OPPORTUNITIES

  The craziest thing can open a door.

Starting Over

Tonight I am
Starting Over.
Beginning again.
Creatively Continuing....
Etc.

PLANNING

When there are no real choices...
I tend to stop planning.

When there seemed to be only a long list of " have-to-do's"
I would just run down the check list
each day and just...
get through it.

Now...with my time as my own
I have been PLANNING and executing
every day.

Resources are arriving, and I am moving forward and living a healthier life.

Along with that freedom comes the responsibility to LEARN to PLAN
even better than I know how.

A trip out east by train for mom's 80th
birthday, takes PLANNING.

Even for a few days,
it takes:
LOOKING at the train schedules, BUYING tickets,
GETTING transportation to the station, SAVING $$$ for the trip.

Its SO EASY to have the FREEDOM to choose, and having my own time to schedule...
but it is a Special skill set
to be Learned ...(QUICKLY)
if I am to make the MOST of this LIFE I've been blessed with.

Join me on this journey
even if you've already ARRIVED.

I  am PLANNING
( in even greater detail )
To Rock The Space I'm In...Well.

Love And Delight,
Peace of Mind and
CLARITY OF PURPOSE
To you and those you love,
JOY

PARKING

Sometimes you may need to park for a very short time... maybe even just a moment or two.   Well, that's actually called standing. But parking,  real parking,  could end up being anywhere from 5 or 10 minutes to hours or possibly even days, or weeks.

The places that you park, vary.
Maybe you park at the train station when you go to work downtown for the day. Maybe just for an hour in a grocery store parking lot.  There's  Parking/ Tail gaiting at a Bears game or NASCAR event. And even trying to fit into a space in the city while all the crazy traffic is zipping by you. 

Many times people are concerned or fearful of leaving their car in a parking lot or using a parking garage.   Quite often one doesn't know if your car will still be there in good condition when they get back and in the other case people especially women are fearful of parking garages that are often not well lit or patrolled.

There is also ANOTHER kind of parking that comes to mind for me.
That is the kind of parking that is mindlessly done so often, in our lives , to the point that we are unaware that we are even doing it.   
Maybe it is because there does not seem to be a fee or charge to pay for this kind of parking,
but in reality this is the most expensive parking human beings do.

This parking cost more than money, and does not even involve your car.

This parking will cost you your life.

Explaining:
The Huron street parking garage is connected to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The people who own and run and work at this garage are exceptional.
The garage not only is clean,
but well lit and patrolled with friendly security people who maintain the place like you were family.

Compassionately  there is also a  discounted rate given through the hospital to those who park there while visiting their loved ones. 

This half rate is especially vital for people who are losing income due to illness and can not afford much extra outside of they're normal bills and living expenses.

THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO PARK.
It is a great choice!

But what about some of the places that we park our Lives?
Home
Work
Relationships
Or you name  in your head, where you feel you may have parked a bit to long.....

Kind of dimly lit?
Difficult to see what is ahead for you?
Dirty, Dingy, and Disrespected environment and surroundings?
A lack of concern or compassion for those who are parked there?

Yeppers!  The cost can be high. Too High when it comes to it costing you your life to park there.

Just like you don't usually take a trip without planning, ....when did we stop planning for the trip  that is called
our life?

When did we learn to settle for less and less and less and still think we were in a good spot.

Today's challenge is to call things what they truly are.

Assess our ability to make things better in the place we currently have parked our life.

Total up the real cost.
And decide if it's time,
and if there is a way for us
to hit the open road again.

Try driving with the "top down" in a sense, on the next good weather day.

Give the front windshield a quick cleaning and take a good long look at where you're heading on the road ahead of you.

And for a second,  only a quick second take a look into the rearview mirror and remember where you have been parked.

Ask yourself if there are any new adventures and experiences that would make your life and your bank account healthier and more satisfying.

Remember that you have a Licence, NOT just a permit....
and Remember who is in the Driver's seat of your life.

Love and peace of mind
Delight and clarity of purpose,
to you and those you love,
JOY

BEND OVER

What do you think when you hear the words bend over.

As a child I learned to be very afraid of those words. Whatever I had done prior to hearing the words, bend over was usually the very thing that I was about to receive either a whipping with my dads belt, or a whole bunch of very painful whacks with the solid oak wooden fraternity paddle which  my mom had from College.

Either way...this wasn't looking good.

That was then. This is now...

BEND OVER has a whole new meaning for me now...and I LOVE it!

I recently bent over in a very special way.

Sitting in a chair,  I bent over...to tie my shoes.      And not only leaning forward was I still able to breath...but able to carry on a brief conversation at the same time.   

Then I said to my friend...LOOK!  I can put both of the palms of my hands flat on the floor.

The stress weight I have been carrying  on my stomach is beginning to burn off

I have gotten rid of 4 pounds this week.

I have eaten  only GOOD fuel and drank only vitamin water.

All of my URGES for Fast Food are gone.

And I will awaken alert and ready for my day at 7:30 a.m.

So...breathing is great, but bending over...forwards and backwards...
BOTH....are making me much more flexible.
Like I used to be!

Love and peace of mind
delight. and clarity of purpose
to you  and those You Love,
Joy

VARIETY

Only the most recent are  "LONG-ASS" Posts.  They are my offering  to a place I have loved helping to build and to the amazing , brilliant, funny, caring people I have had the privilege of sharing life with over almost 14 years.

There is MUCH MORE variety and humor in past posts available in archive list.    :  )

Please feel free to subscribe here
and also go to:
www.PlayfulPutOns.com
to keep in touch.   

GREATNESS

TODAY I shook the hand that shook the hand of someone historically significant in Argentina.   

I've worked with this wonderful woman for years, but never ate lunch with her, or got the chance to share our lives much. 
TODAY,  when asked by this dear lady if I am doing o.k. ......
I busted out SINGING  the first line of the tune:
"DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA!"....

Well ...I was floored that something this simple could bring up a topic of who's famous hand she shook.....
Ask her....
she's in the  housewares department or hard home as its called.  

She is lovely and hard working and honest, and like everyone else on the planet...has a 30 second story that would amaze you.

No one is expendable in the history of this planet.

And this simple comment reminded me that  people go to a job,
and wear a uniform of sorts,
and chug down their list of  requirements,  coupons and such
while someone's monitoring, devaluing and critiquing  their performance...

...all the while requiring them to become less interactive and  less human.

Glad for a chance to hear this 20  to 30 second event... a seriously cool event  in this woman's life.

Its these life experiences that make for a better sales associate interaction with customers...but wait...that was when  we used to do clientele and customer service at its best.  

Developing a RELATIONSHIP with the customer was the PRIORITY that brought REAL customers back to shop again & again.

You and I understand
that having a brief conversation
with the women who offers up to you that THIS...a trip to OUR store...
was her FIRST outing
AFTER 6 months of CHEMO.
Is NOT being " chatty".

Really. ....

Well ...with 10 people in line behind her and 3 of us ringing and 2 managers drinking coffee somewhere....you can BET I am going to
effectively take care of her transaction.REMOVE ALL of  her SENSORS......serve her with a smile...
AND INTERACT with her like the brave,  beautiful, human being that she is.  

Tell me not to get so " Chatty"
Tell me to move through the line quicker.
Tell me to focus on getting
someone to open a credit card.

Y'all can try doing a 2 hour shift alone, or a 15 person line by yourself, with the customers laughing and pleasant while waiting.... tell me then, that your associates don't have "skills" that most of You never even bother to see.

Take a class
from your dock guys
and tracks ladies
and door greeters who are like the life blood of the store circulating throughout the departments.

They see and know, and are part of
how much is handled all day long ...often without any MOD assistance by your ordinary associate...

There is a family
a team of people
who have each others backs
AND each others hearts
and leap right in to help each other.
All day,
Every day.

I like to call them...
HEROS.
Cleverly Disguised as Store Associates
and a couple of managers as well....
Who Save the ASS of your store
More times per day
Than you will ever take the time
To care to know about.

ROCK THE SPACE YOU'RE IN HEROES.
You always do!

Love and Peace of Mind
Delight and CLARITY of Purpose,
To you and those you love,
JOY

Bordering On Magnificent HONORS

I LOVE when people are HONORED.
So often people WAIT to HONOR someone until they are too feeble of body and mind to realize what's being said. Or they actually wait till the person has DIED and " honor" them  in their casket.

In a Work environment, people are honored for Certain things.  Usually only for things that bring a company more obvious $$$$$, but not understanding & recognizing the day to day value they add even when not being watched.

My favorite HONOR of late is a dear young woman, wife, mom, human being who is working hard at the challenge of becoming a nurse.  

She is kind  brilliant hard working compassionate and so much more...who has chosen to further her life work, and become a nurse...and yet that positive step was not honored and encouraged by some, but seen more as an inconvenience.  

Well...Today she is actually HONORED and HONORING herself.  
She made HONORS in her current schooling.  
I LOVE that word.  HONOR.
EVERYONE should be HONORED.

Way to go Sweetie!

You ARE Rocking The Space You're In!
Proud of you.
Happy for you.
Believe in You!
Inspired by you.

News flash...you have inspired me to go back to school as well.
Thank you!

Love and peace of mind
Delight and clarity of purpose
to You and those you love,
JOY

Bordering On Magnificent AWAKE

I'm awake , and if you're reading this, you are awake too.

With only five hours of sleep and no alarm clock to wake me...my body was up , and moving, and excited about the day ahead.

There is a list, and a plan, and a purpose for this day , and my body is already in excited agreement with my mind, ready to take on the next 24.

There have been times in the past,  that my body and especially my mind, were not able to conceive that starting my day was a good thing.

My hand would involuntarily reach over and hit the snooze button multiple times in an effort to convince my mind that staying in bed was preferable to whatever lie ahead.

Today however,  as yesterday, ... 
"was a whole new roll of sushi"

I have always had a gift for making anything an adventure .

Most often I could do this effortlessly, because of my ability to see things in a fun twisted meaningful way, and because I genuinely have a heart for people.

I was often able to encourage others and also keep myself from  "going to the buffet for a second plate of crazy."

I have always been able to
Rock the space I'm in no matter what that space looked like, or where it was.

Over the past years and months, my environment, and MY allowing it to negatively affect and change who I am, began to become more noticeable and debilitating and unacceptable.

This past 48 hours, there has been no trying, no struggling, no fear, and no hesitation.

There has been only a wide open road ahead of me that apparently my whole being is ready, willing, and more than able to explore. 

So...you and I are AWAKE.
WE are Up and Moving.
We BOTH have 24 hours.

Let's ROCK THE SPACE WE'RE IN
TODAY... by choosing ONE thing on our bucket list, and taking action on it.

Big or small, even if that one thing is just to  NOT allow the people or circumstances or challenges in our environment today, impact, and negatively change the person we are inside ..........
That will be a day well spent!

YOU have a PURPOSE on this planet,...
in this...YOUR ONLY LIFETIME.

So do your day, Your way, and let the chips fall where they may.  

"High five" Tom from housewares,
Give Manny a whistle for me, and let Matt know his good heart and hard work and respect for others is admired and so appreciated.

I'm heading out to create a LIFE that won't make me want to hit the snooze button or go to the buffet for a second place of crazy.

Please try in your own way today
to rock the space you're in,
speak good things to each other,
and HONOR what an awesome person of integrity passion and brilliance you truly are.

Love And Peace of Mind
Delight and Clarity of Purpose,
To YOU, and those you love.

JOY

P.S.  click subscribe if you want to stay in touch.  Or just meet me back here to let me know How YOU Rocked YOUR day!!!!   <3

FLIP FLOPS

Is that Really Me in those Sparkly flip flops today??????

Yep.   Sure is.

And I'm wearing a cute pink floral top and a pink hoodie that says PRINCESS in sparkles on the arm, and has a sparkly tiara logo on the chest.

Yes. I'm dealing with the pain and illness of a loved one...yes I am on an adventure of life currently being funded ONLY by the love and Passion and DELIGHT that I've always had in "believing in the invisible".   

I have a Father, who just "happens" to be GOD.   My dad died when I was just 24 but my FATHER is God, and He created and loves and accepts and PROVIDES for me.   I may have gotten so caught up in my past LOVE of my life at the "day job", that I didn't have faith to leap into a new future without a net.

Well, My Babies....That ship has sailed, and I am TRULY EXCITED to be trusting my Father to whisper to me each step of the way.  

He is Faithful...

and although I didn't spend my time on the clock "preaching" about my Savior and Lord...in spite of my human-ness and random grumblings and especially
in spite of my frequent tardiness..
( which I realize was thoughtless)...

I hope you know what your friendship and teamwork and sharing of your lives has meant to me for 13 and a half years.   

Stay in touch, and I always HOPE to encourage, appreciate and validate just how AMAZING and BORDERING ON MAGNIFICENT you really are.

Love and DELIGHT,
Peace of Mind
and Clarity of Purpose,
to you, and those you love,
JOY

GOOD MEDICINE

Laughter.

Walking.

Love.

Even one bite of Sushi perhaps.

If what's being done "ain't" working...
.......why not try the opposite?

Tonight,....  a shower,......
for a body that's had nothing but illness and pain for days and weeks,
was Good Medicine.

Tonight.....a visit...
and being in clean clothes and clean bed sheets was Good Medicine.

Tonight...talking was not good medicine,   laughter or humor was not good medicine...even  bringing the usually desired snacks, was not good medicine.

Only silence, and fresh clothes, and help with a shower, ...oh....and a peppermint foot  massage before I left.  
Now That"s Good Medicine.!

Let's Rock the Space Were In
(Even if its somebody else's Space)
By only doing what can
and being o.k. with the painful things
that we are not able to make good for others.

Love and clarity of purpose

Peace of Mind and delight
To YOU and those you love,
JOY

NO REGRETS

No regrets.

Living life without looking over ones shoulder,  not constantly fearful of making a mistake, or regretting decisions actions words or choices,  made in the past.

Wow that sounds fairly healthy to me, that sounds like someone who recognizes ways they could have possibly done things differently or perhaps even better then they did in life, but since their life is still in process, trying to live without regrets, gives one the ability to keep moving forward, hopefully creating better circumstances, instead of giving up.

Have you ever run into a brick wall head first?

Have you ever started to freeze up and lose the ability to move forward?

Not a good feeling is it?

What I know is; 
REGRETS  are heavy little bastards.   
They rob you of energy
focus
spirit
and love.

I believe that even when going through major challenges,  if we will treat ourselves and those around us
with understanding and forgiveness,
we will be able to continue
moving towards a goal,
the prize,
the end of our journey
with grace
and class
and  yes even Delight.

In life everyone makes their own choices and decisions,
usually to attain a sense of happiness comfort or peace,
but what happens when things don't go the way they desired?

Some give up on themselves or others out of weariness, out of always being "wrong" or out of not being able to figure out a better way to do life .

What if instead of feeling defeated, we gave up our Regrets?

What if we said to ourselves that

"THIS is a NEW day...and I will do what I can with THIS 24 hours.". . . . .

. . . .And then CELEBRATE whatever we choose  to about THIS day,

No Regrets.

Use THIS 24 well!

And Rock The Space You're In.
............Today.

Love and Clarity of Purpose,
Delight and Peace of Mind,
To you, and those you love,

JOY

" Based On A True Story "

Watched about 5 movies today.
Most of the movies were  "based on a true story. "
     I hardly ever do something like this or spend my day this way,  but today I guess I was watching the creativity strength and vision of others,
while wanting to make  my life Worth basing a true story on.

In my current role,   I see myself taking bigger chances, and working without a net, much like a trapeze artist.

I don't look down,
keep a firm but flexible grip
am focused,  but relaxed enough to see the next opportunity as it presents itself.
and am not distracted by the gasps or applause of the crowd in the circus tent.

I'm not the RingMaster
or the Clown
or the bearded lady..

I'm just
swinging  from one trapeze
to the other,
three stories up, 
with a  smile on my face,
trusting in the life skills I've learned
while on the road.

BTW....  Trapeze Artists have great
bodies and sharp reflexes
from being stretched.

Based on a true story.
Yep. 
That's mine.
and I'm stickin' to it.

Love and Clarity of Purpose
Peace of Mind and Delight
to you and those you love,
JOY

WHAT'S UP?!?

I got a text. 
Actually I get this text from a friend every now and then saying...
What's up?

I Love that.

What's up?

Well... I am now...because you decided to take a moment to connect. 

Doesn't matter if I have anything exciting to share...

You let me know I have been thought of today.

You will have a story to tell about your day that will make me laugh.

You interrupted the flow of the past 24 hours to share your life.

You asked me what was interesting, funny, or challenging in my life today, and asked me about my plans for my future. ...and told me about yours.

You asked me questions about making more of a life for myself with my business and with a meaningful occupation.

What's Up???

I AM.    

....Because with a simple text...you remind me to value  and care for myself and TAKE ACTION on my future.

I AM UP!
Early, and Confident and Ready to
Rock The Space I'm In
( and anywhere within 10 miles)

Love and Peace of Mind
Delight and Clarity of Purpose
To you and those you love,
JOY

REPETITION

Repetition is good, even great
sometimes.

Like playing scales while learning to play the piano or saxophone.

Doing a certain number of "reps" when working out,   especially with weights.

Saying phrases in a new language like French or Latin  over and over until you begin  to pronounce the words with the correct accent.

And who doesn't remember repeating times tables almost in their sleep
so that the right answer sprang from your lips in the classroom
when  your 3rd grade teacher
Mrs. Abazoris held up the flashcard that said         7 × 7 =

Yep, 
REPETITION can be good.
REPETITION often serves a purpose.
REPETITION can indelibly imprint .something important...even VITAL in your mind that could save you
TIME
MONEY
A RELATIONSHIP
HEARTACHE
Or even......(like CPR)......
A LIFE.

Its interesting and ever so slightly amusing to me that people who will listen to ONE genre of music,

( literally, the SAME songs  from the same "classic" radio station, daily, over and over for years )

........ will have NO tolerance for
hearing  /  receiving the same words
or message from a loved one or family member, ......even tho. it was not truly received the first time around.

Something VITAL to a relationship,
or to a life itself, should bear repeating if necessary... but is more likely to be viewed as nagging or preaching.

The Crucial insight here is.....

If something is shared in the Spirit of Love...by someone who is your Loved one.....

WHY DOES IT  NEED TO BE....  
                 REPEATED?

However challenging or difficult the topic may be; .....if the intent of sharing is to heal or improve or better someone's  relationships, circumstance, situation, or understanding ..

WHY would the words NEED to be REPEATED in the first place?

Its Ironic to hear..

" Didn't we already go over THAT earlier? ".     when asking a loved one for a response that involves feelings rather than just a mindless factual assent to what was previously shared.

Actually, the reason for most of the Drama that is created

by someone's Unwillingness to take the words of another to heart THE FIRST TIME,

Is that the person who cares the most in the situation

will continue to try sharing 
in hopes of  creating more intimacy and  possibilities....

...only to be dismissed as a " nag "

I Say....

Don't care so much.

DON'T continue to INVEST
where there is no mutual return and VALUATION. placed on your
Words
Thoughts
Insights
Experience
Time
and Intentions.

Do NOT go back to the buffet
for a second plate of crazy.

You have a Life to LIVE....

Rock The Space You're In
by stating the truth

and letting the chips
FALL where they may!!!

Oh... and remember...
Its NOT YOUR JOB
to sweep them up.......

You'll be too busy LIVING
to be cleaning up someone  else's
mess.

Love and Clarity of Purpose,
Delight and Peace of Mind,
To YOU
and those you love,
JOY

ROOM

I spent today and part of last night
re-doing my room. 
There are other worthy pursuits I could have spent that time on... 
but instead, I spent the time on ME.

The Room has been "in process"
for a while, and I finally added the touches that say:

A Wild Wonderful Woman Lives Here.

There was an antique coo coo clock in  the kitchen that was buried in the corner.  It now hangs just inside my bedroom door...tick tocking out it's rhythmic patter and the familiar song each hour as the happy little bird makes his  delightful appearance.

This Space I'm Rocking is now fun, inspiring, full of color and energy, and music that stimulates my brain and my metabolism!

I have a compact " stepper"  under the bed which I now have the adrenaline and desire to use.  
I pull it out each day and crank my music to sing and step with until  I meet up with my old familiar friend...SWEAT. 

( see previous post on this subject; sweat.)

As I said...
There ARE other things I could or even ought to be working on,

...but I am finding that as I transform my surroundings,  I am getting hungrier for better things in my life, AND going after them!

OH. By the way...

The room is still painted the same hideous green, and the pink carpeting is severely old and  damaged, but even though I envision a great paint job,
and clean laminate floors,  I did NOT  wait to  start ROCKING THIS ROOM until I could do it perfectly.

I began with imperfect conditions and am working with what I have until this room AND I are both...
  Bordering On Magnificent!

Rock The Space  
( and the places) you're In Now.
Today.
and just see if it brings more Life, Health, Excitement, Adrenaline, and
Yes...even $$$$
and other Abundance your way.

(And then tell me about it!)

Love and Peace of mind,
DELIGHT and
Clarity of Purpose,
To you,
and those you love,
JOY. 

SAYING IT.

Whatever is on your mind...
SAY IT.
If you want to know....
ASK IT.
This is Dangerous...
but may be the most FREEING
thing you will ever DO.

CLARITY can be challenging,
But removing the drama and
clutter from our heads and our lives
will not hurt anyone.

CLARIFYING
what the desired outcome is
and hopes for creating the  best future possible for everyone
is a worthy goal.

How do you know what the best possible relationship feels like?....
the best possible life work?....
the  BEST place to live and
move and breathe in?.......

How do you KNOW...
unless you decide to take the LEAP
that is required to find out.

You take that leap without a safety net, and without any baggage.
You jump with BOTH feet  into the unknown with only the clothes on your back, and confidence that any move is better than standing still for one more day.

There is no keeping one foot in the past while testing the waters of a new job. or relationship or life. 
There is only going " Balls Out " to
ROCK whatever SPACE we WANT ( or THINK we want to be in).

That is the ONLY way to know if Paris or doing your passion and calling, or being balls out who you are...will work for you.

Rock The Space You're In this week and see how it feels to be REALLY YOU...in your own skin.

Love and clarity of purpose
DELIGHT and peace of mind,
To you...and those you love,
JOY

DRAWING BLOOD

Read this post tomorrow afternoon.

Writing on walls

Some things just seem inappropriate. Inappropriate to who?

Small  children have no problem laying on the floor,  just about anywhere, when they are tired.

But when is the last time you saw an adult lay down in line at the bank or grocery store or in a restaurant. Probably never, unless they were having a seizure and surrounded by paramedics. Adults  just don't do that kind of thing.

Teenagers wear their pants sagging off their behinds , and teenage girls often wear pajama pants in public places,
but have you seen adults or even senior citizens wearing their pajamas in public?
Not usually....unless their fashion choice is accompanied by dementia.

So there are SOME things that people tend to view as inappropriate.

Likely these same "sane"  authorities on the behavior of others, would judge that writing on walls is inappropriate.
Likewise, for writing on furniture, no matter how important inspiring and meaningful the words are.

Words are meant to be written down only in appropriate places like in  books journals and on paper.

Little kids scribble on walls with a crayon, and we call it a mess.
But on the Mister Rogers show.... pictures on walls were called murals.

Why wouldn't a 4 year old think that the artwork he or she sees in their mind is worthy of displaying on the wall of their home for everyone to see and enjoy.

How many hours do we spend taking pictures daily and yearly of holidays birthdays vacations and other celebrations, only to put these pictures in a drawer or a scrapbook or on a zip drive or file in our computer
never to be looked at, enjoyed, or shared with others,
...and often  only  in a video created for either a wedding or funeral.

I stayed up till 3 o'clock this morning writing quotes words and thoughts that are important to me on a white cabinet in black sharpie marker.

I've had this wardrobe for a number of years now, and have used it to hold everything from books to clothing, to office supplies for my business. For a couple years it even held boxes of my journals, and photos.

I rarely looked through these things, and in remembering just how brilliant many of the words I wrote in the past were, I felt the need to put them where I would see them daily.

For me, the most appropriate place was to write them in black marker on this white cabinet.

Upon finishing at 3am I finally went to bed , satisfied with my project.

When I woke this morning I was greeted with wise amazing truthful inspiring words from my own mind,

and i was reminded that my gift for being inappropriate really is the gift of being a person freed up from the constraints and judgements of others.

Didn't the Egyptians write and draw  on their walls???
Today  I Rocked The Space I'm In creatively.
Next time maybe I'll try laying down to rest in the mall.?????

Love and delight
peace of mind
and clarity of purpose,
to you and those you love,
JOY

SUSHI SCHOOL

This post was from April 2013

This Week, I am going to learn how to make SUSHI.

There are so many things you can learn 

by watching videos on YouTube  so I am going to find out the basics there
and then ask my niece for some tips,      I know the types of rolls I like so the first few trys will be things I've already had.
I'd like to eat sushi more  often, but it is very pricey to go out for it, other than at the cafeteria in the hospital downtown.                         Making it at home will not only be a new adventure,  but  also a healthy departure  from the microwaved Toninos Pizza rolls and Ramen Noodles I so often whip up when too tired to make a real meal for myself.

This week I began making huge plates of  salad with cranberries nuts and sessemee seeds' so now that the cleaning out  detoxing process is going well, ADDING good Protein with fish  avacados and other good things really  sounds like a great plan.

What do YOU want to Learn or Attempt???

Start small if you'd like....

But start.

Love and peace of mind

Delight and clarity of purpose

To you and those you love.

JOY

ALL THAT ( and a bag of chips)

Did you ever find yourself ,
or someone you're with
being more excited,
interested in
or even enthralled        
by something
or someone you had.....
in the past?

Maybe an email or letter, a text...
...or better yet,
a phone call,
takes you instantly back
to what ever
floated your boat in the first place.

Maybe it was a previous house, or job,
or neighborhood, or lover or friend you moved on from,
but now just the thought, mention of it
or a word from them
sets your universe back in perfect order.

Easy to have those feelings when something is  "new" again. 
Easy to imagine and reminisce  about "how good"
and "what fun" it all was.

Well WAKE up and
ROCK THE SPACE you are CURRENTLY IN!

Stop providing people
a place to rest their head,
but Not their heart...
to bare their bottom,
but Not their soul.

If the past was
ALL THAT AND A BAG OF CHIPS...
You...( or That Person )...
needs to get off their tricycle,
and GO THERE for good!

Obviously there are reasons that
the past looks great in the rearview mirror...
no daily friction, or commitment,
or any of the other zits of life...

...but putting an ounce or more
of the time and energy that's been
DEVOTED to regurgitating days gone by
In your head...
could make all the difference in truly LIVING
and CELEBRATING what grew up
from the ashes of your past.

Love and Peace of mind,
DELIGHT and
Clarity of Purpose,
To you,
And those you love.
JOY

DAY OFF

Today is my "Day Off".
I Really am re-thinking that.

On a day off from the day job, exhaustion can cause me
to stay in bed a bit longer,
to begin my day a bit slower,
and watch more morning television than on a work day. 

Then the tasks that need to be accomplished begin,.....oil change,
bill paying, dentist appointment, groceries, etc..........

Maybe a few phone calls or cards mailed to family, then ...???????

Starting TODAY.
I will no longer be
HAVING a day off,
I will be
DOING
my day off.

For me this means getting enough rest the night before, to be able to rise up early, and attack my list of necessary tasks, AND things that amuse, delight and give me pleasure! 

I am going to head out after this
oil change, and DO my day off!!!

Rock the Space You're In this week
...in a NEW way.  
( and then tell me about it!)

Love And peace of mind
Delight, and CLARITY of PURPOSE,
To you and those you love,
JOY

FRESH AIR

I believe that the ONLY time we were meant to be in  "the same air " for any length of time is in an Elevator,
or in a COFFIN.

Why do people often wait and save and long for the day they get to go on a CRUISE, only to come down with some kind of illness while on their dream vacation. 

I believe it is the same reason that people often don't get well while they are in the hospital.

They are breathing old air.

Even with all of the technology, and things like HEPA filters and such to purify the air we breathe, we are still breathing USED air every time we are in enclosed spaces.

It doesn't matter whether we are at work, or doing something more enjoyable, human beings NEED FRESH AIR.

With all of the concerns people have currently about the flu that is going around this winter, you would think that people would be spending more time away from contaminated places.

I believe this would include spending more time outside, out of doors, rather then at the mall or even in their own homes, or cars.

People mistakenly believe that it is cold weather that causes colds and infections, but fresh air, even fresh cold air is actually quite stimulating and healing for the human body.

Let's all rock the space we're in this week,  by CHANGING the spaces we are in, and going OUTSIDE for a bit each day! 

BREATHE that cold air in deeply,
FEEL alive and awakened,
AND start LIVING....
OUT of The Box!

Love and delight,
peace of mind, and
CLARITY of Purpose,
To you and those you love,

JOY

NEW BRAS

It's easy to wash and wear the same bra every day.  It's been far easier than actually shopping for a new bra.

This is a difficult task because shopping for a bra  includes having to walk down aisles that are meant for trolls and other fairy book characters

While navigating these narrow spaces in the lingerie or intimates Department at most major retailers one must be careful not too knock down half their merchandise while looking for something that fits.

Today was a whole new experience. Someone had given me a JC Penneys gift card for 25 dollars. Not only was I shocked to find many pairs of good quality jeans, but I was amazed that 25 dollars could actually by me a really pretty, quality bra.

The store was organized uncluttered spacious clean and full of simply and nicely merchandised clothing and accessories at reasonable prices.

Best of all, the manager for the petites Department saw  me checking out the bras, and told me SHE would take over ringing at the register so that I could have Carol her expert bra fitter assist me.

Another customer shopping in the area begin to brag about Carol and how excellent she was and helping her find her perfect size.

I was not disappointed. Carol is awesome!!!   She heard what my preferences were and help me select a few choices to try on.

Out of those, we narrowed it down to  my first and second choice. Having a gift card I only planned to buy 1 bra, but I realized I could afford to buy the second bra, and throw away the 1 being held together with a safety pin for the last 6 months.

What's the point Joy???

How is this rocking the space I'm in?

Well as I see it, most people put off for far too long simple things that would make their life easier, more comfortable , and more beautiful.

It may be a matter of dollars, or doing, or drive, or desire.... But once the leap is taken, there is no turning back.

It's time to ask for a bag to put  that worn out old bra in and leave it in the garbage can as you walk out of the store wearing some great fitting pretty.

And it may be  time to put some other things that no longer fit in the garbage and walk out into your new pretty great fitting LIFE.

Rock the space you're in this week , get intimate with your dreams and desires, and let me hear how your fitting them into your next 24 hours.

Love and peace of mind, delight and clarity of purpose, to you and those you love,
JOY

PREGNANT. (with possibilities)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MONTHS AGO. (  It may mean more now.  )

A young woman I know;
just had her first baby.

She is hard working funny serious  kind strong smart beautiful loyal honest fun direct  easygoing responsible ...and Will  be an awesome mom.

How do I know this?

Because she will do her best.

Period

She will try.

She will have the support of family and friends that genuinely care about her and admire her as a young but capable and loving person.

Life is challenging
Times are difficult
And tears come along-side the grins and giggles in life.

As with everything else we attempt to do in life, there will always be people standing ready to measure judge evaluate correct or underestimate the value of her abilities and parenting decisions.

...but from the moment she looks into her child's eyes, she will see that there is someone who already knows that she is trustworthy;  and  who will someday be singing ...
" My Mom's The Best Mom In The Whole Wide World"

She is Definitely going to Rock The Space She's In as a mom.

Love and Peace Of Mind,
Delight and Clarity of Purpose,
to you and those you love,    
JOY

Bordering On Magnificent. ABILITIES

GIFTS  SKILLS  TALENTS Whatever you want to call it...EVERYONE is BORN with SOMETHING inside of them that is meant to be shared.   

If the skill sets personalities 
and gifts and abilities of those who share the space we're in were truly valued,
celebrated and appreciated  

then we would be cheering on and  enjoying the wonderful outcomes of mutual success 

rather than burrying the victims of those who have not found a place in life to make a positive contribution.

Lets help those who pass through the space we are currently rocking,
by noticing appreciating and encouraging their gifts and abilities to be fully displayed and valued.

Let's Rock The Space We're In this week by speaking honest words of recognition to those we encounter.

Love and DELIGHT 
peace of mind 
and clarity of purpose
to you and those you love,
JOY