You choose

One of the best ways to live is knowing that there is always a choice.  Things may happen, but you always have the opportunity to react to it your way.  I used to just go with the bad things that happened to me and wallow in it.  Guess what?!  I just got more of the same, and felt weak.  At a certain point, though, I finally figured out I can chose a lot more of the time than I had been, and I could choose goodness, love, and gratitude.  If I live in just those three things, life is pretty good and I can pass that attitude to others.  Make a ripple, choose carefully, see what happens.

Driving in the Hood

I am guessing that road construction is happening almost everywhere.  While we are grateful for our roads being "fixed," getting around can certainly be a nightmare!  I know we will all be mindful of taking our detours, especially when taking them through neighborhoods.  All our kids and animals are out.  Some of our young children are just learning about crossing streets carefully, and many are playing in the streets of quiet neighborhoods.  People who don't usually have this kind of traffic will need to be more vigilant getting in and out of their cars, etc.  So I know we will all try a little harder, in this oppressive heat, to be kind and considerate of each other so that we can enjoy life safely!  Make a ripple, pay attention, see what happens.

Pop Quiz #3

Here is a question for you.  What is one thing that could stop violence,  derision, anger, and mistreatment?  It is so simple, that I am not sure why we haven't figured it out yet!  All we have to do is... What do you think?  My answer is to find happiness in our lives.  Think about when you are happy.  Do you want to argue?  Do you want to be rude?  Do you want to cut someone off in a car?  Do you want to treat someone unfairly?  NO.  Studies have shown that a happy person is non-violent.  Happiness is as easy as sadness.  I am here to tell you.  If you need help to get there, get it!  It is just like the comparison between frowning and smiling.  You use more muscles to frown, and you get more of the dreaded wrinkles, which make you frown more.  So, today, and every day, find something to be happy about.  Your life, and those around you will improve.  Make a ripple, smile, see what happens.

Chillax!

This has been quite a summer, everything has been so hot.  I'm not just talking about the weather.  It seems as if there are more fires, it seems as if there are more wars. The weather is on the whack! Yesterday, north of where I live, there was a storm that contained such bad hail, people were putting their cars away so they wouldn't be damaged.  Luckily, it missed me.  But these are the days of a lot of chaos.  So I am suggesting we learn a new word, and apply it to ourselves as often as we can. (Catboy does it all the time!)  The word is "chillax!"  I don't know if I made it up or heard it somewhere, but it says it all.  Make a ripple, chill and relax, see what happens.

Catboy says

Good Morning!  I have some important information straight from the cat's mouth.  It pertains to those of us sweltering in this hottest of summers, but it may also pertain to others who need it.  The first thing is to get lots of water.  You may not feel like eating, but do it anyway, you need to stay hydrated.  He tells me it is really cool under the bed.  Well...I don't fit.  Alternately, he suggests sitting directly in front of the fan.  He suggests many naps during the day, because he becomes exhausted wearing all that black and white fur.  I think one nap is essential.  Brushing should be a daily activity, because he is shedding so badly, but not in front of the fan unless you want a hair sandwich.  All in all, he suggests you take care of your pets, not leaving them in a car at all.  I am sure we can all benefit from some or all of these suggestions.  Oh, and one more thing.  Feel your pets ears to see if they are not to warm and also their nose to make sure it is wet.  Make a ripple, lots to do!, see what happens.

What's YOUR purpose?

It's summer in many places.  Those hot, lazy, days where we just try and get through the day.  For me, it is a time to escape the heat and maybe do some reflecting.  These days, I am asking myself, "Why am I here?"  I do love writing this blog and I hope it has an effect, but also, what else can I do?  I think this question pops up many times in our lives.  It is good to think about who we are and what we need to do to make it a better world.  We have a different lens at each age.  I do know that if you are with me, we are trying to be better humans and I know that we are making a difference.  Make a ripple, keep it up!, see what happens.

Something old is new again

Recycling is not just for cans, paper, and glass.  It is not just for giving away old clothes and furnishings.  Although this is a great thing to do.  We can recycle old beliefs and habits, too.  Just like clothes go out of style, so do many of the things we were taught, or learned, just to get by. It is funny the way we hold on for dear life to things.  I am really good at that!  But if we take the time to figure out what works now, and discard what does not, it makes our lives more streamlined and easier, and makes us new.  Make a ripple, re-evaluate, see what happens.