many loves

Love

I love God

I love humanity

I loved my students

I love my friends

From childhood, from school, from college, from work, from the neighborhood

I love my family

Mom, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, nieces, nephew, husband, in-laws

So many loves. Each love is different, but all are significant.

It’s the best thing we can do with our lives. Give love, accept love, act with love.

Wishing you love and light!

laugh

I have been watching a great show from Australia called “Offspring."

I like to record things that make me laugh hysterically, though usually lack of sleep is what helps along the reaction. Anyway, one character jumped from a balcony and tried to catch his fall with his hands and ended up breaking his wrists. First I should say, the accident was not funny.

The part that made me laugh was watching him try to use a knife with his mouth to get peanut butter out of the jar onto bread. He gave up on the bread, just hoping for some peanut butter. He finally gets the peanut butter out only to lean back and have the peanut butter fall on his head.

Given the fact that I am disabled and know others who struggle with dexterity, I suppose I shouldn’t have laughed, but I hope the writers intended laughter. Anyway, life can be difficult, but if we laugh along the way things will be a little better.

make it up

"Liberal Arts" with Josh Radnor: Libby says: life is all #improv. Nothing is written. We just make it up as we go. 

Let's #make it good!

living in the moment

I am reaching new depths of living in the moment.

For as long as I can remember, I have been taking photos of family, friends and events. The way I write in my journal to preserve my memories, I loved having visual reminders of my life.

Due to my MS, I now lack the strength and dexterity to take pictures unless I have just the right set up time and no pressure. So taking pictures to document the things I do doesn’t really work anymore.

Now, when I am in the moment and want to photograph whatever is happening, I must sit back and take in the moment fully without documentation. Maybe I will do more writing to describe the things I see, but it’s not as satisfying.

So I am practicing taking in the sights and sounds and appreciating them just as they are. Wishing you many moments of things you love!

in our heart

Yesterday I watched the Netflix original film, "The Little Prince" based on the book by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. I really like what they did with the story and the animation was great. I was reminded of a quote from his book: "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly."

Whatever we can see in our heart will be with us always. Those who are not with us, remain in our heart as long as we remember.

The emphasis in the movie was in remembering what we learned in childhood, those things we often forget as grown-ups. The joy and wonder about each new thing and the connections we make as children, create the life we have now. We must practice looking at the world in joy and wonder. Life is always a little better with an open mind.

Enjoy your day and pay attention to the things and people that make you happy!

contemplate the moment

Do you ever feel like time goes too quickly? When I look back, I'm amazed at how much has gone by in the blink of an eye.

But I am also a big proponent of appreciating each day. When I take the time to look around and contemplate the moment, the time does not go by in a blur. The past does go quickly, but the present is a wonderful thing.

At the moment, I am cool in my comfortable apartment on a hot summer day. I had one friend helping me earlier and others coming soon. I've got this computer in front of me which helps me share my thoughts, watch movies, play with photographs, video chat with people at a distance, and do a variety of other activities.

This day will blend in with all the others when I look back from the future, but for now I am happy with life and myself just as we are.

I hope that you are enjoying your day and noticing life just as it is. And if it's not a day you can enjoy, there's bound to be one coming soon.

Faerie Tale

My friend Mary Groce wrote a lovely book called "Aunt Cora’s Wart, an Historical Faerie Tale." In a happy and gentle way she discusses philosophy and history. Most importantly, the main character gets lots of self-esteem building.

I was lucky to have a family who made me feel special and important. That feeling is the foundation that supports everything I do, from encouraging others to being strong enough to face many trials.

If you have young people in your life, please do all you can to make them feel special and important. It's amazing what kind words can accomplish when used freely and frequently.

And don't forget – no matter how old you are, right now and always, YOU are wonderful and make a difference in this world just by being you.