Welcome Autumn
Catch a glimpse of leaves turning golden.
Stroll down a less traveled path.
Inhale the scent of a new season.
Remember this amazing autumn day!
Difficult Days
“Today was a Difficult Day,” said Pooh.
There was a pause.
“Do you want to talk about it?” asked Piglet.
“No,” said Pooh after a bit. “No, I don’t think I do”
“That’s okay,” said Piglet, and he came and sat beside his friend.
“What are you doing?” asked Pooh.
“Nothing, really,” said Piglet. “Only, I know what Difficult Days are like.
I quite often don’t like talking about it on my Difficult Days either.”
“But goodness,” continued Piglet, “Difficult Days are so much easier
when you know you’ve got someone there for you. And I’ll always be here for you, Pooh.”
And as Pooh sat there, working through in his head his Difficult Day, while the solid, reliable Piglet sat next to him quietly, swinging his little legs…. he thought that his best friend had never been more right.” A.A. Milne
Sending thoughts to those having a Difficult …
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The Voice Of A Child
Hearing a young voice singing with joy can lift our spirits. Check out four-year-old, Rylyn Clark’s version of Bob Marley’s “Every little thing’s gonna be alright.”
If his singing doesn’t get to you, his smile will. And take his message to heart! (Skip ads if you wish)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCLuQYzrAPc
Learn more about Rylyn from his Mom.
Mentor Times Two
A mentor often shares experiences, but rarely do they know the benefits to their own life. Having the opportunity to mentor twin girls gave me many unexpected blessings. When meeting at age five, I could not have imagined the joy of sharing ice cream treats, and years later seeing them in a National Guard uniform while serving in Kuwait.
Prompted by a writing challenge to address the topic “Was It Worth It” I wrote an article titled “Mentor Times Two.” To anyone wanting to add something special to your life, I’d encourage you to consider mentoring. Kids ’n Kinship is the organization that gave me this opportunity.
MENTOR TIMES TWO
I never liked the term “empty nester.” So much of my life was spent struggling to adopt my two kids. When they headed off to college, it felt like there was a big hole in my heart. I had …
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Have I Done Enough?
Lyrics in the play Hamilton raise the question “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story?”
Thought for today: When my time is up, have I done enough?
Sheltering Orphans
Children in India need warm water for showers. In Tanzania, milk cows will improve the health of orphans. For safety concerns, high school girls need a concrete wall to be built in Guatemala.
To date, 200 Orphanages Worldwide has funded more than 50 projects in 17 countries. Simply put, they provide safety and security for orphans. While their mission is to raise awareness and funds, a vision to help build projects for 200 orphanages worldwide is what drives them.
Supporters have rallied around the needs of children by providing dormitories, dining halls, community rooms, latrines, and outdoor kitchens. In Tanzania, Africa, a sustainability project is underway to add several milk cows, a herd of sheep, and an enclosure for the animals at their Kahunda campus. This will allow the campus to provide the children with a wider variety of protein, improving their overall health. More greenhouses would result in triple …
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Kindness vs. Covid
Our bodies aren’t just programmed to be nice, they reward us for being kind, scientists say. University of California Riverside psychology professor, Sonja Lyubomirsky, found that genes which trigger inflammation are less in people who perform acts of kindness. She reports there are more antiviral genes in those who regularly practice being kind.
When psychologists at the University of London questioned the importance of topics including ambition, creativity, tradition, security, kindness, and having an exciting life, guess what came up on top?
“Doing kindness makes you happier and being happier makes you do kind acts” said labor economist, Richard Layard. Perhaps in addition to making us happy, scattering kindness can also make us healthier.
On A Sweltering Summer Day
Some call it a sweltering summer day. I like to call it a scattering kindness opportunity!
What kid, of any age, doesn’t smile with their first lick of a frozen popsicle on a very hot day? You can be a super hero by simply picking up a box of popsicles and searching for a nearby shelter to drop them off. Hint — shelters are everywhere.
You’ll feel cooler just imagining when the paper comes off that first popsicle. Do it today!
Why Did Daddy Cry?
A short story to honor all Fathers
Today is going to be the best day of my life! Daddy didn’t need to wake me. I’ve been looking at that worn-out curtain all night hoping to see daylight. How can anyone sleep on their 6th birthday? Entering the kitchen, I hear Daddy’s beautiful voice singing Happy Birthday to me. I’m so lucky to have a father who loves me so much. I know that not all kids are as lucky as I am.
Chocolate chip pancakes with mounds of whip cream are something I’ve always dreamt about, but I’m ok with my little bowl of Cheerios now while hoping for a treat later in the day. My friend, Valerie told me that some kids get cakes, balloons or even presents on their birthday. I didn’t believe her until I heard other kindergarteners at my new school bragging about what they …
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Stretching Our Kindness
Listen Learn Love
Listen — let’s challenge ourselves to listen to someone with ideas different than ours.
Learn — we might think terms like white prejudice don’t apply to us.
Love — everyone!