Take the High Road

This will be an interesting year. Obama is up for re-election and the political rhetoric is deafening. One thing I notice about Obama, though, is that he always takes the high road. He seems to pay no attention to his critics, no matter how outspoken they are against him. I think he knows that the critics can not keep him from his destiny.

I think we could all learn from his example. We need to learn what to ignore. Instead of using our energy trying to please people, we need to use our energy to improve our lives. We need to be at peace with others and ourselves by forgiving our critics. (That includes our inner critic).

We need to celebrate who we are because our happiness depends on it. Bill Cosby once said, "I don't know the secret of success, but I do know the secret of failure, and that is to try to please everybody." We have to choose our battles wisely. There is an old saying that "a bulldog can whip a skunk any day of the week, but sometimes even a dog realizes it's just not worth the stink." If we accept ourselves and live peacefully, our joy will strengthen us for the battles that are really worth fighting.

Well, we do have an election coming up this November, and I really do want to see Obama re-elected. However, I will try to follow Obama's example and not enter the blame game too blatantly. God bless America!

Love and Light,
Patty

Beautiful Blessings

I am so grateful tonight that I can hardly contain my joy. My beautiful new grandbaby Rosie is doing well. I will spend time with my grandson Sammie and granddaughter Kaya soon. I am blessed. My husband has a good job. My teaching assignments have been fulfilling. We have such a lovely home. The reason I am counting my blessings tonight is that I am appreciative for what I have. Joel Osteen wrote, "Seeds of discouragement cannot take root in a grateful heart."

Alphonse Karr wrote, "Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns. I am thankful thorns have roses." It's all a matter of perspective. My granddaughter Rosie's name is Briar Rose. She is a good reminder that beautiful roses grow among the briars. She was born to teenage parents, but she is thriving. I am so grateful that she has such good responsible parents even though they are young.

Recently I came across a poster that said this: "If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back." I think that is so true. There is always someone who has it much worse than we do. Joel Osteen says, "Keep the right point of view. If you have a hard time getting to sleep at night, think about all the homeless people without beds. If you are stuck in traffic, think about all the people who can't afford cars. If you have a bad day in the office, think about all the people who are unemployed. If you have to walk three blocks to church, thank God you are healthy and able to walk. If your hair is turning gray, be grateful it is not turning loose!"

Yes, we have much for which to be grateful. If we would keep the right perspective, we would thank God for each day we are alive and for every minute we have to spend with our loved ones.

Love and Light,
Patty

Rosie Makes Me Rich

Briar Mercury Rose Rawlings was born on December 8, 2011. She weighed 7 lbs. 12 oz. She is absolutely beautiful! She was born on her cousin Sierra Jade Faulkenberry's 13 birthday so that made it even more special. I can't begin to describe what joy she has brought into our lives already. I just feel like a new person.

She is a little cutie patootie. We call her Rosie. She makes me want to take time to smell the roses because life is not about getting somewhere, it is about enjoying the journey. She was born during the busy holiday season, but I certainly took time off to go visit her for two and a half weeks. She was my Christmas!

During that time, Frank's mom Alice passed away. That was December 19, and it was a very low point of my visit. The weather was bad that day so Frank told me to stay with Rosie, and that he and his brother David would plan a celebration of her life in January. To have this sadness juxtaposed with the sheer joy of Rosie's birth threatened to take away the happiness of the occasion, but it also reminded me to slow down to enjoy my family because one never knows how long we will have them with us.

So for the first time in many years I enjoyed Christmas with my husband, my girls, and all my grandchildren, and it was joyous. I had to put it all in perspective. I will never get this time back. Rosie will never be a newborn again. I just couldn't take that for granted.

After Frank made some arrangements, he arrived to spend Christmas with the family. I know it was hard for him to share our joy when he had just lost his mom, but he did the best he could. I tried to lift him up and be his strength, but he was hurting. The day after Christmas, we went to visit my mom. It was there in the peace and quiet of Mom's home that he found solace. I am so grateful that my mom and Frank have such a special relationship.

We have a wonderful family and that makes us rich. Someone said, "It's not the time we spend together. It's the moments we ignite to make memories." We are not here forever. We need to take time to smell the roses. I think Rosie will remind me to do just that.

Love and Light,
Patty