Unkind words are for the birds

Unkind Words Are For the Birds

I have been told To let time unfold Still my mind Can be so unkind Being kind to myself Brings good health &wealth Enough of the fight or flight Love yourself with all of your might Begin again said the robin Go your own way said the blue jay Give it your all said the cardinal Go with the flow Said the fish crow Enjoy your house said the tufted titmouse You will never find glory Telling yourself the same old story Tell your story Even if you feel it is ordinary

This was written in May. These were the birds I saw in one day around my home. I have the Cornell App. I love to identify the birds by their sounds. Birds I saw that day, not mentioned in this poem, are the house sparrow, gray catbird, European starling and the great blue heron. As the year 2024 is ending, I am reflecting on my writing. And, realizing that I am still not too kind to myself in my thoughts. And, this is my anxious side. So, I decided to ask a bird what they thought. And, actually they were very kind. So, this year I have to remember to be kinder to myself. Believe in myself. Trust myself. Be proud of myself. And, most of all love myself. I don't plan on changing myself into a new me. That is one clear thought that comes shining through. Quote of the day: A bird does not sing because he has an answer. He sings because he has a song. Joan Walsh Anglund I am noticing more and more how much I loved the little gift books of poems from Hallmark in sixties. This book is from the book "A Cup of Sunshine". Song of the day: Cardinal Kacie Musgraves

The Eighth Day of Christmas

I really think looking at Christmas like this is great. We still have a week to celebrate. And, appreciate any decorating we have done. Yesterday, I had a Hallmark movie watching marathon. I also started cutting out templates to make a bird for my tree. Today is the day I take back my cable equipment...oh my. It is something I really don't want to do. But, I won't know until I try. And, even if I do it for six months, I will save at least $1,200. I have a book I started when I went to Florida in November. I hope to finish it this week. I really found what I don't finish, makes me feel bad. Entering the year 2025 feels very hopeful. My bookshop I put on the backburner. I was keeping up with it each week. And, I just get bombarded with so many ads and emails each day. I just figured I would give it a rest. But, it is part of my entertainment budget for the new year. I have two books ready for the month of January to read. And, a lot of Authors are preselling books I am really interested in reading. You can visit my bookstore here. It was really fun to do each category, since I have pictures of meeting the authors. Part of my frustration was also printing QR codes to hand out. I have a new printer, and am really disappointed with not having what I was used to. But, yesterday I figured some things out, while printing the templates. Quote of the day: "Please, no matter how we advance technologically, please don't abandon the book. There is nothing in our material world more beautiful than the book." Patti Smith Happy 78th Birthday to Patty Smith today!!! Song of the day: Oh Holy Night Patti Smith

The Last Sunday of 2024

Simply put, I love Sundays. They are the most hopeful day of the week, for me. I worked a good percentage of Sundays in my lifetime. And, the job I have now, I have worked a few. I never minded. But, I would blame it was more difficult to attend church, because of working on weekends. Last year I tried to attend church more for this reason. And, now I have settled into only going when I feel like it. I haven't felt like it, in a while. The good news is, I don't feel guilty. And, I really can celebrate a simple Sunday of doing nothing. And, some writers I follow bring me back to bible readings. So, on this last Sunday of 2024 I will just leave you with the greatest wish of all. Peace be with you. Quote of the day: Lift me like an olive branch and be my homeward dove Dance me to the end of love. Leonard Cohen Song of the day: Let There BE Peace on Earth

The Nineth Day of Christmas

Going to New York City gives me hope! I came home from work, and looked at instagram. I saw a friend went to the city to visit Luna Luna. I was following this closely last year when it was in Los Angeles. I was really disappointed I didn't get there. I had heard nothing about it being in the city. I am SO excited it is there until February 23rd! It is carnival rides designed by these artists: . Featured artists include Jean-Michel Basquiat, Arik Brauer, Salvador Dalí, Sonia Delaunay, Monika GilSing, Keith Haring, André Heller, David Hockney, Roy Lichtenstein, and Kenny Scharf. Some of the most legendary Artists of the 20th Century. The story of this commission in itself is fascinating. If you want to learn all about it, the link is here. If you are at all interested in visiting, please reach out to me. Quote of the day: I don't think art is propaganda; it should be something that liberates the soul, provokes the imagination and encourages people to go further. It celebrates humanity instead of manipulating it. Keith Haring Song of the Day: You Make Me Feel by Sylvester with Keith Haring backround

The Tenth Day of Christmas

So, these next ten posts will be a continuation of Christmas 2024, which actually carries through until the Epiphany on January 6, 2025. It is about hope during the holidays. Yesterday, I dove deep into an email from Rainn Wilson (played Dwight on the office). He is also an author of "Soul Boom". His podcast this week featured Keila Shaheen on Shadow Work "Healing isn’t an end point; it’s a process." I was fascinated by the words Shadow work. And this quote hit me as I felt this year we truley never heal, it is always on the horizon. We are always looking towards it with hope. I listened for an hour. And, was blown away. Her story on self publishing a journal and having it sell 700,000 copies was a complete and total miracle. Seems like an impossible feat to me. Especially, when she found she needed help to fill the orders. The company could make 500 books a day. And, through her tik tok store and some influencers she was selling 10,000 books a day. It is no surprise she published a new book "The Lucky Girl Journal". The biggest surprise she is only 25. So, my biggest hope in life is looking at these young authors. And, my children and thier friends are doing some amazing things. And, are dealing with problems and health issues, young people didn't deal with before. Keila Shaheen's take on healing is through writing. And, obviously I feel the same way. I hand wrote most of my advent journal. But, I was happy to focus on the ornaments of my tree this year, music, quotes, helpful and hopeful stories through my blog. Quote of the Day: “The difference between a good life and a bad life is how well you walk through the fire.” Carl Yung (She referenced his words a lot) Song of the Day: Gild the Lily by Billy Strings. He is another young soul I admire (age 32)

The 11th Day of Christmas

I loved Kate Bowlers Advent Blessings this year. Yesterday's was the most important and will change the way I look at Christmas for the rest of my life. It was an explanation of the 12 days of Christmas. It begins with the arrival of Jesus and ends when the Three Kings Arrive. I have always kept my tree up until that day. But, didn't know that is how the date was arrived at. This year it is January 6th. So, I am going to try to post each day. I am going to share something that makes me hopeful each day. The beauty of Kate Bowler is she is very optimistic, but is very realistic in how terrible the world is sometimes. She is young, yet a surviver of stage 4 colon cancer. She was diagnosed in 2015. She is a Duke University Theology Professor. What I am going to share each day is the felt birds I decorated my tree with. And, how the one pictured is from the store J Jill. I just love it and the embroidery on it. The dove can symbolize peace or in the Catholic Religion the Holy Spirit. I watched videos of Pope Francis Christmas Eve. Did you know this year is a jubilee year? Again, I am 65 years old and still learning meanings of traditions like the 12 days AND the Jubilee year. This year the theme is HOPE. With all the years of my life, I feel HOPE is what is most needed today. And, I just didn't want to wake up this morning and think Christmas is over. It is not just a day. It is a feeling. And, I am happy to carry this feeling into the New Year. I recieved two felt birds for Christmas. And, when I put them on the tree today, I will be thinking with intention of two really important prayers of hope. Quote of the day: "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." – Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol Song of the day: Matthew West "The Hope of Christmas"

Look to the Angels

I have been lucky to be part of Susan Cain's Quiet Community. A great newsletter and monthly candlelight zoom calls. The first week of December I was so lucky to be on this zoom meeting with: Joseph Nguyen, #1 international bestselling author of “Don't Believe Everything You Think”. As I evaluate the year, I think I experienced a tremendous amount of growth. I have fallen victim to my own negative thinking. I think the empath in me had to take a break from thinking of others first. I had to pay attention to what, how, when and where my most negative thoughts came in. And, then how to control them. To have this zoom call at the end of the year, I was able to put it all together. And, realized I could still use some help in the way I react to the negatives that enter my life. And, most of all I can't control everything, like I started to think I could. So much of life is what comes to us, and we really can not control that. It ends up Joseph Nguyen is 27 years old. And, he was brilliant. He had some life experiences, which brought him to his knees. And, then he picked himself up and went to work. On just how to deal with life and the unknown. His PAUSE method was helpful. I had an opportunity to use it right away. Visit his link for more. As I approached Advent this year, I really wanted to approach it differently. Not so much the way I normally do. I was so happy by the end of November my calender was full of fun activities and work. One day work was cancelled. I had all of my finances for the month figured out. And, now it has changed. I ended up at Allaire State Park, where I am pictured above. And, it was very refreshing. And, I was glad for the opportunity to visit the park, which is only open on weekends. It is on my walks I realize how I still have a catastrophe way of thinking or Murphy's law way of thinking. When I was young this is when I would lock arms with whoever I was walking in the woods with. And, we would start skipping and singing "lion, tigers and bears, OH MY!!!". So, I have known how reframe my thoughts all along. But, I realize now how much fear I feel effects me. And, when I just went to Josh Nguyen's page I was reminded of something. There was an article " Boredom is actually a fear. And, yes it is! It has been my biggest fear, since retirement. Next year I am going to cancel my cable TV. So, again I am creating something I am afraid of. Because, fear holds me back. And, I am not going to miss living my life, by watching someone else live theirs on TV. I am not giving up TV all together. I'll be streaming shows of choice. And, hopefully it will be a lot less commercials. My quote for today is what the Angel said on Christmas: Shepherds were in the fields near Bethlehem. They were taking turns watching their flock during the night. An angel from the Lord suddenly appeared to them. The glory of the Lord filled the area with light, and they were terrified. The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, a message that will fill everyone with joy.". This is the message I am taking with me into 2025. Song of the day: Hark the Herald Angels Sing from a Charlie Brown Christmas