Everything I know...

I have learned from being directionally challenged.

 Remain calm.

There's always another way.

Pay attention.

Be aware of your surroundings.

Be present.

Avoid being distracted.

Take it slow...and go with the flow.

Trust your instincts.

Watch for obstacles.

Don't spend too much time looking in the rearview.

Move forward. Back up when necessary.

Make sure your tank is full.

Keep your vehicle maintained and repaired.

Have essentials on hand...tissue, wipes, water and a healthy snack.

Rest if your tired, or weary.

Stretch.

Always have a blanket and a poncho or umbrella or both for protection.

Have a bag or two....to collect snacks, nature, trash, or gifts along the way.

Take a time out. Enjoy where you are....

and the moment you're in. 

(sit in the grass, people watch, read the signs,

take pictures, freshen up. Recalibrate.)

If  you start to become stressed, shake it off, turn up the tunes & sing,

 turn off the tunes and pray. Always breathe...

ask for help, and trust in your GPS. 

Even if it doesn't make sense.

Life is fleeting...cherish the moments along the way, even if your lost.

Do your best & enjoy the ride.

be well...

xoxo

💝

"Life is an exercise in the pursuit of happiness,

the actual experience of happiness confined to brief pauses in 

the pursuit..."

"Perception is a clash of mind and eye,

the eye believing what it sees,

the mind seeing what it believes.."

" A life of contentment abounds with gratitude.

When you feel that things aren't the way they should be,

find the things that are. 

Shift your attention to the positive aspects of life

to cultivate a content heart.

When contentment grows, our perception of reality

changes and things that used to bother us

don't hold much power.

Our minds are powerful, and if we focus

our attention on gratitude and positive thoughts,

contentment is a result.

What are you grateful for today?"

~Sunrise Gratitude~

Presently

.... taking changes in stride as they are...

an not how I wish they were...

moment by moment.

I chose to ditch worry, and to trust.
To believe, and accept as best I can.
It was a choice that lead me toward a
more positive outlook.

I am choosing to keep it simple. 
Slow.
Enjoy all the ordinary moments.
It frees up so much energy.
I can see what's going on, and notice more of what's right.
There's so many little, beautiful things worth noting
in the course of a day.

Yesterday....I went to the orthopedic surgeon.
I watched as the people entered and left.
I noticed most everyone was smiling, &
 how oddly comfortable it was in the
 great big mixture of us. 
Noticed the light-hearted conversations, and attention to each other.
A few youngsters were on their phones, and a distinguished man sat reading his book.
More connections being made, than not. 
Some of us (me) gravitated toward the sunlit atrium, while others stayed close to be called.
Giggles came from a little girl squishing in between her Mom and Dad in chair built for two.
Folksy, upbeat music streaming overhead added to the appeal.
A family of Amish entered, and Mom removes her outer bonnet, to expose and inner bonnet.
The man tipped his hat and nodded a greeting.
Outside the window, a huge space is filled with smooth, round rocks...
I love rocks.
I notice that it's a fountain....and tell myself to come back when it's warmer,
to see it in action.
(Checking in earlier) the receptionist shares that my Dr. is an adorable 33 year old that acts like a big kid.
I have visions of Gray's Anatomy dancing in my head.
I get called to go back. 
I meet my doctor.
He's not "McDreamy".
  More like, McCharmy.
He's wearing an orthopedic boot on his right foot from a pickleball accident.
I like him.

He sits across from me with the X-rays,
and then tests my trigger fingers. 
(no bone spur as told by NP)
2, on my right hand. Stage 2 middle, stage 3 thumb.
Stage 1 on my left thumb. 
"Injections" he suggests.
"To fix, or to band-aid?" I ask.
He is confident it will fix.
 I order 3.
He says "we're going to play, good cop, bad cop."
I tell him I want to be the bad cop.
He tells me he is, and his assistant will spray my hand with
a cooling spray making him the good cop.
 as he "bad cop's" each of my fingers.
"Your not going to love it." he says.
I told him I might cry.

I didn't love it, I didn't cry.
It was not as bad as I had heard from
others in the past.
I just turned my head and breathed as they
shot down the perps.

"Come back in June if you're still having problems...
cancel if your good."

*smiles & *happy waves good-bye*

Today....sore and stiffy, however
quite a positive shift in mobility and the ongoing pain.
Yay!
Extra bonus:
Brandon and Fritz have been here for work...
 and bunking here this week, it has been fantastic.
All is well with my soul.
*big exhale*
Over-the-top-giddy with gratitude.

be well...
xoxo
💝


"When life takes the wind out of your sails,
it is to test you at the oars."

"Life is short,
God's way of encouraging a bit of focus."

Baking Things....

...I felt creative, so I made some massive cinnamon rolls.

 I used a slightly healthier version of the 

Maple Cream Cheese Frosting...

and thought...hmm....

I bet that would be good on a sliced apple too.

So I tried it.

And. It. Was. Delicious!

Healthier version of Cream Cheese Frosting:

3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, room temp.

1 cup full-fat cream cheese, room temp.

4 Tablespoons Pure Maple Syrup

1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

A squeeze of lemon or orange juice (1 tsp.)

Beat it all together, and chill for 10 min.

Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

be well...

xoxo

💝

"There are days when I am unaccountably happy,

and, in fact,

that is usually the reason for it."

"Most happiness, like most worry depends

pretty much on small a thing you can make important."

"It is still possible to be a cockeyed optimist these days-

you just have to be a little more cockeyed."

Peace

In the midst of great challenges, and chaos,

pause to slow down and breathe.

Listen to the solo goose flying overhead,

Otis, and his morning howl in the distance,

the neighbor greeting his chickens, "good morning ladies".

Smiling at the urge to speak up from where I sit hidden by the Boxwood bush

and say "well...good morning to you too, fine sir".

Watching Polly's tail-less-butt-wiggle as she preps to pounce 

a twitching leaf.

Noticing...the sound of a boat's engine revving up as it takes off 

from the dock nearby,

 the flag flying at 1/2 mast,

curtains rippling in the breeze of an open window,

the gray clouds opening to pockets of light,

and Charles Stanley (cardinal) singing in a tree.

Feeling...the sun's warmth, the breeze blowing through your hair,

and the ground steady beneath your feet.

Remind yourself to stay present, find what peace means to you. 

What is true, lovely, good.

It's here for you, now,

wherever you are.

be well...

xoxo

💓

"She was happiest in her own little world.

She didn't need anyone to complete her.\She was whole

all by herself."

" You may not control all the events that happen to you,

but you can decide not to be reduced by them."

"The days that you think are ordinary,

are the ones that someday,

you will miss the most.

Love it, or lose it."

~Sandra Hart~

"People who are on social media the most

have higher inflammation, more anxiety and depression,

worse sleep, higher stress levels, and are more lonely.

You are not 'Just anxious'.

You weren't meant to know what billions of 

strangers were doing and saying 24/7."

~Dr. Will Cole~