I came across a blog I wrote just over a year ago.  Reading through it, I saw it was somewhat prophetic, though unintended.  Thus, I couldn’t resist reprinting the more relevant content.
 
Sometimes life presents us with an opportunity. It may not be the opportunity we hoped for or wanted or would have made us happy.  Sometimes, we may just need to take a risk.  How willing are we to take that risk?  How do we know?  What helps us decide? Doubt and uncertainty are part of the process.  Perhaps we need to accept that sometimes we don’t and cannot know.  Perhaps we need to embrace uncertainty in order to get comfortable in its presence.  Perhaps it’s about having an acceptance between knowing and not knowing.  Then we don’t fear and agonize over the choice when we come to a fork in the road.  Perhaps it’s about learning to perceive the world and our lives as a blessing unfolding. 
 
Every day is a series of moments .  Each one presents an opportunity – an opportunity to be kind; an opportunity to be thankful; an opportunity for laughter; an opportunity to be of service; an opportunity to try something new.  The moments of opportunities are infinite.  All opportunities can be life changers whether they are the kind that affect family, work, living situations or the multitude of moments throughout our day.  What choices will we make?  What risks will we take?  What will lead us towards flourishing?  Each one of us has to find our own answers, find our own path.  If we find ourselves immobilized by uncertainty or fear, the solution is to take action , even the smallest of actions, do what we can do and let go of the outcome.  We may not be able to control the outcome, but we can control and choose to enjoy the process. 

Comments are welcomed.

How often do we realize that in a given moment we may be in the eye of a blessing?    That blessing may come in situations, forms we may not recognize at first glance.  That’s what I experienced on my first extended outing after weeks of being cloistered.  I had been going out for 5 minute walks near my home.  They are so short due to the street situation around where I live.  Still I figure it’s fresh air and some physical movement.  It’s all good.  I also ventured out a couple of times to the nearby health food store.  Otherwise it had been about 12 weeks at home.
 
A need to actually go to a brick and mortar bank was the reason for an extended trip out into the wide, wide world. 
 
The bank is about a 10 minute drive to my favorite neighborhood, commonly referred to as the Village.  Besides the bank, there are some of my favorite shops and markets.  Over the years I’ve also developed relationships with a number of the store owners  .
 
A friend who has been helping me throughout the pandemic drove us to the Village.  I was apprehensive about going into the bank.  Would there be lineups?  A long wait amongst lots of people?  Would they be wearing masks and physical distancing?  As we approached the bank none of the above was true.  We were the only two in the bank other than the tellers.  Everything went pleasantly easy peasy.  This experience at the bank was the harbinger of how the rest of the day would unfold.
 
I visited a number of shops and markets that I had frequented pre-pandemic.    As it was with the bank, my friend and I were the only customers in each store.  What made it doubly great was being able to reconnect with the shop owners that I knew.  Despite the masks and Plexiglas protectors at all check outs, it felt like old times.
 
At the end of the outing, I realized what a gift the excursion was.  The universe had no doubt looked after and protected us.  It was a gift for which I had much gratitude.  I truly savor that experience every time I think about it.  In addition to recreating feelings of positivity and well being, savoring has been proven to be a technique for hard-wiring happiness into the brain.     (Who wouldn’t want that?)
 
You got it right, Mr. Rogers, “it was a beautiful day in the neighborhood.  A beautiful day for a neighbor.”

 Comments are welcomed.

Ever since I can remember summer was my least favorite season.  The opposite is true, I believe, for most people.  Even my birthday is in summer which ought to mean something positive.  A birthday is positive any time of the year.   So of course, it’s meaningful, but it’s only one day out of the entire season.  Since the Summer Solstice occurred this weekend, I wonder how it will go this year, especially in the midst of a pandemic.
 
Due to the conditions of the pandemic and being home more than usual, I’ve had lots of time to ponder how this summer might go.  As I considered the possibilities, something popped into my mind.  The something was a recollection of a children’s book by Judith Viorst entitled The Tenth Good Thing About Barney.  I read the book to my daughter when she was young.  It was a wonderful story about helping a child deal with the death of a beloved pet.  What does this have to do with summer, you ask?  I will tell you.
 
Instead of rehashing and ruminating on the miseries of summers gone by, I thought, “Why not come up with 10 good things about summer instead?”  It seemed that focusing on the good things just might establish a template for having a better summer this time around.  The one caveat being that Covid-19 may have other plans for us.  Nevertheless, as I’ve written before, even recalling joyful experiences increases well being.  With that, here’s my list.

1. Maybe the weather is hotter than is comfortable for me, but there is also no snow or ice on the walks, no bundling up in layers of bulky clothing.
2. Linden tree blossoms are my all time favorite scent.  (That aroma might be neck and neck with fresh brewed coffee.)  Lilacs and lilies of the valley  are runners up.
3. So many species of birds return singing their beautiful songs.  I always enjoyed stopping just to listen.  Their songs always lift my spirits.
4. There are fresh fruits and vegetables aplenty.  Love the seasonal berries and melons in particular.  I also look forward to that first tomato sandwich when the new crop arrives.
5. There are more hours of daylight.  (I still wish they would do away with changing the clocks.  Choose either standard or daylight savings and stick with it.  Either way we get more daylight hours.)
6. Love those day trips to see summer stock theatre including stops at farmer’s markets along the way.
7. Then there’s nothing like a day at the ball park.  Peanuts, popcorn, Cracker Jacks, hot dogs taste better there than anywhere else.
8. Picnicking on a screened in porch during a summer rain.
   
9. Visiting the ice cream truck as it makes it’s rounds through the neighborhood.
   

Similar to the boy in the Barney story, it took me awhile to come up with number 10.  Finally, here is my tenth good thing about summer.

   10. Reliving some of my childhood rituals with my grandkids like making chains from Dandelion stems and holding Buttercups under our chins to determine if we like butter.    Seems I like butter.  But then, who doesn’t?

Comments are welcomed.

After stepping aside for Alfred Hitchcock, I decided to post my own observations and reflections from my Shabby Chicless livingroom in beautiful downtown Quarantine.
 
There is great goodness, kindness, altruism, humanity throughout the world.
 
Many people are suffering physically, economically, emotionally.  Yet, they are doing their best in these extraordinary circumstances.
 
A lot of selfish, irresponsible jerks have surfaced, which tends to happen in crises.  While they  suck up some of the media oxygen, I believe they are in the minority.
 
Many have had to let go of all of their ‘doings’ and are learning to smell the roses, or coffee or whatever they enjoy smelling.
 
At that point I had stopped writing.  As I resume, some historic events are taking place.  Protests are happening around the world.  We have before us a momentous opportunity for change
 
My hope is that positive reforms and changes will be implemented.
 
My hope is that we will engage in perhaps some uncomfortable conversations and be good listeners.
 
My hope is that dignity, respect, kindness, compassion be extended to all people.
 
“Every soul is beautiful and precious; is worthy of dignity and respect, and deserving of peace, joy and love.” Bryant McGill

Comments are welcomed.