Tag Archives: family

happiness

Evening therapy

You know it’s funny, it seems like when life is in crisis I forget all my coping skills.

My dad and I used to talk about this on our walks along the ridge. He said that prayer and meditation were so important for him in the good times because they stored up love and hope that carried him through the bad times when he maybe wasn’t as consistent at his spiritual practice.

I feel the same way.

But I’ve been back out with my guy who brings balance and love to my life.

He’s my SUV – spiritual utility vehicle

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happiness

I am not your guru

The boy and I watched some of Tony Robbins I am not your guru this afternoon. I was amazed at how fast he connected to what this man was saying. It started with him grumbling when I suggested he might enjoy it, but it ended with him saying what an amazing documentary it was.

When I was 17 I don’t think I even knew what self improvement was, but this kid is working hard all the time to be a better person. He wants to break cycles and become a man he will be proud of.

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happiness

Start it up again

The boy just walked by me and asked why I haven’t been blogging lately. I said I felt like the fun has been kicked out of me and I just don’t want to.

In the elegant words of a teenager he told me to stop my whining and start appreciating all that I have.

I hate that he’s right, but he is. There are a lot of blessings in my life and I should remember to be grateful for each and every one of them. Even though I just couldn’t make myself do it for the last little while, I really missed finding a moment of happiness in every day. They’re still there, but I feel like I need to celebrate them more.

So, tonight I am happy and grateful for the sound of girl cousins giggling as they play games from their childhood. Balance is coming back to life and that is a wonderful blessing.

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How to deskunk the 🐕

A few days ago I read on Keystone Equine’s Facebook page that the best way to get the skunk smell out of a dog is Vagisil. Yeah.

I tucked that information away hoping I wouldn’t need it, but sure enough last night Bear got face to side with a stinky black and white

Omg the smell. I thought I’d pass out. I used some of the pet store skunk stuff I had but it didn’t really make a difference.

One sad night for our poor dog.

Today I left my pride at the house and went to Walmart asking for the largest container of Vagisil powder they had.

I’m glad I don’t have much pride because that stuff worked miracles. I now has a fresh, non skunk smelling happy dog.

That is a happiness moment.

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17 years ago tonight

17 years ago tonight I was in the process of a life changing event. Tomorrow at 3:06 am my baby boy made his grand entrance into the world. Becoming his mom changed me completely. I have learned to love harder, forgive more, be gentler, and find strength I didn’t know existed.

All of this I learned from him. He is one of the brightest stars in my sky and one of my greatest sources of happiness.

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Schitt’s Creek

We always have a family show we watch together. Right now it’s Schitt’s Creek which is silly and stupid, but also really funny and we can relate to it.

A family who used to have money and suddenly doesn’t? Ummm yeah.

It’s Canadian too which is extra cool. But mostly I just like that it’s a way we gather together and unwind and spend time together.

Family is what it’s all about after all.

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Bringing community together

We had our second annual start of summer potluck at the community hall tonight.

I love this community we are part of. The roots are deep and the love is strong. It was so awesome to visit, laugh, eat, play cards, and share time with family and neighbors.

We are fairly unique these days in that we have so many families who have lived together for generations. Having flown solo for so many years in our gypsy era, I appreciate even more the grounding joy of our loved ones.

We are blessed.

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Closing time

Every new beginning comes from some other new beginning’s end.

This song keeps playing in my mind today. We have had lots of endings lately, and some new beginnings. Today was a new beginning day and I think it will be one giant leap towards greater peace and happiness.

I was thinking today how important it is to let the endings – good and bad – be behind me so that there is space for new beginnings. Some things I hold onto for too long, sometimes it’s not me, but I am chased by someone trying to project an old memory onto me. Either way, I need to keep space for awesome new beginnings.

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The blossoms are back

I was unloading things from the car today when my nose notified me of another sign of spring. The blossoms are back on our beautiful crabapple trees.

My first thought was joy – ohh the blossoms are back. And my second thought was sadness – oh the blossoms are back.

When dad went to hospice three years minus four days ago, the blossoms were at their absolute best in the yard. He’d spent the last few days at home lying in his bed looking out the window at the blossoms. He died the next day in hospice.

Thank God for the movie Inside Out – it reminds me that Joy and Sadness exist together, and that sometimes Sadness takes the Joy memories and shades them blue. They’re still the same memories, there’s just a tinge of sadness attached to them.

I stood under the trees and said a little prayer of gratitude. We have had some really hard times over the last few years, but love, faith, and hope for a better tomorrow have kept us all going.

We went for a family walk this evening and saw half the neighborhood while we were at it. We have some challenges, but we are SO blessed to live where we do with our tribe around us. It’s really a unique community and I’m so grateful we are part of it.

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I believe most people are good

I was the fortunate recipient of a random act of kindness today. It was so needed – I was feeling kind of blue – and it was a good reminder that most people are good. Also that people are mostly good. There is pain and hurt all over, but we are striving for connection and love – and that’s what matters most.

I will most certainly pay it forward. It made me smile, and I’d love to share that happiness with someone else who may need it. We all need it.

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