Encouragement

Food, water, shelter, and encouragement.  Throw in a couple dogs, some wine, laughter, faith, family, friends and you've got it all.  Well that is my recipe for life.  Yours may differ.  Mine also requires flowers, cooking, gardening, hugs and walks along the river.

But I digress, encouragement is the topic of the day. Somewhere along the way we need a source of encouragement. Acknowledgement, without criteria for improvement, of what we are doing right.  It's like food for the soul, energy for the journey and shelter for the heart.

You did good.  I love you.  You've learned so much.  I like the way you did that. Good thinking.  Brilliant.  I know you can do it. Your talent shines.  You give the best hugs.  You make my life easier. I am so grateful to work with you.  Your friendship graces my life.  You're my rock.  I can trust you. You are making progress. I value you. I couldn't do it without you.  You are important to me.

You catch my drift.  To encourage is to plant seeds in another. It's like sunshine for personal growth.  Would that we could give it, as easily as we find reasons to find fault.  

May your journey be full of encouragement.  May you give it daily, may you receive it generously.  Whether they are city roads, or country roads, may they begin and end with encouragement.  Life will be sweeter if they do.  Give some today and watch it return in ways you could never imagine.

Roads to Home...

I love Fridays....end of week, end of stress and all roads lead to home.  Any other day of the week it's city streets, to highway, to interstate, to highway, to gravel roads.....ahhhh and home. On Fridays I take the first interstate exit and cruise through the country.  Almost no traffic.  I need that to wind down, to let go, to shift gears.  I don't want to see anyone and if I do, it's a country one finger wave and each goes their own way.  

Roads to home sometimes never even occur on roads.  I have an old dog on the road home too.  His destination is not at all the direction I want him going. Many years ago he changed my life.  In 14+ years I'm pretty sure he's only had one bad day, maybe two tops.  One was the day, shortly after I adopted him, that the cord from the iron caught on his collar.  Like a bat out of hell he raced down the hall, down the stairs, bang, bang, bang.  Pretty sure he thought his tail was on fire. Thankfully, the iron was not hot, nor would it ever be again.  His other day, may not even count as a bad one...just a funny one.  He rooted through the laundry basket and managed to hook a bra over his head.  Out in the yard he went, flying like the wind, bra sailing happily behind him.  To run is to live, bra or no bra.

I am certain his road and mine were meant to be.  Just as I know I'll take his last walk with him no matter where it leads. Roads change in life, and who you travel them with makes all the difference in the world.  My roads used to be all big city roads, now I am happiest when the pavement changes to gravel. Gravel, fields, sunsets and silence.  And a grand old dog at my side.  

Beginning Anew

It is that time of year....our brains, bodies, tummies and hearts are full, and we're tired.  Okay, maybe that's just me. Christmas came and went, it's a new day, a new year and a new chance in our lives.

Chances are good.  Chances indicate hope and promise.  Who wouldn't like a second chance?   Funny how willing we are to look forward to the new chances coming our way, even though we may have refused chances that already came our way. Chances bring change and I sometimes fight that tooth and nail. Change for the better is so much easier to accept.  Of course, how I foresee change is often not the way it unfolds.    

I'd like to take a chance at accepting change without resistance.  Proof right there I'm a dreamer.  Add that to my list of titles, dreamer, crazy dog lady, humorist (again in my dreams), writer, designer, Mom, wife, Grandmother, friend, sister, niece, aunt, neighbor, boss, employee, mentor, and, did I mention crazy dog lady?

All that, and I'm still defining myself.  Each day, each year, we get to begin anew.  I'd like to begin softer, more gentle. I'd like to begin with an open heart and willing hands.  I'd like to laugh more and stress less. I'd like more celebratory shots and high fives. I'd like more flying hugs. Those are hugs from people so excited to see you they literally fly to your open arms.  I'd like more foster dogs, but we have a three dog rule around here. I'm forced to slow down a bit in that area, which is probably a good thing.  I'd like to work less and play more.  I'd like to do more crafts. I'd like to make more snow angels.

So, as this year begins...what would you like to do...to begin anew.  And how will you do it?