Daffodils

     Sharing a couple on lines from William Wordsworth's poem "The Daffodils."

"And then my heart with pleasure
fills,  And dances with the daffodils."

     What pleasure something small and simple can bring!

     It is funny I do feel this way about even a single flower.  I all most always have a small bunch of flowers by my therapy chair.  I will go to the supermarket every Monday morning for months. The vase, my sunny pal, bringing a smile to my face everyday.
     And then...I forget, or I am sick, or the weather is bad, or I am too busy this morning.  Before I know it, months without flowers have gone by.
     How quickly and quietly it happens; a simple pleasure gone.  It is important to stay on track or return to these practices when we discover the void.  Life without the simple pleasures can become dull and lifeless.
     What little thing could you do or bring to your day that would give you such pleasure? 

Ducks in a Row

     I have heard it said all my life that people need to get their ducks in a row.  I guess that is true.  We need to go to our jobs and do that job to the best of our ability.  We need to pay our bills and care for our children. 
     Doing anything to excess is not having your ducks in line.  There is no way you can keep drunk or drugged ducks in a row.
     Is there more to having your ducks in a row than that?  I am sure that there a many opinions on this subject depending on your standards and belief system.  And that is the point I am making:
You need to have your ducks in a row, but what should your row look like.  Do you think that we should follow someone else's idea of a duck row? Or do you think it is your farm and it should be your choice?
      As for me personally, it is MY FARM.  My ducks are in a row. 

HOWEVER.....

 





Dreams

"Dreams are like paper, they tear so easy."

      I don't know where I heard this, but I agree.  We need to protect our dreams from those that would tear them.  We need to protect them from getting torn by mistake.  Put them in a nice, clean folder in your heart and hang on to them no matter what.

Experience vs ownership

      If you owned a bottle of 1996 Lafite Rothschild, would you ever drink it?  If so, what occasion would be special enough?  Or maybe drinking a $1,600.00 bottle of wine would be the occasion in itself.   Like January 27, 2013 is the date we drank the Rothschild.  Or are you the person who just wants to own it. 
      I own a 1977 Trans Am.  A great sports car that goes very, very fast.  Today it is parked in the weeds in need of restoration.  It is cool to own and have owned this car.  But for me the coolest part is to have driven this car.  To have experienced putting the pedal to the metal and feeling the power of this car from behind the steering wheel.
      The memories of good times and times shared with others can never be taken from you.  What do you think about most often, what you own or what you have done?  What makes life real and exciting? 
      What do you wish to spend your money on; things or experiences?  What comes into play when you think about this question?  What will other people think?  Do you feel like the things you own are important to who you are?  Are there things you should own to be considered worthy?  We both understand that you have to consider these questions.  But what will make you happy?
     I believe our time here isn't about "having" a good life, but about "living" a good life.  I choose experience over ownership most times.  And I would drink the Rothschild on a cold January day and make it the occasion.
     I suggest you do too.  Use the good china.  Wear your best clothes.  Set in your hot tub.  Drive your restored classic car.  What are you saving it all for?  Turn what you own into the experience you dreamed about when you bought them.  Enjoy them for every penny you spent.
     Cheers!
    

Never invest so much of yourself in any situation that you

are willing to compromise your integrity

 in order to maintain the illusion.

Self-doubt

Did you watch the Golden Globes last night? 

     I have to thank Anne Hathaway who won Best Performance By An Actress In A Motion Picture.  I have to thank Anne for introducing the idea that even Golden Globe winners sometimes suffer from self-doubt.  Ms.  Hathaway said; "Thank you for this lovely blunt object , that I will forever use as a weapon against self-doubt." 
     I loved that!  I had to think what do I have that I can use as a weapon against self-doubt.  As I looked around I found licenses, diplomas, and art hanging on my walls.
     Look around for some weapons against self-doubt for yourself.  Hang up your art and diplomas.  Frame articles you wrote or were written about you.  Put your photos on your computer's desk top.
      Remember everyone battles with self-doubt from time to time.  You are in good company.

Be gentle with yourself.

     Why is it that we are kinder to others, even complete strangers than we are to ourselves?  Listen to the things you say to yourself.  You would never say such awful things to another person.  Stop and think before you talk down to yourself.

TODAY:
Do something nice for yourself.  Like buy yourself an ice cream.

Speak as kindly to yourself as you do to others.

Allow someone to help you the way you have helped others.

Give yourself the same permission to make mistakes that you give to others.