Repetitive Values from a movie!

My daughter recently asked me to explore an old folder on my drive in search of a particular photograph. It took me a really long time. Because I discovered way more than I had bargained for, sending me down so many memory lanes that I started feeling like I may need my passport in hand! 😛
It was, for the most part, a lot of fun. I plan on spending more time looking through that older folder! 😉

Midway through it, when I had found what I was looking for, I noticed a Word document – untitled. I opened it and discovered the beginnings of a very old blog post. A movie review, of sorts.
I stuck it somewhere in my head ‘for further review at a later stage’, and got busy with something else. I took a quick look at it this morning, and it made me smile. Another trip down a very special memory lane – especially since both my children are now adults!

Weekend afternoons used to be family movie times. My children knew that when 2pm rolled around, I was all theirs! And they’d have their two favourites lined up and waiting for Mom.
But, one rainy Saturday afternoon, I picked the movie! My precious friend, Tess, had bought it for the children and I. (Oh, I still miss her so very much!!! 😦 )
My son had everything ready by the time I settled between the two of them, under a blanket, holding a large bowl of popcorn. He pressed play, and our ‘small soul’ journey began!
We watched that same movie many times after that over the course of the next few months. And I know that both my ‘children’ watched it again (independently) a couple of years ago too! (As have I!) And it STILL impacts us, and teaches us, and inspires us!

The movie? The Ultimate Gift. (Based on the book by Jim Stovall) And watching it feels that way, every time! As if it’s a ‘priceless’ gift, containing all the best treasures!
Can you tell that I love this movie? Ha ha!
The IMDB synopsis says : A deceased billionaire leaves his spoiled adult grandson a series of odd tasks to perform in order to receive “the ultimate gift,” with the resentful grandson having no idea what that might be.

They don’t make it sound very watch worthy, do they? 😛

I say that yes, that synopsis IS correct… but there’s SO much more to it! It’s about a list that needs completing – a list of ‘gifts’ that will lead to the ultimate one!
A list compiled in the hopes that this young man will abandon his selfishness, and embark on a journey of discovery where he will gain insight and somehow find the things that truly matter! He definitely encounters some tough trials (and meets the most delightful little lady who teaches him some lessons too, ha ha!) but he learns the value of each gift along the way. Some examples? The Gift of Family, the Gift of Friends, the Gift of Problems, the Gift of Gratitude, the Gift of Laughter etc. (I don’t want to give too much away! 😉 )

It’s not brilliantly filmed, and the acting is not top notch. For the film critics out there.
But it was perfect for me and my little family. And it still is.

It’s a constant reminder for me to continue appreciating the value in each day, whatever that day brings! To laugh more! To be grateful! To keep on loving! To work hard! To give unselfishly! To cherish my friends!

It’s a feel good movie that will make you cry though! So best stock up on tissues beforehand!

And it’s a movie I hope my ‘adults’ will watch for many years to come, because all these things? These values? They’re worthy of repeating! ❤

New tricks hurt my head!

MANY people tell me I’m too old for my age 😛 I’m going to go with the fact that it’s because I am maybe a little wiser than most of the people my age… it has nothing to do with the way I look! 😛 😉

And so this old dog is trying to learn some new tricks… and I have pretty much felt like this for the past week :

I’ve been down so many rabbit holes that I’m starting to feel like my name should be Alice!
I’ve felt a little more like the good old White Rabbit though! As if time is slipping away, and perhaps there is a very important something that I am supposed to be heading towards but find myself constantly late in actually FINDING it!

There are moments in the day where I feel like a champion! Coffee in hand, I conquer the confusion and celebrate a small win! ”Oh my gosh! I understand! I can do this!”
And then there are the moments where I’m a spectator, desperately cheering myself on, but sometimes having to just reassure my overworked brain that ‘it’s okay if you don’t get it! You’re not young anymore! It’s not about winning or losing, or even HOW you’re moving… it’s about finishing… even if you finish last!‘

And I’m not even that old 😮 😛

I have no idea how long it will take me to grasp these new tricks… or even if they’ll represent what can be considered a win.
AND YET… the fact that I am even trying something new? That I am willing to dive into an unfamiliar pond, and actually doggy paddle my way around no matter what the result? Is that not a form of a win in itself?

In the middle of all of these mental acrobatics, my body was put through a form of acrobatics itself on Monday! I had actually intended on writing this blog post on Monday!

Instead I found myself half calf deep in water, bucket in hand, scooping and sloshing to the nearest drain, as I desperately tried to stop the rushing water from continuing to access my neighbour’s house!

We get hail here. Two or three times a year. But Monday was my first experience with hail that size! I could almost picture the golfers grabbing their clubs and heading to the streets! Yes! They were golf ball size! And the heavy rain that came with it was absurd!
The entire storm lasted about twenty minutes.
The damage in its wake will take months to repair for many. 😦

I worked for a few hours in my neighbours driveway. I roped in one of the guys down the road too. And the neighbour arrived home midway and also jumped in. Water needed to be swept out of the house, and the garage. Crates needed to be brought out the garage, emptied, unpacked and their contents dried off. It was a heck of a day!
I then came home and tackled my own back area, which had drained itself by that time, but there was so much debris to be cleared!
I woke up yesterday hurting in places I’d forgotten I had muscles! Ha ha!

And in all the brain pain, and body pain, (I’m fine, by the way 😛 ) I find myself smiling at the many lessons that have been sent my way these last few days! (Some intentional, and some very much unplanned! Where did that weather come from??? 😮 )

I suppose that if we are willing we just never have to stop learning 😉

6 secrets to a healthy, successful life

When I see articles, and blogposts, with these types of titles, the first response in my mind is : ”well, yes, sure… but how does the writer define health and success?” – or whichever word they are using.
The second thing my mind utters is, ”I wonder how exactly they learned these things… ”
Yes.. I can sometimes be a little bit too sceptical 😛

This morning it’s cold and raining – my favourite kind of weather! I did a coat of varnish on some crafting items waiting to be finished off, and while waiting for them to dry, I decided it was time to look through some emails! (You know the ones : not important, as such, so you decide to read them later, and then later forgets! Ha ha! I’m going with this though : I saved them for a rainy day 😛 😉 )

There was one, with the title of my post, hidden in the body of the email. BUT! This post title? It was preceded by the words : A 103-Year-Old’s
Wait, what?!?!? 😮

My mind didn’t even bother to do any of its usual questioning! Age brings wisdom… and if you’re 103, I definitely have a LOT to learn from you! 😉
The lady’s name is Dr. Gladys McGarey. She opened her first medical practice at a time when women were not even allowed to open bank accounts! 😮
While reading up on her as a doctor, and a mother of six, I found it so very interesting (and I smiled) that she co-founded the American Holistic Medical Association the very year I was born! 😉
The article I had received in my email was written after the release of her most recent book – which is now on my wish list 😉

As per the Amazon write up (linked under ‘her most recent book’) :

On these pages, Dr. McGarey shares her six actionable secrets to enjoying lives that are long, happy, and purpose-driven:

–Spend your energy wildly: How to embrace your life fully and feel motivated every day.
–All life needs to move: How to move—spiritually, mentally, and physically—to help let go of trauma and other roadblocks.
–You are here for a reason: How to find the everyday “juice” that helps you stay oriented in your life’s purpose.
–You are never alone: How to build a community that’s meaningful to you.
–Everything is your teacher: Discover the deep learnings that come from pain and setbacks.
–Love is the most powerful medicine: Learn to love yourself—and others—into healing.

I can’t say that I disagree with any of those six things. I may broach them differently, but I can definitely see how pursuing a life that encompasses all six – in whatever way – could be considered a life lived with purpose and fulfilment! ❤

And while I am not so sure that I myself would like to live to be 103-years-old, I do know that I would definitely like to embrace all six of these!

But the greatest of these, for me, is LOVE! I can tell you from personal experience that love, when given in its entirety (the way it is meant to be – non judgmentally, kindly, unselfishly, acceptingly etc) is most definitely a very powerful medicine!

May you all experience extra bits of love this week 😉

A complicated house plant!

I have quite a few email subscriptions, to receive thoughts and notes and ‘stuff’ from a variety of ‘well known’ individuals to inspire me, encourage me, remind me, and help me ‘try and be a better me’.
It’s all about growing… which reminds me…

😉

I received an email on Monday, that basically told me to :

”Do something difficult this week, simply for the sake that it’s difficult and uncomfortable.”

It made me smile, because for the last few weeks I have been doing a few things that are ‘new’, that require small steps OUT of my comfort zone.
Now, do I prefer my comfort zone? Well, of course! ‘They all’ know me there 😛
Even the small steps, in just a few things, have been somewhat scary. There have been difficulties trying to wrap my brain around certain things, and I have experienced slight embarrassment, despite knowing I am the only one ‘who is seeing it’. Ha ha!
At the same time as the scary though, there has been a somewhat exhilarating feeling deep inside of me!

As if I am on a road… to somewhere! (You’re welcome to come along – just please bring snacks 😛 ) Destination still unknown… but I’ve decided that that is okay! 😉

I’ve had way too many days of late where I feel stuck… I take two steps forward, and then it seems like the next two steps are back again!
So now I have decided to crawl 😛 😉
It’s slow progress, but as I have said before, it’s better than NO progress 😉

And on that note, I am about to do something that is a little uncomfortable for me! Ha!

My granny was a very talented and creative lady! She wrote stories, sang and played the piano, painted breathtakingly beautiful scenery and portraits, and she wrote the most beautiful poetry – modest and expressive at the same time – it always flowed like a beautiful melody.
My son writes poetry – his is more in the form of rap though – and he always amazes me with his play on words, and the strong, impactful way his words deliver!

And while I am a rather creative individual myself, poetry has never been a strong suit of mine. Ha!
And I am shy about the poems I do write!

I shared one recently with a good friend – someone I consider my kindred spirit in so many ways. And I was told it was worthy of blogging 😮
And because I trust this spirit so much… and because I have been challenged to do something ‘difficult and uncomfortable’… I will now share this poem that I wrote with all of you 😉

(WHERE did I put my blankie!!!! 😛 😉 ) Enjoy, and Happy Wednesday 😉

”There’s a part of me that doesn’t speak.
A part of me I continuously seek.
Trees whisper to me, and I see her swirl…
That grown up little girl.

She’s a puzzle piece lost in a different design,
Searching… will her soul ever align?
The sun sets, the moon rises, the darkness consumes,
Fear doesn’t descend – instead she blooms!

Slippers afoot, she will dance on her toes,
And she’ll giggle out loud at the wind as he blows.
For in the dance of life, she knows she’ll eventually find,
The place in her world for her beautifully confused mind.”