The Time is Now

“Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.” Albert Schweitzer

A simple thought, but a profound idea that we need desperately today. An idea that can change your life, and even of all those you come in contact with every day.

Anger and hostility, judgment and harassment are the ways that world gains control in business, and sadly also in relationships. I know because I’ve been the recipient of those climbing to the top over the top of others in many of the communities I've lived in over the years. Those propagating the hurt affect so many, but often end up harming themselves as well. Even the most beautiful and successful are vulnerable and those rich in sensitivity can offer something to those who believe they already have it all.

So how do we actually make change happen in our own little corner of the world? For me there is only one way and that is to treat others as we want to be treated or better yet to change the world we have to change how we see the world. I don’t know what will change around me…but I sure feel better about how I look at the world. I know that there are many who want to control and run my world, and that hurts sometimes. But as long as I can keep control over my actions and the way I treat others they can’t hurt me. And as long as I stand for kindness over anger and cruelty then I’ve won a most important battle – a battle that can and has made a difference in my life and maybe in some of the people I come into contact with every moment of every day. But what do I get for it? Contentment as well as and a measure of something we all crave in our modern world, peace - really small concepts that in my opinion can bring huge rewards.

Life Changes

What is a it like to discover who you are and where you belong in the world...at 57 years old? It's fun, a daily discovery, and totally frightening!!! After many years of living in the shadow of an abusive parent and then spending years having that voice in my head tell me over and over again how stupid I was and being afraid of the results of that in my relationships - in the world that surrounded me, and sometimes closed in on me.

Well, now I am finding my way out of that maze having fun standing up for who I am and feeling totally alive for the first time. Since then I have made discoveries about myself that were both exciting, and truly terrifying at the same time. A scary part of the "new" me came when I saw my anger with people's negativity, as well as those who reject people - for any reason.

So I decided that I needed a mission statement - something to help me focus my energies with those feelings. My statement is simple, and yet it is the focus of my every day life today and from now on..."Kindness is the highest form of intelligence, and I need to practice it with everyone - including me, everyday for the rest of my life." I even have to remember in my zeal for kindness that I need to consider that kindness means caring about other people's feelings and not getting fanatical to the point of being pushy or angry at the person who doesn't see things my way.

I'm learning, and often see the changes but sometimes I feel like I've lost so much over the years. I have to admit that I like being where I am at this time in my life and life is a constant discovery of who I really am and how I can change my world even at my age!!!

Smile, it is Monday!

Good Morning!!! Oh, it's not morning for you? Well, after writing an article all night, it is for me. I just got back from my patio where I had my first "cup a" and am enjoying the sun, even if it is a bit cool!

Enjoy the beginning of your week! I sure am!

Seasons of Color

Sunday night. It's quiet now after a lovely spring day here in the Midwest. The trees are holding that spring green because we are not quite warm enough to have those leaves burst into their fullness, but I don’t mind because that green really dresses up these early crisp spring days. This is by far my favorite time of year, well next to the snows of winter that is! Spring holds such promise, and I hope it will be fulfilled with abundant flowers this summer.

I am not much for summer’s heat and humidity, but do relish all my flowering beauties and always look forward to standing in my small garden and having those soft sultry breezes whisper past my ears. I really embrace the season – that is truly when life is gorgeous!