feeling down?

i know a lot of people get down this time of year. while i'm enjoying the holidays and time with family and friends, i've been feeling low myself. if you know me, you may not believe it, but it's true. i came across this quote which feels very appropriate:

if it weren't for the dark days, we wouldn't know what it is to walk in the light. --earl campbell

even in our worst moments we can keep that thought in mind. it doesn't always change my mood in the moment, but i try to get back to it later. in comparison to the number of dark days i have, my life is full of light ones. i hope your life is too.

peace on earth

whatever you believe at this time of year, we can all abide by science's winter solstice. yesterday was the shortest day of the year. we can all celebrate getting a little extra daylight everyday. i spoke about the mood enhancing properties of sunlight in an earlier post. here's to sunnier, happier days!

also, i want to wish us all peace on earth. i think we can all agree that the end of diminishing others/fighting/war would make the world a better place.

take a moment and listen for peace. it's out there. we have to keep listening and practicing it.

peace, love, and joy to all!

what do you believe?

recently, i read an article about universalism. i like the idea that many ways of believing can exist without saying one way is more right than the other. 'ways to believe' should include religions from different parts of the world as well as non-faith-based belief systems.

i was raised in a family who celebrates Christmas and Easter. i hesitate to call myself a Christian because i dislike the idea that if you don't believe in 'the right way,' you are less valued. i've learned a lot from different types of Christianity, Buddhism, and Taoism. i'd like to learn about other belief systems. i'm always interested to talk to people who share their views. i'd love to get comments from anyone reading this.

here's what i believe (though it often changes): God loves us and takes care of us - all of us, no matter what we believe. things go wrong in the world because people aren't perfect. it is our job to learn from people and to be the best person we can be. God works through us and the interactions between people. the more positive interactions we make, the better the world will be.

those are all ideas put together from different sources. i don't say that anyone else should believe the way i do. this is just what feels right for me. spirituality is a journey. where has your journey taken you?

a positive thing to do

give someone a flower. draw one, make one, pick one, buy one...

feel good...

be aware of what you eat. healthy foods will help you feel great!

i just had some raisins : )

think about...

i just came across a deck of positive suggestion cards that i once used with students. they include 'positive ways to think,' 'positive things to do,' and 'positive ways to feel good.' i thought they'd be good ideas to share in this blog. here's the first:

positive ways to think -

think about your future and where you would like to go and take the steps that will help you get there. never feel limited in thinking of the possibilities.

my husband and i are looking for a new place to live. let me tell you, this takes A LOT of steps, but we're taking them. someday we'll find a place and all of these steps will be worth it.

good luck to you and your steps toward the future you imagine!

family

Friends are relatives you make for yourself.
– Eustache Deschamps

i just came from a birthday celebration for friends of mine who have become my family. they took me in around 1984 and we've been there for each other ever since. i consider myself blessed to have them in my life.

i also feel blessed that i've been given the talent for making and keeping friends. each one i've made has improved my life and i hope they feel the same.

think about your friends, the family you've acquired for yourself, and thank each one. just a minute to let them know they're special to you can strengthen your bond. your message might even come when the friend is feeling low and you could uplift them. never underestimate the power of kind words given freely.

each of you mean so much to me. sending love and light.

time

life is so busy these days - for everyone. work, school, family, housekeeping, errands... we're so busy, our minds are so overloaded with thoughts and information that we forget many things.

we often forget to take time for ourselves. we need to balance our lives - time for necessities, time for problem solving, and time for PLEASURE! if stress outweighs fun for too long, we may lose our good health and our happiness.

the things i do for fun include reading, watching tv and movies, talking to friends and family, taking photos, writing, and traveling. what do you do for fun? make some time this week to do one of those things. pay attention to how you feel during and after the fun. enjoy the moments!

i thought these quotes were appropriate:

The secret of life is enjoying the passing of time.
– James Thurber

Appreciate the present hour…. Sit and hear your own breathing and look out on the universe and be content…. One does not have to do something to pass the time; time can pass by itself.
– Lin Yutang

take time to work, it is the price of success.
take time to think, it is the source of power.
take time to play, it is the secret of perpetual youth.
take time to read, it is the foundation of wisdom.
take time to be friendly, it is the road to happiness.
take time to love and be loved, it is the privilege of the gods.
take time to share, life is too short to be selfish.
take time to laugh, laughter is the music of the soul.
- unknown

our land

i haven't been inspired to write in a while. a song inspired me just now. i've been singing around the house for years now, and here's one i particularly like:

This land is your land

As I went walking
That ribbon of highway
I saw above me that endless skyway
I saw below me that golden valley
This land was made for you and me

Chorus:
This land is your land
This land is my land
From California to the NY islands
From the redwood forests
To the gulf stream waters
This land was made for you and me

Well I roamed and I rambled
Followed my footsteps to
The sparkling sands of
Her Diamond deserts
While all around me
A voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me

Chorus

Well the sun came shining
And I was strolling
The wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling
The fog was lifting
A voice was chanting
This land was made for you and me

Chorus


it reminded me to stay grounded in the concept of 'our land' as the politicians are campaigning for president. no matter how you look at it - democrat, republican, etc. - the point is to improve 'our land.' i hope we'll get the best person for the job.

don't forget to vote!

and you?

have you ever thought about what qualities you might possess that can make the world a better place? i am grateful for the ones i have...
my smile and friendly manner reach out to people and make them feel good
my joy of spending time with children, helping them learn and building their self-esteem
my eye for seeing beauty in the world and capturing that in photos
my love of language and writing, allowing me to reach a wider group of people than only the ones i know
my strength of spirit, helping me to face any struggle
my curiosity, leading me to explore the world and spirituality

thank you God for giving me these gifts! it is my goal to put them to good use.

reduce! reuse! recylce!

i'm forever frustrated by the way so many people think nothing of polluting our environment. what a nice surprise it was to find my pharmacy now using plastic that can be easily recycled! i rest a little easier knowing that part of the waste i make won't end up in a landfill.

i think our world is a beautiful place. i'm happy to work to keep it that way.

momentum

sometimes it takes a change to get us moving. that is just what bill and i will be doing october 23rd! the apt is 3.5 miles from kristin-mike-winnie, 2 bedrooms, accessible, faces south (sunny), and has a fireplace. bill will have an hour or so commute, but he might take trains to avoid traffic. it's on a busy road full of stores and restaurants, not a small town that bill and i would like. besides the commute and the neighborhood, it's just what we need.

so, we're busy getting the house ready to sell and our stuff ready to move. being busy feels good. a 2 month time line gives us a good kick in the pants and we're on a roll! this is a positive change we've been wanting for a while. wish us luck!

making a difference

What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. -- Jane Goodall

i like this quote a lot and i let it guide the way i interact with people - friends or strangers. when i see a person, i want to make a positive difference in their life. a smile, a hug, a listening ear, a pep talk; these are all positive things i can offer. i know that people who give these things to me make my life better. the least i can do is return the favor.

this quote is important to keep in mind, too:
If you think you are too small to make a difference, you’ve never been in bed with a mosquito. -- Anonymous

when i take a photo, make a phone call, or post on this blog, i hope the difference i make is a positive one.

friends or angels

below is a list of family and friends who have touched my life. if your name isn't here, i most likely don't have your birthday. i made this list from the names on my master birthday calendar. i am very grateful to have such a long list!

i've been thinking a lot about how God works in our lives. i think God often speaks to us through people we know. so i often think of friends as angels. most recently, my angel/friend, Denise, sent me some books and CDs that have helped me focus my thinking on spirituality. so, thank you God and thank you Denise for helping me along my journey. thank you to the rest of you for bringing your light into my life.

yes, from now on i will be including some of my views on spirituality. i don't pretend to know what is fact. i won't try to convince you to agree with my thinking. i'm just putting my positive thoughts out into the world.

Thank you,
Alexander, Allison, Amy, Andee, Andy, Angela, Ann, Anne, Beecher, Benjamin, Betty, Betty Lou, Bill, Bonnie, Brian, Brianna, Bridget, Brooke, Bruce, Carol, Charlene, Charlotte, Chaz, Cheri, Christian, Christina, Chuck, Cindy, Claire, Cliff, Dale Leslie, Darryl, Dave, David, Deb, Dee, Denise, Don, Donna, Dorothy, Dwight, Ed, Edie, Elizabeth, Ellie, Emily, Erin, Faith, Fallyn, Fidget, Fran, Gail, Georgia, Ginger, Glen, Grace, Greg, Hannah, Helen, Homer Dale, Jack, Jacob, Jacques, Jamey, Jamie, Janet, Jean, Jennifer, Jerry Bill, Jessica, Jim, Joanna, John, JoLynn, Judy, Julia, Julie, June, Karen, Kathie, Kathy, Katie, Kay, Keith, Kelly, Ken, Kirk, Kristin, Larry, Laura, Laurie, Leslie, Liesl, Lisa, Lori, Lorraine, Manley, Marc, Marcia, Marjorie, Martha, Martin, Matt, Melissa, Michelle, Mike, Milo, Monica, Nancy, Nicholas, Nicky, Noah, Norma, Norman, Pamela, Pat, Patricia, Patti, Phyllis, Rachel, Rama, Raymond, Rebecca, Richard, Rob, Roger (Gabby), Ruthie, Sally, Sam, Sandy, Sarah, Sean, Skittles, Skyler, Stephanie, Steve, Sue, Susan, Susanne, Tamika, Tara, Teresa, Terry, Tina, Tinny, Tobin, Tom, Trish, Viola, Watson, Wayne, Winifred, Winnie

thank you

just a quick thank you to the universe, God, or the great unknown. life goes on whether we're happy or not. i am grateful for feeling that things are OK either way.

babies

i know not everyone loves babies, but i don't understand them at all. even babies have their bad moments when frustrated, but mostly they just seem like happy little people in awe of the world around them. they delight in new things as they taste, grab, and shake them. they get excited when they do something for the first time, like rolling over. when they see someone they love, they give a great big grin. those grins are worth a million bucks. as adults we do less exploring, get less excited about life, and we might even smile less.

if you know a baby, enjoy them. we could all learn how to be more positive by imitating these delightful little people.

reflecting

my friend, elizabeth, made an observation recently and had some interesting thoughts to share.

"I was actually looking at this shiny piece in a stone the other day (I have no idea what that's called, but you know how there are shiny metallic bits in some rocks?), and the sun was shining in such a way that this tiny little bit was reflecting the light so intensely. I had to look away it was so bright, the same way that snow or water can feel a little blinding when the sun's causing them to reflect its light. So I thought, well, isn't that how it is with people? I mean, that little shiny bit in the rock was shining so brightly, but it wasn't even a light itself. It was just reflecting. I believe that people have light within them, but that we as humans also have the ability to reflect light just like that shiny bit. So our value isn't just in shining our own lights, but in reflecting any light that comes our way, like the light from others, so where there were once merely two brightly shining lights, there are now beams of light so astonishing we make have to look away for a moment. It's like we have super powers to multiply light.”

i love the idea that when people get together their light gathers and grows. i hope that the people who read this share their light and reflect light coming from people they know.

odd but good

i tell ya, hormones are amazing. i can only assume it was those funny body chemicals that kept me in a good mood all day. i had more than my usual difficulties today, yet i feel fine. boy, i wish i could figure out how to make this happen at will.

food

i was at a party recently and we were discussing desserts in particular, but also sweet vs. salty tastes. if you'd like to participate, please check out the survey to the right.

we discussed how we rate favorite desserts. the order of my choices would be: ice cream, brownies, cookies, pie, cake. some people put cake much higher than i did. how would you order them?

the conversation brought my thoughts around to the way many people use food to comfort themselves when they're feeling low. something sweet usually improves my mood. maybe the comfort food depends on your tastes, which is when i thought of my survey.

coincidentally, on msn.com today they had an article called "The Good Mood Diet". it turns out there is some science behind comfort foods. just like sunshine, carbohydrates (cookies, bagels, etc.) increase serotonin, that hormone that helps us be happy.

of course always in moderation, but i like my old button that said, "life is short, eat dessert first!"

change

from what i understand, buddhists believe that we are always changing. the person we are at 10 pm is different from the person we are at 10:05 pm. there is always a possible change for the better just around the corner. though, buddhists focus on the present moment, not the one that hasn't happened yet. i do have a point....

sometimes our changes are so small we don't notice them until months or years have passed. other times, our changes are so big we don't know how to deal with them. i'm feeling changes of the second type and muddling my way through them. i mostly want to say, "thank you," to my friends and family who are listening to me and supporting me while i'm figuring things out for myself. if you're going through big changes, you are not alone. i wish you the same love and support i receive.

here's a song i like lately. i've heard it sung by doris day. i don't know who wrote it. i've substituted a couple of my own words.

when i was a little girl
i asked my mother, what will i be?
will i be happy? will i have fun?
here's what she said to me
que sera sera
whatever will be will be
the future's not ours to see
que sera sera
what will be will be

so, here's to living in the moment and taking the changes as they come!

happy birthday to me!

mine was yesterday : )

birthdays have so many connotations. if you're 9 years old, you're excited, looking forward to parties and presents. if you're 19, you're just dying to be 21. if you're 29 or 39 or 49 or 59, you might be dreading the next BIG one. that's when you start getting the consolation of, "it's better than the alternative!"

the only number i've struggled with so far was 35. i felt it was the end of my youth. i was officially a grown-up... ugh! since then i've gotten used to the idea. i've made peace with being a grown-up. it is only through growing up that i have discovered and developed (still doing so) my oh-so-important light.

so here are some new ways i like to think about birthdays:
We are all born for love. It is the principle of existence, and its only end.
...Benjamin Disraeli
We turn not older with the years but newer every day.
...Emily Dickenson
May you live all the days of your life.
...Jonathan Swift

birthdays are good days to really appreciate the moment you are experiencing. this is something i try to practice daily. to feel light in any given moment is a precious gift, and it is all i need for my birthday. wishing you many moments full of light.

children's books

when was the last time you read a children's book? let me recommend them, not just for kids, but for everyone. they can lift your mood! they won't increase your seratonin like sunshine, but they offer simple stories, nice messages, and often, great art work. they are calorie free and available no matter what the weather. they require just a few minutes and can stay with you for as long as you keep them in your thoughts. if you don't own any, get to your local library or browse at a bookstore.

as a teacher and lover of books, i'll offer some recommendations.

for silly rhymes -
anything by dr. seuss, my favorite is
mr. brown can moo, can you?

for worriers -
the monster at the end of this book
written by jon stone, illustrated by mike smollin

for imagination & inspiration -
harold and the purple crayon
written and illustrated by crockett johnson

for feeling loved -
corduroy
written and illustrated by don freeman

from my favorite illustrator -
for trying your best -
perfect puppy
written by stephanie calmenson, illustrated by thomas f. yezerski

for commiserating -
alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day written by judith viorst, illustrated by ray cruz

enjoy!

light

you may have noticed, i talk a lot about light. it is a connection to spirituality for me. i don't believe in one religion alone. i don't believe there is only one way to look at life. i make room for the possibility of more than one right answer. no one knows the answers. when i think about spirituality, i go with what makes me feel good. light brings those positive feelings for me.

please note: i don't try to make anyone believe the way i do. i just share my thoughts.


there's a christian song, 'this little light of mine.' here's my adaptation:

this bright light of mine
i'm gonna let it shine...
and
you have it too
i'll help you let it shine...
let it shine, let it shine, let it shine

quakers (friends) believe that we all have a 'light within.' there is 'that of God' in all of us. i agree. not everyone knows they have it. not everyone pays attention to it. certainly, not everyone acts on it. yet, i believe it is there.

so i am here to shine my light as far as i can. i will continue to share my smile and look for the light within each person i meet.

peace

i recently watched the dvd "jimmy carter: man from plains" and was reminded of what one person can do to promote peace. he inspires me.

i doubt i'm ambitious enough to do something worthy of the nobel peace prize, but i'm so glad there are people out there who are.

dr. martin luther king, jr. was only 35 years old when he was given that award. i really like this quote from him: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."

i look up to these men and hope to follow their example in whichever way i can. i hope this blog will make some small step toward a more peaceful world.

friends

i love my friends. each one holds a special place in my heart. some of them are family members whom i've come to know as friends, my sister and aunt are two. some of them are people with whom i've shared so much time and experience that they feel like family members. some of them i've met at special times in my life and we've formed great connections. i don't get to see them all as much as i'd like. days, months, sometimes years go by between visits. they are no less dear to me. if you are my friend, please know i think of you often whether i'm in touch or not and that my life is better because i know you.

i bring up friends now because this is the time of year that i love to do a friendship lesson with students. in fact, it is a nj health curriculum standard to teach the importance of friendship.

we talk about why friends are important. they have fun with us. they share good times and bad. they help us when we need them. they laugh and cry with us. they enrich our lives.

then i do an activity i got from an idea in an email forwarded story. i give each student a paper with the names of all of their classmates. i ask them to choose one kind word to describe each person on the list. the idea being: to have a friend, you need to be a good friend. one way to be a good friend is to use kind words. they can write a kind word for themselves, too. we must treat ourselves as well as we treat others. next, i take the papers home and type for each student a list of all the kind things people wrote about them. i hope each one feels a little better about themselves than before the activity.

it is my aim, as a teacher and a friend, to make each person i know feel good about themselves. i hope i can spread that feeling to all who read this blog.

to encourage you to use kind words, i've provided a list near the bottom of the page.

the feeling i give

people will forget what you said. people will even forget what you did. but people will NEVER forget how you made them feel. --unknown

i hope that if you know me, i've made you feel special, even loved. if you've begun to know me through this blog, i want you to know - i think each of you are special. the world would be worse without you. you make a difference.

sunshine

my friend, elizabeth, and i were talking about how much easier it is to be in a good mood when the sun is shining. there is actually a reason for that! serotonin (the hormone associated with elevated mood) increases when exposed to bright light. sunshine is a natural anti-depressant. conversely, melatonin (the sleep hormone) increases as light fades, so nights and cloudy days can make us sleepy.

now i know why i haven't felt so cheery lately (besides the usual frustrations). this spring has not been consistently sunny. today in fact, the clouds keep coming and going. while i love the cool temperatures, i'm looking forward to more sun filled days!

for now, i'll have to focus on the light inside me.
hope you feel it when you see my smile.

honoring mothers

happy mother's day!

if you have a wonderful mother, tell her you think so.

if your mother leaves something to be desired, think of one quality you like and share your thoughts. if you don't speak to her, think the kind thought to yourself.

if your mother treated you terribly, think of someone else who makes you feel good. think of our Mother Earth and all she can bring to your life.

today is a day about love. if you feel you don't have love in your life, or even if you do, please know i'm sending love to you. whether i know you or not, i send you love from my spirit.

interactions

have you ever thought about the influence you have on others? i believe that the people we encounter in our lives help to shape our outlook.

when you pass a stranger on the street, do you avert your eyes or give a smile? when you're out shopping, do you thank the cashier or just nod? when a co-worker needs help, do you offer assistance or look busy so you won't be bothered? when a family member calls, do you answer the phone with a weary sigh or a bright "hello!"? when a friend wants to make plans, do you take every chance you get to have a good time?

the way you interact with others shapes your life and theirs. what kind of influence do you want to have? how will you shape your own life?

i offer you my smile and wish you well.

embracing differences

my students have said to me, “i can’t do it (math, writing, etc.) like everyone else.” i would tell them, “not everyone learns in the same way or works in the same way. being different is great! it makes life interesting. if we all looked the same, thought the same, and did the same things, life would be so boring!”

as kids, we want to be the same so we feel we belong. as adults, we do too, I guess. belonging feels good. on the other hand, learning and seeing new things is fun. if we stay in the comfortable, same world we know, we don’t learn or grow.

i say, “embrace differences!” get to know people who don’t look like you, believe like you do, work like you do. as long as people avoid differences, we will treat each other differently. be open to the idea that your way may not be the only way. if we recognize that everyone simply wants to be loved and make sense of life (in their own way), we might exist in a more positive world.

philosophy

first, happy cinco do mayo!

i've been developing my philosophy over the years, and i'm sure it will continue to grow and change. i have 4 statements i try to keep in mind. i keep them posted around the house. they are as follows in this particular order:

live in each moment.

it is what it is.

if you can change your thoughts, you can change your world. (taken from a quote by motivational speaker, norman vincent peale)

life is what we make it. (taken from a quote by artist, grandma moses)

while they are all separate ideas, i use them together. first, live in each moment. life is best appreciated when we can stop and be aware of what's happening and what we are feeling. for instance, right now i'm eating a snack, typing, and listening to the squirrels eating outside the window. it's a nice moment. i do have times that aren't so great, and that's when i move onto the next idea.

it is what it is. some moments are terrible, like getting a shot of novocaine in the roof of your mouth for dental work. it isn't fun, but it is sometimes unavoidable. it is what it is. it's awful, but it won't last forever.

now for the tricky part. if you can change your thoughts, you can change your world. if i'm in the dentist's chair and can think, "this will improve my health. i'll daydream of where i'd like to go on vacation while i lie here." hopefully, if i can focus on the daydream, my moment will be pleasant. change your thoughts. i can tell you though, this is often difficult or impossible. that is why i put the 'if' at the beginning.

finally, life is what we make it. did i choose to have dental work? no! how i think about that moment and subsequent moments, makes my life better or worse. if i spend the rest of the day complaining about the dentist visit, i'm prolonging the agony. if i can say, "whew, that's over! my teeth are healthier, and i can go do something i enjoy now," the awful moment has passed, and i can go on to appreciate a better moment.

the silver lining to those awful moments is that they help us to appreciate the good, better, and best moments.

here's a recent best moment for me: making silly sounds to my 6 month old niece and getting a big smile in return. there's some positive energy for you.

helping myself

do you ever have days when the smallest things frustrate you? days when each little thing gets on your nerves until you just want to explode?

today has been one of those days for me. i did explode. while no one was around i yelled and cried until that weight of anger dispersed. the day's not over, but for the moment i feel better.

to move beyond the anger i look for things i enjoy. first, i ate something sweet (not so healthy). next, i read a bit. finally, i decided to come to my blog to remind myself of the positive side of myself. sometimes i need a dose of my own shining light.

reaching out to others

You never know when a moment and a few sincere words can have an impact on a life.
--Zig Ziglar

i got this quote from another blogger who calls himself 'mr. positive.' it exemplifies what i hope my blog and its readers will do. i hope that my thoughts will bring you a smile, and that you will pass your smile on to another, and so on. we'll spread positive energy one smile at a time.

thank you, stephanie, for reminding me how amazing my optimism is. i wonder how far it will reach.

anger management

i want to be clear about my attitude. i am an optimist. i am almost always smiling. i love bright colors & rainbows.

that is not to say that i don't get sad and angry. i have difficulties like everyone else. my life is not easy. my days are often filled with struggle.

i choose to acknowledge my grief and anger, express it, and move on to other feelings. this is not easy. sometimes it takes me hours or days to move on, but i do. i choose to spend my time doing things i love. i choose to surround myself with positive friends. i work hard to make my life as joyful as possible. if i can spread my joy to others through this blog, i've done something to make the world a more positive place.

i wanted to be clear that my smile is what i want to share, but i can relate to other people who struggle to smile themselves.

curious

i’m wondering if anyone is reading this. if you’re willing, could you put your first name, location, and favorite color in the comment section?

i’m liesl in nj, usa & i like bright or midnight blue.

i believe that light is a type of positive energy, particularly the spectrum of colors within light. i love rainbows - notice my artwork. i like to know what colors appeal to people. i actually surveyed 300 people about their favorite colors. blue was most popular. red, pink and green came in second. yellow, orange and purple followed. there was a wide variety of other responses. anyway, i want to spread positivity through light and color. i’d appreciate your input.

thanks!

positive energy

this is my attempt to spread good will. there are so many awful things happening in the world. these things are keeping us from focusing on all the wonderful things happening in the world. i want to change that focus. instead of thinking about all the things that bother you, just for a moment, think about something that makes you happy. that feeling is positive energy. think your happy thought and send that energy out into the world. it is my hope that some of this positive energy will conquer even a little bit of the negativity out there, even if it is just for you while you're thinking your happy thought.

each one of us here on earth is a special person. whether or not we agree with each other or like each other, we all deserve to be treated with kindness and respect. i offer my smile to every person i see. let's share that simple kindness with as many people as we can.

i'd love to hear your happy thoughts or even constructive criticism.