Short and Sweet

Now this is really ironic! After titling this blog, I had every intention to include a picture like I usually do-but Blogger was not letting me upload one. I thought if I tried a different photo it would work, but to no avail. The I realized I was trying to upload a photo about keeping it simple, but was allowing things to get complicated.

Now that I am done smacking my forehead from the obvious, here is the short and sweet on the gratitude blog for today.

Always try to understand someone else's story because it gives you perspective on your own that you may not have had. If the opportunity to help someone arises, please take it, for everything you put out into the universe truly does come back to you many times over.

Today, on this 29th of June 2011, I am thankful for being able to help people in need and tht the universe provides me with these chances everyday.

Peace & Love,
Mandy

Walkin the talk

Saying you're going to do something is one thing, actually doing it can be a totally different story. It can be  scary as you attempt it, panic inflicting while you are in the throes of it and exhilarating when you do it!

My most recent declaration is shaping up to be all three of these. I have finally committed to my first official 5k on July 9th and all I can say is if my body could race as fast as my mind is, there would be flames on the course! I have been back and forth, up and down and round and round about if I could actually do this. I have the support of my family and friends and I have the desire, so now all I need is the positive attitude to go forward.

I have recently added several positive Facebook pages to flood my news feed with all the things I need to stay motivated. So far, it has been a true blessing. It is amazing how powerful words can be when you need them most.

On this 28th of June 2011, I am extremely grateful for I Love Life, gr8quotes, Power of Positive Thinking, Positive Living Chic, Life Is a Journey, Lessons Learned in Life, Waves of Gratitude, Love, Live Life and Happiness, I Love Life, Positive Energy, Uplifting Quotations and Dr. Wayne W. Dyer. Thank you all for helping me keep my promise to stay positive.

Peace & Love,

Mandy

Right place, right time

Have you ever been looking for something that you couldn't find only to have it suddenly appear? Perhaps you were drawn to where the item was by an outside force? I have often been the recipient of such happenstance and today was no exception.

I have been thoroughly enjoying the book Excuses Begone! and was very excited that my "brother-in-law" wanted to read it when I was done. But as I read more of the book, I realized it was going to be hard to part with it, so I wanted to get him his own copy. I was hoping there were more in the clearance section because I did not want to pay full price for his if I didn't for mine.

Upon arriving at Barnes & Nobel on a rare, shared Monday off with my husband, I immediately went to the bargain books area where I had found my copy and sadly there were none. I then went to the full price section and found a paperback copy of the book for full price. It was more than double what I paid for my hardcover book. I struggled with the thought of giving mine away or paying full price and decided to possibly check online for a deal. It made me sad because I can't wait to have a discussion about the book with him, but I needed to be cost conscious too.

As we were leaving the store, my husband was drawn to a counter full of hardcover books and said "hey, look what I found". I couldn't believe it, there was the book clearance priced right in the entrance of the store. Danny said he was looking at another book that caught his eye, but knows he was guided there to find what I needed.

I am never short of amazed when wonderful things like that happen and I welcome them as miracles every time they do. Too often, people are very busy and wrapped up in their hectic lives to give thanks for simple things like this. I, however, am always grateful when a little unexpected kindness or guidance comes my way.

Peace & Love,
Mandy

PS-Check out that book~it's awesome!

Catnapping in the backyard

When I was a little girl, Sundays were not my favorite day. Often times, I would complain of boredom and having nothing to do. My mother would usually motivate me by saying "I can find something for you to do" and I would instantly disappear because her something was probably a chore. Now that I am all grown up (chronologically anyway) I relish any Sunday when I have nothing to do-because they are so rare. Today was one of those days to treasure.

After trying out my new sneakers on the track this morning and getting the grocery shopping done, I came home to a house that always needs something done. Usually it's laundry, or dishes or general cleaning, but it is always something. I decided to put the groceries away and put in a load of laundry so technically I  did do something. Then I did something just for me.

I took my chair, my water bottle and my book outside to sit in the shade and read. The dishes could wait, there was no company coming over and the clothes were on the line so relaxing didn't make me feel guilty at all. One of my kitties decided to join me and enjoyed being scritched as I relaxed with my tome.

It wasn't too long before relaxation truly kicked in. Both Woobie and I were catnapping on a Sunday afternoon without a care in the world. It is not very often that I give up that kind of time for myself to just do nothing and I must say I enjoyed every minute of it.

On this 26th of June 2011, I am grateful for my backyard, a beautiful day and a family who accepts me for the not so stellar housekeeper I am and loves me enough to let me sleep an afternoon away in the backyard.

Peace & Love,
Mandy

Singin in the rain~why not?

On many an occasion, rain has been an unwelcome guest at events I have either hosted or attended. There have been concerts cancelled, school functions postponed and family camping trips cut short. But on the flip side, there were rainbows at both my daughter's 8th grade and high school graduations, my garden was watered for me and hot, humid days were finally given some relief on many summer nights.

It is all a matter of perspective and tonight was no exception. An impromptu plan for mini golf with my sister and her boyfriend was something I was so excited for after a long day of chores. As we headed to the golf place, the skies looked extremely threatening, but also far enough in the distance that we weren't too concerned. Were we ever wrong!! As we approached the 5th hole, the heavens opened up! Logistically, we were about as far away from the entrance as possible and the rain was torrential at this point. Fortunately, there was a cute little gazebo where we could take shelter and hope for the storm to pass. We waited, and waited and waited some more, but it was relentless. It seemed as though it was never going to end, but then the sky began to lighten. Rich, Siara and I decided to try to play even though the holes were under water. It was fun and we were laughing in the puddles like kids. But then....

The rain came back with a vengeance! With a crack of thunder and a flash in the sky, we booked back to the clubhouse with our potential lightning rods and decided to call it quits. Surprisingly to us, the owners gave us free passes to come back and seemed genuinely concerned that we got so wet. We will definitely be going back again.

After running through the parking lot and getting absolutely drenched, we went for coffee at a nearby restaurant. The service and menu items were less than stellar, but the company more than made up for it. Any time spent with Rich & KT is perfect and becomes a special time to cherish.

Today on this 26th day of June 2011, I am grateful for time with my wonderful family, goofy memories of mini golf in the rain and mostly strategically placed gazebos!

Peace & Love,

Mandy

Change is good

A common phrase that I grew up hearing is "a woman has the right to change her mind". It was often said in jest, but still implied that it was a gender specific right. I never really gave it much credence, and today especially~that stereotype has been shattered and I couldn't be happier.


I would like to personally thank Senator Mark J. Grisanti of Buffalo, NY for having the courage to admit that he changed his mind because he believed it was the right thing to do. Thanks to his yes vote and four other Republican senators, the gay marriage bill was passed in New York today. In a New York Times article he is quoted as saying the following:

But Mr. Grisanti, a Buffalo Republican who opposed gay marriage when he ran for election last year, said he had studied the issue closely, agonized over his responsibility as a lawmaker, and concluded he could not vote against the bill. Mr. Grisanti voted yes. “I apologize for those who feel offended,” he said. “I cannot deny, a person, a human being, a taxpayer, a worker, the people of my district and across this state, the State of New York, and those people who make this the great state that it is, the same rights that I have with my wife.”


It is refreshing to finally see someone articulate it in the political arena from a purely humanitarian perspective. I applaud Senator Grisanti and the 32 other members of the New York senate for supporting an issue that has always been important to me. It should not be a political decision for two consenting adults who want to commit to one another nor is it really any one's business.


On this 24th of June 2011 (I started writing before midnight so it counts!) I am full of gratitude to those lawmakers who have allowed so many families dreams to finally come true.


Peace & Love,
Mandy

I did, I do and I always will...

I remember the words "for better or for worse" as if it was yesterday. So blissfully in love, the thought of "worse" never entered my mind. It would always be better, every single day from this day forward yadda, yadda, yadda.

Today I watched a couple who were so committed to this concept, I could only admire a love like theirs and believe in my heart that I would be capable of such selfless devotion. In their early 60's, she looked great for her age, had a fantastic personality and looked pretty stylish in her denim jacket. Her husband was a very kind gentleman, not in the best of shape, sincere, innocent and kind but suffered from Alzheimer's and was confused very easily.

I saw this woman care for her husband and make sure he was never out of sight so that he could remain calm and get through his dental visit. When it came time to make another appointment, she consulted her schedule to make sure it did not interfere with getting him bathed and dressed in the morning or feeding him breakfast.

I can't even begin to imagine this woman's life and would be lying if I said it didn't scare me to think about what she has to go through on a daily basis. At the same time, I am thankful that she is the woman she is and that this man has a true partner who is committed to his well being "til death do they part".

On June 1, 1991, I took my wedding vows and sincerely meant every word. Sickness and in health, good times and bad and for better or for worse. But as I reflect on them today, I realize that I don't look at things from a "for worse" perspective because as long as we have the love we committed to all those years ago, every day will be better than the one before.

Today, on this 23rd of June 2011 I am grateful for a lifelong partner to grow old with and for all the couples who have inspired me with their own beautiful love stories.

Peace & Love,
Mandy

A not so politically correct memory

I was born in 1967, and the civil rights movement was in full swing with progress being made on a daily basis. Being young, I was unaware of the importance of this movement, but BECAUSE I was young I was completely unaware that such a movement was necessary. 

A favorite story my mother used to like to tell took place when I was 4 years old. We were at the pediatrician's office in the waiting area and it was my mom and me and a black woman and her son. As the story went, I apparently asked my mom if I could "play with the chocolate boy". Both moms chuckled about this as we went about our business of sharing blocks and having a grand old time.

I was reminded of this story today as I watched some young children laughing and sharing the marble game in the waiting room of my office. One little girl was Caucasian and the other was Indian, but all that mattered was playing. Their laughter was infectious and made an otherwise busy morning so much more pleasurable.

I will be forever grateful for parents who instilled the value of loving people for people PERIOD. It never mattered the color of skin, religious affiliation or sexual orientation. I was taught "do unto others", "do not judge" and "love one another" and try to live those values on a daily basis.

Martin Luther King shared a beautiful quote on this subject and nothing I can type could say it better~

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

Peace & Love,

Mandy

Put one foot in front of the other....

And soon you'll be walking across the floor, or in some cases~soon you will be running a full lap around the track. Kris Kringle taught the Winter Warlock a very valuable lesson with that lyric and at 44 years old, I am finally learning it too.

I had the pleasure of spending time this evening at the track with my sister KT and her boyfriend Rich as I attempted to improve on my running from last week. Still an extreme novice to the concept of running, especially outside in public, it was great to have Rich join us and share his knowledge of the sport. My intention is to improve enough to run a full 5k alongside my sister, although right now I am taking it one lap at a time.

And thus, tonight's moment of gratitude. With each of us moving at our own pace on the track, completing a full lap felt great, but still really difficult. Not once, but twice this evening~selfless words of  of encouragement erased years of memories that haunted me from phys-ed class. Until last week, I have NEVER run a full lap on a track. I received constant negative feedback in elementary, middle and high school for not being able to do it and allowed those words to define me. But NOT ANYMORE.

During one lap, as Rich passed me~he shouted "great job, burn up that track!" And later when he joined me for a lap, as we approached the mark, he encouraged me to go a few more steps AND I DID! The best part is that I know that his words were genuine because all he cares about is people doing their best. Too often in this world, people use words and actions to manipulate situations for their own benefit. It is only when someone expects nothing in return, that those words can touch a person on a soul level.

So today, on this 21st day of June 2011, I am grateful for kind words and selfless encouragement that I was the beneficiary of and hope to bestow on others as I go forward.

Peace & Love,
Mandy

What was I thinking?

How many times have you thought you could do it all in one day, only to realize that 24 hours is a whole lot shorter than you originally thought? It seemed like you could squeeze it all in with very little sacrifice, only to find that something did have to give in the end. Sort of like the last few drops of orange juice that you keep pouring into your glass so you don't waste time putting an almost empty carton away~only to spill over the top onto the counter making you waste time cleaning up the mess?

Enter today's moment of reflection on gratitude. A very long day at work, led to an after work meeting for an upcoming theater production, which segued into a trip to the grocery store that finally brought me home to water the garden, put the groceries away and cook some dinner, at 9:42 PM. And all I kept thinking about was my commitment to blog everyday on the subject of gratitude.

How sad would it be if I had a mis-step only three days in? Not that there is a life or death consequence should I miss a day, but this is something I truly want to see through and giving up is not an option on the fourth day! So here I sit pondering what I could possibly be thankful for when all I want to do is go to bed. And suddenly, there is the answer~I am thankful this day has come to a close and I can go to bed knowing I did everything I was capable of doing today. It was a lesson in over-extension, to say the least. And I know it will undoubtedly happen again, but for today I will just be grateful to sleep with a contented heart for jobs well done.

Peace & Love,
Mandy

Holy Guacamole!

Have you ever been randomly delayed, or procrastinated a second longer than normal, only to find out you were exactly where you needed to or weren't where you should be? Some people call that coincidence, others divine intervention~me, I call it a moment to be grateful for.

On this beautiful Sunday afternoon, everything seemed to be just perfect. I had breakfast with my dad for Father's Day, my husband woke up to freshly brewed coffee and a handmade card from his "little girl" and the sun was shining brightly. A lazy day of chores unfolded with the final "to do" item being a trip to the grocery store and making dinner. But boy can plans change on a dime!

While putting the finishing touches on the grocery list, I became preoccupied with trying my hand at making guacamole. It is something I have wanted to try for some time, and today seemed like the perfect opportunity. I sat down for a quick minute at the computer to look up a few recipes and make sure I added the ingredients I would need before leaving for the store. I began to prattle as I usually do to my husband in the other room and similarly did not seem surprised when I got no response.

It wasn't until I got up to leave that I found out why there had been no response! My husband was in the middle of what looked like a possible stroke or seizure. He didn't answer me as I tried to talk to him, and I ran to the telephone to call 911. As I was speaking to the paramedic, my husband had made his way to the bathroom and was violently ill. It was soon very apparent that he was dealing with some sort of food poisoning. I told the operator we were okay and they did not need to send anyone and then proceeded to take care of the situation as best I could.

There is no need for graphic details, because I am certain everyone has experienced this first or second hand before. But suffice it to say, I was quite worried for a few hours. Thankfully, he is resting as I type this and feeling much better.

I am beyond grateful that it was nothing more than something he ate that didn't agree with him and even more so that I had not left for the store ten minutes earlier as planned. Thanks to a new found love of guacamole, I was right where I needed to be on this Father's Day the 19th of June 2011.

Peace & Love,

Mandy

How do you know?

When I was a little girl, I used to sleep with an extraordinary amount of stuffed animals! So many in fact, that I often times went without covers and hung off the side of the bed so that they would all be comfortable and warm. It was important that they each had some piece of the blankets and none of them were "smooshed"! My mother would eventually come in and re-tuck me in after I fell asleep so that I wouldn't be upset about my friends freezing to death, because they were not inanimate objects, they were my friends and I needed to take care of them.

I was reminded of this childhood gem as I enjoyed ice cream with my family in the town of Northampton, MA this evening near The Chocolate Emporium. (Best Ice Cream Ever by the way!) In addition to the treat of mint chocolate chip/triple chocolate combo dish, I was happy to sit back and watch all the passers-by on this beautiful  summer evening.

I was especially taken by a father and daughter as they made their way up Main Street. She couldn't have been more than four or five and was smiling as she held her daddy's hand on their walk. Directly in front of our seats is the Northampton Frog for the Hungry. It is a cast iron frog with a slot for donations for the local residents in need of food. He is rather silly looking as he lays on his side with his head propped up on his front "leg". Up until this evening, he has just been a landmark for us to stop and savor the flavor of the day on the ledge nearby. But when this little girl approached the corner where Mr. Frog resides, she turned to him and waved and smiled at him. Her dad was busy watching for traffic, so he did not notice~but I saw her eyes light up and knew that she saw Mr. Frog smile back at her too!

In an instant, my heart was full of joy for this little girl and her moment of magic, for myself and the memories of my furry companions and for the man sitting next to me who encouraged those moments of magic for our little girl all those years ago.

It was a simple and magical day this 18th of June and I am grateful to know that magic does not disappear because I got older, I just need to look harder to see it sometimes.

Peace & Love,
Mandy

Humanity At Its Finest

If the Jeopardy clue was "the one thing that makes you truly happy" - I would be hard pressed to ring in for the answer because I could not limit it to one "thing" and by virtue of the game, Alex would tell me "I'm sorry, the answer we were looking for was _______? But then again, how would he know what makes me happy versus the two contestants next to me?

Today I had time to really think about this question as I drove to the town of Monson, Mass with some food donations for the tornado stricken town. I was truly happy to have my family and their unconditional love. I was happy to have transportation to actually travel to Monson and offer some help. I was thankful for my health and able body that I sometimes struggle to be kind to and respect. But it wasn't until I arrived at The First Church on Main Street and spent time with some amazing  people that I felt true joy and happiness.

I was witness first hand to people helping people because it was the right thing to do. It was not about the money or the glory, it was about giving of oneself to another human being in need. It didn't matter if someone was washing dishes in the church kitchen or tearing apart broken chimneys and buildings that littered so many lawns in town, there was kindness in the air and it was beautiful. Amidst all the devastation and piles of rubble, there was a feeling that things were going to be okay. It didn't matter if you were from Monson, Mass or a small town in CT, people were "truly happy" to have support in any form you could offer.

I am thankful for the opportunity to share a moment of absolute kindness and see humanity at its finest on this 17th day of June 2011.

Peace & Love,
Mandy

Okay-Here Goes!

I have never blogged before in my life, and to be honest have never really followed any before either. So what am I doing here? I was inspired by my sister KT and her desire to share her journey into the world of health and running. (Check her out at Strides to Health) After reading her first post, I could sense the positive energy that communicating this way can actually create. And so I decided to share my journey too. 


I am making it my mission to surround myself with thoughts of gratitude on a daily basis. From the simplistic philosophy of "waking up on the right side of the dirt" to the more complex feeling of fortune because a storm took a different path away from your home-I truly believe every day is something to be grateful for. With this blog I will consciously make the effort to be grateful for something everyday and hope that anyone following will share and do the same. 


Peace & Love,
Mandy