Ponderings Along the Pathway...GREEN IS NOT JUST A COLOR

Hello folks! I hope that you are doing as well as you can under these crazy circumstances. It is difficult staying positive after so much upheaval but I hope that you're finding ways to stay upbeat.

Pat's muse paid her a visit this month. So, even though we're taking a challenge break on the blog, we're still going to pop in for an edition of Ponderings Along the Pathway, an exclusive feature over here on the Path of Positivity. The purpose of this column is to continue with the goal of this blog which is to create a space "designed to inspire, nurture and provide support for the soul by creating a positive path to follow, one project or post at a time". Providing some motivational introspection, is one way of achieving this goal.

This month, PAT is here to share her thoughts on the subject: GREEN IS NOT JUST A COLOR

There are lots of ways the word Green has been used. “Green with envy” and ”Wearin’ o’ the Green” (St. Patrick’s day) are just two of many phrases. My favorite? “Going Green”.

“Being good stewards of our environment
is the only way to ensure our future
for the coming generations.”
~naturalevolution.com

Every generation discovers new information the previous generation didn’t have. Cigarettes were a “cool” way to relax, baby formula was better for newborns than breast milk, etc., are some examples of “old thinking”. Today, we’ve learned that living the “cheap & disposable” life is harmful to the environment. But old habits die hard.

It’s time to step up, to follow a new direction that leads us down the path of our environmental future. Society is already changing its ways of doing things, but there are personal paths that can lead us to a Greener lifestyle.

Do you choose plastic or paper at stores that offer both?

Paper bags are made from recycled materials, but the best answer is to  

use your own bags.

If you like to grill, are you using charcoal or a gas grill?
While gas grills emit carbon dioxide,  
charcoal emits three times the carbon dioxide. 
–Woman’s Day, March 2020

Do you wash dishes or use a dishwasher? 

 Depending on how you hand-wash your dishes, most dishwashers 
use less water, especially newer, High Efficiency models.
-Woman’s Day, March 2020

There are hundreds of choices that can help a person lead a greener life. In the Kitchen, use glass containers for leftovers and storing pantry items instead of plastic. This keeps the food visible and less likely to be forgotten and eventually thrown out. In fact, plan at least one dinner using leftovers, or put a sticker on your leftovers that reminds you to use quickly. Using less paper products and storage containers over plastic baggies, and starting a compost pile are tops in my Green book. I have a tomato garden, and peelings, egg shells and coffee grounds go into the area over the winter, renewing the earth’s nutrients for the next crop of vegetables.

While disinfectant wipes are still difficult to find, I collect the leftover disinfectant liquid into one container, cut a roll of paper towels in half and ease it into the container. I’ve stretched my disinfectant wipes to an extra three containers before running out. Now I have a bottle of disinfectant, and use washable rags on most of the areas needing to be cleaned.

Using less water, keeping your own bags in the car when grocery shopping, and using essential oils instead of burning candles/spraying a room deodorizer are only a few choices I've made. I plan on making more every day. In fact, I challenge you to make a few simple changes starting right now:

• Buy shampoo/conditioner/laundry detergent in bulk, refilling the smaller containers as needed (saves money too)
• Wash your hair once every 2-3 days instead of every day (healthier hair, too)
• Upgrade to High Efficiency appliances when the older models break down/when you remodel (this includes a newer toilet that uses less water)
• Use your plastic straws for crafting, and buy reusable straws
• Make dinner using leftovers once a week for a month 
• Buy food in bulk, separating and freezing for later (don’t forget to label packages) 
• Start a vegetable garden (empowering both you and your kids) 
• Wait until your dishwasher is full (most efficient water usage)
• Don’t toss electrical small appliances/computers/phones/TVs in the trash (older model phones and working appliances can be donated; computers/TVs can end up in landfills, leaking toxic chemicals into the earth)
• Craft using what you can’t donate or re-use
  

Awesome websites I’ve found:

• https://www.recyclart.org/15-ideas-of-how-to-recycle-plastic-straws-artistically/
• https://www.onecrazyhouse.com/
• https://www.hellowonderful.co/post/recycle-markers-into-watercolor-paint/
• https://www.boredpanda.com/plastic-bottle-recycling-ideas/
• https://snappyliving.com/stuff-you-can-do-with-dryer-lint/

You don’t have to make big changes to make a big change. Taking that first step is the important thing. Walking lightly on our planet is just like being a good guest. After all, if we are smart and stay on this new path, the world will continue on for many generations to come. See you on the Path…

 

One of the interesting things that has come out of this pandemic, a positive if you will, is that certain areas around the world produced way less pollution during lockdown. Did you happen to see the pictures of Venice where the waters were the clearest they have been in decades? Did you see any of the images taken from space that showed clear skies over China and other industrial locales?

It is amazing what kind of big changes are possible by starting off with smaller ones first.  Beginning with small ones at home really can make a difference and help you reduce your carbon footprint! Good luck finding ways to make your own Path greener! It will mean a difference not only for your own household but for future generations to come!

Stay healthy and we'll see you again in August!

Ponderings Along the Pathway...Success

Hello folks! It is time for another edition of Ponderings Along the Pathway, an exclusive feature over here on the Path of Positivity. We're in luck as Pat's writing muse is with her again this month. The purpose of this column is to continue with the goal of this blog which is to create a space "designed to inspire, nurture and provide support for the soul by creating a positive path to follow, one project or post at a time". Providing some motivational introspection, is one way of achieving this goal.

This month, PAT is here to share her thoughts on the subject: SUCCESS

How long did it  take you to learn to ride a bike? Did you start with training wheels? When they came off, did you have any problems steering or braking?

How many...

• times have you tried to whistle before you mastered it?
• mini M&Ms did you try to swallow without chewing to go from liquid/chewable pills to the real deal?
• images did you color with alcohol markers before succeeding in blending and highlighting until you were satisfied?

Very few people master something without failure. Practice makes perfect may be a cliche, but cliches are made from real experience. I wonder how long it took somebody to make up that cliche??

Success doesn't happen immediately; it may not happen for a long time. But people who do succeed have built their success on past failures, learning something new, but most importantly, they keep trying.

Every time I pick up a paintbrush, my mind and my hand will use every lesson learned from the previous canvas. In fact, I still toss or scrape clean a canvas when things go the wrong way. Yet I continue to paint, not knowing if my canvas will be successful or not. And that's the secret to SUCCESS. Perseverance is an attitude one needs in order to complete the race, master a skill or just plain get to the completion of your goals.

There used to be a sports show called The Wide World of Sports in which the narrator started off with something about "...the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat."  Defeat might be an agony, but it's also a spring board toward that thrill you get when you accomplish your goals, create an awesome card, and succeed where you previously failed.

Personally, I journal my "thrills and agonies" almost daily. I keep a to-do list and when I manage to tick off several things on that list, it goes right next to the water color that turned into an ugly gray glop and had to be thrown away in my journal. Success is just the culmination of many small and large failures. Then I can track all the failures in it that led up to my successes. It empowers me to know that I stayed the course and didn't stop trying.

Another thing I do to keep me focused on success is to find affirmations and encouraging quotes on Pinterest. Here is one of my favorites that I hang next to my bed so that it's the first thing I see:

Finally, don't dwell on your failures. Think of them as notes taken in school before the big test. Learn from them, because we all may be on different paths, but Success is always there. It's just a little further down the path. So keep walking. I believe in you!! I believe our paths may intersect and we can stop and share our success stories before going our own ways. Keep positive!

 

Success is something that we all strive for. Good luck on your journey of discovery to make each of your own endeavours successful ones! As you learn and grow, may your Path be strewn with many successes along the way.

Stay healthy and we'll see you on Monday when we'll be back with the midway.

Ponderings Along the Pathway...Attitude is Everything

Hello folks! I know it has been a while since we had an edition of Ponderings Along the Pathway, an exclusive feature over here on the Path of Positivity but Pat's writing muse is with her this month so we're in luck. The purpose of this column is to continue with the goal of this blog which is to create a space "designed to inspire, nurture and provide support for the soul by creating a positive path to follow, one project or post at a time". Providing some motivational introspection, is one way of achieving this goal.

This month, PAT is here to share her thoughts on the subject: ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING

These are some tough times the world is facing. Besides the spread of COVID-19, the stay-at-home and isolation measures are taking a toll on people. Small businesses and people are hurting.

More than the physical and financial issues are that peoples’ energy, their attitudes, even their spirits are being stretched to the limits. People who are normally good-natured are cranky and scared. Salespersons are tired of impatience and rudeness they encounter.

EVERYONE IS ON EDGE. Our whole way of life has changed, and it’s no wonder everyone can get prickly. And yet…

...life can be so much better and less stressful by how a person acts with others. Attitude is everything. When someone complains about conditions, can you smile and say to them, “I can’t imagine how you’re managing. You must be a very strong person. I hope you and your family stay healthy”?

When you come against a prickly person, can you remember that this is only temporary, and he or she isn’t always cranky but is just feeling the stress especially in that moment. If she’s a friend, can you ask her how you can help? If a stranger, can you leave with a compliment and a wish for health and happiness in the near future?

Me? I made a list of the Pro’s and Cons of this enforced “stay-at-home” order. We all share a lot of the same Cons, but here’s my list of Pro’s:

• More time to craft, paint and create art.
• Enough time to go through my whole house and de-clutter.
• Time to finally transition my craft room to a guest bedroom and take the crafting downstairs.
• Time to clean out, sort, organize and label my crafts.
• Spring cleaning is finished.
• The garage is cleaned out.
• Bonding with my adult daughter who lives with me.
• Finding creative ways to make my mom’s and sister’s birthdays a celebration (nailed it).
• Spending less money.
• Air pollution is down.
• When I go out for supplies, there is less traffic and less road rage.
• Having time to get my garden ready.
• Taking longer walks with my dog.
• My house has never been cleaner.
• Time to try new art techniques.
• Time to get on my Bike, exercise, dance & do yoga.
• My journal is filling up fast.
• Neighbors are more friendly than ever (at a distance).
• My gratitude list gets longer with each passing day.
• I’ve started to pray again.

Go ahead, make a list. I hope you’ll find your Pros are longer than your Cons. Give encouragement and acknowledgment wherever you go. And when you need that same encouragement and some help remembering there is hope, come back here and see and read all the lovely, positive things we can look at, and look forward to on the Path of Positivity. Stay healthy, everyone.

Happy crafting!

 

While it has been a rough road these past few months, there truly are many things that we can be thankful for and activities we can do that we generally put off, neglect or just straight up don't generally have time for.

I hope that you have had the opportunity to think about your own list of Pros that have come out of this time at home as you've been walking a different Pathway. As always we need to make the best with what we have in front of us!

Stay healthy and we'll see you on Monday when we'll be back with the winner announcement.

Ponderings Along the Pathway...WEARIN' THE GREEN

Hello folks! I know it has been a while since we had an edition of Ponderings Along the Pathway, an exclusive feature over here on the Path of Positivity but Pat's writing muse is with her this month so we're in luck. The purpose of this column is to continue with the goal of this blog which is to create a space "designed to inspire, nurture and provide support for the soul by creating a positive path to follow, one project or post at a time". Providing some motivational introspection, is one way of achieving this goal.

This month, PAT is here to share her thoughts on the subject: WEARIN' THE GREEN…

It’s that time of the year again where my Irish roots take over. I start wearing green, quoting Irish blessings and looking for rainbows (you never know…). Now that Ancestry and DNA companies can give one a better understanding of where your ancestors came from, I’ve discovered that I am a wee bit more Irish than what my father described as “your big toe is Irish” (meaning not much).

I’ve discovered names in my family tree like Foley, Fogerty and O’Halloran, with records dating back to 1805 from Kerry County, Ireland. The Internet surely does make the world a smaller place.

In celebration of my discovery and the upcoming holiday of St. Patrick’s Day, I wanted to offer a little fun. First off, here is a link in which you can sign up for email newsletters from Ireland on what’s going on there, fun facts and even learn a little Gaelic: http://www.ireland-information.com/irishphrases.html I’ve already learned that...

Maidin mhaith means Good morning

(and yes, it does give you the correct pronunciation)

If you’re not up to learning a new language, you can use this cheat sheet found at Irish American Mom that clues you into Irish slang.

At Irish Central you can look up tons of family names. I found out my husband’s name, Martin, is one of the 50^th most popular surnames in Ireland (and it’s sure to be the same in the U.S.). And at Irish Surnames, you can find the history of your Irish name and your family crest (and purchase items to proudly show off your ancestry).

According to The Irish Jewelry Company, it was considered Bad luck for a new bride to be congratulated first by a woman. For Good Luck she used to carry a horseshoe (ends up) until after the ceremony, when the groom would take it and hang it in their home, again ends up, so that the good luck wouldn’t spill out.

The best part of my Irish roots is in the recipes handed down through the family. My Irish Soda Bread has only 4 ingredients, but comes out perfectly every time. You can find a similar one at Let’s Dish Recipes. Yummers! 

Interestingly enough, our family has a favorite dish that has crossed the borders of Ireland, Italy and America! We call it Irish Spaghetti and here is my family’s most secret recipe (it’s best served the next day after warming it in a frying pan. Just saying)

Pat’s Irish Spaghetti

(full on)

1# Bacon, cut into small pieces and cooked

   (set aside bacon, save drippings)

1 green pepper, chopped

1 onion, chopped

1/3 cup celery, chopped

2 14 ounce cans chopped tomatoes w/its juices

1# cooked spaghetti pasta

(heart healthy)

1# Turkey Bacon, cut into small pcs & cooked

 (set aside 1 TBSP bacon drippings)

1 TBSP Olive Oil

1 green pepper, chopped

1 onion, chopped

1/3 cup celery, chopped

2 14 oz cans chopped tomatoes w/its juices

1# cooked whole wheat spaghetti pasta

Cook pepper, onion and celery in olive oil in large pan until tender.

Add pre-cooked spaghetti and bacon to pan. Mix well.

Add tomatoes and its juices and again mix well. (For heart healthy recipe, you can add the 1 TBSP of drippings if you wish).

Warm in pan over low to medium heat. Serves four. Here’s where we deviate from the handed-down recipe. We may or may not eat it the first night. The second night we re-heat it in the frying pan and because the pasta has had a chance to soak up the juices of the tomatoes, the flavor is out of this world. You could try it both ways of course and choose for yourself…

I bet you’re wondering what this all has to do with the Path of Positivity. Just think of it. Families passing down their recipes and traditions, making them living legacies of the past. Lucky horseshoes, four-leaf clovers and other superstitions that have stood the test of time, creating continuous memories throughout the generations.

This may not be a straightforward pondering about a specific theme, but it sure makes me happy to know I’m following in the path of my ancestors when I gather my family around the table and serve up Irish Spaghetti or Hungarian Pancakes. I’m happy when we tell stories our parents and grandparents told us as kids about when they were kids. It’s like they’re somehow with us on the Path, you know?

And who knows, maybe this month your path might lead you to the end of a rainbow. What will you find there? I hope you’re lucky!!

Regardless of our heritage if we follow along the Path of our ancestors and incorporate their various traditions into our own lives, then we are honouring those that came before us. By sharing stories about our ancestors lives and how they've impacted us, we're helping to keep those people alive in our own memories and introducing them to the next generation. Family, friendship and heritage are all 'stops' on the Path of our lives--important stops that we should never forget.

Ponderings Along the Pathway...LIFE IS A JOURNEY

Hello folks! Welcome to this month's edition of Ponderings Along the Pathway, an exclusive feature over here on the Path of Positivity. The purpose of this column is to continue with the goal of this blog which is to create a space "designed to inspire, nurture and provide support for the soul by creating a positive path to follow, one project or post at a time". Providing some motivational introspection each month (when it is possible), is one way of achieving this goal.

This month, PAT is here to share her thoughts on the subject: LIFE IS A JOURNEY...

We had a long-standing tradition on Valentine's Day in my house. This holiday was one on which the guys in the family would show their love to the females in the family...period. Wendy and I received and Chase and Bill gifted. They showed their love on Valentine's Day with cards and flowers, stuffed animals and dinner out, etc.

My son Chase has his own family now and is living in Florida. He has his work cut out for him with a wife and two daughters and their own traditions. For Wendy and myself? My husband passed away last year. So, what is Valentine's Day going to be for us now?

That's easy! Wendy and I need to make a new tradition. Which is okay. Life is about peeling off the old layers and discovering the new ones, accepting changes and overcoming challenges. It's okay to remember the past, but not to live in it.

Life is a journey, and that journey does not consist of "moving sidewalks or walkways" that we can stand still on, resting on our past experiences as it takes us to our destination. You do know what the destination is, don't you?

As long as you are alive, there will be new experiences, opportunities to travel, people to meet, knowledge to learn, sights to see, music to dance to, hurdles to jump, goals to reach, losses to survive, and new traditions to create. Keep living, keep changing. You didn't come this far only to come this far!

So while you journey, accept change and take the different branches on your path. As for Wendy and me, we're getting take-out Chinese and eating Moosetracks ice cream for dessert. Oh, did I mention the bubble wrap? I bought enough bubble wrap from the Container Store to cover the living room floor. We're also going to crank up the music, fill our wine glasses and dance on the bubble wrap until all those little air bubbles are depleted (or we fall down in hysterical laughter) -  whichever comes first.

However you choose to divert from your usual path, I hope you have fun, learn, grow, love, create and keep living life to the fullest. After all, time is everything we have and don't.

See you on the Path!

When I was a young adult, I heard the expression, "When you stop growing, you die." It is something that has always stuck with me. Of course, it isn't necessarily meant to be taken literally. The gist of it coincides with the important point that Pat brings up: regardless of how difficult life is or the numerous challenges you face, you must keep living, changing and adapting. Pat sums up the idea perfectly when she says: "You didn't come this far only to come this far". We don't travel life in a straight single pathway. There are going to be numerous detours and dead ends along the way. The important point to remember is that we have to keep going, back tracking and trying new routes if necessary. Keep moving, keep growing! Keep living your life to the fullest!

Ponderings Along the Pathway...FESTIVITY

Hello folks! I hope that you are all enjoying this wonderful holiday season. It is so important to spend as much time as we can with our loved ones and the holidays provide the perfect excuse to get together with family and friends.

Welcome to this month's edition of Ponderings Along the Pathway, an exclusive feature over here on the Path of Positivity. The purpose of this column is to continue with the goal of this blog which is to create a space "designed to inspire, nurture and provide support for the soul by creating a positive path to follow, one project or post at a time". Providing some motivational introspection on the themes we cover each challenge period is one way of achieving this goal.

This month it is all about FESTIVITY and PAT is here to share her thoughts on the subject...

There's a reason why people gather together to celebrate life's milestone's. From the day you are born, your life has been celebrated. Birthdays, holidays, graduations, promotions, weddings, anniversaries, new homes, and retirements.

It's difficult not to be festive with all the celebrations going on, but then again, why shouldn't you be festive?

A good mood not only gives your energy level a surge and your confidence a boost, but it's contagious. Try staying gloomy in a roomful of festive people - almost impossible. And have you ever tried NOT to laugh when everyone around you is giggling or laughing hysterically? It's contagious!

Sometimes you need festivities to pull you out of a funk. My girlfriend got some scary news and is awaiting a test this week. So, what are we doing to pull her out of that deep well of worry? Going to our fave restaurant for lunch and gossiping and giggling!

This year has been tough for me to be festive, especially around the holidays. I lost my hubby of 40 years a few months ago. But he loved Christmas, the family gatherings, the fuss and the fun and the food. So I'm working at keeping my head above the dark waters by continuing to host Christmas dinner with the family and friends we've always invited.

(photo credit by Camille Martin)

And in the Spring, when the snow is melted and the sun is warmer, I'm inviting all his friends over for a memorial - a celebration of his life. He loved sitting in the sun on the new deck, so it will be in the backyard, low-key but festive. Just the way he would have liked it.

Nowadays, I try to celebrate any little thing. Whether I reach a fitness goal, bake a perfect batch of muffins, or finish a difficult pondering, my path is full of festivities that celebrate each step I take, each leap I make, each stumble I recover from, each new friend I meet along the way.

I hope your path is filled with the same, and you stop to recognize the many celebrations in your own life. Throw confetti along the path for the next person to discover and smile at. Keep walking. I hope to see you on our wanderings.

Happy Holidays!

Pat brings up the point, that it is important that we find ways to celebrate even during the hard times. Though it can be extremely difficult to keep going after the loss of someone very special to us, life has a tendency to continue on and we must continue on with it. Otherwise...well it is probably best not to think otherwise. Once we head down a dark path it is often very difficult to find the light again.

The phrase 'one day at a time' or sometimes more appropriately, 'one moment at a time' is the best approach to take. Like Pat, we need to celebrate all the little festivities and accomplishments, even if they seem silly. One day those little celebrations will lead to bigger ones and our journey will become an easier one to travel.

Life is filled with challenges and as we embark on a new year filled with new possibilities, I wish you strength, courage, and of course, much joy, as you walk your own Path of Positivity this coming year!

Ponderings Along the Pathway...PRESENT, NOT PERFECT

Welcome to this month's edition of Ponderings Along the Pathway, an exclusive feature over here on the Path of Positivity. The purpose of this column is to continue with the goal of this blog which is to create a space "designed to inspire, nurture and provide support for the soul by creating a positive path to follow, one project or post at a time". Providing some motivational introspection on the themes we cover each challenge period is one way of achieving this goal.

This month it is all about being PRESENT, NOT PERFECT and PAT is here to share her thoughts on the subject...

Have you ever tried a new technique and didn't like the finished product? Have you ever passed up a challenge because the requirement was something you had very little luck in? Of course you have! We all have.

Just like life, art is not a destination but a journey, and every journey comes with its bumps and detours. Trying new things, taking a new or different artistic path, is how we grow in creativity. Pinterest is no good if you don't try the things you pin to your boards.

Last year I pinned  tons of water color paintings. I decided to try water colors for the first time. Guess what? For every painting I revealed to the crafting world, there were four others that I threw away. Some of the paintings were really just blobs of muddy watery blobs. Others were of unidentifiable animals and flowers. Yeesh!

But I should not have felt awkward sharing my journey. It was a learning experience. Everyone has to start somewhere. Great artists didn't just paint a masterpiece the first time they picked up a brush. We wouldn't have all those lovely works of art hanging in museums if they said at that time, "Oh, brother, maybe I should be a baker."

Nobody is perfect, but we all strive for perfection. Let me tell you, the things that make a work of art, a beautiful face, a career, - it's the tiny imperfections that bother the creator that make their accomplishments stand out at the top.

Apart from art, I want to tell you about my husband. When we first started dating, he would often complain about his crooked teeth. It didn't make him hideous, and I didn't notice they were crooked until he mentioned it. What I did notice was his smile. When he smiled, my heart melted. I fell in love, and the rest is history (40 years of history). To this day, I fall in love with him again and again when I see that beautiful smile light his face.

I have finally learned to forget perfection and enjoy the ride. Whether my art is a masterpiece or it becomes a great way for starting a campfire, I enjoy every minute of learning something new and creating something handmade. I choose to take a different stretch of the Path as much as I can. Am I a great artist? Puh-lease! Am I a happy artist? You bet!

I wish you  all the courage and curiosity to take a different branch in your own journey. Do it often, keep going, and you will discover the amazing talents that never would have blossom if you hadn't explored and experienced.

Happy crafting!

It is time for a new direction for most of us. If you are like me and tend to be a perfectionist, it is time to get it through our heads that we don't need to perfect, we simply need to be present in our journey, to no longer be afraid of the process. Of course, I didn't say it was going to be an easy road, now did I?! We should all take some time this month and reflect on Pat's words so that one day too, we can "enjoy the ride" as she now does!

Well folks, that is it for today. Enjoy your weekend everyone and please join us again on Monday when we will be back with the midway for our current challenge!

 

Ponderings Along the Pathway...THE BEAUTY OF NATURE

Welcome to this month's edition of Ponderings Along the Pathway, an exclusive feature over here on the Path of Positivity. The purpose of this column is to continue with the goal of this blog which is to create a space "designed to inspire, nurture and provide support for the soul by creating a positive path to follow, one project or post at a time". Providing some motivational introspection on the themes we cover each challenge period is one way of achieving this goal.

This month it is all about THE BEAUTY OF NATURE and PAT is here to share her thoughts on the subject...

As I sit here typing on this gray and chilly Spring day, it is a little difficult to be inspired by the "beauty" of nature. The sky is a grey blah, the air is heavy, noises are dulled. Even the birds are quiet.

Of course, a day like today doesn't stop the dog from wanting his walk, so out I go into the vast grayness of the world. And yet...and yet...

The grass is green, I must admit
with crocuses peeking out a bit.
The buds from trees are dropping fast
like mounds of confetti quickly amassed.
The geese are back and walking around
while a woodpecker makes that knocking sound.
Squirrels a plenty run and play
while Wilson chases them all away.
Now it just comes to mind
that you've got to be blind
to miss all of the beauty
Nature shows to you and me.

I'm lucky to have kept my eyes open and remembered to look up, down and ahead so that I wouldn't miss anything. I'll have to remember to always keep my eyes and ears open while on the Path. I wouldn't want to miss out on any of the beauty that Nature offers.

I wouldn't want to miss out on meeting you!

As Pat has discovered, even on a bleary day there is beauty to be found in our world. We simply need to keep our eyes and mind open to our incredibly rich surroundings. May you always be blessed to enjoy the bounty of beauty that Nature offers up to you as you travel along your own Path in life.

Well folks, that is it for today. Enjoy your weekend everyone and please join us again on Monday when we will be back with the midway for our current challenge!

 

For those that celebrate, Happy Easter to you.

Ponderings Along the Pathway...THE BIRTH OF NEW BEGINNINGS

Welcome to this month's edition of Ponderings Along the Pathway, an exclusive feature over here on the Path of Positivity. The purpose of this column is to continue with the goal of this blog which is to create a space "designed to inspire, nurture and provide support for the soul by creating a positive path to follow, one project or post at a time". Providing some motivational introspection on the themes we cover each challenge period is one way of achieving this goal.

This month it is all about THE BIRTH OF NEW BEGINNINGS and PAT is here to share her thoughts on the subject...

Life is a journey with many paths to follow. When you get to the end of one path, you begin to travel a new one. It may be a graduation, a relationship, a new home, a new baby, even a new you! Beginnings can bring happiness, progress and love.

“It's humbling to start fresh. It takes a lot of courage....
You just have to put your ego on a shelf and tell it to be quiet.”
~Jennifer Ritchie Payette

Nature asks us to follow her lead as the trees’ leaves burst into bright colors before falling off as autumn leads to winter. Yet an end to one season brings a new one and the birth of new beginnings – buds on trees, flowers popping up to find the sun. The grass changes its heavy brown coat for a light, bright green one; squirrels and birds wake from their deep slumber. New beginnings are…

“…like entering upon a new stage of life,
having a new world before us from which to receive,
and upon which to make impressions.”
-Henry James Slack

We look forward on our journey to our new path, but It is unknown, it is change, and some people are scared to lift their feet off the familiar path and start a new one. Don’t be afraid to take that first step, even though…

“There will be boondoggles and discombobulated days, 
freaked-out nights and metaphorical flat tires.
But it will be soul-smashingly beautiful… It will open up your life.”
― Cheryl Strayed

And who can resist the scent of a new baby? The freedom from classes and grades and professors? The thrill from hearing a lifelong vow of love? The heavenly perfume from a blooming garden? A healthier and happier lifestyle? Change is the very nature of life, and while some paths end, new paths stretch before us, promising a birth of new beginnings. I hope you join us on the Path of Positivity as we all journey through 2017.

It really does take courage to walk new paths during our journey through life. Pat's beautiful reflection is a true reminder of that and of the many new beginnings life life may have in store for us. Where will your new beginnings take you during 2017? While we may have goals that we want to work on, the path itself is wide open and only time will tell where our journeys will take us. Good luck as you travel yours.

Well folks, that is it for today. Enjoy your weekend everyone and please join us again on Monday when we hope to announce the Winners and DT Delights for Challenge #46!

Ponderings Along the Pathway...AN EXPRESSION OF LOVE

Welcome to this month's edition of Ponderings Along the Pathway, an exclusive feature over here on the Path of Positivity. The purpose of this column is to continue with the goal of this blog which is to create a space "designed to inspire, nurture and provide support for the soul by creating a positive path to follow, one project or post at a time". Providing some motivational introspection on the themes we cover each challenge period is one way of achieving this goal.

This month it is all about AN EXPRESSION OF LOVE and PAT is here to share her thoughts on the subject...

Have you ever read the short story “Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry? It’s a story about a young couple just married who are too poor to buy Christmas gifts for each other. So, he pawns his father’s watch that he holds most dear to him, in order to buy combs for his wife’s beautiful hair. Unknowingly, she cuts her hair short in order to buy a chain for her husband’s pocket watch. Imagine their surprise when they each open their gifts! What a unique and wondrous expression of love they showed for one another! You can read the full story HERE.

My husband and I have been married for forty years. I love him and he loves me. Yet I can count on two hands the times he’s actually said the words, “I love you.” It used to bother me, but not anymore. I know he loves me for all the non-verbal ways he’s expressed his love.

Years ago, when his lack of those three little words still hurt me, I started a journal of sorts. It was a book of lists – things for which I am grateful, places I would like to travel to, people who have touched my life in a positive way, etc. Whatever popped into my head, I would make a list. I am a list-driven person and find I can get more things cleaned, organized, created or finished by making lists.

So I picked up my handy dandy notebook (Blue’s Clues fans will get the reference) and created a list of all the ways my husband expressed his love without saying those three little words, things like taking out the garbage, ordering takeout on my busy days, popping into the craft room out of the blue and giving me a hug.

There were so many ways that screamed ‘I LOVE YOU” that I got to the end of the page and could still think of more!

Expressions of love can be spoken, felt, written, wrapped, or baked. They can be subtle, like the Post-It note with positive affirmations that my daughter left for me on the bathroom mirror, or the decorated chocolate cookie cake I had made for hubby, telling him he was going to be a daddy for the first time. They can also hit you on the head like a bouquet of flowers, a romantic getaway, or a marriage proposal. Expressions of love can be anything you think of that lets the other person know that he or she is loved.

I like to create little expressions in my craft room to let my loved ones know how much I care for them. I have created journals for my daughter, cards for my husband, photo and scrapbook albums for my mom and canvases for my sisters. My friends have received homemade treat boxes filled with cookies or fudge I made.

I left one of my expressions of love until last – the love I have for my fellow citizens of the world. I appreciate what I have and share it by donating canned goods to my local food pantry. From 5K Walks (there is no way I can run even 1K without passing out) to serving up dinner at my local soup kitchen, I remember to express my love for all people. Of course, pets are “people” too, and I volunteer at our local Buddy Foundation and donate when I can to No-Kill shelters.

But enough about me! Have you been frustrated by the absence of those three little words, too? Or do YOU have trouble saying “I love you”? What are some ways you have expressed your love or have been on the receiving end? Everyone loves inspiration, so please leave a comment and tell us the expressions of love you have experienced.

And know that we love to have you visit the Path of Positivity. Enjoy your journey!

Pat has shared a great reminder that there are many ways that one can express their love. Try to find new and unique ways to express love to the people most dear in your own life and may you receive back 100 fold, the love you share with the world around you.

Well folks, that is it for today. Enjoy your weekend everyone and please join us again on Monday when we announce the Winners and DT Delights for Challenge #45!

Ponderings Along the Pathway...THE ROAD AHEAD

Welcome to this month's edition of Ponderings Along the Pathway, an exclusive feature over here on the Path of Positivity. The purpose of this column is to continue with the goal of this blog which is to create a space "designed to inspire, nurture and provide support for the soul by creating a positive path to follow, one project or post at a time". Providing some motivational introspection on the themes we cover each challenge period is one way of achieving this goal.

This month it is all about THE ROAD AHEAD and PAT is here to share her thoughts on the subject...

The old year has run its last race, and a new path lies before us -- 2017. The year 2016 brought us winners and losers, bumps and surprises, laughter and tears, adventures and comforts. It was a unique year, as is every year making its exit.

The road ahead fills us with determination, with anticipation, with hope. It's like newly-fallen snow - no footsteps breaking the endless white expanse (which is a great analogy when you live in the northern hemisphere during winter). Now is the time to dream big dreams, make plans and reach your goals.

Dream Your Dreams:
I like to start the year off making a list of all the things I would like to do this year. No matter how outrageous (take a trip to Germany) nor how trivial (start meditating each morning), I list them all out and then, sort them into different sections, like Travel, Creativity, Family & Friends, Education, Health, etc. Once sorted, I ruthlessly number them from one to whatever, by the priority in which you would like to do them. For me, I work better numbering from the least important to the most important. Say for instance I have “Go dog sledding in Vermont” in my Travel section. I would probably prioritize this as last, since I would much rather visit my sister in Germany or vacation in Cozumel, Mexico. Remember, these are dreams, so anything goes!

Make Plans:
Once I have my lists sorted by which I would like to do soonest, I tackle the first couple in each section. Any goal is possible if broken down into steps, so I decide things like: does it cost money and how much? Do I need anyone else to accomplish my goal? Do I need supplies like a computer, a gym membership, etc? How much time will it take out of my day (say I want to learn Tai Chi at the park district)? Do I need to build up to this goal (like losing weight)? Finally, what’s stopping me from doing this RIGHT NOW?

Reach Your Goals:
By breaking each goals into steps, you will succeed. Even if you backslide, you won’t fall down those steps and give up. Just stop and take a breath before tackling each step, one at a time. And don’t forget to reward yourself.

Here’s a peek at mine:

• Travel: Plan a couple weekend getaways with husband and daughter.

1. Pick a place to stay
2. Check dates and availability
3. $$= Holiday Inn points for cheaper rates
4. Mark calendar & don’t double-book
5. Pack bags and drive

• Education: Learn German.
  
  1. Start with CDs and workbook (already have)
  2. Play in car on drives to Hines.
  3. Go to German blogs for practice reading.
  4. Check community college for classes.

This is just a couple of the things I’ve dreamed of accomplishing this year. Where will your dreams take you? Whatever they are, good luck and have fun!

Pat has a plan for her road ahead this year? How about you? Take some time this week to reflect on the different directions your own journey ahead may take you.

Well folks, that is it for today. Enjoy your weekend everyone and please join us again on Monday when we announce the Winners and DT Delights for Challenge #44!