I tend to like a well-coordinated look. I love my shoes and purse to match.

I tend to like a well-coordinated look.  I love my shoes and purse to match. I want to coordinate, match napkins, placemats, and candles with the dinnerware.  I prefer that my house has a cohesive look.  But I do not live alone.  There are four other members of my family, and I have five cats and a new kitten.

My husband and children have distinct personalities. One French teacher put it, after teaching all three of my kids, "It's hard to believe that they are from the same family."  I am proud of this distinction, and it gives my home a vibrant personality.  Sometimes a compromise is hard to achieve. Arguments ensue, making amends can take time, but, there is a lot of love and friendship.

The mixture of personalities, tastes, desires, and goals can be exhausting. Especially if I am in the mood to coordinate a picture-perfect moment. If I do not have every member of my family on board with my purpose.  To avoid these issues, I try to simplify.

This 4th of July we plan to grill hot-dogs and hamburgers, we will have potato chips and paper plates.  I will not stress about the dining room table today. I will not concern myself about place settings or insist that the desert has a red, white, and blue, theme.  I will not try to get the DJ of the family to find patriotic songs to play. while showing a patriotic movie, with the sound off on the Television.  Nor will I try to put a red, white and blue bow on the cats!  This year I will focus only on the fun and joy of living.  I will celebrate and enjoy what each member of the family brings to the table.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

Taking time away from the same old 6's and 7's

Taking time away from the same old 6's and 7's has become something I look forward to each summer.  I never take these times for granted as there have been times in my life when I wondered if we would be able to pay the rent and utilities.   In those days, I worked during the week at one job and spent the weekend working retail while my husband built his business, we focused on raising our family and kept the faith.  During our time off we washed clothes and cleaned houses worked in the yard and built a garden.

"Time off" often looks different from one family to another and may change as we grow.  In our young life as husband and wife, when money was scarce, our "Date Night" might be a movie on television.  I can remember how much I looked forward to watching the mini-series about John Adams.  My husband and I cuddled on the couch with popcorn and a coke each week.  Sometimes we would go for a walk or picnic in the park and watch the birds.  We would ride bikes as a family and used the library to find books and videos of interest for free!

Our economic situation improved; we are now able to go away for "working" vacations, we attend conventions and at the same time have enjoyed seeing so much of the United States.    We, now, can stay at hotels, popcorn and coke replaced with dinners out, but taking time off has the same therapeutic effects.

Find a way to rest, restore the soul, and try something new.  My journal, filled with these memories is a treasure chest of joy.  Take a few minutes to be thankful  and write about your "Time Off."

"What did you do today? " The question is asked and answered, "Not much, same old sixes and sevens.

"What did you do today? " The question is asked and answered, "Not much, same old sixes and sevens." my Grandmother would say.  On her scale, one would be rotten and ten extraordinary so,
a six or seven would be nothing worth mentioning.  There can be comfort in the mid-range. There is less stress as we move through our day with or our routines.  The radio alarm clock goes off without exception. Coffee made to your specification and the morning news offers the normal state of affairs.

You probably have a routine, perhaps you are aware, and maybe you are on autopilot and do not consider these daily activities as life fulfilling.  Good habits can ease stress by removing a lot of decisions.  You don't have to think about brushing your teeth and general hygiene.  Perhaps you go to the grocery store the same day every week and make a menu.  Do you exercise, do you meditate or write in a journal every day?  I suspect you take the same route to work and see the same faces as you start your day; perhaps you can rely on a smile and "good morning."

So what if today was just another day.  Nothing special, nothing out of the ordinary, nothing particularly good or bad. 

Can we be grateful for these days too?  I think so!  We allowed ourselves to have room for creative thinking.  We brought order and predictability to our life, and as a result, we promoted a healthy lifestyle.

I will consider "getting out of my comfort zone" at another time, but today, I am grateful for the same old sixes and sevens.

Often, I make plans, consider options, and let the creative juices to flow.

Forsythia by Rose Elaine
Gratitude Journal

I prop myself up in the morning, listen to my radio program, and drink a cup of coffee before I even get out of bed.  It is my time to think, meditate, and allow myself some time before I ramp up for the rest of the day.  Often, I make plans, consider options, and let the creative juices to flow.

If you do not currently find an hour a day to reflect, I highly recommend this practice.  I have found this time will lower my stress, and it gives me the right mindset for tackling the issues that need to be addressed.

Research shows that employees that reflected on their studies 15 minutes a day about their lessons performed 23% better than those who did not reflect.

Jennifer Porter reported in Harvard Business Review March 21, 2017, that we should make time for self-reflection (even if you hate doing it).  Here are some of her recommendations:

• Select a reflection process that matches your preference. Some people journal, like me, others like to walk, bike, or sit and think.

• Schedule a time, as I mentioned, I like early mornings before the rush of the day. 

• Start small; maybe an hour is too long for you, perhaps 10 or 15 minutes would be a great way to begin. 

Purchase your Gratitude Journal: Forsythia (Journal / Notebook / Diary)

Rose Elaine Artist Website

Purchase Rose Elaine Artwork at Fine Art America

I had a man stop me the other day while I was at a show sharing

I had a man stop me the other day while I was at a show sharing the value of my journals. He was probably in his mid 50's, and as we talked, he told me that he had been keeping a little notebook for years. "I go on these fishing trips with family and friends every year," he continued, "And, I write down where I went, and who came with me, what kind of fish we caught, what the weather was like and little stories of our adventures together. Some of these men are long gone and have passed away, but the memories are fresh in my mind. As I flip through this notebook, I remember." The man smiled and said, "I understand what you are doing."

What a beautiful example of how the act of writing things down in a notebook or a unique journal can bring us joy, bring back memories, or help us remember when things occurred.

Do you have a notebook or journal that you use to help keep track of family gatherings?

Today the birds are singing; I hear cars driving past my house and children playing in the neighbor's yard. A dog barks, again, I listen

Today the birds are singing; I hear cars driving past my house and children playing in the neighbor's yard.  A dog barks, again, I listen to the birds while the breeze flows through the trees, causing the leaves to rustle in the wind.   It is pleasant, indeed.  It is quiet, and yet there is much activity.   One neighbor begins to rev up his car motor, and then it stops.  I can hear a saw begin to turn, and men start to speak, some home maintenance; perhaps,  another car drives by, children playing tag, my husband is on the phone with a client, and then as if on cue the leaves rustle in the wind again.
The sounds in synchrony.  Footsteps, a door opens and shuts, a shower begins, and a toilet flushed.  More birds sing, and our wind chimes play music as a gust of wind reminds it of its purpose.

When I turn off the T.V. and radio, I sit and listen to the world around me; I can be mindful.  When I jot down the things I hear, and I can focus on the moment.  For 5 minutes, connected with life, and I am content.

Try this journaling technique today.  What did you hear, how did these noises make you feel?  Did you find a way to relax?

Like magic, plant a seed, and it will grow

Like magic, plant a seed, and it will grow!  But, gardening gives me patients.

In most parts of my life, I get results immediately.  I am fortunate to be able to find food in my pantry, get water from a faucet, coffee when I need it or want to enjoy the beverage.  I can google most anything and get information right away.  Lights come on when I flip a switch - if I am cold, I can put on a sweater if I am hot I can turn on the air conditioner.  I am privileged, and I am grateful.

Today, however, I am thankful for finding things that make me wait.  I have discovered excitement in waiting for things to manifest themselves.  If I plant an avocado seed, within a few weeks, a plant begins to grow.  If I pant orange seeds, I can expect little trees to grow, and the same with lemons, and limes, but these plants do not appear right away.  It takes weeks for the roots to develop and for life to poke up out of the ground.  I patiently water my plants, put them out for the sun to shine upon them.  It is during these times that I am growing as a person too.  Learning to be patient and learning to continue to do what needs to be done without immediate gratification.  Waiting can be hard, but waiting is also worth the time. I am grateful for the things that make me wait.

Rodin's Roses Gives Us Reason to Think

A trip to Paris is not complete without visiting the Rodin Museum, Especially in spring. When roses are in bloom, it is magical. The gardens boast of 2,000 rose bushes and over 100 different kinds of roses. The architect Jacques Sgard designed the landscape. He shares with us a naturalist theme that was popular in the 18th century. A naturalist garden will meet the needs of the gardener by using what nature has already given us. Along the side of the museum, the roses bring us to one of Rodin's most well-known sculptures called "The Thinker." A bronze sculpture, placed on a pedestal, of a man sitting on a rock. The man is resting his chin on his hand as if to be in deep thought. As we look at this sculpture, we think too. Many scholars have used this image to symbolize philosophy — the study of deep questions about life, our existence, values, and reason. As we pray and meditate, we consider these ideas as well. As we take time to smell the roses, let us also take time to be thankful and to think.