Word of the Week: Greatness!

 

 

 

"The greatness comes not when things go always good for you. But the greatness comes when you're really tested, when you take some knocks, some disappointments, when sadness comes. Because only if you've been in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain."

 

-Richard Milhouse Nixon

 

 

"Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another steppingstone to greatness."

-Oprah Winfrey

 

 

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but really great people make you feel that you too, can become great.

 

-Mark Twain 

 

 

***

 

 

 

I can't think of anything that inspires me more to consider life's endless possibilities and opportunities, than gazing at a beautiful sky.

 

 Greatness.

 

What an encompassing and beautiful ideal to aspire too.

 

We all have the potential to be great. Even if it applies to only one talent, skill, gift... isn't it worth aspiring too? 

 

I hope these quotes will inspire you to explore and discover your own path to greatness, this week and every week.

 

 ***

And some new posts at my other blogs:
 

 

Veggies, Yarns & Tails: Mr. Cheddar and the Scoop on Pet Food Storage

 

My Poetic Path: Autumn Feast. A Tau-Ku Poem

 

My Real Life Reviews: Sea Glass Hearts (book review)

 

 

Word of the Week: Catch-Up!

 

 

 

 

 

I'm planning for a catch-up week that might stretch to more like a month. LOL 

 

My desk "pile" (overflowing into a box now...) has gotten a bit "unruly" as of late. LOL In particular, a backlog of books and also some products to review, over at: My Real Life Reviews .

 

I'm also waiting on several book reviews pending for my two new poetry books and more review copies coming in the mail right now, so I know how frustrating it can be to wait. My apologies to anyone who's sent me a book that I haven't reviewed yet. It is NOT forgotten.

 

I'm also working on my novel. Still going great but every time I think I'm almost done, the plot "takes off" in another direction! I'll take it though. So much better than the blank screen/page/mind syndrome. ;<) We've all been there, right?

 

I have a gazillion projects on the go but I know so well that focusing and finishing one at a time, is always the best course of action, if at all possible. Or alternately, having a goal of a portion to complete, on any given day. That works too, especially for larger projects.

 

So, it's catch-up week here. I hope I've inspired you to work on your own pile of projects too. It's soooo satisfying to get them completed!

 

Happy Week, G :<)

Word of the Week: Talisman

 

 

Do you believe in talismans?

 

  

This gorgeous "sachet" type talisman above was made for me by a friend who is a good (white)witch. It contains various herbs and plants believed to ward off evil.

 

 I have it on the back of our front door, along with: a rosary, cross, (very) small totem ...covering all the bases, so to speak. ;<)
 

This lovely talisman is also an ongoing reminder of my friend's concern and support, while I was going through a very difficult time. That kind of friendship is a gift and a treasure. Her thoughtfulness in making this personal and unique gift for me meant so much.

 

 

 

This is my writing talisman.

 

 I wear it when I'm working on creative writing projects. Another gift. I love the symbolism of the sun, the light, shining....all good.

Some writers wear hats, a certain T-shirt etc... I like my sun necklace.
 

 

I'm also sharing an archive haiku/haiga over at My Poetic Path today, featuring the theme: talisman. Hope you'll stop by to see that too.

 

 

 

I wish you a week filled with wonders of all kinds, including luck and good fortune.

 

 

Don't forget your talisman! ;<)

 

 

 

 

Talisman:

- an object held to act as a charm to avert evil and bring good fortune

 

- something producing apparently magical or miraculous effects

 

Definition courtesy of Merriam Webster.com

 

 



 



Word of the Week: Focus

FOCUS

 

It's so easy to get distracted, isn't it?

To have our thoughts go in all different directions, instead of being focused on one thing at a time. This is an issue I am constantly working on.

But I know how important it is to be focused. In theory at least. ;<)

If we are going to do our best work on any kind of project or task, we can't also be mulling over: what to make for supper, whether the plants need watering, filing nails at the same time...the list goes on and on.

 I have also been making an effort recently not to get signed up for too many "extras" online, that take up time and often in rather trivial ways including: too many newsletters, email alerts...lots of distractions. I'm also not a fan of Facebook or Twitter anymore. I know a lot of people just love these social media sites but for me, they were just more ways to waste precious time.

On the other hand, I don't consider blogging a waste of time, at all. I find it energizing and stimulating. Writing posts and visiting my (many) fav blogs. These pursuits add to my day, in a positive and productive way. Within reason for blogging time, of course!!! LOL 

I have a number of wonderful and diverse creative projects on the go right now that I am really excited about. I'm swamped, but in a good way! But in order to proceed with all of them productively, I need to have a plan each day what I'll be working on.

 Focusing...instead of randomly trying to work on several tasks and getting diverted and distracted along the way.

Multi-tasking appears to be productive but apparently it isn't. That's been proven again and again. I blogged about multi-tasking vs chunking  previously here.

I hope you find this word/mantra for the week helpful with your own creative pursuits.

WISHING YOU A HAPPY AND PRODUCTIVE WEEK!  :<)

Word of the Week: Open

OPEN

 

Being open to new ideas, suggestions, opinions...I think it's so important.

 Something that I've noted in my own life, again and again. When I had a belief, opinion, sometimes a misconception... about a particular topic, then did a complete "360" after talking to someone or reading an alternate opinion. Sometimes right away and sometimes, it took some time.

 

Being open keeps us "in the loop" vibrant, young at heart. Not that it isn't good to have personal beliefs that don't change and are part of who we are. But there are so many things that aren't "written in stone". That might at some time, be good to take another look at. Listen with an open heart.

 

Nothing is more beautiful than a flower, just opening it's beauty to the world.

Here's to being open and as fresh as a blooming flower, throughout life.

Makes things interesting too, don't you think? :<)

 

Wishing You a Wonderful Week! 

Word of the Week: Goodness

I decided to resurrect my "word of the week" posts, to share a word that's been on my mind a lot lately:

goodness.

I tend to be overly sensitive and regularly get "bogged down" when I read or see stories about violence, cruelty, inhumanity....They come to mind, again and again and often stop me from sleeping too. I'm not one of those lucky people that can "hit the pillow" and be out like a light. My mind tends to go into overdrive on many a night and often not with happy, peaceful thoughts.

At the same time, this simple but rather profound thought came to me a while back and it has helped me to cope a bit more when dark thoughts come to mind.

And that good thought is how things in the world seem to balance out and still favor the goodness of people in general. The stories that aren't always front and center. There are lots of them. The inspiring people who do more than their share to "do the right thing" and make a difference for the better, on a regular basis.

Yes, the darkness, the evil is always there. The free will that has gone so far astray for too many people, for whatever reasons.

But the goodness, the light is always shining too and hopefully, still out-weighing, the bad things that happen in this world. Miracles, good deeds, beauty, ethics, truth, intergrity....it's all there. 

 

***

 

 

PS: I'm taking a blog break starting this week, for the rest of July.
Time to get outside and off the computer.

Hope you are having a wonderful summer!

Word of the Week: Melody

                                            

I love the word: melody

                           

 I've been thinking about all the melodies we hear throughout life.

And how life itself is also one, continuous melody. The high notes and the low. The beautiful and bittersweet. Fast and slow. And so it plays on...

I hope you enjoy this photo (not mine but I love it) and the poem too, which I wrote a few years ago.

                          

The Melody of Life

 

                        

Mother’s: sigh.

Baby’s: cry.

Hushed by a gentle,

Lullaby.

                

Starlit, summer nights.

Giggles and childhood fun.

Round the campfire.

The old tunes draw everyone.

                         

Teen’s rebellion; IPODs blare.

Feet flying fast.

As passions flare.

In perfect rhythm, to the latest:

Metal Stallion?

                          

Sweet scents of lilac spring.

As young lover’s dance.

Hearts in time to;

tender notes of romance.

                      

Mid-life’s song.

The beat goes on….

Hips a swayin’

While the golden groove keeps playing.

                              

Old folk’s bliss.

Holding hands; they reminisce.

Bittersweet memories of their Autumn’s,

First Kiss.

                          

The melody of life goes on…

Song to song.

As the years roll along.

Sealing memories in their own special way.

Pressed between pages that will never fade.

                                   

 GHH/ 2008

                           

Photo courtesy of Flickr

Link to the original post/comments

                       

                    

Wishing you a wonderful week, G :<)

Word of the Week: Empathy

Empathy.

What a blessing and gift it can be, when someone takes the time and reaches out to us to say:

                            

" I care, I understand, I'm sorry for what you are going through...."

                         

It can mean so much. It can change our perception and attitude towards a difficult situation we are struggling with. For me, it's been the difference so many times between coping and despair.

I don't think we should ever underestimate the power of empathy. It is a force for good. 

                                                     

And in case you ever wondered what the difference between empathy and sympathy is, this is what I found over at the Free Dictionary site:

empathy/sympathy  - Empathy denotes a deep emotional understanding of another's feelings or problems, while sympathy is more general and can apply to small annoyances or setbacks.
                                 
                          

***

On a completely different (but timely) topic, I've just posted: 20 Great Gift Suggestions Under $20 featuring some of my favorite products I've reviewed at My Real Life Reviews.

A variety of gift and stocking stuffer ideas; something for everyone.

And they definitely won't break the bank! LOL :<)

Word of the Week:Change

                                                 

"Change is the only thing that makes life happen."

 

“It is possible for everything and nothing to change,  all in a single moment.”

 

A couple of quotes I wrote myself, over the years. 

 

Change is necessary in life, even if it's something that can be scary at times.

Without change, life can become stagnant, repetitious and boring.

With Autumn's changing scene finally showing up, here in Interior BC; I thought it was a good time to once again reflect on the power of change.

Here's to good changes, new beginnings and interesting challenges.

It keeps things fresh, doesn't it? :<)

 

Wishing You a Very Happy Week!

Word of the Week: Sparkle (a haiku too!)

   

sparkles on the waves

a dazzling sight to behold

adding some magic! 

We all need some sparkle in our lives.

The boost, the muse, the beauty....that makes it all come together and seem more worthwhile.

Sparkle can take on many forms. It's an interesting word to contemplate I think.

This dazzling photo courtesy of Selma in the City. I just love it!

I've also got it dazzling my desktop background.

Reminding me to keep looking and adding "sparkle" wherever and whenever I can.

Here's to a Week of Sparkle and Magic!

PS: Mr. Cheddar, Feline Blogger and Fearless Bug Warrior, has posted a new product review that has some rather sparkling content too. Actually it's kinda catty LOL. You can read it here.

Word of the Week: Pets

                                        
What would the world be like, our lives be like, without pet friends to share it with? Hard to imagine when you love them as much as I have, for so many years.

 I thought it would be nice to feature the word: pets this Thanksgiving weekend. To remember all the furry friends that I have been so thankful for. For all the love, fun and entertainment they've brought into my life.

Right now, we only have Mr. Cheddar but look forward to the day (hopefully soon) when a "herd" LOL of cats is once again a reality.

For many, many years I had 4 cats: Prince Theo (aka Prince Porkie), Little Lois, Tasha and Mitzi. Four seems like such a perfect number as they always have a snuggling partner. And it was fun x 4, watching them. I miss them all, so very much.

I know Mr. Cheddar would like another feline companion too. He mourned the passing of  Mitzi for a long time. He was so sad when she passed, two years ago. It was amazing really, watching him during this time. So sad but so touching too.

For all the pet-lovers reading this, please give your pets a hug from me this week. They are precious family members. And ones we should never take for granted.

They leave us much too soon.

Happy Thanksgiving! Headbonks from the Ched too. :<)

***

This is a poem I wrote for Mr.Cheddar a few years ago.

I had dreams about Mr. Cheddar for weeks before we got him. And there he was, the only orange cat, waiting for us at the Shelter that day. Apparently he had been "passed over" many times, because he wasn't good-looking enough, so the attendents told us! Oh, if they could only see him now eh?

He had a very tough life before we got him it seems. He's still scared of any unusual noises and can't go outside except in a carrier, he really panics.

I'm glad he has found his way to a safe and loving home after all that.

                

Ode to Mr. Cheddar

Mr. Cheddar, what a guy.

He’s the apple, of my eye.

Fair of face and coat of shine.

Being with us; by design?

                      

Mr. Cheddar, you aim to please.

You melt my heart.

And run like the breeze.

What did we do when you weren’t here?

So glad you were waiting.

Goodbye to despair.

                             

Mr. Cheddar, my little man.

Eyes so green.

With many a fan.

You are a survivor of sad, suffering ways.

Still your heart remained open.

To happy times, better days.

                           

Mr. Cheddar, I saw you there.

In my dreams, you would sit and stare.

Waiting for your time of release.

Now you are safe and far from grief.

Never again to be hungry or sad.

You’ve come home.

We are so glad.

                            

“Ode to Mr. C” © 2008 Geraldine Hartman

Photo of Mr. Cheddar © 2008 Geraldine Hartman

Word of the Week: Grace

                         

The picture of grace...

And the power of grace...

"Grace is the effortless flow of existence; love and favor freely bestowed on us.That comes when we are living in harmony with life, when the rhythms of your body-mind are in synch with nature's rhythms. To live in grace is to experience that state of consciousness where things flow and your desires are easily fulfilled. Grace is magical, synchronistic, coincidental, joyful. It's the good-luck factor."

from the book: Power. Freedom and Grace by Deepak Chopra

I recently read this book. This quote truly seemed to be speaking to me. I've read it over again and again.

If I could have just one wish come true for anything, it would be to find and continue to live in a state of grace, as described here. This truly sums up the desires and wishes of my heart.It sounds like pure bliss, doesn't it? Inspiring.

Wishing you a wonderful week, filled with grace.

Word of the Week: Nurture

"Yes, the grass frequently appears greener on the other side of the fence.
But in reality the grass is greenest where it gets watered the most.”

– Dan Miller

I noted this quote recently; shared over at the Positivity Blog (one of my fav stops online each week) and thought it tied in perfectly with this week's word.

If we don't take the time and make the effort to nurture ourselves and those we care about, we are missing out in so many ways.  Opportunities to grow ourselves, sometimes in unexpected ways. And to feel good about helping others to thrive and evolve too.

 

Wishing You a Wonderful Week.

And one that truly nurtures your mind and spirit. :<)

Word of the Week: Integrity

                            

It's people with true integrity who have always been my heroes. The kind of people who stand by their personal beliefs and ethics, even when it's not the easy or popular route to take.

On a personal note, I think of myself as a person striving to live a life of integrity. Getting it right, not always, but most of the time. I have been challenged several times over the years in this respect. Two employment situations in particular come to mind. I stood up for people when it was not the "popular" or easy choice at the time.

It made for some very tough sailing for me, at one place in particular.. They fired a person who had worked there for years and who had been an exemplary employee but not one who was part of the "in" crowd.

Carol (name changed) ran the main office. She was very conscientious about her work. Not a person to allow all the staff on their own whims to go through personal or financial information (which many of them seemed to think was their right) and ran a tight ship in terms of keeping the books balanced etc....From where I was watching, Carol was the key person who kept this organization viable and progressing.

But as is too often the case, she ended up having the tables turned on her and the majority of staff rallying against her. A gang mentality continued to build. It was frightening to watch.

After several weeks of this internal back-stabbing a board meeting was called. All the other hands went up around the table in favor of firing her, including a "born again Christian" who was supposedly Carol's friend and loved to sing hymns throughout the day. Looking rather sheepish and embarrassed as I remember.

My hand stayed down. My convictions remained unchanged. I was not about to be a part of this nasty and uncalled-for dismissal. And as expected, after Carol was gone, the "guns" turned on me, making it difficult to continue to work there, in spite of the fact that I loved my job and needed it financially too.

But whatever challenges I faced after that episode, I felt good about what was the only choice I could make.

As it turned out, the "excellent" replacement employee who was hired after Carol, went on to bilk this organization out of thousands of dollars and was finally arrested. I saw it on the local TV news, years later. A little smile came to my face as I remember. In the long run, they did not come out ahead by getting rid of an honest, hard-working person. But rather, brought this organization to the brink of closure and cast a bad light on how it's operations were then perceived, throughout the community.

Another example that comes to mind when I think of the word integrity. Sealing a contract/agreement with a handshake.I don't know if that ever happens anymore but when I was very young I often remember my dad shaking hands with someone and it was "a deal" with no paperwork required. It was a given then, that was enough. "My word is my bond". I don't remember any of these transactions falling through either.

 It's not always easy to take the high road, to stand up for what's right, to speak up for the "underdog". But time after time (and sometimes it can take a very long time)  it is "always the right time to do the right thing".

***

To my readers in the U. S. A. 

Your Canadian friends stand with you today.

We will never forget.

                              

                       

in·teg·ri·ty

n.

1. Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.

2. The state of being unimpaired; soundness.

3. The quality or condition of being whole or undivided; completeness.

Definition source: The Free Dictionary

Photo courtesy of: Flickr

Word of the Week: Weeds

Life’s garden of weeds.
Sometimes the stalks grow high.
The leaves unruly and untamed.
Crowding out our vision, view and desire to renew.

              
On (too) many a day.
So hard to see above and beyond.
But weeds have a lesson to teach;
unique and of themselves.

                               
They remind us that what we see is not always…
what we get.
What we perceive often hides,
the true picture and final story.

                              
Searching for the serenity and beauty to be found.
In the access and opportunities denied.
Perhaps, the road not travelled.


It is there, although at times,
hard to understand.
Often seen as trials.
Some days, impossible to bear.

                   
Life’s garden of weeds.
Futilely, we pull, strain and tug.
Instead of finding the patience required to,
wait out the storm.

                   
Once again,
to bask in the glorious sunshine.
A re-awakening required.

                          
There are no mistakes that cannot be healed.
Soaking up the seeds of growth.
To reappear as the most beautiful of blooms.
Sharing their timely and timeless wisdom.

***

GHH 2008, revised 2011

Also submitted for the OSI prompt: weed

PS: I think weeds (in all forms and senses of the word) can be blessings in disguise. :<)

Word of the Week: Potential

                        

Potential! Such a positive word.

I particularly like the second definition below: having possibility, capability or power.

When I stand and look at a scene like the one above, that's what comes to mind. Potential. Anything seems possible when you can stand and "drink in" the beauty and majesty of nature, the mountains, the waterways, the plants and flowers....

We should all strive to reach our full potential in life. It's something that I don't think anyone should ever give up on, whatever the circumstances, obstacles or detours along the way. Gifts and talents give us the potential to do so much.

 I've been paying a lot more attention to these thoughts in the past few years. Trying to speed up the process of getting some long sought after goals either in progress or completed. It is a life long pursuit isn't it? But one that needs to be kept in mind. Time flies....and so quickly. 

po·ten·tial
adj.

1. Capable of being but not yet in existence; latent: a potential problem.

2. Having possibility, capability, or power.

3. Grammar Of, relating to, or being a verbal construction with auxiliaries such as may or can; for example, it may snow.

n.

1. The inherent ability or capacity for growth, development, or coming into being.

2. Something possessing the capacity for growth or development.

3. Grammar A potential verb form.

4. Physics The work required to move a unit of positive charge, a magnetic pole, or an amount of mass from a reference point to a designated point in a static electric, magnetic, or gravitational field; potential energy.

Definition: the Free Dictionary
                         

PS: And some recent posts at my other blogs you might also enjoy:

My Poetic Path: Obsessions (for OSI)
          
Veggies,Yarns & Tails: Mr. Cheddar Stops In to Say...

Word of the Week: Cool!

Seeking out cool water, shady places....has been a priority here this past week.

I'm basically useless in hot weather. Energy zapped, production down (and I LOVE being productive!)

Here's to cooler temperatures on the way soon.

 I hope you enjoy this cool haiku/photo from the My Poetic Path archives.

All together now. Cooooool....... Rain dance anyone?
                                     

PS:This afternoon,  I also write this Tau-Ku poem: Black Crow. The photo was taken on a recent day at the park, while trying to "beat the heat" .  I so seldom get the opportunity to take any bird photos that made for a nice change! Glad this crow was willing to pose! LOL

Nice to participate at OSI again too. Thanks for the reminder/inspiration Teri!

Word of the Week: Listen

To listen.

To truly and totally....

listen.

                       

How often do we think:

it’s the other person’s fault.

They aren’t listening.

They refuse to “tune us in”.

Shutting out what they don’t want to hear.

Or choose to ignore.

                

But it’s  always a "two-way street".

This listening game.

A lifelong pursuit

 of perfected and harmonious communication.

                        

Can it be achieved?

Is it something that we can sustain?

The answer: to be found in the words from our lips.

Or, from the ears that selectively hear.

                            

To listen.

To REALLY listen.

Worth the effort.

To be there.

Fully engaged.

In the moment and the meaning.

                                           

Listen…

Can you hear it?

                        

            

GHH/2009/revised 2011

                                                     

Something that I continue to work on and remind myself of. Being fully engaged and focused on the words and meaning, when listening to another person. Noting body language too.

I hope you enjoy the poem.

PS: On another unrelated topic...if you happen to be "drowning" in garden zucchini right now, you might enjoy this recipe post over at my cooking blog: It's Zucchini Time Again. Some popular recipes to help to put a "dent" in the harvest!!!!
                              

Photo courtesy of Flickr

Word of the Week: Perception

                                   

From a distance, a "time out" from our usual routine thoughts... what do we perceive?

"Perception appears to be automatic, but in fact it is a learned phenomenon. The world you live in including the experience of your body, is completely dictated by how you learned to perceive it. If you can change your perception, you  change the experience of your body and your world."

from the book: Ageless Body. Timeless Mind by Deepak Chopra

                              

 What a hopeful and inspiring message this is.

This is a book I would highly recommend. Written several years ago (perhaps there is an updated edition?) the insights and wisdom of the author still rings true. I am just finishing this book; it was not a quick read. A wealth of information to digest and consider throughout.

                                

Wishing you a wonderful week!

Word of the Week: Laughter!

                         

                                  
How's this for a reading group? LOL!!!



Can we ever have enough laughter in our lives? Probably not.

Laughter not only makes us happy and makes us smile, it is also very good for us, health wise.

Many years ago when I was recovering from "burn-out syndrome/ chronic fatigue" caused by too much worry, work, stress...that eventually added up and robbed me of my good health for almost 2 years, I read many stories about the healing powers of laughter.

I spent a lot of time on the sofa during that time of recovery. I wasn't able to do much as my nervous system was virtually in tatters. Resting and re-thinking how I had been living to have ended up so weak and so ill. I tried to read mainly inspiring and healing stories/ books about real people who had been through illnesses caused by stress who had recovered and lived to tell the tale.

The story of Norman Cousins and his remarkable recovery from a life-threatening tissue disease described in his book: Anatomy of An Illness is a story that has always stayed with me. Cousins and his doctors believed that recovery was due in large part to daily doses of lots of laughs, watching Marx Brother's movies where as drugs and other treatments had had little or no effect for weeks. Cousins had actually been getting worse as time had been going by in the hospital, until he added the funny movies to his daily routine.  If you've never read his story, it is definitely worth the time.

I also recently found this interesting site that lists many of the health benefits of laughter.

When I'm having a bad, sad or mad day... a good laugh (or even better, lots of them) can go a long way towards turning things around and helping me to relax and reassess things.

 I love watching funny movies like: Take the Money and Run with Woody Allen and Back to School with Rodney Dangerfield, two of my all-time favorite, classic LOL movies.

If you have a funny movie, book, video etc...to share, please do.

Here's to a week filled with lots of laughter.


It truly is the best medicine, for so many reasons! 

***

PS: I was fortunate to photograph a PERFECT pink rose recently. I wrote a haiku poem to go with it. You can see the post at: Haiku Reflections: A Perfect Pink Rose. I never tire of roses!

This adorable (and definitely not Mr. Cheddar approved) photo courtesy of Flickr