Walt’s Wisdom

Re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss what insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem. ~Walt Whitman

How does this quote make you feel?

What thoughts came to mind after reading it?

…dismiss what insults your own soul…

Love that. It almost gives you permission to let go of something that weighs you down. Or perhaps it provides the strength to stand up against the dismissing force that keeps you from being you. From being at peace. If nothing else it allows you to feel what is home to your soul and reminds you to acknowledge that peace. To let go of the stress in your day and be at peace.

…and your very flesh will be a great poem.

Yes. Yours. A great poem. Feel impossible? It isn’t.

Whether you realize it or not; it already is. Recognizing it is what is key.

If you feel calm, balanced, and at home in your soul then be grateful for that blessing.

If not then take a break. Go for a walk, or sit down with a cup of tea, perhaps go for a drive, pray, read a book, call a friend or family member, unwind, do something that relaxes you. Something that brings you to your peaceful place. You deserve that blessing. We all do.

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All You Need Is One

Years ago my grandmother gave me a worry box. I was going through something fairly difficult and this gift was more than a blessing to me. She couldn’t realize just how much it meant to me. At the time my grandmother was more interested in talking about what was happening at the neighbor’s house than anything sentimental.

Inside the box were three angels with a passage written that read: This box is for your worries, the aches within your heart. A place to tuck away your fears, where love and hope can start. So keep this box beside you, and know how much they care, for when you need peace and joy the angels will be there.

Throughout the years there have been times when this box was tucked away in a safe place. At other times it has even been forgotten but earlier this year I came across it on a day that I really needed to. Then the next day someone else came across it. My toddler.

As quick as he could he started shaking the box. By the time I got to him the angels were in pieces. Between lack of sleep and feeling sad I really didn’t study what was left of them because it seemed that they were all broken. I quickly skimmed for the sharp pieces of glass, got rid of them and then I closed the box and placed it on my dresser.

The other day my son grabbed the box again and walked towards me with it saying, “Angols, Angols!” With a smile at the way he says angel, I opened up the box to look at what remained. I gently pushed through the pieces and there it was.  One angel. Unharmed. Beautiful. Strong.

And I was reminded that all you need is one.

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A Quick Reflection

A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are. ~Author Unknown

Who can you count on? Truly count on?

Who accepts you for who you are?

Who inspires you?

Who believes in you?

Who forgives you?

Have you thanked them today?

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Tea Time

It’s Sunday night. The day is almost over. It’s just about time to delve into the busy week ahead.

But wait…

Take a few minutes to breathe and do something for you before your night comes to an end. We all need to unwind, relax and rejuvenate.

I think it’s time for tea.

Bring me the sunset in a cup. ~Emily Dickinson

(I know I’ve said this before but sometimes we all need a little reminder.)

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Soliciting Strength

I’ve been meaning to write and explain my hiatus but I haven’t really found the right words. Hopefully I will do that very soon.

This morning I am writing with a request. Someone entirely dear to me is in need of prayers. Strength and prayers. So, I am asking everyone that reads this post to send up an extra prayer or positive thought. Think of others in your life that you know could use some extra courage and strength. Take a moment to breathe, reflect and strengthen these people as well. Even for yourself. We all need and deserve an extra lift, right? I know that I sure do.

Certain thoughts are prayers. There are moments when, whatever be the attitude of the body, the soul is on its knees. ~Victor Hugo

I’m going to keep this prayer simple for now. Here is hope, love, strength, and courage. You are beautiful. You are a blessing. You are not alone. 

I know God won’t give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish that He didn’t trust me so much. ~Mother Theresa

God is with you. Do you see that one set of footprints? He is carrying you. Today and always.

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Loving Possibilities

I quoted Meg Ryan from one of her movies here at aplaceforthoughts.com once before. And I’m about to do it again. 

 

The other day Kate & Leopold starring Meg Ryan and Hugh Jackman was on television and I caught about 20 minutes of it. I watched it once before a couple of years ago and while watching the other day it reminded me that there was a part of the movie that really moved me the first time I saw it. So I decided to look up quotes from the movie to see if I was able to remember what it was. It didn’t take long to find what I was looking for…

—- 

Kate: …it’s a great thing to get what you want. It’s a really good thing unless what you thought you wanted wasn’t really what you wanted… because what you really wanted you couldn’t imagine or you didn’t think it was possible but what if someone came along who knew exactly what you wanted without asking they just knew… like they could hear your heart beating or listen to your thoughts and what if they were sure of themselves and they didn’t have to take a poll and they loved you… 

—-

 

For me this was a get up and grab the kleenex kind of moment. The part that really struck me was …because what you really wanted you couldn’t imagine or you didn’t think it was possible…

 

Throughout life I have often allowed fear to control decisions that I’ve made. There have been times where what I’ve really wanted seemed so far out of reach or impossible. Or that even if it was possible that it would or could just easily slip away.

 

But you know what? It is possible.

 

And then there is this portion of the above quote:

 

…but what if someone came along who knew exactly what you wanted without asking they just knew… like they could hear your heart beating or listen to your thoughts and what if they were sure of themselves and they didn’t have to take a poll and they loved you…

 

Have you ever had this happen? It can be terrifying and completely lovely all at the same time. Some of us don’t get to experience this type of love, some of us do and it’s taken from us quickly, some of us have the luxury of living this type of love each and every day, some of us have a glimpse of it and the fear of the love leaving us or not being real controls how much we allow ourselves to let it into our lives.

 

But I’m going to say it again. It is possible. Have hope. Allow yourself the joy of being loved. Recognize that if this type of love is there that you are blessed. Not everyone experiences this. We only live once. Embrace it. It isn’t too late. It’s never too late. Believe.

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Sacrificing You

At different times during my life I have often thought about the sacrifices my father made as a parent — especially early on as a widower.  Things that he put on hold because all of a sudden two little ones had only him to count on. Not only was he still learning how to be a father, but he had to learn how to be a mother as well.

I’ve thought about it even more ever since I became a mom, especially when I was facing something difficult. And it came up again recently while talking to someone completely dear to me. We have to do a) or b) for the sake of our children.

Can I just ask – where do you get your strength? When you are dealing with something life altering, something that is a key component to your heart and soul, how do you do this without it affecting your children?

How do you feed them, play with them, read to them without them knowing your heart is hurting for some reason or other? Is it even possible? Is it something you manage to push aside until the hours of the night when your little one is nestled in bed? Do you worry that they can sense something? Where do you find the strength to sacrifice something that your heart needs to deal with for a more appropriate time?

I guess this is one of those things that you learn while going through it but I thought that this would be the perfect place to bring up this topic. And it could also be a good reminder that although we have to be strong for our little ones it is also okay and necessary to take care of ourselves. I found the below quote yesterday and it brought me a sense of peace while thinking of these things that are on my mind. You can almost feel the hope in it, can’t you?

Where there is great love, there are always miracles. ~Willa Cather

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Thoughts of Value

Have you ever been in a place where you were trying to put your entire heart into words? You finally get your thoughts and feelings organized to the point where you think you’ve done a fairly decent job of trying to captivate just what you needed to relay. This wasn’t an easy process. It kept you up at night and forced you to feel the weight so strongly that the vulnerability of it all was completely overwhelming. And then it happens.

All of a sudden you come to the realization that none of it really matters.

Now what? How do you put your heart back in place. What can you use to tuck it safely so that it doesn’t feel as if the beating of it is a train going in circles barely on track?

Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are. ~Malcolm S. Forbes

I found this quote the other day and it made me think about a few things. Those exact thoughts have disappeared by now but I still wanted to share it here. I feel that it works on some level with this entry. I know that I have overvalued something that I am not or that I have overvalued something that didn’t need to be. I also know that I have certainly undervalued beautiful pieces of me.

In an effort to try to safely tuck my heart into place I decided to remind myself of some qualities I possess.

I am thoughtful, caring, dedicated, and loving.

I am giving, compassionate, hopeful and reflective.

I am reliable, sensitive, and heart warming.

I’m not always courageous but am at times and although I am weak, I am also strong.

I am patient, quiet, gracious and nurturing.

I am a dreamer.

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Traveling Comfort

Have you ever had one of those days where you feel like you are trying to just survive? Where you feel like if you allow your heart and mind to go where they are drawn that you’ll just spend the time choking back tears and trying different breathing techniques in an effort to calm down? It has been one of those weeks for me. Not every single moment of the week, but definitely much of it.

This morning when I got up I tried to think of a few things to do to bring peace into my day. I took an extra minute or two in the shower, had a cup of coffee while spending a few minutes reading something inspirational and I called my grandmother. Not to talk about anything specific but just to check in as I often do. Then this afternoon rolled around and I felt it necessary to do something else to relax. My little one was napping and I had a few minutes. So I made a cup of tea and decided to write a letter. (Do you remember my post Snail Mail earlier in the year?) I guess I can’t really call it a letter. It was fairly short as it was written on a card. But it was a paper and ink type of note. One I’ll place in my mailbox tomorrow morning, raise the red flag, and two business days later someone will have a surprise in their mailbox. Initially I was thinking how it would be a nice surprise to receive something other than bills in the mailbox, but as I was writing I realized it made me feel good just to sit down and do so. It was peaceful and it was just what I needed to bring an extra touch of comfort to my day.

To send a letter is a good way to go somewhere without moving anything but your heart.  ~Phyllis Theroux

What do you do when you are in the midst of a difficult day or time in your life? How do you cope? What little things do you do to brighten your day?

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September Blessings

The first day of September is already coming to a close. It seems this whole year is just flying by. When it comes to September I wish that life could just slow down. If only these 30 days could just last longer.

I love the close of summer and feeling the weather change as we approach fall. It has always been my favorite time of year. For many reasons. One is that it is finally cooler! I’m not a big fan of the 90 degree days especially with the humidity that accompanies them where I live. I love the colors of the fall, the crisp fresh air that we can breathe in and the anticipation of the upcoming holidays. It’s as if people are eager to be better versions of themselves and they actually are. I notice it most between Thanksgiving and Christmas but it usually lingers into January as well. If only that was how we operated throughout the entire year. Life would be more peaceful for sure.

Is there something specific that you tend to do more of during the holiday season? Perhaps it is an extra visit to a family member, a delivery to a favorite local charity or taking the extra two minutes to help someone carry their groceries. How about incorporating it into your September? Why not take this beautiful time of year and make it even better?

Sounds like it is time for me to unwind with a cup of tea and think of all that I look forward to this month as well as the ways I can bring more peace and hope into it.

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