Ellen's Closet

Gotta work today, but wanted to share this pic. You all know I've been waiting to hear whether or not Ellen got my BE KINDER shoes. Well, this month's Architecture Digest is featuring Ellen and Portia's home. Imagine my surprise when I saw the pic of her shoes closet. Whooohooo! Lol. This is called positive thinking.

Today is find out how many licks it takes to reach the chocolate inside a lollipop day.

"Overall" Opportunities.

I believe that people are brought into our lives for a reason. Whether it be to help you in some way or for you to help them in some way. I wonder how many times I have missed an awesome experience because I was not seeing what was in front of me. Maybe that person who smiled at me in the grocery store owns a billboard company and would've given me a good deal on BE KINDER billboards. Maybe the woman who seemed sad as I passed her on my walk yesterday needed something more than a "Good Morning". Maybe the person who I cut short in a political conversation is going to be the president some day. It's really wild to think about how one simple interaction can change the universe. For example, if I have a BE KINDER conversation with someone and they go home and find the house a mess or child drawings on the wall, maybe our conversation will have made a difference in how they handle their child. If you stop and help someone put groceries in the car or hand them something they've dropped, will they be more quick to help someone they see in need? There are so many opportunities that we have every single day to make a difference. Thomas Edison said, "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." I love that. The harder something may seem to be, the less likely we are to do it. Why not, for today, be open to those people and opportunities that come your way. It could be life-changing.

Today is draw 10 rainbows and 10 pots of gold day.

Successful

I read a wonderful quote this morning by David Thomas. "My list of ingredients for success is divided into four basic groups: Inward, Outward, Upward, and Onward." Very thought-provoking for me. We all measure success by different standards. Some feel the more money and more stuff you have, the more successful you are. Some feel the more friends and more followers you have, the more successful you are. Some feel the bigger house and fancier car you have, the more successful you are. We all want more money and more stuff. But, I wonder if that would make us feel internally more successful. By definition, successful means achieving or having achieved success; having attained wealth, position, honors, or the like. Nothing in that definition talks about the feeling of being successful. I believe, success is measured by how good you feel about where you have been, where you are and where you are going. When I look back at my life and how I lived it, I can see where I have been a helpful, positive person and that makes me feel successful. I see my family and how much we respect and love each other and that makes me feel successful. I see changes that have happened because of something I've done or said and that makes me feel successful. I don't have any regrets...except maybe one...and that makes me feel successful. I may not have lots of money, or lots of stuff, but I have the things that really matter and that, to me, is being successful. At the end of the day, whatever your idea of success is, I hope you are achieving it.

Today is look for green day.

Accepting Changes

Another day. Finally, cooling off in Arizona. I love the heat and the sun but, after a really, really long summer, I sure appreciate being able to open the windows and doors to let the fresh air in. As I sit here, outside my window, I can see my flag waving in the breeze. Funny how a simple change in weather affects the way I feel. Change. I believe that it is not the changes around us that cause us to feel a certain way, but rather the way we accept or don't accept those changes. My sister has an amazing way of seeing something good in absolutely everything. I'm pretty good at it too, but it sometimes takes me a little while to get there. I like my routine. When something happens to change that, I tend to resist the change. Once I get to the point where I can accept the change, then I can begin to see the positives in it. I just wish that process could be a little quicker sometimes. Lol. For today, I'm going to work hard on seeing the good in the changes happening in my life and my space. I'm going to focus on how I can benefit from them. I'm going to accept the changes for what they are and move forward in a positive light, thereby brightening my mood and the world around me.

Today is read a book together day.

Compensation

So, I'm tired today. Worked 101 hours over the past 2 weeks. Whew! Brings up the question...Does anyone ever really feel that they are paid what they're worth? I suppose, if you don't like your job the obvious answer would be no. But, for those of us who love what they do and actually look forward to working, the answer should be yes, or "it doesn't matter". Lol. Wouldn't it be awesome if we could all work in the field we are entirely passionate about and actually be able to make a living? If that were true, I'd paint shoes all day, work on puzzles, write, put up BE KINDER billboards every where, take my BE KINDER mission to the schools as a resident artist, go to the casino, travel, and sleep. I wonder if those people who are independently wealthy truly enjoy their lives and what they spend their time doing. I wonder if I didn't have to carve out time to do my "passionate" things if I would enjoy them as much. I think it's important to spend at least a little time each day doing what you find emotionally satisfying, whether or not you are being compensated. I feel a sense of peace and abandonment when I am creating, like for just a few minutes all the other "stuff" just doesn't matter. What are you passionate about?

Today is count and write to 50 day.

Missing Old Halloweens

With the stores filled with Halloween decorations and kids picking out their costumes my mind is filled with memories. I remember all the homemade costumes. They seemed to be so much more creative than the ones we can buy in the stores now. I remember Mom sewing and all of us putting on makeup and helping each other get ready. We would take pillow cases or paper bags to collect our treats. Not these fancy colorful plastic bags that rip and definitely don't hold as much candy. I remember looking forward to going to certain houses because they always had the best treats. Ann Johns and her homemade popcorn balls. Others with cookies, brownies and caramel apples. We would leave the house and our parents never had to worry about whether or not we would come home safe. We ate candy along the way without having to worry if someone had poisoned it in some way. The only thing we had to be afraid of was whether or not the neighbor's dog Moe was out. We also trick or treated for Unicef. When we got home, we spilled our candy out on the floor or table and the trading game began. The only candy we didn't eat was the candy that was unwrapped. Not now. When kids come to my door, there is always a parent or two standing behind them. The costumes are fancier and brighter, but not different than the kids that came before. People are giving out stickers, pencils and granola packets. When the kids get home, undoubtedly, the parents meticulously go through their candy, throwing out some of the best things simply because they didn't know the people they got them from. It's sad to me that the progression and changes in times have made us less creative, less trusting, less fun perhaps. I wonder if our kids and grandkids know what they are missing.

Today is clean for an hour day.

A Good Day

Sort of overcast here in Arizona today. It is a good day to take a break.