Yet another funeral today...

Attended a funeral today of a friend from long ago. Too young, too soon, too good to die, but sadly, it was his time.

His daughter spoke of his motto of : "live, love, laugh, dream" and we can honor his life by living along the lines of his motto.
I've always found comfort and realization in Sandburg's poem, pasted in below.
LCB

Stars, Songs, Faces

Gather the stars if you wish it so.
Gather the songs and keep them.
Gather the faces of women.
Gather for keeping years and years.
And then . . .
Loosen your hands, let go and say goodby.
Let the stars and songs go.
Let the faces and years go.
Loosen your hands and say goodbye.

Carl Sandburg, 1920

Technology!!!! Trying to embrace it...

Ever notice how things are wonderful when your computer and printer "talk" to each other? Right now, mine aren't speaking and I'm smack in the middle of a deadline. I feel sick. I wish they'd make up.

How do YOU handle stress?

Cooking and baking are therapy for me. Comfort food! Mostly, comfort and a feeling of accomplishment usually come while I chop or mix or try to recreate something we've had at a favorite restaurant.

So, come on. How do you handle stress? Reset your stress-ometer?

Who's the Most Stressed?????

How to deal with stress? Everyday stress and major stressors? First, win...at all costs...the "who's the most stressed contest?" Friend have a headache? Yours is much worse. Co-worker worrying about a deadline? Yours is even bigger. Once you've established you're the most stressed of anyone you know, you can feel secure knowing you're at least winning the stress contest.

Next-arm yourself with as much ammo as possible. Inhale "how to" articles on relieving stress from your daily life. Exercise, diet, journal, seek out support from friends and family-yeah, right. Now you can stress about not having enough time or energy to exercise, diet, journal and spend time with friends and family. While you're at it, why not check into a day spa and treat yourself to a massage, facial or pedicure? You can stress about how to pay for it later.

Another popular idea is that life today is more stressful than at any other time. Our parents and their parents didn't have the stress we do. Hello, the Depression? Two World Wars?

Here's my plan...I promise to avoid the trap of the "I'm more stressed than you discussion" and to offer a smile or reassuring word or two to those whose stress-ometers are bulging. I'll reassure them that they, indeed, are the most stressed of anyone I know and that I'm happy to listen to their tale of woes.

After that, I'll find that, indeed, my life is just peachy and I wouldn't trade one crazy minute with anyone. It's my stress, my crazy world, and it's where I live. There. I feel better already.

Maybe it was the massage...

Winter's Passings Bring Mixed Bag

So, final grades are turned in, spring/summer cleaning somewhat underway and a new stack of library books beckons me like a siren song. Read me. No, wash the blinds first-then read me. My beach chair is covered with pollen and winter's dust. Soon. Very soon I'll unfold it and embrace the season. Crossword puzzles, whodunnits and lots of suntan lotion (fulfilling a promise I made to myself). Then, when the water finally warms up, kayaking in the bay and maybe my ocean wave skimmer too-must be braver this summer.
Opening up our beach house has been bittersweet as it's the first summer without my Mom. Last August we shared some wonderful visits, both of us knowing, but not saying, that it would be her last. We laughed and cried as we struggled with outside showering, back massages and hair styling. The woman packed more into a day than most many years younger. Cards, dominoes, a trip to AC and the Irish Pub, and then home to rest. Hitting the jackpot on the penny slots and hearing her whoop was priceless. Five thousand pennies!!!
Today's theme: Love, love, love...and live with no regrets. Live with intention.