a tickle of words to create smiles

Posts tagged ‘Gratefulness’

Grateful for Choice (TY-32)

I am profoundly grateful for choice. Did you know that a person always has a choice in anything, whether one chooses to see it that way or not? Choice is defined as a thought process of judging the merits, worthiness or quality of multiple options and selecting one of them. Funny thing is that every person always has at least two choices: to act or not to act on any given issue or situation. The challenge lies in seeing the choices when one is feeling stuck. Other challenges with choices include having to make a hasty decision and fear of making a choice because of possible unpleasant outcomes.

How can one work through the challenges surrounding choices? One obvious solution is for a person to decide NOT to choose, select, decide or opt at that given moment. A person has the choice to sit with his or her selections in order to weigh his or her options until he or she can make the best choice for his or her situation.

How does a person find more choices? An individual will need to take a broad look and view his or her situation from a different perspective in order to see more choices. It is only then these selections become apparent. Case in point, one is challenged with a new policy at work with which he or she does not agree. Most would see as having no choice.

There are actually multiple choices presented here: 1) comply with the new policy; 2) ignore the policy, apologize and face the consequence; 3) speak with the policy-makers and see if the policy can be amended; 4) seek supporters against the policy and file a petition; 5) seek new employment and resign with a two weeks notice. After stepping away from the issue or challenge where one feels he or she has no choice, many apparent options begin to emerge and present themselves when one uses his or her objective lens.

Sometimes a person just needs to have faith that he or she will be making the right decision. One needs to face his or her fear of the outcome, take the risk and make a selection. Examining the worst case scenario and deciding that it is not so bad after all can be an excellent way to decide and choose. I deeply appreciate choice and having the wisdom to see the multiple choices I have in my life.

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Grateful for Hugs (TY-31)

I deeply appreciate hugs! A hug is like ice cream or candy for the heart and soul! It is that delicious, warm and loving embrace that displays the affections of another compassionate and caring being. I feel that hugs are best when they are unexpected. Incoming…..surprise hug! Those really make my day!

Hugs do not have to be reserved for other people. You can wrap those lovely arms around yourself as well as others and squeeze! Go ahead. Go on! Do it right now!!! (((BIG HUG!!!))) You have been virtually hugged by me! (Big grin) How did it feel? Virtual hugs feel almost as good as the real thing.

Have you ever spontaneously hugged someone you do not know? I have. Those are the best because there are no expectations attached and because it was unexpected. That is what I call a double blessing. I challenge anyone who reads this blog to hug at least one person they do not know before the New Year. I bet it will be appreciated. Go on and be a hugger (and not a bugger).  Hugs! 

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Grateful for Music (TY- 30)

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I am extremely grateful for music. No matter what my mood is music will alter it, usually for the better. It never ceases to amaze me how music transcends all languages; furthermore, it has been said that “music has charms to soothe the savage breast. ” This phrase was coined by William Congreve, in The Mourning Bride, 1697. Here is the original verse from which it came:

Musick has Charms to sooth a savage Breast,
To soften Rocks, or bend a knotted Oak.
I’ve read, that things inanimate have mov’d,
And, as with living Souls, have been inform’d,
By Magick Numbers and persuasive Sound.
What then am I? Am I more senseless grown
Than Trees, or Flint? O force of constant Woe!
‘Tis not in Harmony to calm my Griefs.
Anselmo sleeps, and is at Peace; last Night
The silent Tomb receiv’d the good Old King;
He and his Sorrows now are safely lodg’d
Within its cold, but hospitable Bosom.
Why am not I at Peace?

Incidentally, William Congreve (1670-1729) was an English playwright and poet. He wrote some of the most popular English plays of the Restoration period of the late 17th century. By the age of thirty, he had written four comedies and one tragedy, The Mourning Bride (1697). (From: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7008439-the-mourning-bride )

Back to the topic of music…in my own experiences with music, I know that when I have been tired,  music re-energizes me. When I am anxious, music calms me. When I am sad, music makes me happy. When I am restless, music relaxes me.

Lullabies have been used to lull babies to sleep. Music has been used to set romantic moments. Music is magical. That being said, music can also stir negative emotions, like fear and sadness. Some music can simply get on your nerves. However, I am certain much of that has to do with preference, as well as, state of being at the moment.

I deeply appreciate music. As we approach the holidays, music plays a significant role in setting the tone of the season and illuminating many joyful memories of holidays of yore. What effect does music have for you? Do you have any favorite tunes for specific times in your life?

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Grateful for Handwritten Notes and Letters (TY-29)

There is something special about receiving a hand-written note.
~ Dr. Angi K. Orobko

Hand-written notes and letters are such a gift! I feel that the person behind it took that extra special time to scribe it just for me. Handwriting is becoming a lost art as more and more of our children are learning keyboarding instead of handwriting. I am aware that many school system’s no longer require and/or include cursive writing in their lessons anymore. I feel that is quite a loss.

With the dawning of computers and hand-held digital devices, more and more of us are typing and text-messaging (texting). Our own language cannot even keep up with the new verbs we are creating as we type messages on our mobile phones and other electronic devices. Furthermore, our words have been reduced to acronyms. LOL (laugh out loud) Am I the only one finding it hard to keep up with all of this digital-techno-speak?

Oh, please do not misunderstand. I do appreciate the convenience of being able to communicate any time I like, 24/7 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week); but, it does seem just a tad bit less personal. Don’t you think? The internet is certainly an amazing source for information (and misinformation).

Most questions can be answered at the tip of our fingertips by doing a Google search. Has “google” become a verb? I googled it and Wikipedia states that the Oxford English and Merriam Webster Collegiate dictionaries have added it in 2006. Really? And yet, my spellchecker has it red-lined. Hmm!

Let me get back on the topic of hand-written notes. On the one side, I love receiving them. I deeply appreciate and I am grateful for the time and effort that went into a note or letter that has been handwritten. On the flip side, I love to write them. Why? When I hand-write a note, a letter, or a journal entry, it allows me to slow down and take time and reflect. It can be quite meditative.

One of my favorite gifts to give others especially around the holidays are hand-written messages (in their holiday cards). I believe these messages are deeply appreciated, even though many of my loved ones do not reciprocate this. I usually get a Merry Christmas and a signature. It saddens me to think that holiday card exchanges have been reduced down to a chore. This is a golden opportunity to scribe a special message to share how much we appreciate our family and friends with hand-written messages.

Consider taking the time to reflect and appreciate your loved ones this holiday season by sending a  hand-written message of love, appreciation and blessings. Why not make it a new Thanksgiving tradition to gather the family to hand-write notes and messages of gratitude to include with your holiday cards? I am certain these notes will be well received. That is what I intend to do this year.

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Grateful for Forgiveness (TY-28)

 

AKOBadMomentsRS

Bad moments do not make you a bad person. ~ Dr. Angi

We all have our “moments”, but those moments do not make us bad people. Each of us have our own unique sensitivities and coping skills. Another’s actions may or may not evoke a reaction from me; but, it would evoke a reaction from someone else.  That reaction does not make that person bad. It is only when he or she is not sorry for the reaction or bad moment that would taint his or her character.

Empower your loved ones. Give them the opportunity to forgive you and to need them. People feel valued and appreciated when you consider their emotions, ask for forgiveness and/or help. Our vulnerabilities such as bad moments make us human; furthermore, love yourself enough to forgive yourself. We cannot go on forever holding onto the bad moments in our lives. Why relive them? It is better to move forward and do better next time. How we choose to act after our bad moments is what really counts.

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I am deeply grateful for forgiveness. It empowers me to let go of hurts, fears and negativity, whether I am forgiving others, myself or giving others the opportunity to forgive me. A little compassion to ourselves and others goes a long we toward creating peace, harmony and joy. Lots of positive actions and feelings do come from letting go of the hurts and negativity. Forgiveness is key to happiness, which is a very good reason to appreciate it. Let go of the hurt and the shame. Forgive others and yourself.

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Grateful for NASA’s Space Program (TY-27)

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I have always been fascinated with astronomy, the moon, the stars, the planets, our solar system, our galaxy and the entire universe. The vastness of our universe and everything in it is remarkable. I am deeply grateful that our wonderful nation has such a phenomenal space program with NASA. Of course, I may be a bit biased because my wonderful father spent his entire career working (playing) there as a master electrical engineer (some called him a rocket scientist). He was responsible for the communication instruments used on Viking 1 and 2, which were hugely vital and very important to the mission. His work is on Mars! How many people can boast about that!

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Last night at 8:15 p.m. EST (0115 GMT Wednesday), the Orbital Sciences-built Minotaur 1 rocket launched into space from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia to begin the ORS-3 mission, which is run by the U.S. military’s Operationally Responsive Space Office. As you can see from the images, it was awesome. NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility had a live webcam running during the launching. This launching brings back beautiful memories for me. When I was about 8 years old, I had the opportunity to see a huge rocket (Viking 2) launch from Cape Kennedy, which was destined for Mars in search for life!

The rocket used to carry Viking 2 was MASSIVE and during the pre-launch events, it was referred to as THE BEAST! THE BEAST shook the ground a mile or more away as it took off. I know this for a fact because I was there to witness it from a distance of about one mile away. I will never, ever forget this event. Ah, yes! I do deeply appreciate NASA and its phenomenal space program. May we never lose our pioneering, creative and engineering spirits!

 

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Grateful for Mom’s Hands (TY-26)

Today I wish to express my deepest appreciation for my mother and her hands. She has done countless deeds to make our lives wonderful. She is a phenomenal wife to my father and an extraordinary caretaker for my sister and I. Her gifts and talents are numerous. Her love for us is endless. There is nothing in the world I would not do for her. Yet, she expects nothing in return but our happiness. My mother is the epitome of unconditional love for which I am profoundly grateful. Thank you, mommy.

Her Hands

© Maggie Pittman

Her hands held me gently from the day I took my first breath.
Her hands helped to guide me as I took my first step.
Her hands held me close when the tears would start to fall.
Her hands were quick to show me that she would take care of it all.

Her hands were there to brush my hair, or straighten a wayward bow.
Her hands were often there to comfort the hurts that didn’t always show.
Her hands helped hold the stars in place, and encouraged me to reach.
Her hands would clap and cheer and praise when I captured them at length.

Her hands would also push me, though not down or in harm’s way.
Her hands would punctuate the words, just do what I say.
Her hands sometimes had to discipline, to help bend this young tree.
Her hands would shape and mold me into all she knew I could be.

Her hands are now twisting with age and years of work,
Her hand now needs my gentle touch to rub away the hurt.
Her hands are more beautiful than anything can be.
Her hands are the reason I am me.

Source: Her Hands, Mother Poem http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/her-hands#ixzz2DYWQnTVE
www.FamilyFriendPoems.com

As promised in yesterday’s blog (Grateful for Goodness), here is the image of the 3 “tree canvas ornaments” I made for my friend Lorrie B. Jonas and the tree she is contributing to the A Festival of Trees fundraiser (http://www.festivaloftreesutah.org/). If you are interested in donating artwork, join this group on Facebook: Festival Of Trees-Artist Around The World Tree. She needs to have the artwork no later than November 30, 2013. I am mailing these out today.

TreeCanvasesForLorrie2013

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Grateful for Goodness (TY-25)

As we appreciate the goodness in the world and in people, we plant seeds, nurture these seeds and create roots for more goodness to grow in the world and develop in people. More and more, I am seeing some wonderfully kind deeds being done, large and small. This is the time of year, where there are so many opportunities to contribute time and resources to others. People tend to be just a bit more kinder this time of year as we approach Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas.

I know of many people who are finding ways to help. I have a friend in Utah, who is putting together a Christmas Tree to be auctioned to the highest bidder as a fundraiser for a Children’s Hospital. It will be covered in handmade art from contributing artists. I am honored to be one of the contributing artists. I have hand-painted 3 small canvases that will be hung on that Christmas Tree. I deeply appreciate every time I witness others helping others. I am grateful that people do know how to come together and contribute time and resources when others really need it. All this goodness is appreciated. Thank goodness!

P.S. I will post images of the art I made tomorrow; I made 3 canvases, which are almost complete. They just need to dry.

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Grateful for Enthusiasm (TY-15)

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I truly appreciate enthusiasm especially in others. It is fun to be enthusiastic and it is wonderful to see enthusiasm in others. It is contagious. Enthusiasm is one of my favorite words as it expresses joy in action; it is having a keen interest, excitement, fervor or zeal in a cause or subject. It is cheerful and exciting because it expresses a higher level of energy. It is being passionate with joy for those items in our life that we consider important. Enthusiasm is a word that has its origins in the Greek language for “inspired by God.”

Enthusiasm is tossed into a group of such delicious words  such as: ardor, avidity, conviction, craze, dash, devotion, eagerness, earnestness, ecstasy, élan, emotion, energy, exhilaration, fanaticism, feeling, fervor,  fire, flame, flare, frenzy, fury, gaiety, glow, gusto, heat, hilarity, hobby, impetuosity, intensity, interest, joy, keenness, life, mania, mirth, nerve, oomph, orgasm, passion, pep, rapture, relish, snap, spirit, transport, vehemence, verve, vim, vivacity, warmth, zeal, zealousness, and zest

Norman Vincent Peale stated, “If you have zest and enthusiasm you attract zest and enthusiasm. Life does give back in kind.” 

I agree wholeheartedly with Norman Vincent Peale. I have yet to find people who are not affected by my enthusiasm. Case in point, as I was returning from a bittersweet trip to Rhode Island and I was standing among many tired co-travelers as we waited at the gate for our carry-on luggage that was too large for the overhead compartments. No one was smiling except me.

Taking notice of all the glum and weariness, I made a point to become enthusiastic about getting my luggage, having made a safe trip to our destination and being minutes away from a warm bed.  I soon had most of us equally enthusiastic, too. It was great to see others smile with me. I think there was only one older woman in her twilight years who hung onto her scowl. Given a little more time, I believe I would have gotten a hint of a smile from her, too. 

This leads me to a quote by Charles Schwab, “A man can succeed at almost anything for which he has unlimited enthusiasm.”  And, Vince Lombardi said, “If you aren’t fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm.” (He cracks me up!)  Ralph Waldo Emerson stated, “Enthusiasm is the mother of effort, and without it nothing great was ever achieved.”  

In the words of Henry Ford: Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes shine to the stars. Enthusiasm is the sparkle in your eyes, the swing in your gait. The grip of your hand, the irresistible surge of will and energy to execute your ideas.

In my words, enthusiasm is the twinkle in my toes and the wiggle in my nose; it is the swing in my hips and the smile upon my lips! Enthusiasm is the thumping of my heart to the beat of my ideas that drums out a rhythm of inspiration for all to see. 

Oliver Wendell Holmes wonderfully sums it up, “It’s FAITH IN something and  ENTHUSIASM FOR something that makes LIFE WORTH LIVING.” Are you embracing your ENTHUSIASM FOR something?

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Grateful for Teamwork (TY-22)

team-work

 

I deeply appreciate teamwork! Let me share a story that has been passed along in my circles for at least a decade. I have no idea who first wrote it, but it needs to be shared as an example what teamwork is not:

This is a story of four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody.

There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure Somebody would do it.

Anybody could have done it but Nobody did it.

Somebody got angry with that because it was Everybody’s job.

Everybody thought Anybody could do it but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it.

It ended that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what  Anybody could have done.

To this date these four people are still arguing why Nobody did the job.

This story also brought to mind a quote by Thomas Jefferson: “Never trouble another for what you can do yourself.”

Teamwork and cooperation is all about working together, delegating parts of the whole to tackle a challenge that one person alone cannot do. Certainly if it is single task that one can do alone, there is no need to delegate; however, if it is a large project or endeavor, then teamwork becomes imperative. There is no time for arguing or debate. I am grateful for teamwork where there is productive meeting of the minds, where everyone has the same vision and goal. I appreciate the efforts of each person on that team who make the project possible, such as a major fund-raiser for a worthy and charitable organization. A successful fund-raiser needs a team of people to work together.

I am grateful specifically to the volunteers and team players who made a recent fund-raiser for the Friends of the Poquoson Public Library successful and fun! Over 30 people were involved sharing many hours organizing volunteers, creating and placing public announcements, collecting books, sorting books, setting up the space of the fund-raising event (tent, tables, books), selling the books, cleaning up, etc. I would like to thank each and every one who were involved! Thank you so much for contributing your team spirit! You made the event worthwhile and successful!

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