I am...

male and female, conservative and liberal, religious and spiritual, white, black, and all the shades in between.  I am lesbian, gay, transgender.  I am from all the corners of the world.  I live in poverty, and affluence. I am educated in ways you cannot measure. I am you, and you are me.  We want the same things, and we deserve goodness.  Make a ripple, accept and honor me, see what happens.

What's different?

I went to see "Dolphin Tale 2," yesterday.  It is sort of a kids movie, but the underlying message is for all of us.  I won't pay for something that makes me scared, (unless it is giving me information I need) I won't pay for blood and gore, there is enough of that in the news.  So I need to learn and be inspired.  I need a happy ending as that is what I want for all of us. Anyway, it is a continuation of the story of the rescue of the dolphin who lost it's tale and they made her a new one.  It is a story of people coming together, in crisis, and showing what they are made of to make a happy ending.  Sometimes we focus on the things we perceive make us different.  How's that working for us?  I know we are taught to think that different is not always good.  Be wary!  But it is our differences and our similarities that make us interesting and teach us things.  We all know we are more alike than different, anyway.  Make a ripple, know what is real, see what happens.

More fine humans!

There is a company here called "Uncle Ben's."  They have a new commercial which shows how kids emulate their parents.  Their other message is teaching our children to cook and make it healthy.  We need more people like them to give us a little push or to think about how we affect our children.  Nice job!  They are making a ripple. 

Change the things you can

Life is full of "stuff."  We all know some of it is what we want and some of it isn't.  We can't always change things around us, we can try and make them better, we can ignore them, and try to live with them.  The only thing we can truly change is ourselves.  We can ask to look at things differently.  We can decide that something is not working, and do something else.  We can concentrate on what is working and revel in that.  I have said this before, but OUR THOUGHTS CONTROL OUR LIVES! That can go either way.  What do you want in your life?  It could be as easy as changing your mind.  Make a ripple, stick with it, see what happens.

Treasure the moments.

There are many things I have learned from this past vacation.  One of the most important things is to be present.  It is an easy concept to talk about, but, a hard one to actually do.  It takes lots of practice, and starting when you are young makes it easier.  All we have is just this moment.  I tried to feel, see, hear, and really experience my trip.  I tried to soak up every sparkling moment.  I need more practice.  So, for today, I am going to look, and really see, listen and really hear, keep myself in the moment so that I don't miss anything.  Make a ripple, do the same, see what happens.

Everything old is new again part 2

The clothes are unpacked.  The long anticipated adventure has passed, but not without impact.  I am still filled with the beauty and wonder of the ocean.  The food was wonderful and the people, who moved at a slightly slower pace and celebrated a sunny day, are still fresh in my mind.  Catboy has finally stopped chastising me, and is with me every step I take. Thanks to his long time friend, Betty, he was well loved when I was gone.  I am celebrating the fact that there is a new shiny part of me, so full of gratitude, that I can share with you!  Make a ripple, share your shiny parts, see what happens.

To much of anything is to much

There was sand everywhere, and I was in hog heaven.  My internal beach comber was ecstatic!!! The minute I hit the sand, my head went down, and my eyes laser focused on any possible shell, beautiful rock, or piece of driftwood.  If there had been anything in front of me, I would have run straight in to it!  To my delight, the first thing I found was a tiny, whole, perfect sand dollar the size of a nickle. (I told you, nothing would escape the eyes of "Beach Comber, Extrodinaire" ((my word, not in the dictionary))  So, I spent many hours, and many beaches with my head down, looking, looking.  By the third day, I had a headache and my neck felt as if someone had yanked on it, hard. Hmmmm... I finally figured out that there was more to walking the beaches, and that there was, indeed, a beautiful ocean lapping at my toes, and other kinds of activity I had missed.  So I followed the debris trail going one way and walked and played in the water coming back with my head up!  Wow!  I guess I figured out that too much of one thing leads to the exclusion of another wonderful thing.  I am proud to report that my neck is much better, I have bags of shells, and I got to experience the wonder of the water, yes, and even the obnoxious sea gulls.  Still , I am sharing my ripple, with you!  There is more. 

Lessons from the sand and sea

You will have to excuse me as I am still on va ca time.  Is it still morning?!  Well, it is morning somewhere, right.  I just came back from the coast.  Being near water is probably my favorite of all time places, oceans, preferably.  I was there with someone I love more than breathing, so that helped.  The first day, it was cold and windy.  The place we stay in has big sand dunes you have to cross b/4 you actually get to the water, so I humped out there after the long drive.  It is interesting when it is windy, because your tracks out there and those of others are mostly blown away so you get to navigate your way.  I was lucky enough to reach water at the low tide, so I managed to find some "treasures."  The walk back was cold and windy, but it started to feel comfortable.  As the days passed, I got to relax, sleep with the ocean waves and awaken with them.  The fog even lifted early one morning.  My last trip out, was a sunny warm day with all the footprints I wanted to follow straight out to the water.  What I am learning, is we and our lives are just like this.  Sometimes, it is all humping, but there is something wonderful waiting.  It felt good to feel free.  It felt even better to not comb my hair for a day or so.  If you are fortunate enough to have this wonderful adventure, I am so happy for you.  Now I have the memories, and pictures to carry me through the next seasons. So I am sharing MY RIPPLE with you.  More to come.....

Welcome Netherlands!

We are so glad to see you join our family!  Please come back to us!

I'm back!

Going to get a good nite's sleep and will be back in the morning.  I have missed you!

I'll be back

I will be taking a week away from technology starting 9/18.  I need to get some fresh ideas, and just have a short break.  Please feel free to look back on my 363 other posts dating from October, 2013.  I will be back shortly.  In the meantime, make a ripple and see what happens. Love you all!

25 Karat Gold

It is hard to believe that I have been with you for almost a year.  Let me put it another way.  I am so eternally grateful that you have stuck with me for almost a year.  So I want to thank (in no particular order) India, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Sweden, Indonesia, Norway, The U.K, The U.S., Canada, Australia, S. Korea, Venezuela, Italy, China, France, Spain, Ukraine, Germany, Poland, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Romania, Finland, and Russia. Look at us, people from all over the world, together, to make a ripple.  When I see your country come up, it gives me such joy!  I am looking forward to adding to our family.  Thank you so much!  We are all, in our way, making ourselves, and the world a better place.  Stick with me, the best is yet to come! Namaste'

There is something out there bigger than us!

Live for that!  We all have the tendency to live our lives in our own little world.  What I am seeing, is there is so much more out there and we have a hand in changing it if we don't like it.  It is a fact that we need to know and nurture ourselves in order to be able to put out the time and energy.  So, today, I am going to take a deep breath, and think about all the ways I can look at the bigger picture.  Make a ripple, do the same, see what happens.

"It starts in our hearts"

A very famous and well-loved female politician gave me this quote recently.  It pretty much says everything we must know to be a good human and make the world a better place.  No ego, just love and compassion.  Make a ripple, learn a new mantra, "it starts with me," see what happens.

Catboy on gluttony

Recently, Catboy and I were having a serious discussion on eating to much.  It all started when I asked him how he thought jumping on the love seat and purring every 2 hours all day and night warranted my giving him cookies each time.  You see, he knows if he starts purring, I have no control over his cuteness.  But I looked at the cookie container and ascertained  that he was going over his recommended amount.  He gingerly pointed out to me that the box of my favorite cookies was looking pretty empty, also.  So we decided to do more petting and walking around than eating so many of our delicious treats.  It was a hard decision, but we have to watch our waistlines.  Make a ripple, eat slowly, see what happens.

Appreciate what you have....

then, strive for more if you want it.  In one of my studies, there is a very wise being.  It is partly me, for finding out information, but also another person who guides me.  As I believe we are all a part of each other and all that is good, I come to you today to ask you to appreciate.  When I am on my pity potty, I sometimes ask "why can't I have that?"  What I need to focus on is what I do have and be grateful.  At that point, I can focus on what else I need and want in life.  Things change according to how we think about them @ if I constantly worry, feel frustrated, or angry, that is exactly what I attract to me.  The opposite is true if I am happy, and expectant of goodness.  What do you really want?  Make a ripple, give it some thought, see what happens.

Welcome Romania!

So glad to see you again!  Stay with us!

A pile here...

a pile there.  I am in the midst of my "fall cleaning."  I do not like to clean, well, except the usual things.  It just seems as if things pile up easily.  To my defense, I have a small place and a lot of things.  So, every Fall and Spring, I try and de-clutter.  You know how this goes, you move one pile of things to another pile.  The first place looks great, but, here it is somewhere else.  This time, I am going to try another tactic.  I am going to give or throw away at least 40%.  I can't quite make it to 50%, too terrifying!  The other thing I thought I would do is de-clutter my mind and thoughts.  For some reason, the thought of getting rid of 50% of that garbage seems less daunting.  We hold on to lots of stuff, I guess it is security to me, but I am about to step into the abyss and try something new.  The mind stuff is already working, I dumped a lot and I feel better.  Now back to the "stuff stuff."  Make a ripple, clean and clear, see what happens.

O Happy Day!

There is great news!  My dear and wonderful friend J. is in remission!  I doubt that we celebrate our health very often.  Most of us take it for granted when it is good.  Then...  We have two choices, to give in to it and become miserable, asking "why me?", or face it head on with everything we have got.  I can't deny that having a lot of support is helpful, but it is also that "locus of control" some people have.  She has it in spades, and is now more healthy than she has ever been.  If you are healthy, do everything you can to stay that way! (knowing you may not have the choice) If you are not, take the lesson of how precious life is and be strong.  All any of us have is today, right this moment.  We need to ask ourselves, what are we doing to make this an important moment?  Make a ripple, celebrate with us! see what happens. 

It's a matter of

perspective.  Yesterday, I decided to get my hair cut.  Sounds like something we do all the time, except mine has been long for quite a while, and I wanted to get it "chopped off!"  Some times you just need a drastic change.  So I went to my friend's really good hairdresser, shaking in my sandals.  As it turned out, I only got a couple of inches off, and he just did a different but great cut. I feel cute, and a little stupid.  I wanted a change, but was scared of the change.  This is all leading me to remember that change can be small, even subtle, and still, there is a great result.  There is no need to shake in your "sandals."  Make a ripple, be gentle with yourself, see what happens.

Model the good behavior you want to see

People learn things from observing, and in my experience, it is from what we do, not what we say.  Think of all the times we say something, all the while, doing something completely different.  Perhaps I should back up a little.  I think we have behaviors that arise from frustration, being tired, and habit.  So, what I am trying to do constantly, is to take that breath before I act.  It seems, most of the time, to be a really good buffer between one behavior and another better one. However we can do it, whether it is to pause, and take a breath, or step away, it does make a ripple for the better.  Try it and see what happens. 

Are you happy?

I guess this seems like sort of a goofy question.  It can be answered quickly by some, as "no."  Others might say "yes," confusing being content with how things are.  But what is happiness, anyway?  I guess my definition would be to be glad to wake up in the morning and expectant of a great day.  Perhaps it means to have that warm feeling in your heart for every one and everything, every day.  How do you define happiness?  The way we feel creates our lives. Make a ripple, think it over, see what happens.

Quack, Quaackk

I am pretty sure this means "Thanks" in Duck!  Yesterday was a really beautiful day and so my dear friend and I went to a nearby park for a picnic lunch.  It is a wonderful park, the pond is huge and filled with domestic and wild ducks, frogs, turtles, and even some fish.  We found a bench in the shade and began to eat.  A couple walked past us with this bag of something and headed down toward the pond.  It looked different than the awful white bread some people think is food for these creatures.  You know I am curious, so I followed them.  It turns out that they had actually gone to the feed store and got duck food!  Within about 3 minutes, every duck in the entire pond and every kid in the park was gathered in a big flock.  It was so fun to see!  I told the woman how cool it was to have them do that!  She replied, "I don't even eat white bread!"  Come to think of it, neither do I!  Make a ripple,  respect our wildlife, see what happens!

Welcome Sri Lanka!

We are so glad to see you!  Please come back soon!

Welcome back, Germany!

Good to see you again!

What is...

your heart's desire?  It is something we seldom take the time to think about, isn't it?!  We are simply to busy.  That is sad.  In order to truly live, we have to have passion.  We have to yearn for something that seems illusive to us.  So, today, when you finally take a breath, give yourself the time to see what really makes you tick, what makes your blood rush faster, and takes your breath away.  If we don't think of this, it might never happen.  Make a ripple, go for it! see what happens.

The value of...

Last night, I got out for a bit.  I went with my friend K.  We hang out a couple times a month and we have the best time!  The great food we eat and the beverages contribute, but what I am so fortunate to have is brilliant, funny, clever and engaged friends.  I can't tell you what it means to me to have these people around me.  I was hoping that you have this same type of fortune!  It can't be beat and keeps us on our toes as vital and engaged women who really could rule the world!  Make a ripple, let them know! see what happens.

Welcome Venezuela!

We are so glad to see you!  You are our 23rd country and the first from your continent!  Please come back and see us soon!

Celebrate

the fact that you are healthy and strong.  When we are young, we just take for granted the fact that we are.  I know this does not mean all of us, but for the most part, it does.  There is a saying "youth is wasted on the young."  It is funny, and also true.  When we are young, we do a lot of foolish things, and take for granted the stuff that really matters.  So I am saying to you, start now to make changes to keep you healthy.  Learn to cook! use spices, keep your sweet tooth reigned in, drink water, exercise as a habit and get plenty of rest.  Make the good habits now!  I promise it will not make your life or you boring, it will keep you strong as you get older and you can avoid a lot of things some of us are dealing with now. Make a ripple, spread the word, see what happens.

More good humans!

I don't know if you have the CVS pharmacies where you live.  They have decided to stop selling cigarettes!  They are also implementing programs for those who have decided to quit smoking.  They are one more business that is putting people ahead of profits!  I salute them!

Catboy's rules...

for back to school.  The first thing that is so important is to stretch every morning when you get up.  Catboy stretches every time he gets up.  He says to have a good breakfast and a schedule that does not stress you out.  If you give yourself enough time, you will not get frazzled.  He says not to ask "why do I have to take this class?,. rather what can I learn from this class?  He wants you to know that your brain is your best friend, not your phone.  Catboy wants you to know that if you stretch your body and mind, you will be successful, so take his advice and see what happens.  We are both very proud of you in advance!

A gentle reminder

Yesterday, I was pretty t'd off by this, but today I will talk about it in a different manner since being mad solves nothing.  I was cut off several times, once, almost hit, by people who think their time is more important than mine.  I am talking about people driving in construction zones.  I would think, by now, that we all know we need to give ourselves extra time to get places because of all the torn up roads.  Now, add to that, hundreds of little children going to school, some of which have not made their good habits of walking where they are supposed to yet.  I know we are all in a hurry, but we need to take a breath, slow down, and respect and treat other's the way we want to be treated.  Make a ripple, be the example, see what happens.

Back to school

Well, here we are.  Almost everyone who is going back to school will be there by tomorrow.  My desire for you is that you be grateful for the opportunity you have to begin or continue your education.  It is such a privilege to be able to do this.  Many young people around the world are not able to access this wonderful learning experience!  So put on that smile, engage the brain, put away the damn phone, and feel great about what a wonderful thing it is to use that most excellent brain of yours.  You might learn something that will change the world for the better.  Come to think of it, you will be making the world better by all the knowledge you acquire.  Make a ripple, learn, and be grateful for it! see what happens.

You help me,

I will help you!  Help comes in many forms. Sometimes, helping is not helping.  Yesterday, a friend and I visited our elderly man in the afternoon.  It was a pleasant visit, as always, and when we were about to leave, (he walks us to the door to say good bye), my friend tried to help him get up out of his chair.  This was a kind gesture, but, I want our friend to be as strong as he can, and he can get up on his own.  I wonder how many times we help someone when they don't need it!  I am a strong advocate of helping when it is necessary, but everyone needs to do what they are able, too!  Make a ripple, check it out, see what happens.