My morning time passes so quickly! I got up a little earlier this morning so I could enjoy some dark quiet time. Poof! An hour flew by! Still, I am having another cup of coffee. I’ll skip fixing my hair.
I had a wonderful 4 day weekend with my family in Georgia. It ended too soon, but work awaits me. Thanks to my staff, they held down the fort the couple of days I played hooky. I have some amazing team members.
This is my so called Monday. A busy one at that, so I am fueling up with my happy coffee.
It’s all good!
Starting the day with no news, no reading bickering Facebook posts, just Big Daddy, Maddie, warm fuzzies from the weekend and coffee.
The perfect day.
I wish one for you too! Sip up! Its gonna be a great day!
I made a red neck charcuterie board for my family over Fathers day weekend. It was a hot, humid Georgia evening and a heavy meal did not seem inviting.
I raided the fridge to throw together a sandwich tray but there wasn’t enough of one thing, so tada! I used what I had to my advantage.
My first tray with bologna, home made butter pickle relish and pimento cheese as the star components. Hot damn! It was all good! Turned out to be a satisfying meal among family.
There are times we have to play the hand we are dealt. Make lemonade with the lemons. Make due with what we have.
Those lemons can be pretty sour and it’s easy to just push them off to the side, pout and just drink water.
Me? Well, first lemon is getting sliced, salted, sucked and swallowed along with a shot of Patron. Mexican lemonade right there my friends.
The rest of those lemons will definitely take notice. I have recipes for them all!
The only way to live life to its fullest is to use what we have to the fullest.
Don’t throw back the rocks being thrown at you. Collect them. Build your castle with other people’s negative energy. Transform it into your power.
Those knives in your back? Keep them. If you try to return them you’ll only cut yourself and that’s what they want. The wounds will heal, the scars will make you stronger.
Keep to yourself the negativity and hate that is thrown at you. Collect their weapons of mass destruction and disarm them. You are stronger than anything thrown at you. You are the bigger person. Your life is yours.
Go build your castle, use those knives to slice lemons, and sit back sipping your lemonade. That truly is the best comeback for those that think they can destroy you.
My morning time passes so quickly! I got up a little earlier this morning so I could enjoy some dark quiet time. Poof! An hour flew by! Still, I am having another cup of coffee. I’ll skip fixing my hair.
I had a wonderful 4 day weekend with my family in Georgia. It ended too soon, but work awaits me. Thanks to my staff, they held down the fort the couple of days I played hooky. I have some amazing team members.
This is my so called Monday. A busy one at that, so I am fueling up with my happy coffee.
It’s all good!
Starting the day with no news, no reading bickering Facebook posts, just Big Daddy, Maddie, warm fuzzies from the weekend and coffee.
The perfect day.
I wish one for you too! Sip up! Its gonna be a great day!
Not for sickness, baldness, wrinkles, weight loss or gain. But for happiness, peace and understanding.
A compliment, helping hand, or just a shoulder to lean on and an ear to listen.
What if smiling at a stranger dissolved evil in the air. A dollar in the charity kettle abolished the hunger pangs of children. A hug cured suicidal thoughts. A telephone call made loneliness obsolete. A kind word caused self confidence.
Kindness is free and yet many people refuse to share it. There is an endless pool of it to pull from and yet we hoard it like gold for ourselves. Rarely handing it out. Not knowing when we keep it just for ourselves it becomes worthless.
Administering kindness benefits the person on the receiving end and us. It can be the best gift we share, it will come back 10 fold. Curing ourselves of sadness, loneliness, a bad moment in the day.
Let’s pretend that kindness is the cure all.
All of us together set out to dose everyone we see today with it. Double dose those that look like they need it. You cant overdose, that’s a good thing. And kindness spreads. It will leak from the people you touch. So don’t worry, get out there and be the healing soul for those around you.
Don’t let the smile leave your face. Start in the mirror this morning, reminding yourself how awesome you are and smile. Start by being kind to yourself, and head out!
You can quite possibly heal the world single handed. Let’s give it a try, shall we?
Very unlike Mother’s day. We tend to let mom take the day off, breakfast in bed, send her to get her nails done. Maybe a manicure or spa day. Then it’s off to a nice dinner. Keeping her out of the kitchen at least for the day. We shower her with flowers and candy. We even let her control the TV remote.
Dads on the other hand, get to man the grill. We like to watch Dad be in charge. No day off for him, just a day honoring him. Sure we bring him a beer here and there while he teaches his kids how to get the charcoal briquettes that perfect shade of gray before slapping down the perfectly marinated steaks or burgers on the grates.
We give him a goofy BBQ apron announcing what a super griller his is with some cartoonish dad on the front holding a giant spatula. Some will get that infamous TIE whether they wear one or not. His gifts will include power tools, lawn equipment, notice these are work items, we would never give Mom a vacuum cleaner.
Car stuff and T shirts with funny sayings. Some will even have the superman emblem.
We tend to look up to our fathers. Form our morals, worth ethic and leadership skills watching them. Sons learn how to treat women and daughters learn expectations of the men in their lives.
Fathers have an important job in the raising of their children. Mothers do too, but today is about Dads.
You are your daughters first love, first protector and set the bar for the future men in their lives. Set it high!
Sons will learn to be that man daughters around the world will be seeking. Raise the type of man you want calling on your baby girls.
Children will not do what you say, they will do what you do. They will make decisions based on how proud it will make you Fathers, you are a living, breathing idol. Good or bad, you have no choice. You are.
Your actions are law, your words are commandments. You are bigger than life. You are molding the next generation of men and women. You don’t just bring home the bacon, or keep the yard pristine. Build tree houses or grill the hot dogs on Sundays.
Fathers, you are the future of our world. You have an important job to fulfill every day. You are setting the tone for tomorrow. That’s a big honor. Show up. Embrace it.
Enjoy your day, hug your children. Relax your back but not your backbone. We are depending on you more than you know.
There is just something about watching the new day emerge. It seems like time stands still for that moment so you can take in the beauty. Watching the sun peek over the earth’s edge, coloring the sky shades not found in any crayon box. And never the same scene twice
And it only lasts that moment. With every minute the sun continues its journey brightening the sky, lighting up the day, changing the picture. You are almost afraid to look away in fear you may miss the most beautiful snapshot.
It is like watching your kids grow up. If you blink, you may miss it. All those magnificent moments of beauty and light, you try to be there for every second. You hope to capture some of it in a picture, one you can look back on with pride over and over again. The fear of missing that one moment, knowing you cant watch every second of the day.
I’ve had close to 40 years of those moments and each are as special and the ones before. My children have amazed me since the moment of conception. My miracles. My creations. My best decisions. My first experience of loving unconditionally. My sunrise moments.
I’ve missed moments. I guess all parents do. Hurts my heart.
I will keep watching. And watch them and their own little sunrise moments. As the world keeps turning, and new days emerge. Until the day I’m watching from above, from another realm. It will be then I will never have to miss another moment.
Feeling appreciated is almost as good as feeling loved.
Saying thank you can mean more than you can imagine. As far back as I can remember, I have said “thank you” to my employees at the end of their shift. One young girl asked me why I did that. I told her I appreciated her coming to work and being part of the team. She said, “but you pay us to do that “. Yes, but I want you to know I appreciate you!
Sometimes a t shirt, or a pizza party, something extra, something not the norm to express my gratitude. People are not the “hired help”, they are human beings trying to survive this world like me. Some put in that extra something on a daily basis, always there to step in and pick up the slack. The ones that see what needs to be done and just does it. And you always seem to have that one that can read you like a book, sees your inside mood and brings you a cup of coffee or just checks in on you.
There will be those few that are just there for the check. Stir the pot, try to put cracks in the team. They usually weed themselves out when you make them work and reach your expectations. Hopefully your team is strong enough to survive them until they are replaced.
As a leader you want to see your staff grow. Professionally and personally. Help boost them up the ladder of success. I hate losing good people, but I love seeing them take the tools I hope I shared with them and make life even better.
I hope they expect the respect and encouragement from future bosses and leaders they may have. Most of all, I hope they remember to say thank you to their staff when they are in charge. Appreciate what they do and teach them to excel.
I am by no means a perfect “boss”. I don’t expect perfection, but I do expect dedication, respect for each other and a harmonious team. No drama. No leaving the next shift in a pinch. Working together as a team. I am hands on. I will get dirty with my team. Their futures are as important as mine. I will back them 100% if they are doing what I ask.
I guess it boils down to gratitude. Be grateful for those around you. Be grateful for the ones that take the bull by the horns and make things happen.
I am grateful for another day on my ladder to success, no matter where it may take me. Thank you, for being you. Go out there and make yourself proud.
I grew up in a time where patience was bred into you. You learned to wait. Work hard, sometimes long, and then you are rewarded. No instant gratification. When it came you were grateful and savored the moment. You appreciated whatever it was and took care of it. Your time, effort, blood, sweat and tears were spent acquiring what you wanted.
Money was an issue at times when I was a child. You know what? No, it wasn’t. We never went hungry. Always had a roof over our heads. Clothes, shoes, all the necessities. We were far from being poor.
I grew up in a trailer park. Metal houses side by side with a small front yard. Thank goodness for those yards, I mowed them when I was 10 for $1.25 so my sister and I could go to the movies. We would sit up front and watch Jason and the Argonauts or whatever else was playing. The theater was always cool and in the summer that was an extra gift, at home we had a swamp cooler. Playing outside with the water hose was cooler than inside and cartoons.
I remember Momma wanted a “real house ” one day and we would go to open houses. One house in particular she fell in love with. A Spanish tile, stucco with the red clay tile roof. I was excited at the thought of my own bedroom. I couldn’t hear all of the conversation, but I saw the look in Daddy’s eyes as he was telling her it was way too expensive. Momma smiled and said they could keep looking. I could see the disappointment on her face. I do remember that house was $35,000. This was the early 70’s and that was a pretty penny.
I remember when Troy and I first married, I traded my Camaro in for a suburban. Fully loaded, leather seats, bells and whistles, TV for the kids. We paid $36k for it. And it was a great deal.
I cried that night. I felt ashamed. I was driving a vehicle that cost more than the house my Momma never could have. I did not feel worthy.
I’ve worked hard to get where I am. It’s not as high as some or low and others, but I put myself here. I was taught patience. Work for what you want. No one will give you anything and if they do appreciate it. You may not have it today, but keep reaching and anything can be yours. And I refuse to feel unworthy again. I had to work for what I have. And I am proud of that.
Mom never got her brick and mortar house. Dad did surprise her with a brand new double wide. It was huge! Everything was shiny and new. And the best thing, it was full of love. That was the last home she lived in. I am glad I had 4 years there with them before heading out on my own. Home
I’ve had the big house. I think subconsciously it was a goal for my mom. Now, I am back in a double wide and couldn’t be happier. It’s a home full of love. And patience.
Live your best life with patience. Good things come to those who work while waiting. My life has come full circle, I seem to be on round 2. And I am enjoying every minute of it.
What a beautiful morning. I brought my coffee outside this morning to enjoy the cool fresh air.
My view is the garden and the herb box on the table. I can smell the sage, oregano, basil and a ton of mint. Side note, this mint is being cultivated for the purpose of giving its life for Mojitos.
The birds are talking to each other. Maybe warning each other I am out here invading their space.
I’m sitting under a giant red bud tree. I can hear them flying from limb to limb rustling the leaves as they do. Jumping to the roof of the house and looking down at me making sure I am not a threat.
I see the barn cat sneaking around the corner of the house, pausing after each step so I cant hear her snapping twigs beneath her feet. Her eyes on me the entire time. I pretend not to notice.
I have disturbed their morning time, so I try not to move much, sit back and enjoy the space. I feel like a visitor in my own back yard.
There is a chill in the air. It feels more like a fall morning, not an Oklahoma June day. It makes me wonder if I am being reminded that things can change in a heartbeat.
Hot to cold, loud to quiet, bad to good. Things never stay the same for long. We evolve, become better, more informed, educated, more in tune.
You just have to stop and pay attention. Listen to the birds. Smell the mint. Feel the air. Ignore the cat. Sip the coffee.
Well, another beginning! Don’t you love Mondays? Thank goodness for coffee!
I am sad Sunday is over. I enjoy having Troy around me. It’s the only day of the week we are both home. I love his company and miss his face when we are apart. I make sure to tell him I love him daily.
Mondays are a good day for some mirror magic. Actually, every day you should practice it, but make Monday your go to day. Get ready for the week. Be your own cheer leader. Wash your face and look into your own eyes. And say something like this….
“Good morning sexy! It’s time to rock yet another week, you got this! You are strong, motivated and what you have to offer, the world desires. You make a difference. You will change lives by just being you. Your smile lights up a room. Let’s get this party started gorgeous! I love you. YOU are AMAZING!”
Say it Feel it Know it
Never depend on someone else to remind you how special you are. If you tell yourself on a daily basis, soon you’ll be telling others.
If you can’t tell yourself, just go back and read it again. It’s from me, and you deserve to be told. Tape the words on your bathroom mirror. Try it for a week and see how different your life will become.
Self love Self care Is not selfish It is necessary.
