Three Things I Think I Think...Reflections on the A to Z Challenge~

This is the designated day to offer feedback and reflections on the A to Z Challenge so I thought I’d do it in the format of ‘Three Things I Think I Think…’

So here I go…

1.)   I think the A to Z Challenge sponsored by these amazing people is one of my favorite events; this is the second year in which I participated. It allowed me the freedom to consider and implement my own theme within parameters of the proceedings. With that being said, I enjoyed the flexibility as well as the challenge to be creative as I desired to be on any given day!

2.)  I think it is a wonderful thing that so many bloggers participated in this event; WOW! Almost 2,000! Can you imagine? The premise and goal was to visit as many bloggers as possible. Let’s see 1,900 divided by 30 days is approximately 63.3 blogs per day. At the beginning, I thought, I can do that; no problem. But as the days wore on and time constraints interfered, well, I lost steam. So, this brings me to my next point…

3.)  I think it’s impossible to try and visit each blog although as I said, I tried. One of the things I discovered is that I have my interests and genre of blogs I enjoy visiting and definite ones I have no interest in pursuing, therefore, I think one of the suggestions I have for next year is when individuals sign up, you do so by putting yourself into categories that describes your blog. These may be fantasy, cooking, paranormal, writing hints, book reviews, photography, or all about life. You could sign up under one or more groups. This will permit two things- it allows all bloggers to venture into the categories we have an interest and two, it saves times because there are certain directions/blogs I will not even waste my time with reading. 

 In closing, it was wonderful and I made new friends and found new ‘homes’ so I cast out a huge thank you to the promoters of this event! And if you didn’t participate this year, perhaps it’s a challenge you might be willing to embark upon and I’d encourage you to do so!

“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.”

By Benjamin Franklin

"Z" is for Zero, Zilch....

perceptions + quotes + reality =

A to Z Challenge~

Sporadically, modern life throws us into a bottomless murky abyss through ceaseless demands and obligations, loss of a loved one or a job, faced with a life threatening illness, financial forfeiture and constraints with hundreds more of equally demoralizing stressors.

….nada, the well is empty and you have reached the end of your rope.

Of course, we don’t all become destitute or consider suicide as a way out; although I’m certain if you are like me at the time it feels as if this is how you may end up since your world is caving in on you. Hopefully you are assured in your heart of hearts that this period of nothingness will not continue forever.

During these times, we all are walking wounded be it financially, emotionally, physically or spiritually.  But when we have nothing left where do we turn? Many turn to prayer or reach out to a friend or loved one to fill their reserves.

What are your options when there’s zero, zilch left in your tank?

“Nothing lasts forever, I think that’s the easiest lesson we all learn in the hardest way.”

By Elaine Kirby



"W" is for Whispers...

perceptions + quotes + reality =

A to Z Challenge~

Her life resembles a whisper,

with soft and gentle hands-

though concealing a sword to strike

impending aches of the open-air .

Her soul rides the temperate breezes

concealing the sorrow using shrouds of snow.

She embraces the act of living

with profound consideration and reflection.

Her spirit seeks strength through

the stream of gratitude

while silencing critics.

She soars on the wings of butterflies

and murmurs hopefulness and compassion

with a tender kiss of adoration.

"Let not thy will roar, when they power can but whisper."

by Thomas Fuller



"V" is for Visions....

perceptions + quotes + reality =

A to Z Challenge

“There are always flowers for those who want to see them.”

By Henri Matisse

“Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.”

By Jonathan Swift

 “Only those who look with the eyes of children can lose themselves in the object of their wonder.”

By Eberhard Arnold quotes

 “Most people are not really free. They are confined by the niche in the world that they carve out for themselves. They limit themselves to fewer possibilities by the narrowness of their vision.”

By V. S. Naipaul



"S" is for Serendipity....

perceptions + quotes + reality =

A to Z Challenge

The light in the study remains aglow as darkness envelops me like a warm blanket. I struggle to stay conscious with the ensuing cold medication trickling through my veins. The throbbing ache in my throat grips as I attempt to gulp and breathe.  Dear God, please let me feel better in order to complete the essential paperwork for my early morning meeting. Regardless, sleep apprehends my body.

I awake to the gentle aroma of cinnamon swirl coffee while the cloudiness in my head persists in imprisoning my thoughts. I glance to the time keeper on the cable box and hear the soft buzz of the talking heads on the television announcing school delays and closings. School is closed!

This is what I call a serendipitous moment.

Serendipity is defined by Mirriam-Webster as the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for.  Serendipitous is a derivative of that word marked by events that are come upon or found by accident; fortuitous.

This is one of my favorite and most distinctive words as it marks joyful unique moments when life whispers affirmations- a found diamond earring I’d lost years earlier, a dream that revealed clues to an impending fork in the road or yes, an unexpected snow day just at the ‘perfect’ moment.

What is a serendipitous moment in your life?

“Serendipity is putting a quarter in the gumball machine and having three pieces come rattling out instead of one—all red.”

- Peter H. Reynolds

"R" is for Ridiculous Reasons....

perceptions + quotes + reality =

A to Z Challenge

Miss Angel-Kitty

One of my pet peeves is tardiness. I despise when I’m late for an event or pre-scheduled appointment, which is not very often. In fact, as a result of my disdain for belatedness, I’m classically ten or so minutes early. In my mind, constant delays show a lack of respect for another person’s time.

Therefore, as a result of my disparagement for dillydallies, I’ve created a list of ridiculous reasons for pokiness. Okay, here we go and just so you know, these could very well happen in my house:

1.)   Angel-Kitty wasn't finished with her breakfast yet.

   
     2.) Hurricane ran out the door to romp with Ripley and had to be chased around
          the development.

3.)  I didn’t want to be accused of being the principal’s pet so I began acting out by being late.

4.)  I got lost on my way to work. Yeah, I know I only live one mile down the road but my husband was showing me a new way to get there!

5.)  My son burned his pop tart in the frying pan and dropped a gallon of milk on the floor.

 

"I have noticed that the people who are late are often so much

jollier than the people who have to wait for them.”

By E.V. Lucas

  Hmmmmm, perhaps I should try this method~



"I" is for Imperfections? Ideas?...perhaps 'I don't know...'

perceptions + quotes + reality =

A to Z Challenge

 

I had a perplexing time determining an idea for letter ‘I’ although the subsequent terms came to mind; imperfections, inadequate, insufficient. Interesting, yes?

What made this letter more difficult than all the rest and what I knew would eventually catch up with me in this challenge is my desire to be perfect. Most times, or a lot of times, or some of the time I can pacify, soothe and appease this robust yearning to be flawless and faultless. I really thought I would find the most awesome word for letter “I” and the ensuing words would spill onto the paper.

URGH, but no, not this time as my impeccable and undulating desire to please was hindering me to settle for anything less than perfection- NOPE, imperfect was not a viable option.

You see, I have hundreds, or thousands of ideas in my head for most occassions; as we all do but long ago, decided that’s exactly where they are the safest. If they remain tucked inside my cranium no one can critique me, ridicule me or cast me aside because they don’t favor my idea, therefore my thoughts and my impressions and yes, my ideas stay neatly tucked away inside this skull.

So if you have any ideas to curb perfectionism, I’m all approachable, I think!
I don't know.... maybe I am~

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought.”

By Buddha

"D" is for Devotion.....

Today’s letter has a ‘dual’ purpose as you'll soon discover. As indicated, my theme for the month is:

Perceptions + quotes + reality = A to Z Challenge

Sorry the photo is blurry...I have kept this in my wallet for years as a reminder~

I’ve struggled with disordered eating most of my life from over-eating to fill a void, from anorexia, from bulimia. I’ve endured two in-hospital treatment programs and a day program. I only mention this so you comprehend the magnitude at which food controlled my life. I desperately embraced the eating disorder, particularly the bulimia staunchly and stubbornly like a child clutches a security blanket.

Enter my husband, Scott. We married in 1995. As months became years the yearning for a child was growing as I was approaching forty. Yet my mind-set persisted in being the obstacle; body image, intense fear of weight gain and the fixation on binging and purging.

I have committed to memory the exact place and time my husband spoke these words to me, ‘We won’t even consider having a child if you are going to devote your life to this eating disorder.’

His words stopped me dead in my tracks. My decision became my dedication to the illness or a child.

I want to extend a greeting to my son- an authentic teenager today! Happy Birthday Nicholas! I love you more than I love life itself…I can’t even conceive of a life without you~

"True strength lies in submission which permits one to dedicate his life, through devotion, to something beyond himself. "

By Henry Miller

'C' is for Connections....

Perceptions + Quotes + Reality = A to Z Challenge

My husband says I’m addicted to the computer specifically e-mail as well as Facebook. Hah! I habitually plead the fifth on that one!

Although unbeknownst to him, I do frequently ponder his suggestion since I take great pleasure in glancing at e-mail, reading comments in response to my blog, examining text messages and yes, going on Facebook!

So in delving further into this thought pattern, I recognize it’s not the technology I’m drawn to but rather the connections with people; that’s where the contentment derives.

As a little girl I sought out and wrote to pen pals from the backs of Teen magazines. I inscribed in depth letters to friends I’d met through church camp. I was a loyal individual exchanging letters. I would then wait anxiously for the mailbox to offer a return swap.

Since I was an alone and lonely child I poured my heart out onto paper to be cleansed; this gave a home to the words in my head and the thoughts in my heart. The spilled contents had a dwelling to disband and to disperse. However, most notably was the validation of my presence. With each arrival message, there seemingly was a display to make note of my value to the world -or at least a small part of it.

I’ve deliberated over my husband’s implication and as I’ve aged I grasp the idea that not much has changed; pen and paper correspondence has evolved into e-mails, texts, comments and ‘likes’ at the push of buttons continuing to acknowledge my presence on Earth....but I'm still pleading the fifth!

“Only through our connectedness to others can we really know and enhance the self. And only through working on the self can we begin to enhance our connectedness to others.”

- Harriet Goldhor Lerner

A is for Angels….

begin..... 

Welcome to A to Z Challenge......

I believe in Angels.

They appear far and wide in a variety of figures, hues and dimensions. In fact, Saturday morning a dawdling snow-white traveling angel in the form of a car was ahead of me as I struggled to zip home from errands.

The more annoyed I became, the more sluggish it became, or so it seemed. You know the routine as I can predict you’ve been in the same circumstance, yes?

I inhaled…and exhaled. Inhaled and let it out gently. Then a thought tiptoed into my awareness that was unpretentious and unassuming. What if that vehicle emerged for the purpose of slowing me down to avoid an impending ticket for excessive speed? Or more importantly, by impeding and averting a collision due to unwarranted quickness?

Immediately, a tranquil and reassuring presence draped over me as I was reminded yet again that I believe in Angels.

"God not only sends special angels into our lives, but sometimes He even sends them back again if we forget to take notes the first time!"

By Eileen Elias Freeman

A to Z Challenge....on your mark...

get ready....get set...

Well hang on, we're almost ready to begin but not quite yet. You'll have to be patient at least until tomorrow; Sunday, April 1st.

For the A to Z Challenge last year my blog was titled, "The ABC's of Me" which was fitting since I was unfamiliar to a great many of you and probably continue to be to quite a few individuals. I had a strong desire to expand my horizons and stretch my boundaries this year. So please find my theme as follows...

Perceptions + Quotes + Reality =

A to Z Challenge

Is the glass half empty or half full?

Depending upon your response to this oft-asked question, your answer offers a glimpse into your mindset or attitudes within your life.

My belief is the foundations of your reality are based upon your perceptions which most likely, are deeply embedded into your psyche- what you perceive or recognize to be true.

I await the upcoming contest and look forward to hearing your retorts, comments, encouragement, etc....

"All our knowledge has its origins in our perceptions."

by Leonardo da Vinci

Hello to all my blog friends...

I realize I haven’t displayed a post lately, or made it over to visit frequently. I apologize but am preparing for an upcoming event.

Arlee Bird, atTossing it Out, has initiated an A to Z Challenge for bloggers. The premise is to post the letter of the alphabet every day during the month of April, with Sundays off for good behavior. Sunday, April 1st begins the festivities. If you are interested in joining, stop by his place. Thus far there are 1192 entrants for this blog hop.

Last year was the first year I participated and it was grueling to not only compose a post everyday but to visit and read all the contributors’ blogs. However, I enjoyed the trial.

My ‘theme’ last year was the ABC’s of Me!  Therefore, this year I had a desire to cultivate a theme that was diverse and uncommon as well as struggling with the need to keep the post on the ‘short’ side; time will be at a premium when visiting the blogs of other partakers.

So, drum roll please?

My theme is as follows….

Perceptions + Quotes + Reality =

A to Z Challenge

 

Is the glass half empty or half full?

Depending upon how you respond to this oft-asked question, your answer offers a glimpse into your mindset or attitudes of life.

My belief is the foundations of your reality are based on your perceptions thus are deeply embedded into your psyche-what you perceive or recognize to be true.

I await the upcoming contest and look forward to hearing your retorts.

"All our knowledge has its origins in our perceptions."

by Leonardo da Vinci

'A' is for Angel-Kitty...

A to Z Challenge...

ABC's of My Life~



Angel-Kitty and her brother, Hurricane!



Wall of protection...



"Aaa-CHooo...God Bless me!"




My Security String....



"With their qualities of cleanliness, discretion, affection, patience, dignity, and courage, how many of us, I ask you, would be capable of becoming cats?"

- By:  Fernand Mery Her Majesty the Cat

Facts of Five and Updates....

If you are a new follower let me give details of Facts of Five. It was a model I used when I taught students with special needs in a self contained classroom. I presented a category such as ‘Five Cartoons’ or ‘Five flavors of Kool-aid’ and the students had to consider an idea that fit the group. It was fun and thought generating yet in the meantime, I was able to get to know what was important to my students.


So our category for today is ‘Five Updates from happenings in my life~ okay, I’ll begin…

1.) Thank you for the well wishes, good thoughts and prayers regarding the biopsy of the lump on my tongue. The oral surgeon indicated it would be 7-10 days until results were available-- thankful? …that the continual tenderness and soreness is taking my mind off the results, although he ‘felt’ positive. So at this point all I have affirmation of the positive and hope for the best.

2.) When I had to submit my final manuscript in January of Life through the Eyes of a Hurricane: Doggie-Dog it necessitated me including an acknowledgment page, which I was excited to do. I won’t tell you all of my tributes; you’ll just have to read to find out. However, I did recognize my high school English teacher, Mrs. Linda Stoner and went on a search to locate her where-about. I ‘think’ I have found her and penned a note to her….I hope it is her and I hope she responds.

3.) My team is NOT in the Final Four…darn! ... I know I already told you that, but bummer, just needed to say it again--CRAP!

4.) Did I tell you I am doing Weight Watcher’s? No, of course I didn’t as a result of my fear of failure. You know that ‘perfection’ piece of me? Last week’s meeting topic was the importance of sharing this journey with others so you can be supported. Well there’s a novel idea… So I’m sharing it with you. My goal is 30 pounds, however I’m halfway there (almost) I’ve lost 14.6 pounds.

5.) I am participating in the A to Z Blogging Challenge of 2011 which is exciting in that there are already over 700 participants. The task entails daily blogging correlating with the given letter of the alphabet. I’ve been wracking my brain as to my ‘plan’ but really when it comes to blogging I write from the heart so there is no plan…stay tuned~

"If you wait to do everything until you're sure it's right, you'll probably never do much of anything.”

by Win Borden