LET GO OF THE TUPPERWARE 

I opened the door and the assortment fell on my head.

I picked them up off the floor, grabbed the step stool and climbed up to shove them all back into the overflowing cabinet like I had done hundreds of times.

As I jostled and pushed the bowls, pitchers and pickle containers back into the black hole of plastic, it occurred to me –WHY don’t I let go of the Tupperware? 

Thirty years ago Tupperware parties were the acceptable girls-night-out.  We all took turns hosting the gatherings where we listened to the sales pitch, ate cake, drank coffee and shared the secrets (okay, gossip) of the day and then ordered the obligatory plastic item.

At the time it seemed expensive, but the justification came with the durability of it, the perceived usefulness of it, the cool factor of the new products AND the lifetime guarantee.  It was virtually indestructible, but if some major mishap did occur it would be replaced.

Along with this came a free add on with every item -- guilt.

I am convinced it was molded into each piece during the factory creation.  It was an unwritten code that you WOULDkeep it forever.  After all – the investment . . . the lifetime guarantee…and someday I will need it!

What do you have in your home that you won’t let go of?  What ties up the space in your heart and mind that is bound with the guilt of investment and a someday but, never-to-be-used promise or guarantee?  

Is your closet overflowing with clothes? Is there an unhealthy relationship in your life?  Are you in a job you hate?  Do you hold a victim story in your heart that you retell over and over?

The Tupperware of our lives comes in all forms.  We invest in all of them with time, money and energy in the hope of a future pay off.  And then there is the elusive guarantee of need –someday, of weight loss – someday, of love –someday, of a promotion – someday and someday this victim story is going to explain why everything happens to me.  

Maybe it was the 700th time of having a load of hard plastic fall on my head that finally spurred me to make a change. Maybe it was the recognition that it will never wear out so the guarantee doesn't matter.   Maybe it was the realization that I will never use it – not even someday.

The why doesn't matter, but now it is packed in a box ready to be donated.  My cabinet is organized, clean and clear. My guilt is gone. I feel free! 

When will you let go of your Tupperware? 
              ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
"We have things in our closets, hearts and             minds that we hold on to in hopes                           of someday. ~ Let them go!"
             ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to think about what you hold on to when it would be best to let them go.  

YOUR TURN - 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 © 2013-2015 Pennie Hunt
                                       This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
                                                    Feel free to forward this post.
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RELAX AND ALLOW THE PROCESS OF LIFE TO OCCUR


"Relax and allow the process of life to occur." 

When I said that to a friend of mine I felt the intensity of her response ripple up her back forcing her to stretch upright and lean forward.

"Relax and allow life to occur? What about work, my kids, my husband? We have Little League games on the weekends, ballet practice after school, I volunteer on Wed. nights, my husband is out of town for work this week, and my in-laws arrive for a visit this Sunday. Relax? The next thing you are going to tell me is to sit with my legs crossed and just be.  Are you crazy?"

I could see she was desperately trying to control the pace and rhythm of her busy life. By doing this the scope of her world was overwhelming her.

I know the symptoms of overwhelm, because I see them often and I have felt them.  The symptoms are similar-- the tired, drawn look with heavy under eye circles from skimping on sleep; the extra 10 --ok, 15 lbs that are always trying to be lost, yet increase due to eating on the run; the endless checking of emails, texts, and phone calls; the continual list making of tasks and responsibilities required to get through the day and the week; and the quick defensiveness of why all of it is necessary and important causing life to be so crazy and out of control. 

Sitting with legs crossed is not necessarily the answer, although the just being part is close.

This continual out-of - breath pace that life forces us to run is counter to what we are meant to do.  When we are out of breath we cannot allow life to occur, let alone relax to the place of enjoyment.

Breathing is important but remember the only breath that is significant is this one; the one we are taking right now.  The last one is over and the next one has yet to fill our lungs.   And it won't unless we successfully inhale and exhale the current one.  You see, you can't take more than one breath at a time and the only important one is the one you are breathing right now.

 If you use this concept in life you will learn to slow down and experience one event at a time.  View each event and experience as a breath.  Just as you will begin to focus on the breath you are taking, you will also begin to concentrate on the event you are experiencing . . . not the ones on your list for tomorrow or the responsibilities you have to others.  It is this breath right now, this experience right now that is important.

You may be surprised to find that you CAN relax and allow life to occur. 
              ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~~~~~
Pennie's Life Lesson-
      "When you focus on the moment
         you are in, you can relax and 
         allow life to occur."
                                ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to relax.  Is your life really that stressful.  Stop right now, even if only for 5 minutes and breathe.  

YOUR TURN - 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 © 2013-2015 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!

JUST WALK AWAY 

Several years ago my son and his daughter came to spend the afternoon with me.
It was one of those days that screamed for ice cream.

Sitting in the booth at Dairy Queen, I watched as my granddaughter’s chubby two year old hand clutched her cone when suddenly the ice cream began dripping down the sides and over her fingers. 

My son, in true fatherly- fashion, leaned over to lick a drip.  Pulling her cone back, she quickly flicked up her other hand in front of his face and said,

     “Just walk away, Daddy!” 

Not being all together clear on what I had heard, a mixture of surprise and amusement blurted out of me. 

      "What did she say?” I questioned.

My son began chuckling and replied,

     “She said,  JUST WALK AWAY.   They teach the kids to   
       say that in preschool when someone does something     
       they don’t like.  They raise their hand and say just walk 
       away in an attempt to avoid an argument.  She has 
       learned this pretty well and has decided it works at 
       home on us too.” 

I couldn't stop thinking of the brilliance of what I had just learned from a 2 year old.
I understand there are times in life when just walking away is not appropriate.  We all have responsibilities and obligations that even when difficulties occur we can’t and shouldn't just walk away from.
But, there are times in life when conflict can be avoided by just walking away. 

How many times could we just walk away --even temporarily, to cool down, clear our thoughts and take a mental time out before tackling the problem?

Think of situations you have experienced that seemed worth and altercation at the time, but in hindsight were minor issues.
Was it really worth complaining about?
Was the scathing letter really worth writing?
Were the words thrown in anger worth the damage they caused?
Right now I am sure replays of regret are running through your mind.  

Can YOU create a Just Walk Away Plan with your spouse, partner or family?  Everyone involved must understand the terms of agreement and the physical code- when the hand goes up and the words, “Just Walk Away” are spoken it means the conversation will suspend and those involved will disengage.  

When tempers cool, circumstances calm and the climate clears then come back together to revisit what happened.  You may find the issue isn't important enough to talk about.  You may find your children will avoid many sizzling sibling battles.  You may find that even small messages can be communicated to save misunderstandings.  

Here’s an example: 

I am a morning person.  Before my eyes open my mind is making a mental list of things I want to do, experience and talk about.  I pop up smiling and excited to chatter about the day ahead. 

My husband is a night owl.  He prefers to sleep later than I do.  His morning routine is quiet time, coffee and a period of acclimation to the day.
Can you see the possibility for conflict here?

We have agreed to our Just Walk Away Plan.  There are mornings when his hand goes up to my happily chattering face.  I quickly realize he is not ready to hear everything that is buzzing in my head.  Once the caffeine has distributed through his body and the morning adjustment time is complete he is thrilled to listen to my overwhelming enthusiasm. 

When you adopt and accept this procedure you will be surprised at just how backing off for a while can create a calm space to re-calibrate the situation from a possible conflict into a positive communication experience.
You will begin to assess situations quickly and the vision of a hand will go up in your mind’s eye warning you that this may be one of those occasions where it is best to Just Walk Away.

                                ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie's Life Lesson:
             “There are times in life when the best option
                               is to Just Walk Away.”
                                ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to think before you react... is it time to just walk away before you say and do things you can't take back?    

YOUR TURN - 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 © 2013-2015 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!

FIREWALKER

My name is Pennie Hunt and I am a firewalker. 

Yes, you heard right...a firewalker.

Here's the thing.... everyone is a firewalker!  We all walk through fire at some point in our lives.  These fires take many forms: divorce, health issues, loss of a job, or the death of someone you love. 

Not long ago I walked through a real fire.  I watched as a huge pile of wood crackled and burned until it fell into a layer of chunky red hot coals.

As I stood at the edge of this path of fire I wondered if I had the courage to walk through.
The answer was.....yes!

Walking through the fire that day, I realized how it related to the fires I have walked through in my life.  These are the lessons I learned.

~ You must take the first step. ~

• If you stand at the edge of the fire yearning for the soft landing on the other side, you will either be pushed in or remain living in a place of fear.  You must take the first step to reach the other side.

~ You must take your time; walk slowly         
     and experience the fire. ~

• If you try to rush the process believing that by running through you won’t feel the pain, hot coals will be kicked up lodging deeper into your skin. You WILL be burned.

~ You must feel the fire, but keep 
    moving through. ~

• If you stop in the fire standing still to simmer too long, the fire begins to feel normal to you. You will like the attention you receive for being there.   But, eventually others will lose interest in your burning and leave you standing in the heat.

~ You must walk through your fires alone. ~

• You may have many people cheering you on from the sidelines as you walk through your fires, but ultimately you have to walk alone....it's your feet that must get dirty to reach the other side.

~ You must look up and forward as you 
     walk.~

• As you walk, if you continually look down at the fire fear will consume you causing you to live a life of victimization and bitterness.  You must look ahead. Only then will you walk through the fire successfully to live a life of love, peace and gratitude.

~ When you think you are done 
     walking through the fire check for 
      smoldering sparks. ~

• Once you reach that soft landing on the other side and think all is well, you must check to ensure that you don’t have smoldering sparks.  Sometimes tiny pieces of hot coals stick between your toes and in the depths of your heart.  These hidden sparks may seem harmless, but when left unattended may flare up again and again --when you least expect it.

~ Say thank you and celebrate what was 
     good about walking through fire. ~

• When you have walked through the fire, look back at what you accomplished. Honor the fire for the lessons it gave you----strength, courage, patience and love.   

~ You must believe you can. ~

• Finally and most importantly, from the first step to the last, you MUST believe in yourself! 

Yes, I am Pennie Hunt and I am a firewalker.

I believe if you follow these steps you will be a successful firewalker too!

                  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“We all walk through fires in life.  Believe you have the courage to walk through them and be grateful for the lessons they teach you.”    
                ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to look at the challenges in life differently and Believe that you have the courage to walk through them!    

YOUR TURN - 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 © 2013-2015 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!