Posts Tagged With: intuition

On Nudges

Posted on May 16, 2013 by emjayandthem

Last week, I wrote about my travels to D.C. and all that trip meant to me.

What I haven’t written about are all the nudges I experienced while there.

It started with the two Minnesota businessmen seated across from me at the conference dinner, the ones whose accents sounded so familiar. The fellows who told their stories in the modest way Midwesterners do; what stays with me is how easily we laughed, as though we were old friends reunited after years apart.

There was the English couple making their way to St. Louis; his brown eyes locking on mine when he said, “It’s my Mother, you see, and she wants me to come.” I found myself nodding in agreement. We talked of the bond between Mothers and children, regardless that she was 84 and he 61. I’d forgotten it was Mother’s Day that coming Sunday. His wife, serene and beautiful, like Jane Goodall, smiled in support of the journey.

There was the businesswoman softly sobbing in the seat next to mine, our flight delayed again and again because of weather. But it wasn’t the storms that made her cry, it was her husband’s terse texts about being late to their 9 year old’s birthday.

There was the Arizona executive I met at an evening mixer, the woman who smiled as she told me of her Dad’s health challenges and how no other siblings were involved because he was such a cranky-puss these days. She smiled her way through the fatigue.

There was the skinny smiley cab driver from Afghanistan who showed me photos of his baby daughter and the cleaning lady with the shy smile who never failed to say “Good morning!”

Maybe I was just a country girl in the city overwhelmed with the sights, the smells, the significance.

But I don’t think that’s it.

I felt it. With each of them.

A nudge.

A little push that said, “hear them. see them. listen.”

And so I did.

And in the listening, that’s where I find the lessons live.

“An invisible thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle. But it will never break.” - Proverbs

Have you ever experienced nudges like this? What did you?

related:

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Categories: Beauty, Faith, Friendship, Growth, Life, Life Lessons, Uncategorized | Tags: An invisible thread, intuition, listen, nudges, people, relationships, travel | 14 Comments

Acquiring some horse sense

Posted on April 4, 2013 by emjayandthem

source: evans-welsh ponies

Good instincts usually tell you what to do long before your head has it all figured out – Michael Burke

I recently found myself in a situation that made me think of my horse, Riley.

Riley was an Arabian-Welsh cross that Dad bought for me when I was 9. I’d been riding for several years by then but had never had my own horse. I rode JJ and Queenie, my cousin’s horses, as often as I could, and our draught horses Tony and Bruce, but that wasn’t the same as having my own. When you’re a full-time cowgirl you need a full-time horse! So when Dad asked me if I wanted to go with him to deliver a load of hay, I answered, “sure,” figuring that, at the very least I’d score a pop and some candy. That’s what you get when you take a trip with the Candy Man.

Slipping on my jean jacket and hopping into the truck cab, I didn’t even notice the horse trailer behind us. Flipping through the AM stations, we shared peppermints and listened to the farm reports. Arriving at a farm I didn’t recognize, I helped Dad as he offloaded the bales. I noticed an older man, the farm owner, approach the truck. I half-listened as they talked about grain costs and hay availability but, truth be told, I wasn’t paying them much attention because it was around that time that I spotted a dark grey horse looking at me intently. He, with the most beautiful and inquisitive face, stared at me from a cow-filled corral and with cow pies up to his knees. I abandoned the hay and sloshed through the barnyard muck, my rubber boots making a squirsh squirsh sound as I rushed to meet him. Slowly and deliberately, he approached the fence but maintained a 3 foot distance from the rails. Hardly daunted, I scaled the fence and, perched on the top, and reached out my hand so as to pet him. He snorted, stamped a foot, and backed away.

From behind I heard an unfamiliar voice ask, “So I hear you’re in the market for a horse?”

“Huh?” I said, looking in confusion over to my Dad, who stood at the truck grinning.

“What do you think all this hay is for?” giggled Dad.

Still confused, I looked from man to man and realized what was really going on: they were trading hay for a horse – MINE!

I could hardly stand the ride home and I barely heard Dad as he explained, “You do realize he’s at least 5 years old and not even halter broke yet. He doesn’t know anything. You will need to work with him every day and teach him. You know that, right?”

Did I?

I spent nearly every day with Riley, after school, all weekends and every summer that followed.

So I brushed him. I spoiled him. I told him all my secrets. He greeted me with a nicker , ears up and one step forward, every time. I laughed at his antics as he stole treats and opened gates for other horses but he’d redeem himself by obediently giving rides to children who visited us. When he misbehaved, and he often did, I’d have him back up in straight lines. Doing so won us both ribbons at the local 4-H show because, unbeknown-st to me, being able to back up through an L corner was a key part of the “Western Trail” class competition. That horse could back a perfectly straight line the entire length of the arena.

There were many things that he was not: he was not tall and he was not lanky, and that was OK ’cause neither was I. He was, however, as dignified as an Arabian desert racer could be and as smart, stubborn and dependable as Welsh ponies are known to be. He was perfect for me.

Riley.

He did more than listen: he provided therapy to a girl with a head full of dreams trying to find her place in the world.

He taught me more about trusting my instincts than any person ever has.

Once, on our way home from yet another adventure with the cousins, he kept stopping every 20 feet or so. Growing impatient, I urged him on. Finally, he stopped firmly, planted his feet, swung his head and bit me on the foot. He got my attention, and as I spun him around there, about 15 feet directly behind us, was the largest male coyote I’d ever seen. Clearly Riley had sensed what lurked behind us but could not see it clearly. The coyote, no threat to us, locked eyes, looked down and loped away. That day, I learned to listen to what he had to tell me: I know better than you kid, and you might just want to pay attention.

Me & Riley, 4-H Achievement Day 1979

What brings me to this tale?

A situation presented itself to me recently that just didn’t sit right with me. I tried to brush it off, to no avail. I finally spun around and stared it down for what it was. I recognized it, I dealt with it, and I moved on.

Thank you, Riley, for teaching me to trust what my gut’s telling me long before my head has it figured out. Thank you for teaching me that it’s perfectly normal to sing into a prairie wind and that gates only exist to be opened.

What have your animals taught you?

*originally posted by Emjayandthem on April 1, 2011

Categories: Animals, Faith, Family, Friendship, Growth, Joy, Life, Life Lessons, Personal, Relationships, Self Discovery, Thoughts, Uncategorized | Tags: chidhood, growing up, horses, instinct, intuition, memories, Michael Burke, quotes, Riley, trust yourself, welsh pony | 14 Comments

What Lingered in Linden

Posted on January 16, 2013 by emjayandthem

So a road trip yesterday had me stopping for coffee and a bite to eat at the Linden Hotel in S.E. Michigan.

This is an old town, the hotel was established in 1840 and a sign on the front stoop says so.

Known for their home-made goodies and excellent lunches, we were told this would be a good place to stop after a meeting earlier that day.

But what we didn’t know is that the hotel is supposedly haunted.

I noticed something was up right away; having turned my (android) phone off while in meetings, I expected a full charge when I powered it back up. It was .. and then it wasn’t. Saying nothing, I watched as two main screen images superimposed themselves over each other. I also noticed I wasn’t getting my work emails and the time display was stuck on one time.

Making general conversation with the waitress, my colleagues asked about the hotel’s history. Smiling, she said, “oh, would you like to see our ghost book?”

Immediately one said “no, not me, I’m scared of that stuff.” She replied, “oh you’ll be fine” and stepped away to retrieve a binder filled with photos and anecdotes from previous visitors.

Intrigued, we asked her to tell us more.

“Well, I’ve worked here for many years and often come in to find the silverware upside down or unwrapped. We’ve had bartenders witness bottles fly off the bar and cooks hear someone call their name. The most activity is in the upstairs ladies bathroom and in the mens room on this floor. There’s a little girl here, she died in a fire, she plays upstairs. The others we aren’t so sure about.”

My colleagues smiled and went back to their food and I looked at my phone again. Nothing. The time was frozen at the time we entered the building: 2:02 pm and the battery was almost dead.

One photo in the book caught us all by surprise, especially when she told us the story behind it.

http://www.Lindenhotel.com

Apparently a group of local folks who do Civil War reenactments did so on the upper floor of the hotel while it was under renovation. See the soldier by the chair? Folks who participated noticed him after the images were developed; no one knows who he is, as every other member was accounted for.

Weird hey?

While the experience was unusual, I can tell you I wasn’t scared. I also don’t mind telling you that there was no part of me that was going upstairs to the ladies’ room: I trust my intuition! I had to giggle when my colleagues bade a hasty retreat after they were “visited” by yellow lights in the mens’ room. Suggestion or real?

I am not sure what to think about all this but I do know this: we were a full 70 miles west of there before my phone returned to normal, the time reset and 67 new emails showed up.

for more, visit http://www.lindenhotel.com/GhostPage.htm

What do you think? Do you believe in ghosts? Have you ever visited someplace haunted? Were you visited by something while you were there?

Go with what you know

Posted on November 12, 2012 by emjayandthem

So, some of you know that I started a new job last Monday. Holy Guacamole – to say I’ve been a little busy would be an understatement.

The thing is … I’m still doing my old job, and I’m navigating the new one, too. And, truth be told, I’ve done a quite a bit of it for some time now.

Somewhere in the quiet part that is Sunday evening a little voice whispered to me: “Hey you, the forecast is nasty, and you have an awful lot of calls scheduled, so how ’bout a bit o’ lunch?” I dug out a bruised Gladware container and assembled a beautiful salad of fresh greens, tomatoes, English cucumbers and grilled chicken. Then I wrote myself a note so I’d remember to take it with me today!

And it was a good thing I did because this day took off like a shot and it was 2:00 before I remembered that I even had a lunch to eat.

And in that moment, I caught my breath, laughed out loud and thought, “Go with what you know.”

The situation was really no different than when I started blogging two years ago. I remember getting all caught up in the excitement of it, the newness of it, and the desire to take off on the journey and see where it would go.

And I remembered how, later on, I found myself stepping back and, in the end, giving myself permission not to know everything. To not have it all together. To do it my way.

So with that, I’m revisiting that post tonight.

I’m taking a page out of my own book and I’m going with what I know.

google.images.com

* * *

Write what you know

by Emjayandthem

Asked about blogging, it hit me what I’ve learned from the experience:

1. Write as often as you want to but resist the pressure to publish every day. Remember that you do this because you enjoy writing. Example:   At first, I obediently followed the mandate set by my instructor – to write and publish daily. I know she meant well because her point was to keep it fresh and avoid too many days between posts. But now, looking back, I can tell the difference between my “going through the motions-posts” and those that were really me – at my most authentic.  And if I could tell, I’m pretty sure others could, too.

2. To that end, let your posts breathe. Not all of your readers are “online” at the same time and when you post something new, older posts get pushed to the bottom. Give each one its due.

3. Read (and be inspired) by the work of others: Be moved by the posts, dreams and the designs of the many talented writers here in the blogosphere. When I feel “stuck,” all I have to do is click & read. In no time at all, I’m laughing, smiling, crying, nodding my head in agreement and commenting. In no time at all, I’ve forgotten about my little blog and have subscribed to several more.

4. Commenting on blogs is a wonderful way to connect but there’s a tiny line between being interested and supportive and just being there to promote your stuff. People will find you if they’re interested and they don’t … then they don’t.   The self-promoting commenter makes me think of that snot-nosed kid who dumps his milk at the dinner table on purpose: Look at me, notice me, see me, I’m here. Geez, I get it already now knock it off!

5. Mind your manners: respond to comments and acknowledge those who took the time to weigh in. However, if someone chooses to swear at me, their comments will not see the light of day. Constructive criticism – bring it on but general viciousness? Hell to the no. My blog – my rules.

6. Take the challenge:   The topics I care most about are the hardest for me to write. So when I find myself feeling that pinch, I dig a little deeper and keep at it because I know I’ve hit the good stuff.

7. Slog through:  Often, what I feel most passionate about can leave me feeling vulnerable and it’s tempting to self-censor…. but then I can easily lose the point of my post. However, what I’ve learned is that the most difficult posts to write have become my favorites. Maybe not the most read, but.. My. Personal. Favorites. And that counts for something, too.

8. Be open to ideas: Ideas come in all shapes and sizes and often at random times. Keep a list. You can email ideas to yourself, record messages on your cell phone or, like me, scribble notes down on the backs of envelopes, post-its and grocery lists.

9. Have fun: If writing starts feeling like a chore, step away and do something else. Chances are something else in your day will inspire you. We’re not curing Cancer here, people! Step away, mix it up, come back & let ‘er buck!

10. Write what you know:  Lastly, lots of blogging “authorities” will tell you to “become the expert,” or to find out what you’re an expert on. Well, the only thing I am an expert on is me, my life and my experiences … and all of it is a work in progress anyways.

Have you ever stepped back from something only to discover that what you already know is actually … quite enough? What have you learned to trust yourself with?

Categories: Attitude, Blogging, Faith, fear, Personal, Relationships, Thoughts | Tags: career, challenges, growth, instincts, intuition, joy, life, self-discovery, trust, what you know, work | 37 Comments

Intuitive Mothering

Posted on October 6, 2012 by emjayandthem

We don’t have to be the same to be lovable; Google.images.com

I always knew I wanted to be a mother.

I never imagined my life without a family and I certainly had lots of practice nurturing baby animals and babysitting on the farm.

Having said that, I felt fate gave me boys: two hilarious, ridiculous and busy boys. Why? Because even though I knew it would be fun to have a girl, I knew that I was far from a girlie-girl. I mean, as a kid, I lived out my days like Billy Jack, riding ponies and shooting cap guns, staging shows and cooking up adventures. I felt confident to handle two rumbly-tumbly boys; I wasn’t sure that I could manage a Barbie-playing girl.

But, in time, life brought me a daughter-in-law and, a later, a grand-daughter. Cool, the scales have shifted, I thought. Secretly, I envisioned all kinds of girlie escapades for us. I took my time getting to know her and making sure I wasn’t one of those mother-in-laws, overpowering or with-holding. I accepted her and her cute little boy and tried to let her know that if you love my boy that’s enough for me.

But, here’s what I didn’t anticipate: I never expected that I’d mother her, too. I mean, I knew she had a Mom and I’d heard enough to know that they weren’t as close as could be, but still, I hesitated … better tread softly here.

So, as it does, life moved along and I began to notice certain things: Like when she was expecting, it was me who organized a baby shower and it was our huge, crazy family that welcomed her. When they got engaged, it was me & hubbs who booked the hall and paid the caterer and organized the guest list. It was our house where she dressed and and it was me who helped her into the wedding dress; it was our yard where their pictures were taken in and our patio where the gifts were opened. Them? They were … guests. And when she related her struggles just talking with her, I was the one who encouraged her to keep on trying. You see, as a daughter of a wonderful mother, not having that relationship was as incomprehensible as not having … air.

We talked a few days ago and I made it a point to tell her that, no matter what happens, we hope she stays in our lives. I tried to convince her that, despite her past experiences with them, it’s not in our hearts to trash, bash or discard her. Punctuated by her sobs were the words I’d never expected to hear, “I wish I could talk to her like I do to you.”

“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” – Mother Teresa

Have you ever parented someone who wasn’t “yours?”

Categories: Faith, Family, Growth, Life, Life Lessons, Love, Relationships, Uncategorized | Tags: Billy Jack, grief, intuition, Mother Teresa, mothering, parenting, personal, thougts | 25 Comments

Seekers

Posted on September 25, 2012 by emjayandthem

Have you ever met someone whose personality immediately drew you in? Who, at first glance, seemed like someone you’d like to know better?

Not long ago, this happened to me.

I found myself seated next to another lady while both of us were getting manicures; I couldn’t help but overhear her conversation with another patron. She was articulate and engaging on the topics they discussed (health and health care). When the other lady finished and left, this one turned to me. For a time, the conversation was pleasant. Smiling inwardly, I thought, this is fun, because I love to meet and talk with new people. But it was when she ventured off into alternative care that I felt a smidge of unease. Bear in mind that I don’t take issue with alternative remedies; I personally think there’s a lot we can learn by going back to the basics – good nutrition, proper sleep, etc. But, this was different: I saw her eyes brighten and noted when she licked her lips and leaned in closer, almost conspiratorially. It hit me that the two-way info exchange had stopped; now she talked at me about energy fields, colon-hydrotherapy and her stance against vaccinations. Well, “to each his own,” I thought. A break in the conversation allowed me to sit quietly for a moment and that’s when I heard it, a ringing in my right ear, clear and steady, like an alarm going off. I smiled while trying to follow her stances on modalities, PH balances and the like. I found myself a little sad, too, because before me was a woman with a quick and seeking mind. Before me was not someone seeking conversation or friendship, however: before me was a soul whispering hear me, see me, affirm me.

When it was time to go, she smiled warmly and introduced herself as Jane, slipping her business card into my hand. I smiled back and told her my first name, too, but refrained from sharing my contact information. Instead I minded that little alarm, the one that very clearly said no.

“Intuition is always right in at least two important ways;

It is always in response to something.

It always has your best interest at heart”

― Gavin de Becker, “The Gift of Fear”

Have you ever been in this situation? How did you handle it?

image from Pinterest.com

Categories: Faith, fear, Friendship, Personal, Thoughts, Uncategorized, Wisdom | Tags: alarms going off, Gavin de Becker, GPS, gut feeling, instinct, intuition, new friends, no, opinion, relationships, trust | 23 Comments

on Self-Help

Posted on August 7, 2012 by emjayandthem

I don’t know about you but I’ve got a fair amount of self-help books sitting around. I love to read and have always gravitated to topics that cause me to ponder life’s choices and think about what’s next.

But, having said that, there’s a very distinct part of me that is so clearly my mother’s daughter: she, the feisty little narrator who lives inside my head and sports cat-eye glasses and pedal pushers. She snorts and nudges and whispers Balderdash!! whenever Oprah or some other guru-type starts telling me how we should be living.

You know what I’m talking about: you’ve seen the excitement when “they” are on the precipice of something meaningful. And sometimes they truly have been. I don’t mean any disrespect but I’ve rolled my eyes more times than not when listening to her.

See if I had O’s bazillions of dollars I’d probably have a monthly magazine with my fine self on it, too. I’d smile and cook with Paula Deen and get tips from Dr. Oz and give advice and tell other people how it’s done .. or not. Actually, it’s more likely that I’d set down the oven mitts and turn off the fans and look to the camera to say: You know more than you think you do so when that inner voice that we all have picks at you and pulls you back from doing what others think you should, stifle yourself and listen.

* * *

“I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, ‘Where’s the self-help section?’ She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.”
— George Carlin

* * *

How about you? Do you trust your instincts and heed your own advice?

Categories: Confidence at any age, fear, Fun, Growth, Personal, Relationships, Self Discovery, Thoughts, Uncategorized | Tags: Buddha, common sense, Dr. Oz, George Carlin, inner voice, instinct, intuition, life, Oprah, Paula Deen, self-help, trust | 23 Comments

When you know for sure

Posted on May 22, 2012 by emjayandthem

About 15 years ago, the hubbs and I were working corporate jobs in Houston, Texas. Our life was fun but our jobs were fast paced and often stressful. On a whim, I signed up for a three-day class that took me out of my office cube and into an interactive workshop. This seminar required participants, through a series of interviews, questionnaires and homework assignments, to create their own mission statement. Most attendees were nearing the end of their careers and beginning to think about what was next; I was the youngest by easily a dozen years.

The last day, each of us stood before the class and presented their personal manifesto. Perusing mine, not one item on it had anything remotely to do with work.

Highlights included:

1. I want to live in 4 seasons

2. I want an older house with a screen door

3. I want the boys to be close to their families

4. I want to have a dog again (Houston is hot and humid most of the time, and not a desirable outdoor clime for anything sporting fur).

At the end of the class, I tucked my list into my Franklin Planner, went back to work and proceeded to forget all about it

Flash forward a few years … Hubbs and I found ourselves outgrowing our cute little brick home. We realized we could afford a bigger house so off we went, gallivanting through open houses and poring over floor plans. All of the homes we looked at were big and glorious and about 2 feet from each other. Hubbs could sense my frustration and one night, sitting out under that big Texas sky, he asked me what was up. “All the houses are beautiful and you don’t like any of them. Why?” I looked at him with total clarity and said, “I want to live in the 4 seasons again, with a screen door and a dog and have us be near family.” He quietly commented that “we could do that in Michigan but that’s not possible.” And I said,“why not?”

And once we entertained the “why nots” it was like someone had given us the key to the kingdom. We could feel the possibilities again.

His mother was ailing, his Step-Dad was overwhelmed trying to care for her and our boys, now 12 and 5 were at as good of an age as any to make a move. Our careers were going great but we figured we could get work anywhere. We listed our house, sold it in 30 days, rented an apartment over the phone and gave notice to our companies. They thought we were nuts but I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life. At the last minute, my employer asked if I’d consider working remotely for a year while they went through a merger. Consider? Heck yeah I’d consider it.

It was a sweltering June day 12 years ago that we shoved the last of our belongings into a 24 foot U-Haul. Tears streamed down my face as we left our neighborhood behind; I drove the SUV – as packed with our suitcases and as many snacks as a 5-year-old could hold. Oldest boy, then 13, jammed his 6’2” frame into the truck cab with Dad for a bouncy, squeaky ride cross-country. We had 2-way radios for communication between us. Three days later, we rolled into Grand Rapids on a mild Michigan morning. I’ll never forget that feeling; it was the feeling of coming home.

They loaded up the truck and moved to Beverlee … Hills that is … swimming pools, movie stars. {{google.images.com}}

And now as I look back on that time, I marvel that we pulled it off.

I look at our boys and grin when I realize that they grew up knowing their family, enjoying the seasons, banging a screen door closed … and loving on their dog.

When did you know something for sure?

Categories: Attitude, Determination, Family, Growth, Home, Life, Personal, Thoughts, Uncategorized | Tags: Houston, intuition, mission statement, move, screen door, texas sky, U-Haul, winding road, workshop | 53 Comments

Signs, signs everywhere signs

Posted on January 29, 2012 by emjayandthem

Driving to a workshop a few weeks ago, I enjoyed the morning sunshine and some Elvis tunes – it was his birthday that day, after all. Nothing like a little “Burning Love” to get me ramped up for a new adventure!

Introducing the course materials, the instructor explained how she does her work (she’s a Reiki healer and a spiritual medium) when she added, “but it’s not like I can channel Elvis or anything” I smiled and knew that comment was for me.

Before I committed to the class, I had to wrap my head around the fact that I used to work where the class was being held. We had reorganized and didn’t need that much office space; the building and surrounding acreage sold easily. The new owners invested a lot to convert it from office space to a spa/healing center and what a beautiful center it is now. At the time of the sale, I served as the legal contact and while I couldn’t remember the new owner’s names, I definitely remembered their personalities: she was headstrong and driven, he was quiet and meticulous. I remembering wondering if I could ever work for a woman with a personality so defined (think: her way or the highway). Probably, but it would not be without its challenges, I thought.

Back to the class … it began, I took notes, and felt myself relax into the materials. Then, I found myself distracted by Salisbury steak. Now I love to cook and I enjoy food, but I’m not a fan. In fact, I’ve never even cooked it!

What does this have to do with anything? image from tasteofhome.com

I know you’re probably wondering where this is going .. please bear with me.

When the instructor referenced the work she does and and how the Spa owner’s personality is a “red” – someone who is pragmatic, organized and defined and she’s more of a “green” – creative, light and carefree, I asked, “Do you have to speak another language just so she can understand you?” She looked me right in the eye and said, “Yes, that’s it, exactly.” And suddenly that steak image popped up again and I recalled the name: Julie Salisbury – the buyer from so many years ago…

Signs are everywhere. We all get them and we all have an intuitive voice that speaks to us: Do we heed the signs?

“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.” – Albert Einstein.

Categories: Growth, Life, Personal, Random, Wisdom | Tags: Albert Einstein, faithful, five man electrical band, inner voice, intuition, rational, Reiki, sacred, signs, spiritual | 22 Comments

A baker’s dozen

Posted on January 24, 2012 by emjayandthem

Toast and Jam anyone? image.gambia.uk

Two bloggers inspired this post: they are MJ Monaghan’s and his 27 Possibly Interesting things about me and Darla’s “about the Maineiac” over at She’s a Maineiac. Well written and and hilarious, their musings made me laugh out loud and and think long and hard about what I’d choose to share if I did. And then I did. For more please consider visiting the links above; I promise it’s worth the read.

On that note, I give you my Baker’s Dozen: i.e. 13 pieces not 12. More about the history of the Baker’s Dozen here.

When I started school I was a left-handed curly-haired little girl; teachers made me switch to right-handed. I stuttered then and still do if I’m tired or nervous. I still have curly hair. Some things cannot be forced out of us.
I'm glad grand-daughter MJ has my curls & someone in her life who understands them!
Singing in a cover band helped me pay for college. Don’t tell anyone but I would have done it for free.
rockin the 80s hairdo as the "singer in the band"
Speaking of, most of what I learned there has nothing to do with what I actually know or do.
I hear people. About a year after my Dad passed, my cousin Kirk died unexpectedly. Before I “heard” the news, I knew: I was cleaning my closet and heard Dad’s voice (in my right ear) quietly say, “Oh … Kirk’s here.” And that night, I got the phone call informing me of his death. It was comforting to have advance notice and to know there’s definitely a welcoming committee upon arrival.
Thanks for the heads-up, Dad
My eyes used to be blue, but are green now. How does that happen?
yep .. definitely green now
Breakfast is my favorite meal because 3 of my favorite scents happen then: coffee, toast and bacon. Mm mm.
.. mouth-watering-goodness .. (google.images.ca)
I give great credence to my intuitive self. The only times I’ve gotten into trouble is when I’ve ignored it.
..:: so true ::..
I’m patriotic. I still think there’s more that’s right with this country than there is wrong. You can think otherwise if you wish, but I don’t care to debate it.
A day I'll never forget: the day I became a citizen!
My earliest memories involve animals, especially horses. Dad used to clean the barns with Tony and Bruce, a team of Belgian draught horses,and he’d let me and my sister climb up and hold onto their neck collars as he drove them. Lumbering to the field on their monstrous shoulders made us feel like we were on top of the world’s highest rocking chairs.
The famed Budweiser Clydesdales; Imagine being 5 and being up on those shoulders!
As much as I love to talk with and be around others, I also relish being alone and remaining quiet.
I can find beauty out here
I don’t believe being related gives you the right to be hurtful. My parents always told us “don’t save your best manners for strangers.” There’s nothing admirable about being brutally honest if all someone remembers about you is …..that you were brutal.
image: pinterest.com
The Library is one of my favorite places to visit. I love the “shhhs,” the smell of the books and all the nooks and crannies in which to hide away and read. I’ll probably never have an e-reader.
image from pinterest.com
My favorite quote of all time is this one: “To thine own self be true.” Know who you are and own it. And if you don’t know who you are and what you stand for, find out.
..:: read it ... learned it ... living it ::..