Daily doo-dads

The word Angel is in my name. Trust me, I am no angel. But...I try to be, don’t you?  Look it up. I’ll bet you do! Always trying to better myself and others, always trying to look at the bright side of a situation, always trying to be kind and helpful.  It’s exhausting really. People pleasing; being the yes girl! I challenge you to loosen the reigns a bit. I have. It’s a work in progress.  Value yourself enough to know when you’re on overload. Saying, “No” to someone or something is okay. It’s saying yes to the one person who needs and deserves your love and help the most...YOU!  If you’re like me you feel the need to be that yes person to take on what you may not have the emotional time or energy for.  Stop. Listen to your own needs. You and those around you will be better for it.  Meditation is the clearest way to figure out what needs of your own need to be met before you can meet the needs of others.  Meditation is new and challenging to me, but I love how it grounds me even when I think …

My dad’s favorite movie was It’s a Wonderful Life.  We watched it together often around the holidays.  When I was little it was usually on Thanksgiving Day after putting up our tree.  Oh, the tree! I loved putting up the tree. Seeing it at night, all other lights off, with only the colorful Christmas lights aglow. We played an ornament game to trick people into thinking dad could read minds or was all-knowing.  To me he was all knowing.  He just seemed to have that innate human quality of knowing what was needed. He was the best. Those of you that knew him know what I mean.  So, this year as I prepare today to watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” without you, I am overcome with the feelings of how it’s not a Wonderful life without you. 
You’re not here to talk to...
You’re not here to give advice...
You’re not here to see and dote on your beautiful great grand girl that I know you would adore...
But man am I grateful that while you were here on Earth; you made this a Wonderful Life for all of those wh…

Why daily doo-dads?  I’ve mentioned before that the blog was essentially a way for me to write and honor my dad. He was always pushing me to write children’s books. One day I will publish the one that I wrote before his passing. He even started a draft of an idea he wanted me to write about. It is a story about he and my daughter when she was small. He adored her and thought everything she said and did was perfect!  He was right about that, as usual, I was just too tired as a working mom to realize it at the time.  Anyway... doo-dads was my dad’s favorite 1970’s snack!  Do any of you old timers remember it?  Delicious!  Why they stopped making it I’ll never know. Perhaps we can all converge and let Nabisco know it’s needed in today’s world! So...the blog title is for you, dad.  Wish we were sharing a box of it now back in 1976!😉

Even the Lord had a day for rest, right? Sunday. Ahhhh...short but sweet Sunday! Many of you start your Sunday off by going to church, enjoying your family and/or just plain relaxing.  I taught for 25 years before closing that chapter to be a nanny. Every Sunday during my teaching days was bittersweet. You’re enjoying your last day of the weekend and suddenly you hear the sound of the ticking clock of the news show 60 minutes.   This was when I went into panic mode.  Don’t get me wrong;  I loved teaching and am grateful for a career that I truly enjoyed and filled me with so many personal rewards.  However, getting back into the swing of my work week always took a  mind shift.  My hope for “Kick off Quote for your Work Week” is two-fold, really.  I hope to 1.) choose a quote that will hopefully set a positive tone for your work week and 2.) inspire you to be your best you!
Now that you know my intent for “Kick off Quote for your Work Week” future Monday posts will simply be a quote and my int…

Rewind...back up in time...I’m sorry for not being empathetic enough when someone I care about had lost someone they loved either through death or divorce.  I didn’t truly or fully understand grief until my dad passed away two years ago this month.  Yes, I told you I was sorry and I was. I told you to hold on to the memories and you continued to do that, as do I. But seriously knowing the pain? Nope, nada, I didn’t know how deep was your pain. Now I do.  You see, losing someone you love; be it through death or divorce (as that, too, is the death of a love story)is truly the most painful life event. I equate the circumstance to having a limb unwillingly removed. It was there; now it’s gone.  I loved my dad. It’s that simple. I loved him for one million little and big reasons. If you knew him, you know. I miss him everyday.  I’m reminded of him everyday. I see him in small and big ways everyday. I still trust and listen to him and imagine what he would say/do. A sort of “wwdd” (what would d…

Yep!  Here’s the thing... that’s the tag line in my blog site’s Bitmoji speech bubble. Along with me sitting in a cup of tea; another thing that makes me, ME! Anyone that knows me well and talks to me often; knows that I unintentionally always begin my self professed important or insightful thoughts with, “Here’s the thing...”  When I shared with one of my very best girlfriends in the world (the sister I never had, really!) about starting a blog and told her my design idea; we laughed at how many times that evening I said, “Here’s the thing...”  So...Here’s the thing... As I wrote in yesterday’s blog I don’t claim to be a real writer and my daily mini posts will be pretty non specific, but I promise to always try to inspire, entertain and maybe even help you in a small way. We are all just trying to make sense of this crazy world. 
Here’s the thing...let’s build one another up along the way!

What is a “real” writer anyway? I am and I’m not. I like to write and I hate to write. I’ve always enjoyed writing for my own entertainment. Diary/ journal entries, stories; real or imaginary.  Writing for school assignments as a student and as a teacher never brought me joy.  When I’m writing for my own enjoyment there’s no judgement; fear removed.  Writing because I had to brought me stress.  My dad always encouraged me to write. Before he passed away in 2015 I finished my first children’s book that sits in my writing bag. Unpublished. Why?  Just like the assigned writing projects; fear and judgement.  I’m sorry dad for not writing the way you encouraged me to, but this daily blog is my way of honoring you.  So...I encourage all of you to write, too, if you enjoy it.  Whether you or I consider ourselves writers; if we enjoy it, we should do it!
Writing isn't just for real writers

We all want our days to go well.  How do we achieve this?  Start your day on a positive note and set your good intentions for the day ahead. Breathe goodness into your day right away. Because...you may wake up and your back is sore from sleeping funny; or your head is focused on the negativity you feel dragging you down in one way or another.  Stop.  Listen to your body and quiet the demons in your head. You have the key to this day’s happiness. Find it. Keep it on an imaginary keychain you place near the space you wake.  For me it’s lemon water!  I start my day with lemon water!  This is how I know it’s going to be a good one!