Probably twenty years ago (oh my gosh) I read about random acts of kindness. The book pointed out that the good deeds didn’t have to be big, just knowing that you made somebody’s day. I found this story on Liftable.com.
It’s sometimes hard to push our needs away. But if we did once in a while. Wouldn’t this be a more loving world?
Thank you so much, Sarah (who is now a blogger at Pizza and Peonies.wordpress.com), for bringing this to my attention. My sister tagged me in a post on Facebook that obviously has great meaning to me. But what she said is so true. In our society we have too many groups that say they are the “forgotten ones” to count. People demand change by loudly organizing marches and protests.
I may be biased, but I think there is a forgotten group: the physically disabled.
Sarah posted a link from Time about Ed Roberts, a polio victim, whose work for the physically disabled is truly inspiring. He passed away the year I was born, but I wish I could hug him and say thanks for his work.
Sarah claims that I need to watch more “age appropriate” shows. To her, that is anything on Bravo. I have absolutely no interest in any of the “Housewives” shows. She signed me up for a contest in which you watch “The Bachelor” and follow brackets. Her boyfriend was in first place last time I talked to her. In all fairness, Sarah doesn’t actually buy into any of those shows–she finds them purely entertaining.
I think the whole premise of the show is nauseating, but I was keeping an open mind. Sort of. When I watched on Wednesday (what did we do without DVRs) I couldn’t believe it. These seemingly intelligent women throwing themselves at basically a stranger. Claiming they were “soulmates.”
The episode was two hours long. Needless to say, the second hour was left unseen. Give me my “Code Black,” “Pure Genius,” or “This is Us” any day.
If I’m an old lady, so be it. I’m a happy old lady.
I love Dr. Seuss quotes. Now, being an adult, I can see the beauty in what I was reading 30 years ago. I love this one especially. It tells us to always let our true selves shine through.
Today my “assignment” was to pick a picture from four and use it as inspiration for a post. I kind of cheated. I knew what I wanted to write before I saw the pictures, so sorry if you don’t see the correlation; I’m going to try. I picked a crowded train station, probably Grand Central Station.
I am probably the only 30-something who has never seen “Star Wars.” I don’t plan to, either. I hate science fiction. I watch the ABC affiliate of the news in Los Angeles. Since Disney owns ABC, and now the “Star Wars” franchise, it seems for months “Star Wars” is all the news has talked about.
We got to see a huge movie prop, I guess it was, travel through the streets of Los Angeles for the movie’s premier. Actually it might have been “Breaking News!” on TV. And don’t forget all of the people dressed in their costumes waiting in line to see the movie.
In all fairness, those folks probably didn’t see why the herd followed “Downton Abbey.” I was definitely a sheep. I loved the show.
Okay, maybe I do get it. I guess it’s okay to go against the grain. Sometimes you might find it’s refreshing not to follow the crowd.
It’s day three of Everyday Inspiration. Today I had to pick a word from a list of 5 or 7 and have that be my inspiration. I chose the word “love.”
Even as a kid my favorite flower were pansies. They just look happy. Like they are smiling. Seeing that flower reminds of chilly afternoons with me riding my bike in front of our house watching Mom and Dad plant pansies in the front yard. The mountains visible from our house are snow capped and although the air is nippy, I’m warm in my sweatshirt.
I think it’s the nostalgia I like. Besides it being a pretty flower.
Last year I got a pansy growing kit for Christmas. Mom saw it as one of Oprah’s Favorite Things. It’s kind of creepy, but you can grow flowers in mason jars. The seeds were planted a couple of weeks ago, and now I have my flower children.
As you can see, they have a lot of growing to do, but I already know the pot they’ll go in; it’s high up, away from somebody’s nosy paws, but directly in view from my bedroom. Every time I see my pansies all of those nice childhood memories will come back.
Brought upon by a flower.
All of these WordPress words, there have been more than a few that I’ve had to Google their definition, I’m afraid, reminding me of a spelling bee.
I remember, barely, representing Mrs. Compton’s fifth grade class in the school bee. I don’t remember what word got me out, but doesn’t mystical sound like (and look like) one that could? Mystical. It’s tricky for a child. Should be mysticil, I think. Until I see it. Then neither seems right!
I watch the national spelling bee on TV, and it’s definitely not good for the ego. Children (one contestant a first grader, meaning he’s six), are spelling ridiculously long words that someone in their 30s, meaning that I have 27 years of life on them (I had to use a calculator), couldn’t necessarily spell
Here is the youngest contestant from the 2016 bee, spelling the longest word I have ever seen:
I think when I was six, I was using our dog as Barbie’s school bus. In my opinion, this child has too much time on his hands.
I questioned whether or not I should write this post. I didn’t want my readers to feel inferior to a six year old. But misery loves company.
Imagine, if you will, it’s 5 pm, I’ve already had dinner (dad is obviously out of town), and I’ve turned in. Hey, I had physical therapy this morning and I’m beat—please don’t judge. Not turned in to go to sleep, mind you, but to relax beforehand. My DVR has some good things recorded: “This is Us,” “Code Black,” “Intervention.” Or, I might choose to read on my TV using Apple TV, where my book shows up on my TV because of the mirroring feature. Another option is watching streaming Netflix. I’m on a “Fuller House” kick now.
The electric blanket is on and Maggie might be on the foot of my bed. Although nothing is supposed on top of the electric blanket, a 30-pound dog doesn’t count on a chilly evening, does it?
I signal that I’m ready for bed at nine (I am an early riser) using an app on my iPad that flashes a light in the family room for Mom and Dad.
Although I turn in early, I love my bed. You would probably agree with me when I say that sleep—your bed, period—is very underrated.
Today is “Giving Tuesday.” In our culture of me, me, me, isn’t that refreshing? I bought a wheelchair, making a donation to Free Wheelchair Mission. I think it was $80. Not much money. And providing, someone with “new wheels” changes that person’s life, yes, but it changes their family’s life as well. It’s like a trickle down.
What’s neat about charity is any amount makes a difference. You can donate a million dollars to a hospital or play Free Rice, where for every answer you get right on games, ten grains of rice is donated to The World Food Programme. Ten grains of rice doesn’t seem like much but depending on how much you play, people in developing countries will get bowls of food!
See what I mean about any amount making a difference?
So, did I inspire you to participate in Giving Tuesday? I hope so!
Okay, maybe Southern California doesn’t get THIS cold, but it sure feels like it. Courtesy hercampus.com
This post comes with a warning. Readers in certain parts of the country, especially where you get snow and extreme weather, may be disgusted by what I am about to say. Read on at your own risk.
I am always cold. I don’t know why. Maybe because I am always in one position, but right now the thermostat is set at eighty-one and I have goosebumps! I love fall and winter. The crispness, the bright sky, the occasional rain. I love it all. From inside the warm house!
Last night was 49. I had two blankets. One of them being an electric one! In my defense, it wasn’t turned on, but that will come later.
If there is such a thing as reincarnation, please, God, make me come back as a lizard. I could scorch myself on a rock all day. My dream.
Wednesday we leave for Seattle to surprise Kelley for Thanksgiving. Fourties every day we are there. Mom has packed accordingly, but please wish me luck!
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