PutJoyInYourLife.com

Damage Done.   

Great book title.

Damage Done began at an early age.

I believed the adults who told me that my vibrant personality was problematic.

I began to believe that being happy bright verbal and curious was not as valuable as being good at math, or vacuuming the floor perfectly.

Being able to cut veggies ( the right way) into a perfect veggie tray was also superior to loving people and not being resentful and stressed out all the time.

Do you get the picture?

Doing is better than being.

AND Doing certain things a certain way  ( the RIGHT way)

is MUCH better than being good at things that, well...

just don't matter.

When thinking for yourself is not valued,

a void is created.

If  I believe that my thinking skills are impaired,

I will be indecisive, and fearful of making a mistake with every thing I do.

Where does one get the impression 

that every imperfection is a fatal flaw?

No, . . . SERIOUSLY.

Where did I get the belief 

that I Am Responsible for Anything that goes wrong?

Yep.

Damage Done.

Afraid to choose.

Afraid to offer to bake something for the kids bake sale.

Afraid that I wasn't being a "good enough" parent.

Afraid that if ANYTHING goes wrong, 

it will be because of something I Did, 

or because of something I Didn't do... 

. . . . "The Right Way"

Book Title:

Damage Done

Reality.

Damage?... DONE!

Done. 

Over. 

Gone. 

Let's revisit that phrase "Good Enough".

THAT was the Motto of my birth mom

Joan Weinert-Green.

Or Greenie as her late in life tattoo stated.

My dad Joe ran off with my moms best friend 

when my sister &  I were  2 1/2 and 5 years old.

He took us with.

IMAGINE...

Its 1963

Your husband leaves you for your best friend

and takes her, her daughter and YOUR 2 daughters to Vegas

divorces you, gets a quickie wedding, and gets custody of your girls.

WOW......

Devastating right???

My Mom said that she should have had an OSCAR NOMINATION for the theatrics she did.

The Sobbing,  The frantic phone calls, the clutching of her chest yelling  " He Stole My Babies!!!!"

She was relieved.

She "knew" she wasn't mom material.

My dad had pushed her into having kids.

She loved us enough to know we'd be just fine with the new 'brady bunch" situation. 

After all... 

She never was a "good enough" parent in my dads eyes.

Good enough!

Her mantra that helped her survive and thrive even through her Polish /Catholic (and then Polish/Baptist)background.

So... YES. Relief.

Relief that her husband had kidnapped her kids and she was now on her way to living a genuine and authentic life.

She knew we were safe with her best friend, ( the Betty Friggin' Crocker or Martha Stewart of her day). And my dad was a good guy...  no worries there...

" Good Enough ".

She went on to  L I V E  an amazing life.

So...  My Mantra regarding anything I do for the next 30 days???

GOOD ENOUGH!

NO more feeling ultra responsible for things over which I truly have no control.

No More trying to fix or get understanding over the unfixable.

No More dissecting things from every angle when it comes to other peoples lives and how I may have impacted them.

MORE knowing my intentions were Good Enough.

MORE knowing my actions, decisions or limitations are not life altering in the extreme way I sometimes feel they are.

MORE remembering that I Believe I have a Dad, who "just happens" to be God.   He Loves those I care about even more than I do, and is FULLY ABLE to be life for them.

Ultimately...Nothing is wasted,

Ultimately...Everything is survivable,

Ultimately...Embrace Change,

Ultimately...Good Enough is not just settling,

It's Freedom.

Love and delight

Clarity of purpose, and PEACE OF MIND

to YOU and those you love,

JOY

DEATH

Another part of LIFE

From the moment the urine on the dollar store pregnancy test shows a positive result, there is evidence of a life. 

Unless the circumstances of the pregnancy are traumatic or inopportune or related to someone one would rather not be  co- parenting with... This new person is announced, awaited, and ultimately celebrated at their birth.  

That is a fact.

That's just how we roll.

Everything from the first ultrasound to the first kicking and movement is documented celebrated and shared

Later comes first words first steps first solid foods...
Again we watch and ooooh and aaaah  over all these "firsts".
First day of school first time riding a bike and later... the first dance,   getting braces on then taken off...( both celebrated)   the first time driving the family car. check check check and check

yep

all celebrated and memorialized
in pictures and even in the Christmas newsletter to the family.

Acceptance to college...
Graduations weddings first Apartments, first home Purchased, first babies and grand babies...
And all that come after.

There is the first job the first paycheck
and eventually for some.... retirement.

More grand babies...and trips...

Downsizing and milestone birthdays and anniversaries with friends and family close.

We celebrate every stage and milestone, every victory and challenge faced throughout a persons life.

And yet...when we enter our final event of our physical existence in this body...our death...our being set free from this world and its limitations... We look away.

We pray for the person to either stay longer...
or we pray for a "good death"
A peaceful passing. 

And so often...we look away.

When an older man cries over a war that ended eons ago or over people long past its easy to say  
"It's OK. Don't cry.".

But he finds comfort in honoring them with his tears.

When the man who shared her breath, and table and bed is breathing his last breath, it is a Holy moment, not one to avert
her eyes from.

Lets Celebrate the entirety of a life lived...

With laughter and tears, with stories and sobs
and yes..
even with groans of agony if the parting be truly painful as in the loss of a child or even a much loved loyal pet.

But let's Rock The Space We're In
by not looking away at that moment of Life that means as much as all the others.

Love and delight
Clarity and peace of mind
To You and those you Love,
JOY

BRAGGING RIGHTS

BRAGGING.

Powerful word.

It's likely you had a visceral reaction 
to seeing that word.
A reaction involving feelings, 
not necessarily your intellect.

Someone, (maybe you)
just felt a sibling,
a team mate,
a friend,
or a co-worker,
shoving their report card,
their home run,
or their big promotion
to the corner office
in your face.

Someone
just saw the look of pride
on a parent or spouse's,
or date's face
as they told another person
about one of your qualities
or accomplishments.

How did that feel?

Good?
(because they were
genuinely appreciating your talent,
your achievement,
or gifts and abilities?)

Or did it make you feel
pressured
to keep "measuring up"?

Were they bragging
because of their wonder
at the amazing human being
and soul that you are?
Or
was there a tinge of  yucky-ness 
at the way telling about YOUR success
made THEM look good.

Bragging strikes
different people,
different ways,
at different times,
for different reasons.

I want to SHARE
BRAGGING RIGHTS with YOU.

But lets call today's experience...
Bragging RIGHT.

A few times this week
I had the experience of being assisted at the library on the computers.
First by Terry,
then by Tony,
and then again today by Tony
and then on my own computer being updated by Terry.
These two guys have been so helpful.

Two weeks ago Terry did
a 2 hour class on computers.
It was basic, and clear,
and well presented,
and I learned a lot.

I learned so much from that experience that I felt compelled to call his supervisor, and Brag about him.

I told this man details about how knowledgeable Terry was,
but also about his
really terrific interpersonal skills
that gave those of us in the class
the ability to feel more confident,
as well as free to ask questions about things we did not understand.

As I bragged about Terry
I told this man that in all
my years of using computers at my job,
no one had really ever showed me
how to understand and use them properly.

In the past, when I did venture a question someone who was more skilled always quickly DID the task and walked away. This "help" only left me floundering each time I had to re-attempt that same task.

I got a chance to BRAG about Terry
as a skilled instructor,
AND as a compassionate human being.

"Bragging Right"  (to me)
means focusing on the persons awesomeness...
(not on my seeming inadequacies.)

Bragging Right
is about complementing
not just what someone does,
but who they are,
and "how" they did it.

Not just what they look like,
but how they "look" at others.

Not just what they accomplished,
but the graciousness,
the effort and knowledge,
the care and compassion,
and the skill and patience
that they brought to the task.

Bragging Right
is not about what a smart or beautiful grand baby we "have"
but about the wonder
and the delight
of getting to spend time
with this sweet little human
being.

Bragging Right is
focusing and commenting
on someone else's smile
and not our own weight or wrinkles.

Its about cheering
for their many hours
and weeks
of practice or studying,
rather than exclusively
about their position in the race
or the place they ranked
in their class.

Bragging Right can be
verbally appreciating
someone
who is usually treated as
a "phone-drone"
with the utility company,
even if they seemingly didn't
do anything extraordinary,
other than their job.

This week
lets take Bragging Rights
to a whole new level.

It's fun and freeing
to put our eyes
and our words to good use.

And for some one that encounters you,
it just may be the first time
they've ever been bragged on,

for Being a human being,

instead of for being

a human
do-ing.

Rock the Space You're In!

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




 

THERE. I SAID IT.

There.
I Said It.
On paper.
To the person it needed to be said to.

For years we can say things to friends, or to co-workers, or to God,
thinking that we will get clarity, or courage, or validation.

There are hundreds of reasons 
NOT to say things directly.
(and ALL of them are based in fear)

Maybe the person will be hurt, or angry or unreasonable.

In a career related situation we just may hear something that we didn't want to believe, 
(like asking for a dollar raise and finding out you are only valued at a three cent raise.)

In a relationship situation you may not want to realize that                   
"He's Just Not That Into You!"

And finally in some situations
we don't want to face that                         "This is as good
as it's ever going to  get".

So...
Directness.
I've experienced the beauty of that tonight.

Directness is empowering
and honest, brave, and freeing.  

Vague is Painful.
Vague is Wimpy.
Vague is often deceitful.
Vague is enslaving.
Vague dishonors the other person as well, by assuming ( sometimes rightly so)
that they will not handle directness well.

Perhaps they have a history of dismissing you.    (move on)

Perhaps they will let you know how little they value you.   (move on)

Perhaps they will no longer want to be in a relationship with you.  (move on)

Perhaps they will attempt to manipulate your feelings or blame you,  (move on)

Are we seeing a pattern here?

Directness is only available to us when we have confidence that We ARE of Extreme Value and have purpose that is not dependent on the will or whims of others.

Vagueness was changing me into a bit of a drama queen who was unable to focus on what really matters.
(Thanks to the gentle DIRECTNESS of my closest friends,  that's so Done.)

Are YOU being VAGUE in ANY area of your life?  Well... in quite a few areas in my life it has taken me much longer than I care to admit.

My New Motto is:
"Suck it up Buttercup!!!"

Lay it on the line!
Get On With Living!!!
Spit it out!
Ask it!
Ask FOR it!!
Say It!!!
and if they sit there
pretending they just don't "get it"....
Spell it out on PAPER...
and Move ON.

Directness closes doors
that are meant to close,
and opens doors
that you were created to walk through!

Rock The Space You're In  this week
by being DIRECT, and let me know how that worked for you.

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



 

WORKING FOR WHO?

Ending the evening in peace.
Reconnected to myself 
and to those 
who truly matter in my life at this time.

Music shared by Sharon
An orchid from Val
Adventures from Kris
And time ahead with Brenda tomorrow that like today's time spent also reminds me that my life is meaningful and purposeful and touches others.

When one does not have a  "9 to 5"
it would be easy to believe that provision and salvation come from the security of having someone to work for and a manager to direct us for whatever hourly wage they would choose to value us at.

Believe that I do not take my freedom lightly.  I live day by day not knowing exactly who will need what I have to offer, and when they will need me.

I spend some parts of my day checking on and spending quality time with my friends parents.
Other parts of my day I am creating singing telegram deliveries to verbally value clients loved ones. 
and parts of my day I spend in wonder 
as I find supernatural direction to be right where I am and available to someone, often at a moments notice.   

 I am always trusting for the work and provision of things that some never need to give a second thought to.

Yet today,  I stopped at my husband Ricks grave, and had time to wander and look at graves all over that section of the cemetery.

Didn't know why I was being drawn to walk and wander till I saw that among the many graves of elderly souls or ancient historical markers, there were grave after grave of souls who had died as youngsters.  
Some actually had photos on the stones.   By the dates some were stillborn or lived only days months or a year or so, while others had passed in their teens.
Whether from illness or sorrow with living,
each one left behind others who likely still feel and grieve their loss deeply.

SO... although I do not have 
"a responsible job 
with a reliable hourly wage 
or a consistent bi-monthly paycheck"...
I Was Free  to spend part of my day today being present to the lives of  and celebrating the spirits of these precious departed ones, and sending prayers and blessings to those who love and miss them. 

This journey began there and culminated with thoughts of those I've met over 50 years who have suffered the same types of loss.

Responsibility is to be valued,
and effort and sweat are noble,
but I am looking forward to continually becoming even more available to go whatever distance it takes to assist, love, encourage, comfort, validate, or wash the feet of the weary and lonely.

 I sat outside walmart tonight, while a friend ran in to get a few things,
I noticed that the employees leaving at 10PM and those arriving were all wearing Navy blue t- shirts with a HUGE yellow Asterisk (  *  )  stamped on their back right between their shoulders.
(  It is right where I used to get pinched nerves in my back when I worked retail.)

While I am hopeful it is just a designation they must wear to be more visible to the customers needing their service, and not a stamp of ownership. It does feel much like a corporate mark placed upon overworked and undervalued slaves.

Thankfully delighting in the One who owns my heart and Who I work for.
I love being available when you or He calls.

Love and Peace of mind,
Delight and Clarity of purpose,
to you and those you love,
JOY




    

MORNING MUSIC

MORNING MUSIC

Waking for years to music and dancing.

then

waking for years to silence

and then the sound of the television

news

weather

commercials interspersed between reporters and anchors exchanging pleasantries while planes crash into buildings, fires tornadoes and earthquakes ravage peoples towns and murders rapes and poverty ravage their lives....

" Good Morning Rhonda!"

"Good Morning Harry!

157 lives were lost today in the worst natural tragedy ever... Now back to you in the studio for celebrity news!"

Years of leaving my house quiet so as not to thoughtlessly wake someone else.

Well, GOOD MORNING JOY!!!

Sister Hazel on my boom box and dancing and stretching and moving with 

MUSICAL MORNING ABANDON!

Time to get back in the spirit of our childlike self who moved and shook and twirled 

un selfconsciously whether there was music on or not.

Today and every day that I woke to music and movement, I thrived.

Never knew Sister Hazel before my friend  shared...but whether your current groove is Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen, Miranda Lambert, or Vivaldi, Let's Crank up the volume on our lives by getting up and moving what we have, as well as we are physically able.

( Who remembers the show  Sit And Be Fit?

That lady had the right idea. Oh what even a tiny bit of toe tapping can do for the soul)

Love and Peace of Mind,

Delight, and Clarity of Purpose,

to you and those you love,

JOY

TARNISHED

TARNISHED

I am wearing a pin today.
It is shaped like star.
a quirky, silver, 3 and a 1/2 inch star.

It sat in my drawer for years
and was worn occasionally.

It was tarnished.
But I liked it
and I wore it.

If I ordered a steak medium
and it was served well done,
I could eat and enjoy it

If a friend showed up 40 minutes after we'd planned to meet for coffee,
Id be sitting there relishing the peace,
or the people watching or a good book.
and then thoroughly enjoy my visit with them.

If it rains instead of being sunny out,
I enjoy the clean smell of it washing over my day.

You get that I am low maintenance,
and for the most part that ability has served me well in life

Back to the star pin.

I took a couple of my moms rings to Brad at Rogers and Hollands Jewelers before wearing them.
(I had lost a stone from an older ring in the past and it had been uninsured.)

After Brad had cleaned and assessed the wearability of the rings, he said
"Let me see that star pin"

He took it for a couple minutes and when he returned it was shining so brightly that tears ran down my cheeks.

The GIFT Brad gave me in that moment was the realization that while the ability to be content, and grateful for life's kindnesses, and being low maintenance has served me well in a lot of ways,

My LIFE like that star pin doesn't have to remain tarnished.

It was designed to Shine
and completely reflect
all of the light and beauty around it.

I will still find enjoyment in serendipitous moments, challenges, and things that are just not on my favorite things list, but...

 Thank You Brad.
I will no longer ever SETTLE for tarnished
in my life
in my health
in my relationships
in my finances
in my career
in my surroundings.
Because I know that BRILLIANCE is always possible!

Lets all ROCK THE SPACE WE'RE IN
this week, by using a bit of spiritual, physical, nutritional or mental Tarn-X
or whatever works for you,
on what ever is making our lives dingy or blurred or less than the degree of dazzling we want to experience in any  moment.

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

You. (YES...YOU!!!)

It has been way too long since we have been together dear ones.
When you lose your connections with people who you are truly connected with, heart to heart, and  with spirit ties, it is easy to forget who you are and lose the best parts of yourself.
Since we have been apart, I have lost my smile, my laughter, and my tendency to see the best in everything and everyone.
Amazingly it has taken less than a year for me to lose the wonderful, optimistic creative loving person that I was, and become an angry hurting invisible shell of a human being.
Well,... I'm back now... And ready to be the person I was created to be. Free, and full of love , and appreciation  for the life I am given each day.
I have been spending what time I have,  reconnecting with people who I have shared life with in positive ways.
From today forward, I will be doing life, with people who are desiring and intending to live with integrity and love toward myself and others around them.
You...( Yes YOU! ) are one of those people.
Join us back here at bordering on magnificent.com to regularly be part of a journey that brings the opportunity to experience being more aware of valuing and validating those around us.
Rock the space you are in today by making eye contact with those who matter to you.

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