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PUT DOWN YOUR MENTAL RED PEN!

1/30/2016

2 Comments

 
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PUT DOWN YOUR 
MENTAL RED PEN!

Do you remember in school when your assignments were returned to you after the teacher made corrections with a red pen?

Those red check marks, circles and comments cut right to your heart as if a neon sign was flashing “FAILURE!” 

Could this be where we learned the concept of judging?

We have been conditioned to point out what is unacceptable, wrong or incomplete.

We all have a mental red pen that constantly searches and rates everything within our focus.

We judge others on their clothes, income, status and even the behavior of their children.
We judge restaurants by how good the food is, how clean the floor is and how immediate the service is.
We judge the weather by the temperature, the wind speed and the humidity. 

And the mental red pen does double duty when we judge ourselves.  The number on the scale is too high; there are too many gray hairs; accomplishments are not grand enough; on and on and on.  

What if we stepped back from the mental red pen?  
Stop the check marks, circles and comments and adopt the phrase,

           “Isn't that interesting?” 

The next time you see a girl with blue hair, tattoos and piercings or want to thrash yourself for the two pounds you gained on vacation, step back, take a breath and say, 

            “Isn't that interesting?”

This is not saying you condone everything you see and every action you or others make.

It is just the calm acknowledgement of observation.
Not good.  Not bad. Not negative. Not hateful.  

The phrase, “Isn't that interesting?” may become a buffer between you and confrontation.  It may become a kinder frame for self-talk instead of the negative chatter we are used to hearing.  It may become a new perspective into non-judgment of others.  

The mental red pen can become the means for feedbackand not failure.  

Can you live one day without judging yourself or others?  Try it.

You will notice just how often you do engage that mental red pen of acceptability or failure.

After you complete one day, try for two, then three. 
You may just step back from this exercise and say, 
            “Isn't that interesting?”
              ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:

        "Put down your mental red pen.
        Instead of judging yourself and  
        others say,

              “Isn't that interesting.” 
               ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 YOUR TURN...         
My intent in sharing this with you is to help all of us see our own mental red pen and to try an alternative to judging-- try observing. 
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below .  And please feel free to email me  at:
 PennieHunt@gmail.com. 
                              Thank you!  
                  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

                                                          All Rights Reserved
                                                      Copyright © 2013-2016 Pennie Hunt
                                       This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
                                                             Feel free to forward this post.
                                       Please keep the entire message intact, including
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                                                                             Thank you!

2 Comments

1300 LESSONS I TOOK 55 YEARS TO LEARN

1/22/2016

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1300 LESSONS
 I TOOK 
55 YEARS 
TO LEARN


1.  Make friends on the playground or stand alone - Learn to Love Change!

I grew up in a military family, which meant I would just make friends in school and it was time to move- again. At the time I believed this was child abuse, but it taught me how to build relationships, grow friendships and hone the ability to accept and love change. 

2.  Don’t wish your life away!

I remember how I couldn't wait to be thirteen.  My Mom said, “Don’t wish your life away.”  That didn't pacify me at the time, but now 43 very quick years later I understand the wisdom in that statement. 

 3.  I love Brussels sprouts! I really do! 

I hated Brussels sprouts for 54 years.  The truth is I had never tried one.  Not long ago I did.  I have been trying to make up for lost time ever since.  The moral here is – you can’t hate what you haven’t tried and you can’t judge what you haven’t lived. Let that statement simmer a minute.  

4.  Don’t tell anyone you are on a diet! 

If you need to make a life change like losing weight or changing jobs you may need a support group or career coach, but don’t tell anyone else.  People will scrutinize every pound you lose (and gain), every job you apply for and every rejection letter you receive.  If they don’t know, when you have set backs and disappointments they won’t magnify your defeat.  Wait until you have good news to share and let them celebrate the victory with you.  

5.  Know when to say NO and when to say YES!

For years I said, “Yes” to everyone and every request for my energy and time. After suffering a few creative stress induced illnesses I learned that I couldn't do it all and I wasn't Wonder Woman.  I learned how to say, “No” when I needed to.  I also learned to say, “Yes” to myself.

6.  Not everyone likes me! 

What is not to like about me? I was the people pleasing cocker spaniel that when I got kicked wanted to jump up and lick the face of the kicker to prove that I was sweet, kind and deserving of love. The reality is – not everyone likes cocker spaniels!
There are enough people who do and those are the ones I spend my time liking and loving. Don’t waste your time trying to prove yourself to anyone who just doesn't like you. 

7.  Do what you LOVE!

Don’t waste a precious moment of time doing work you hate.  Do what brings you joy and contentment.  If you can’t do it full time do it as a hobby, but do what you love! 

8.  Know when to risk and know when to let go!

I owned Apple stock when it was $22 a share and sold it at $24. Big mistake!  This is a perfect example of doing this wrong.  Knowing when to hold something and when to let it go is an intuitive skill that I believe grows with listening to your inner voice when it tells you to run down the street after them yelling, “I love you!” or to turn and walk away as the sun sets and the credits roll. 

9.  Take care of yourself!

Being healthy matters, so control what you can. Just like you take care of your car by cleaning it, getting checkups and supplying it with quality fuel, take care of the body that carries your soul in the same way.  Once you hit the mile markers of  40, 50, 55 and beyond you will be happy you did!

10. Be quiet and listen.

Meditation saved my life. 
Sit alone and in silence. Listen to your heart.  Listen to the silence.  You will be amazed at what you hear!

 11. We are all one phone call away from our knees.

It happens to everyone.  When the phone rings and the message of loss is delivered, you will be on your knees. With the aid of love and grace we will stand back up stronger than before.  Once this hard lesson has been learned your heart will expand with the love required to support others when they fall.

12.  Every moment we choose the path of Fear or Faith.

We are constantly given the choice of walking the path of fear of failure or the path of faith in the future.  The road of faith is a much happier road to travel.  Choose faith! 

13.  Gratefulness leads to love and yes, Love is the answer to every question!  

Being here in this body, on this Earth and at this time is a privilege. Be humbled by the magnitude of it. Do not take anything for granted. Be grateful for every moment, every breath, every experience and every lesson learned; Being grateful leads to living in a space of love.
The most important lesson and the basis for all the lessons I have learned is LOVE!
Life begins and ends with love. 
Love yourself.
Love others.
Love animals.
Love nature.
With every breath be grateful for being here to love.
That’s it, bottom line… Love your heart out!

I do realize that was 13 lessons and not 1300, but most of them took me 100 or more experiences to learn, so I am giving myself extra credit.

Learn YOUR lessons well.
Happy Living!

                ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
YOUR TURN...
            What lessons have you learned?  Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below.  Thank you!

                                                          All Rights Reserved
                                          Copyright © 2013-2016 Pennie Hunt
                                   This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
                                                Feel free to forward this post.
                             Please keep the entire message intact, including
                                    contact, logo, and copyright information.
                 If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission       
                                         please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
                                                                          Thank you!
                    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

0 Comments

LIFE DOESNT HAPPEN THAT WAY

1/14/2016

11 Comments

 

You won't want to miss hearing this audio! 
With A Special Message from my son! 

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LIFE DOESN’T HAPPEN THAT WAY

Today I should be celebrating my son’s birthday.
There should be cake and candles.  Laughter and joy.
But life doesn’t happen that way.

Today I should be able to pick up the phone to call him and hear his voice.
But life doesn’t happen that way.

Today I should be watching his life grow, his family grow, and his future grow.
But life doesn’t happen that way.

My vision for my son was one of college, career and carefree living.
But life doesn’t happen that way.

My plan was for happy-ever-after.  It didn’t include the phone call, the tragedy, grief or loss. 
But life doesn’t happen that way.

Life isn’t a straight line to a story book ending.  No one is given that luxury.
Life is a novel with twists and turns, ups and downs, happy and sad, birth and death.

We gladly settle in with our book of life, carefully opening it with anticipation, never really knowing how it will end.
Chapter after chapter we move forward through the happy times, joyous experiences, interesting characters and plots.

We squint and hold our breath through the times of uncertainty, fear and consuming heartbreak all the while hoping that in the end we will ride into a beautiful sunset.

The reality is, we never know how long the book will be or the exact outcome.
One chapter or ninety nine, it is the not knowing that creates the sweet mystery of life. 
This is how life happens.

Today I will be celebrating my son’s birthday.  There will be photographs and memories.  Laughter and tears.
This is how life happens.

Today I will pick up the phone and listen to the last voice mail he left on my machine – just so I can hear his voice tell me that life is great!
This is how life happens.

Today I look at his photo and spend time with his daughter- watching her grow, watching her future grow- without him.
This is how life happens.

My son’s book was short.
My vision will be of him forever 22.
Smiling, laughing with his friends, brother and sister, playing guitar and holding his infant daughter.
This is how life happens.

Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Life doesn’t always happen the way we think it should.  It happens in ways that teach us patience, kindness, love and acceptance.” 

                 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
YOUR TURN...         
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to accept all that happens in life - even though it may not be how we want it to happen.
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below .  And please feel free to email me  at:
 PennieHunt@gmail.com. 
                                Thank you!  
                   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                                

J.T.
​ 1985-2007
Forever 22

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                                                                    All Rights Reserved
                                                      Copyright © 2013-2016 Pennie Hunt
                                       This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
                                                             Feel free to forward this post.
                                       Please keep the entire message intact, including
                                            contact, logo, and copyright information.
                 If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission       
                                                 please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
                                                                             Thank you!

                    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
11 Comments

LEAP OF TRUST

1/8/2016

0 Comments

 
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 LEAP OF TRUST 
 
You know the feeling.
You slide into the cool sheets, fluff up your favorite pillow, pull the soft warm blankets up to your chin and wiggle and squiggle until your mattress molds around you in safe secure comfort.
You close your eyes shutting out all the problems of your world and drift into the luxury of sleep.

All the while trusting.

Trusting that wherever you travel --through pleasant dreams or nightmares, whether your body simply shuts down to rest or your soul journeys to unknown adventures-- at some point you will wake up.
Wake up stronger, rested and ready to walk another day.
And, if you don’t wake up, you trust that the space you move into will be one of greater comfort than the space where you currently are.

This may be the ultimate leap of trust.
To simply close your eyes, giving up all barriers of protection and give yourself fully to the unknown experience of unconsciousness that you know as sleep.
 A place of total vulnerability.  
 
Trust.
​

What if you could learn to trust like this during your awake hours?

Grief, sadness and life events are at times difficult to maneuver. You may feel like there is no end- no way out of the desperation.  What if you could trust that you will walk through these times and wake up on the other side with new strength, new knowledge and ready to walk another day?
 
Actually, it should be easier.
When you trust that sleep is a safe endeavor you do it alone. No one can share the experience of sleep with you. And yet, you do it night after night always trusting it will be fine in the morning.

All other life experiences, no matter how devastating they are, can be shared with others. Even if you feel alone, you don’t have to be. You can ask for help.  You can reach out to others in similar circumstances.  You can hold someone’s hand and they can hold yours.

Tonight when you cozy into your cocoon of sleep, ponder this concept.  Think about the leap of trust you take every time you close your eyes.  AND, think about how wonderful it would be to live your daily life trusting in that same way.

Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Take the leap of trust moment to moment
   understanding that you will make it        
   through the challenges of life.
   Trust that you will be fine.” 
                 
                 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...         
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to trust.  Trust in every moment of every day! 
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below .  And please feel free to email me  at:
 PennieHunt@gmail.com. 
                                Thank you!  
                   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

                                                                    All Rights Reserved
                                                      Copyright © 2013-2016 Pennie Hunt
                                       This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
                                                             Feel free to forward this post.
                                       Please keep the entire message intact, including
                                            contact, logo, and copyright information.
                 If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission       
                                                 please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
                                                                             Thank you!

                    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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I HELD JOY IN MY HAND

1/1/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
    I HELD JOY
   IN MY HAND

I purchased holiday door hangers that said, “JOY” for my friends and delivered them with notes that held my wish for them to have Joy in their lives for the New Year.

I found a special ornament that said “JOY” during a shopping adventure, brought it home and hung it in a prominent place on my tree.

I even read the popular book that taught me how to declutter my closet by keeping only things that bring me “JOY.”

Every year I choose a word.  A word that will guide my life for the next 12 months.
This is different than a resolution.
It doesn’t cause me guilt or shame when I give up the diet I promised myself I would maintain or the exercise program that typically lasts a month.

This is a word I try to live by for a year.
I begin thinking about it around November.  Some years I struggle to find the perfect word.
Last year it came to me during a meditation.
This year it slapped me right in the face.  Over and Over and Over again. 

It took me a while to catch on.
Why did I decide to read the book in November that caused me to begin really thinking about what does bring me JOY?

Out of all the thousands of ornaments for sale in the stores, why was I drawn to the one small JOY ornament to bring home for my tree?

Why did I choose the JOY door hangers for my friends?

While shopping a few after-Christmas sales it flashed before me like a beacon guiding me to open my eyes.  Everywhere I turned in the mountains of left over holiday items covered with words, sentiments and greetings - JOY jumped at me.

One piece pulled me closer with intentional force.  I reached through the crowed isle to pluck the simple glittery word from the shelf.
I stood in the middle of the store holding JOY in my hand.
At that moment the golden statement sunk into my heart. 

   THE WORD IS JOY!

JOY had been trying to reach into my life in small and quiet ways.  It had been whispering to me,
      “Wish ME to your friends,
       bring ME into your home,
       allow ME to fill your heart!”    

The in-my-face synchronicity was not to be ignored.

    THE WORD IS JOY!
    MY WORD IS JOY!

I brought the golden JOY home and hung it in my office as a reminder to live the New Year in JOY.
To only bring things into my life that bring me JOY.
To seek experiences that bring me JOY.
To share JOY with others in every way and every day.
To be mindful enough to learn what really does bring me JOY and love myself enough to settle for nothing less than a JOYOUS life and a JOY-filled year!

Feeling very satisfied with my decision, I moved on to my daily routine of opening the mail.  The last envelope was a holiday card that had most likely been delayed in delivery.
I reached in the red envelope.
The silver glitter covered card reflected the sun magnifying the message into a blinding validation.
The card had one simple word on it- JOY!
Of course it did….
   THE WORD IS JOY!

Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Love yourself enough to know what brings you JOY and welcome it into your life!”
 

                     
                           ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...         
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to experience JOY in the new year and share it with others.  What is your word? 
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below .  And please feel free to email me  at:
 PennieHunt@gmail.com. 
                                Thank you!  
                   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

                                                                    All Rights Reserved
                                                      Copyright © 2013-2016 Pennie Hunt
                                       This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
                                                             Feel free to forward this post.
                                       Please keep the entire message intact, including
                                            contact, logo, and copyright information.
                 If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission       
                                                 please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
                                                                             Thank you!

                    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

0 Comments

    Author

    There is a certain magic about where I live both physically and spiritually – on the crossroads of Spirit and Brave. 

    It seems appropriate that my writings be found under the sign that locates my life.  I wish for all of you the ability to live in your Spirit to experience a life filled with love and gratitude and be Brave in the learning of your life lessons. 

    Enjoy!
            Pennie


     

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PLEASE NOTE: This page does not provide medical or legal advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment or services to you or to any other individual. Through this site and links to other sites, Pennie Hunt provides general information for inspiration, encouragement and educational purposes only. The information provided in this site, or through links to other sites, is not a substitute for legal, medical, or professional care, and you should not use the information in place of a visit, call or the advice of your lawyer, physician or other healthcare provider.   

​
 Copyright © 2012- 2023  Pennie Hunt -  All Rights Reserved
Photographs by Pennie Hunt and Materpiecebysarah.com                          


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