I am thankful from the start of each day for my pen and ink. Here is where the creative juices begin to flow. The moment the pen touches the paper, that's when the miracles begin. 

I wanted to explore 'ink'  with you. What follows is my commentary on the information that I gained from wikipedia.

"Ink is a liquid or paste that contains pigments or dyes and is used to color a surface"…When I write, I chose the words that I use to create or inspire you to create a vivid mental picture of the thoughts on our mind, desires in our hearts, or feelings we are experiencing. Often, this is hard to express in words, and an effort must be made. 

"Ink can be a complex medium, composed of solvents, pigments, dyes, resins, lubricants, solubilizers, surfactants, particulate matter, fluorescers, and other materials"…These ingredients are often translated into the influence of the words, from within and without. As above (spiritual influence) and so below (earthly connections). What is holding the thoughts together (goals) or attempting to separate them(distractions)? Smoothing them over or making them stick together or to something? Shining for attention? Solid in my convictions? I see these ingredients in the flow of finished writing for the day. I am usually amazed at what the words reveal to me about the way I am prepared to face the day, or how the day has influence the words in the similar fashion. I love how the answers motivate the questions.

"The components of inks serve many purposes; the ink’s carrier, colorants, and other additives affect the flow and thickness of the ink and its appearance when dry."…The very foundation of what I hope to inspire is legacy…the 'dry' ink, with all of the history, influence, creativity, hope and peace that writing serves in living your legacy.

For all of the Veterans, I thank you for your service. 

To my sons and husband, your service to my country is appreciated beyond measure from a place deep within my heart. Your legacies live on today.

As I get older, it becomes more important to me to make sure that I say 'thank you' to the men and women who have served and are still serving. No matter the uniform, I shake the hand of those I encounter and thank them, on any given day that I have that privilege. More often than not, the other hand that shakes back is equally as thankful for the recognition. 

Each year I do a query about Veterans Day, I learn something I either didn't know or that somehow resonates within me now. This quote is what seems to say what is on my heart:

For a moment yesterday all I wanted was a nap, and I needed pure energy as quickly as possible. Outside, in the fresh air and sunshine, as mid afternoon progressed, the yawning started and built up to more yawning than not! Napping was not an option. Fresh water for hydration was helping momentarily. I was crashing hard!

We were standing at the rail of the riverboat waiting to depart. I was being lulled by the paddles as they hit the water in their rhythmic patterns. Somewhere inside I felt the desire to take a deep breath. And then another. And 30 more.

I practiced deep diaphragmatic breathing long ago. When did I stop doing that, I wonder? I felt so energized by the time I got to the 30th breath. I felt pure energy course through my body, bringing all of my senses back into vibrant focus. I did bellows breathing this morning before I sat here to write and I was amazed at the instant clarity. A focus on breath is a gift to wellness that would serve me to remember and return to a daily practice.

I am thankful for the natural resource of fresh Florida air. My sleep last night was deep and refreshing, for which I am also grateful. I woke without the opportunity clock, and I feel energized and ready for a full day. My mind is awake and my attitude is positive. I can hardly wait to go outside, and breathe in more pure energy.

I am going to take time right now to thank you all for reading my post, keeping up with the sharings of the facebook page and genui. I am grateful that I get this time to create a moment that we share together. It is my desire to bring you a moment of awareness, wellness, peace and plenty. 

“A hug is the perfect gift- one size fits all and nobody minds if you exchange it. ” 
― Irvin Ball


I think the magic may be in the exchange. 

I am thankful for the huggers!

Quick experiment may indicate that you can be the beneficiary of the hug, even when no one is around. Remember the last really good hug you received from someone? If you close your eyes, can you still feel it? That's when the juice is worth the squeeze! Give those kinds of hugs. Then, when no one is around, or when you need one more than anything, you always can remember the best one you ever got or gave!

Opening up to being held is a powerful metaphor. (Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-benefits-of-hugging.html#ixzz2k35t0tOY) There is new science that indicates your wellness can be magnified by maintaining no less than 4 hugs a day. How many hugs did you get or give yesterday, for instance? I hope you received plenty! Here is a virtual one, just in case you are low on your reserves.

Can I suggest that the next opportunity you have the opportunity to give or get a hug from someone who genuinely gives or gets them, SUPER SIZE it! Make it memorable so that when it's needed the most, in quiet times when no one is near, it is available, even if only in your heart, where your loving memories live on always. When it comes to hugs, one size fits all, and when your heart is in it, it's just the right size.

I ran across some advice yesterday that suggested that taking the time to trim meetings and appointments by one day can free time for big projects and goals that are ahead of me. 

'Myday'. No meetings. No appointments. Social media and email at the end of the day only, to make sure the 'time-takers' are under control. I will prepare the night before by checking email and voice messages, and schedule my blog posts and tweets through automation for the following day. I will make sure lunches are packed and dinner is ready for the microwave. I will lay out my clothes and jewelry, being ready for everything but the smile. 

The decision to take time to trim my schedule is very organic. I recognize the greater need to focus above the potential outcome of interruptions and distractions. When I read this coaching advice yesterday, I had shocking clarity, along with the 'Why didn't I think of that?' moment. I am so thankful for these subtle suggestions that appear when they are most needed and for the presence of mind to accept the suggestion as exactly what I needed, when I needed it. This likely happens more often than not. My awareness is at a new heightened state. This, as a result of not being able to be in two places at once. I am turning this into a positive action instead of a stressful reaction. This is my desired outcome.

This is the day for my Big Rocks! Full-on, no exceptions, complete creative release and inspirations and making sure to reward myself for the job well done. Put out the Do Not Disturb sign. Plan the next 'myday', by gettingthe checklist for the next one started as each Big Rock rolls into place. 

'Myday' ends in 'y', like any other day of the week. Tuesday is now 'myday'. 

This is how I take time to trim my schedule. I would love to know what you manage your schedule of distractions and interruptions. Please leave a comment below.

I have a burning desire to be the joy for another that I have in my heart today. I know that is possible, because it has been done for me. Unexpectedly. 

My friend Susana Iribarren-Marino shared this photo and when I look at it, I am reminded that there  are no two leaves alike. Thousands of possibilities, many similarities, but none are exactly the same. 

How cool is that? And what a beautiful representation that Mother Nature uses to remind us of the fact that we are also as unique as each individual leaf in this photo. 

I am thankful for the diversity. Look at the range of color, size, shape and proximity to each other. Leaves. Us. Our families. Our community. The stars and beyond.

I am so thankful for fall and her colors. The beauty is the reward. We can have a physical, emotional response. We could feel nothing, I suppose, and totally miss the miracle of no two leaves alike. 


 

This is the first year that the time change put me way out too far ahead of Monday.My husband and I have been getting up very pre-dawn for years. Recently we embarked on pre-pre-dawn for a week. The time change occurred almost uneventfully until this morning when my Kitty Cleo decided to set the Kitty alarm off at barely Monday, 12:30 am.

I had to giggle like a little girl when I was listening to today's Coachcast at MorningCoach.com where JB Glossinger suggested that we make the most of the extra morning time we have now. If I get up any earlier it will be yesterday.

A huge fan of the early morning light, I have a sense that going to bed with the sundown today will take zero effort. So, ahead of that end, I will stay thankful all day to have been so far ahead of Monday that I was able to accomplish my morning tasks, greet the day with a great attitude, and perhaps show up with the extra energy that I get from starting the day early. Yesterday was my Monday anyway! 

I am truly thankful for the color in my world. And very grateful for wonderful friends who contribute that color when I cannot see it. This is a photo from my friend Melissa Ward. (Thank you!) She has generously shared the color of her world. She knows it matters to me, and people like me. She gets it. There is plenty to go around, but it needs to be shared.