Sunday, September 30, 2012

Ease

I was so 'gung ho' and very excited about becoming a blogger.  You see, I so much believe that I am destined to write a novel, although I have not even begun one yet, so blogging regularly would be a breeze, no problem.  After coming out 'guns blazin' and publishing three posts, I hit a wall!!  I felt I wanted to write, but when I would sit down, all thoughts vanished.  My younger sister, who I refer to as my 'blog coach' shared with me how she established her blog but did not actually publish any posts until almost two years later.  (Matter of fact you might enjoy her blog spot !!  I enjoy it immensely.  Here's the link:
http://wwwnardog.blogspot.com/)  She said to just ease into the writing and to not feel pressured into thinking that I had to regularly publish.   Those words put me at ease and helped me realize that great novels took years sometimes to write, so that applies to blogs as well I'm sure.

This is my fourth year being back in Northeast Ohio for the Autumn season.  The weather changing to cooler nights and mornings actually are welcome after the gosh-awful 90 degree days, consecutive days, we endured during the summer.  But the foliage changing - we were not allowed to ease into that Autumn change.  Trees with red and yellow leaves and trees with NO leaves seemed to greet me seemingly overnight.  I was not mentally ready for what appeared to happen all of a sudden.  I was not allowed to ease into this seasonal change.  So I found myself a little depressed? Caught off guard? Just not mentally ready.  Why you ask am I making such a big deal over this?  Well because Autumn also causes me to reflect back on the year, especially the Spring and Summer AND the promises I made to myself and the lists I made of those things I was 'definitely going to do the spring and summer of 2012'.  And alas, here I am with the naked and nearly naked trees and the realization I did none of the things on that list. 

The Lord willing, I will have next year's spring and summer.  Until then, during the upcoming winter months I'll just ease on down the road (tip of the hat to the movie 'The Wiz' featuring the late Michael Jackson and Diana Ross http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078504/ ).




Wednesday, September 12, 2012

What is a friend?

I have the very good fortune of having several true sincere friends.  And mind you, I know what I am talking about when I say true and sincere.  I consider myself to be true and sincere so why not want that in return?



One true sincere friend of mine I met in kindergarten!  And you know my current age - so yes, our friendship has endured quite a number of years.  Our friendship remains steadfast.  Our friendship is true and sincere. Our friendship will last always I am certain.  She lives in Texas and one day in the mail I got a small box.  Inside she included three sunny yellow coffee mugs with a letter 'announcing' I was the 'winner'!!  You see each week she pulled a 'name' and that person would be the recipient of her weekly 'thoughtful giving'.  Something small, something unique, but sent with love.  And here is a picture of those bright sunny mugs.  Each time I use them I think of my dear friend.  And they always brighten up my mood and my frame of mind.

All of my friends have always been my cheerleaders.  I believe they believed in me more than I believed in me sometimes.  Their words of encouragement were heart-felt and sincere.  My happiness and success means so much to them.  They reliably offer support and congratulations.  This mug I found on a clearance shelf in Dollar General for 60 cents!!  I found it right before I was offerred a job after being out of work for almost a year.



Needless to say I am convinced it was a sign, at least that is what I told myself then, back in 2009, and to this day I still believe it was a message signaling all of the good things that were to come. 


My friends help me stay grounded as well.  When the ego gets too big, they keep me in check.  And that is what I expect from a true and sincere friend. So on those days when I am feeling like the DIVA

I feel their taps on my shoulder and that brings me back down out of the clouds.

It is important to understand why friends are in our lives.  It's even more important to respect that friendship and to realize its value.  Needless to say it is imperative to realize how fortunate you are to have a true and sincere friend.  Sometimes just one is more than enough.

I am thankful for all of my friends, and I give thanks to God for placing them in my life.