ITS STARTING

SOME SOCIAL RULES

1. Don’t call someone more than twice continuously. If they don’t pick up your call, presume they have something important to attend to.

2. Return money that you have borrowed even before the person who loaned it to you remembers or asks for it. It shows your integrity and character. The same goes for umbrellas, pens, and lunch boxes.

3. Never order the expensive dish on the menu when someone is treating you to lunch or dinner.

4. Don’t ask awkward questions like ‘Oh, so you aren’t married yet?’ Or ‘Don’t you have kids?’ Or ‘Why haven't you bought a house?’ Or ‘Why haven't you bought a car?’ For God’s sake, it isn’t your problem.

5. Always open the door for the person coming behind you. It doesn’t matter if it is a guy or a girl, senior or junior. You don’t grow small by treating someone well in public.

6. If you take a taxi with a friend and he/she pays now, try paying next time.

7. Respect different shades of opinions. Remember, what may seem like 6 to you might appear as 9 to someone else. Besides, a second opinion is good for an alternative.

8. Never interrupt people while they are talking. Allow them to pour it out. As they say, hear them all and filter them all.

9. If you tease someone, and they don’t seem to enjoy it, stop it and never do it again. It encourages one to do more and shows how appreciative you are.

10. Say “thank you” when someone is helping you.

11. Praise publicly. Criticize privately.

12. There’s almost never a reason to comment on someone’s weight. Just say, “You look fantastic.” If they want to talk about losing weight, they will.

13. When someone shows you a photo on their phone, don’t swipe left or right. You never know what’s next.

14. If a colleague tells you they have a doctor's appointment, don’t ask what it’s for, just say "I hope you’re okay." Don’t put them in the uncomfortable position of having to tell you their personal illness. If they want you to know, they'll do so without your inquisitiveness.

15. Treat the cleaner with the same respect as the CEO. Nobody is impressed by how rudely you treat someone below you, but people will notice if you treat them with respect.

16. If a person is speaking directly to you, staring at your phone is rude.

17. Never give advice until you’re asked.

18. When meeting someone after a long time, unless they want to talk about it, don’t ask them their age or salary.

19. Mind your business unless anything involves you directly - just stay out of it.

20. Remove your sunglasses if you are talking to anyone in the street. It is a sign of respect. Moreover, eye contact is as important as your speech.

21. Never talk about your riches in the midst of the poor. Similarly, don't talk about your children in the midst of the barren.

22. After reading a good message, consider saying "Thanks for the message."

APPRECIATION remains the easiest way of getting what you don't have.

I have several to improve on!!!

STILL GOT IT!

MERMAIDS

When my Jessette was little she loved playing with the embroidery floss, she said they were her “Mermaids” She loved them!

This is just one portion of my mermaid collection. 

I’m working on Christmas gift. And all these colorful mermaids are going to be used! 🧜🏼‍♀️ 🪡

KUDOS

I like to give random Kudos. I think we all need unexpected praise. The voices in our head are oftentimes critical, but unexpected praise or kudos does a lot for everyone’s self esteem.

I often comment on cute shoes and outfits. But it can be anything really. 

It just makes people feel good and it costs me nothing. 

I saw this in someone’s feed ant loved it. If we all shared kudos, we would all be a bit happier!

This was left from one camper to another:

ENTHUSIASM

“Follow your enthusiasm. 

It’s something I’ve 

always believed in. 

Find those parts of your life you enjoy the most.

Do what you enjoy doing.”

Jim Henson

MOON RISING

Over the mountains in Arizona this weekend.

Thanks M.O.

MORE WISDOM

Respect is earned 

Honestly is appreciated 

Trust is gained 

Loyalty is returned

Zig Ziglar

GIRLS NIGHT OUT

Had dinner and drinks with coworkers in Louisville tonight. 

Great fun!!!

Below is the “Sneaky Bastard” that I took back to my room! 

WELL SAID

A friend wrote this on FB. 

I've said many times that "churchy" people are the main reason people stop going to church, or never go in the first place. It seems to be getting even worse with spewing hate, judgement and ridicule toward people who dare to be or look or think differently than we do. It hurts my heart to think that this is the image of Christianity non-believers are seeing. The devil knows, and can quote, Scripture as well as any human being and still has so much hate inside. Quoting the Bible in one breath and vomiting nastiness in the next is not rooted in love.

I see so many people posting superior self reflections, because they are church goers and they are prayer warriors. Then in their next post, they are bad mouthing politicians and showing their hate. How can you be a good person, then show your ugly? The two don’t go together. 

BE WILLING

“You should be unique, you should be confident, and that’s how people remember who you are. You have to be willing to share who you are 

and your story.”

Venessa Williams 

ENJOY THE RIDE

"Eat at a local restaurant tonight. Get the cream sauce. Have a cold pint at 4 o’clock in a mostly empty bar. Go somewhere you’ve never been. Listen to someone you think may have nothing in common with you.

Order the steak rare. Eat an oyster. Have a negroni. Have two. Be open to a world where you may not understand or agree with the person next to you, but have a drink with them anyways.

Eat slowly. Tip your server. Check in on your friends. Check in on yourself. Enjoy the ride."

Anthony Bourdain

HAPPINESS

A dear friend put this on her FB. It is something I have believed for years. It comes from within. 

THE HEAVENS

Tonight’s Air Show was cancelled due to rain, but I think this 

was a wonderful substitute!

THE AIR SHOW IS COMING

I REMEMBER

SO THOUGHTFUL

My farming attorney client 

stopped in to bring me a very thoughtful treasure!

So sweet! 

PRICE

“Grief is the price we pay 

for love.”

Queen Elizabeth II

CHURCH

I was talking with a friend today, about his church. I am more grateful for the church I attended for most of my life, more than I can ever express. I’m glad there are many religions and different beliefs. I am grateful for the knowledge I have and the years of study I done. I can honestly say that I know God. And even though I don’t know all the secrets of the universe, I know I’m not alone. 

I attended 4 years of seminary and I taught in so many capacities. I loved all of that.God and I talk often, and I am so grateful for that relationship. If I need something more that just our talks, I walk through the woods. He is the most tangible to me there. When I’m in the woods, just Him and me, it’s like having his undivided attention just on me. He surrounds me, and I know I am not alone.

 I love to walk in the woods, it is my church. 

TWO GRANDFURBABIES

THREE

There are three ways

to ultimate success.

The first way

Is to be kind.

The second way

Is to be kind.

The third way

Is to be kind. 

-Mister Rogers

SAY YES

“If someone offers you an amazing opportunity and you’re not sure you can do it, say yes~ 

then learn how to do it later.”

Richard Branson

PLACES I HAVE BEEN

I’ve been to a lot of places. 

But I’ve never been to Cahoots. 

Apparently you can’t go alone, 

you have to be in 

Cahoots with someone. 

I have also never been to Cognito. 

I hear no one recognizes you there. 

I have, however, been in Sane. 

They don’t have an airport, 

you have to be driven there. 

I have made several trips. 

I NEED A CURE

I have been feeling a 

little down and moody, 

a little not so me.

 I googled my symptoms. 

It’s adulting.

I have adulting. 

I need a cure!

DYSFUNCTION

Moving on by pretending that nothing happened 

Staying silent when things 

need to be addressed

Always having to be the 

bigger person

Walking on eggshells because you can’t deal with the emotional fallout

Pleasing the most dysfunctional in hopes to keep the peace

Living a life you are unhappy with when you can see your goal but don’t want to rock the dysfunctional boat

DON’T SWEAT IT

Imagine this:

If you had $86,400 in your piggy bank and someone stole $10 from you, would you be upset and throw all of the remaining $86,390 away in hopes of getting back at that person? Or would you move on and live life? You would no doubt move on and live your life.

We all have 86,400 seconds in each day.don’t let someone’s negative 10 seconds ruin the remaining 86390. Don’t sweat the small stuff. 

Life is short, be bigger than that. 

LOOKING BACK AT 2023 FALL

https://www.explorefall.com/

I’m ready for 2024 Fall now!!!

RACCOON SKILLS

In every relationship there is one person who stacks the dishwasher like a  Scandinavian Architect, and one who stacks it like a raccoon on crystal meth. 

…I also fill my grocery cart the same way. 

SEPTEMBER RIDE

On today’s drive I saw three beautiful black horses, I saw fat happy cows, there were geese, two dear, butterflies and dancing dragon flies. 

And although we have twenty days until autumn arrives, the leaves in the woods are changing. There were so many yellow trees in the woods and so much leaf confetti on the wind. The way the wind looked on the soybean fields was awesome. It looked like green lakes with silver green fish streaking through. 

And I have never seen the Ohio River look so blue. It is normally muddy, but with the wind stirring it, the water was bright blue. 

It was a lovely day for a ride. 

It gave me time to ponder, time to think and time to realign some priorities. 

HEART BREAK

One of my best friends mother passed away this weekend. I can not express the sorrow and heartbreak.

She left this life as she lived it, making others feel seen and loved, enjoying the life around her and being a true delight. 

The life she lived, the legacy she created here, will live on with all those who were touched by her love.

YES PLEASE

I want one…or three!

WELCOME

My granddaughter came to play at Grammies this weekend. As we drove to my house she saw a cute pink sign in front of a store. I told her it said “Welcome”. I asked her if she knew what welcome means, and the four year old told me no. So I told her that Welcome means “I’m glad to see you, come on in!”

We practiced that a few times and I hope it’s something that will stick with her. 

So as September has arrived, with hopes of fall to follow shortly, I say 

WELCOME!

SEPTEMBER 2024