tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35764897925811540362024-03-12T16:09:26.348-07:00Penny WilkesWords and WonderPenny Wilkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10297270528348101419noreply@blogger.comBlogger5041125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576489792581154036.post-83633490312495747352023-08-08T07:00:00.033-07:002023-08-08T07:00:00.141-07:00Use Your Playfulness<div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; text-align: left;"><p> <span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lMN9yINZe78/W4XIlQFt_AI/AAAAAAAAnqA/Nuz8EPAkJskhB1X3lfg4YyGONiMY0pbqwCLcBGAs/s1600/40232968_538382089946228_3825469792215629824_n.jpg" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="418" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lMN9yINZe78/W4XIlQFt_AI/AAAAAAAAnqA/Nuz8EPAkJskhB1X3lfg4YyGONiMY0pbqwCLcBGAs/w461-h640/40232968_538382089946228_3825469792215629824_n.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: repeat white; border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="461" /></a></span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #262626;">Where’s your child’s playfulness today? Do you have a fun relationship with words? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #262626;">Do you recall your childhood association with words? Did you create names for animals and plants? Did you tell stories?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #262626;">Frederick Smock, a teacher of creative writing, learns daily from his students to think with a child's mind. One student astonished him with her words when she wrote from the point of view of a coconut. “I never have to go on vacation because I carry the waves inside of me,” she wrote.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #262626;">Today, delight yourself with possibilities and let your words scurry around corners and under bushes. Look into the sky to capture connections. Consider all your areas of knowledge: animals, insects, gardening, travel, economics, and relationships. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38);"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #262626;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zl8NfYH-g5U/W4XJD4arsYI/AAAAAAAAnqM/SfNTIwcHM2Yp48YCNZdPoRmVNUPT2CCKwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3218.jpg" style="clear: left; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zl8NfYH-g5U/W4XJD4arsYI/AAAAAAAAnqM/SfNTIwcHM2Yp48YCNZdPoRmVNUPT2CCKwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_3218.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: repeat white; border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="300" /></span></a></div><o:p></o:p><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3576489792581154036" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #262626;">How will you communicate the awareness that makes your days and nights glitter? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #262626;">Let your words flee and flourish. Delight in metaphors to tell your stories. Return to your child's playfulness.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: 700; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38);"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y6QT1hepCIo/W4XIyASzhaI/AAAAAAAAnqE/EqKmCPB49qA-XdJha4QopH3-HpLq-oVSQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3459.jpg" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="1572" height="190" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y6QT1hepCIo/W4XIyASzhaI/AAAAAAAAnqE/EqKmCPB49qA-XdJha4QopH3-HpLq-oVSQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_3459.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: repeat white; border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></span></div></div><p>I have played daily with Words and Wonder since 2009. Over 5000 posts have arrived here. </p><p>From now on I will focus on Words and Photos on my Blog that features photography.</p><p>Please join me: feathersandfigments.blogspot.com </p>Penny Wilkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10297270528348101419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576489792581154036.post-13945567098331819042023-08-07T07:00:00.003-07:002023-08-07T07:00:00.145-07:00Sunset Delight<p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2vS389luwn4/XtLuKgFH4NI/AAAAAAAAtQA/1KG-wAVrwHM6-VtT_pY_L4b5wtjMuXftACK4BGAsYHg/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-05-30%2Bat%2B4.36.10%2BPM.png" style="clear: left; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="856" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2vS389luwn4/XtLuKgFH4NI/AAAAAAAAtQA/1KG-wAVrwHM6-VtT_pY_L4b5wtjMuXftACK4BGAsYHg/w384-h400/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-05-30%2Bat%2B4.36.10%2BPM.png" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="614" /></a></div><blockquote style="border: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">While the sun does his dance into the sea,</span> </div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">benefit from the final moments of each day. </span></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"></div><blockquote style="border: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Find a place to watch for an evening </span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"> to enjoy the sun's play.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oI3MuObFa54/XtLWYdARjOI/AAAAAAAAtOY/WVh4BYojyDwrafbcTkEHsuAossssZmADQCK4BGAsYHg/apricot.jpg" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="960" height="302" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oI3MuObFa54/XtLWYdARjOI/AAAAAAAAtOY/WVh4BYojyDwrafbcTkEHsuAossssZmADQCK4BGAsYHg/w640-h302/apricot.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you. - Lao Tzu</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Visualize the color in all its depth, intensity, and discover a metaphor.</span><br /><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Notice how the sun wriggles to set in tangerine dreams.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-75NU3ViaiQk/XtLXOsMHQoI/AAAAAAAAtOw/g2wDkugYcsQrHOKexjyln_YtuMh1k0RyACK4BGAsYHg/birdsun.jpeg" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-75NU3ViaiQk/XtLXOsMHQoI/AAAAAAAAtOw/g2wDkugYcsQrHOKexjyln_YtuMh1k0RyACK4BGAsYHg/w346-h400/birdsun.jpeg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="346" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Discover creatures who play and chase the sun as he rolls down the sky.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vxqhFn9doOE/XtLXYkHYiKI/AAAAAAAAtPI/a_YuRlnrXFI1_wyVqZ6rIv0bavU_zoJnACK4BGAsYHg/d.jpg" style="clear: left; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vxqhFn9doOE/XtLXYkHYiKI/AAAAAAAAtPI/a_YuRlnrXFI1_wyVqZ6rIv0bavU_zoJnACK4BGAsYHg/w400-h300/d.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Feel grateful for each moment.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JMdNFo5iMwk/XtLXh903fXI/AAAAAAAAtPc/_ac-n9OeTRsMDw_ATJUiIbOlvR8BtZFSQCK4BGAsYHg/IMG_9436.jpg" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JMdNFo5iMwk/XtLXh903fXI/AAAAAAAAtPc/_ac-n9OeTRsMDw_ATJUiIbOlvR8BtZFSQCK4BGAsYHg/w640-h480/IMG_9436.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></span></a></div></div>Penny Wilkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10297270528348101419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576489792581154036.post-14360877029209468432023-08-06T06:00:00.010-07:002023-08-06T06:00:00.150-07:00Ease the Mind<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P2EYnY-7VbU/YS43ATrjU2I/AAAAAAAAynQ/fw6vl8cNZkkxGH26n-o4MlaAT3qI7CEWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s480/118368940_10223058960359233_7135054679532338239_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="480" height="586" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P2EYnY-7VbU/YS43ATrjU2I/AAAAAAAAynQ/fw6vl8cNZkkxGH26n-o4MlaAT3qI7CEWQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h586/118368940_10223058960359233_7135054679532338239_n.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.225px;">There's no way to cure worry. But we can learn to get better at recognizing it,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.225px;"> and gently guide ourselves back to what matters.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.225px;">- </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.225px;">Elisha Goldstein</span></div></span></span><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.225px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.225px;">The brain often tricks us by amplifying the woe and minimizing the joy. Worry exists in the human condition even though it</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.225px;"> has no utility.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.225px;"> </span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.225px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.225px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We worry to anticipate and avoid potential situations and to keep us safe. Worrying ramps up our nervous system. Yet we go into an imbalance that leads to more frustration.</span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.225px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.225px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Feelings of fear arouse anxiety when we worry. We need to acknowledge the fear and call it out. If we resist, it persists. We need to let it be as it is. Allow it.</span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.225px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.225px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.225px;">Ask questions of worry.</span></div><div style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.225px;"><br /></span></div><div style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.225px;">What does this feeling require right now? Is it an animal that needs care and safety? How will it discover a sense of security?</span></div></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.225px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.225px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Deepen awareness. Think of love or a kindness to shift the feeling. This lessens negative thinking.</span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.225px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZU5mNmSWdTE/WKzuDI7c_wI/AAAAAAAAhZk/OI_gSe0TVT8DBwTGxrq6kDILJdlIBUkIgCLcB/s1600/th-1.jpeg" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZU5mNmSWdTE/WKzuDI7c_wI/AAAAAAAAhZk/OI_gSe0TVT8DBwTGxrq6kDILJdlIBUkIgCLcB/w396-h400/th-1.jpeg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498) 1px 1px 5px; background: white; border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="396" /></a></div><span style="color: #1d1e1f;"><br /></span><span style="color: #1d1e1f;">Take a break from jousting with worry. Rather than change the way you think, change your relationship to your thoughts. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #1d1e1f;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #1d1e1f;">Learn to watch your thoughts, rather than engage with them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #1d1e1f;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #1d1e1f;">When a negative thought distracts, stop the runaway train. Notice sights, sounds, scents, a taste of air. Engage with a feeling.</span><br /><span style="color: #1d1e1f;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #1d1e1f;">Stay with what’s going on in the moment. Find words of admiration to discover the rightness of things. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #1d1e1f;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #1d1e1f;">Observe nature with all your senses.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1d1e1f;"><br /></span><span style="color: #1d1e1f;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZXh0-cYpCxI/YS1qURvUMgI/AAAAAAAAym4/a1YlSPbh9gItDQkKSzvnnTgv_H0lmScaQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/thumbnail-2.jpeg" style="clear: right; color: black; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="400" height="336" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZXh0-cYpCxI/YS1qURvUMgI/AAAAAAAAym4/a1YlSPbh9gItDQkKSzvnnTgv_H0lmScaQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h336/thumbnail-2.jpeg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #1d1e1f; font-family: inherit;">Create your own metaphor for struggle. Consider your greatest accomplishment and how you achieved it. Recall it in detail.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #1d1e1f;"><br /></span><span style="color: #1d1e1f;">Avoid always thinking in fix-it mode.</span><br /><span style="color: #1d1e1f;"><br /></span><span style="color: #1d1e1f;">Sing La La La and launch into a favorite melody.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #1d1e1f;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #1d1e1f;">Keep a journal for positive ideas and gratitude comments and write in it just before bed.</span><o:p></o:p><br /><span style="color: #1d1e1f;"><br /></span><span style="color: #1d1e1f;">Use humor to design a defense.</span><br /><span style="color: #1d1e1f;"><br /></span></div></span></div></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.225px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Feel less reactive to the worried mind. Turn the volume down. Feel spacious, with ease and joy.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div></span></div>Penny Wilkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10297270528348101419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576489792581154036.post-60265880857425797372023-08-05T06:00:00.009-07:002023-08-05T06:00:00.135-07:00Get Lost in Socks<p><br /></p><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cuEiGh4yGtQ/SmvnwGSttpI/AAAAAAAAAM8/7S7uEnuPFYE/s1600-h/captured+shoe.jpg" style="color: black; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362634594823550610" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cuEiGh4yGtQ/SmvnwGSttpI/AAAAAAAAAM8/7S7uEnuPFYE/w299-h400/captured+shoe.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498) 1px 1px 5px; background: white; border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498) 1px 1px 5px; height: 320px; padding: 8px; position: relative; width: 239px;" width="299" /></a><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">Do you even wonder about single shoes? Some sit alone on the sidewalk. Others arrive in the gutter on a busy street. How did they escape their mates? Who left them lonely on the highway?</span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "crafty girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;"></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">What about socks lost in the laundry? Some hide scrunched in towels. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">Others wrap around underwear for comfort. Should we wear mismatched socks to attract the soxes errant?</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">We develop comfort zones in our writing. Once in a while, we need to delve and take risks to push boundaries. Writing grows when everyone experiments.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">Play. Play. Play. If you find your internal editor invading your playground, write yourself out of the judgment.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">Nurture your freedom to risk and choose one of the above for a fun write.You can always write about those escaped shoes and socks.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">Get lost in socks.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KEGYZE5dqKE/Vso7BlMieII/AAAAAAAAb0Q/sbEoKBOkVEk/s1600/12734253_940057372741315_6451914564491199282_n.png" imageanchor="1" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KEGYZE5dqKE/Vso7BlMieII/AAAAAAAAb0Q/sbEoKBOkVEk/s400/12734253_940057372741315_6451914564491199282_n.png" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498) 1px 1px 5px; background: white; border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Penny Wilkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10297270528348101419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576489792581154036.post-20190735156754863152023-08-04T07:00:00.027-07:002023-08-04T07:00:00.148-07:00Body Over Mind<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUUrSpWNqLjeLZ3jQbbfOmb2rgtstdcc4qRP_bR85ezgAxo02_Gy7nRcnsLHUTVdrgz-b7a7YLsfrznZL275gOsKZM3sDaVdipRjrpePnokJkL2kw06rc3VsTlxyvgHEDPciSM2WyPum20yJ6a4GPEi6McdGJjK2nh2E5RbqOweOiRXNlCH76mVplc7o/s1200/thumbnail-4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUUrSpWNqLjeLZ3jQbbfOmb2rgtstdcc4qRP_bR85ezgAxo02_Gy7nRcnsLHUTVdrgz-b7a7YLsfrznZL275gOsKZM3sDaVdipRjrpePnokJkL2kw06rc3VsTlxyvgHEDPciSM2WyPum20yJ6a4GPEi6McdGJjK2nh2E5RbqOweOiRXNlCH76mVplc7o/w640-h426/thumbnail-4.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">I begin the day with a yoga class to move past tightness and breathe beyond difficulties. By twists and turns, I ease my mind and limbs into the poses. Stretching right side, then left extends boundaries. How grateful I feel that I do not possess the appendages of an octopus today.</span></p><div><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">Remaining in each moment soothes all tightness. Strength enlivens my body and mind. The process itself unravels frustration and opens possibilities like my writing does.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">After class I watch clouds clumping into animal shapes. The wind lifts my hair in a face tickle. Spring seeps into my cells and brings thoughts of renewal with flashes of color that erupt from the earth.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">I feel refreshed and returned to my true nature.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">Alain de Botton writes, "We should not feel embarrassed by our difficulties, only by our failure can anything grow." </span><div><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">Consider what you find difficult today. How will you bring successes from the past to your present moments of discomfort? </span></div><div><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">Laugh and breathe to discover and move beyond today's difficulties.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3C8_XEC3i7WXixmB6aD2es4xPA6il7QrBxFxMoSq6GcFTQHhO-Pg8LfMh21Mv0O7q4bTCPlvO3PX8KDn_rXeCzlyWuIE7-S7eADTcEhHtE83tGQpB9AEC_TQmMsYQQ1dwNMdzlBHmOvJ1gK74fEZtR7hYUxp4Wd91y6lzHQcLuk7XdulgfaDAx1XiWg/s1200/thumbnail-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3C8_XEC3i7WXixmB6aD2es4xPA6il7QrBxFxMoSq6GcFTQHhO-Pg8LfMh21Mv0O7q4bTCPlvO3PX8KDn_rXeCzlyWuIE7-S7eADTcEhHtE83tGQpB9AEC_TQmMsYQQ1dwNMdzlBHmOvJ1gK74fEZtR7hYUxp4Wd91y6lzHQcLuk7XdulgfaDAx1XiWg/w426-h640/thumbnail-2.jpeg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div></div>Penny Wilkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10297270528348101419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576489792581154036.post-49598634773153205852023-08-03T07:00:00.022-07:002023-08-03T07:00:00.139-07:00Dessert in Words<p> </p><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cuEiGh4yGtQ/TGNYf0EjCtI/AAAAAAAABFQ/fK4j4U0YLRc/s1600/bakery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="382" ox="true" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cuEiGh4yGtQ/TGNYf0EjCtI/AAAAAAAABFQ/fK4j4U0YLRc/w640-h382/bakery.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #bbeedc;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Crafty Girls;"><b><div><span style="background-color: #bbeedc;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Crafty Girls;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>Add spice and imagery to your writing by avoiding worn out modifiers and phrases.When you write an overused image like blue sky, </b></span></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">consider what else you could use in sound, scent, taste or texture to pique the reader's curiosity and gain attention. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">Notice the difference in imagery:</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">a broken tool half a pair of scissors</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">a rusted car Cadillac dappled with rust</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">beautiful woman woman with a piano player's fingers</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">quiet day even the birds overslept</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">good friend tasty as triple chocolate cake</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">Create descriptions: summer day, hot morning, wet dress, cheeping bird, frustration, anger, anxiety. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" />Penny Wilkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10297270528348101419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576489792581154036.post-91762694387590758412023-08-02T06:00:00.025-07:002023-08-02T06:00:00.151-07:00Fountain Pen Ponies<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0x-Qr4Q-UF3HjY65ULSITkfs5Gx4gyO-cfeNBdUGKts47qHS8TGOIbofQPId2yz1X2diLOyf7HjYd9TBSju_S4y8WFQlWv70nyq7PlNbvXfnP5MAyqGueYnY6hS1NDidHABWyYWsLtdz9eb4PaE204HjzQLSmH9mrbEO-urMN_IZ5bo7oYCZLx8_ncM/s570/Screenshot%202023-07-05%20at%2011.07.58%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="428" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0x-Qr4Q-UF3HjY65ULSITkfs5Gx4gyO-cfeNBdUGKts47qHS8TGOIbofQPId2yz1X2diLOyf7HjYd9TBSju_S4y8WFQlWv70nyq7PlNbvXfnP5MAyqGueYnY6hS1NDidHABWyYWsLtdz9eb4PaE204HjzQLSmH9mrbEO-urMN_IZ5bo7oYCZLx8_ncM/w300-h400/Screenshot%202023-07-05%20at%2011.07.58%20AM.png" width="300" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">For me, a fountain pen provides pleasure more than fingers tapping on the keys. The scent and flow of a pen pony across the page creates rhythm and energy that equals meditation. Use of colored ink also enthuses my writer's mind.</span></p><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">I keep a full stable of fountain pens filled with green, turquoise, yellow and magenta inks. I also have red rose-scented ink. Some barrels feel feisty to my touch like Thoroughbreds. Others create the syncopated ride of a Missouri Fox Trotter. </span><div><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">I have quarter horses and a Morgan or two that move my words with a pleasing gait. My Arabians kick up their heels on cold mornings. The scent of ink on a variety of papers stimulates my imagination.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">Writing letters to friends and other writers encourages an action similar to free flow with a friendly recipient. </span></div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Crafty Girls;"><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Crafty Girls;"><span style="background-color: #bbeedc;"><b>If you have a favorite fountain pen pony, write a letter today and feel the energy.<br /></b></span></span><div><br /></div></div>Penny Wilkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10297270528348101419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576489792581154036.post-52327215136374764462023-08-01T07:00:00.030-07:002023-08-01T07:00:00.147-07:00Duty of Happiness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZ9IkrNs1BJieQnuULJr7Br_YFvVrkx31bqpWt5WqWH7dR8gxSE5HLfcNq7VqSulDHYdk4rGAaL-R20mbL42S2-trLtBcCv9PI9x3BeRspGifkA9Sm03c2lIwAeCKeTXa8RBnP5yajbX7HBVK2z6NjDimm3EUTsMl7_xd4HGzxU3zw99YqvvphUYLs_Q/s400/13895429_1234525546559034_1111696386907571470_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZ9IkrNs1BJieQnuULJr7Br_YFvVrkx31bqpWt5WqWH7dR8gxSE5HLfcNq7VqSulDHYdk4rGAaL-R20mbL42S2-trLtBcCv9PI9x3BeRspGifkA9Sm03c2lIwAeCKeTXa8RBnP5yajbX7HBVK2z6NjDimm3EUTsMl7_xd4HGzxU3zw99YqvvphUYLs_Q/w640-h640/13895429_1234525546559034_1111696386907571470_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-color: currentcolor; border-style: none; border-width: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></div><div style="border-color: currentcolor; border-style: none; border-width: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"></div><div style="border-color: currentcolor; border-style: none; border-width: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"></div><div style="border-color: currentcolor; border-style: none; border-width: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"></div><div style="border-color: currentcolor; border-style: none; border-width: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"></div><div style="border-color: currentcolor; border-style: none; border-width: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"></div><div style="border-color: currentcolor; border-style: none; border-width: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"></div><div style="border-color: currentcolor; border-style: none; border-width: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Robert Louis Stephenson wrote, "There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy. Happiness does not need to become the goal. We need a variety of experiences and moods to write about." <br /><br />In the 1980’s Martin E.P. Seligman adopted the term, “positive psychology.” After years of studying the “learned helplessness” that characterized depression he began to study how individuals could learn optimism. Seligman felt a search for “authentic happiness” made more sense than relying on psychology’s one-sided focus on illness and disorders. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpkcOjJE-BOMNBgUc7BLgzxwm25XRvEW92vf4ShVgRhBj41NbXh1kdFxWPy-qASOUoNyiq3F_cbxDlSJ-dTRG78Tr_x4oVxTk7mBe7bM9UHuRmd3qQmKkqT4DA2NufP3ltOVN_Co6DPeSIYmKsdqIBJTA8dIJQcEONA3wpSyjLAmMRm2XCFQhyGetLsc/s2048/1965644_10202721297330368_911069522_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1608" data-original-width="2048" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpkcOjJE-BOMNBgUc7BLgzxwm25XRvEW92vf4ShVgRhBj41NbXh1kdFxWPy-qASOUoNyiq3F_cbxDlSJ-dTRG78Tr_x4oVxTk7mBe7bM9UHuRmd3qQmKkqT4DA2NufP3ltOVN_Co6DPeSIYmKsdqIBJTA8dIJQcEONA3wpSyjLAmMRm2XCFQhyGetLsc/s320/1965644_10202721297330368_911069522_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Study optimism, courage and perseverance rooted in social and civil well-being.</span></div><div style="border-color: currentcolor; border-style: none; border-width: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="border-color: currentcolor; border-style: none; border-width: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Consider how to gather simple pleasures. The process itself will attract feelings of exultation.</span></div><div style="border-color: currentcolor; border-style: none; border-width: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="border-color: currentcolor; border-style: none; border-width: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Awaken to positivity that explodes in blossoms and blue sky. Take a pleasure interlude to revel in the marvelous nature shares.</span></div><div style="border-color: currentcolor; border-style: none; border-width: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="border-color: currentcolor; border-style: none; border-width: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="border-color: currentcolor; border-style: none; border-width: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stay awake to joy and appreciation for growing creatures, birds, plants and trees.</span></div><div style="border-color: currentcolor; border-style: none; border-width: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="border-color: currentcolor; border-style: none; border-width: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7xFbXffs0OxH2k2LSlxfx9u6we3cLAGrJopZaEp88_z8ZPcD6v67MGvRAGVY1AqpKyBmWfJTcAg0c9JhZhLg1UHS0AcVemGRWKRv_PNld5A8v15f-3rN3C9Fc9V-y9dlUU6SEvEowZcLkTO-w1Bmx5gdIgUDiKIhdMlXuJAEbll9qkrtq5ygJII8YP18/s640/298106011_10227753953131118_2463448267329979547_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="640" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7xFbXffs0OxH2k2LSlxfx9u6we3cLAGrJopZaEp88_z8ZPcD6v67MGvRAGVY1AqpKyBmWfJTcAg0c9JhZhLg1UHS0AcVemGRWKRv_PNld5A8v15f-3rN3C9Fc9V-y9dlUU6SEvEowZcLkTO-w1Bmx5gdIgUDiKIhdMlXuJAEbll9qkrtq5ygJII8YP18/w640-h366/298106011_10227753953131118_2463448267329979547_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>Penny Wilkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10297270528348101419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576489792581154036.post-59142632783766610952023-07-31T07:30:00.014-07:002023-07-31T07:30:00.142-07:00Discover Where Writing Leads<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PwgruVbDK78/Tks5SiyocVI/AAAAAAAABhc/7AwmH0X5J0Y/s1600/get-attachment-1.aspx.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PwgruVbDK78/Tks5SiyocVI/AAAAAAAABhc/7AwmH0X5J0Y/w640-h478/get-attachment-1.aspx.jpeg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">All your yesterdays are buried deep. Passed years seem safe ones, vanquished ones, while the future lives in a cloud formidable from a distance. The cloud clears as you enter smooth as silence; rough as glass.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"> - from </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">West with the Night</i><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"> by Beryl Markam.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">Life involves a push and pull of forces. It becomes a strain for something; often against a resistance. </span></span><div><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">We grow to appreciate the little things. When life wears us down, we learn problem solving, creative choices and acceptance. Writing about the stresses and strains clears our vision. It permits possibities to appear. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">Creative action:</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">Create two columns where you list five favorite and five disappointing yesterdays.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">Include those that have become "buried deep." Add achievements, celebrations, and friendships on one side. On the other side post fragile times of loss, failure and frustration. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">Pair one from each column and write to the pair for fifteen minutes.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">Consider what the joys, stresses and strains create when interwoven. To distance yourself, write in third person. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Notice where the writing leads.</span></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /></div><div><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFINg9yxPqNsDm4llBTNlbgOhUipOwaPFKviggIF5RebT6AIKHQhnvOosNNBj8wHIkeoD14_YcdoCP0npMNaBI6DDvmDZPgXhb7Qz6MJExYyFMR7276pTbiMBkSs5uL2YQX09PLDrJcC08nxU2xDGcgkv46ALS3Gg9DOe1WAbg38eeMkD-wYtbUs6aCQ8/s960/335292282_497830362375722_4581576489798987492_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="960" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFINg9yxPqNsDm4llBTNlbgOhUipOwaPFKviggIF5RebT6AIKHQhnvOosNNBj8wHIkeoD14_YcdoCP0npMNaBI6DDvmDZPgXhb7Qz6MJExYyFMR7276pTbiMBkSs5uL2YQX09PLDrJcC08nxU2xDGcgkv46ALS3Gg9DOe1WAbg38eeMkD-wYtbUs6aCQ8/w400-h366/335292282_497830362375722_4581576489798987492_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>Penny Wilkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10297270528348101419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576489792581154036.post-64325072555663447082023-07-30T07:00:00.007-07:002023-07-30T07:00:00.148-07:00Hir a Thoddaid - Write a Welsh Poem<p></p><div class="date-posts" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="post-outer" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; background: url("https://resources.blogblog.com/blogblog/data/1kt/watermark/post_background_birds.png") left top repeat rgb(187, 238, 220); border: 1px dotted rgb(50, 221, 83); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 15px 20px;"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="min-height: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="post-header" style="color: #559976; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7523629703287869057" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 938px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oFHAihpKeV8/XTiJTyV5olI/AAAAAAAArKE/isa-sb46p5cRA8y51QccR3c98ioupS_XgCLcBGAs/s1600/bsea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="1080" height="268" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oFHAihpKeV8/XTiJTyV5olI/AAAAAAAArKE/isa-sb46p5cRA8y51QccR3c98ioupS_XgCLcBGAs/s640/bsea.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Thoddaid (TOE-thy'd) </span><span style="color: #444444;">is a Welsh poetry form. It includes a combination of end rhymes and internal rhyming.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rules:</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">- Six lines</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">- Lines one through four and six have nine syllables and share the same end rhyme.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">- Fifth Line has 10 syllables.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">- There is a "B" rhyme somewhere near the end of the fifth line and beginning the sixth line.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Beyond the breakers there forms a glow</span><br /><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">where a pause in the waves looks like snow</span><br /><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">as a sunbeam marks shadows for show</span><br /><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">along its stream feathers move below</span><br /><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">then flapping soars an osprey way up high</span><br /><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">captures sky wonder for a wild blue show.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5C2ep58reTI/XTjA1NeiiRI/AAAAAAAArKQ/jAGh7yyZyVU0mW3ZOvqU2iVrTfyOwNN3ACLcBGAs/s1600/Oz.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5C2ep58reTI/XTjA1NeiiRI/AAAAAAAArKQ/jAGh7yyZyVU0mW3ZOvqU2iVrTfyOwNN3ACLcBGAs/w640-h426/Oz.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Write a nature Thoddaid. Mention a flower or bird. Or use them in a title and do not mention them in the poem.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div></div></div>Penny Wilkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10297270528348101419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576489792581154036.post-44901843930456392092023-07-29T06:00:00.008-07:002023-07-29T06:00:00.149-07:00Find the Flow<p> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4pH0C7X8hGE/V5PIzlUxhnI/AAAAAAAAec8/-duWWI-tf_oMRxsHbzO6j0RiwOfk5esXACLcB/s1600/NIK_2557A%2BWM_LR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: black; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4pH0C7X8hGE/V5PIzlUxhnI/AAAAAAAAec8/-duWWI-tf_oMRxsHbzO6j0RiwOfk5esXACLcB/s640/NIK_2557A%2BWM_LR.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><div style="text-align: center;">"It is better to be a hopeful person than a cynical, grumpy one, because you have to live in the same world either way, and if you're hopeful, you have more fun." </div><div style="text-align: center;">- Barbara Kingsolver</div></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">Kingsolver also wrote, "Don't try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you want to say. It's the one and only thing you have to offer."</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">Identify where energy needs release for creativity.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mtrSNq9QxSM/V5pdDEc8C6I/AAAAAAAAefo/AbrUAND2SzwIOCqFk2BiPyodmyhVLbALwCLcB/s1600/IMG_0052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: black; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mtrSNq9QxSM/V5pdDEc8C6I/AAAAAAAAefo/AbrUAND2SzwIOCqFk2BiPyodmyhVLbALwCLcB/w426-h640/IMG_0052.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="426" /></a></div><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">Enhance the flow.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">Relax the tweaks, unravel snarls.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">Cut through the nets where the art of wonder tangles. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CqokbkiZgGo/V5pdPscL_vI/AAAAAAAAefs/urCAIbTePBcnUbAJfusPw3TiE19dwA3MQCLcB/s1600/NIK_6443_1%2BWM_LR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CqokbkiZgGo/V5pdPscL_vI/AAAAAAAAefs/urCAIbTePBcnUbAJfusPw3TiE19dwA3MQCLcB/w640-h426/NIK_6443_1%2BWM_LR.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">Flap into fantasies with diligence, zeal, and purpose. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">It takes effort to progress past the quagmire of life's onslaughts.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2GPAt7Ya5gM/V5pdfUb8PeI/AAAAAAAAefw/xdQBuydXZScicuI7_WNpWL4SebTsxexwQCLcB/s1600/NIK_6142%2B_1%2BWM_LR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2GPAt7Ya5gM/V5pdfUb8PeI/AAAAAAAAefw/xdQBuydXZScicuI7_WNpWL4SebTsxexwQCLcB/w512-h640/NIK_6142%2B_1%2BWM_LR.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="512" /></a></div><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">Find and follow the flow with a suggestion from Lao Tzu to enjoy your greatest treasures: simplicity, patience and compassion.</span>Penny Wilkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10297270528348101419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576489792581154036.post-69541762295620939102023-07-28T07:00:00.028-07:002023-07-28T07:00:00.132-07:00Discover a Doorway into Thanks<p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OiBvRf04gaA/Ti-EqXVUhYI/AAAAAAAABfk/mvJ7tw5K1g0/s1600/daffies.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OiBvRf04gaA/Ti-EqXVUhYI/AAAAAAAABfk/mvJ7tw5K1g0/w478-h640/daffies.jpeg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="478" /></a></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It doesn't have to be</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">the blue iris, it could be</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">weeds in a vacant lot or a few</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">small stones; just</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">pay attention, then patch</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">a few words together and don't try</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">to make them elaborate, this isn't</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">a contest but the doorway</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">into thanks, and a silence in which</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">another voice may speak</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> - Mary Oliver</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Discover the simple today. Take a wander around the area. </span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Notice what summer brings. Turn a stone over and find creatures that wriggle.</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Listen to birdsong and neighborhood sounds. Which scents arrive on the breeze? Become aware of silence.</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Turn a corner.</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you find a "silence in which another voice may speak." Find the doorway into thanks.</span></div>Penny Wilkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10297270528348101419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576489792581154036.post-73514979488386152552023-07-27T07:00:00.000-07:002023-07-27T07:12:11.362-07:00Discover Possibilities<p> </p><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c-WVeaeUiu4/Tj2NcG_u9EI/AAAAAAAABgg/kVxBlMi72sE/s1600/greatwhite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #336699; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c-WVeaeUiu4/Tj2NcG_u9EI/AAAAAAAABgg/kVxBlMi72sE/w640-h480/greatwhite.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-color: initial; border-image: none; border-style: none; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, SunSans-Regular, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, SunSans-Regular, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience." </span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> —Eleanor Roosevelt</span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What does it take for self-mastery? Life provides opportunities for self-discoveries through errors made. Insights move into moments of enlightenment. Miles Davis says, "Do not fear mistakes. There aren't any. Only lessons." </span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If we pay attention to our choices, we can make different mistakes and learn new skills. Life can be compared to a pencil with a point and an eraser. We're meant to use the eraser but not to let it erase so far down we forget to use the point.</span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It takes a lifetime to learn about ourselves as we commit experience. We use and discard mental patterns and habits. Often we intercept choices before they turn into misfortunes. We learn to solve problems.</span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To evolve with self-mastery, we need to let go of what does not serve us and discover possibilities.</span></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Penny Wilkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10297270528348101419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576489792581154036.post-62365945617548262592023-07-26T07:30:00.022-07:002023-07-26T07:30:00.140-07:00Tickle for a Laughter-noon<div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KDguRWqcSzk/UBAMASTFUdI/AAAAAAAAE5E/eF63yZrbPPo/s1600/birdie.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="533" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KDguRWqcSzk/UBAMASTFUdI/AAAAAAAAE5E/eF63yZrbPPo/w640-h533/birdie.jpeg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;">"There was never yet an uninteresting life. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;">Such a thing is an impossibility. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;">Inside of the dullest exterior </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;">there is a drama , a comedy, and a tragedy.” - Mark Twain</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"> </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;">Life's too short to write its drama and tragedy. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;">Write your life as a comedy. During the day, alter events to evoke laughter and silliness. </span></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; line-height: 17px;">Go for the fun. Write words that spell lightness, playfulness and joy. Smile until your cheeks ache. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; line-height: 17px;">Write about the mysteries that delight. </span></b></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; line-height: 17px;">Feel chuckles tickle your knuckles for a laughter-noon.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></b></span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b> </b></span></p></div>Penny Wilkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10297270528348101419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576489792581154036.post-16868928020979113492023-07-25T08:00:00.011-07:002023-07-25T08:38:47.932-07:00Who Remembers Baby Boomer Time?<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6H4BKDU0cDE/WXOwSAeAHjI/AAAAAAAAjIU/HjSBWhtboX4TmFOinOCfhA-5nBitG1_1ACLcBGAs/s1600/600_435879366.jpeg" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: black; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="600" height="469" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6H4BKDU0cDE/WXOwSAeAHjI/AAAAAAAAjIU/HjSBWhtboX4TmFOinOCfhA-5nBitG1_1ACLcBGAs/w640-h469/600_435879366.jpeg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">Launched after World War ll, we became the first wave of baby boomers.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">Born to win and teased by change, we searched for identities, questioned authority, and marched for freedom.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">We expected the Best in our American dream and share a mosaic of memories.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">Here are a few:</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">"I remember Mama . . . and the day when Dagmar put her elbows on the table," the television program began.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">Lucky Strike meant fine tobacco. </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">A boy dressed in a red coat and a box hat called for Phillip Moraaaace.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">Gloreous George glorified wrestling, loved by grandmothers.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">Russians sent Sputnik into the skies.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">We went into orbit with Alan Shepherd and John Glenn.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">A father knew Best. Ozzie and Harriet defined values and behavior for American families.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">With the key from around our necks, we unfastened our metal skates and nailed them to a long board, with one set of wheels at each end.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">At school sirens tested our air raid skills forcing us under desks until the all clear. Parents wearing gas masks marched in front of the schools to protest the arrivial of "smog" created by automobiles.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">We sang, "Brusha Brusha Brusha with Bucky Beaver.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">Paying $3 per car at the drive in movies, we paired or double dated, fogging the car windows.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">Car hops rushed on roller skates at drive-ins for food, delivering burgers and double thick chocolate malts. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">We wriggled on seats at corner soda fountains sipping cherry cokes.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">Nehis and hog dogs, Pez candy, and Bosco added to our diets.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">Doris Day and Rock Husdon romanced from twin beds.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">The Mouseketeers amused with Annette.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">We sang the Monster Mash with the Purple People Eater and danced the mashed potato, the twist, and </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">the swim.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">Ed Sullivan celebrated Elvis and the Beatles.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">See you later alligator. In a while crocodile.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">Joan Baez strummed in coffee houses and sparked our souls to peace.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">Beatniks arose. Then we had hippies.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">Madras and tie-dye. Lava lamps.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"> Sonny and Sher made the beat go on.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">Nehru jackets, bell bottoms and huge daisies sprouted. VW buses went on the road to Woodstock and free love.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">We glorified flower power wearing love beads of mellow yellow and jolly green.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">Then rushed to "feel he warm" with McKuen and read, <b><i>The Profit </i></b>by Gibran. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">Aretha. Mic and the Stones.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">Hendrix sent us into a purple haze as our world flashed in strobe, black light nd psychedelia.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">Lucy in the Sky and Along Comes Mary sent cryptic messages.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">Ban the bomb.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">Feelin' groovy or burning bras.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">Some protested war fought in a far jungle. Others left for Canada or Mexico.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">Too many heroes died. So many returned in pain.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"> Too many heroes came home to rejrection.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"> Hello darkness my old friend.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">Simon and Garfunkle promised a bridge over troubled waters.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">Watts erupted ro remind us of our differences. Kent State fueled our angst.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">Gas sold for 25 cents a gallon.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">We watched the moon landing with victory leaps for humanity.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">We mourned the loss of JFK, Bobby, and Martin.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">Beyond our confusion, we created true freedom, discovered the Best within ourselves.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;" /></span><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gwIm8i8MQag/WXOwd-4xnWI/AAAAAAAAjIY/qaP7UVdyr6QhM4oVegmObd5v-IpW8sEFQCLcBGAs/s1600/th.jpeg" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="168" height="388" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gwIm8i8MQag/WXOwd-4xnWI/AAAAAAAAjIY/qaP7UVdyr6QhM4oVegmObd5v-IpW8sEFQCLcBGAs/s400/th.jpeg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">We became the Best and our Best goes on.</span></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-weight: 700;">What do you recall?</span></span></div>Penny Wilkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10297270528348101419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576489792581154036.post-61194274891148880982023-07-24T08:30:00.005-07:002023-07-24T08:30:00.143-07:00Try Unexpected Incongruity<p> <span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"> </span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6us5eJ7BnIk/YOsjkXuRhjI/AAAAAAAAyUQ/XiTZYO-NYTocpeh3Y9gW5SYSeZ4WTmglwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/countthebirds.JPG" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: black; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="428" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6us5eJ7BnIk/YOsjkXuRhjI/AAAAAAAAyUQ/XiTZYO-NYTocpeh3Y9gW5SYSeZ4WTmglwCLcBGAsYHQ/w428-h640/countthebirds.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="428" /></a></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">During a time that feels empty or dry, we need to discover ways to freshen our thoughts. </p><div style="border: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">Soren Kierkegaard believed in the <em>rotation method</em> to keep the mind fresh. He indicated that a farmer can't grow wheat year after year. They must replenish the soil by sowing beans one year. It also may need to remain fallow.<br /><br />Albert Einstein used "combinatory play." Imagining he traveled on a beam of light and glancing back at a clock created breakthroughs for him. He visualized letting go of a coin in a free-falling elevator.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J6GTqjVKMTs/YOskJFaOCtI/AAAAAAAAyUY/mObnA6G6q7ETqQB4XqNirkRqx5XQYcbKACLcBGAsYHQ/s501/thumbnail-4.jpeg" style="clear: right; color: black; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J6GTqjVKMTs/YOskJFaOCtI/AAAAAAAAyUY/mObnA6G6q7ETqQB4XqNirkRqx5XQYcbKACLcBGAsYHQ/w319-h400/thumbnail-4.jpeg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="319" /></a></div>Any changes in thinking and perception jostle the mind. Distractions help to reset thoughts from focus on a single task and its implications, concerns and consequences. It helps us move into to a new venue where creativity blossoms.<br /><br />Try, "See the Kite" approach. If you want to divert someone in conversation, point to the sky and say, "What a Kite." An individual will look up and stop speaking, thinking or doing.</div><div style="border: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></div><div style="border: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">Use the distraction to accomplish whatever you need. Divert an unpleasant situation, steal a bite of someone's dessert. . . or even a kiss. </div><div style="border: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></div><div style="border: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">Adapt this idea.</div><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><div class="separator" style="border: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cuEiGh4yGtQ/S2nZ5agNZqI/AAAAAAAAAhM/wzEb1KjeaKo/s1600/Change.jpg" style="clear: left; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" rw="true" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cuEiGh4yGtQ/S2nZ5agNZqI/AAAAAAAAAhM/wzEb1KjeaKo/s320/Change.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: white; border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="255" /></a></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-659912693760384679" itemprop="description articleBody" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 938px;"><br /></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-659912693760384679" itemprop="description articleBody" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 938px;">Use unexpected incongruity when feeling frustrated. Consider these examples:</div><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">What do eagles, Robinhood and pencils have in common?</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">How do baboons, Monterey and chocolate reveal their differences?</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><div style="border: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><br />Combine kittens, cranberries and the Pacific ocean for a play day.</div><div style="border: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><br />What skitters in and out of the hole below change?</div><div style="border: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><br /><br /></div><div style="border: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">Intuition ticklers, absurd thoughts, and humor intrigue the mind and provide unexpected insights. </div><div style="border: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></div><div style="border: medium; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">Use the kite approach and search the sky for ideas when frustrated..Try three unrelated items, extend to more. Freshen and free your spirit.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-liCv7bvY_3I/XuPTLIB_TBI/AAAAAAAAto0/6ESrGb_iHxELBw1J73fzRzP6Kv022VG3wCK4BGAsYHg/s320/kite%2Band%2Bseagullie.jpeg" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="249" data-original-width="320" height="497" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-liCv7bvY_3I/XuPTLIB_TBI/AAAAAAAAto0/6ESrGb_iHxELBw1J73fzRzP6Kv022VG3wCK4BGAsYHg/w400-h311/kite%2Band%2Bseagullie.jpeg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div></div>Penny Wilkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10297270528348101419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576489792581154036.post-35571069091069008162023-07-23T07:58:00.011-07:002023-07-23T13:19:13.281-07:00Locate Inspiration<p> </p><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="568" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5KxzuCZPFEU/WVBWGBaXz_I/AAAAAAAAi6M/v5SDqcaUfVkqwfg2vwSFPyo42G_pIwrOQCLcBGAs/w530-h640/19437330_10159042304280245_3605659380090487853_n.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px;" width="530" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: 19pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><div style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #262626;">Wolfgang Pauli and Niels Bohr, Nobel prize-winners, presented many counterintuitive theories. Once while Pauli presented his ideas about a radical new hypothesis, Bohr came out of the audience to the stage and interrupted his colleague.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #262626;">Bohr said, "We all agree that your theory is crazy. What divides us is whether it has a chance to be correct. My own feeling is that it is not crazy enough."</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #262626;">Consider your ideas and possibilities. Could they be crazy enough to be true? Go on an unpredictable quest to free trapped vitality. </span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #262626;">Try an experiment to awaken sluggish magic.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bSAtvSdl-kk/WVBWUMHrD1I/AAAAAAAAi6Q/YBqmeFppjzQnrstXZx7Urb7lraCntJIyQCLcBGAs/s1600/loon.jpg" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bSAtvSdl-kk/WVBWUMHrD1I/AAAAAAAAi6Q/YBqmeFppjzQnrstXZx7Urb7lraCntJIyQCLcBGAs/s320/loon.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #262626;">Look into nature for nurture. Try combining creative ideas to develop music, literature, and another art form.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #262626;">Synthesize and coordinate all aspects of life you do the best. </span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aupEGWKBSIc/WVBWdyGi-6I/AAAAAAAAi6U/glaJyVbpJ8E7NSmDfhRXEa8xXqn4RnL5ACLcBGAs/s1600/snowy.jpg" style="clear: right; color: black; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="829" height="252" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aupEGWKBSIc/WVBWdyGi-6I/AAAAAAAAi6U/glaJyVbpJ8E7NSmDfhRXEa8xXqn4RnL5ACLcBGAs/s400/snowy.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #262626;"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span></span></div>Express yourself with a flourish.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #262626;">Notice with renewed awareness areas of life</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #262626;">you take for granted.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></span></span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zpv6jyJjnzQ/VXSQ6bb44aI/AAAAAAAAX6Q/Wc2kut7Anhw/s1600/trehearts.JPG" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;"></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VHTqFHO1cME/WVBWwPqc_kI/AAAAAAAAi6Y/_thLfm8Kr28o1_kdWKWZ6rLGBF697QhGgCLcBGAs/s1600/NIK_0903_1%2BWMK_LR.jpg" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VHTqFHO1cME/WVBWwPqc_kI/AAAAAAAAi6Y/_thLfm8Kr28o1_kdWKWZ6rLGBF697QhGgCLcBGAs/s400/NIK_0903_1%2BWMK_LR.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Look.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><div style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #262626;"> Listen.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #262626;">Locate</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #262626;"> inspiration through</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #262626;"> imagination.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Penny Wilkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10297270528348101419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576489792581154036.post-41804470222148578952023-07-22T07:56:00.005-07:002023-07-22T07:56:00.137-07:00Find the Joy<p> </p><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HsEI1V3h0Nw/VYlrHn3ZiPI/AAAAAAAAYOI/EF_u3ATHFz8/s1600/IMG_9118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HsEI1V3h0Nw/VYlrHn3ZiPI/AAAAAAAAYOI/EF_u3ATHFz8/s640/IMG_9118.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></span></span></a></div><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"Authentic joy is not a euphoric state or a feeling of being high. </i></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Rather is it a state of appreciation that slows us to participate fully in our lives." </i></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><i style="font-family: inherit;">- Pema Ch</i><span style="color: #545454; font-family: inherit; line-height: 16px;">ö</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">dr</i><span style="color: #545454; font-family: inherit; line-height: 16px;">ö</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">n</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></i></span></div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><br />Equanimity involves mental composure. Moving into a difficult situation with calm brings balance. "In the moment we come to abide with the energy instead of acting it out, we are training in equanimity," says Pema Ch<span style="color: #545454; line-height: 16px;">ö</span>dr<span style="color: #545454; line-height: 16px;">ö</span>n<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545454; line-height: 16px;">. </span></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oCRWIrHWkco/WzFshncTlDI/AAAAAAAAnOo/tnn1jCTnB3ctsHRQZV6pHxWmN1eTjxY3QCLcBGAs/s1600/ducks%2Bin%2Ba%2Brow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="960" height="267" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oCRWIrHWkco/WzFshncTlDI/AAAAAAAAnOo/tnn1jCTnB3ctsHRQZV6pHxWmN1eTjxY3QCLcBGAs/s400/ducks%2Bin%2Ba%2Brow.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">We achieve freedom by engaging with the energy of the moment rather than reacting. Not an easy activity, it takes discipline and practice to release former behaviors and select others to replace them. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">When sad or glad, we need to widen our circle of understanding and compassion.<br /><br />Use creativity to change attitudes.<br /><br />Get out of the way of the ego's control. During a negative experience, project that event as a movie and see it in all its dimensions. Breathe to calm and quiet the emotions that arise. Observe the scene with all senses.<br /><br />Imagine a musical or comedy evolving from the situation. Sing into silly.<br /><span style="color: #252525; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #252525; line-height: 22px;">The next anxiety that arrives, use a metaphor from nature. Watch it bloom like a rose. Count the petals, smell the fragrance, feel a touch of breeze. </span>Make positive problem solving choices without judgment.<br /><br />If an initial reaction to stress is, <i>"Oh sH&^!"</i> find a word to replace the habitual response with a key word. Say: Shift. Turn. Flip. Then say the chosen word. Get to the other side of your typical response.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ydCepzrOPvs/VYnAIkkp1jI/AAAAAAAAYOY/bTTfSFs-MsQ/s400/IMG_9116.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498) 1px 1px 5px; background: white; border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="331" /></span></div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">Rainer Maria Rilke said, "This in the end is the only kind of courage that is required of us. The courage to face the strangest most unusual most inexplicable experience that can meet us."<br /><br />Awareness, creativity, and patience help us dwell in the places that frighten or frustrate. Flexibility in times of uncertainty enables equanimity.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qMt8fIEPrFg/VYq4h8ucZ9I/AAAAAAAAYPk/RfMhDZhVSmw/s1600/IMG_8660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qMt8fIEPrFg/VYq4h8ucZ9I/AAAAAAAAYPk/RfMhDZhVSmw/s640/IMG_8660.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498) 1px 1px 5px; background: white; border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><br />Slow down to savor life's wonders. Find the joy.</span>Penny Wilkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10297270528348101419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576489792581154036.post-79901784731108886112023-07-21T07:53:00.011-07:002023-07-21T07:53:00.154-07:00Time is Now<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gGLl_Yi80Ps/V2AiH56FsYI/AAAAAAAAd9U/MKQ9Pe5GbEEAzJrsBljUhOQ5qEQac4TGwCLcB/s1600/Well%252C%2Bblahtoyou.jpg" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gGLl_Yi80Ps/V2AiH56FsYI/AAAAAAAAd9U/MKQ9Pe5GbEEAzJrsBljUhOQ5qEQac4TGwCLcB/w515-h640/Well%252C%2Bblahtoyou.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: white; border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="515" /></a></span></p><div style="color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am so tired of waiting </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Aren't you </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">for the world to become good</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and beautiful and kind? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> ~ Langston Hughes</span></div></div><div style="color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Don't wait.</span></div><div style="color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Everyone needs to spend time to learn from nature.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WX2jhn5XU38/YNI2-W9JU2I/AAAAAAAAx4s/j9ALVps844UFbCUEw-VRK5TEX7tax6XAQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1219/201508248_10225404686960932_6396874836828667801_n.jpg" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1219" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WX2jhn5XU38/YNI2-W9JU2I/AAAAAAAAx4s/j9ALVps844UFbCUEw-VRK5TEX7tax6XAQCLcBGAsYHQ/w504-h640/201508248_10225404686960932_6396874836828667801_n.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="504" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Spread gratitude for the simple joys.<br /> Bring a smile to troubles.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let humor translate the ridiculous.<br /> Take responsibility from the inside out.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eUZhm8pe9cU/YNI3WAAeJaI/AAAAAAAAx40/BGsxvqoEHYM1jtmXyP_tqdH7diGC1HXBACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/thumbnail-18.jpeg" style="clear: right; color: black; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eUZhm8pe9cU/YNI3WAAeJaI/AAAAAAAAx40/BGsxvqoEHYM1jtmXyP_tqdH7diGC1HXBACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/thumbnail-18.jpeg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /></span><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Don't wait. Nike says, "Just Do It."</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The time is now.</span></div>Penny Wilkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10297270528348101419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576489792581154036.post-86080712122651023442023-07-20T07:49:00.014-07:002023-07-20T07:49:00.145-07:00Into the Flow<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U3TthvFxiGA/WWAAD4O3oJI/AAAAAAAAjAw/Q_-SDhPR8O8FxTCwDcvC8sDV-VjjRTcTgCLcBGAs/s1600/book-heart-pages.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="750" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U3TthvFxiGA/WWAAD4O3oJI/AAAAAAAAjAw/Q_-SDhPR8O8FxTCwDcvC8sDV-VjjRTcTgCLcBGAs/s400/book-heart-pages.png" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: white; border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "crafty girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">When a day presents challenges, we have fingers and words that will mesh and flow to keep us in the present moment. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></span></span><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h_6rPGRXXzM/WWEewBs5cjI/AAAAAAAAjBI/rkR1H4Mz4ykWaorkoKjCQEo4vPzTYqRaQCLcBGAs/s1600/saying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h_6rPGRXXzM/WWEewBs5cjI/AAAAAAAAjBI/rkR1H4Mz4ykWaorkoKjCQEo4vPzTYqRaQCLcBGAs/s640/saying.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: white; border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">While you're reading, let each word take the place of an anxious feeling or thought of the future. Emerson writes a simple truth. We are in charge of our balance and focus on life's benefits. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></span></span><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w99wCp0XoiQ/WWEoiGkRjtI/AAAAAAAAjBk/rP46bUyiuhQAtHgSktaZl0BT4s-e9QzyQCLcBGAs/s1600/bee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: black; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1586" data-original-width="1600" height="317" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w99wCp0XoiQ/WWEoiGkRjtI/AAAAAAAAjBk/rP46bUyiuhQAtHgSktaZl0BT4s-e9QzyQCLcBGAs/s320/bee.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: white; border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><br /></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">Let yourself move from the inside out without distractions of </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">the world</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">you cannot control.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">When a situation arises that causes tension and frustration, push past it. Then let humor in to circulate and re-arrange the activity. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">Get a pen or let those fingers tickle the keys. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">Write about the funny. Let silliness dance into wonder. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">Go for an exploration in explanation. Detail color, sound, and scent across the page.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /></span><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RlZV5rSfSEo/WWEgkmr5NFI/AAAAAAAAjBU/AjF7xvziZCMjF7jT6QLYfa5fxsEIHEx_ACLcBGAs/s1600/pink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RlZV5rSfSEo/WWEgkmr5NFI/AAAAAAAAjBU/AjF7xvziZCMjF7jT6QLYfa5fxsEIHEx_ACLcBGAs/s400/pink.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: white; border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="300" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /></span><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2RY54JdDNhA/WWAAHjDwnNI/AAAAAAAAjA0/qripuy3bl9A5O7-BWTy3Do83E9wClYk5ACLcBGAs/s1600/write%2Bon.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: black; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="604" height="302" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2RY54JdDNhA/WWAAHjDwnNI/AAAAAAAAjA0/qripuy3bl9A5O7-BWTy3Do83E9wClYk5ACLcBGAs/s400/write%2Bon.png" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: white; border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;" /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">As you write on, stay focused on the moments in movement.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Move into the Flow.<br /><br /><br /></span></div>Penny Wilkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10297270528348101419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576489792581154036.post-1482592982457016132023-07-19T08:00:00.030-07:002023-07-19T08:00:00.139-07:00Animal Word Play<div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XCnkR8wtRcY/T1P3HvXrPtI/AAAAAAAACGo/M8oumKtJek4/s1600/duck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XCnkR8wtRcY/T1P3HvXrPtI/AAAAAAAACGo/M8oumKtJek4/w640-h400/duck.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><div style="font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></div><div>Consider ways to expand an animal word.</div><div><br /></div><div>Duck - Something you do with your head. Add a Y and have a fun time. Get Ducky.</div><div><br /></div><div>Bear - Dan you bear it? Get bare? Bear down?</div><div><br /></div><div>Bull - Get into a bull market or a bull session.</div><div><br /></div><div>Horse - Horse around and have some fun. Laugh until you are hoarse.</div><div style="font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div></span>Select a few animals and use their characteristics to define meanings.<div><br /></div><div>Could you seagull into your sandwich? Do you hummingbird through tasks?</div><div><br /></div><div>Why turtle today. Just worm your way. </div><div><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Crafty Girls;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Get out and play with animal words today.</span></span></div>Penny Wilkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10297270528348101419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576489792581154036.post-54862033670562627822023-07-18T08:00:00.034-07:002023-07-18T08:00:00.143-07:00Create Beyond the Abstract<p> </p><p><br /></p><blockquote style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s9jSKOKmiQ4/TjF2GGw1yvI/AAAAAAAABfs/uKp0b5TOESE/s1600/agreatwhite+and+branch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s9jSKOKmiQ4/TjF2GGw1yvI/AAAAAAAABfs/uKp0b5TOESE/w586-h640/agreatwhite+and+branch.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="586" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the winter time; it is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset. </span>- <em>Last words of Crowfoot, Blackfoot Chief</em></div></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div></span></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Writers discover ways to reveal feelings, thoughts, and conditions. Imagery creates a path to share life experiences beyond abstract words: beauty, love, fear, courage. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Find your notions about life without mentioning the abstract word. Demonstrate the sounds, scents, textures, and colors of "beauty." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Create beyond the abstract. Detail your experiences so readers will connect with them.</span></p><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gHplRMgRfYY/TjF2yF9tSYI/AAAAAAAABfw/XOPVTsyucBU/s1600/heart.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: black; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gHplRMgRfYY/TjF2yF9tSYI/AAAAAAAABfw/XOPVTsyucBU/s320/heart.jpeg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="251" /></a></div>Penny Wilkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10297270528348101419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576489792581154036.post-27908880987325543452023-07-17T08:00:00.002-07:002023-07-18T16:31:34.095-07:00Mind Travel<div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ccX4vIUxNNQ/V8MugR4sn_I/AAAAAAAAfBk/gVNCR5R4dd09V75PSBuRpuKJESXoPYuZwCLcB/s1600/970285_10201195338302346_1399776311_n.jpg" style="clear: left; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="524" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ccX4vIUxNNQ/V8MugR4sn_I/AAAAAAAAfBk/gVNCR5R4dd09V75PSBuRpuKJESXoPYuZwCLcB/w640-h524/970285_10201195338302346_1399776311_n.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: repeat white; border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: start;"><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><br /></span></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><br /></span></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><br /></span></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><br /></span></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><br /></span></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><br /></span></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">As you think, you travel, and as you love, you attract. You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">where your thoughts take you. </span></span> - James Lane Allen</span></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"> </span></div></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #262626;">A traveler walked along a road from one village to another. He noticed a man tending to a garden by the sea. </span></i></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--LNhpQBus4I/V8Mup97CB0I/AAAAAAAAfBo/qs31sgLlM6AR6jgLWhPn5U10aSNhY_yiQCLcB/w400-h300/aa.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: repeat white; border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #262626;">The man smiled and waved, "Good day" to the traveler. The traveler turned and said, "Excuse me, </span></i><i><span style="color: #262626;">I am travelling from a village in the mountains to this village by the sea. What is it like here?</span></i><span style="color: #262626;">
</span><br /><i><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="color: #262626;">"What was your experience of the village in the mountains?"</span></i><span style="color: #262626;">
the man asked the traveler.</span><br /><i><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span></i><span style="background-color: #bbeedc;"></span><i><span style="color: #262626;">"Dreadful," replied the traveler, "I am glad to be away from there. I found the people most unwelcoming. When I first arrived I was greeted coldly. I was never made to feel a part of the village no matter how hard I tried. The villagers don't like strangers. What can I expect in the village by the sea?"</span></i><span style="color: #262626;">
</span><br /><i><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span></i><span style="background-color: #bbeedc;"></span><i><span style="color: #262626;">"I am sorry to tell you but I think your experience will be much the same here," replied the man.</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span></i><span style="background-color: #bbeedc;"></span><i><span style="color: #262626;">The traveler hung his head and walked on.</span></i><span style="color: #262626;">
</span><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc;"></span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QDWVUqAG5xg/V8Mu424zqiI/AAAAAAAAfBs/70eLNYL_gp8tNAH0aEUnonL8zliZJEJUACLcB/s1600/rainbow%2Bcopy.jpg" style="clear: left; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QDWVUqAG5xg/V8Mu424zqiI/AAAAAAAAfBs/70eLNYL_gp8tNAH0aEUnonL8zliZJEJUACLcB/s400/rainbow%2Bcopy.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: repeat white; border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #262626;">Later another visitor journeyed down the same road and came upon the man gardening.</span></i><span style="color: #262626;">
</span><br /><i><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span></i><span style="background-color: #bbeedc;"></span><i><span style="color: #262626;">"I'm going to the village by the sea," said the second visitor, "Do you know what it is like?"</span></i><span style="color: #262626;">
</span><br /><i><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span></i><span style="background-color: #bbeedc;"></span><i><span style="color: #262626;">"I do," replied the man "Tell me - from where have you come?"</span></i><span style="color: #262626;">
</span><br /><i><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span></i><span style="background-color: #bbeedc;"></span><i><span style="color: #262626;">"I've come from the village in the mountains."</span></i><span style="color: #262626;">
</span><br /><i><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span></i></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #262626;">"And how was that?"</span></i><span style="color: #262626;">
the man asked </span><br /><i><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span></i><span style="background-color: #bbeedc;"></span><i><span style="color: #262626;">"It was wonderful. I would have stayed but I am committed to travelling on. I felt like a member of the family in the village. The elders gave me much advice, the children laughed and joked with me. People were generally kind and generous. It will always hold special memories for me. What is the village by the sea like?" he asked again.</span></i><span style="color: #262626;">
</span><br /><i><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span></i><span style="background-color: #bbeedc;"></span><i><span style="color: #262626;">"I think you will find it much the same" replied the man, "Good day to you."</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span></i><span style="background-color: #bbeedc;"></span><i><span style="color: #262626;">"Good day and thank you," the visitor replied, smiled, and journeyed on.</span></i><span style="color: #262626;">
</span><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc;"></span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f53EgCNMIgg/V8MvLejCnBI/AAAAAAAAfBw/IxAF6l8Hwhcwumw5GZRpbN129w0HFjphwCLcB/s1600/sunset.jpg" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f53EgCNMIgg/V8MvLejCnBI/AAAAAAAAfBw/IxAF6l8Hwhcwumw5GZRpbN129w0HFjphwCLcB/w640-h384/sunset.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: repeat white; border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc;"></span><span style="color: #262626;">Consider how attitude affects your daily journey. Shake out feelings and thoughts to focus on what works in the environment of people and places. </span><br /><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc;"></span><span style="color: #262626;">Avoid providing room for negativity to flow into the mix. Believe goodness will prevail in all your travels.</span></span></div></div></div></div>Penny Wilkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10297270528348101419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576489792581154036.post-52198139311114240542023-07-16T08:00:00.006-07:002023-07-16T08:00:00.133-07:00Applaud Your Moments<div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Pg_CO5J8NY/WWFCaYWckcI/AAAAAAAAjCM/u6z6W8pWrB81RrlH6op6O0dxX1gY3zLjQCLcBGAs/s1600/bee%2Bheadstand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1516" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Pg_CO5J8NY/WWFCaYWckcI/AAAAAAAAjCM/u6z6W8pWrB81RrlH6op6O0dxX1gY3zLjQCLcBGAs/s320/bee%2Bheadstand.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="303" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"></div><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Just because something ended </span>doesn't mean it never should have happened. You lived. You learned. You grew and you moved on.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zDZNjzkrCmA/WWFFbNKIe0I/AAAAAAAAjCY/zaL1bqZa-0kXsHSwg6s6gdlKbAP9dJHRgCEwYBhgL/s1600/1000487_10201028712456804_1369885413_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: black; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="960" height="284" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zDZNjzkrCmA/WWFFbNKIe0I/AAAAAAAAjCY/zaL1bqZa-0kXsHSwg6s6gdlKbAP9dJHRgCEwYBhgL/s640/1000487_10201028712456804_1369885413_n.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Memories shimmer,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">trail behind us.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><o:p>They do not need us.</o:p><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wave. Just say thanks.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Notice. The sun has risen<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">to shine on daisy petals.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">A bee's headstand moves</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">inside its nurture.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">No anger as the sea dances<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">while it pulses to the shore.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">On the breeze, gardenia sway</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">enlivens the hour.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For the last time watch</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">sequences you return to.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Go. Light a match. Notice</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">the heightened moment.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let the flame leave </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">on its own accord.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700;">Breathe in. To the top</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700;">then out. Let go.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700;">Applaud yourself</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700;">at sunset.</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #bbeedc; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;" /><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tqVKqRi67fI/WWFGYBguGdI/AAAAAAAAjCc/OqQr2Djq5OYwpG6jOplMJ2Daq3nuMCj0gCLcBGAs/s1600/1012114_10200982963553110_235340653_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tqVKqRi67fI/WWFGYBguGdI/AAAAAAAAjCc/OqQr2Djq5OYwpG6jOplMJ2Daq3nuMCj0gCLcBGAs/s640/1012114_10200982963553110_235340653_n.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div>Penny Wilkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10297270528348101419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576489792581154036.post-29980943901789468542023-07-15T07:44:00.005-07:002023-07-15T07:44:00.145-07:00Discover Questions<p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="color: #336699; font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MFHXRAb6CZk/Ui5PRAbzyxI/AAAAAAAAOQo/wAb2SYN0baQ/s1600/Delta+Pond+Heron_3.jpg" style="color: #336699; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MFHXRAb6CZk/Ui5PRAbzyxI/AAAAAAAAOQo/wAb2SYN0baQ/s640/Delta+Pond+Heron_3.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498) 1px 1px 5px; background: repeat white; border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px;"><i style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"Literature stops life for the purpose of examining it." ~ William Faulkner</span></i></p><form action="https://www.facebook.com/ajax/ufi/modify.php" class="live_10152251303431164_316526391751760 commentable_item autoexpand_mode" data-live="{"seq":"10152251303431164_33940878"}" id="u_jsonp_2_q" method="post" rel="async" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></form><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px;">Writers have posed and pursued questions since Socrates who said, "The unexamined life is not worth living," <br /></span><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2" style="color: yellow; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; font-variant-caps: normal; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rainer Maria Rilke wrote, ". . . and the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer." </span></div></span></span></td></tr><tr><td><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br /></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-03sekNLCq6I/Ui6i3F8a3nI/AAAAAAAAOSQ/yujLpMmW0Uo/s1600/IMG_5146.JPG" style="color: #336699; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-03sekNLCq6I/Ui6i3F8a3nI/AAAAAAAAOSQ/yujLpMmW0Uo/s640/IMG_5146.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498) 1px 1px 5px; background: repeat white; border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="512" /></span></a></div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px;"><br />American naturalist, John Burroughs, wrote as he traveled. He claimed, "I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think. All the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read and all the friends I want to see."<br /><br />Let creativity and curiosity serve as a rallying cry. </span><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Crafty Girls"; font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Consider how to define "examine"?</span><div><br /></div><div> Discover ways to pursue the questions.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qao5cV1Fz7Y/YQVUJ3EdAvI/AAAAAAAAyfM/HLX02ThxTuQFVyECYZvVISYN-KzazcPDQCLcBGAsYHQ/s471/thumbnail-7.jpeg" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="471" height="446" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qao5cV1Fz7Y/YQVUJ3EdAvI/AAAAAAAAyfM/HLX02ThxTuQFVyECYZvVISYN-KzazcPDQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h446/thumbnail-7.jpeg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; background: repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div></div></div>Penny Wilkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10297270528348101419noreply@blogger.com0