If you expect it...

It will come.  Yesterday, I went to see my dear friend at the hospital.  These folks were exceptional with her.  Just before I left, I had been talking to her and the nurse about the service dogs who come into the hospital.  Her eyes lit up, especially when the nurse mentioned that she thought they might have "pug" service dogs, who are her favorite breed.  I needed to use the little girls room down the hall, but before I left, I told her I would bring back a pug.  I fully intended, as crazy as it seems, to do that not knowing how I would do it.  When I arrived at my destination, there was my friend Sherri, who I seldom see, with a 100 lb. Akita.( Not your average pug!) It turns out that she owns a service dog who visits the hospital 2 times a month.  I'd say, "what are the odds?", but you can figure that out for yourself. I truly believe that if we believe something strongly enough and expect it fiercely, it will happen.  All I wanted to do was make my friend laugh and feel happy, and there it was.  Make a ripple, live with intention, see what happens.

"Leave everything a little better than you found it."

Changing things for the better in my life is sometimes a struggle.  I don't know if you have the same problem.. I seem to be much harder on myself than I could possibly be of others. What I am slowly learning is that everything doesn't have to be a leap.  I can start with one little thing that is easy to do and just try and repeat it until it becomes a better habit.  Then, I can add to that, but keeping it in small steps.  It is easy to become overwhelmed when things seem to be such a mess, but we have the right and responsibility not to stress ourselves out trying to change things all at once.  Make a ripple, take baby steps, see what happens.

It's O.K. if you don't know...

just tell me.  Someone I love very much is in the hospital, starting today to go through some neurological testing. This has been an ongoing situation for her entire life.  Doctors can do some wonderful things, but they don't know everything!! For once, I would love to have someone tell me they don't know what is going on instead of just throwing medication at it.  70-80% of neurological disorders are unable to be diagnosed.  Nothing would make me happier than for this to be resolved in some way.  She would certainly have a better quality of life if this could happen.  We don't always think of people in these situations, so for today, maybe you could hold her in the light with me.  Know that there are many others in this situation, too.  Make a ripple, think of them, see what happens.

Attitude of Gratitude

This is my 193rd post.  I am pleased to say that there are now 12 countries and the U.S. participating in this and we just added Luxembourg yesterday!  It is such a surprising and wonderful journey and I thank each and every one of you for being part of it. We all have so many things to be grateful for, and so much more to do. Continue to make a ripple, and see what happens.

Your choice

Yesterday, I spent the 3rd through the 7th inning of our baseball game out weed whacking and mowing the back yard.  It is not something I relish, but the grass was so long, I wouldn't be able to get the push mower through it if I didn't.  I often fight with myself about conveniences versus good old muscle.  The weed whacker seems to be "Man's best friend."  You seldom see a man without a smile on his face when he is doing this.  Personally, they just throw me around and I am sore the next day.  I have to admit, though, they seem to get the job done, except one thing.. They just cut off the top of things where my trusty shovel at least attempts to remove the root. I guess they both have their place, but I get such satisfaction knowing it might take 2-3 weeks for that pesky plant to return, instead of seeing it in 3-4 days, back in all it's glory.  It seems to be the same with life, cut the top off something for instant, but short lived relief, or take time to try and dig it out.  Make a ripple, choose your method, see what happens.  PS, we lost ;(

The student becomes the teacher

I have recently been visiting with my friend's elderly neighbor.  He is quite a kick.  So I decided to teach him how to do Sudoku. Since he had never done it, much less heard of it, I started out with a simpler version.  To my surprise and delight (his, too) he loves it and caught on right away.  He isn't quite ready for the full version, so I have made up blanks and filled in some of the numbers, myself.  Yesterday he flew through the six puzzles I made for him in a record amount of time.  I even made a couple of puzzles with symbols instead of numbers.  Today I find myself rattling my brain to come up with new ones that will take him more than a minute a piece to do.  My point is that many times, the student becomes the teacher.  By the way, he corrected me about his age, he is only 93! Make a ripple, be willing to learn, see what happens.

Spur of the moment

Routine is nice, it is something most of us count on to get through our day.  But today started out different.  I usually have my gratitude time, stretching and exercises, but today Catboy had a different idea.  He decided that his time was much more important and wanted his routine done first.  It sort of put me off at first, then I said to myself, "Myself, are you so stuck in a routine that you aren't willing to shake it up just a little once in a while?" Here I have this really happy cat, and I can go back to what I need to do, just in a little different order.  The garden plants do not all pop up the same day.  The bird I love to mimic does not always show up the same time of day.  Why not enjoy a little spur of the moment joy?! Sometimes my days are crazy, but now I am going to allow for that.  Life is to short to be completely predictable.  Make a ripple, change it up, see what happens