Author: MJ

I try to practice being an opportunist- an optimistic one at that…

The other day I received a notice in the mail informing me that I would need to show up in person to renew my driver’s license this go-around. The office is in a town 17 miles away so not that far; nonetheless, not exactly handy. Plus, one is required to make an appointment to proceed with the necessary paperwork & photo. I thought it was a good sign that they schedule every 10 minutes.

I didn’t need to complete this renewal till January; however, my mind shifted to how can I turn this into an opportunity to enjoy the awesome autumn weather & the scenery enhanced by the fall foliage. I’m dog sitting so didn’t want to be gone too long. Thus, I made my appointment for 11:40am and hoped the weather would cooperate for a picnic by the river on my way back to Park City.

The day of my appointment was amazing as you can see from the photo from where I enjoyed my picnic before heading back to reality.

I believe it wasMark Twain that reminds us in life “you’ll be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do vs the ones you did do.”

Carpe diem!!!

Wednesday morning when I turned on the news, I was disappointed-ok, downright bummed, by some of the election results. Thus, to console myself I grabbed a fortune cookie to go along with my hot chocolate in hopes of an uplifting message. I was pleasantly inspired: “Positive thoughts make life better.” It reminded me of how my attitude impacts my happiness along with my well-being & those whom I interact with. I take this fortune as a challenge to convert the power that comes from positive thinking to “reach out & touch somebody’s hand, and make this world a better place” even if it’s just here in my neighborhood.

I just hope this positive energy is contagious as the world continues to turn.

• Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand) by Diana Ross

Reach out and touch
Somebody’s hand
Make this world a better place
If you can

Take a little time out your busy day
To give encouragement
To someone who’s lost the way
(Just try)
Or would I be talking to a stone
If I asked you
To share a problem that’s not your own
(Oh no)
We can change things if we start giving
Why don’t you

Reach out and touch
Somebody’s hand
Make this world a better place
If you can

If you see an old friend on the street
And he’s down
Remember his shoes could fit your feet
(Just try)
Try a little kindness and you’ll see
It’s something that comes
Very naturally
(Oh yeah)
We can change things if we start giving

Reach out and touch (reach out)
Somebody’s hand
Make this world a better place
If you can

“Don’t let the little things in life bug me”…

Afterwards, I was a little disappointed to notice that the ladybug only had 2 legs per side. A friend suggested that I could get more legs added if it was “bugging” me. I decided even though that was an option, I was letting the little things(legs) “bug” me. What an epi-“funny”!!!

Read more: One of my mottos is …

…and why a butterfly…My happiest moments seem to be when I’m in a spot where I see butterflies…It also reminds of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s quote: “Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.”

Actually, this challenges me to recognize that real happiness is not having to think if you are- so, are you?

…A current sliver in my finger reminded me of one of my funniest epi-“funnies”…I was assisting with the high school girls basketball team & standing/leaning against the gym’s wooden bleaches when I slid over to make room for a player.

Read more: It’s ok to ask for help…

Oops! or I should say ouch! as I felt that I had acquired a sliver in my bum. Since I was focused on practice, I didn’t think about how I was going to extract the sliver till later…My sons were a bit on the young side to be the surgeons; plus, they were “guys”… Fortunately, the next day when I was working as a teacher’s aid at the elementary school, I had an epi”funny”- the school nurse. At the end of my shift, I swung by the nurse’s office & approached her with, ” I bet- even though betting’s not allowed in Utah, that you’ve never encountered a scenario like mine & showed her my sliver. What a relief as she removed the sliver with a chuckle agreeing that this was a first for her. In turn, it was a reminder to me that some things we can’t do on our own so it’s ok to ask for help…

I guess, it could also be a reminder that there are times in life when we need to “turn the other cheek”…

In January I was fortunate to visit family in Washington- 5 sisters & my almost 98 year old Mother. I took a tumble while working on an organizing project ending up with a very sore lower back & bum. I promised my sister who witnessed the fall that I would get an x-ray when I got home. Due to the discomfort I was experiencing, I decided that I would get someone to assist me with lifting my carryon up/down on my flight home. Well, I’m glad I didn’t worry about how I was going to get it up/down because by the time I boarded there wasn’t room for anymore bags in the overhead area so my bag ended up getting checked.

Continue reading “Wait to Worry…”

Having just celebrated the new year along with being a year older/wiser(?), I challenge you to be like a tree:

Continue reading “Life has “tree”mendous possibilities…”

Try making a life enhancing resolution; not just one for the New Year…I aim to:

Live simply… Love generously…Speak kindly…Care deeply…

May your 2024 be filled with lots of memorable moments!!!

A fresh reminder to just “go with the flow”…

Continue reading “Time is of the essence”

I get a lot of inspiration when I’m outside- often when I’m walking one of my buddies on a trail…

Continue reading “Hop to it…”

I believe how a person’s views their glass, 1/2 full or 1/2 empty. says a lot about their outlook on life…

Continue reading “1/2 Empty or 1/2 Full…”