Open the door for another

When I was out and about the other day, a nice gentleman held the door for me.  I, in turn, held it open for a woman coming up behind me.  Good begets good!!  It always makes me feel good when I find that "chivalry is not dead!"  Some things take little effort and cause a ripple effect of kindness.  While we're at it, lets not forget the other meaning here.  We can open the door for another in many ways from showing kindness, to.....  Well, you get the picture.  Make a ripple, get outside yourself, see what happens.

Let's have...

Thanksgiving every day!  No, not all the fattening food, just the gratitude.  It seems weird to me that this holiday is celebrated only once a year.  Granted, it is time off work to spend with people who we might seldom see.  It makes for a long weekend, but when should we not be grateful for all we have?  I say, let every day be "Thanksgiving."  Lets share our bounty with others all the time.  People are always in need of food, shelter, and warmth,  not just in the winter! Make a ripple, start a new tradition, see what happens.

Welcome Kazakhstan!

We are so glad to see you!  Please come back and see us!

There is a saying...

anticipate the best, prepare for the worst.  I sure like the first 1/2 of this saying.  It seems as if I anticipate the best, many times, that is what occurs.  But there is a fine balance in the second 1/2 of this saying.  A lot of us prepare for the worst more than anticipating the best and we always get what we think about most.  I have done this many times also.  So today, lets take the yin with the yang, with the emphasis on what will make our lives better.  Make a ripple,  seek balance, see what happens.

Lessons from the Turkey

It has been an interesting late summer and fall.  We have had an inordinate number of wild turkeys coming up over the bluff and spending time in our neighborhood.  They come in groups of 12 to probably over 30.  I love the way they fill the yards and sidewalks, as if they own the place.  They are far from graceful, but so beautiful and the sounds they make are endearing to me.  They flow out into the street and stop traffic. They know they belong. In Native American tradition, Turkey means "give away."  They have celebration over a feast and then people bring things to share.  I was privileged to attend one of these day long feasts many years ago and it has stuck with me.  I was allowed to help prepare food and other necessities, but also to watch a woman tell me a story while making me a beautiful pouch.  It was heart-filling. I still have the pouch and the memories from that day and carry them with me every year. Make a ripple, and be grateful for all the things that are not things, see what happens. 

If you have no opinion...

the truth will show itself to you. It is amazing how having an opinion clouds our vision of things.  This is something most of us seldom consider, but it is like putting blinders on a horse.  So, just for today, I am going to try and squelch my opinions and just look at things as they are.  I might find a truth that has been hiding.  Make a ripple, try with me, see what happens. 

Live your life...

don't just sleep through it!  It is easy just to drift through life.  We get into a routine and nothing changes but the day.  Days turn into weeks, and weeks into years, and where have we gotten?  Auto pilot is something we all go into from time to time.  I used to do that when I drove to certain places, until I realized I WAS DRIVING!  We certainly miss many of the up's and down's when we use AP, but we miss growth possibilities, too.  Make a ripple, be in it, see what happens.