Apr 19
The father of my best friend in grade school passed away from cancer and the funeral was today. Patty and I still connect a few times a year (not enough) and each time we do, it’s like we just talked yesterday, one of those rare connections that doesn’t fade with time. I’ve been reflecting a lot about the people and places that we grew up with and in – the neighborhood.
Apr 15
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” – Anais Nin
Many of our thoughts, ideas and dreams remain as buds until risk that first step to open them up to the possibilities. We can also cast light on others so their thoughts, ideas and dreams can blossom as well. Imagine the fragrance of life if we nurtured more buds into blossoms.
Apr 11
“In a time when nothing is more certain than change, the commitment of two people to one another has become difficult and rare. Yet, by its scarcity, the beauty and value of this exchange have only been enhanced.” – Robert Sexton
53 years ago today, my parents were married. They are a model of love and commitment through 12 years of night school while working full time to get a college degree, raising three (pretty awesome) kids, three (pretty awesome) grandchildren, two knee replacements, a broken hip, cancer, and daily challenges of life.
Some of the many lessons that I’ve learned from them include:
Faith will get you through everytime;
The value of hard work;
Don’t take the gifts you’ve been given for granted;
The importance of laughter;
Discipline produces results;
The satisfaction from giving your all, regardless of the results;
Ask for forgiveness and mean it;
There’s nothing better than a good polka;
Respect others and yourself;
Pay your bills on time and don’t get over your head in debt;
Life isn’t fair, so what, do what you can with what you have without complaint;
You can be both family and friends;
Give without counting;
Quiet perseverance;
Character is more important than personality;
Life is short, so appreciate each day.
They’ve taught these lessons not in words but in living them everyday. Thanks Mom and Dad for the many gifts, blessings and lessons. Happy Anniversary.
Apr 10
Life – it’s simple math really. We add or substract. We multiply or divide. What equation will you choose to be today, tomorrow?
A Good Life = + and x.
Do the math. Show your work. Do it right. Repeat.
Apr 4
We often let our first impression block us from going deeper. We can miss out on wonderful people and places if we rely on only one encounter. Our experiences and memories shape our world and can also limit our perspective if we are not open to second and even third impressions to give us a more accurate view.
First impressions of others or that others have of you can be based on merely one signal that is sent while we are preoccupied, tired or upset about something completely unrelated to the situation. Don’t miss out on new discoveries of people and place – give a second or third look to find the treasure.
Feb 19
“Welcome every morning with a smile. Look on the new day as another special gift from your Creator, another golden opportunity to complete what you were unable to finish yesterday. Be a self-starter. Let your first hour set the theme of success and positive action that is certain to echo through your entire day. Today will never happen again. Don’t waste it with a false start or no start at all. You were not born to fail.” – Og Mandino
Smile "how to" from Molly and Lily
Feb 13
“I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself.” – Maya Angelou
I come home to these smiling faces everyday, with the same level of excitement of going to a family reunion. Home is so much more than a building. It’s that undeniable feeling of comfort and acceptance that you have when you see family and friends (I include dogs in the family/friend category). I come home when I visit my parents, with family just hanging out. I come home when I see or talk with friends I haven’t seen in years, picking up the conversation and connection like it was 10 minutes ago. What a gift we can be if we become “home” for others.
She's home!
Feb 8
Some days are thicker than others – I’ve had a turkey this week – three in a row. Great if I was bowling. It really doesn’t matter “why” or “what” but more important is the “how” we go through these days. With grace or complaint. All of us have them – remember that. No one, no one, no one does not go through “thick days.” We all do. And having that awareness and looking for the cues can allow us to help others through them.
Jan 3
“I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive.” – Gilda Radner
I’ve had dogs my whole life. A few strays from the neighborhood lead my parents to commit to buying our first “official” dog – Char (full name – Charlotte Renee), a black poodle who lived 15 years. My sister then discovered the Samoyed breed and we then got the bright idea to breed Tasha, keeping the only girl in the pack and named her Nika. Our friend and future sister-in-law’s family kept one of the boys and named him Mikos.
Jan 2
When I started training for the Twin Cities marathon in 2004, I joined my cousin Jeanne’s running group. Jeanne is what I call a “human magnet” – an authentic and wonderful woman who draws people to her with her joy, laughter and genuine enthusiasm. I’ve been fortunate to hang out with her and to meet the many people she’s met through the years. We still meet every Wednesday evening and Saturday morning, hanging out and having fun. Many are still running marathons, most are running half marathons and 5ks. I’ve made some great friends ranging in age from 30s to 70s – all with one thing in common, we all enjoy getting out moving and staying active.
