most lists, but there are so many ways to do this. So today I give you a list, in no particular order, of various random acts of kindness, many of which cost little or nothing and take very little time. Maybe some of these will give you ideas of your own!

Load extra money in vending machines to buy the next person's snacks when they come along. It will be a pleasant surprise for them! Leaving a few coins out at the laundromat does the same thing.

Sing an employee's praises to their manager or on a comment card — a little recognition goes a long way. Believe it or not, people complain more often than praise even though most workers deserve the praise more often than the complaint.

When paying for your breakfast in a restaurant, ask for the check of a random diner (especially someone who is elderly or who is dining alone) and pay it without their knowing.

Help a friend see today in a wondrous new light: present them with a kaleidoscope. They really aren't very expensive and are available in most toy stores.

Vulnerable people may be avoiding all public places and so some may need groceries or medical supplies. Volunteer to pick things up for them and assure them they don't need to make physical contact with you.

Practice physical distancing and wear a mask whenever you are in public.

Here's a simple one: call, text, or email some folk you know have little contact with others (which during this pandemic, is many of us).

My list could go on and on of course. Perhaps you would like to add your own suggestions in the comments section below.

Getting rid of prejudice

"Prejudice and contempt, cloaked in the pretense of religious or political conviction are no different. These forces have nearly destroyed our nation in the past. They plague us still. They fuel the fanaticism of terror. And they torment the lives of millions in fractured nations all around the world."  President Bill Clinton spoke those words in his second Inaugural Address back in January, 1997.

Mr. Clinton went on to say "These obsessions cripple both those who hate and, of course, those who are hated, robbing both of what they might become. We cannot, we will not, succumb to the dark impulses that lurk in the far regions of the soul everywhere. We shall overcome them. And we shall replace them with the generous spirit of a people who feel at home with one another."

It has been twenty-six years and yet the prejudice and contempt that former President Clinton spoke of are still around.  To me it seems to be getting worse.  He said that we shall overcome them, but when?  Are we working on it at all?  Are we even trying?

What do YOU think?

Trouble Tree

I hired a plumber to help me restore an old farmhouse, and after he had just finished a rough first day on the job: a flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric drill quit, and his ancient one-ton truck refused to start I gave him a ride home. On the way there, he sat in stony silence. On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family.

As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. When opening the door, he underwent an amazing transformation. His face was wreathed in smiles, and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.

Afterward he walked me to my car.  We passed that tree again and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier.  "Oh, that's my trouble tree," he told me.  "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure, those troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and the kids, so I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home and ask God to take care of them.  Then in the morning I pick them up again." 

"Funny thing is," he smiled, "when I come out in the morning to pick 'em up, there aren't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before!"

This is NOT about me.  I didn't write it.  It's one of those uplifting anonymous stories we see on the internet from time to time.  I bet you will all agree that we sure could use a tree like the plumber's.

Gazing or Doing

We can sit quietly, gazing up at the stars, or we can get involved and do something. WE can bring about change, but we have to want it.  This summer we have seen way too many examples of hate, and we have seen so many die. Is that the way it's supposed to be? Do we go through our life worrying about being shot or who we are going to shoot? (Take notice of how guns are involved in almost all of these horrible situations, and yet there are still those who say everyone has a right to own a gun - don't limit our freedom).

Racism is alive in the USA, but we have the power to end it. We can end the anti-gay hate too. In fact, we can see all hate done away with.

I've seen some wonderful signs of people working together in the past few days, but as the various killings fade from memory, I am afraid that we will see that working together, come to an end. Folks, this needs to be fixed now. Not one more life should be lost. Don't just trot out your concern when there is a terrible tragedy. Black lives matter.  Hate is a virus.  Racism is wrong.  Gay people deserve equal treatment.  Guns kill. These thing must be on our minds, and we must fix our brokenness. Again, we have the power. Every single one of us can make a difference.

Are you afraid? I can understand that. When you see people being shot, that can be a very scary thing. Watching and doing nothing, does not make a problem go away though. Reach outside your comfort zone and you'll discover superpowers that you never knew you had. Let's all stop gazing, and start doing!

Sunrise Sunset

Isn't this a glorious vision?  Wait a moment though - in this picture, are we looking at a sunrise or a sunset?  Can you tell the difference?  Is one more beautiful than the other?  Does it make you think of the time you watched the sun come up with the person you love?

There are those who prefer the rising of the sun in the morning.  It signals a fresh start; a brand new day.  Most of us when we see it are just waking up and are rested and refreshed after a night's sleep.

Some people prefer to look at the sun as it sets.  The day is finished and now, as the sun goes down, a time of rest is approaching.  We have done what we set out to do and there will be another opportunity to do more wonderful things tomorrow.

However we look at the sun though, one thing is certain.  It is beautiful.  Take a moment and just reflect on this picture.  There is beauty all around us.  Take a moment and enjoy some of that too.  In fact, start looking at all the beauty that surrounds you, and I guarantee it will change your day!

Give me a hand

Have you ever heard someone say "Give me a hand?" What was your response? Did you help out? Did you get involved? Most of the time it isn't a life or death situation and you aren't pulling someone up from the side of a cliff, yet every time we are asked for help, we should do our best.

I have seen people take on overwhelming tasks all by themselves and succeed. Some of us have that kind of determination. There are things though that are difficult to do alone. Sometimes it takes many hands to make things happen.

I'm thinking this morning about all the volunteers that give comfort to patients in hospitals and nursing homes, and of the people who come together to help Habitat For Humanity and other organizations build new homes for those who have nothing. The community groups who take on projects like picking up highway litter come to mind.  I'm thinking about the folks who read to kids in our libraries, who raise huge sums of money for charity, and who help good politicians get elected to office.  I'm thinking too of the many people who have truly made a difference during this pandemic.  Many hands can get jobs done.

There are volunteer opportunities just about everywhere.  Join in. Give someone a hand. Have an idea that will make things better for someone? Do it, and don't be afraid to ask for others to lend a hand!

Watch what you say

When somebody mentions their doctor, do you automatically picture a man? How about secretaries, do we picture a woman automatically? If a man says he wants you to meet his spouse, do you immediately think he is referring to a woman? We need to change the way we think and they way we say things! If we really believe in equality, we should think about things like this.

I remember a television commercial for a deodorant, many years ago that talked about an airline pilot. Viewers were thinking of a man flying the aircraft, but in the last frame we see that it is actually a woman. Even those of us who fight every day for equality, can't get those images out of our head that we have been conditioned to see. When reading someone's biography, when we see that they are married, most of us still assume the opposite sex. Until recently many computers would try to correct us if we said "her wife."

Sometimes pronouns that refer to gender are misused out of ignorance.  Our transgender sisters and brothers should expect that they will be referred to with the gender they have transitioned to.  It is ignorant to call a man "she" and just plain mean to say "it."  Human beings are never it.  Oh and transgendered isn't ever proper even though many well-meaning people have used it.  I could go on and on about the many reasons that one is wrong. 

I was thinking that we need to watch what we say.  Perhaps we also need to watch what we think.  Is it conditioning or prejudice? Can we open our minds to see a bigger picture?

Roses are red - sometimes

Roses are red (and violets are blue), says the poem. Indeed they are.  Sometimes though they might be pink or white or yellow or a number of other colors, including a mixed color. I think the most stunning rose color is lavender, and it smells so very nice as well!

I'm thinking of roses this morning because I happened to pass some gorgeous ones on my early walk. I just wanted to stop and soak in the beauty. It's no wonder people love to send and to receive these wonderful flowers. Oh my!  It's even pleasant to pick up a nice bouquet for yourself.

Oh and this is in keeping with the theme of this blog. If you plant beautiful flowers, you are certainly helping to make this a more beautiful world. Such a simple thing, huh? Of course there are many flower possibilities. Do you have a favorite? If I were to send you a bouquet, what flowers would you want included?  I like the ones in this picture.

Rest and relax

Trying to make a better world?  How about making a better you!  Self care is so important to our daily lives, but some of us are so busy trying to help others that we neglect ourselves.  Rest and relaxation is important.  

Resting is not a waste of time. It's an investment in well-being.  Seriously.  We can't always be on the go.  Relaxing isn't a sign of laziness either. It's a source of energy.  Rest is important even during your workday.  Breaks are not a distraction. They're a chance to refocus attention.

Games are good too.  Exercise in a great investment in our well-being.  Play is not a frivolous activity. It's a path to connection and creativity.

Did you get enough sleep last night?  Maybe you can get some today.  Don't neglect yourself!  How about a nice spring vacation!

Adding up the cash

Fundraising used to require collecting cash and adding it all up to take to the bank.  These days it can be much easier.  Most charitable events now have online fundraising pages.  I have used these myself for a number of events.  Social media allows for some fundraising too or at least helps to spread the message. Services like paypal make paying easier, even for folks that might not have a credit card.

Facebook began allowing fundraisers a while back.  There is no fee for charities using that platform.  There are also a number of other ways to raise money for charity, including Crowdrise, Kickstarter, and GoFundMe.  Tomorrow is a big day for fundraising, It's GivingTuesday and I urge you to give to whatever organization is special to you.  You can get some great ideas at https://www.givingtuesday.org/united-states/

If you want to raise money for a cause, the online method is certainly an easier way than holding bake sales and car washes, but note that if you promise perks to your donors, it is usually you and not the service collecting the money, that needs to come through with that.  Promising perks and than not fulfilling them will lose you credibility and will likely cause you a tarnished image.  Only promise what you can and will fulfill. 

 

Adding up the cash did indeed get easier, but before using any method for fundraising, whether you are giving or receiving, make sure you understand exactly what you are doing. 

turn around

Do you feel like you are just going nowhere in your job or in you education or in your social activities? There are other options, you know. The song that says It's too late to turn back now, is WRONG. You can always change!

Now, I'm not saying that you should make a change. You are the one who needs to make that decision.  First, step back from the picture and look at all sides. You might want to talk about things with a close family member or friend. You might also want to seek out a professional for advise. Just know that because you are heading in a certain direction, doesn't mean you have to keep going that way. Is it the right direction for you?

No matter how long you have traveled in the wrong direction, you can always turn around. Nothing says you cannot admit being wrong. If you are, be confident and know that there is no shame in turning around.