Our Great Country's Peaceful Transition of Power

This past week has been filled with many emotions for Americans.  Irregardless of the political viewpoints you hold, the inauguration of a new President has an impact on all of us.  Many were elated and excited; others were angry and saddened.  I choose, however, to celebrate what makes this country, the United States of America, so different from most other countries.  We have a system that provides for a peaceful transition of leaders.

I am hoping that, in the midst of the excitement, uncertainty, turmoil and/or angst many are feeling, we can all join together in our appreciation for this fundamental process that makes our country so great.

If you Google the definition for "coup", you find the following:

coup
1. a sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government.
"he was overthrown in an army coup"

1. synonyms:

   seizure of power, coup d'état, putsch, overthrow, takeover, deposition; More

When you search for a list of coups, you find a long list of coups that occurred in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.  It saddens me to think of the lives lost, the economic uncertainty, and the fear of citizens when a change in power resulting from a coup occurs.  In my opinion, the fact that we have a legal way for our government to change hands peacefully between political parties and individuals with differing beliefs and ideas is amazing and deserves a moment of consideration and appreciation.

I am eternally grateful to the founders of this country for establishing a process for peaceful transition of power.  It is a reason for all of us to celebrate our great nation and to be proud that we are American citizens.  This is the joy I have found in the inauguration!

Have you found your joy today?

Presidential Medal of Freedom With Distinction

I was touched by the news of President Obama awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Vice President Joe Biden.  I quickly joined many others in seeking out clips showing the occasion.  Vice President Biden was considerably overcome with emotion by this surprise award.  I was disappointed when I saw that the clips cut off at the point where Biden would make his remarks.  I wanted to hear how he responded; I started searching.

I finally found what I was looking for on the White House website.  I was surprised to see how long the video was until I realized that the previous clips were missing so much more than Biden's responding remarks.  These clips also failed to show the speech that President Obama made leading up to the revealing of the award.  The full video further explains why this was such a special award since it was "With Distinction"-given on very rare occasions.

The respect, admiration, and affection between these two men was very poignant.  To hear them speak of how their relationship with each other and their families has grown over their time in these roles was powerful.  I was often in tears listening to them speak.  If you haven't seen the full video of this event, I strongly encourage you to do so.  It gave me great joy to see their unbridled pride in their relationship and time traveling their journey together.

Have you found your joy today?

Feed the Birds

Bird prints below the feeders

With the winter snow, our bird feeders have been very active!  One of my favorite things to do is to watch the birds who come to our feeders on our deck.  I think many people don't realize how many birds winter here in Minnesota.  I was surprised at the variety of birds I have seen lately.

The StarTribune recently published an article on the 8 most common birds that are seen in Minnesota during the winter. I was happy to find that all of these birds are visiting our feeders!  It's interesting to watch the different birds as they fight for dominance over this food source.  We have 3 different varieties of woodpeckers visit; they clearly give way to the largest (the red-bellied woodpecker) when that bird arrives at the suet.  Some birds, like the house sparrows and juncos, arrive in flocks, sit in the nearby bush as a staging area, and rush the feeder as a group.  The blue jay is noisy, bossy, and holds court on the floor of the deck while fighting off squirrels who want their share of the seeds that have fallen from above.  Some birds have reached a detente and feed together at the feeders.  These include nuthatches, chickadees, and cardinals.  They are also content to feed when the small downy woodpecker arrives.  It's fascinating how these species have found a way to coexist and share a common food source.

When the winter vista is white and brown, these daily visitors provide constant entertainment and enjoyment..  I often find myself smiling as I watch their antics.  I will continue to do my part in feeding the birds and derive great pleasure in doing so.

Have you found your joy today?

Starbucks on a Snowy Day

One of my favorite things to do is to go to my local Starbucks.  It has long been my haven away from home.  I'm fortunate that we have a Starbucks close enough that I can walk or ride my bike there in good weather.  Today is not one of those days, however.

Now that the sub-zero temperatures are gone, we are getting more snow.  It's not a lot-just enough to be a nuisance.  Traffic is slow and congested.  If you're running errands, you have to clean off your windshield and windows so you can see-especially  the rear window so you can back your car out of the parking space.  The snow is wet enough that it builds up at the edges of your windshield as the wipers try to do their work of keeping your visibility clear.  All of this just goes with a winter in Minnesota.  So, after running errands and watching the snow accumulate, I decided to treat myself to Starbucks.

My visit to Starbucks today was a joy!  I ordered my non-fat latte and grabbed a table where I could watch the snow outside and still feel like I had some privacy.  I grabbed my kindle and spent a lot of my time reading.  Periodically,, since my Starbucks is a PokeStop, I would go to my Pokemon game, and spin to gather Pokeballs.  (Yes, I still play Pokemon from time to time.)  While I was there, my older son called me so I also had a chance to catch up with him. Those of you who know me will not be surprised that I also engaged in one of my favorite pastimes: people watching!  This was a great way to spend a snowy winter afternoon in Minnesota and made me very happy.

Have you found your joy today?

A Fire in the Fireplace on a Cold Winter Day

It has been so cold here this week.  It was 10 below zero this morning!  These are the days when I tend to stay at home and avoid going outside.  While the sunshine has helped a lot, I love to spend these days reading, playing games on my computer/phone, writing, and catching up on TV.  I grab a cup of coffee, my favorite blanket, and settle in to forget the cold weather.

It is on these days when the house is a bit chilly that I particularly enjoy a fire in the fireplace.  There is something so comforting about creating a cozy nest in front of the fire.  As well as providing comfort, it can create an environment for thinking deep thoughts, enjoying the wildlife nearby, or just reveling in your own company.

There are local coffee shops that have fireplaces.  These seem to attract customers young and old.  It's a common occurrence to see students hanging out there after school, seniors meeting over a cup of coffee, and couples heading there for a respite from the cold.  These coffee shops know the value of comfort and usually provide comfortable seating nearby.

I know that much of the country is facing cold, wintry weather this weekend.  This may be the weekend to enjoy your fireplace if you have one.  While the world is talking about the latest political news, you can escape from the negativity that so often surrounds you and relax in this simple pleasure.  You can count on us being in front of ours for part of the time.  There's a particular joy found in family congregating around the fireplace on a cold winter's night.

Have you found your joy today?

Sunshine in Winter

Minnesota was just ranked Number 1 as having the worst winters.  I'll admit that the winters can be challenging.  While we have an exceptional snow removal system and efficient, effective highway maintenance, it can sometimes be a challenge to go to work or run errands.

We certainly have winters of extremes: lots of snow, below zero temperatures, wind chill WAY below zero, and even freezing rain/ice.  Just in the last few days, we've had freezing rain which coated the trees and cars in ice, and now we have below zero temperatures.

It's times like this that I am very happy to be retired.  I don't have to experience a white-knuckle drive to work in the morning or freeze while waiting for my car to heat up.   I also don't have to go to work in the dark and return home in the dark-never seeing the light of day.  Contributing to that, we've also had a lot of gray, gloomy days which can really take a toll on your mood.  It's one of the reasons we are all so Vitamin D deprived and take supplements.

One of the things I love about retirement is taking the time to just be in the moment and look around me.  Today I am enjoying the sunshine pouring into our living room.  There's something special about sunshine in the winter.  It can definitely lift your mood, bring a smile to your face, and combat depression.  It also provides a lot of warmth as it streams through the windows even though it is below zero outside.  However, I particularly love the beauty of winter in the sunshine!

Anyone who knows me is aware that I love to take pictures!  One of my favorite things to do is to try to capture light.  Winter sunshine is so very beautiful.  It brightens the snow almost blindingly.  It reflects off of ice to create a different view of the world around us.  The white orb in the sky against the blue sky surrounded by white snow and gray trees provides color in an otherwise drab world.  I am very grateful for the sunshine and for the opportunity to bathe in its warmth and beauty.  This is my joy today!

Have you found your joy today?

Negativity

I am amazed at how many people comment that they are thinking of leaving Facebook because of the negativity there.  Now, I am not surprised that there are negative comments.  What surprises me is that someone would let this interfere with their enjoyment of Facebook!  It makes me wonder both what purpose Facebook serves for them and how they handle negativity in their lives.

Let me start by saying that I really enjoy Facebook for many reasons.  First, I find it a very easy way to stay connected with people.  I can share in their experiences, commiserate and support them when life is difficult, and celebrate when something exciting happens to them.  Second, I am a very visual person and enjoy seeing the pictures that others post.  I also like to take pictures and find Facebook a way to share them with others.  Third, I think that Facebook forces me to look at new and different viewpoints.  Obviously, everyone doesn't believe the same things that I do.  This is a very good thing.  It adds richness and texture to the world we live in.  Facebook is a great way to learn about these opposing views.  

These opposing views give me an opportunity to examine other beliefs and keeps me open to a diversity of ideas.  It helps me grow as a compassionate human being.  While I may not change my beliefs, I usually have a better understanding of an issue or point of view.  If I leave emotion out of it and refuse to become entrenched in defending my own perspective, I often find that I have an appreciation for a differing viewpoint even though that hasn't been my personal experience.  These interchanges expand my thinking, open up my world, teach me to have empathy for people irregardless of circumstance, and help me respect the rights of others to have their own points of view. 

I have also learned that it is best to limit my interactions in a heated conversation where there are opposing views.  If I choose to comment, I make the decision to do so knowing that I may get some nasty responses-always from people I don't know.  I strongly believe that everyone has a right to express an opinion.  I've learned to do so only if I feel strongly that I need to share mine AND I'm prepared to deal with the negativity.  Otherwise, I read the dissenting comments so that I know what others believe, and then I move on!

We don't all agree on everything.  My friends display a diversity of beliefs regarding politics and religion-both topics that can become very emotional.  However, I read what they post so that I have opposing views which makes me reexamine my own beliefs.  I think this is a good thing.  I don't ever want to become so entrenched in an idea that I can't take it out of its box to see if it still fits.  As I have changed over the years, so have my ideas!

I am fortunate that my Facebook friends are people who tend to be very positive in their outlook.  There are times when someone might post something negative about their day, but this signals that they need someone to empathize in the moment.  I have also made a practice of only "friending" people I know or those who have been recommended by someone.  This has probably made my Facebook experience very positive.  I am also retired now so I don't have to protect my professional persona.  

I make a point of surrounding myself with positive people in my life.  It's a conscious choice!  I do the same with Facebook.  For anyone who is thinking of leaving Facebook due to negativity, look at the people who are your "friends".  Are these negative posts from people who just have opposing views that make you uncomfortable or are they truly bringing you down with their negativity?  If it's the latter, remove them as a "friend".  I can think of only twice when I have removed someone from my Facebook Friend list because they were too negative, but this action helped me maintain a positive experience.  I recommend using this option to make Facebook enjoyable for you.  

You can control the negativity by choosing your Facebook friends wisely.  So don't let the negativity win!  Stay on Facebook.  Keep posting and sharing: I'll be happy to share in your life.  Even more importantly, stay on Facebook so that you can keep learning about the wonderful lives around you with all of their differences and commonalities.  Look around for the positive voices, the posts that make you smile, and the videos that make you laugh.  They are there!

Have you found your joy today?

Chincoteague Island: Land of Misty and Relaxation

When trying to decide where we wanted to go for vacation this year, we considered going west to the Rockies or east to the beach.  After several discussions, we decided that we wanted to go east to visit my brother in North Carolina and that we wanted to visit Norfolk, VA.  I had been to Norfolk before on a recruitment trip and wanted to go back so that my husband could take a tour of the Naval base there.  I originally thought that we would spend several days in the area, but after reading about the attractions there, I started to focus more on the beach.

Let me start by saying that this should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me and my background.   Having grown up in Florida, I always feel that I am home when I arrive at the water.  As much as I admire Minnesota lakes, they just don't do it for me although Lake Superior comes close.  There is just something about the ocean and coastal waterways that makes me feel like I have come home.

As I researched the coast of Virginia, I first looked at Virginia Beach.  It is close to Norfolk-almost a suburb-and is very popular.  However, I have driven through there and found it very busy and touristy.  So, I continued to search for other options.  That is when I discovered Chincoteague, Virginia on the map.  As I read about this area, I also remembered more about it.  I had always heard about and been intrigued by the tales of wild ponies that were herded to swim from their island home to the mainland.  I had also heard about the book Misty of Chincoteague because of my Children's Literature class in college.  Imagine my surprise to learn that this was the place for both of those things!  The more I read, the more convinced I was that we should spend some time on Chincoteague; so our focus changed to a quick trip to Norfolk followed by a few days in Chincoteague.

I am so glad that we made these changes to our vacation.  Chincoteague, and its neighboring Assateague, is a lovely place to relax.  There's a slowing down of time here.  Nothing is hurried or rushed, and there is something for everyone here.  Biking is a popular activity.  The land is flat, and there are bike paths throughout the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.  There are boat cruises or fishing if you want water activities.  The beach is lovely as well.  There are scooters, trikes, and coupes to rent and explore the island and refuge.  There is a popular ice cream shop which offers locally made ice cream; at night people line up out the door.  There are miniature golf and go-carts as well as a theater for entertainment.  The people are helpful and friendly.  This is a wonderful place to relax, unwind, and have fun!

However, I would be remiss if I didn't write about what really drew me to this place-the wild horses. Their story is told in the book Misty of Chincoteague.  An avid reader, I bought the book on my Kindle and read it when I first arrived,  It is a good children's book which was published in 1947, written by Marguerite Henry, and won the Newberry Award.  Even now, Assateague Island is the place where wild horses roam and are herded by saltwater cowboys each year at the end of July.  They are gathered together from all areas of Assateague Island and made to swim across a channel to Chincoteague where the foals are auctioned to benefit the local fire department.   I think it would be fun to see the actual event although I'm afraid that the crowds of people would detract from the relaxed atmosphere found in this area.

This has been a wonderful place to spend some time.  I will be sad to leave, but I am so glad that we decided to head for the beach.  We have had a great time!

Have you found your joy today?

30 Days of Beauty-Day 30: Writing

It is June 30th!  That means that this is the last post for 30 Days of Beauty.  As I sat down to write on this final evening in June, I went back to read my post a year ago on the last day of 30 Days of Joy.  I had learned a lot by completing that exercise.  That is also true this year.

Each of us creates our own circle;
Make yours a Circle of Joy.

In writing about beauty, I found that it is closely related to joy.  In looking around and identifying the beauty in my life, I often felt tremendous joy.  I hope that these posts have helped you to see the beauty that surrounds you each day.  I hope that this created a lot of joy for you.  Even more, I hope that you shared this joy with others.  After all, my intent with this blog is to create Circles of Joy that create ripples in the fabric of life; thus spreading joy to those around us.

When looking for beauty, I realized that, while nature is truly beautiful, the people I encounter each day provide the sources of beauty that are most meaningful.  It is just a matter of taking the time, looking for it, and treasuring its gift to you.  Please know that you are beautiful, and take the time to tell someone you love that they are beautiful to you.  You will experience and share great joy in this way.

Thanks for reading this blog!

I set out to write every day during June equaling 30 days of writing.  I didn't always get them done on time.  Life, power outages, and travel sometimes got in the way.  However, I made sure to write 30 posts, and each one reflected what I was experiencing that day.  I really like to write.  I hope that shows in my posts.  I greatly appreciate those who commented or "liked" my post on Facebook.  I knew that people were reading  these writings, and it meant a lot to me.  Now that the 30 days are over, I will go back to writing weekly.  I hope that you will continue to read my posts.

Have you found your joy today?

30 Days of Beauty-Day 29: Family

Victoria-The Graduate

This has been a very busy month of Open Houses.  Many of my friends have children who graduated from high school.  We always try to attend, because we want to celebrate this major accomplishment.  Today we attended our last graduation open house of the season, but it was a special one.  Our niece's daughter graduated from high school with honors.  We definitely had to attend to be a part of this celebration.

Proud Dad and Grandma

We have enjoyed all of the Open Houses, but this one was so much fun because of all of the family members who were there,  It was a great opportunity to catch up on everyone's lives, give and get hugs, and congratulate the new grad.  There was great food, but my favorite thing was looking at the pictures of our great niece that chronicled her life since birth.  She has always had a smile on her face.  It was so much fun to see all of the years caught in pictures.

Our Beautiful Family

Victoria and Connie

Victoria and Dawn

Family is a beautiful and interesting thing.  Many of our family members aren't related by blood; however, they are very much our family.  I don't always get to see them but they are very important to me.  They have watched my children grow up and enjoy watching my grandchildren as they grow.  They are always there if I need them.  I also enjoy time with my nieces.  They have become such wonderful young women.  I am so proud of them, and this was an occasion to celebrate one of the most important accomplishments of a mother-seeing her child graduate.  Proud parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles abounded!  There was so much joy in their faces and in the hugs we all shared.  I'm so lucky to be a part of their lives.

Have you found your joy today?

30 Days of Beauty-Day 28: Outdoor Dining

I love outdoor dining!  There is a beauty to being a part of nature and its elements.  When I was young, we lived in Miami, Florida.  We ate outside a lot of the time, and many restaurants had outdoor dining.  I love that about warm, tropical areas.  There is something invigorating about dining al fresco, enjoying the sunshine, sharing good conversation, and relaxing with friends and family.

Living in Minnesota has made me appreciate this experience even more.  After months of being indoors, I crave being outside for dining.  I know this is true for many other Minnesotans as well.  I meet a friend for lunch every week, and our choices for dining are governed by which restaurants have outdoor dining.  This week we had to eat indoors after my eye appointment.  My dilated eyes couldn't take the sunshine even though I was wearing sunglasses.  It was truly a loss to have to be indoors on such a gorgeous summer day.  I know that she is really a friend since she was willing to forgo the outdoors for me after being cooped up in an office all day!

Many Fridays you will find my husband and me at our neighborhood D'Amico's restaurant.  They have a lovely outdoor dining area with flowers and a fountain.  We know many of the servers and managers since we regularly go there.  We chat about their families and catch up on their lives throughout our evening.  When I was working, we often went there, bought a glass of unlimited wine, and talked about our work week.  It gave me a chance to dump work issues before the weekend so I could relax.  We would sit for hours talking, eating, and drinking.  We would often close the evening with a trip to the Starbucks next door.

Abbey and Cousin Mya
at the fountain

Tyler flirts with Audrey
at the next table

Today we went to D'Amico's with our family.  There were 9 of us.  My sister-in-law and her 2 girls came to visit for the day.  So the 3 of them, my son and his family, and my husband and I went out for dinner.  We had a large table under the umbrellas outdoors.  It was a great time!  My granddaughter loved being with her cousins and throwing pennies (provided by Grandmum) into the fountain.  My grandson flirted with the little girl at the next table.  We all talked, ate, and enjoyed the Minnesota evening.  It was a wonderful, relaxing evening!

Have you found your joy today?

30 Days of Beauty-Day 27: Tomorrow

Have you ever had one of those days?  From the time you wake up in the morning, your day just doesn't go right.  It could be one catastrophic thing that soured the day, it could be lots of little things that didn't go well, or it could be the final event (think straw) that broke the cumulative camel's back.  Today was one of those "broken camel back"days.

It's not important what today's event was.  Let's just say that it was not welcome after all we've been dealing with as a result of our wet basement.  We have all been trying to stay positive even though we feel devastated that all of our hard work is damaged.  The good news has been that our personal belongings are all fine; it's just the new carpet, flooring, and walls that have to be replaced.  It has been so sad to see our fine work gone and to face months of renovation before we have that space to use again!  So today has been a struggle as another event gets piled on.  I don't think it really matters what the event is.  It's the fact that there is one more thing to deal with.





Our way of coping was to get out of the house and keep busy.  We did errands and managed things that we could control.  It helped to recreate some semblance of order.  This return to everyday matters helped a lot, but what really helps me is to remember that there is always tomorrow.

Tomorrow holds so much promise.  There is great beauty in that promise.  The future has a lot of potential for change, and I am someone who appreciates change in small doses.  Without change, we get stale and life can be boring.  I also think that time truly does heal as it takes us further from the initial shock or distress of an event.  I am looking forward to the joy of tomorrow.  I know that it will be better.  So, I am much like that other red-haired person, Annie, as I sing quietly in my head, "The sun'll come out tomorrow!"

Have you found your joy today?

30 Days of Beauty-Day 26: Dove

Since my topic for the month is beauty, I would be remiss if I didn't write a post about Dove's Real Beauty Campaign.  I applaud this company for trying to promote beauty of all kinds as a counter viewpoint to the beauty often promoted by mass media.  For most of my life, I have seen stick-thin, young, Caucasian, tanned models on TV and in magazines held up to us as the optimal beauty for women.  It has only been as I got older that I started to see, value, and appreciate the beauty of the strong, diverse women around me.

If you read about Dove's campaign, you will find some interesting information.  They began this campaign in 2004.  It has changed and evolved throughout the years.  In 2010, Dove took a new direction: a new vision with the Dove Movement for Self -Esteem.

In 2011, Dove found that only 4% of women around the world described themselves as beautiful.  Only 4%!  How appalling!  What has the media done to us?  Dove found that 72% of girls feel pressured to be beautiful.  This pressure is universal and tends to decrease girls' confidence as they grow older.  Dove's campaign is designed to provide an opportunity for women throughout the world to mentor the next generation.  They want to celebrate real beauty and break the cycle of the past.

When you next look into the mirror, don't focus on your flaws-we all have them!  Look at your good traits, the natural beauty that is in you, and tell yourself that you are beautiful.  After all, that is what I see when I look at you.





It doesn't matter how old you are or how much you weigh; you are beautiful, and there is a great deal of joy and power in recognizing that in yourself.

Have you found your joy today?

30 Days of Beauty-Day 25: The Written Word

My very favorite thing to do is to read.  There is nothing as relaxing as sitting down with a good book, a cup of coffee, and a biscotti to immerse myself into a story.  I am fairly eclectic in my book selection.  However, I tend to go with science fiction, fantasy, romance if well written or with an interesting twist, and mystery.  Once in a while, I will pick up a biography or thriller.  I like books with good character development that move the story forward quickly.  I am not into detailed descriptions of backgrounds and scenery.  Good dialog, interesting people, and a bit of unpredictability will always draw me into a book.

I have a particular admiration for authors who are skilled crafters of the written word.  There is a certain beauty in words; especially when a story is so well written that the reader is lost in the book's world.  Have you ever read a book where you were so involved in the world that you felt bereft when it was done?  There is a lingering sadness that this world is over.  This is a sign of a great author who knows how to use the written word to maximum effect.

I am always reading a book.  Sometimes I am even reading 2 at a time.  I have some books that I read on my Kindle; others that I read in actual book form.  This is because I have collections of books by some authors that I continue to buy the physical book so that I can add to my collection.  I also have a lot of ebooks on my Kindle.  I often try new authors when they offer their ebooks on specials.  These are usually books that are interesting and enjoyable but not books that I necessarily love.  Once in a great while, I stumble across a new author or series that become favorites.  I love it when this happens!

I hope that you have an opportunity in the near future to sit down with a good book, a beverage of your choice, and discover the joy of reading and the beauty of the written word delivered by a great author.  If you have any reading suggestions, please comment on this post.  I am always looking for new recommendations for books.

Have you found your joy today?