Friday Fotos and Closed Doors: Jiggle the Handle

When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.
Alexander Graham Bell
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I have become my own version of an optimist. If I can’t make it through one door, I’ll go through another door…or I’ll make a door. Something terrific will come no matter how dark the present.
Joan Rivers
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Hey, I never thought of that, if I can’t make it through one door, I’ll just make a door. I can make a door! There are a lot of closed doors in our life, but there are a lot of open ones too. Or, how about, just jiggle the handle and open up those closed doors. Anything is possible.

I was inspired by some really cool doors I saw while walking around in Adriatica yesterday. I always wonder what story lies behind a beautiful closed door. (I didn’t jiggle any handles. I didn’t want to get arrested.)

Beautiful doors. Make up your own story.

Theme Song Thursday:Smile

“The road of life is filled with sunshine and clouds, black and white, triumphs and tragedies. As we continue down the road, we decide which things we bring with us, and which we leave in the rear-view mirror.”
― Julie-Anne
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I am always in awe of the beauty and majesty of the golden sunlight bursting through the clouds. When I see the glory of nature, I am compelled to take a picture and share it with the world. Today, the sunshine glowing behind this cloud made me see that there is always a silver lining behind each cloud. So, why not smile! “Smile and maybe tomorrow you’ll see the sun come shining through for you.”

“Smile”

Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it’s breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you’ll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You’ll see the sun come shining through for you

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what’s the use of crying?
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

[instrumental interlude]

That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what’s the use of crying?
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

Wednesday Words of Wisdom

“Love only grows by sharing. You can only have more for yourself by giving it away to others.”
― Brian Tracy
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Sharing is something I’ve always enjoyed doing. Don’t get me wrong, I’m an extreme pack-rat, hoarder, and craft-a-holic, but if I have the opportunity to share my vises with others, I always do.

One thing I enjoy doing is sharing little toys, books, or of course, my brownies and cupcakes with friends and strangers. While I was going through a closet the other day, I came across a bag of tiny Matchbox cars. I think some were from when my boys were little, or I bought them at a garage sale. I often pop a few trinkets or lollipops in my purse, so when I come across a crying or fussy child, I ask the parent if the child could have the diversion. Other times, I see an adorable child that could use a smile.

Today, I saw the cutest curly-headed boy at the bakery, so I reached in my purse for a shiny Matchbox car to share. The little guy was rather shy, but his mom handed it to him and she recited the mother’s mantra,”Now, what do you say?” The tiny voice mumbled, “Thank you.”

His eyes lit up as he nibbled on his cupcake and held the car tightly. That’s what sharing is all about. Share with friends, family, and neighbors, but don’t forget…random acts of kindness are especially rewarding.

Tuesday tips and Tricks

“Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.”
-Buddha
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Today was tough to tabulate a terrific tip to tell you for Tuesday. But, when I think of my favorite tip that I share with people all the time, it is my acupressure tip for leg cramps. I’ve been doing a lot of walking, running and Zumba lately, but I’ve always suffered from leg cramps. They usually strike in the middle of the night with excruciating pain. This is amazing.

I remember learning this tip while taking Lamaze classes in 1981. I’ve used it a zillion times and have shared it with a zillion people. When I feel the leg cramp coming on, I squeeze right in that groove above the lip with my thumb inside the lip, and the index finger in the groove on the outside, and pinch like crazy. It always works for me. So, I’m sharing this with you. Store it in your memory banks for when you need it.

Oh yes, I just read that it might also curb your appetite. Who knew?
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Appetite Governing (GV 26)

Location: in the hollow between the upper lip and the nose.

Benefits: This first-aid revival point has traditionally been used for cramps, fainting, and dizziness. It can also help curb the appetite.

Place the thumb inside and up under the lip and the index finger outside on the point. Massage the point by moving the thumb in a slight downward motion while moving the index finger in a slight upward motion; then reverse, moving the thumb upward and the index finger downward. Continue this massaging motion for approximately 1 minute while breathing slowly in and out.

Here’s another little tip that I use in a pinch…pardon the pun. I put my iPhone in a glass bowl for an amplifier. It works!

Montage Monday and Memorial Day

“The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it. And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender, or submission.” -John F. Kennedy
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It started out to be a dreary, rainy Memorial Day, but by afternoon, the skies cleared and sun came out. Everyone here in North Texas is pretty happy whenever we get a little rain, so we got the best of both worlds today. People were still able to have their parades, picnics, and cook outs.

It certainly was another busy week, the highlight being the appreciation lunch for the McKinney firefighters. So, here’s a week in a peek.

Sunday: Be Still and Cease Re-Pinning

Be still, sad heart! And cease repining; behind the clouds is the sun still shining; thy fate is the common fate of all, into each life some rain must fall.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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Into each life some rain must fall, and fall it did. Metaphors and literal translations. We were blessed with a brief, but well needed down pour this afternoon. I remember the days when I dreaded rainy days, but with the severe drought here in Texas, each rain is a cause for celebration, I hope we get a little more.

Here’s something funny. When I read this quote to myself, my PINTEREST brain kicked in and I thought it said, Be still, sad heart! And cease repinning, you know…like when you re-pin someone’s pin. I realized that I spend too much time on social media, Facebook and Pinterest when I thought that Longfellow would cease repinning. But then, I thought, if he was around today, he’d probably be blogging and re-pinning too. So, I was half right.

Silent Saturday

There are times when silence is the best way to yell at the top of your voice. – O. A. Battista
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My mother always said, and I’m sure mother did too, “If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all.” So, today, I’m going to share some profound thoughts and some silly sayings to make you smile. Sometimes you just need to smile.

kk
Now, here’s my favorite one…

I’m going to use this, so don’t steal my password. OK?
Have a nice Memorial Day weekend! Hug a veteran!

Friday and Other Funny Foibles

“The advantage of a bad memory is that one enjoys several times the same good things for the first time.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche
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I really, really try to remember people’s names, but the older I get, the harder it is for me to remember. I often mentally go up and down the alphabet in my head until I can recall a name. Sometimes it never comes to me. I have to use all kinds of mental tricks.

Example one: There is a young waiter at Snug on the Square who I had trouble remembering his name. After the tenth time he said, “It’s Nick, Miss Toni.” So, I stared at him, moved my hands in front of his face like I was circling his aura with my hands, and went into a trance. Then I said, “Just in the Nick of time.” But, what I didn’t tell him was, I looked at him, he had a beard that I thought he needed to shave off, and if he shaved, he would nick his face while shaving, so NICK is his name. Wow! That was the long way about to get there.

Now, here’s the funny part. I was going through some stuff in a bedroom dresser drawer yesterday, when I stumbled across this audio and workbook series that I bought like two years ago. I put it in the drawer and totally forgot it was in there. Now, if I had listened to the 6 audio CDs and worked on the manual when I first bought it, I wouldn’t have forgotten where the heck I left the darn thing in the first place. Also, I would have remembered Nick’s name the first time he told me, not the tenth time.

But, the good thing about being forgetful is… You can read a book or watch a movie time and time again, and totally forget that you’ve read it or seen it. It’s all new!

Theme Song Thursday: Divine Intervention

“I’ve been offered proof of God’s existence at regular intervals in my life through experiences so profound they’ve given goose bumps to atheists.”
― Jennifer Skiff, God Stories: Inspiring Encounters with the Divine
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What Is the Meaning of Divine Intervention?
Typically, divine intervention means involvement from a god or supernatural deity in the human world. Some people describe divine intervention as being saved from certain death or turning away from destructive habits for seemingly unexplained reasons.
Reference: en.wikipedia.org

Sometimes divine intervention just means that something or someone comes to your aid when you don’t even realize you need help. Lately, my days, weeks and months have been filled with such experiences, with such friends, with aid when I didn’t realize I needed it.

So, today’s song for theme song Thursday reflects that feeling that so many people experience. Sometimes you just have to let go and let “Jesus Take the Wheel.”
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Jesus Take the Wheel

Wednesday Words of Wisdom: The Circle of Life

“I give you this to take with you:
Nothing remains as it was. If you know this, you can
begin again, with pure joy in the uprooting.”
― Judith Minty, Letters to My Daughters
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Life is fleeting. My magnolia tree in the front yard is an excellent example of life’s fleeting beauty. Early in the Spring, the deep green leaves reveal hidden buds like pale yellow cocoons, waiting to burst through their shell.

Petals of brilliant white unfold and reach for the sun.

Now, totally open and glorious, sharing its glory with hope and promise.

As in life and nature, everything comes to an end. The cycle of the magnolia flower is just as fleeting as our life. The gorgeous ivory flower lasts only a day or two, then shrivels up and withers the next.

I often wax nostalgic and compare my life to that magnolia flower. But, as the sad brown blossom falls to the ground, another bud bursts open and takes its place. The circle of life continues, and next season it all starts over again. There’s always hope. I guess we need to appreciate and learn from each stage of our fleeting magnolia life.