When I was five, my best friend was Leonard. He worked for my parents doing gardening and other odd jobs, but mostly he spent time with a lonely little girl…me.
As I lived in the country, I didn’t have a lot of neighbor kids to play with until I was older. My main companions were our dogs, Nancy the pony, and Leonard.
Almost every day, Leonard would saddle up Nancy, which was no easy feat as Nancy was a true Shetland pony. She’d pin her ears, puff out her tummy, and make the job three times as hard for Leonard. But he always got it done so I could joyfully be placed on top and led around the yard.
To me, Leonard was much more than just a pony walker. He spent time with me. He’d tell me stories and always find interesting things for me to learn – a bird’s nest, the tracks of a raccoon, a spider web shining in the dew.
He was my best friend for many years.
Eventually, I grew up and left my home and Leonard behind. I vaguely remember hearing that Leonard had died. I’m know I was sad, but I don’t remember the why and how of his death.
Much later when I had my first child and was visiting my mom, I asked about Leonard and she told me something that totally shocked me!
Leonard was a Murderer
My mom explained that Leonard had a drinking problem and had murdered his wife. According to my mom, it was a crime of passion and he served his time. When he came to our home to ask for work, my mother talked to him for a long time and eventually hired him to do the gardening.
As I was a mother with a young child at this time, I was horrified to learn this. How could my mother have trusted him to take care of me? What was she thinking?
My mother reminded me that mistakes are part of life. We all make them, big and small. However, because we are human, we have the capacity to learn from them and not repeat them. She also told me that everyone deserves a second chance.
It took me a long time to absorb what my mom had said, but I have to admit that Leonard never showed any unkindness to me and as far as I know, he never drank or harmed anybody again.
When I think of Leonard, I think of the power of salvation and forgiveness. While he could never alter the fact that he killed someone he loved, Leonard found a way to redeem himself. He changed his life and thanks in part to my mother, he got a second chance.
Because of that second chance, he helped a very shy child to grow up into the woman I’ve become. He taught me to enjoy all things in nature, to believe that people can change, and to have a special place in my heart for my first and best childhood friend.
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How do you think your view of a person would change if you knew dark secrets of their past?
Have you ever made a really BIG mistake and if so, how did you redeem yourself?
Was there someone in your life that was special and helped you as a child to become the person you are today?
This is a picture I took on a steam boat that regularly cruises Lake Geneva in Switzerland. I loved it because it reminded me of a horn. I never did determine exactly what it was, but when I looked at it with its big red face, it made me smile.
I like to imagine it is the boat’s horn. I like to think it would bellow say, “I’m here and I’m special. Pay attention to me!”
This is something we all need now and then; a chance to toot our own horn!
That’s your challenge today. Share in the comment box something special about yourself. It can be something you’ve recently accomplished, are planning to do, or just something you think makes you special.
Now, don’t say that you haven’t anything to share. Everyone has something special they can share.
I’ll get things started. I’m going to massage my feet in an old foot massager my elder daughter left behind. As I’ve never done this before, I think this is special.
Come on, give it a go and let us join you in celebrating the special person you are.
It took me a while to check in with my blog and reply to comments after returning home from my trip to Switzerland. When I finally did, I discovered a gift was waiting for me. Evita from EvolvingScenes.com had awarded me with this Kreativ Blogger Award. It made my day!
The Kreativ Blogger Award
I was surprised and touched by receiving this award. I have always enjoyed Evita’s blog. Her photographs and the words she writes to accompany them take my breath away. For her to send me this award is quite an honor, even if it does come with strings attached!
As Evita said in her post when she received this award, the subtitle should be “The 7-7-7 Award” because the number 7 is prominent in the following acceptance guidelines.
The Seven Guidelines for the Kreativ Blogger Award:
1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the seven blogs letting them know they have been nominated.
Seven Interesting Things about Me
When I came to this part of the award guidelines, I sat and stared at the empty white screen on my computer for some time. I thought to myself, “What on earth would other people find interesting about ME?” Okay, it wasn’t long before I realized this was Gertrude talking.
Gertrude is the part of me who believes I’m boring and uninteresting. She’s always telling me to be quiet and to not talk so much about myself. To be honest, I’m tired of Gertrude and I WANT this award! So, this time I told her to go and take a very long walk (maybe to Timbuktu!).
With Gertrude out my head, I was able to think of seven things that someone might find interesting about me:
1. I almost died when I was an infant. I had been sick and evidently stopped breathing. Fortunately for me, my father was a doctor and was able to revive me.
2. I like happy endings. Therefore, I frequently check the endings of movies and books to be sure they end well. No one likes to go to a sad movie with me because I cry very easily and not quietly!
3. I have lived in Florida my whole life; my great grandparents moved to Florida in the early 1800s. My grandfather served as bugler in the Spanish American war. I still have his bugle.
4. There are times when I just “know” things about people that turn out to be true, even if I don’t know them very well. I have also dreamt about people and events that have come true. While I definitely would NOT classify myself as a “medium”, some things I’ve known intuitively have surprised me.
5. I met my boyfriend online through Match.com. My online profile was titled, “Make me laugh.” He has done that and more. He’s a partner willing to grow and explore with me.
6. I have always wanted to be a healer – to help others find their balance in life. One area of interest I have been exploring is intuitive healing. I believe very strongly that we have amazing powers to help each other by using our personal energy, as well as the synergy created by a healing group.
7. I am proof that you can learn to change at any age. I’ll be 57 on July 11th. In the last four or five years, I’ve become much happier, calmer and more comfortable with my life. I am really enjoying who I am and my own unique path in this world.
My Seven Nominees for the Kreative Blogger Award
This was tough as there are many people and blogs I wanted to select, but I had to keep it to seven.
This is a picture of a door knocker in Beaune, which is just outside of Dijon, France (of mustard fame). I thought it was clever; a hand using a hand to knock.
I like taking pictures of door knockers because they are the first thing you see when you approach a door. They say something about the house and the people who live, or have lived, in it.
Where I live, door knockers aren’t common. They’ve been replaced by door bells, which are easier to hear, but don’t have the same look or history about them…at least not to me.
So, I thoroughly enjoyed myself while traveling in Switzerland and other countries in Europe because door knockers are very common there. They tend to come in all shapes and sizes and can be very old and unusual.
In my travels, I found door knockers that were friendly and inviting, funny or daring and some that were scary and intimidating. Each one, however, made me wonder about the people who lived in that house.
Who’s Behind this Door?
This is your challenge. In the comment box, tell who you would see if you lifted this door knocker and asked for entry. It can be an imaginary person, a person from history, or someone from your own life story.
Okay, here you go….
Step up to the door.
Lift the door knocker.
Hear the sound echoing into the house.
Listen for the footsteps approaching on the other side.
I’m finally back in the States. The picture above is my mail, which I haven’t even started to go through yet. I’m totally exhausted. My body still thinks its six hours ahead of EST. In other words, when it’s noon, I’m thinking it’s dinner time and by 4 pm, I’m ready for bed!
As I am readjusting to the new time zone, getting unpacked and tackling this pile of mail, I thought I would share a book review that I’ve been meaning to put up on my blog. I will have a new Story Photo post for you on Monday, plus my regular post for next Thursday is in the works. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this book review. It really is a great book to have in your library!
Courage is Yours
Ages ago, I received this book as a gift. I really liked the title, Listening to Your Inner Voice. Prior to getting this book, I had not heard of its author, Douglas Bloch, but I thank him for writing this book. My copy is now dog-eared and looks used, but in a good way.
In Listening to Your Inner Voice, Block writes about many different topics dealing with finding and expressing your inner sense of purpose, working through resistance and pain, and letting the Universe guide and assist you.
There are 52 meditations in the book and each is two-pages. The first page is an inspirational discussion about the topic and the second page has suggestions for affirmations and a relevant quote.
My favorite meditation is the one he wrote about courage. Here’s a passage from it:
“People ask, “How can I have courage when I’m afraid?” The answer is clear. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to move forward in spite of it. When fear comes up in your life, fully feel and experience it. If you try to push it away, it will only expand.
Say to your fear, “I acknowledge you. But as I connect with my higher knowing, I see that you are not in alignment with my true calling. Because I have the courage and the faith to follow my heart, I am moving ahead with my plans in spite of you.”
I love the idea of having a conversation with my fears! I also like that Bloch recommends that we should take the action that scares us, trusting that once we start moving, our fears will recede. He suggests the following affirmations to help us get started:
I listen to and follow my inner voice.
I feel my fear and proceed anyway.
I act to please myself rather than others.
I courageously move forward in the direction of my dreams.
I am true to myself.
When I’m afraid to do something, I will often turn to this book and the section about courage. Reading it reminds me that fear will stay with me as long as I hesitate. Once I begin to move forward, however, it loses its power over me.
I highly recommend this book. It’s only 147 pages, but I’ve found so much inspiration and motivation in it, that I want to share it with you. Just in case you want to read more about the book, visit it on Amazon.
I want to end this post with the quote from the Courage section:
“Come to the edge,” he said. “No, we will fall,” they replied. They came to the edge. He pushed them…and they flew.” ~ Appollinaire
I hope this book will help you lift your wings and fly:~)
I grew up in Florida. All my life, I have lived in a flat land, almost surrounded by water. I have been drawn to these waters and find great peace in the sound of waves breaking on the beach.
If I get to choose a vacation spot, I will almost always select either ocean or gulf. These bodies of water captivate me and I can sit for hours watching the varied changes of the water. I have seen dolphins dance and birds fly into the sun. The beaches offer me so many gifts. I feel at home when wandering Florida’s beaches.
I never thought another place could match my love of beaches and the sound of waves. The Swiss Alps have taught me otherwise. I arrived in Switzerland in early May. At this time, some of the mountains still were covered in snow that shined white in the sunshine. The trees were still leafless and the cold made this Florida girl bundle herself in warm coats.
Now everything is green and flowers fill the fields. The snow still glistens on the far mountains, but nearby the trees have climbed high up the mountains.
I have come to realize that these mountains mesmerize me because every time you look at them they are different, like the waters of Florida. Both are magical places, testaments to the glory of nature. I could stay here and look at these same mountains forever, just as I can gaze out on the Florida waters forever.
Unfortunately, I must leave and who knows when I will return to these mountains. I imagine I will dream about the beauty they have shown me. Like my beaches, they have given me an appreciation for the wonder of nature and the beauty of God’s creation. I will miss these mountains very much.
As I will be traveling when you read this post, I am closing it to comments. But I’m leaving with a quote that captures my feelings for these majestic mountains and, of course, more pictures of them.
“Come into the mountains, dear friend Leave society and take no one with you But your true self Get close to nature Your everyday games will be insignificant Notice the clouds spontaneously forming patterns And try to do that with your life.”~ Susan Polis Schutz
This is the first picture I took with my digital camera. It was a surprise picture; the kind you take and have no idea what you did to get it. I’ve never been able to repeat this picture, even though I’ve taken numerous photos of the object in it.
It was the beginning of a long friendship with my Sony camera, which has allowed me to explore photography in a way I never could before. I can take close-ups and far away shots with equal success, at least by my terms.
True confessions
Perhaps this isn’t the best thing to confess, but I like the easy button on a camera. Maybe one of these days, I’ll take lessons, but for now taking photos is my playtime. I like being able to pick the subject and let the camera make its own decisions.
So, when I took this picture, I was pleased. Looking at it, I liked the way my camera was thinking and I also like that I’ve never repeated this picture. It is what it is.
The challenge
Here’s your challenge for today. I decided this picture needs a quote. Find a quote, or write your own, that you think belongs to this picture and share it in the comment box.
Everybody has favorite places to remember. There’s a meadow in Leysin, Switzerland that will always be one of mine.
For almost every day that we’ve been staying in Leysin, except our travel days, JC and I have trooped up a very steep road (for Florida flatlanders) to this meadow.
When we get to the top, we walk through the tall grass to the edge of the meadow. It is here that we have the most amazing view of the Alps. As we stand in wildflowers, above a small herd of cows grazing contentedly, we look out at the world filled with mountains.
They seem to come in every shape and size. Some are big and craggy, still showing shades of white here and there. Others are rounded and soft with trees, displaying so many shades of green we’ve given up counting. The beauty is almost more than the eye can take in and, sadly though I try, more than my camera can capture.
Below us, we see valleys with houses and farms so far down that cars, cows, and people look tiny. Above us are taller mountains, the ones that we haven’t quite got the legs to conquer, at least not yet. There’s a rock fence and a few lovely chalet houses, that remind me people actually live here every day.
I can stand in this meadow and look around me for ages with complete contentment and total amazement. There is always something new to see and hear. We’ve basked in bright sunny days that take your breath away and watched with awe sunsets that turned the mountains a dusky pink.
When we first climbed to this meadow, it was almost solid green. It was still too early for all but the dandelions. Now, it is full of color – pinks, purples, yellows and reds – mixed in with the tall grass, which comes almost to my waist in some places.
If we listen, we can hear the clanging cowbells, the buzzing bees and the singing birds, all joining in what I call the real Swiss “sound of music.” The air is so fresh that you can’t seem to get enough of it.
The others in our group have visited numerous countries and have had marvelous adventures. For JC and me, however, just watching the changes in this meadow and gazing on the majestic mountains of Switzerland has been an adventure in itself, one we will not forget.
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Do you have a favorite place? If so, share where it is and why you love it in the comment box.
p.s. Here are some pictures of our meadow. Enjoy!
Looking down the mountain from the meadow
A bee enjoying the lovely flowers on the meadow!
You can see the tram up to the higher mountain if you look closely.
A Swiss cow with her bell…they make lovely music together!
When you were a kid did you ever stare at something until you could see a face in it? I used to love doing this. I would see a lion roaring in the bathroom rug, an old man in our wooden floors or an elephant trumpeting in the clouds.
It always fascinated me that our eyes can see something innocuous, like a rug, and our brains will fill in the blanks to create something we recognize.
So, here is your challenge on this Photo Story Monday.
Look at the photo of this tree trunk and share in the comment box what you see in it. If you want to go a step further, also share a brief story about what you see.
Have fun with this. Just look at the tree trunk and see what your brain tells your eye is there.
When I was a kid I used to go deep sea fishing with my dad. We’d get up very early in the morning, prepare the boat and head out. Where we fished, it was common for storms to appear suddenly. I was seldom scared as our boat was a good size and we could quickly outrun approaching storms.
One day however, we weren’t so lucky. The storm came up on us too fast. The sky grew very dark and the sun completely disappeared. As the wind picked up, the boat was tossed about by huge, angry waves.
I was really scared, but reassured by my dad. He didn’t panic, but rather kept the boat moving forward through the waves. To be honest, I wasn’t sure we’d make it through that storm. But we did.
To my great relief, we eventually left its force and fury behind with the dark clouds and returned to the sunshine and calm waters.
Recently, I had to make a big decision and it scared me. I felt overwhelmed and uncertain. Then I remembered that fishing trip and how my dad helped us through that storm. I realized my situation required the same actions. These actions are valid for anyone experiencing a difficult time. Here’s what my dad taught me about surviving storms:
Confidence calms the waves of fear
Calm down and don’t panic — When things become scary it is easy for panic to set in. And once it does, you can’t think clearly. Do whatever works to keep yourself calm. For example, talk about the situation with supportive friends and loved ones, try to stay positive, and consider all your options.
Focus on what you can do — Focus on what you CAN do about the situation. Look at your choices and remember that even in the worst situation you have a choice. Decide what steps you can take to keep yourself moving forward. Don’t forget that even the tiniest step is important. EVERY forward step you take gets you closer to sunny skies.
Trust yourself and the storm will pass — This too shall pass. Think of another time you went through a storm and survived. Remember what you did and tell yourself you can do it again. Trust your instincts. Believe that you will deal with the situation and return to calm waters and bright sunshine.
Storms will come and go during our lives and it’s wise to learn how to weather them. When we believe enough in ourselves to get through these storms, we have the strength to move beyond fear.
“There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm.” ~ Willa Sibert Cather
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What have you done to survive a storm in your life?
What do you think is most important to surviving life’s storms?
Have you learned more from your stormy or your calm times?
My Best Friend
I’ll get things started. I’m going to massage my feet in an old foot massager my elder daughter left behind. As I’ve never done this before, I think this is special.
I was surprised and touched by receiving this award. I have always enjoyed Evita’s blog. Her photographs and the words she writes to accompany them take my breath away. For her to send me this award is quite an honor, even if it does come with strings attached!
Ages ago, I received this book as a gift. I really liked the title, Listening to Your Inner Voice. Prior to getting this book, I had not heard of its author, Douglas Bloch, but I thank him for writing this book. My copy is now dog-eared and looks used, but in a good way.
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