graffiti on a cyber wall

Day 28 - something you're afraid of

 I have this irrational fear of dentistry.

  

Day 27 - a picture of yourself and a family member

 This was one I had to wait on.
My niece and I at the family Thanksgiving.
One of my other nieces took the picture for us. 

 

The year has cycled around to Thanksgiving again and 'What I am thankful for' blogs are a dime a dozen.  I think that is a good thing.  I try to be grateful each day but sometimes I forget and one day a year to remind me doesn't hurt.

That being said, here are a few of the things I'm thankful for.

My children  Starr and James
Christy, Jeremy, Jesse, and Belle
All the wonderful people I know online and in non-cyber space
My choice to be around people who make me feel good about myself
A positive, happy outlook on life
Compassion
Honesty
The interconnectedness of all people
A job that helps others
All the little conviences of life that are often overlooked
Nowness
Wu wei
Living in faith (well as much as I can)

I could add more, but you'd get tried of reading the list.

I wish you all a wonderful, thankful day!

I had minor surgery today.  Nothing to get excited about.  I was in and out and back at work in a couple of hours.  I have a little pain if I move my right arm a lot, but other than that, life is wonderful.
When I arrived home, I was greeted with a lovely Christmas tree all decorated and lit up (thanks Christy).  In the background Christmas carols played.
On Thanksgiving I'm going to my sister's house.  The food will be outstanding!  Always is there.  
I did manage a picture this morning on the way to work.

Day 26 - a picture of something that means a lot to you.

 It isn't the cameras that mean a lot to me, it is taking the photos that I love.

Day 25 - a picture of your day

I spent my day in FEMA training.

It was an interesting experience to say the least.

  

Not only do I wish I could change this    

I can change this.

Rotted wood can and will be replaced.

  

 

I thought about this a lot.  My favorite book isn't a published book and will never be a published book.
  

Day 20- somewhere you'd love to travel.
There are several places I'd like to travel.  Since I haven't been, I haven't taken pictures so I found some to use.

This was difficult one for me.  So many things in my life have changed in the last year: both my parents died, my son moved out to live in Atlanta, my dog died, and there are others.
The most recent 'something' that has made a huge impact in my life is this family.

 While I was on vacation, I had my picture made in a photo booth.  There aren't a lot in the part of the country where I live....none in Alabama according to this map.

Day 14- a picture of someone you could never imagine your life without

Children should out live their parents and I can't imagine life without my children.
  

Whose Life Did You Change In A Positive Way?
 
I honestly don't know that I have ever changed someone's life in a positive way.
Sometimes what appears positive at first becomes unpleasant.  Sometimes helping people in a bind leads to greater suffering for them later.
This last round of helping people has reminded me of a lesson I'd forgotten.  I can do things that appear helpful, only to have those actions turn around, make the people I am trying to help miserable, and also bite me in the butt.  Some people are going to be unhappy no matter what.  They are looking to outside circumstances for happiness and happiness can't be found there.   Happiness originates on the inside and radiates to the outside.

"Finding happiness is like finding yourself. You don't find happiness, you make happiness. You choose happiness." ~ David Leonhardt

I seem to have forgotten my personal guideline in this situation...a person can only work on themselves.  Any help for others is 'fall out' from that.
In the future, I intend to keep my help to small, simple things that are less likely to result in large negative consequences.

What would you do to make the world more positive?

When I was young, I thought I could change the world.  I was active in anti-war protests, pro-planet actions, ....and a lot of other social reform types of things. 
Then I moved over to the religious side and was a Jesus Freak.   I spent some time saving the world hosting a gospel radio show and helping print and distribute a monthly Christian newspaper.  Fun times!

Didn't save the world physically or spiritually.

Slowly it came to me that all anyone could really change was themselves.  I could work on me.   I will always be a work in progress.  That is good.  Keeps things interesting.

So what would I do to make the world a better place?  I found the perfect list:  All I really need to know about how to live I learned in kindergarten. 

• Share
• Play fair
• Don't hit people
• Put things back where you found them
• Clean up your own mess
• Don't take things that aren't yours
• Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody
• Wash your hands before you eat
• Flush
• Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
• Take a nap every afternoon.
• When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
• Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
• Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.
• And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.

Shining_garnet has posted links to this weeks positivity blogs here
   

Day 14 - a picture of someone you could never imagine your life without
will have to wait until I get home from vacation. I need access to my photo archives to post that picture.

Day 15- a picture of someone you wish you could meet.

 

Source: Elephant Journal

I'd like to meet the Dali Lama.  

The picture should be enough explanation of why 
and the link provides a few more clues.

 

Day 16- a picture of someone who inspires you.

     

 Ansel Adams

His black and white photographs amaze me.

      

A lot of positive things have  happened to me in the last year.
The sun comes up, the wind blows, the rain falls.
Each day I have food, electricity, indoor plumbing, clean water...and a myriad of other simple conveniences  often over looked.   
I've made a major change at work that will radically effect my life over the next three years.
Christy, Jeremy, Jesse and I share a home.
Bilbo came to stay.
I purchased a neat little point and shoot camera.
I've had the privilege of being taught how to live again by a tiny buddha.
Life is good.
Really, really good!

I lived in a commune made up of like minded people when I first heard this song.
The song's message fit the situation and I've carried the feeling of living there in my heart since.
When I hear the song, it brings back all the love, sharing, creativity, partying, and....loads of other positive feelings and thoughts associated with that experience.

"Don't think that you are carrying the whole world. Make it easy. Make it play. Make it a prayer." Baba Hari Dass

"I have five pebbles, not too different in size and weight, yet a randomness about them. If I drop them on the carpet they will scatter. Now we could run an experiment and we would find that we cannot put these pebbles in shapes that would be as elegant and as nicely related and with as great a variety as every time they fall. It is better than anything we could do. I have great respect for the way I find things. Every time something falls I look. I cannot believe the relationships. The intricacy. You hear a noise and you say 'What is that?' Respect for the affirmation of the unexpected." —Frederick Sommer
  
Remember

1.  Whoever comes are the right people.
2.  Whatever happens is the only thing that could have.
3.  Whenever it starts is the right time.
4.  When its over, its over.
~ Unknown

Be not the slave of your own past.
Plunge into the sublime seas, dive deep and
swim far.  So you shall come back with self-respect,
with new power, with an advanced experience that shall
explain and overlook the old.
~ R. W. Emerson
  
All the Buddhas of all the ages have been telling you a very simple fact: Be – don’t try to become. Within these two words, be and becoming, your whole life is contained. Being is enlightenment, becoming is ignorance. ~Osho

Happiness isn’t found in wealth, fame, possessions, or sensual pleasure.   Live simply, sharing what you have with those in need.
Never forget that your life exists only in the present.  Pay attention to ‘now’.  Don’t become lost in thoughts of the past or concerns for the future.  Nourish the seeds of hope, peace, love, and joy that are attempting grow all around you.~ Unknown

Today's Challenge: Write A Positive Poem, Story, Take A Pic, or Draw A Picture

I see positive things around me all the time.  They are easy to find if you look.
    

 People helping people (and animals).

If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.  ~Mother Teresa

So, what is positive here,  

a personal expression of love.

We don't show and tell each other we love each other nearly enough.

Everyone wants to be loved, needed, and appreciated.

Tell someone you love that you love them today! 

 

Everybody loves Tater.

I talked to Tater. 

Tater doesn't like maters.  

I think it good Tater isn't a mater. 

      

Shining_garnet had a great idea when she came up with Positivity Week.

Today's challenge: A Book That Had A Positive Affect On You

   

Every time I read this it makes me smile.

Forty-two has become a common number in my vocabulary 

and I try never to panic.  

Now if I could just remember to take my towel with me I'd be all set.

Here is the link if you want to know more about The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

    This is what I see each night when I go to sleep.

 

 I don't think any explanation is necessary with this picture.