Gratitude

Yay! No More Political Ads!

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Light blue background with fireworks and party poppers. Text "No More Political Ads. Petticoats & Pistols"

It’s election day in the USA, and I, for one, am glad. Why? Well, let me start by saying that I consider it pretty amazing I can vote, and I do love my country. However, they aren’t the reasons I’m glad the election will be over. Nope, I’m thrilled because, as of tonight, I won’t have to sit through another political ad for a long, long time.

The ads started earlier than usual this year and ramped up each week. It hasn’t been uncommon to see the same advertisement repeated five, ten (one hundred?) times in an hour. Okay, maybe one hundred is stretching it a bit, but the commercials wear on you like water dripping on dry clay. Plus, there are only two or three ads for each candidate, so you can recite each one by heart after a few hours of watching television.

It’s been a lot. Too much.

If you haven’t gotten the message–I AM SO GLAD  I DON’T HAVE TO SEE POLITICAL ADS ANYMORE! No more commercials. No more stacks of political mailers to toss in the trash every day. I can resume throwing out the regular mailers–the roofing ones and credit-card offers! Yippee!

So, I’m sighing in relief. I’m wrapping up in my favorite cozy throw. And I’m basking in normal commercials. I’m even excited for the Christmas ones! We’ll see what company makes me cry first this year. A few years ago, a Dick’s Sporting Goods Christmas commercial had me sobbing. They really know how to tug on the heartstrings. This particular one, The Hoop, featured a dad and his little girl playing basketball, and it shows her growing up. With my own kids getting older, boy, it got to me. Here’s THE HOOP (linked) if you’d like to watch, and I’m embedding it below.

 


So, yes, lots to look forward to starting tomorrow. I can enjoy my morning coffee and watch Good Morning Football  in peace. Last Friday I purchased three bags of Halloween candy at half-off (Twix, Reese’s, and KitKats–yummy!)–I might have one of each to celebrate. I have a new jigsaw puzzle waiting for me. Four novels are stacked haphazardly on the end table. Have I started recording Hallmark Movies? You betcha!

I am ready to relax and enjoy the rest of the year! Who’s with me?

*Please NO political comments–we’re all getting through the day as best we can!! Any political comments will be removed.*

Do you, like me, get sappy at the Christmas commercials?

Have the best day!

 

If Not Now, Then When?

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The if not now, then when question has been on my mind as I grow older and played into why I’m writing this while waiting for the remaining passengers to load on my flight to Los Angeles. More about how this unexpected trip came about later. Great teaser, huh? ?

I think I’ve mentioned I’m not big on change. I’m a routine gal. It’s called a comfort zone for a reason, after all. When plans get thrown off, I get stressed. I’m not the most spontaneous person either. As Alison in one of my favorite movies, The Sure Thing says, “Spontaneity has its time and place.” Yup, that’s me.

When I travel, I start thinking about what to take weeks in advance. I consult the weather repeatedly, pull outfits with coordinated jewelry, and plan for contingencies. Because I hate waking up and having to wear something, I take more clothes than necessary. I worry I’ll forget something or have the wrong clothes. I love traveling once I get on the plane, but everything before stresses me out.

For 2023, I’m working on these issues. I want to be more spontaneous and live without regrets. I refuse to let fear or stress hold me back. I’m also tired of putting things off, of saying someday I’ll do _____. Fill in the blank. Visit dear friends who’ve moved away. Travel to Hawaii. Whatever. I’m saying no to things I don’t want to do. That gives me more time for what I love and what brings me joy. Too often we forget how limited and precious time is. We say if only the timing were better. If only I had the money. If only ___. Again, fill in the blank.

Which brings me back to flying to LA. My youngest received a week’s notice he’d been selected as a contestant for a game show taping in LA. Even before we learned neither his boyfriend or best friend could attend, my hubby and I wanted to go. But it wasn’t a good time. Flights would be expensive. My bff, Lori, was to arrive two days before we’d leave for LA. After a long phone conversation, she decided not to go with us to LA, but insisted I go. Her exact words were, “This is a once in a lifetime thing. You are going.” (Thankfully, Southwest would issue a voucher to reschedule if she cancelled her flight.)

So here I am, flying to LA. This trip helped me work on the issues I mentioned earlier. I had to pack with little notice. (I’m impressed how efficiently I did considering if Nathan gets to the final round we will be seen on TV.) Leaving Tuesday and returning Friday threw my work and life routines out the window. The cost was more than we should’ve spent, but hubby and I don’t care. We would have no regrets the way we did when we missed Nathan’s first once in a lifetime experience. Yup, that’s right. Nathan, at 25, has had two once in a lifetime experiences.

While Nathan was in college, Tony award winning actress Kristin Chenoweth sang at Rowan University and needed backup singers. When no baritone students auditioned, the professor charged of selecting the singers contacted Nathan . Between the super short notice—maybe two days—and it being December, tickets prices were insane. (More than double the LA tickets.) We didn’t go, and I’ve always regretted not being there.

I’m trying to ask myself “If not now, then when,” when I have decisions to make. If I may never get this opportunity again or I’ll have regrets, I’m saying yes.

I’m writing this last bit on the plane home. While I can’t share how the game went for Nathan until after his episode airs, I can say hubby and I were incredibly blessed to have shared this experience with him because if not now, then when would we ever have a chance like this again?

Giveaway: To be entered in my giveaway for the Valentine’s Day heart shirt and a signed copy of Family Ties, tell me what’s one spur of the moment decision you’re glad you made. 

With Goals, Size Doesn’t Matter. Progress Does.

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In the TV series MAS*H’s episode entitled “A War for All Seasons” the show begins with the cast ringing in 1951. We see snippets showing the year’s progression. The corn Father Mulcahy grows. The scarf Margaret knits turns into a blanket. The episode ends with Colonel Potter saying may the new year “be a damn sight better” than the old one. I found myself saying that prayer last New Year’s and this one. That’s my prayer for 2022 that it’s better than 2021. Then I realized it’s up to everyone do our part to ensure the year is better.

 

 

To me, that means working to improve and grow along with trying to better the world around me, even if it’s only in small ways. That understanding brought up a phrase I dread—goal setting, a task that has always been difficult for me. The whole concept of SMART—specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time bound or trackable items—makes my head hurt. Then thinking about creating career, personal, and financial ones short-circuits my brain right now. But then something in my Pinterest feed spoke to me.

 

 

From savvyscot.com

My hope is doing these things will become part of my routine. Things like learning new skills, visiting places, reading difficult books, and eating new foods will broaden my horizons, challenge my mind, and keep me out of ruts (Boy do I hate leaving my comfort zone. I mean it’s called a comfort zone for a reason.) For writing something important I’m going to write down my memories, thoughts, those supposed “words of wisdom” for my children, and what people I love have meant to me. This goes along with one item I’m adding to my list, to voice gratitude often and liberally. As for good deeds, often those  simply come down to treating my fellow humans with respect, dignity and kindness. Which brings me to the second item I’m adding–to show extra compassion, understanding, and kindness to those whose views differ from mind. To remember that we are still a team in this adventure called life when one rises, we all do. We’d all be better off if we remembered that and acted accordingly.

This year I’ll be reminding myself that nothing on actions need to be huge. In fact, they can be as simple holding the door for someone, letting someone with only one item go ahead of you in line, or telling someone you appreciate her. One thing I’ve learned is small changes can have a huge impact. Maybe even more so in these trying times we’re navigating. Never forget that, and here’s to 2022 being a damn sight better than 2021. We can make it a reality. Now I’m off to break my bad habit of not finishing all the projects I start.

To be entered in today’s giveaway for the Be Wild Be Brave T-shirt and a signed copy of Family Ties leave a comment on the one thing you want to concentrate on resolution wise in 2022.

Life is Better With a Grateful Heart

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This year as Thanksgiving approaches, I’m focusing on gratitude. The dictionary defines gratitude as “the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.” I like that this definition includes both that we recognize our blessings and acknowledge what we receive.

Stephen King said, “Don’t let the sun go down without saying thank you to someone, and without admitting to yourself that absolutely no one gets this far alone.” Today, I want to thank y’all for being here. You are truly a bright spot in my life each month. You’ve made me laugh, taught me so much, and shared yourself with me. That has truly been a blessing.

Here are some additional quotes that have inspired me.

  • If you want to find happiness, find gratitude. –Steve Maraboli
  • The more grateful I am, the more beauty I see. –Mary Davis
  • Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. –Robert Braul
  • We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude. –Cynthia Ozick
  • When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed. –Maya Angelou
  • Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other. –Randy Rausch
  • Gratitude is a powerful process for shifting your energy and bringing more of what you want into your life. Be grateful for what you already have, and you will attract more good things. –Rhonda Byrne
  • Gratitude doesn’t change the scenery. It merely washes clean the glass you look through so you can clearly see the colors. –Richelle E. Goodrich
  • If the only prayer you said in your whole life was thank you, that would suffice. –Meister Eckhart
  • My socks may not match, but my feet are always warm. –Maureen McCullough
  • You ought to be thankful a whole heaping lot, for the places and people you’re lucky you’re not! –Dr. Seuss
  • Though I am grateful for the blessings of wealth, it hasn’t changed who I am. My feet are still on the ground. I’m just wearing better shoes. –Oprah Winfrey
  • Be grateful for what you have and quit complaining—it bores everyone else, does you no go od, and doesn’t solve any problems. –Zig Ziglar (This keeps things in perspective for me.)

In addition to spreading good cheer, there are other benefits for living more gratefully. People practicing gratitude are more likely to reach goals, feel successful, have higher life satisfaction, a stronger support group, and even sleep better. Since I started focusing on gratitude, I’ve tried to thank those who make a difference in my life, and I admit, I’ve experienced a lot of these benefits. However, I’m still waiting on the improved sleep. ?

                         

Because I’m so grateful for all of you, I’m doing two random drawings this month–the first for the Howdy Fall Y’all earrings and a copy of A Cure For the Vet, and the second, a Happy Camper T-shirt and copy of Family Ties. To be entered leave a comment about a quote or share your thoughts on gratitude. Thanks again for being here and brightening my day!