ARE YOU POSITIVE?

Cavalia Artistry 2012 - 03

2012-02-18T20:33:00.000-08:00

What is Cavalia? It's an amazing horse and acrobatics show and performance. It is artistry in music for the ears and visuals for the eyes. If ever it should come to your town you must go and see it. Here is a link to the Official Cavalia site: http://unrevedeliberte.cavalia.net/en/medias/photos.aspx

Here are some pics that I took along the walkway to the show the other night. No pics allowed in side...so what you see are pictures of pictures. LOL...still inspiring and amazing. I took all these with my Iphone and then touched them up some ..but that is why the photos look so long...lol

I actually attended by myself. It was a very cold, dark and stormy night. The performance began at 8:00. I had made a last minute decision to go. I needed some inspiration for my Fairy Tale writing. I am up to Chaptor 38 but was getting a little short on some creative thinking. I found my muses here at this show. Wow, I got some great ideas as I was watching. Animals as muses..I should have known. Since I was born in the year of the horse it just seemed very appropriate. I was definitely not disappointed.

I hope you might have the pleasure of going to one of these shows. They are truly magical
and one of a kind.

Smiles, Maria
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Fairy Tale Collage 2012 - 02

2012-01-26T12:39:00.000-08:00

Just trying out the collage feature in photo bucket with my fairy tale characters

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Fireworks Art 2012 -01

2012-01-05T14:48:00.000-08:00

What a great way to start the New Year with a Seattle Space Needle Fireworks show! Here are two versions of the events...one with music dubbed in and the other with music from the fireworks speakers...a little hard to hear but the theme was a Space theme. You can hear Neil Armstrong if you listen hard enough announcing the giant leap for mankind. Smiles.

The First one just has the music dubbed in and is quite peaceful...a bit of a contrast to the loud booming of the actual show but kind of nice too:

This second video is closer to the real experience:

It's all good though! The New Year is upon us and with it all the scrambling for resolutions, goal setting and just thinking ahead and reflecting on what has transpired last year.

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Fireworks Art 2011-14 New Years!

2011-12-31T12:00:00.000-08:00

It's New Years all day! Ha, ha...because we have a big world! Happy New Year to the world and peace to all..please...peace and prosperity....coming is the Year of the Dragon...chinese calendar... that means prosperity and a good year for money. About time!

First a little Happy New Year from ABBA!

AUSTRALIA:

Here is a view of the New Year's celebration in Australia that is a must see...one of the first of the New Year!....Incredible, Inspirational!!!!!....amazing....

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LONDON, PARIS, BERLIN AND ROME

Space Needle Fireworks are in the First Entry for 2012

Love the Fireshows!!!!!

Smiles,
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Positive Art 2011-13 Dreaming, Writing

2011-12-30T22:13:00.000-08:00

This year has gone by so fast. I've been doing a lot of dreaming and doing...I began writing stories. I had remembered how much I enjoyed fairy tales when I was younger. They got my imagination going. I loved the mostly happy endings. Some, like Grimm's Fairy tales didn't always end well but I still loved the creatures and fantastic word pictures. The little drawings always helped me go one step further in my mind as well. However, I wanted to write something that was different. My thought was to include something from modern days in my fairy tales and document some of the technology we have in a fantasy world. Who would have dreamed that we would have things like Iphones and Craigslist? I've always been inspired by winged creatures and things...real ones such as birds and insects and more elusive ones such as angels and dragons. I hope to finish my first little story by early 2012...but I need inspiration...so I have photographed some graphics that I worked with to support that need.

It would be good to know if others might find it fun to read a little more updated fairy tales as well. Interestingly, shortly after I started writing my first few chaptors a TV show called Once Upon a Time began airing. It also has the theme of incorporating the modern world into the story line. I must have been on the same wavelength. However, my story is all new characters, unlike the TV show.

The little video incorporates my inspirations and one of the characters in the photo is Ophelia Angelica...the main character in my first attempt at fairy tales...can you guess which one? Well, more to come in a later entry.

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Positive Art 2011-12 Fairy Tale Journals and Books

2011-09-18T11:32:00.000-07:00

I used to love reading Fairy Tales and also having them read to me. There were always such imaginative characters and of course princes and princesses. It strikes me that it also helped me to learn to write and created a desire in me to learn more. Fairy tales can have such ethereal characters such as maidens with blue hair and bedazzled dragons which would befriend kind rugged warriors. They are the stuff of dreams.

Journaling whether in a book or here on the worldwide web is creative art and can have such a positive effect on one's life if one lets it happen. The wonder of a journal of blank pages to fill becomes so much more inviting when there is a magical creature on the cover of the book or the beginnning of a blog entry. A magical creature can inspire, be a buddy or just be a work of art in a journal. Hope this little blue haired portrait is as magical to you as she is to me....a little bit pixelated but that adds to the magic...of the whimsy.

:)

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Positive Art 2011-11 - Rainbow in Swizterland

2011-08-25T09:34:00.000-07:00

This is the famous Geneva fountain in Swizterland! Just came back from a wonderful trip and took so many photos it is mind boggling. Lake Geneva is a wonderful place. There is a very tall fountain here called the Jet d'eau.. For more indepth infor on this check out this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain This fountain is turned on every day. It is an artform in an of itself. Inspirational in so many ways: the majestic look and feel of it, the cooling water mists..you can actually walk out very close to the fountain...and this thing is tall (shoots up to 459 feet)! A short 35 second video on Youtube gives you another good view: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF4q-MkTMSM

However, the art form that happened while I was watching it one day here was a rainbow which formed in the fountain. One late afternoon the sun was shining in just the right spot where I was standing...so I took a couple of snapshots of the rainbow in the fountain. It made me smile as rainbows always do. Smiles!

Where there is water....look for the rainbow...if it isn't there yet...be the rainbow!

Maria

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Positive Art 2011 - 10 - The School Rock

2011-08-05T23:16:00.001-07:00

You may wonder why a school rock would be positive art...but if you think about it for a minute you will see that it is a great way to share feelings of joy, reunion, graduation, memory for a lost classmate and much more. Recently I had participated in and attended my high school reunion...Foster High School. We had a rock and have had it for a long time..but I never got a chance to paint it. So I made sure this time I would. It was so much fun. A small group of maybe 15 of us got together and had a fun time doing it. The Star and Stripes were my idea but the execution was by others....using masking tape and canned spray paint. It sure looks good...our reunion was a couple of weeks ago in Mid July ...2011.....I drove by the rock and it still says '71 Rules'...I guess it must be true. Positive Art? You bet it made me feel good!!!!!

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Positive Art 2011 - 9 Athletic Art

2011-05-11T14:38:00.000-07:00

Did you ever think about the posing of Athletes as Art?

I like to think of it as Art in Motion or Human art. Check out these photos from Prepare to Play -

http://www.flickr.com/photos/preparetoplay

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Positive Art 2011 - 08 Harpist Extraordinaire

2011-03-21T12:35:00.000-07:00

Postitive Music can be so soothing and uplifting to the soul...here is a great example of both. Deborah Henson-Conant plays her creation of Baroque-Flaminco on her beautiful blue harp along with the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra. I love this so much and will be seeing her in Tacoma, Washington at the Pantagis Theatre coming up this weekend....so excited...enjoy:

Here is a link to her site for this performance...
http://www.hipharp.com/ia_site/info_ia/grammynom_faqs.html

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Positive Art 2011 - 07 I Am Number Four - SciFi

2011-02-18T23:35:00.000-08:00

There are reasons why SciFi is so popular as a movie art form. The main ones are that it is thinking out of the box personified. The movie coming out soon called 'I am Number Four' is an example of some creative thinking with some attractive actors. Can't wait to see it..but wait there is a trailer....yay!

Enjoy!

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Positive Art 2011 - 06 Swirl Puzzle

2011-02-18T19:27:00.000-08:00

I feel puzzled lately...but it's a good thing. Puzzles keep one's mind active, healthy and swirling..especially this fun one!

Life is so much a puzzle. We only have so much time to put the peices together in a fashion that makes sense to us and creates a beautiful picture. We all create our own life puzzles or have them thrown at us to solve...don't we now? Have fun and enjoy the experience....because it's good to be puzzled, says Maria!
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Positive Art 2011 - 05 Cat Puzzle Focus EyetoEye

2011-02-07T11:15:00.001-08:00

Ah....the world of cats. They are amazing creatures and come in all sizes. I often wonder what they are thinking...but how can you not think positive when you have nine lives? I've also noticed that cats have an amazing patience and focus......LOL..... here is another puzzle for you to exercise your mind with a focus on cat's seeing eye to eye.

Stay focused and enjoy!
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Positive Art - 2011 - 04 Animations to make your visions come true

2011-02-02T09:54:00.000-08:00

You may think animations are just for children....
or you may find them to be quite fascinating as a source
of art and visual expression. Here is a short animation of
a harp piece with ballroom background.

Before beginning the animation be sure to scroll to the
end of this page and pause the background music.

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Positive Art 2011- 03 - Puzzles to Exercise your Mind

2011-01-30T13:02:00.000-08:00

Puzzles are a great way to exercise your mind and as such they are positive art. Surfing some of my blogger friends I found this puzzle. Sometimes you just have to give in and do a puzzle...or two...watch out though..they can be addictive. Enjoy the art of the puzzle...for the eye and for the mind.

Positive Art 2011 - 02 - Seattle Space Needle New Year 2011

2011-01-01T01:11:00.000-08:00

Seattle has some great fireworks displays alright. Welcoming the New Year here is the Space Needle display of some excellent fireworks and music. There is even an animation of the sequence...technology is amazing. Anything this amazing has to be a positive force...so many people smiling and laughing and just enjoying!

This is a short section of the Space Needle Fireworks display (the total time lasted about 8 minutes).... until I can find a longer segment on Youtube.

This is a simulation of the Space Needle Fireworks..an animation with music added...kind of cool..technology rocks!

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Positive Art 2011 - 01 - New Year's by video

2010-12-31T21:31:00.000-08:00

I am posting the first of the New Year's positive Art entries! I've always enjoyed the art of New Year's celebrations. From Australia's spectacular fireworks, Auckland, Taipei and Hong Kong and also London's big ben big fireworks to New York's Times Square to Arizona's Pine Cone drop in Flagstaff to Seattle's Space Needle.

I hunted and hunted and finally found some videos to mark the occassions for Australia and some of the zones across the country:

Australia, Auckland, Taipei, Hong Kong :

London last year 2010:

London - this year 2011!!!!!!

Eastern Time Zone - New York - New York Times Square drop of the ball

Mountain Time Zone - Tennessee - Nashville Guitar Drop

Central Time Zone - Arizona - Flagstaff drop of the Pine Cone

Pacific Time Zone - Seattle Washington..
New post COMING SOON....

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Positive Art 2010 - 33 - Harp Art

2010-12-28T17:09:00.000-08:00

What is Harp Art? It is art that goes on a harp, of course! My harp was so beautiful but it was missing something...take a look:

So I asked my sister to help me decorate it with something to make it fill in the missing something...she designed a beautiful icon for my harp's name: Aurora. It is a hidden design that you can see only if you look at it and know that it is there....look closely:

I loved it and had a decal made for the two sides of my harp:

Then, I also wanted something more colorful, with flowers...so I decided on red roses for the sound board front:

All together now!

Now, all that's left is to keep practicing!!!!!

This is just one example of harp art. A visual example. The harp also is a source of music art. Beautiful music......

Cheers and good tidings for the New Year!

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Positive Art 2010 - 32 - Coca Cola Commercials

2010-12-22T23:28:00.000-08:00

I majored in Marketing in college but ended up in Accounting during my career times. However, I've always loved commercials and ads. I know it sounds crazy. Lots of people hate them. But I've always looked at them as modern art and creative wonderments of our age. Some are good and some not so good. I especially like the ones that make me laugh, be happy, or are touching. These two creative ads from Coca-Cola are about people being happy and how to be happier...now that's positive Art in my humble opinion!

The first one shows people's reactions to getting something nice they weren't expecting...the second video is pretty cool because it suggests some things that a Coca-Cola researcher tells us we can to do which tends to make people happy.

(PS: You might want to pause any sound if the music is turned on..see bottom of my blog)

What were those four things people can do that tend to make them happy?

Did you get them?..ok..here they are in short form with my comments in paranthesis for easier reference later, but it's worth watching the short video to get the expert scoop....

1) Getting together with Friends and family for meals and fun (comfort, joy)
2) Exercise, jump (This gets your endorphins going)
3) Give your self a treat (Especially if you take time to really enjoy it)
4) Smile at someone (Maybe they will smile back and that can make you happy)

Thanks, Coca Cola.

Positive Art 2010-31 - Christmas Tree Art

2010-12-20T18:39:00.000-08:00

The art of the Christmas tree is never the same at our house each year. It changes every year. Mostly we get a real tree nowadays, they smell so good. This year we have the Angel on top and multiple colored lights and ornaments with a cold shiny garland wound around it. I found my little wooden clothespin soldiers and jeweled southern lady ornaments that I have had for at least 30 years. Way back when I made the clothespin soldiers and they are holding up fairly well. They were an idea I saw at a Church Bazaar and decided to make one year early in my marriage. I wanted something homemade for a tradition. Back then we used to make these hungarian candy ornaments with fringed tissue paper and aluminum covering a chocolate covered peanut. They were a lot of work...haven't made any lately but still have one left from years past...I think there is paper inside...I found it this year and hung it in the tree. ...if you look closely you will see (those who are looking and have read this far) a little photo ornament of my daughter which she made in school when she was around 6 years old. I love these little sentimental glimpses into the past. They get me to stop and think about how thankful I am for this life. So the art of the Christmas tree surrounds us all who decide to decorate one each year. It's a positive art we participate in for sure. It reminds us of a time of year when all is new and hopeful. Of a spiritual occassion for the many Christians in the world. It reminds of the giving and jolly Santa Claus and his reindeer and elves at the North Pole. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus....Norman Rockwell was inspired to make a wonderful painting of him.

Positive Art 2010 - 30 - playing the Paraguayan harp

2010-11-10T21:47:00.000-08:00

Yes, I am actually getting more and more into playing my harp. ok..this isn't really me... but it's fun to imagine.

Now I have to say that I have now found a particular type of harp that I have fallen in love with over the weekend. I attended a harp symposium at the Dusty Strings facility in the Fremont district in Seattle. It was amazing. Learned lots. Played best I could and then I saw the Paraguayan harp played by a wonderful latin rhythm harp player named Nicolas Carter. It was amazing...and this was just the lesson. Notice the beautiful decorations. This style of harp is actually played with the fingernails.

You can find Nicolas Carter - harp player on Facebook.

Here is a little jpeg of a more classic harp version ..I was hoping to post it in animation. But I can't find the file at the moment...maybe I'l post something in another entry later when I can find the animation I made...or just remake it. The classic harp style is more traditional and played with the pads of your fingers. Usually seen at weddings and churches here in the USA.

Yes, I will post me playing the harp too...even though I am a rank beginner. I figure I'll get better if I try to perform here and there. Mostly want to play the harp because I love it and want to share it with others. Now I just need to get those nerves in shape so I can play without too many faux pas. (that would be misteps...wrong moves...)

In the mean time....I will be practicing up on my holiday songs.....

Positive Art - 29 - Wedding Art again

2010-10-05T22:36:00.000-07:00

This is probably one of the coolest pics I've ever seen. Someone else took it at my daughter's wedding. Looks like a magazine shot to me. :)

Positive Art - 2010 -28 - 2nd Wedding in a Month

2010-10-05T22:25:00.000-07:00

It think Weddings are art. I had the privilege of seeing a 2nd wedding within a month. My neice got married in a very beautiful setting in her mom's back yard on Hood Canal. Wow, it was amazing. Here is the happy couple.

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Positive Art - 2010 - 27 - The Artistic Chaos of Clutter

2010-10-03T13:34:00.000-07:00

Is clutter ever considered Art? It may have it's place as inspiration but I don't think I would call it art. It's more like an art fart. Yes, when we begin that long road to undoing clutter we will find all sorts of things to inspire and reminisce about. The potential projects and the possibilites they hold are two examples. The forgotten memories which rush to the surface of our brains when we get the visual and/or physical contact with an endearing item that has now become clutter is yet another!!!!!! So I ask you...when you look at this photo...is it art or an art fart?

Art not, is it?

However, on the positive side there is something thatallows us to create this chaos. We can leave it and forget it. But unlike really good art we aren't necessarily drawn to go look at it again and again. The attraction is more a need to find something which is needed than to look at the jumbled creation that was made.

Sometimes I'm sure it's really nothing more than an inorganic virus that has invaded my space. A foreign alien power that has subtley grown when I wasn't looking into a mountain of chaotic papers, books, electronic items and furniture. There is always a pathway to get in and out. Funny how there can always be some order even in my room of Artistic Chaos the Clutter has parted to bid me enter and sit a spell to do email or unload some photos.

Even as I look now around the room and see all the little (and big) items in here I am thinking it's a jungle in here. It is growing and needs pruning. Many hours of fun await me here when I finally figure out how to keep just what I need to do to stay ahead of this clutter virus. I don't think there is a cure but there is hope. There is always hope. Enough for now. Chores await.

Positive Art Entry 2010 - 26:The Adventures of Chocolate Woman

2010-09-09T11:21:00.000-07:00

I wrote the following story in 2006 for my participation in a Humorous speech contest for Toastmasters....I'd forgotten about it until this morning when I was looking for something in my computer and accidentally rediscovered it. It made a funny speech and I had so much fun writing it I did a little editing and decided to share it along with some photos I found of a Chocolate Model Show in NYC in 2008 at this website:

http://blog.jackmackenroth.com/2008/11/08/the-chocolate-show-nyc-2008/

Some of these models embody the possible shapes and costumes of Chocolate Woman! The costumes had to have chocolate on them. There is Bat Girl, Wonder Woman, Zena-Princess Warrior, and a Space Cadet? LOL.

Now to the story:

The Adventures of Chocolate Woman

– written by Maria Wilson

August 30, 2006

Do you know someone who needs help due to chocolate?

Yes, chocolate! This is a very serious matter…which you must all take into consideration…....chocolate can be quite dangerous…so dangerous in fact that it calls for extreme measures of protection…

This realization has probably come to many of you… When on a dark and stormy night that extremely strong urge for a chocolate cookie strikes! What if there isn’t any in the house it could keep you up for hours stressing about it! What can you do? You know what you are like when you stay up all hours of the night! You ponder….run to the store for a chocolate cookie …..or……reach in the frig for that bland carrot stick….chocolate cookie at the store or bland carrot stick in the frig…….that’s when you need:

Chocolate Woman!

Faster than the speed of two chocolate kisses melting in your pocket on an Arizona summer day…..chocolate woman comes to the rescue! Immediately appearing on the scene, somehow bypassing your various house alarms and barking dogs with a bag of home-made hersey’s brand chocolate chip – melt-in-your-mouth…COOKIES!!!!!!!!

Phew, that was close. You relax and then in the wink of a black cat’s eye…Chocolate woman is gone! You eat your cookie and go to bed and right to sleep….almost… after the caffeine wears off that is…still much sooner than if you had eaten that carrot!!!!!! You find yourself wondering , who was that woman and how did she get into my house!!!!!!!

Yes, Chocolate, ladies and gentleman, can be dangerous even to children and can make thieves of even the most well-meaning of friends. Has this happened to your child or someone’s child you know? Let’s call her Mary, not her real name. For Mary coming to school with a great peanut butter and jelly sandwich, chips, a can of apple juice and a big dark chocolate candy bar can be quite traumatic. Why in the time it takes to look up at the ceiling reacting to her friend Billy’s (not his real name) innocent question of ‘what’s that’and ‘made you look, dirty crook’ (ha,ha) a dastardly deed has been done, unbeknown to her at first.. Not until Mary has finished her sandwich and chips a few minutes after her friend left with a ‘gotta go’ does she discover the missing chocolate bar and starts crying…that’s when she needs:

Chocolate Woman!

With speed faster than any lightening flash could muster Chocolate Woman is on the scene. What’s wrong Mary? ‘Billy took my chocolate bar’, Mary says. Out of the corner her extremely sharp eyes, Chocolate Woman can see Billy walking to his bicycle. With graceful catlike movements chocolate woman races towards Billy silently, pulling out a small flat wooden rectangle from her pocket as she nears her target. The Chocolate bar is sticking quite noticeably out of Billy’s back pocket…with stealthy and practiced ease Chocolate Woman walks by Billy removing the chocolate bar and replacing it with the smooth and nonedible wood so deftly it was a sight of beauty to behold. As Chocolate Woman strolls back to Mary with her Chocolate Bar, Billy gets on his bike and reaches for his treasure from his back pocket….only to find to his surprise a piece of wood ….’huh?’ how did that get there? Crime does not pay, thinks Billy….thankfully, he never tries to steal again! At the same time Mary is handed her chocolate bar and shyly looks up to thank Chocolate Woman…but she is gone! Mary is happy..life is good…but who was that woman!!!!!!!

One last scenario to demonstrate the need: You’ve been asked to bring something chocolate to your company picnic. You’ve settled on that decadent chocolate cake recipe handed down through generations in your family and secretly guarded for all time (having special milk chocolate chips in the batter). You stay up late the night before….to bake this luscious treat, wait for it to cool and then you frost it with the most fudgy dark chocolate frosting that one could ever imagine. You go to bed comfortable in the knowledge that this item will be the hit of the picnic. In the morning you pack it up and head off to the event….chocolate cake in your car. As you are driving you dream of the approving smiles from all as they take that first bite of your cake…..then, the unthinkable happens…a rabbit hops into the road…you step on the brakes just in time to miss this little fellow and also just in time to hear a soft smooshing sound….what was that? NO! The cake…yes, the cake it in is several pieces on the floor boards of the back seat…..You are devastated , your heart is pounding too fast, you might be having a heart attack…..that’s when you need:

(Can you guess?) --------Chocolate Woman!

In the time it takes a humming bird to flap it’s wing one time Chocolate Woman is there….hold on she says…calm down..it will be ok…somehow you manage to catch your breath and look at this woman. In her hands she is holding a chocolate cake….she tells you it has Milk chocolate chips inside and the frosting is of the most fudgiest kind. You cannot believe it….not only that, incredible as it may seem there is not one crumb in the car, floorboards or anything…it has been cleaned up. You glance back at the woman but she has disappeared. Gone, with the wind……frankly, everyone, you know we all give a darn…..it’s chocolate!

Yes, this is a very serious matter. Adults and children at risk because of chocolate……stress, life as a thief, and even heartattacks can be avoided.

When all seems lost and chocolate is nowhere to be found…who has the power? Who do you call?

Repeat after me! Chocolate Woman!

And that, my friends concludes today's story about the adventures of Chocolate Woman!

Positive Art Entry 2010 - 25 The Day After

2010-09-05T15:58:00.001-07:00

So much can be said for beautiful weddings and their decorations. But all I really need to say is how wonderful it is when all the visuals come together to compliment a wonderful occassion.

The Day after is always so full of stories and memories.

There is beauty in the reminiscing over the sentimental and amazing wedding of your child. The most vivid is of course the visual memories right after the event. To talk about them soon after the event with others will help them be retained longer in our minds. The rainbow in the sky during rehearsal. The handsome groom and his sophisticated and charming groomsmen. The stunning maids of honor. The wonderful little flower girl haphazardly throwing the little green flower petals along the walkway. The little boy, looking like a little man walking along with pillow in hand. The utterly amazing bride coming down the aisle in her glittering white dress, bedecked with pearls around her neck, with her handsome and proud father alongside. All the guests in their finery.

The beautiful and most elegant cake which in it's simplicity had it's pattern repeated in the flower girl's dress. The green satin and white sheer draperies blowing in the wind. The green and white round lanterns hanging from the ceiling in the reception room. The amazing flowers hanging from shepherds hooks, towering over the tables on tops of high pearlescent vases, sparkling in the bridal bouquets and on the lower table centerpeices. The moving, gyrating and colorful dancing crowd. The deep reds and light yellows of the wines in their sparkling glasses. The darkness of the night arriving softly. The refreshing rain which fell just as the incredible band finished playing their last set. The night ending with the largest display of sparklers ever seen. Sparklers that were held by the guests forming an arch of twinkling starry light for the newlyweds to walk/run through to get to their shuttle taking them to the hotel.

The Day after is filled with these thoughts as sharp and clear memories. Written on paper...written on memory.

Positive Art Entry 2010 - 24 Wings

2010-07-26T00:23:00.000-07:00

As you may have noticed I like wings. This entry is one where my model graphic has dragon fire wings. Yes, it is a little different but I find it compelling. The animation world is a place where art meets imagination which then meets what you like. The positive thing about this is the enjoyment of what you like in something newly created. Mythical creatures and fantasy applications. It's begging for a story to be told. Another form of creation which has eluded me is writing stories about characters like this one in the post. I do better reading stories others have told. Who is that girl with the fire wings and the white dress? What is she? Food for some creative thought indeed. Smiles!

Positive Art Entry 2010 - 23 The thrill of color

2010-06-25T22:57:00.000-07:00

Art can be black and white...which I do like a lot. Art can also be colorful. There is a thrill that comes from a colorful art piece that isn't there with black and white. Color is energetic and enthusiastic. Here are a couple of colorful graphic peices that should serve to excite your visuals. A rainbow rave girl I created on a 3d Site.

Positive Art Entry 2010 - 22 Awe from our Youth

2010-06-14T20:34:00.000-07:00

I recently came upon a great entry about retaining the awe of our youth on a great blog called Whole Latte Life: http://joannedemaio.blogspot.com/2010/06/wonder-of-it-awe.html . Very well written sentiments about how we shouldn't forget that feeling of Awe that we felt when we discovered new things, played with our toys and imagined great things in our younger days! Joanne's ideas of keeping that wonder and putting it into what we do and create as a gift to others was an excellent approach to a creative artful process.

One thing I used to play with a lot as a child were paper dolls and making paper doll clothes. Coloring them and designing them. I used to leaf through all sorts of magazines as a child looking at all the clothes. Later when I learned to sew I would spent countless hours making Barbie doll clothes using patterns and designing new outfits without patterns. I remember one that I made to emulate a Hungarian folk dancer. In greens, whites and reds, with ribbons all over. I don't know what happened to that outfit. I do know that I had such a great time with it.

I used to love butterflies too. It would be fun to try to catch them but I was very careful to not hurt them and I always let them go. They were always so magical to me. Maybe that's where I got the inspiration to put together this avatar outfit and theme enclosed.....my artful gift for you today!

Positive Art Entry 2010 - 21 Transitions

2010-06-02T20:32:00.000-07:00

I've decided to transition this blog to a Positive Blog incorporating Art. Transitions can be very good! The one thing that has always fascinated me is the transitions in music over time...and of course the corresponding fashion. There is a colorful music and fashion genre called rave. It includes things that I don't necessarily like for myself like tatooing and peircings which add a punk look, or the drug culture which is associated with it. When I googled Rave on the internet there was a lot of negative associated with it. Even laws targeting Rave organizations and places. That is sad and takes away from the Art to a large degree. You might argue you can't seperate the bad from the good with Rave.

What I find fascinating is the techno music and the colorful clothing and light shows that are part of being rave. Here is a graphic of a Rave oufit in a rainbow color. The graphic is eye catching. The boots are called kickers and the sticks are called Rave sticks. The sticks light up and can be used in laser light dancing and I'm not sure what else. Check out this link on Glowsticking: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glowsticking . Or twirling: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twirling I've seen both in Mexico on stage and in fire shows, a topic for another entry. It is amazing to see these acts. In some places the glowsticks dancing have been banned due to the danger to other ravers dancing.

Of course you cannot forget the colorful hair. Techno and rave...how new is it? Raves have been around as an underground activity for a long time due to the drugs and some gang drug activity and violence. See this article on Raves: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rave It seems to have a young following these days from my observations. Note how many young people color their hair in pinks and greens these days...young meaning in their teens.

What is the next music and associated art transition? Who knows. One thing I do know, I definitely want to see it and blog about it. It's fascinating.

Here is an example of a light show with techno music:

Here is an example of other techno music:

PRETTY RAVE GIRL - Anime and techno tune:

TO CONCLUDE - A LASER LIGHT SHOW WITH TECHNO MUSIC AT A RAVE

Positive Entry 2010 -20 Magic Diary

2010-05-21T18:54:00.000-07:00

I'm beginning to think my blog should change from Postive Thinking to Thinking about Art! I hate to start another blog..I think two are almost too many as it is...but I seem to be moving more in the Artsy direction so this blog may get shut down soon..in the mean time it will be a blend of the positive and the artsy!

I had to make this entry because I was so fascinated by this site. It has a magic diary such as the one in one of the Harry Potter movies. When you write in it the writing disappears and a response suddenly appears. It even will remember your name! Some very out of the box and artsy thinking going on here. So if you feel like writing and would like some simple responses...give it a try: http://pandorabots.com/pandora/talk?botid=c96f911b3e35f9e1

Positive Entry 2010 - 19 The Art World

2010-05-21T18:31:00.000-07:00

There are many reasons why Art is so important to the world. It is filled with new ideas and different ways of thinking. I find that there are so many ways to participate in this field that there should be something for everyone! Writing poems, taking photographs, drawing, painting, even avatar graphics. I've discovered the fun of creating interesting characters and places. The fashion aspect and the experimenting with different aspects of what I myself might be like in the animated world. Imagine a place where you never change...unless you wanted to. You can even wear masks and have hair that touches the ground. This is the world of Art! Provoking, whimsical and strange at times. Here are a few of my recent experiments:

Positive Entry 2010 - 18 - 5 things to know of Chocolate

2010-05-19T22:12:00.001-07:00

I knew it the whole time! Chocolate is good for you. The darker the better. I think this youtube blurb explains it quite well by focusing on the 5 benefits of Chocolate:

1)Antioxidants
2)Not so Fatty
3)Pass on Coffee, not Chocolate
4)Mood Pleaser
5)Remember moderation

I love that there are positive things about chocolate. Moderation is the key!

Positive Entry 2010 - 17 - Feathers, Fur and Branches

2010-05-17T01:18:00.000-07:00

What? Feathers, Fur and Branches. Seattle Fashion Week 2010 was the host to a designer that created some very interesting outfits. They were imaginative although not really wearable outside of maybe a movie set or theatre stage. I was very intrigued by the show and when looking at the pictures of the other designers clothes that evening I found these the most compelling for some reason. Positive inspirations come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. This certainly appealed to my Science Fiction Fantasy side. I think the lanterns were a nice touch. Interesting idea to wear stockings on only one leg. Kudos for some out of the box thinking. Here are some of the photos I took as they walked down the stage:

Postive Entry 2010 - 16 Seattle Fashion Week

2010-05-14T13:55:00.000-07:00

Fashion as a positive force? I say yes!

When I was in college I had a thought, an idea that I might become a fashion designer or own a clothing store with my own unique line of clothes. I majored in marketing and went on to work in accounting at a big company. Now that I'm retired, I'm having these thoughts again. This week Seattle is having a fashion week with an expo and runway shows. It's a positive force to follow your dreams and fashion was one of mine. In addition, I've always felt that fashion makes us feel good if we don't get too carried away. Comfort is key but looks are important too.

Here is a little longer version of 2009!

I find this too INSPIRING!!!!! Such energy and fun, it's just too Cool.

Positive Entry 2010 15 - Aly and AJ Shine

2010-05-12T17:03:00.000-07:00

There are people in the entertainment industry that just Shine! Aly and AJ are two of these people. This song they sing is one of the nicest songs. It's a slideshow video on Youtube but that makes it easier to listen to the words..the song ends with "every day is another opportunity to Shine' I love it and I'm sure it will be a brighter day for you if you listen to it! They have other videos that are also very good and uplifting. You Shine girls!

Thanks, Aly and AJ...:)

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Positive Entry 2010 - 14 - Avatars

2010-05-04T09:16:00.000-07:00

Avatars Can be inspiring. I created a little slide show of some Avatar pics I created on IMVU: a more advanced avatar site which has some great animations. I love the fashion designing and there is opportunity to try some different things to do as well. Having amazing pets or even trying on wings that work. I have always been a science fiction and fantasy story buff so this is inspiring to me. The website is: http://www.imvu.com/catalog/web_index.php It's artsy and I like that.

(removed music...didn't know how to keep it from starting)..:)

http://www.slide.com/r/OirYRy5j5T9CrTA3AlzLNhyZdbYu0ugl?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

Positive Entry 2010 - 13 - Harp Moon River

2010-04-30T14:57:00.000-07:00

Moon River on the Harp!

This haunting melody always has me thinking of Sentimental times. It was 'our Song' and my DH (Dear Husband) and I danced to this as our opening song...recorded not on Harp like this beautiful rendition by Harpist Tomoko Sato. The positive force of music cannot be denied! It renders me speechless at times. We all participate in music in some way, either making it or listening to it! When I need a boost...I turn on a little tune or play one. Life is much more with music in it! Even the birds sing!

Here are a couple of other links to her harp music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8FWcoWInWs&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO99EZ4RXZE&feature=related

Hope this lifted your spirits...Smiles!

Positive Entry 2010 - 12 Improving Attention

2010-04-28T16:38:00.000-07:00

HOW MEDITATION IMPROVES ATTENTION!

Or in my case Attention Span! I am constantly jumping around between topics and ideas. About the only time I settle down in my brain (other than sleeping) is when I'm watching TV or reading a book and somehow I can tune things out then so I can focus only on that task. The following Article makes the case for using meditation for improving your attention. Wouldn't it be good to have the ability to concentrate on what you are doing and not be distracted? Maybe you already have this talent. I think that maybe many athletes and muscisians have developed it. Maybe it helps them to keep from choking...making mistakes. It's not only practice that makes perfect but concentration as well. When we get self conscious we loose focus, our attention is diverted from what we are doing. If meditation can help with that I'm all for it. Here is a link to the article on the Psychology Blog.. http://www.spring.org.uk/2009/05/how-meditation-improves-attention.php which has more information on this very interesting and perhaps mind enhancing topic!

Positive Entry 2010 - 11 - Decisions

2010-04-27T16:50:00.000-07:00

Decide to Decide!

Have you ever gone out to dinner and were asked what you would like to order, only to hemm and hawww and ask the other person to go first...or even say something like I'll have what you are having? Was the main reason because you just couldn't decide? Guess what, you can do something about that....

This indecisiveness at dinner can be symptomatic of a bigger decision problem. Check out this article from Anthony Fernando on making decisions: http://www.anthonyfernando.com/2010/04/21/decide-to-be-decisive/

He points out the problem with the little indecisive behaviors. He says making decisions is a skill that has to be practiced. Why didn't I think of that? It takes practice. My DH (Dear Husband) is constantly getting irritated when I can't decide right away or hesitate with the little decisions. So the next time the opportunity comes up I am going to be decisive! I am going to not worry about it so much. I mean agonizing about the little things makes it that much harder on the bigger decisions. Anthony is write...I need to practice.

Anthony also has some very inspirational videos on his site. One Youtube video of his is a Never Giving Up Poem and it is not only uplifting it's very nice. I'll use it for not giving up on practicing...it's not easy practicing to be decisive!!!!!!

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Positive Entry 2010 -10 Optimism vs. Pessimism -

2010-04-26T22:42:00.000-07:00

OPTIMISM VS PESSIMISM

This subject is constantly coming up in my mind. I'm a proponent of optimism but not so much that you become delusional. I do believe that thoughts can lead to actions - good thoughts to good actions and bad thoughts to bad actions. I wanted to learn more about what others thought and began surfing the internet and ran across some interesting articles on the subject.

One article was written by a Nick Shultz - you can read it in it's entirety at this link:
http://www.articlesbase.com/self-improvement-articles/optimism-vs-pessimism-102077.html
In his closing, Nick talks about the importance of taking productive action along with having an optimistic attitude. He mentions a women he knew that had a pessimistic approach by expecting the worst to happen so that she would be surprised when something good happened. All too true in my experience, is that in the meantime while 'waiting' for the surprise, she was miserable. I'm with Nick - be optimistic, enjoy life, take the productive action to make it so!

Thanks, Nick! Smiles to you.

What about the Operation Nice posts by Melissa? One of my favorite bloggers.

There is the post which highlights the optimism of an 11 year old, named Jessica, who raised money by founding a charity at such a young age. The Charity was called 'Richards Rwanda' and was established by her to educate Rwandan young girls and successfully raised $75,000. Here is the link: http://www.operationnice.com/2010/02/nice-news-making-difference-at-14.htmlto that site. It has a CNN video interview on the site with her at 14 years of age.

Melissa has posted many times about positive effort and the productivity of optimism especially in times when tragedy strikes. She did a series of what she called Nice Campaings. A particular post about the tragic accident of a young girl and the resulting response by a friend to send out a 'Hey You'all' was very touching . In this little gesture the vitality and personality of the young girl lives on. Here is the link to that post: http://www.operationnice.com/2010/04/nice-campaign-hey-yall-day.html it's a worthwhile read.

Thanks, Melissa! Smiles to you!

I can't write about optimism without mentioning the Positivity Blog. Henrik Edberg. On his post: Take the Positivity Challenge: http://www.positivityblog.com/index.php/2007/02/09/take-the-positivity-challenge/ He goes into the rationale of why people aren't more positive. Some thought provoking and common sense answers to that are posted as well as some tips on how to be more positive.

Smiles to you Henrik!

It seems to me that life is just better if we look at the bright side and keep moving forward instead of sliding back into the past, revisiting the could of's, would of's and should of's that might have been.

A quick recap:

Be productive as well as have a positive attitude
Look to the future good that you can do
Don't look back, the past is past and it wasn't meant to be dwelt upon

I'll end with, Smiles to you, the readers!

Maria

Positive Entry - 2010 - 8

2010-04-22T16:10:00.000-07:00

EARTH DAY ENTRY - The unraveling

You might not have noticed this one but on the Google home page it is today's featured link. It is more of an awareness video...no strings attached (ha, ha).

There is Hope - Happy Earth Day!
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Positive Entry 2010 - 6

2010-04-09T10:59:00.000-07:00

FLY

This is a Youtube video called 'Fly' I found when I was surfing the web after a relative sent me a wonderful song about Oregon...:)

This is inspirational in that the message is about finding yourself and being the best you! I love that message!

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Positive Entry 2010 - 7

2010-04-01T10:46:00.000-07:00

Before and After!

A garden can change so much just with plants growing but when a person decided to get things cleaned up the effects can be pretty dramatic. We decided to make our garden easier to take care of and to add cleaner lines. I tend to love the English cottage look and the tropical look too, but I'm finding I cannot maintain it that well. See the before photos of the front of our yard by the house. There was a quaint beauty here but it was quickly getting out of control. The palm greens were getting too large and although I love them as a reminder of tropical times...they had to go....with some soul searching and a lot of convincing from my husband we decided to add a sidewalk and some borders to create a more welcoming and clean look...what do you think?

Before

After

Before

After

Yay!!!!!!!

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Positive Entry - 2010 - 5

2010-03-23T20:26:00.000-07:00

HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE FLYLADY?

This is a You-tube entry by a woman who calls herself the Flylady! Fly is also an acronym FLY which stands for Finally Loving Yourself. She also has a great website for getting your life in order: http://flylady.net/index.asp

Her ideas are worth trying and this beach scene is worth viewing.

Because of her I'm actually making progress with my clutter and she is able to help me do this in a very relaxing manner using babysteps!!!!!

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Positive Entry 2010 - 4

2010-02-14T13:34:00.000-08:00

A Valentine's Day Thought

What is Romance to you? Now there is a good question. I heard it asked on the Nancy Kerrigan's 'Enchanted Evening' Ice Skating special today on Channel 5 TV in our Area. It was asked of the Skaters in the program. The answers were widesspread between Romance being described as time spent with someone you care about to Love and a Feeling.

I think Romance is a positve thing if it is mutual between two people...even if not there is beauty in it. Romance is a special thing alright. To me it is a state of mind in general. It is a way of looking at life and your closest friends and family. Jane Seymour has a great book about Romantic living (Called Jane Seymour's Guid to Romantic Living) and it is all about living with a love and passion of life, of being creative and forever looking for beauty in life. I like that view. Romance is so much easier when you beginning something new...and new adventure, a new love, a vacation. It seems to be more of an impact when you don't even have to think about it to feel it. Although you do have to think about it to make romantic things happen...because it is a feeling and because it is a mood it is hard to predict but not so hard to plan for happening. Candles, a little champagne and strawberries. Soft music. Beautiful scenery..water, mountains, sunsets. What is romance to you? Do you have some thoughts to share?

Maria

Positive Entry 2010 - 3

2010-02-01T21:19:00.000-08:00

A Harp Orchestra for your Inspiration

Sometimes I feel like a very small voice in the wilderness on my blog, but that's ok. These entries may be solitary ones, like a tree that rustles in the deep woods for a little while. I hope to gather a faithful following of friends that benefit from these entries some day...as they say persistance pays off! The inspirations that come may be a bit haphazard yet I am compelled to continually share them. I really can't help it. In the case of this entry I am writing about something that I have found to be of importance to me for some reason. The subject of Harps. Harps are so amazing. I found this YouTube harp presentation to be amazingly soothing and pretty. I"m learning to play a harp...you can see a photo of me with it below. It's a slow process but I'm getting there.... It takes practice and positive thinking to master any skill. You never know where it will take you.

The orchestra is young but together with the flutes, chimes and violins the buildup at the end is really nice! Enjoy.

and then there is this wonderful harpist, Katrina, who absolutely knows how to strum the strings in this beautiful rendition of the Wedding March as if she were an angel - listen for the grand finale:

Ending with me and my harp...dreaming of playing those tunes some day!

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Positive Entry 2010 - 2

2010-01-12T06:35:00.000-08:00

ENCOURAGEMENT WIRED!

We all need encouragement! The Encouragement Wired website is a great place to get some nice reminders of how important encouragement is with some tips on how to be more encouraging to others. Here is their home page link: http://encouragement-wired.com/default.aspx . You can also sign up for a great newsletter from them. Today's post was on the 30 second rule in relationships which simply involves this:

Within 30 seconds of a conversation, say something encouraging to the other person.

Giving out compliments focuses one on the value of the other person and prevents one from being self-absorbed.....Be sure to visit and see the rest, including principles and tips.

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My Positive fixes entry 2010 - 1

2010-01-11T12:18:00.000-08:00

FOUNTAINS OF INSPIRATION

This is incredibly inspiring and beautiful. The Fountain in Dubai in this link really is incredible. I could listen to this all day. Check out the You-tube video below. The music is called Baba Yetu.... There are postive vibes here as well as some thought provoking questions. What is the cost of this beauty? What is the price of inspiration? What would this world be without beauty such as this? These are not easy questions to answer. I can only say that I am inspired and that is priceless.

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My Positive fixes - entry 2009-4

2009-12-21T19:52:00.000-08:00

MUTTERINGS - FREE ASSOCIATION

This is sort of like a gazing globe for the mouth...:)

http://subliminal.lunanina.com/

Week 360

I say ... and you think ... ?

Here are my answers:

1. Interest – the money I earn on savings – Yay!
2. Chase – Manhattan, a mortgage company for homes
3. Itch – scratching that satisfies
4. Soothe – lotion effect on the hands
5. Lamp – light in the living room
6. Tutor – teacher with a personal touch
7. Nicole – one of my daughter’s friends
8. Sloth – furry mammal
9. Burn - The TV show ‘Burn Notice’
10. Bug - Ladybug

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My positive fixes - entry 2009 - 03

2009-12-21T12:38:00.000-08:00

CHRISTMAS FROM THE HEART

This is such a magical time of year. I know that not everyone celebrates Christmas but I wish everyone did. The traditions and decorations, the feeling of good will, the hope in a new beginning, a clean spirit, a joyful time are all part of this time. The true spirit of Christmas is about giving and helping and enjoying each other from the heart. I've always felt that it's important to give of oneself especially at this time of year.

My memories of Christmas extend way back to when I was about 3 years old and my sister and I were all dressed up for church. We were at a friend's home that day and got our photo taken at the foot of their huge, and I mean huge, tree. Even though the photo is in black and white I still remember some of the colors of the dresses we wore and the presents under the tree. Not much more just the image of it being a special time. My mom always dressed my sister and I like twins when were were young. It was easier I guess. We are 1 and 1/2 years apart, me being the oldest...but she was pretty much the taller one the whole time we were growing up and she still is!

I remember being so grateful for whatever we got for presents. You can't imagine how that felt unless you have been in situations when you don't have a lot of money. We played with the toys all year long and when Easter or our Birthday's came we would get presents then but otherwise we got what we needed. There was not much money to spend on wants during the rest of the year especially since there eventually were seven of us siblings, with me as the oldest. Somehow I think that made Christmas all the more special. Looking forward to seeing those presents under the tree was so exciting...however, I think it was even more fun anticipating and then walking out of our rooms on Christmas Eve after the 'angel' had come to see our presents all wrapped up. Giggling with each other as we opened our own packages. These are some of my Christmas childhood memories.

Maybe that is why my family keeps up this tradition even though we have all grown up and our children are young adults for the most part. But now, we are in a better position and we are used to just buying things throughout the year when we want them. We have more than we need, luckily we all have fulltime jobs and can do this. I know that having gift exchanges are fun and all but somehow the magic is not the same. I am so blessed to have so many things, and even though I am not rich by any means I don't really need anything. What I love is to get gifts from the heart and to give gifts from the heart. I think that is what we all love. That is what is uplifting to me. It is always so wonderful to know someone thought of you from their heart. Even the gesture of a gift to a charity from their heart on your behalf is something to cherish. I love hearing the story of the charity or how the giving was done. There are so many deserving people out there that are out of work or ill. Prayers are always good to give. I try to write a few prayers this time of year to give silently to those in need. Especially those I might know about more personally. Prayers do get answered.

In any case, thinking about this and how we feel when we know we have celebrated Christmas from the heart is exciting. Ask yourself if the gift you are giving is from the heart and if not, how can it be from the heart?..or better yet make an afformation - How is it from the heart? and make it happen.

It's almost Christmas, isn't it time for making more memories we will cherish for years to come - like this little gif made by a fellow blogger awhile ago and shared with me and many others gifts like these from her heart before she became ill and had to cut back on her sharing. Her heartfelt gift remains for me and you to enjoy!

My positive fixes - entry 2009 - 02

2009-11-23T19:34:00.000-08:00

PINK ROSE of ELEGANCE - HENRIK EDBERG

This is my second post on my positive fixes. I feel compelled
to seek out things which are positive and optimistic. We have too
much attention on the cyniscism in the world. I feel that more
energy needs to be expended on the bright and useful thinking
surrounding us. While it's not good to bury one's head in the
sand like the proverbial ostriche it's also not good to dwell on
what is wrong all the time. That's why we have backup plans.
In any case I am convinced that a focus on the positive in the
moment will help us to avoid the negative in the moment and
thus in the future as well.

My entry today is a spotlight on a blogger who continually inspires.
I am completely impressed with this positive thinker!
Henrik Edberg is the blogger and his intention is to write
about all sorts of positive things that might help people.

He writes in the entry at this link:
http://www.positivityblog.com/index.php/2009/11/20/9-life-lessons-i-have-learned-from-blogging/
about his tips on blogging.

Who couldn't use some good blogging tips.

He covers 9 lessons he's learned about life
through his blogging. To wet your curiousity appetite here
are the titles of the nine lessons ----------------
(he has some great explanations for each one on his site):

1) Don't wait for Inspiration
2) More work less talk
3) Learn from people with more experience
4) You need to set limits and just focus on what is important
5) You get what you give
6) More external validation won't save you
7) Ideas and insights are fleeting
8) How you present it makes a big difference
9) Don't think about what everyone else may think

I enjoy Henrik's candor and his indepth writings. Maybe you
will too. He identified not just two or three lessons but nine!!!!!
I felt that all were great but I especially liked 1), 2), 5) and 7).
The images he chooses for his entries are always very intriguing
to me as well. Whether you agree with these lessons or not,
after reading his descriptions you might find your own life
enriched a little after visiting his blog. I know I did. I'm very much
of the thinking if just even one person is helped that is success!
It always makes me think..what if...?

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My positive fixes - entry 2009 - 01

2009-11-06T13:24:00.000-08:00

THREE BLOGGERS OF NOTE:

I sometimes visit my favorite blogs, twitters or facebooks and get some wonderful ideas and links to help satisfy my addiction to positive things. Whenever I visit a site which I think is positive or inspiring I have been trying to find a way to capture that for the future. I tend to jump around a lot so that I lose track in my travels between blogs, comments and sites sometimes and have been trying to think of ways to capture these entries for later visiting. I don't want to lose them.

Ta da! I found a way to keep that thread by periodically blogging about their blog, site or twitter. I can note why I think that the entries are a positive force and an antidote to my affliction with Positive thinking. Yes, I say it is like the caffiene for my coffee. Sometimes I need to revisit these places and when I can't find them again I feel a sense of loss. Hopefully, no longer will this be a problem as I begin to capture these visits on my blog from now on! I also love to number things. That's keeping me organized as well. Notice that this entry title is numbered Positive fix 2009-01. ( I don't think I'll get past 99 before December). (An addiction to numbers can be a bit much I admit, but I love to number things to for tracking and find them later. I have some latent Librarian desires and tendencies...don't even get me started on the Dewey Decimal system....hmmm, I haven't thought about that for a long time.)

Today I'm going to honor three sites that had blogs or ideas I thought were especially fit for getting a positive fix (besides mine of course...LOL):

1) Operation Nice - a great blog entry about doing nice things. See the link on my sidebar to the right? It says I'm very nice, with the link: http://www.operationnice.com/ I want to bring your attention to a particular entry on the blog that I connected with immediately at this link: http://www.operationnice.com/2009/10/i-did-my-assignment.html#links Melissa, the blogger made Halloween cards and candy bags and handed them out to her favorite Starbuck's employees as a random act of kindness. I connected with it because I did something little similar to this at a restaurent I went to on Halloween day. I had these little photo cards that had the cutest pumpkins on the front and some Halloween humor inside: "What is the ratio of a Jack-O-Lantern's circumference to it's Diameter? Answer: Pumpkin Pi! " After our meal and as I was leaving I slipped one of these cards on the table with a hand written 'thank-you from a customer' inside along side humor. ...I also made one out for my Physical Therpist the day before and handed it to her as I was leaving. It's nice way of both extending appreciation and gratitude.

Reading over Melissa's blog I got routed to another site whose photography and posts are most inspiring:

2) The site is entitled: 'Be yourself - Everyone else is taken' by Beth. It is a collection of photos and poems and just positive and inspiring peices. In particular is this one which caught my eye and heart: http://moredoors.blogspot.com/2009/10/i-dont-ever-want-to-judgedo-you.html Here Beth was walking along in and saw some kids having fun and laughing and figured out how to interact with them in the most amazing way with her photography. They all seemed to have fun and when all was said and done it left me smiling. You can find more on her post by Clicking on the 2009 in the right hand column of the post.

3) At the bottom of the Be Yourself site I found another link to tryout. See how my thread gets woven with jumping from one site to the next? It's all good but very time consuming. This new site is inspiring to me because I am hooked on numbers and time management ideas. I am not saying I'm especially great at this but it is a obsession of mine. Couple this with an engaging photographer and new ideas and I'm hooked. Have you ever seen a Human Calendar? Here you go: http://www.humancalendar.com/ To read about this just click on the calendar or go to http://www.humancalendar.com/about.php The link is cool because it actually changes when the calendar changes..you will see that is should be reading the current month! It is so much fun. The author/programmer Craig D. Giffin also has a human clock site: http://www.humanclock.com/ I am just too inspired.

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Passing the Purple Hat - Erma Bombeck

2009-11-05T13:14:00.000-08:00

This is a little delayed for October but since I have had some pretty close calls with cancer I figured better late than never for this little post.

Passing the Purple Hat IN honor of women's history month and in memory of Erma Bombeck who lost her fight with cancer. Pass this on to any women that you want watched over.

These are the colours that represent the different cancers.

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck (written after she found out she was dying from cancer).

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.'

There would have been more 'I love you's'

More 'I'm sorry's.'

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute.look at it and really see it . . live it and never give it back.

STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!

Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what

Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.

If you don't mind, send this message on to all the women you are grateful to have as friends.

Maybe we should all grab that purple hat earlier. This is a disease which affects all families... no one is exempt!

This message was going around in an email but it was so positive I just decided to post it as a blog item.

________________________________________

David Allen on Decision-making

2009-11-04T20:26:00.000-08:00

Do you have trouble making decisions? That could be a real blocker. Before you can take action you need to decide. Of course, simply making decisions won't guarentee you take action but if you get in to the habit of making a decision to act now or schedule things until later you will get more done for sure. Decide to act. Here is some great thinking on decision making and getting things done from David Allen...one of the most positive forces for positive thinking I have met!

David Allen is one of the best gurus on getting things done and making decisions I have yet to encounter. His techniques are helpful and effective. His writing and speaking skills are exemplary. It's a joy just to read his material. . I'm always inspired and optimistic after reading one of his newsletter entries. His thoughts on Decision-making are profoundly simple and common sensical.

DAVID'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT

THE DUE DILIGENCE OF DECISION-MAKING

If you had no trouble making decisions, you would probably have no trouble. You'd still have challenges, but problems would be in motion toward solutions, no "stuff" would lie around draining your psychic energy, and things to be done would be funneled into a process of completion as they show up instead of as they blow up.

There is obviously a strong connection between choice-making and productive, relaxed behavior. So, what's the issue about making decisions? Why don't you immediately and easily get off the dime with a pending choice and dispatch it? Several hindering factors could be at work:

1. Decisions require thinking, which takes time and energy. Often you feel you have neither.

2. You believe if you choose, you lose. Deciding means there's something you must sacrifice. Likely you are spoiled—you'd love to pretend that you could really have it all. You may add way too much reading material to your piles, for instance, instead of limiting it on the front end.

3. Bad choices get the blame. You can't be blamed for going off course if you're not yet on the course.

4. You potentially create lurking monsters. If you got feedback from every decision instantly, you could probably handle it easier than having to make choices for which the consequences could be far-reaching and unexpected.

So, if thorough front-end decision-making is a key success behavior, and you can easily get sidetracked, can you train yourself to make them quicker, better, and more thoroughly across your life and work? Sure.

The most all-encompassing approach would be to do whatever you need to do to gain a greater sense of self worth, giving you more confidence and reducing the fear of making mistakes. But perhaps the most significant short-term factor in ensuring consistent decision-making is increasing your discomfort with not doing it. If you raise the bar internally with how much ambiguity and lack of clarity you are willing to tolerate, you'll find it much easier (necessary, actually) to just get on with it. We spend thousands of hours holding a focus for our clients to make hundreds of thousands of decisions that have been pending in their psyche and their world—from random papers on their desk to key issues distracting their consciousness.

They would not have allowed those to linger had their comfort zone not tolerated them.
So how do you raise your standards about indecision you'll tolerate? Become conscious of the inventory of choices you haven't made, but need to. Realize that executive time and energy must be committed to expedite the process, and discipline yourself to empty your in-basket regularly. Commit to bigger results that require an intelligent allocation of your limited resources. And practice, practice, practice... until you get so accustomed to the energy you experience with a clear deck internally, you just won't allow the nagging lack of choice to linger.

2009 The David Allen Company. All Rights Reserved

Please feel free to forward this message to friends, family, and colleagues, keeping our contact and copyright information intact.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Please visit us on the web at http://www.davidco.com/, email us at info@davidco.com, or call 805-646-8432.

The David Allen Company407-F Bryant CircleOjai, CA 93023(805) 646-8432info@davidco.com
A Smarter Way to Work & Live®

Rainbow from October

2009-11-01T14:58:00.000-08:00

A good day is a day with a rainbow! Seattle was dubbed the Emerald city a few years ago but a vote of the general populatons. I think it should have been called the rainbow city. We get quite a few rainbows around here. This year with all the sunshine we've been having it has been even better than most years.

What is a rainbow? Obviously it's a ribbon of light comprised of several colors. A prism in the sky made by rain and sun together. It is a dream for finding happiness. Following the rainbow to it's end for that pot of gold is an anecdote for following your dreams for your own happiness. One day when I first met my husband we asked each other a question about a wish. If you could have one wish what would it be? He went first. He said he would wish for happiness. I was impressed and immediately realized that I wanted that same wish. Whether we get money, fame, health or anything else in our lives it means nothing if we aren't happy. I still wanted all those other things and that didn't stop. But as for my wishes....happiness definitely topped the list for me. I wonder how others think about this. Why is it that happiness is the grandest wish of all?

Dale Carnegie on Attitude - And the Little Golden Book

2009-10-07T19:32:00.001-07:00

I am very high on the Dale Carnegie learnings. He was a master of helping people be more optimistic and his little golden book is a wonderful guidebook. I was fortunate to take a Dale Carnegie class a few years ago and we learned the lessons in the little Golden Book. I was especially lucky to have a great trainer named Nathan Czubaj (shoe-buy).

Carnegie's Golden Book: http://www.dalecarnegie.com/golden_book.jsp

Carnegie's Website for more information:
http://www.dalecarnegie.com/about_us/about_us.jsp

"Remember happiness doesn't depend upon who you are or what you have; it depends solely upon what you think. So start each day by thinking of all the things you have to be thankful for. Your future will depend very largely on the thoughts you think today. So think thoughts of hope and confidence and love and success."
~ Dale Carnegie

Here is some great advice on how to reduce stress from the Dale Carnegie people!

Attitude Control to Reduce Stress

When you get your work attitudes under control, every other aspect of your work improves. Try to implement these attitude-control concepts to streamline your work habits.
Connect with Coworkers and Use Their NamesIt's easy to become so self-focused in a workday that you start to tune out your coworkers. This can add to a feeling of isolation and stress at work. It is better from a stress standpoint to reach out and greet others, learn their names, and maybe even win friends in the process.

Let Things Go

There comes a time when you recognize that the best solution is to relax and accept that you can't have everything turn out perfectly every time. If you feel like you are experiencing too much stress in a situation, ask yourself, "Is this a situation where I should just let go?" or "Does this need to be perfect?" The answer may surprise you.

Take Charge

Your attitudes improve when you take charge of situations and accomplish a goal. At the very least, you can take charge of your own workload, relationships, and attitude. When you hesitate or procrastinate, you undermine your energy and make your work more stressful than it has to be.

Stay Calm

Whatever it takes - counting to 10, taking deep breaths, going for a walk, or doing a quick meditation, concentrate on staying calm. Avoid overreacting, lashing out, or acting impulsively, which only adds to your stress level.

Appreciate the Uniqueness in Others

As much as you sometimes feel that way, you really would not like it if everyone was just like you at the workplace. It would be boring. Differences in backgrounds, perspectives, and work styles make the workplace more interesting and vibrant, not less. Work on appreciating the unique strengths of others and the richness they bring to your life.
__________________________________________

Life

2009-10-06T22:44:00.000-07:00

Life isn't tied with a bow...but it's still a gift!
Enjoy it!

What makes me happy - Gazebos!

2009-09-15T16:40:00.001-07:00

I made a past an entry on what makes me happy and listed well over 20 items... see link: http://areyoupositive.blogspot.com/2009/08/light-your-day-with-smiles.html

One of the items listed was Gazebos! I love them. They make me smile whenever I see them. They remind me of many things like: the Sound of music, of people on their happy wedding days, of carousels and bands playing old time rag tunes, of beautiful craftsmanship, of vacation resorts, of friendly times and happy faces..just to name a few....sunsets and backyards too!

One Heart- Two hands and Audrey Hepburn - Spotlight

2009-09-04T20:14:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you run into a soul mate. Someone who might think the same as you and feel about things the same as you do. People who think it's important to bring positive things into the light strike me as soul mates. I recently encountered a blog that I really liked. It is fairly new but the thoughts and ideas are so similar to my thinking I had to spotlight it. I had a comment on my last blog that I followed up on and discovered a very neat lady who has a blog called: One Heart – Two Hands. Her site title happens to have the last part of an Audrey Hepburn poem. I had taped a printout of this poem to my computer wardrobe door a couple of years agoe and it's still there. I love Audrey Hepburn..she is the soul of sophistication and elegance.

Anyone can see this quality in her photos, her movies, her voice. Here is the entire poem which ends with the reference to Two Hands. I am told that Audrey Hepburn favorite poem, by Sam Levensen, when asked to share her "beauty tips", was this one ....It was read at her funeral years later:

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.
People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed;
Never throw out anyone.
Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one
at
the end of each of each of your arms.
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands;
One
For helping yourself, and the other for helping others.

Thank-you to this wonderful blogger know as One Heart – Two Hands.

I'm thinking why is it that I think a lot of people will visit her site? Why is it that she has something of value to share?

Why is it that Audrey was so kind and elegant? You tell me....

here is a wonderful site with some of her accomplishments and more photos: http://www.princessmonkey.com/audrey/part1.html

It turns out that my wedding dance song came from one of her movies...Breakfast at Tiffany's...the song is "Moon River".....:)

Good luck One Heart – Two Hands!

Thank-you!

Light your day with Smiles

2009-08-18T10:05:00.000-07:00

Identify at least 20 + ways to reduce stress by focusing on what makes you smile. These are opportunities for both Home and Work implementations.. I thought I would publish my list because I was reviewing it today and I'm way past 20! Just reading the list makes me smile.

1. Jasmine (my daughter)

2. Ron (my guy)

3. nature walk

4. flowers

5. rollerblading

6. music pachebel

7. swans

8. photography

9. calligraphy

10. jewelry

11. sparkles

12. sunsets or sunrises

13. Fire in the fireplace

14. little red doll I made (make more!)

15. valentines

16. gazebos

17. french doors

18. Little cottages

19. Beaches

20. Palm trees

21. writing card or letter

22. making gifts for people

23. scrapbooking

24. markets

25. candles

26. clean room

27. other people smiling

28. my mom's talents and smile

29. my dad's smile and organization skills

30. my sister Kathy's talents and patience

31. inspirational cards/posters/photos

32. birthdays, mine and others

33. exercising with Karlyne

34. shopping at Costco with Ron

35. Ron's dinners

36. Watching Soccer

37. Movies - Charming dramas,mystery

38. Movies - good music - August Rush (music)

39. Music - Classical, Easy Jazzy, Pop Rock,

40. Music - Christmas, choirs,

41. Music - Strings - Guitars, Violins, Bass,

42. Music - Flutes, Harps, Dulcimers

43. Music - Bells

44. Music - Church singing

45. Mexico

46. California

47. Arizona

48. Florida

49. Washington

50. East Coast USA

51. West Coast USA

52. Oregon

53. Waterfalls

Light of the day

2009-08-11T13:22:00.001-07:00

Decided to change my blog header photo to something more appropriate to thinking positively. Of course I love quotes that are uplifting as well. When I get up in the morning I love to see the sun rising if I can. Our bedroom has a window which faces east, making that much easier to do for the most part. However, this is Seattle and there are many gray and foggy mornings. Surprisingly, there are many sunny and bright mornings as well in the area. The one thing I do when I'm on vacation is watch the sunset. I'm usually too tired to see the sunrise and sometimes the sunsets are just easier to see since the sun sets in the west and we tend to vacation on the Pacific Coast.

Here is a great photo of a sunrise I caught on a recent vacation in the Cruise port coming into Mazatlan.

Talk about lighting the day. It was a great start to a fun day. I wish I knew the answers to lighting tomorrow with today for everyone. I know that the seeds we sow each day are what germinate and manifest themselves for the future. I'm a strong believer in the thought that letting your light shine through each day can't help but light tomorrow for you and those around you. Doing something nice today...what a great idea!

The Gratitude Dance

2009-08-08T11:48:00.000-07:00

I'm on twitter now and as of this morning I'm trying to send my blog posts RSS feeds to the twitter feed. I'm experimenting with the best way to use it and thought one good way to use it is to get a direct feed to twitter of my blog posts. So far it hasn't updated yet...not sure how it works. However, as I was up on Twitter I noticed a post from my friend Theresa, which really made my day.

Her post linked to a site which showed a video of two guys who made up this dance called the gratitude dance: http://daily.finerminds.com/spirit/gratitude/the-gratitude-dance-you-dont-even-need-rhythm-to-do-this/ . I loved it and it really made me smile. I think it will make you smile too.

Considering that I'm sitting here with a broken leg and it still made me smile I figured that qualified it for a pretty good entry. I was thinking, I'm grateful that I only broke one leg! Even though my soccer days are numbered now...I think zero would be that number...:) I am grateful I got to play for a few games before my injury. It was so much fun. I have to admit that my bones are just too soft for me to take any more risk of injury to play again. That's just the breaks. (ha, ha).

Thinking but not posting is ok! Sometimes.

2009-07-14T08:20:00.000-07:00

Aha! You may have been wondering about the positive thought a day and where did it go? It didn't go anywhere! I'm still having positive thoughts every day even though I'm not posting them! I hope that you are having positive thoughts as well. There is power in sharing them so I have decided to make the extra effort to post more often. We all get busy and priorities set in to keep us from sharing as much as we like. The power of sharing is unbelievable. I've discovered that power again after reading a great article from Toastmasters on Journaling to realize your dreams by Joy Lardner. It's in a back issue from January of 2008 but well worth the read..here is a link: http://www.toastmasters.org/ToastmastersMagazine/ToastmasterArchive/2008/January/Departments_1/HowTo.aspx . Reading and journaling can help us dream and fulfill our dreams. What is written down has a much better chance of getting done. What we read shapes our dreams. What we share of our dreams helps others as well as ourselves. That's why thinking but not posting is ok for one person but thinking and posting our dreams and hopes benefits even more poeple. A good thing to consider when that writing slump period sets in as it will do from time to time!

Joy writes:

How To: The Joy of Journaling
Write things down and change your life!

By Joy Lardner, DTM

Write things down and change your life! When you embrace the joy of journaling, astonishing things begin to happen.

I think she is write...oops I mean right!

We wrote down that we wanted a sidewalk in our front yard....and voila....it happened!

It's Hazy but nice

2009-06-02T20:08:00.001-07:00

Even a hazy morning looks good in the sun. I like the palm trees on the Mazatlan, Mexico horizon too. Something about the filtered light makes me want to stay here forever and daydream. Funny how the words haze and daze have connected meanings. Haziness is about uncertainty and being in a fog. Being dazed is about not being fully cognizant of your surroundings...in a sort of mental fog. In any case, the point is that sometimes when it's hazy it's nice. However, being in a daze can be nice because I think daydreams are like being in a daze.......so let's revel in those hazy, crazy days of summer and get to daydreaming! That does bring back some summertime memories for me. Good ones.

Keep Flying if you want to fly

2009-06-01T08:38:00.001-07:00

My goal to post a positive thought each day is still a valuable goal. Even though some days I cannot make a post due to other priorities...what I'm learning is that if I want to fly I need to keep flying...keep it up..... The flying is worth it. That's my thought for the day. I'm reseting my goal to be more realistic for me right now to posting a positive thought as often as I can...possibly daily and possibly less often! Now, reseting my goals let's me soar a little....:)

Success and Sacrifice

2009-05-25T22:25:00.000-07:00

So what do these surfboards have to do with success and sacrifice? They are the visible signs of an entrepreneur in process! A young man started a water toy rental business near where we keep our boat. He is fully committed! I believe that to be successful you do need to make some sacrifices..for example it you own a business you need to be there and on top of what is going on in that business or you lose out. However, it is much better if you are doing what you love. the young man who owns this business loves surfing. It is an amazing thing to watch his business take shape and become successful. What is his sacrifice? He is at the shop instead of surfing! I think that is what success is about..knowing what to do next and what not to do next....

Now, how's that for inspiring?

Apples, Pears, Oranges, Bananas

2009-05-22T07:34:00.000-07:00

How lucky I am to be able to have so many different fruits at the same time during the year. Not to mention the melons and berries. Fruit is very good for us and especially in the morning. That's my positive thought for the day!

The Unexpected

2009-05-21T08:47:00.000-07:00

Mischief is on the left with her little sister, Minka on the right.

Sometimes unexpected things happen and they make us sad. Last night a raccoon attacked one of our cats, Mischief. She was backed into a corner and got badly mauled. She was put down. She was in her later years being 13. It was sad and unexpected. Moments like these make us pause and appreciate the times we had with Mischief. She will be missed. It's the good memories that should linger now...nothing can be done about the past....but the mourning is still needed. A Time to feel sad is needed for healing and to remember the good. Her sister was not hurt because she happened to be out of the area at the time.

Rest in Peace, Mischief.

A Bird of an idea

2009-05-19T18:14:00.000-07:00

While this bird may not be real it certainly has some appealing qualities...the sparkly purple feathers, the ability to put this on a display and not have it fly away and maybe even the fact that it might make someone look twice and get their attention. Sometimes even things that aren't real can have a very real impact. I never underestimate the power of a sparkly object to attract my attention. All said, real birds have always fascinated me. The difference is that real birds have the power to fly..while birds like the purple one in this photo have the power to make our ideas and thoughts fly.

I imagined several things when I purchased this little bird such as the bird of paradise in a tropical setting, the little white doves on wedding cakes, the white feathered birds I place on my christmas tree each year just to mention a few. The bird in the photo was part of a display I had at a recent craft show where I showcased my cards and photos. It did bring me luck..I sold my first large framed and matted photo...:)

D Bells are Ringing

2009-05-18T23:33:00.000-07:00

You may wonder what in the world this entry has to do with being positive. I started playing church bells less than a year ago. Church bells have always mesmerized me and when I had an opportunity to learn to play I jumped at the chance. Here are two of the 'D' Bells....middle D's..one a natural D and one a D#. This entry is about following your passions and desires. It's been a great experience and well worth the committment of practicing every Tuesday night. Ringing D bells and other bells is one of my passions now. I find that keeping an open mind to new experiences is important for growth....now to figure out how to shed some of the old passions to make room for the new. That subject is reserved for another entry. The bells have it and for that matter they have me for now!

Stick with it!

2009-05-17T23:35:00.000-07:00

When you believe in something...stick with it! Sometimes it's easy to get discouraged when noone notices your accomplishments or when you feel a loss of energy to go on with a project. What I've found is that despite all the barriers to success that can occur the one thing that overcomes it all is persistance and stick-with-it-ness....is that a word? The future is not going to quit coming at us so stick with your goals. One step at a time ..sometimes these may be very little steps but it doesn't matter...moving forward even an inch at a time can add up and encourage you to accomplish some really cool things.

The bird that made this nest needed two things: sticks and stick-with-it-ness....Persistance paid off and now there is a nest for the little babies when they come. Even birds intuitively know what to do.

The choice is yours, the time is now and the next step is up to you. I decided to make an entry tonight after many days of absence..why? Just felt that this blog was a good idea and am sticking with it!

Mistakes are how we learn

2009-03-15T00:48:00.000-07:00

Learning anything comes with it's challenges. Making mistakes is just part of the program. Some learn quicker and some are a little slower. I find I end up making mistakes usually because I hurry or don't plan ahead well. Getting enough sleep the night before helps as well.

This morning I was tasked with giving an inspirational opening to a Toastmaster meeting. I had committed to bringing some food to the session. One of my roles this year in the club is to act as the Membership officer of the club and provide welcome packets to guests and help them fill out paperwork if they decide to join. We have some great welcome packets which I usually have 2 or 3 handy to give out to any visitors.

Last night I went to bed quite late due to working on another project. It definitely came back to haunt me in the morning. I finally chose my subject for the 1-2 minute inspirational topic. It was a wonderful poem by Charlotte Bronte about Life: http://www.online-literature.com/brontec/3074/ March is Women in History month and I chose Charlotte's poem. The very last line is: " For gloriously, victoriously,Can courage quell despair! " I just loved the way the poem ended.. I had a great time reading it to everyone even though halfway through the short poem one of our members knocked over a cup of water with ice and it went flying across the table. I paused and laughed and went on.

Back to my topic about making mistakes...I was concentrating so hard on choosing just the right reading that I completely forgot to bring one of the food items and the welcome packets. We did have two guests who decided to join up. It all worked out alright in the end as we rounded up some forms and promised to followup with the welcome packets for next time. Although I made a mistake and forgot some things I did remember the value of making checklists for next time. That should help alleviate this and make the next experience much smoother. ....not to mention getting enough sleep the night before...which by the way it looks as though I may need to relearn that lesson tonight for tomorrow..or should I say this morning?

Mistakes are how we learn to grow....my goal is make very few of them ...but not to let them stop me! ...the photo in this entry was a successful one but only after many others which did not turn out very well...but I'm glad I kept clicking....it is of a sunset in DesMoines, Washington over Puget Sound.

Fear of Success?

2009-03-09T21:57:00.001-07:00

Why would someone fail because they have a fear of succeeding? That sure sounds like an Oxymoron...doesn't it? But it is very real and happens to be one of the barriers to success. It's really about a lack of self-confidence in that if once you succeed more will be expected...and how will one manage that? More pressure, more expectations, more stress....but wait. If we have a passion for something then we shouldn't fear succeeding...(assuming it is not a dangerous or destructive passion - I do have to make that qualification - this is a place for positive thinking about positive things).

I read something the other day that struck me as quite wise....It was from my favorite blog on positive thinking and the article was about a timeless tip than can make your life a whole lot easier - here is link to the whole article if you would like to read it: http://www.positivityblog.com/index.php/2009/03/06/one-timeless-tip-that-can-make-your-life-a-whole-lot-easier/

In summary, the article discussed the idea that we can control our action but not necessarily the results of the action...you take an action about something that you believe in...you put yourself out there and your motive is pure...to share information, to enlighten the world...but whether or not that objective is reached is beyond your control. Yet it is important that you do something because doing nothing is the worst thing you can do. Don't attach yourself to the result...instead attach yourself to the action. Focus on what you are doing more than on the results.....I think the article does a better job than I do explaining this idea but I liked it.

A practical example might be a rose garden. When planning a rose garden it's hard not to think about the result because of the beauty you expect. However, if you don't focus on the action of actually ordering and planting the rose itself you will not succeed.....if you fear it will be too much work when it is done you will not succeed.... if you focus on the action of getting it done...you will succeed and you will not be so worried about what happens when you do!

When you put things in motion..the last thing you want to do is fear you will succeed.....so focus on getting the job done and it will be a lot easier on you...it will also be much more fun. If more work comes your way because you succeeded...you can cross that bridge when you get to it....it is not as difficult to cross as you may think...especially if it is something you are passionate about.

Followup on my Courage Speech

2009-03-06T23:05:00.000-08:00

The speech was delivered ...that's about all I can say. I had way too much material and so I found myself digressing a little. I had a Yin Yang analogy with Fear on one side and Courage on the other...you can't have one without the other but they are polar opposites.

There was a lot in the speech for the short time frame I had and probably should have given myself another week or so to think it out more but it is what it is. I'll be working on it some more since I will be delivering it again soon.....for another venue. I discovered a lot of ways to look at courage and kept coming back to how many places I can find it in myself and others to. A friend gave me some feedback that maybe I should use the Encouragement idea more as a theme....we will see.... In any case...a focus on courage rather than fear may be the positive result and learning out of this. :)

What is courage?

2009-03-02T07:45:00.001-08:00

Today's entry is a commentary on courage and preparation for a speech I hope to make this week at my local Toastmasters club. For those that may not be familiar with Toastmasters it is a very positive non-profit organization which focuses on helping people be the best communicators and leaders they can be! They have member clubs throughout the world and for as little as $4.50 per month they provide an environment of learning like no other I've seen.

There are manuals that are part of the learning. The basic manual goes over the basic skills. I am planning to speak out of one of the basic manuals for my speech this week on the subject of courage. My objective is to persuade others to take action when action is needed. The timing on this speech is a 5-7 minutes.

Some brainstorming thoughts on courage...it can come in many forms...liquid courage, naive courage, desperate courage are some forms. It's not always about a conscious choice. It's about doing what's needed when it's needed. It's about returning things that you've found, it's about taking time to help someone in need, it's about facing up to your shortcomings as well as taking opportunities to grow!

It's about knowing your weaknesses...like Peanut Buster Parfaits....and turning them into strengths....taking time to enjoy a treat with a friend.....

I've thought more and I think it's interesting how the word courage is in the middle of the word encouragement...don't you? Here is a great site on the topic of encouragement: http://encouragement-wired.com/default.aspx I get the newsletter and it is amazing the stories of people overcoming adversity that get posted here.

More brainstorming - courage is about being little but acting big, it's about the wisdom of not being too wise not to act, it's about so many things. There is an element of courage in all virtues and positive values: compassion, love, persistance, integrity, hope, etc.......sometimes the more we know the less we want to act....for fear of doing the wrong thing....the opposite of courage is fear. Courage is within us, around us and compels us.

Some short clippings from my past on courage....the courage to memorize my math times tables, spelling words and catechism lessons to compete in a contest! The courage to walk to school alone. The courage to learn something new and know you can do it. The courage that comes from someone believing in you despite your misgivings. The courage to step up to the plate and bat the ball, to step onto a court and swing the racquet, to strap on those roller blades and go skating, to pull on those ice skates and go gliding, to do almost any sport for the first time....

What is courage? I'm still working on it...more later...:)

......

Bloggers Community Photo Challenge - Winter

2009-02-22T00:17:00.000-08:00

My other blog is being revamped into a Virtual Art Gallery blog so in the meantime I will be using this Positive Thinking blog for ideas and photo entries that further my positive thinking in that direction.

http://communityphotochallenge.blogspot.com/2009/02/bloggers-community-photo-challenge_19.html

The Blogger community Photo challenge this time is winter...I have a great photo of a winter scene that I've also used in some of my photo cards. It may be part of one of my gallery themes in the near future so it may turn up again. In the mean time I'm staring a list of gallery items for my photos and will hopefully have at least 12 themes - one for every month....or more. It's just a kernel of an idea right now but who knows where it will lead?

Here is my winter backyard scene.....snowy benches talking to each other about their winter covers!

The Name Game

2009-02-21T19:59:00.001-08:00

I thought this was a great idea for an entry which I got from Nancy on Capt'n Nancy blog:

Name Game
Nancy found this game on Facebook and thought it was cute. You have to name everything in the letter of your first name.Here is mine. Right click and change answers then post to your blog or e-mail your friends. So, have fun. oh by the way..NO CHEATING

1. What is your name: Maria
2. A four Letter Word: Mars
3. A boy's Name: Mike
4. A girl's Name: Michelle
5. An occupation: Manicurist
6. A color: Magenta
7. Something you wear: Mittens
8. A food: Mushrooms
9. Something found in the bathroom: Mirror
10. A place: Mt. Rainier
11. A reason for being late: Missed the bus
12. Something you shout: Mom!
13. A movie title: Mission Impossible
14. Something you drink: Margaritas
15. A musical group: Mambo #5
16. An animal: Meercat
17. A Street name: Main St.
18. A type of car: Mercury

PS: don't forget to visit hers.. Name Game :)

The glitter or not the glitter?

2009-02-19T20:58:00.001-08:00

I've been thinking...although I've read that Ray Bradbury, a famous science fiction writer says...don't think, just do!...similar to Yoda's remarks from Star Wars........ I've been thinking about blogging topics on positive thinking that are of value to others as well as myself. I've always had an attraction to glitter and anything that sparkles. Now this may seem to be a bit strange, some may say it is. When you think about it though glitter is about shiny and bright light. Isn't that a positive experience? The twinkling stars above us and shimmering reflections of light on water just seem magical to me. The sparkling effects are caused by the movement of light reflecting on a surface that has many facets or a surface that is moving itself . I toy with the idea of not having animated sparkly entries which might cause me to stray from the topic for my blog. Then I compromise and add something that might be considered to satisfy my objective while still providing a little animation or interest. I'm still looking for the right balance and have come to the conclusion that it's good to have some glitter. We could all use some glitz, glamour and glitter at times....it makes us smile. I just love that glitter!!!!!!!!

A most positive Time - Valentine's

2009-02-09T22:19:00.001-08:00

I think Valentine's day can be one of the most positive times of the year. So take some time to think about the greatest gift of all...love...:)

Nature as an Inspiration!

2009-01-31T18:55:00.000-08:00

I find that there are so many inspiring things in nature....check out this very lovely slideshow and music from Simple Truths. It is a smile and a rest for the soul that I cannot avoid sharing with you! Don't worry about the ad at the end..it's not at all required......I didn't know how to remove it...but it doesn't hurt any thing....oh yes, and turn up the sound after clicking on the link.
http://www.naturesinspirationmovie.com/

The bird photo below is from last year's trip to Mexico..the wingspans were enormous and I never did find out what these birds were called...:)

Thinking Better....

2009-01-31T16:13:00.000-08:00

We all make a difference! Graphic by Chris: http://cabscreationschatter.blogspot.com/

Thinking better is always a good goal. If you would like some tips on this check out this intro to the Positivity Blog:

Article by Henrik Edberg. Follow me on Twitter.
”Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” Winnie the Pooh
”The world we have created is a product of our thinking; it cannot be changed without changing our thinking.” Albert Einstein
When I was younger I used to think that thinking was the best thing since sliced bread. So I thought. And though and thought. And then I thought some more. It had some wonderful and positive effects such as helping me to get good grades in school.
But on the other hand this thinking was also trapping me and limiting me in various ways. One of my biggest insights in recent years is that there are a lot of both positive and negative sides to how you think. So learning to use my thinking in a better way has become a main focus and also one of the most beneficial things I have ever done.
Now, this may sound a little vague so I let’s explore some of the facets of thinking with the timeless help from clever people that have gone before us.
1. You are what you think.
“As you think, so shall you become.” Bruce Lee

Then go to this link: http://www.positivityblog.com/index.php/2009/01/30/how-to-think-better-the-top-8-tips-from-the-last-2500-years/

This is not a fairy tale! I promise...special thanks to my sister and mom for the garden fairy. :)

Roses in a Smile

2009-01-30T22:54:00.001-08:00

This entry is just some Roses in a Smile....or is it a Smile in some Roses? You decide...:)
It's hard to find anything more positive than a genuine smile..which is what I do when I get flowers! Here are some for you!

Some reasons to get rid of Negative Thinking!

2009-01-24T17:11:00.000-08:00

I've mentioned this site before but I just got a feed today that I thought was a really good one from the Positivity Site and want to pass it on...go to this link: 8 Awesome Reasons to Blast Negativity Out of Your Life, and How to Do It to find out more. I thought it had some great quotes and ideas as usual. I'm never dissappointed with this blog. It is like a very bright spot in my journey to see how others handle thinking positive!

Below is a bright spot for you! One of my favorite sunset shots of the Ixtapa, Mexico sunset. You've seen this photo before but I decided to make it a little bigger this time:

Heart of Stone

2009-01-21T22:03:00.000-08:00

How can a heart of stone be positive? I'll tell you how...when you find it among a bunch of other stones! Every notice how easy it is to find heart shapes in a pile of rocks? I have...I'm always finding them. They always make me smile...even though they are made of stone....now that's a good thing. Next time you are out and about keep an eye out for heart shaped stones. It's such a delight to see one amidst all the other shapes...somehow it softens the view of all those hard rocks. So remember to look for the unexpected heart amidst all the stone and you will find it...I'm sure of it....in the rocks that is. ...and smile away.

Unseen Angels

2009-01-18T15:19:00.000-08:00

From my earliest days I have believed in positive energy. I think it surrounds us all and all we need to do is tap into it. Maybe that is why I believe there are unseen angels around us too. Now that may seem a bit odd...a lot of people think angels are for little children. I disagree. Angels are everywhere. They may not look like they have wings but they do. Whenever someone does something nice for you..that is angelic. Imagine them with a halo and white feathery wings. This may seem funny but why not? That imagery is so...shall I say it? Heavenly! Here is photo of a statue that I have posted before of a baby in the arms of an angel...and I'll be adding a few others as time allows....how's that for a Sunday posting?

Remember this post and be an Angel!

Take time to Play

2009-01-15T22:46:00.000-08:00

It's important to take time to play periodically because it can have a great effect on your attitude. Remember the days of carefree playing outdoors? Didn't it feel great...remember not being able to wait until you could just get outside and play in the park or the woods? The physical activity is what I'm talking about! It is good for your endorphyns (...I'll have to check the spelling on that word..). This snowy playground reminded me of those days of fun and frolick. I used to love to climb and was sorely tempted to do some climbing on this little playground equipment but it was pretty cold so I opted out and took a photo instead. So, I just have to remember to take time out for a little Playing each day....it's a quick easy way to boost your attitude!

Operation Nice - Create a Mantra for your Resolution

2009-01-05T20:17:00.001-08:00

Check out this link to Melissa's Operation Nice blog (you can also see it anytime on my sidebar link): http://www.operationnice.com/2009/01/nice-assignment-create-mantra.html

I love her entry about resolutions and an idea of a different approach this year. Create a mantra that captures the essence of your resolutions for the year..captures the essence of you...or at least tries to do that...:)

I love the idea of creating a mantra for my resolutions…..I’ve also had the idea of doing things in categories of threes..top 3’s to speak…but let’s stick with the mantra thing. A great site I have visited is produced by one Melissa called Operation Nice.

She had the entry at this link: NICE Assignment: Create a Mantra which is all about creating a mantra for your resolution..something simple that you can repeat to yourself…her example for the year was: Be Nice and Have fun…
Now I may have to create several mantras to repeat because I have a lot of ideas for improvement but looking at my key goals for the year so far and last years topics…it is a dilemma on what to choose for my top mantra…and then it struck me..it has to be about being positive and optimistic, kind, smart and quick thinking, clear minded and with focus and conviction on whatever I may strive to accomplish…these must be in my mantra!!!!! How will I boil it down to the essence of what I want to do this year? …..I saw a quote the other day on one of those PPS slideshows that come around via email that said: “Aspire to Inspire – before you Expire”…..I like that one…I want to be more than just a success I want to do something of significance….

my mantra for 2009 is: “Aspire to Inspire – before I Expire”…this will help me to remember that time is short, that what I do must be kind and focused, I must have conviction and strive to be clear minded and quick thinking, optimistic and positive so I don’t waste time brooding…..

now for a photo to go with it….hmmmmm…..ASPIRE TO INSPIRE – BEFORE I EXPIRE - These bright sunsets in Mexico should work as my reminder…..life is short, beautiful, brilliant and inspiring.

What are you Thankful for Today?

2009-01-05T14:40:00.000-08:00

One wonderful way to accentuate the positive is to start keeping track of what you can be grateful for each day. Here is a little site that has a great idea:

http://mashable.com/2009/01/01/what-are-you-thankful-for-today/

This is a little application my friend, Theresa, sent to me as an application for my Iphone. I plan to list 5 things each day of the week that I am thankful for and then post them. This time of year, we're grateful for family, friends, fresh beginnings, holiday memories, and seasonal treats. So we really want to know: what are the five things you are grateful for today? I will post a little photo for each day! 7 days in one posting..updated each day..starting with Monday..you can play too just add a post in your journal and link back to it in my comments box and link back here in your posting! My plan is to update it daily so there will be changes all week to this posting. Let's just see how it goes.....

This is the week starting with January 5:

Monday: Jan 5
Today I am grateful for:
1. my husband for being such a good driver in the snow
2. my sister-in-law for her hospitality
3. my little hairbrush
4. air freshener
5. my computers

Tuesday: Jan 6 -
Today I am grateful for:
1. Yummy salads
2. Church Handbells
3. umbrellas
4. a warm house over my head
5. my husband's humor

Wednesday: Jan 7
Today I am grateful for:

1. Racquetball
2. My Iphone
3. Music to hear in the morning
4. Paper
5. My warm robe

Thursday: Jan 8
Today I am thankful for:
1. Dinner by Ron
2. Beautiful flowers by Myra
3. Crazy dice throwing by Chris
4. Beautiful smiles by Jasmine
5. My 6 cubes dice board game

Friday: Jan 9
Today I'm thankful for:
1. Kell's restaurent in Seattle
2. My car
3. My daughter's friends
4. The Internet
5. Cat food for my Kitties

Saturday: Jan 10
Today I'm thankful for:
1. My sister, Kathy
2. The break in the weather
3. The safe drive home Saturday night
4. Seattle University Soccer
5. Lemon cream tarts with blueberries and a raspberry

Sunday: Jan 11
Today I'm thankful for:
1. Girlfriends
2. Margaritas
3. Mexican food
4. Sundays
5. Aunt Dottie and her show

Monday: Jan 12
Today I'm thankful for:
1. Jenny Craig food
2. warm socks
3. almond roca
4. my backup camera
5. usb connectors

Tuesday: Jan 13
Today I'm thankful for:
1. Photobucket photos of Jasmine and Chris from New York
2. My Church bell playing friends
3. Jane's great banana cake
4. Shad's birthday
5. Clear roads tonight driving home from Bellevue at 9:30!

Decided not to upload more photos...but this was a good exercise!...:).....

Tips on Relationships

2008-12-27T19:05:00.000-08:00

Relationships all start with listening and patience. Here is a great article on how to get along in a foreign country on a Positivity blog I absolutely love...it has the best tips and articles..check out this particular entry...I'm sure you will want more:

http://www.positivityblog.com/index.php/2008/12/27/how-to-build-your-own-support-group-in-a-new-country/ There is so much to learn about being positive ....one tip is don't give up...every day there is just so much that is good and wonderful. Time is fleeting..as I've said many times before. So make the most of your moment. Make them all occassions to celebrate as much as you can...and try to get rest too. Peace to everyone in the this Holiday season and many happy moments to you all!

PS: visit Donna's blog...she put the animation into the water in my photo: http://dsdesignsandotherthings.blogspot.com/

Talking Ornament

2008-12-26T23:00:00.000-08:00

Just having a little fun..hope this makes you smile...my first experiment with embedded video. I love animated toys and things that sing and dance...this ornament was a purchase from last year that I had tucked away for this year's tree. It will probably become a fixture from now on. I accidentally bumped it today and since it is motion activated it began singing and startled me!!!!...I had forgotten it was there. LOL..

Here is a link to the photo challenge for ornaments which I didn't enter but there are some great photos of ornaments here...:) http://bloggerscommunityphotogallery.blogspot.com/2008/12/bloggers-community-photo-challenge.html
Maria

A 'Christmas' Meme or Game

2008-12-04T00:08:00.000-08:00

Hello and Happy Holidays!

Oh I love this little game..it's easy just think of what you would put here for your favorite Holiday things,

I'm including this little sentiment in my Christmast cards this year!

Christmas :

C- Christ's birthday celebration
H- Happy faces and stomaches
R- Red ribbons and bows
I- Icicles sparkling in the snow
S- Silly white elephant gifts
T- Taking time to give to those less fortunate
M- Mulled Wine or Cider
A- Angel treetoppers
S- Simple little things

I have the Serenity Gate blog to thank for this entry! Please visit Barbara at: http://theserenityroom.blogspot.com/2008/12/c-is-for.html The Christmas music is great too...and leave me your words!

I SAY....AND YOU THINK....? With a POSITIVE TWIST

2008-11-28T22:08:00.000-08:00

Play along ...see the link below....I try to make my responses positive!!!!! It's a great twist to this game....try it! I'd love to see how many different positive responses people have to this........ here is that sites trackback link: http://subliminal.lunanina.com/um/ind/week_305/

I Say and You Think:

Sleepy :: Satisfied

Thanksgiving :: Friends we appreciate

Fifteen :: Almost Sixteen

Authority :: Strength

Bangs :: Cute Hairstyle

Curled :: Welcome Perm

Young man :: Old man's desire

Surprised :: Happy

Mistake :: Lesson

Handle it :: Handled

Unconscious Mutterings Link

OPERATION NICE

2008-11-28T19:16:00.000-08:00

I discovered a great blog out there by someone who was concentrating on being Nice and doing Nice things. I love that idea because it is the ultimate positive act to be nice to others. I've added her to my sidebar so whenever you want to get some great ideas on being Nice you can just click on over and visit her. Her Name is Melissa and she also collects stories about Nice things.

Kind acts are very powerful! Kudos to you Melissa and here are some flowers for you:

Changing Fields

2008-11-28T18:55:00.000-08:00

You may wonder what is so positive about these Soccer Fields? Two things...1) I was out for a walk getting some exercises and decided to walk over to where my daughter first learned how to play soccer when she was five years old. About a 15 minute photography walk...(that includes stopping to take photos along the way)....my destination was helping me to stay healthy so that's a plus! and 2) These fields used to be all grass and mud when she was learning to play soccer. I managed her team one year at these fields when she was on the Wildcats team. Seems like it was only yesterday...but now she is 23 and these fields have been transformed. She didn't have the benefit of these three now astroturf style fields. I can't recall the exact name of the turf here but it's not muddy at all. The great thing is that they are now truly first class for the soccer teams that play here...the second plus.

Things change and isn't it great when they change for the better? That's what happens when people champion good things. Without the force of someone's good idea and will to make it happen these fields would not exist today! Yay for those with good ideas and the will to transform their ideas into reality....that is the real plus and message of these fields. Maria

BELIEVE

2008-11-24T00:28:00.000-08:00

What we believe determines many things about us...our character, our future, our destiny. I especially like this entry by a friend blogger, Sharon:
http://just4me-sharon.blogspot.com/2008/05/believe.html

This photo was taken when I visited Ixtapa, Mexico. When I look at it I find it easy to believe in each day as a unique promise of light and hope...:)

Norman Vincent Peale - A Positive Thinker

2008-11-10T21:22:00.000-08:00

Some of you may know of Norman Vincent Peale. He was one of those positive thinkers who believed that an optimistic attitude was essential to a happy life. I happen to agree. It makes a huge difference. Having a good attitude about things is not always easy and sometimes we are who we are: grumpy, hurt, abused or even abusive to others. It's human nature that we do things reacting emotionally without thought. However, since we can't change others without them wanting the change we can do something else. We can change ourselves...if only we want to do it. I recently bought a 2009 calendar with the theme of 'The Power of Positive Thinking' quotes by Norman Vincent Peale....Here is one quote that I thought was profound:

"Select a few people to be particularly kind to today, those you were a little harsh with yesterday".

This I think would be the epitomy of a random act of kindness.....sometimes this is just sending that belated birthday card or note or remembering to thank someone for a thoughtful gesture. Acts of omission can be hurtful too......we can turn that around by remembering. The quote applies in all sorts of situations. I like to think that we should try to always be kind with our words, thoughts and deeds. Wouldn't it be a better world if everyone did that?

I believe we are all connected with some kind of energy or invisible force. When we do anything we impact someone else. It's almost impossible not to do that, from what I've observed. Every act, every work, or communication has an impact, whether large or small. I figure I will try to make that impact a positive one.

Unconscious Mutterings - A Word Game

2008-11-09T17:10:00.000-08:00

1. Coverage : Media exposition

2. Cynical : Optimism turned inside out

3. Gust : Powerful wind blurb

4. Improvised : Created with what you have on hand

5. V : Very nice indeed

6. Guests : Friends to delight

7. Brutal : Tough experiences that teach us to survive

8. Grant : To fulfill a wish

9. Pull : What I want to do when I see the rope of a church bell.

10. Streaming : Water flowing in a creek

Who's Muttering?
The Social Frog
Tere
Lair of the Dragon Mage
Shannon H.
Simone's Butterfly
Duchess of the Digital Quill
Sugarmagnolias
Imogen
Expensive Mistakes and Cheap Thrills
Hootin' Anni
Sherrie
Shirl
Annie
Suzan J.
Vannie
Julie
boliyou
http://www.sugarfused.net/
Laane
Yesterday's Makeup
storyteller
Kwizgiver
Irishcoda
Conniesue
Conniesue
On a limb with Claudia
Dave
Monique
Shelly
Elkit in Wonderland
wonderment
greentuna
Fated Strife
Vicki
Maria

To play along see the site! http://subliminal.lunanina.com/

Maria - listening to music -

Antonia Vivaldi's: The Four Season Spring Concert instrumental.

Dreams of a Warmer Place - Big Stress Buster

2008-11-08T22:42:00.000-08:00

I'm dreaming of a warmer place! This sunset photo on the waves was taken in a much warmer place...Mexico! Almost every night on our vacation earlier this year we would get to see these magnificent sunsets over the water after a nice warm day. I think that a good stress buster is to take time to visualize these days, close my eyes, feel the warm breezes, hear the waves of water breaking onto the shoreline and smell the lightly fragranced air. It's a short trip into dreamland but it goes a long way to adding a little warmth to anotherwise cold day!

Always good, always welcome, always relaxing.
A quote for you: 'Live in the Sunshine' - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Maria - listening to the song: 'Your Wildest Dreams' by the Moody Blues.

Make a wish!

2008-11-06T21:16:00.000-08:00

Dandelions are very magical..especially when they go to seed....have you ever made a wish with them? When I was small we used to blow them in the wind and wish for fun and toys. Little did we know we were spreading the joy to our neighbors and friends yards as well. Wishes are great to have because they are like dreams. When we visualize what we want we are more likely to get our wishes. Listen not to the naysayers that chirp: 'Wish in one hand and spit in the other and see which one gets fuller faster'.....of course we can't just wish things into being! However, if we don't visualize them somehow then they may have less chance to exist.

The really important part of wishing is to envision what the future will look like with your wish in it and then work backwards to see what needs to happen to make it come true! Once you get to the starting point work forwards....and most importantly don't forget to write it down somewhere visible like a bulletin board or a whiteboard on your refrigerator. Wishes we see each day have a way of coming true! I've seen it happen.

There is power in this so be careful what you wish for.....:)