Boulder - Sized Pebbles.

Growing up, my brother was into skateboarding. So, of course, just 2 years younger, so was I. We built and rebuilt boards, new wheels, bearings, trucks....
I never owned my OWN board, but he had several and I learned to ride.


And FALL.
HARD.
WITHOUT HELMETS OR PADS.


That was life back then. We didn't wear helmets and pads (even though we had them). We rode in the streets. Hot asphalt to break our falls.


And, the hard molded plastic wheels were certain to seek out the tiniest of pebbles to lodge into said wheels, causing the board to instantaneously seize while projecting your shocked body with Jet force into fast forward motion without it.


We expected it. We KNEW it was inevitable. Yet, we still were in shock when it happened.


Human Nature is funny that way. We go through life knowing the cycle. Birth. Life. Death. And, still, we are at a loss. Shocked.


One of my favorite poems is titled "The Dash". It speaks to the "dash" between the day you are born and the day you die. That dash represents the way you lived your life. The impact you made on others, the difference you made while on Earth.


What the poem does NOT speak to, however, are those dang pebbles which cause your "wheels" to seize up. We all have them.


We all face hard times. Greif. Loss.Sadness.Frustrations. We all have to deal with these things at some point in life. These are the HUGE BOULDERS that sit in front of us.


Because it's part of that cycle.


But, those pebbles. Oh, those GLORIOUS pebbles..... They seem to devastate us more than those boulders.


These pebbles come in many forms.
Harsh Words.
Dirty Looks.
Ignorance.
Intolerance.
Poor Communication.
Unkind Acts
Non-Forgiveness
Harsh Judgement
Name calling.


By "Skating in and around" these pebbles, one is guaranteed to get hurt. Afterall, on the surface, none of these surprise you, do they?


You probably deal with these on a daily basis.


They aren't BOULDERS. Certainly, they sometimes aren't even intentional. But it only takes one to get stuck in your wheel to do damage. Just one.


Unfortunately, no amount of padding is going to soften the damage. And, you never know which pebble will be the one that DOES devastate you.


Look around. Guaranteed you will see someone that needs you to sweep those pebbles out of their way. Maybe they don't yet see them in their path. Or , perhaps, they just need help in picking up that broom to sweep.


Either way, be there. It's okay not to understand. After all, your pebbles are more than likely different. Acknowledge this. Be honest. But be there.


While you are here, make YOUR DASH reflect kindness and empathy towards others. Make it your mission to pay as much attention to the pebbles as you do the boulders. Others will notice. You might be responsible for changing someone else's life for the better.......including your own.

Laughing out Loud

Ever have a moment when you recall something funny and find yourself chuckling to Yourself. OUTLOUD. ALONE. IN A CROWDED STORE.
ME NEITHER!! ....




Today. I. Did. Just. That.




With all the hub-bub about Halloween Scares around...they made me reflect on something that happened here, in my own home, a few years back.




In fact, as I write this, I am giggling.




Shortly after being released from the hospital following my heart attack, I was trying to creatively deal with my memory loss.


To better help you understand, indulge my ramble......
Every day was like waking up in the movie "Groundhog Day". If you haven't seen it, Bill Murray goes through an ordeal which causes him to re-live the SAME DAY OVER AND OVER AGAIN.


As the story progresses, every morning he wakes up and has to figure out what day it is and where/who he is. UNLIKE the movie, I am not like Ol' Bill. Mr. Murray figures out how to anticipate and manipulate this circumstance to his advantage.


Every day, I would wake up. Struggle to determine what day and date it was, where I was and why I couldn't determine simple information. I would write notes at night... Only to either forget where I put said notes or ..that I even wrote such note.
  I am a fighter and am determine to succeed..... Those who know me well can attest to this fact.


So....... Once Brad went back to work... My rationale kicked in......
...if I started my morning.... Every day in the bathroom... Why not put my"notes" right there in the bathroom where I could find them.


Makes sense. Doesn't it? Right??




WWWRRROONNNGGGG!!




What I hadn't taken into consideration during my 30 minute planning session in the bathroom - In which I thought using a dry erase marker on the mirror to leave myself notes for the next day was BRILLIANT -
was that Brad would awaken to see this catastrophe, which I fondly referred to as my "work in progress".....
Brad, however, did not refer to it quite as fondly...........


In fact, he walked into the bathroom in the middle of the night and thought he'd found himself in the middle of a horror film.




Looking back, yes. It would appear as the plannings of either a mass murderer or serial killer.... Especially since I had used a RED dry erase marker...ALL OVER THE ENTIRE MIRROR!!




As I write about this, I can't help but laugh out loud. In fact, no matter where I am when this comes to mind, I laugh until I am in tears.




The good news is that my "Groundhog" days are few and far between these days. Good for me.




Better for Brad.

Halloween Costumes

OK. I know I am old-school. Maybe just Old.
Making my way through mounds and racks of over-priced, flimsy, uncreative Halloween 🎃 costumes is enough to make ANYONE drink. HEAVILY. Without remorse. REALLY.


Every year, I am in complete awe as to the "trending" costumes. I don't know why. It's not like I don't expect it. Every year, they are more money and less material. More cheaply made and less likely to last more than one night out.


So. THIS YEAR.... We went "old-school".. Growing up, it was called, "poor"...now, it's trendy to be "old-school".


Yes. The days of paying $39.99****plus plus plus...(valve stems not included) 💵 💵 💵😈 have replaced sheets and home grown costumes...... Ok, forgive me why I reminisce...
how many of you "got creative" with sheets (ghosts 👻 togas...) or curlers and bath robes or tinfoil...(don't ask, you'll never be the same)..... ??


We were actually "challenged" to be creative. Step outside the box. Make it ourselves from thrifty store finds, hand me down recycling... And just stuff around the house.


One of my favorite memories involves my brother (yes, the current motorcycle riding, gun toting, law abiding tough guy) in CURLERS. And he ROCKED THEM!!


We didn't have to be the latest "pop star" or superstar..we were cheerleaders and princesses and cowboys and Indians and Ghostbusters 👻 and firefighters..... There were tin men , lions and Dorothy with Toto.


And we had FUN!! We weren't looking for houses passing out "non-candy healthy snacks". In fact, THOSE were the houses targeted to be egged. Really. I'm dead serious.


So. Take my advice. Go old-school and get creative. Teach your kids to be creative. Take them to the second hand store and make them a REAL costume..challenge them to think.


 BREAK THE CYCLE!!! BOYCOTT the Retail Costumes. RESIST THE TEMPTATION!


And FOR HEAVEN'S SAKES MAN.....
DO. NOT. BE. THAT. HOUSE. WITH. THE. HEALTHY. TREATS!!


Make MEMORIES!


GO OLD SCHOOL!!!

I can finally breathe again without burning my Lungs!!

I wasn't certain which title would be more appropriate as I begin this.....the "Politically Correct" statement that the Arizona Summer is over...or the one that leaps from my non-filtered lips.."I CAN FINALLY BREATHE AGAIN WITHOUT BURNING MY LUNGS".......   So.....non-filtered as I am.....I choose the latter!!!
 
Those whom know me well, are not shocked at my choice.  "Filtering" was left on the hospital ER floor with the rest of my "old self" back in 2010.
 
This is not necessarily a bad thing, though, unless, of course, you are not ME!  For ME, I find it refreshing to speak my mind openly, honestly, no-holds barred....and if....or ok, WHEN I offend, it is never intentional, but it is ALWAYS honest, with the best of intentions......and, we all KNOW what road is paved with those BEST INTENTIONS.
 
For the "NOT-ME's"  in my world, it goes something like a 'Fart in Church.'  Leaves some speechless and holding their breath.....
 
Luckily, I continue to find my old filter now and again. Sometimes, a bit late to the party, but ALWAYS with the best shoes.....
 
 In realizing this, I have also realized a sense of FREEDOM that comes with it.  The "OLD ME", was always accommodating, rarely ever said NO to anyone's requests.  As imagined, an undue amount of stress came with each "YES" provided.
 
No longer do I succumb to the pressures of  being involved in 22 different organizations or fund raisers or events or causes - I get to choose what matters! I get to CHOOSE. Involved in something that begins to cause undue stress....step aside (especially if another person 'feels' they can handle it better ---by all means---take the reigns). But, otherwise,  I. GET.TO.CHOOSE.

See, part of it comes from the whole "lost my mind" gig, but most of it comes from the "age and maturity" gig.  My sister always refers to it as  the "been there, done that, got the T-shirt to prove it" mode.
 
I get to be SELECTIVE with my time and my energy.  Well, maybe 'GET' is too strong of a word. I 'HAVE' to be selective with my time and energy. I only have so many productive waking hours in a day before my mind completely shuts down.
 
Yes, most of the time, after a nap, the mind will reboot automatically......but sometimes that battery just doesn't recharge quickly enough. So, I am forced to choose.

 

However ----- ready----this is GREAT NEWS! 

Great? Yes, GREAT!!!

 
I have a new-found freedom in choosing what I WANT to spend my energy on, instead of feeling like I HAVE to be involved in it all.
 

REFRESHING!! 

 
This may seem trivial to many. However, let me assure you that the day this GLORIOUS light shines upon you - the choir WILL sing a heavenly song!  And , you will remember this post.  And you will SMILE a smile like NEVER BEFORE!

I remind my kids everyday they leave for school to "Make good Choices". I take this in stride as I try to make the same. I invite you to this challenge as well!!!

REMEMBER :  Less IS More......for a myriad of reasons.......BE Selective.  Make your actions count! ..and

MAKE GOOD CHOICES!!!!