I love food. I love creating meals from fresh ingredients, lots of flavor, unique but yet homey and comforting. I love making people happy with food, watching their expressions, the calmness a good meal brings to people. Food is my thing.
Some people draw, paint, sing, write, build or grow things. We all have a talent. Some we share with the world, some we keep private. We are truly blessed when our careers are based on our talents.
We have hidden talents. Maybe yours is being able to listen and give comfort to someone. Or possibly being that parental figure to a child that had no guidance.
Maybe your talent, is just being you.
Your heart, your soul, you say the right things at the right moment that changes a life.
Never sell yourself short. We all have a place in the universe, a purpose. Whether we use it openly every day or it’s a natural thing that goes unnoticed to everyone except the person who needs it at the time.
You are a talent. A living soul that can make a difference. Your hug can make a difference. Your smile. Your kind words. You could be the safety harness for someone walking a tight rope.
Embrace who you are. Speak with kindness. Support and love. You have the talent.
Why Why are people so hateful towards each other. Name calling, finger pointing, you are wrong. I am right.
I understand there is evil in the world, as much as there is good. It’s been that way since Lilith.
I scroll Facebook and I see missing children, dogs in cages thrown in the water to drown, racism, homophobia, murder, rape, you name it. It’s like a newsreel from Sodom and Gomorrah.
What is most hurtful to me is when I see people I love, admire and look up to write about those with different opinions. Calling them names, spewing hateful words and unfriending people that think differently.
Sometimes that person is me. I may think think different from you. My opinion is totally opposite. Do I think you are stupid? Asinine for following that way of thinking? Tell you that you are drinking the koolaid and you are an idiot?
No
If your opinion includes facts, figures and an intelligent point of view, I will read it. I will look at why you feel the way you do. I may agree or disagree, but I wont argue with you. I will respect your well informed opinion.
If you are typing with your middle finger, screaming at the world you are right they are stupid with only hearsay, opinions and hate, I will scroll on by. But I will respect your opinion.
It is not my job to judge. I have never seen anyone change their beliefs because someone down graded them, called them names and yelled it from the mountain top. Just because it is loud, doesn’t mean it’s right.
All I ask is be kind to one another. These are your friends. Accept each other for who they are. Pray for them.. Pray for yourself. Pray for truth and guidance.
I will love you no matter what side of the fence you may ride, the color of your skin, or who you choose to spend your life with. I chose to love you and include you in my life for a reason. Don’t make me feel like I am wrong for doing so. Let’s just agree to disagree.
I am having one of those mornings I just want to stay in my cool dark room, on the couch with my coffee.
Coffee never seems to fail me.
Life, not so much.
I shouldn’t say life. My life is grand! I have no complaints.
Things and people in my life can cause bumps in the road. I will NOT let it bring me down. I will smile. Sometimes laugh. And move forward as I know how.
Too many times I see friends let the actions of others or just crap that happens ruin their entire day. What is 5 minutes of inconvenience is stretched out to 24 hrs of a pity party.
Why me? What did I ever do? If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all. If it’s going to happen, it will happen to me. I must be jinxed. God hates me.
Any of that sound familiar? Remember, you bring about what you speak about. Do not draw negative energy to your life. Yes. Bad things happen. But you don’t have to let it consume you.
Flat tire in the morning? What a way to start the day. Call AAA, a friend. A spouse. Get it replaced or fixed. Now it’s done. Do not complain the rest of the day about your bad luck this morning. That was but an hour or two of your morning. Smile and enjoy the rest of the day.
Focus and refocus. Radiate that inner light. Don’t let clouds dim your soul. Help lift others from their dark place. Be the light, not the cloud.
Coffee by the garden, contemplating life’s curve balls.
The world after the rain. Clouds slinking by. We never know when the storms will sweep through and take everything or just nurture the land.
Life’s storms can be brutal. They can take our most valuable possessions, livelihood or loved ones.
In as long as it takes for lightning to fill the dark sky, all can be gone. The wind can snatch away the most precious to us. Blow it to all ends of the earth, never to return. Leaving a dark space that we carry forever. A space that will sneak out when triggered by a memory, a word or song. A space you try to keep tucked away, so not to feel the heartbreak all over. An empty space filled with memories, moments that slowly fade. Becoming emptier as the years pass. Sadly.
One thing I like about Facebook is Memories. Pop ups that remind me of what I was doing each year at this time on a daily basis.
Reminders of birthday weekends with grand kids, gatherings, the Bistro, career changes, snippets of my life.
I can see how my thoughts and attitude have changed over the years. How I have grown in different areas. My way of writing, thought process and remarks to things.
I see the change in what I found important and what wasn’t worth the comment.
I’ve noticed I have become less opinionated on Facebook. I very much have an opinion, but its mine and I wont force it on anyone. I wont argue opinions. They are not facts.
I’ve noticed over the years, my Facebook has become more positive.
I’m sure I’ve matured over the years. Even in my 40’s I’ve learned new levels of priorities.
It’s amazing I’ve been on social media over 10 years. I started to find lost friends. And I have found so many new ones.
Now in my 50’s I am still growing, maturing, learning and sharing ideas, some with perfect strangers that have commonalities, remembering earlier days with friends made in grade school.
Social media. Social. We are social beings craving attention. This is the perfect Avenue for that. If used correctly.
Put out to the universe good vibes. Share accomplishments, lessons learned, support for others. What you put out comes back tenfold. Shouldn’t it be without hate and condemnation?
I challenge you today, tag me, tag my blog lorenementality.com, then write a positive, Motivational sentence, story, uplifting quote to put out today. Something you want to come back to you and go out to those who need it. Share some love!
Make a positive mark on social media, no complaining, no gloom and doom. No pointing out everything wrong in the world, just focusing on the good.
Flood Facebook with happy today, it will reach across the oceans.
Make this the Friday heard around the world! Love big my friends!
Another day closer to the weekend. And another day closer to Monday.
Did I hear some moaning? Why did I have to bring up Monday?
I see this a lot. Some people will find the bad in anything and everything. They can not be grateful for what is right in front of them. It is almost like they get their energy from complaining. They love being miserable.
Has someone ever taken you to dinner? And maybe a movie? They had a day planned for you, to show appreciation. Show you that you are important to them. You have to do nothing but be ready to go. How awesome is that?
There is that person who will complain the potato is under cooked, the restaurant is loud, the movie sucked, the popcorn was too salty.
Crazy huh? Given a nice evening and complains about everything. Oh but they appreciate the thought. Really? Are you kidding me?
My Dad had a saying, “honey, some people would bitch if you hung them with a new rope”.
How true. Sometimes its difficult to do things for unappreciative people. It’s not about getting kudos, or recognition for it, it’s about giving a part of yourself to help recognize someone else and show them you care.
Complaints are a slap in the face.
I’ve been given gifts of thanks before, some edible which is always nice. A box of chocolates, snacks, etc. There is always something I cant eat, or possibly don’t like. Do I complain? Do I say thanks but I would rather have this. No! I say thank you, I appreciate you thinking of me, you really shouldn’t have but I’m so glad you did. I take my gift home. And I’m grateful I was thought of by another in such a way, they took the time to get me something to show their appreciation.
I feel good. They feel good.
Don’t make people second guess themselves by being a jerk. Your reaction can change that reason you were honored in the first place.
You were given something from the heart. It cost you nothing. It’s your reaction that can cost you everything.
So look forward to the weekend. Monday will always follow Sunday, but we have Sunday to appreciate and enjoy. Sip your coffee, be thankful. Love big.
While sipping my coffee, enjoying the quiet, I sit here and think about all I am grateful for in life.
The obvious things people think of first would be materialistic. I have a home. 4 walls, a roof. Shelter. Nothing fancy. But a home filled with love.
The package doesn’t reveal the contents.
I’ve seen the most spectacular houses where mom and dad sleep in separate wings of the house. Kids are off to boarding school months at a time. The dining room table is used only for entertaining. Perfectly manicured lawn, a television in every room and on the back veranda. The only warmth comes from the fireplace.
Then there is the house on wheels in the trailer park. Window units to heat and cool the metal encased rooms. Rooms filled with yard sale furniture, mismatched plates, and jelly glasses. And laughter. Kids playing hide and seek, giggling under the bed. Mom and dad snuggled on the couch denying they know where little Susie is hiding. A pot of beans simmering in the kitchen, the smell of cornbread wafting from the oven. Smell that?
It is love and gratitude. Enjoying what life has to offer. Wrapping your arms around what you have, not crying over what you do not. Knowing what little you physically have is way more than some will ever experience. No complaints. Building a life together one day at a time.
It is true, not all houses are homes. Home truly is where the heart is.
Count your blessings daily, when you do, you’ll have no time to complain about what you don’t have.
Another Monday. I did not want to get up this morning. As a matter of fact, I stayed in bed until 5:40, I figured if I didn’t get up now, I wouldn’t. Big Daddy on one side of me, purring like a kitten. And Maddie at my feet, guarding the door. The cool breeze from the window across my body. Why would I want to get up? Work Oh yes. No sitting home all day for me.
I still have time for my coffee and quiet, dark room. It’s cool, the ceiling fan is gently blowing down on me. I have my couch blanket over my shoulders. My coffee is hot. It will have my blood pumping soon enough.
The birds are having a heated conversation outside the window. Maybe they are all fighting over that early bird worm.
I could sit here all day.
Troy had the smoker going Saturday night and Sunday. Yummo! Pork, chicken and even cabbage. We threw together some baked beans, potato salad and deviled eggs. There was bacon involved. I was happy.
We sat on the deck and watched the world have its Sunday. The weather was beautiful, Maddie slept most of the day. We watched the neighbor and his son take advantage of the nice weather and paint their house. I packed up a couple of dinners and walked them over. They were working so hard, they deserved to not cook.
A beautiful weekend to start another week. It will be a good one! Mondays don’t scare me. I am the creator of my own happiness.
I am rambling, possibly to keep from leaving the couch. I wouldn’t mind another day added to the weekend. But, until I take over the world, these rules will have to do for now.
Ok, I’m off to get it started. Have a wonderful, bless Monday. Make it yours. And Love big
I sit in the dark with a cup of coffee and listen to the sounds of my life.
A soft snore from the bedroom, thankful he wakes up in my bed. A dog tag jingle, I know she is keeping Troy’s feet safe. The hum of the fan overhead, circulating the cool air from the air conditioner. There was a time I had to spray water into the swamp cooler to keep my childhood home not so hot in the Oklahoma summer, then turning the hose on myself to cool down. I hear an occasional truck speed past, that road has taken beloved fur babies from me. The clunk of the ice machine. I remember a day I had to pull back a frozen aluminum lever to make cubes and get in trouble for not filling them back up.
Another sip of coffee.
Not like my mom made when I was young, it was more dessert with sweetened milk and buttered toast to dip. I miss her. And that buttery coffee. I see the outline of a huge television that I know receives more channels than I will watch in a lifetime with 3 remotes and a satellite connection. Very unlike that floor model with an antenna wrapped in foil that had 3 choices and cartoons only on Saturday morning. I can see all the red, green and white lights from electronic devices glow in the dark. Hungry eyes stealing your time away from buttery coffee, water hoses and Saturday morning cartoons.
I had it all back then. Simple, clean, pure. I have it all now. I just have to be sure not to lose it enjoying modern technology. Excuse me while I go find a water hose. Lorene Wood 2019
I’m sitting with my coffee wishing I could just stay here all day. I could focus all this new found energy to cleaning my closet. There are so many projects I’d like to do around the house.
No skipping work today. My fault. I forgot to order ice cream. We are having coke floats today in celebration of hospital week. Can’t have a float with out the ice cream.
Yesterday we had a picnic, food supplied by life spring home health. It was outside in the parking lot, hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and some great football players visiting, playing games. Everything seemed so normal.
Monday we had a free pancake breakfast with fat juicy link sausages. Tuesday girl scout troop 580 donated boxes. No, cases of cookies. We all had cookies and punch.
Free fountain drinks, coffee, cappuccino all week.
Hospital week is once a year. We celebrate all our employees. No one group of people can make the hospital without the other. Housekeeping, dietary, administration, nursing, physicians, there are so many components. It takes everyone to care for our patients.
We have a Rewards Committee that plans and facilitates activities at the hospital. From hospital week to Christmas parties, ordering t shirts, etc. All volunteers. I want to give a shout out to all of them. As a group, they move mountains.
The fearless leader of this group is Julie Austin. I want to brag on her for a moment. Julie is a down to earth, huge hearted woman. She is a volunteer in and out of the hospital, in addition to being a full time employee. Her role on the rewards committee is not an easy one. Every year she asks if anyone would like to take over and the room is full of crickets. She works hard to make sure everyone is a part of the celebrations.
She spends hundreds of hours. Volunteering now, to shop, organize and make sure things run as smooth as possible. Yes, things go wrong, there are glitches here and there, but she works hard at making things right.
She cares. It’s not a job to her. She does it from the heart. Thank you Julie. I appreciate you and your kind heart.
You probably have someone like Julie in your life too. Be sure and say Thank You. They don’t do it for the fame or recognition. Most of what they do is behind the scenes, making the outcome look easy.
It isn’t easy or we all could do it. Or would do it.
Be grateful. Say thank you. Appreciate those that share their time for you. Time is precious. Don’t make anyone regret giving theirs for you, it is time away from family. Time they will never get back, it is a gift. A gift from the heart.
Have a wonderful day! Bless someone with your time today.
