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Wow! What a role model for being this calm, collected and grateful in such devastation and loss.
Prayers for more blessings and finds for all natural disaster victims worldwide.
National Tie One On Day™ celebrates the humble apron and the spirit of women of earlier generations who donned the universal symbol of home, family and mothering as the uniform of their daily wardrobe and helped make America the great country it is today.
National TIE ONE ON DAY™ is the opportunity to put the “give” in Thanksgiving by sharing our good fortune with someone in need of a thoughtful gesture. Annually recognized by Chase’s Calendar of Events and celebrated the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Nov 21st this year.
On the day before Thanksgiving, EllynAnne encourages us to pause in the preparation of our own meal, wrap a loaf of bread in an apron, tuck a prayer or note of encouragement in the pocket, and tie one on…an apron, of course!, and deliver the wrapped bundle to someone in need of spiritual or physical sustenance.
According to EllynAnne, no matter which way you turn out of your own front door, someone who is deserving of a hug is very close by.
“Women clad in aprons have traditionally prepared the Thanksgiving meal,” says EllynAnne, “and it is within our historical linkage to share our bounty.”
Have you thanked a Vet today… for your freedom?
My local paper, the Longmont Times-Call had a very good article today regarding ways to acknowledge, thank and help our/your local veterans.
We too easily forget that freedom isn’t free and these men and women gave their time, years, and many gave their lives for all that we can too easily take for granted today. This is the USA! It’s “normal” to be free and have all this stuff!! Really? Not really. People have paid for it dearly.
We can pay back with our time, financial support, acknowledgements and prayers.
Here are the highlights and link to the article for more. Wherever you live there are ways to help as well. Check them out.
~ Just say thank you
“When I walk into a room and someone thanks me for my service, that makes me feel good,” he said. Mauck served in the U.S. Navy from 1955 to 1959, and a token of gratitude still carries meaning.
~ Help a homeless veteran
Donate to the local American Legion Post 32′s Stand Down event on Nov. 15. The event gives homeless and low-income veterans in the Longmont area access to a number of free services, including flu shots, bicycle tune ups, haircuts, legal advice, massage and acupuncture.
Right now, especially needed are financial contributions and donations of winter clothing, including coats and boots, Greg McMahon, commander of Longmont’s American Legion Post 32. Drop off items at American Legion Post 32, 315 S. Bowen St., Longmont. Call 303-776-2034 for details.
~ Support local veterans scholarships
Front Range Community College’s Veteran’s Club and the Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society have launched a new scholarship in honor of a late Longmont veteran.
The school will host a scholarship dedication at 4 p.m. Monday at 2190 Miller Drive, Longmont. The event is open to the public. To donate to the scholarship fund, contact Ryan McCoy at 303-404-5238 or Ryan.McCoy@frontrange.edu.
~ If you’re a vet, join a veterans service organization
Joining a veterans group allows your voice to be amplified. So when a group like the American Legion, which represents 3 million veterans, lobbies Congress for more veterans benefits, they have more clout.
“Congress understands anything, they understand votes,” said Ralph Bozella, chairman of the American Legion National Veterans Affairs Commission .
Go here to read the full article and find out how you can give back today.
“History is history and no one can change the past.”
~ His Holiness The Dahlai Lama
Most people live in the past. They still talk about regrets and events from years ago that can’t be changed. Most people also live in the future in “what ifs”, worry and fear. All a great waste of time — precious, fleeting time.
The truth is, no matter what your life issues — past, present, or future (problems, hassles, frustrations or stress) — three things are at the middle of each: 1) you, 2) your decision, and 3) your action to change your present reality.
LET GO OF YOUR PAST: THOUGHTS & THINGS
Mental and emotional (Inner) clutter create outer clutter and visa versa. When we don’t let go of the past, no matter what the valid or irrational reason, we get stuck. When we get stuck long enough we create more problems for ourselves which can include more fear, confusion, anxiety, depression, grief and illness. When we get fixed looking in the rear view mirror, we can’t drive safely to a new destination.
“Remember when…?” I’ve met many people who are still living in decades past. Some for good memories and experiences, some holding onto pain, resentments and anger. No matter, both keep us from our present, from joy, real emotions, healthy relationships, life and our dreams.
STORY
A man goes to Tibet, climbs to the top of the mountain, asks the Dahlia Lama the secret to the universe, the Dahlia Lama whispers to the man the universal wisdom, the secret of the universe, the man heads to the door, the Deli Lama calls out across the great hall “just don’t forget to make the car payment, and don’t be late for work again.”
“I can’t find the check book. Where did the credit card go? I can’t find the address book again. The bill’s getting paid late again this month because I couldn’t find it and forgot,” etc., etc. No matter what our life story and experiences that have brought us to today, when they keep us from attending to our everyday needs, responsibilities, desires and dreams, we have a problem. There is a solution!
BRING YOUR PAST TO THE PRESENT… AND OUT THE DOOR!
Do you have piles, boxes, stacks, stashes and more in your basement, attic, closets, storage unit or garage taking up room not only in your home but living rent free in your mind and cells? What will it take to move it out? What are you willing to lose in order to finally “have” to do it?
In ancient times temples in Tibet was built with two dragons standing at the front door, one represents “confusion” the other “paradox,” two states of consciousness that you have to pass through to get to the truth. What’s the truth? Your truth is in you and it can only be found by going past the dragons and into clarity, into the now, today, your present. The truth is that you have to go through your stuff, not around it.
DECLUTTER, INSIDE AND OUT — OR — BUY A SHOVEL
What do you need to let go of your past piles and stacks? Hint: There is no “someday when.”
I am often asked, “Do you use Feng Shui in your organizing work?” I say, “No. I’m from a Midwest farming community. I use Func(tional) Way! Sometimes you just need to start shoveling out the piles and don’t look back, then the flow can take care of itself. Memories are attached to the past, to things and pictures, to clothing, books and toys. Memorabilia can be fun and enjoyable, but when it holds pain, it must go. When “it” holds pain, so do you, and it will trigger your pain over and over — until “you” go. Make a choice!
Do I sound a bit direct? Adamant? Let me finish my story about the phone call I received today. The man who called me asking about my services to help his elderly parents “dig out their years of hoarded stashes” also said this, “Dad spent the first part of his retirement trying to clean out the basement from their years of saving stuff. He now has Parkinson’s Disease and isn’t able to do much. He’s now going to miss out on the most fun part of retirement. wasting all those years trying to clean out nothing!”
BURN YOUR HOUSE DOWN
I often ask my audiences to list what they would rescue and save (anything alive is not in the
equation) if they had only 60 precious seconds to go into their burning home. Do you know? Are you prepared for a crisis? The more past we have in the way of our present, keeping us from our future, the harder it is to really know what we want and harder to get to — the harder it is to make clear decisions and take appropriate actions for our best options.
Even if there is a tiny little pile of the past lurking and jerking your memory and rattling chains that keep you off center, it’s okay to let go. You deserve better!
“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold,
it would be a merrier world.”
~ J.R.R. Tolkien, author of the Lord of the Rings trilogy
It’s too easy to go through a rushed holiday season and forget to keep track of what was really good, awesomely yummy and something you want to bake, cook, or create again next year.
RECIPE AND MEMORY KEEPER
Create a simple Holiday Recipes notebook, scrapbook or index card holder where you can keep all of your recipes in one place, share with others and hand down to your children in the future.
Be sure to add your personal handwritten notes to them too! Those are great to read by the generations to come.
SCRAPBOOK THEM!
Embellish with photos of your family and friends enjoying them too! Make it really fun to look at and use every year. Keep them clean buy using clear plastic sheets or laminate them.
Happy Holiday Cooking!
There are plenty of examples of people who have chosen to be bigger than their adversities. What do you complain about, gripe about, curse and fuss about? Is it important? Really?
This young man and his brother are shining examples that we can let go of so many of our own daily frustrations that just don’t matter.
Find out more of their lovely story here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOqV_4ltPZM&feature=related
Choose joy.
Choose happiness.
Choose a bigger vision of your glorious life, now!
I love movies. I love them best at the real movie theatre, but DVDs will do too.
A new friend has a big DVD library, so I borrowed away!
MY REVIEWS =)
TEMPLE GRANDIN – A must see! Unforgetable. Here’s her site and movie in left sidebar. http://www.templegrandin.com/
THERESE - about the life of Saint Therese. Not a great movie, a skim of her life/diary. (Her family was so syrupy sweet that it felt creepy. Bless them however if they really were this lovely!) Mother Teresa took her name from St. Therese. I’m sure that the million seller book about her life/diary tells it better. It was “d by the Vatican” so must follow some very strict rules to make it way family friendly I’m sure. http://www.stlukeproductions.com/therese/index.html
Very cool that she was alive in the 1800′s when cameras were around already to see real photos of her. http://tinyurl.com/3sohs7e
FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN – From book w/ same title. Made it about 25 mins and then quit. Didn’t keep my interest. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0400435/
PEACEFUL WARRIOR – From the book WAY OF THE PEACEFUL WARRIOR, story of Dan Millman’s revelations with the mystical. I met Dan at a book-signing years ago. Very nice guy. Movie? Great! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsS3cXGs2GQ
Dan’s site: http://www.peacefulwarrior.com/
KATE AND LEOPOLD – Sweet romance. A gift for my birthday! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035423/
GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING - Awesome! Reminds one not to gripe about kitchen work and house cleaning too!! Also a novel.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0335119/
ENJOY SUMMER AND THE MOVIES, OLD AND NEW!
Enjoy movies alone or with others. Popcorn or not!
Just a nudge - always buy organic popcorn to keep from eating GMOs – genetically modified food - who knows what’s laced into it now! Stupid Monsanto!
Just got home from seeing Kung Fu Panda 2. Awesomeness!
Don’t miss this great movie – and message… let go of the past, there is only now!
If you know anything about Oprah, you know that after 25 years she is ending her long and amazing run from her regular TV channel after next Wednesday! Wow! Can you believe that?
I don’t watch her show that often, but I absolutely respect and admire her, like millions of others.
I just saw this sneak preview of her Monday and Tuesday shows, a gala affair honoring her in 2 parts. Catch them if you can!
Then, of course, watch her HER new channel – OWN!
Hmmm, think of all the little, powerful words that can be made from Oprah Winfrey Network, like OWN, WON, and NOW! Cool!
Go, Oprah!
Here are some choice Oprah Nuggets!
I define joy as a sustained sense of well-being and internal peace – a connection to what matters.
The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.
The whole point of being alive is to evolve into the complete person you were intended to be.
Though I am grateful for the blessings of wealth, it hasn’t changed who I am. My feet are still on the ground. I’m just wearing better shoes.
Understand that the right to choose your own path is a sacred privilege. Use it. Dwell in possiblity.
Thank you, Oprah! See you on OWN!
I don’t know who Bill Winch is, but what a great essay! I posted this a few years ago and thought it needs to be brought up to date again and shared.Thank you Bill for sounding my sentiments!
KEEPERS — Recycle Queens and a Time for Fixing Things: Guest Article
I grew up in the fifties with a practical parent — a mother, God love her, who washed aluminum foil after she cooked in it, then reused it. She was the original recycle queen, before they had name for it.
A father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones. Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a house dress, lawn mower in one hand, dishtowel in the other.
It was the time for fixing things — a curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress. Things we keep. It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that re-fixing, reheating, renewing, I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there’d always be more.
But then my mother died, and on that clear summer’s night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn’t any ‘more.’ Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away… never to return.
So… while we have it…
it’s best we love it…
and care for it…
and fix it when it’s broken…
and heal it when it’s sick.
This is true… for marriage… and old cars… and children with bad report cards… and dogs with bad hips… and aging parents… and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.
Some things we keep. Like a best friend that moved away — or — a classmate we grew up with. There are just some things that make life important, like people we know who are special…..and so, we keep them close!
Good friends are like stars….
You don’t always see them, but you know they are always there.
Thank you Bill. Yes, love is a verb.
The holidaze are fast approaching. But, don’t use this time of year, like a must, have to, should or excuse to be extra nice — do it all year long.
Organize your time, thoughts and energy to make sure as often as possible, and then again, to thank people in your life; to acknowledge them with “actions” of love, gratitude and affection as well as compassion, care and kindness.
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