“A flower does not think of competing to the flower next to it, it just blooms.” ~ Zin Shin

I like to COMPARE - prices, brands, what shirts go best with a pair of pants, different colors of lipstick, and on and on. But then, if I’m not careful, I start comparing MYSELF to others. I think we all are guilty of comparing ourselves to others, but I feel that women especially have a hard time with it! Why? I think a big part of it has to do with society telling us we should look a certain way and if we don’t we are “less than”. I’ll bet those SAME women we are comparing ourselves to also compare themselves to others. It’s a VICIOUS cycle! Why do we fall into that trap? When we start comparing our looks or situations, or lives in general to someone else, we start down that dark ROAD of loneliness that seems to have no end.

So basically, if you are volunteering, you are giving of your time to perform a service of some type on your own FREE WILL. If you are helping, you are basically providing what is necessary for someone to accomplish a TASK.

How about doing a random act of kindness, no expectations, just looking for an opportunity (or not OVERLOOKING an opportunity) to help someone - no strings attached? Is someone looking for volunteers and you happen to be available? Why not give it a try and see how EMPOWERED you feel that you made a difference - because you DID! If you are in an organization that wants you to report volunteer hours, maybe try thinking of it as being valued because you are PRICELESS - because you are!

“Grief doesn’t have an expiration date. It’s not like a loaf of bread that’s fresh for a week or so and then slowly molds and crumbles away into nothing. Grief is resilient. It perseveres. It doesn’t give up. Ever.” ~ John Onwuchekwa

“GRIEF TRIGGERS”. What? You know, when all of a sudden, out of nowhere when your mind is OVERCOME with something that rekindles an emotion, OVERWHELMED and all consuming. Emotions that create FEELINGS of sadness, longing, regret, thoughts of “if only”. These unexpected triggers can pop up so fast, catching you off guard and triggering an overflowing surge of EMOTIONS. I was just driving along and all of a sudden grief triggers dominated me. All of the MEMORIES flooding my mind. I had no control. I tried to shake it off, but to no avail. My eyes were filled and overflowing those MEMORIES down my cheeks. It’s been 10 ½ years - YEARS, and yet it just comes out of nowhere.

Do you ever feel like “will anybody ever remember me when I’m gone?”? I have that feeling swirl its way through my THOUGHTS every now and again. I’m not really sure why. I guess it’s just that sometimes I feel like I’m just going through the MOTIONS. I wake up and go through pretty much the same MUNDANE routines each day and then I go to bed only to do it again. That’s okay, there’s a lot of beauty in ORDINARY days. But I know there’s a reason for me being here, a PURPOSE God has for me in the big picture of life.

BANTERING, good-humored teasing they say. A one-way or back-and-forth conversation with someone in a “seemingly” lighthearted and WITTY manner that is meant to be funny and not serious. But is it? Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me. Whoever came up with that was in DENIAL, because words can not only hurt, they can mutilate, cause irreparable damage, bring about agonizing and excruciating PAIN! No, words themselves don’t have the POWER to hurt you. But we give them power. They cannot be unheard, unfelt. They were said with intention, even if it was meant as good-humored TEASING.

Sunshine signifies CHEERFULNESS and happiness. Have you ever wondered why? It’s because we need some actual sunshine. Just a little bit will help LIFT your mood. Have you noticed that a cloudy day can make you tired, feel gloomy, just no desire to do anything? You see, just having a MODERATE exposure to sunshine can have a POSITIVE impact on both your mind and body. There’s a hormone called serotonin that has been nicknamed the “HAPPY HORMONE”. Why? Because exposure to sunlight TRIGGERS a release of serotonin in your brain. That release has been known to generate not only a BOOST in your mood, but it can help you feel calm and focused.

“Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.” Have you heard that before? “Don't put all your eggs in one basket” is an idiom that means “don't RISK everything by committing to ONE plan or idea”. Why not? Well, if you invest all of your resources into one thing, you might just lose everything if it fails. When you put all of your eggs in one basket, you are not providing yourself with a BACKUP plan, you don’t have any alternatives.

Do you ever get TIRED of people lying to you? Maybe you feel like everyone is lying to you ~ a conspiracy theory that everyone is out to get you. But what about when it's one or two particular people that lie to you - right to your face - over and over again? When it's an acquaintance it is so much easier to DISMISS it, just turn and walk away never giving it another thought. They’re just not worth your time. You can just consider that a flaw in their CHARACTER - a real lack of integrity. No moral compass. That doesn’t make it right, but it’s not anything to worry about.

PASSION, according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is an intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction, OR a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept. Are you passionate about something? Just think of the INFLUENCE someone can have because of their own personal passion for something.

So WHAT are you passionate about? What is it that brings you JOY and fulfillment?

I think Jon Bon Jovi says it the best: “Nothing is as important as passion. No matter what you want to do with your life, BE PASSIONATE.”

I do consider myself lucky in many ways, it’s just not what I was thinking when I chose to wear them. I was just sporting my “March…..Irish….St. Patrick’s Day” comfortable leggings with the GREEN plaid scarf to emphasize the silent celebration of my HERITAGE as a Scott-Irish.

There are people in our world, in our communities, maybe even our neighbors who can’t say yes to very many of these. Think about the HOMELESS. The REAL homeless. They’re the ones making due with what they have and not trying to hustle anybody for help.

Are you LUCKY? It’s not about our possessions, it’s not about our standing in the community. It’s about being THANKFUL for what we have. Being GRATEFUL and APPRECIATIVE.