Simple Favorites

Waking up before the rest of the world

Sunrise at the beach

Walking the dog in the early morning light

Ocean sounds, scents and sights

Bluegrass music on Sunday mornings, coffee and the paper

The smell of bacon being cooked

Mail from my Granddad

Seeing my nephew laugh

Watching my parents together

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These things make me happy.

What's on your list?

Blindly going...

Ever been driving to work or to the local Target and when you arrive you realize you don't remember anything of the drive? The path was so familiar that you didn't bother to pay attention and amazingly still got to the place you needed to be?

Yesterday I did just this. I headed to the local Target, was reciting my list of items to purchase in my head. Focused on "get in, get out". I successfully got my items, slid through the payment line and then out the front door. Robotically I headed back to my car, stepped off the curb and "ehh! What the hell?" Gum! I stepped in gum. Suddenly my head was in a different place. It felt like I was just jolted awake. I noticed all the sites and sounds around me (obviously curious to see if anyone observed my unfortunate happening), began processing what to do now and couldn't help but think about how often I've thrown gum on the ground. (Sorry to all those who may have stepped in it)

Then I began to laugh as I tried (unsuccessfully) to scrape the gum off my shoe against the curb. Stupid gum! Still laughing, I realized the gum had a purpose. I know you're thinking "what? gum has a purpose??" Well, yes. Not only to provide you with hours of chewing enjoyment but in this case stepping in it made my day better. I was blindly going through my day, head down, robotically ignoring the world around me. Then came the stepping in the gum and it changed the routine path of things. It woke me up.

Sometimes we need simple things to remind us to pay attention. So if ever you are robotically and blindly walking through your day I hope you stumble across some gum...it just may wake you up.

The Beginning

Now playing, the Indigo Girls provided by Pandora Radio (http://www.pandora.com/) and the line keeps echoing in my head "until my soul gets it right". With this echo I have to think that I am finally getting it right.

Where to begin???

Beginnings are funny things. The word carries a positive association. There's an excitement in the beginning. There's a thought of promise, of new hope, new adventure, new outcome. It echos with good.

What we don't typically acknowledge are the beginnings that follow an ending. The finalization of things ending gives us the feeling of deflating, of spiraling down. It is quite difficult to think of beginnings when things are ending. But I have learned that we must. To live fully and thrive we must seek out the beginnings, the hopes, the newnesses of life.

Recently one of the most amazing men I know passed away. His life has been a gift to everyone who has crossed paths with him. He was the epitome of positive thinking, of kindness, of silent strength and determination, of giving without wanting. He was always at the beginning. During his 6 year battle with cancer he never faltered to the thought of endings. Each obstacle was a new beginning to him. And I'm pretty sure as we all gathered around his bed and could only think of the impending end he was lying there thinking ahead to his new beginning.

With his ending he shares with me the strength and motivation to begin. Lets try not to falter and wallow in our endings. I hope for myself and for you, that we can always look ahead to the beginnings.