Do you Use...

 Do you use your college degree now; if you could do it over again would you attend college?

I can only answer this with the wisdom of hind site except the part of "do I use my college degree," and that answer would be no. If I know what I know now I would not attend college and I would set my creative spirit free, the one that I let myself and others keep locked up, imprisoned with all the rules, advise and pursuit of perfection. Going to college did one thing, it gave me the confidence that I did have the ability to learn ~ a feeling I lacked in grade school when I was told that I had a learning problem and was put in the "special class" with only a handful of other students. Everyone that walked by the room knew who was in there! And my mother never missed a chance to share this information. I do believe college is suited for some and some people it is not. I don't regret it, because like all past decisions, you can't change them, so I took what I liked from the experience and left the rest.

This is a cooperative blog that a friend and I are participating in together, so check out what she has to say about this question from her perspective http://gentlegull.blogspot.com/

Silver Lining...

"Reflect on a time when your pain or perceived problem turned out to be the beginning of a whole new possibility for yourself, perhaps even a blessing in disguise."

My father decided when I was 15 after a horrible fight with my mother that he no longer wanted to participate in our ( my sister and I) lives. He left and went off to marry another lady who had two daughters just like he left behind. He came back once but my mother told him if he wasn't going to pay child support he should leave and he did. I did not see him again until I was married and a mother but that visit didn't go well. We parted ways never to speak again until his death. 

I distinctly remember the day I realized my father leaving was a silver lining in my life. I was driving down to Charlotte, I was about 30 years old then ( I'm 54 now) and the light bulb moment hit me. He was an active alcoholic and had he stayed, things could have been SO much worse. So many of those abandonment issues drifted away that day. I still am grateful today that it happened that way it did. And right before he died I was given one last chance to mend a broken connection. His family called me and he was not able to speak at this point, but they said he wanted to "talk to me." I of course talked, since he could not and I let him know it was all okay and that I loved him very much. He died after they hung up the phone. His unfinished business on this earth was done. 

My father not being in my life ( as crazy as it was without him) I'm not sure I could have handled the situation with him the way he was. I felt my spirit was spared a lot of things I will never know the full extent of. Today I only feel forgiveness and love for my father. He did the best he knew how with what he had. So what seemed like abandonment from my father now only feels like love.

A friend's perspective on her silver lining... http://gentlegull.blogspot.com/2014/08/seeing-silver-lining.html

Mush...

Not sure the picture related, but I LOVE tree's and it was to pretty to pass up!

I'm not sure what is going on with me this week and sometimes I don't need to find an explanation, but I have just felt like my body AND mind have been like "mush" this week. I kept hoping it would get better but it's Thursday and I'm still feeling like everything is off kilter. I push myself to do what I have to, but the spring in my step has not returned. I usually have a day or two of feeling a bit off but not usually a week. I'm trying to offer no resistance and listen to my mind, body and spirit, hopefully to gain insight and maybe feel the passing of this "funk."

Sooth...

My schedule the last couple of weeks has been crazy!!! And trying to write on my blog... I am feeling brain dead. But with the passing of Maya Angelou, I will just take a moment to pause ~ and leave a quote from her to sooth my mind, body and spirit.

"People know themselves much better than you do. That's why it's important to stop expecting them to be something other than who they are."

Dr. Maya Angelou

Surrounded...

Today I worked in and around a group of people who where all searching for a better way to care for their body, mind and spirt. 

It was nice...

Virtual Walk...

I'm working on my meal planning business today and my brain needed a little stretch, so I'm going on a virtual nature walk. This picture looked so inviting and intriguing as to what beauty lays around the bend. I can just feel the sunshine, as my mind drinks in the scenery. Nature always restores my spirit.

It's beginning to look a lot like christmas...

Our Christmas tree is here!

We didn't get our tree at the place we have been going to for years but we were all happy being together and happy with our choice. It is up in the stand and ready to be fully decorated. So let the hot chocolate and Christmas carols woe us into a festive time. String the lights (hoping most work this year), draping the garland, and opening the box full of family favorite ornaments and covering the tree with memories. Then every evening as the sun goes down and darkness is welcome the twinkling of the lights brightens our spirit and put a smile on our face. They mesmerize you, staring at them for what seems like hours. You mind drifting to Christmas past and hopeful future.

A GOOD time had by all!