Pennies From Heaven
Friday, November 3, 2023
Finding the Path with a Heart
Saturday, October 7, 2023
The Stanley Hotel - A True Ghost Story
We talked as we drove up the mountain and he asked if this was where “The Shining” was filmed. I told him I wasn't sure, but I thought it might be.
Wednesday, September 6, 2023
Opportunities
The great American anthropologist Margaret Mead said, “We
are continually faced with great opportunities which are brilliantly disguised
as unsolvable problems.”
That is the philosophy that I embraced as a child. From a
very early age I understood that even if they were less desirable, there were
always options.
Whenever I find myself feeling limited or restricted, I think back to some of the defining moments in my life.
During those times I needed so desperately to have some hope of escaping what was happening that I would create every possible scenario I could think of.
Truly, some were very unrealistic, but it did
not matter, everything got equal consideration.
Then I would sort out what seemed to be the most reasonable course of action and always trusted my heart to guide me. I knew how I was feeling could not be
wrong.
That brought me to where I am today, trusting and believing that
anything and everything is possible.
Thursday, August 24, 2023
Happy Accidents
I absolutely believe that what seems to be a bad experience can truly be a blessing in disguise or what I like to call a happy accident.
This year has been full of opportunities to find the good in even the most trying of circumstances.
Everything from having a serious health condition discovered during a hospital visit for something completely unrelated, to a severe hailstorm that uncovered a much larger issue with my roof. Both of which can now be easily managed and/or resolved without further damage.
Honestly, when things like that first occur, I feel frustrated and vulnerable. But as soon as I can begin to look at the situation a little differently, I can see that there is a positive aspect to whatever has happened.
Not only does it make me feel better, but the solution comes much quicker. I often forget that the best answer will present itself when I can release the negativity that I am feeling.
Somehow, it is easier to think of the worst-case scenario instead of letting the universe surprise and delight me.
Albert Einstein said it best - "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
Saturday, August 12, 2023
Gratitude and Appreciation
We've all heard it many times and many different ways during our lives. Count your blessings, give thanks, feel lucky for what you have, think of people who don’t have as much. We understand the words, but seldom do we stop to think what they really mean.
I'm not sure exactly when it occurred to me, but one day, I began to really understand what it means to be truly grateful. Not just for the good things but for everything.
When I started looking at my life in a new way it was very revealing. As much as I thought I had been a grateful person, I realized I had been taking a lot for granted. Not just the big things, but all of the small, seeming insignificant things that make up my life.
I started focusing on very specific things to appreciate, like my morning cup of coffee. I wondered, what did it take for me to enjoy that simple pleasure?
Pouring a glass of clean water, sleeping in a comfortable bed, turning on the lights - the list goes on forever. There is so much to appreciate and be grateful for.
What about when things go wrong?
The big shift occurred for me when I began to see problems as opportunities. Something that would have upset me in the past, like an issue at work or something going wrong with my vehicle, became a challenge for me to find the best in the situation.
This was when I had to be more general and not so specific. I was happy to have a job or a car, I felt fortunate to have the resources and ability to figure it out.
I applied this philosophy to everything I could think of. If it was a good experience, I thought about how much I appreciated having it. When it didn’t feel so good, I thought about how grateful I was for the lesson and what positive aspects of it I could find.
In the beginning it was a little difficult to always find the silver lining but with practice it became easier, and I’ve learned that even when I slip back into my old habits, I can quickly recover by simply remembering all that I have to be grateful for.
Friday, June 9, 2023
Keep Your Head Low
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
It's the Little Things
Today as I went out for a few errands, I encountered many who were just going about their day. Most were in a rush and not particularly pleasant, one was very rude.
When I arrived back at the hotel, I asked the housekeeper for some coffee to take back to my room. She was so helpful and polite I wanted to give her a small tip.
I paused for a moment before realizing that not only did she deserve it, but I hoped it would be a nice surprise when she sees it later.
Here in the US, wages for service workers are abysmally low. Honestly, anyone who will clean up after me deserves more than I can give them.
I hope she remembers the gesture but not my room, I want her to be able to accept this very small token of my appreciation for all that she does.