What are people thinking?

So, I'm in a parking lot today. After some shopping I return to my vehicle to find the vehicle parked to my left, on my driver's side, is grossly crooked in it's space; so much in fact that it's rear end is IN my parking space. Did this driver think for one moment of the impact that they would have on the vehicle that they had so ignorantly crowded? I was stunned. I was disgusted. Sadly this is not the first time I've experienced this in life. Some years ago, as a first time mother, I returned to my vehicle with my infant in a carrier to not be able to enter my vehicle from the infringed upon doors. And this vehicle today that ruffled my feathers; it was a large over-sized 4x4. So I ask, why, since I choose to drive a mid-sized vehicle, do I have to be inconvenienced by you the driver of your over-sized vehicle, that ignorantly crowds me??? Perhaps as a child you were disciplined for coloring outside the lines and this is your vindication .....

Do you wallpaper?

I do!!!! And I don't mean the kind on my wall. I'm referring to my desktop on my computer. I recently decided to change my wallpaper (yet again) and was very happy with what I found. This particular visit to my favorite search engine, Google, was to solicite motivational wallpapers. And, oh no, one would not be enough. So compliments of http://www.acqyr.com/index.php I came across several and this one struck me particularily important today. Some days my wallpaper is of water, or autumnal leaves or a happy picture of the kids, and as I sit here and write this I realize that that picture alone, the one of my children, not the one I search for out there in the world wide web, should be enough motivation for me to "Be the change you want to see in the world" as said by Mahatma Gandhi. Need I say more?

How hard can it be ......

.... to put the laundry away? Isn't most the work in sorting it, washing it, drying it, lugging it around the house? I must confess, it is one of my worst habits, and terribly annoying for my husband.

Okay, so, tell me I'm clever (either that or weird). We have a two-story home now with the laundry on the main level. The first month or so, I'd "hump" the laundry hampers up and down the stairs. Yes, I know .... good exercise ..... however, not good on bad backs, sciatic issues, or swollen ankles from too many slips and falls. Not to mention, the fact that I'm terribly clumsy. So ... back to the laundry ....

One day, my light bulb went on. I have a laundry chute!!!! An unconventional one ... but I have a laundry chute. So, bombs away, each load goes over the railing and onto my foyer floor, which is within feet of my laundry area. And in fact, this accomplishes two things, not only does it simplify the up and down the stairs issue, but it also makes me do it right away, because the thought of my family's dirty laundry in the foyer for all to see, is less than appealing.

Now, what to do about putting the clean laundry away ...... ;-)

The Sense of a Goose

I recently heard this, and was very touched by this. I am sharing it here, and wish I could give credit to it's author. Read on ..... enjoy .... and give it some thought.

Sense of a Goose
Author Unknown

When you see geese flying along in "V" formation, you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way:

As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in "V" formation, the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.

People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.

If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those people who are headed the same way we are.

When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point.

It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs, whether with people or with geese flying south.

Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

What messages do we give when we honk from behind?

Finally ... and this is important ... when a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshot, and falls out of formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or until it dies, and only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their group.

If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other like that.


Author Unknown

Thank You, and I Mean It!

... I really do! I don't just say it because my Mother taught me to know better ... I really do mean it!

"Gratitude, appreciation, or thankfulness is a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive." (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

See here's the thing ... it's a positive emotion! I really do enjoy giving thanks to someone as I go about my day. You may be the Librarian who just helped me locate that elusive book I was hoping to read, the Cashier who rang up and bagged my groceries, the Parent who offers their support, the Children who help care for the pets, or the Husband who works so hard each day that I am afforded the luxury to have a flexible work schedule ... YOU are one of many people I am grateful for in my life, and I appreciate it.

I am a huge believer in "paying it forward". It is more than "what comes around, goes around". Paying it forward is positive! Who could argue the need for postive moments in our world? Our world can be as small as the home we occupy, the town we live in, or this entire world we cohabitate in. And even if we "pay it forward" within our little world, it finds it's way to the next world, and it's reaches are far beyond what we will ever know, or hope to know.

Smile, say thank you, pay it forward ..... and mean it ... you will be amazed at the difference you will make.

so this is it ....

... I am to join the masses, and blog ... what shall I blog about? ... am I to subscribe to the voyeurism of the world and post my life into a blog fishbowl? ... perhaps ...

The day's events? Most notable? My son's painful toenail story, and how brave he was? His recent contribution to the tooth fairy? Or, his 6th day of a dry night in bed? Or, how about the fact that it happened all in the same day!!!! Ah yes, that's it! In this and with each moment that I am now trying to enjoy wholeheartedly, I am finding more and more of myself as a mother, wife and woman.

Or is this about me? Have I decided to blog for my own reflection? In my continuing effort to "soul search" and define myself I see this as a useful tool. But, having said that, I realize, why the need to "define" myself? Am I yet again, joining the masses, and one of many, many women in society today who find themselves struggling to find our soul again? ... perhaps ...

And what about this society of today? Oh, where would I begin? And how large a soapbox shall I stand on to voice my thoughts on that? Where would I begin? Dare I even open that perverbial "Pandora's Box"? ... perhaps .....

... I'll save that for another post ...