This Is Who I Am! The Ongoing Saga Of New Year’s Resolutions!

 This Is Who I Am!  The Ongoing Saga Of New Year’s Resolutions!

New Year's Resoluitons! www.mytributejournal.com

As I said last year at this time, I’m not necessarily one for New Year’s resolutions; they just tend to make me feel a little grumpy–sigh!?  I do, however, think that it’s as good a time as any to take an informal inventory of what we see as our best attributes and decide how we might use them to help us better reach our personal potential, as well as make a few changes where necessary!

Curly Girl personal potential quote! www.mytributejournal.com

My mom always used to caution me that there was a fine line between exerting too much pressure on ourselves to achieve lofty goals, and not putting forth enough effort to make our best life possible!      

This Is Who I Am–Breaking It Down

Feel free to join me in a little self-evaluation…

Personal: I’m a fairly organized person, and I can go with the flow pretty well too–but like so many busy wives and mothers, I could do better at carving out some personal time that speaks to some of my specific interests.  Also, at times it’s fine to be a little mindless, but overall, I know I can make better use of my time.

  • Replace radio channels with a good book tape on my drive to work.
  • Take more “tech” breaks and write personal notes to those I admire!
  • Allow more time to look around, be intrigued and learn from others!  

Physical:  While I don’t necessarily feel the urge to engage in extreme physical feats, I can certainly do better at changing things up every once in a while!

  • Call a friend and try a new exercise class together.  My work schedule is such that I usually just fit in a workout when I can, but sometimes it’s nice to be inspired by other’s abilities to really push their fitness boundaries! 
  • Prepare veggie sacks for snacks!  I usually watch what I eat, but I’d do better if I had some pre-made, healthy munchies handy! 

Relationships:  It sounds so cliché, but I truly believe that by not sweating the small stuff as our families grow and start to include in-laws and grandchildren, we can then enjoy the freedom to appreciate the unique characteristics that each brings to our new family mix!    

  • Enjoy a yearly trip together!  For me, this is a priority!  It takes time to plan and coordinate, but the ties that bind, so to speak, when we all get together, and the goodness observed in those we love, make it well worth the effort!
  • Plan one on one time too!  We all have busy schedules, but planning a few fun outings with each of our children and their spouses individually, especially when they live far away, affords a deeper connection that enriches each of us!  

Enjoy The Ride!

Perhaps most important is enjoying each day more fully as we make the journey in this life to discover who we really are and what we’re capable of doing!

"Life is a Journey!" quote www.mytributejournal.com

What I’m learning now is…

Before she moved, my daughter used to have this saying stenciled on a wall as you entered her home, accompanied by some fun pictures of her children.  What I’m learning now is that there are so many people in my life, including my children, that help me appreciate who I am right now as I strive to be better each day!

Do you make New Years resolutions?  What’s just one thing you’d like to accomplish this year?

–Mary

               

Special Memories!

Memories Are The Scribes Of Your Soul!

The Book Thief--"Memories are the scribes of your soul!" www.mytributejournal.com

This is a favorite quote of mine from the movie “The Book Thief!” 

I guess it’s only natural to reflect on the year that has just passed by….each year, along with the many memories they create, is surely what shapes and defines our character to a certain degree!

Special Memories of 2013!

♥ I have special memories of the ingenuity of people who are dedicated to their profession! 

Newborn nursery! Memories and miracles! www.mytributejournal.com

Despite all the healthcare debates and hoopla going on, I have many special memories of the miracle of birth that takes place on a daily basis at my job!  As a nurse, I’m privileged to see many dedicated medical personnel as they work hard to stay current in their training and strive to always see their patients as wonderfully unique individuals!  These fine, caring doctors and nurses try to do everything within their power to always give superb care to everyone!

♥ I have special memories of the great resiliency and tenacity of the human spirit!

New York City marathon www.mytributejournal.com

After the horrific events that took place at the Boston marathon this year, the special memories I have of witnessing first hand, the camaraderie and healing that seemed to take place at the New York City marathon, where many runners ran to represent the strength of the human spirit, will forever be etched on my heart!

My son, who is doing a year of advanced dental training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, has also seen the ability of people to rally after the devastation of the tornados in nearby areas!

US Army Fort Sill, Oklahoma! www.mytributejournal.com

Jake and Whitney Wilding–Fort Sill, Oklahoma 2013

♥ I have so many special memories of delightful times spent with my sweet  granddaughters!  

Special memories with my granddaughters! www.mytributejournal.com

Whether we’re “playing house” or just “chatting” while we eat lunch together, my cute granddaughters, Makena and Marli, with their innocent ability to approach everything they do with unbridled zeal and enthusiasm, constantly remind me that true joy comes from cherishing all the simple pleasures that life has to offer!  Some of my most special memories are created when I remember to do this!

I have special memories of wonderful experiences I’ve had with my family!

Special memoires of my family! www.mytributejournal.com

It’s important to share the happiness, as well as the challenges that we all face together as families!  Time spent with my children and their spouses, always proves to strengthen my desire to be a better person as I watch them go about their busy lives!

What I’m learning now is…

I think everyone can attest to the fact that as we get older, the years seem to fly by so quickly–therefore, memories abound and you’re flooded with the most cherished treasures of your life!

My parents loving example of a life well lived! www.mytributejournal.com

What I’m learning now is that while I watched my parents welcome each new year when they were alive, I saw how they embraced every phase of their lives with seemingly fearless fervor!  Their outlook set a good example for me to always appreciate the many special memories of years past, but to also be happy in anticipating a brand new year!  

Please share some special memories you have from 2013!  What do look forward to in the coming new year?

I hope everyone has a very Happy New Year!

–Mary  

  

Thoughtful Kindness!

Thoughtful Kindness!

With Thanksgiving Day just a few weeks away, this is the time of year where we hopefully take time out to give a little thoughtful consideration for all the things we’re thankful for and express our gratitude to those who have impacted our lives in influential ways!

Gratitude quote!  www.mytributejournal.com

One of my favorite quotes about “GRATITUDE” sits all year-long on a shelf in my living room to remind me of a couple of characteristics I want to develop better in my life!

Despite the Thanksgiving season, however, another word has occupied my mind and nudged my conscience more dominantly lately.  Not too long ago, a dear friend sent me a copy of a graduation address given by George Saunders, a New York Times best-selling short story author, to students at Syracuse University in upstate New York this past year.  Although I had seen excerpts of this speech quoted in related articles, I hadn’t read it in its entirety.  Upon doing so, the word “kindness” has taken on a deeper meaning for me and I’ve felt compelled to incorporate it more genuinely in my life, especially in terms of how I associate with others!  I would also like to enlist your support in joining forces with me to help promote a more concerted effort of giving more thoughtful kindness” –one act at a time!

Mr. Saunders, in his advice to the graduating students, related a few personal stories, then summarized that ultimately he had few regrets in life, other than his failures of kindness.  He then posed an interesting question by saying:

“Who in your life, do you remember most fondly, with the most undeniable feelings of warmth? 

“Those who were kindest to you, I bet.”

“It’s a little facile, maybe, and certainly hard to implement, but I’d say, as a goal in life, you could do worse than: Try to be kinder.”

“Now the million-dollar question:  What’s our problem?  Why aren’t we kinder?”  

“Because kindness, it turns out, is hard!” 

(Read George Saunder’s full speech here.)

We all hear stories about ‘pay it forward’ or ‘random acts of kindness’–I love them and have even dedicated a board on my Pinterest page to them, and I also have a file in my desk drawer where I’ve collected these heart warming types of experiences about others!  It seems like almost on a daily basis, you hear of a newsworthy story about someone leaving a large tip for a struggling waitress or waiter and you can’t help but be impressed by this kind of generosity to complete strangers!

Now here’s my thought…just think what we might accomplish if we looked around and better observed those we associate with–family members, neighbors, work colleges etc. and dedicated ourselves to giving a little more thoughtful consideration to how we can truly be more kind to these people, among all the others we rub shoulders with, so to speak, on any given day.  It’s one thing to write a check and leave extra money for someone we perceive as being able to benefit greatly by this act of good will, but to actually take a little time out of our busy, busy schedules to really give some sincere thought as to how we might impact another’s life, even anonymously, might be the greater challenge to take on, but perhaps just as rewarding, if not more so, for all parties involved!     

Hearing about all the devastation that’s taken place this week in the Philippians, it’s easy to feel pretty helpless and like we can’t possibly make a difference, but maybe with small, kind gestures we can, as we reach out to those around us and in more meaningful ways try to lift them up.  Certainly opportunities may arise where we’re given the chance to help other people on a larger scale, but in the meantime, I think it’s so important as go about our day-to-day lives that we try and offer simple acts of thoughtful kindness!

I love the last part of George Saunder’s graduation speech where he states:

“One thing in our favor: some of this ‘becoming kinder’ happens naturally with age…we somehow come to see how useless it is to be selfish…so my heartfelt wish for you as you get older, is that you will gradually be replaced by LOVE.”

(I love it when I hear about any upside to getting older!) 

My hope is that we will all consider…

Thoughtful Kindness!  www.mytributejournal.comClick To Download

 (You can resize image for dimension desired.) 

…in our lives and that you’ll be inspired to share your stories and observations with me, either here in the comments or by writing me at my contact email, so that today and on other “Thoughtful Kindness” days in the future, I can spotlight you by highlighting your stories here!

If you feel so inclined, I would especially love for you to share this download on your blog, Facebook page, or any other social media, (or you can just print off a copy to have as a reminder on your fridge or bulletin board) then at this special Thanksgiving time, we can collectively enlarge our capacity to be more grateful by showing our ability to love and truly share in thoughtful kindness!

I’m grateful that my parents, as well as wonderful friends and family members have been such tremendous examples to me of how to be kinder and love more fully!

Best Wishes for a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!  

–Mary