Zing

Surrounded by excited grandchildren who invited me to share a movie with them, I enjoyed the lesson about Zing in the lives of the movie characters! In this instance, Zing was a romantic feeling.


I have created my own definition for Zing which I define as fun, filled with enthusiasm and excitement for life and a feeling of being loved and acknowledged! I determined that I want to be the kind of wife, mother, grandmother, friend and neighbor who adds ZING to the lives of everyone I meet!


Hope you will enjoy Zinging in your own way!

Gratitude

 

Photo from Photos by MJ

What if tomorrow we really did wake up to have only what we thanked God for yesterday?



For many years I have enjoyed keeping a Celebration Gratitude Journal. It is very revealing to read the posts of the 5 things that I am thankful for that day.

I operate my Gratitude Journal to my own standards.
No guilt if I don’t make daily entries.
No full sentences allowed. Single words or phrases accepted.
Entries limited to 5 expressions of gratitude.



To learn more about creating your own Celebration Gratitude Journal, visit www.CelebrateWithJoy.com.

Karma

Logo of Book from Wikipedia.org

Once again I have made a concentrated effort to serve at least one person daily, if even only for 17 seconds as I mentioned in the blog post Kindness Math. But what I didn’t think about is the abundance of kindness that would come back to us. We know this as Karma.

My husband is a perfectionist in his construction business. Over the last several decades I have heard comments from others about the great work he does. Recently someone in a resort village said they observed his consistent efficiency and was impressed that he didn’t waste one step in his operation throughout the day. That is my husband! Once in a while there is a kind phone message thanking him for doing such a great job. And sometimes there have been notes accompanying a payment. But recently a young couple had him do some work for them. He knew they were on a tight budget and helped them out with the costs the best he could. When they sent the check, they not only wrote a note of thanks for the great job he did in a timely manner, but said they were rounding up the bill because of the incredible results! Bless them for their kindness!

Recently I was shopping to replace my microwave oven. I had specific measurements for the new appliance in order for it to fit into shelf where our now- worn- out- microwave once was positioned. Most of the boxes of new microwaves had dimensions written on the box, but one I was most interested in did not. I asked the clerk at Customer Service if they had a tape measure I could use. He was scrambling to figure out where they could find a tape measure when a very kind customer, hearing the request, pulled a small tape measure from her purse and in passing, handed it to me, telling me to keep it. In a matter of seconds, she exited the store as I called out to thank her. Kind acts don’t talk long. Even though that happened a few weeks ago, I am still smiling at the kindness of this stranger.

Do you receive compliments well? Do you receive unexpected gifts easily? Do you accept help when it is offered? Do you accept your meal being paid for by a friend?
These are little things, but they will help you know if you are open to receiving. Remember, the Universe is moving through everyone and every circumstance to give to you. From The Secret Daily Teachings by Rhonda Byrne from The Secret

It is a lot easier to be the giver of kindness than the receiver, but these experiences stopped me in my tracks and made me realize that handing is a two way street. Kindness, like a boomerang will most certainly come back to us!

Self Esteem

Photo from Photos by MJ

As a family we have taken time to play a few kickball games together in recent months. Bonding is easy when cousins, aunts and uncles along with us, the grandma and grandpa, join in a shared activity. Cheering each other on, we enjoyed the game and our time together. Although no one was rigid in our game structure, allowing a few lenient calls. As I stood outfield, I thought it should be illegal for the younger kids to ever be called “OUT”. Of course, I realize that each of us needs to learn to play by the rules and be good sports. But in the overall scheme of life, I do not ever want any of my grandchildren to feel that they are “OUT” in the game of life.


My overall belief and underlying purpose as a parent has always been to help my children build strong self esteem. Early on as a mother, I determined that if my children had good self esteem, they could handle any thing else life may hand them. School would be manageable and relationships would be strong if they first had healthy self esteem. And that is my deepest desire for my grandchildren and future posterity.

 

Death is Part of Our Living

Photos from Photos by MJ

 Death is part of our living. When we lose someone who has played an important role in our lives, we are reminded of the precious gift of life, friendship and how others enhance our own life’s journey. 

We can learn empowering lessons from the good in the lives of others. Such is the case with a friend who just completed his life’s journey and left us with a wealth of lessons that will enhance our lives if we embrace these characteristics.

Let us love a little more, hug a little longer and say more kind things to those in our circle of influence.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is National Breast Cancer awareness month

 

Today I am the proud owner of a beautiful pink rose.

It had been too long since I took time to have a mammogram and determined I needed to schedule the procedure. When I called to make an appointment, they informed me that had an opening just an hour and a half from that time. Why not? I could have that marked off my list and wouldn’t have to think about doing it for days or weeks to come. So within ninety minutes I was in the office ready for the scan.

I shared some humor with the tech, sharing the joke about to prepare for a mammogram, all one needed to do it lie down on their side on the hard, cold cement floor of the garage and ask someone to back the car over a certain part of you then pull forward. Then repeat that same process, this time lying on your other side. Probably considered very sick humor, it got me through the appointment with a smile on my face.

One long stem pink rose and two pink nail files later, I walked out of the office with the satisfaction of caring for myself with preventative measures.

I encourage you to be smart about your health care.

 

 

Color Energy: Violet

Photos from Photos by MJ

Violet is like early dawn when everything begins anew. Grasses, flowers and human hearts arise to the song of life returning. And in the fleeting shadows, violet light dances over the spaces in between the lines of our waking consciousness where it touches our visible, knowable world with new concepts and ideas from the higher mind. In the brief moment between our dreaming and waking worlds, what we see or understand stands apart as extraordinary and different from the way we usually understand others or acquire knowledge, a kind of sudden insight or immediate knowing, a connection to spirit. Our dreams are made of such stuff, that illusory material that simply moves by and instantly disappears. But if we hold ourselves softly between the worlds, we can catch the stream of consciousness whispering from unknown realms, bring new understanding, love and even nobility to our dailylives.



Photos from Photos by MJ