​You are driving along the boulevard of life believing everything is fine and then WAM! BAM! In one flash the metaphoric airbag goes off in your face and for a moment of unconscious confusion you don't know what happened, how it happened, or why it happened… but it changes everything.
​
These airbag moments happen in life. They can be big. They can be life-changing. They can be physically, emotionally, and financially painful. Just like in a fender bender, eventually life goes back to (at least) semi-normal. After a fender bender, your car can be repaired or replaced. You will get back in and drive, but you will always be looking in your mirrors to make sure you are safe. These moments in life work the same way. When something happens that changes your life, you patch the wound. But, you will always be looking over your shoulder trying hard to avoid another of life’s airbag moments.

A soul slap hits deeper. A soul slap reaches in and grabs your heart shaking you to the core of your soul. It happens in a life-altering second when the world stops and your thinking is realigned. Life is instantly, and forever, categorized as before and after. Your brain files all memories of the past and visions of the future in relation to the soul slap moment. It can’t be fixed. It changes everything. Permanently.

Soul slaps and airbag moments are at times harsh heart jabbing events and at times joyous celebrations. The moment of your child’s birth and you hold them for the first time. The moment you say goodbye to a loved one for the last time. The phone call that brings you to your knees in grief. The undeniable mistake that can't be reversed. The receiving of love and happiness or the ripping away of the same. A tragedy in your community or the world.
 
We will all be touched by soul slaps and airbag moments. Pay attention to the highs and the lows that occur in your life and the lives of your family and friends. Look into their faces. We will all share these human experiences. The highs and the lows. The good and the bad.
 
These all cause a slap to the heart that says, "WAKE UP!" Wake up to see what you have, what you had, and what you will be given. Wake up to be thankful for it all and for the time you held it. Wake up to understand that THIS moment is the moment that counts and don't take the people or experiences in your life for granted.

No one journeys through this life without soul slaps and airbag moments. There is no secret bubble of protection that shields us from the vulnerability of being stricken. There is no shortcut through this journey of life. There is no secret path of perfection you can follow that guarantees a smooth walk with no mountains to stand on top of or valleys to fall into.

Peace comes from learning to appreciate the airbag moments as lessons that move our journey forward. Growth happens when we respect the soul slaps as the breaking open of our hearts to create space for love to expand. Being brought to our knees, by pain or joy, forces us to lift our heads and look up in gratitude instead of looking down in fear.

The understanding of this will bring the calmness required to feel pain and joy. The peace required to heal.
                                   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                                                     Pennie's Life Lesson:
                                Be thankful for all you experience in life and
           the ability to see the lessons in both the joyous and the heartbreaking.   
                                   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
#CornerofSpiritandBrave #loveyourlifenomatterwhat #journeythrough #PennieHunt

YOUR TURN...        
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below.  And please feel free to email me  at:
 [email protected]. 
                                                Thank you!  ​
                                      ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                                                         All Rights Reserved
                                          Copyright © 2013-2023 Pennie Hunt
                             This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
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This has been harder than I thought it would be. I am not sure I thought this through. When I picked my word for the year it sounded like a great idea. My word is Release. I wanted to Release to find Peace. I wanted to live in a clutter-free environment that feels peaceful. I wanted to be at peace with my health and body. From my closets to my heart and mind, I wanted to release things, thoughts, and ideas that don’t serve me. I wanted plenty of space for peace.

This leads me to where I am today: my version of spring cleaning. I began over a month ago on this cleaning frenzy. It began with the junk drawers in the kitchen, then the food pantry, and now I am heart-deep in a storage closet of memories. It is the closet where all the plastic tubs live. The tubs filled with baby books, blankets, and home run baseballs from my children. Tubs filled with memories of my parents and my son. Tubs filled with my life – report cards, awards from past jobs, and old resumes.

All of these are currently arranged on an old bed sheet that spreads across my family room floor. The closet is almost empty and ready to be vacuumed and neatly restocked. I plan to only allow the most meaningful items to be returned to the closet. But this has been hard. 

The first problem is the amount of time it takes to look at things. To read papers. To relive the memories. To make the big decisions… throw away, donate or keep.
Some are easy decisions. I really don’t need six copies of a newspaper article about me when I began a new job 25 years ago. I really don’t need to keep receipts of payment for every semester of college I paid for. Nor do I need the medical details of a surgery I had in 1995 – yes, I found that. My recycle/shredding pile is large.

It is the heart-throttling items that stop me. My parent’s wedding book with stories of how they met and became engaged. My son’s hoodie covered in patches he collected and had me sew on like stickers on a piece of luggage that had traveled the world. And a million photos of all the places I have been, the people I love, and this life I have lived. These slow me down, and my emotions work overtime insisting that I keep it all. The heck with releasing anything!

Recently I watched a travel show where the host visited Finland. I have never been there, and it probably won’t ever be on my bucket list. One word from the show intrigued me and lodged in a wrinkle of my brain. “Sisu.” During the show, they roughly translated this Finish term to mean - strength of will, determination, perseverance, and acting rationally in the face of adversity. Sisu is not momentary courage, but the ability to sustain that courage.

I love a good word and love even more a great motivational concept. So of course, I have kept this in mind during my journey through the land of plastic tubs and memories. I have a clear vision of what this storage closet should and will look like when I am done. It will be a clutter-free organized space that brings me peace. I will continue with sustained courage to wade through every memory. I will use my strength of will to make decisions about what means the most to me. What needs to be tucked safely back into its tub for me to occasionally look at and enjoy. What needs to be thrown away or donated. What I can share with others, giving them the joy of owning it.

To me, the energy of Sisu means that I am going to do everything possible to get it done, whatever the task is before me. Right now, that is releasing. I will release to find peace.

Next up, my clothes closet and the 80 pairs of shoes I own.
The releasing will continue.
                                  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                                                    Pennie’s Life Lesson:
                          It takes sustained courage to look at your life and
                     decide what needs to be released to open a space of peace.
​                                              ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
#CornerofSpiritandBrave #loveyourlifenomatterwhat #journeythrough #PennieHunt

YOUR TURN...        
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below.  And please feel free to email me  at:
 [email protected]. 
                                                Thank you!  ​
                                      ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                                                         All Rights Reserved
                                          Copyright © 2013-2023 Pennie Hunt
                             This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward and share this post.  Please keep the entire message intact, including  contact, logo, and copyright information. ​

I came home empty-handed. I had anticipated this shopping trip for a week. It was going to be a day of shopping alone. Me time. My enthusiasm created adrenaline just thinking about this shopping spree.

I went to all of my favorite stores. I tried on clothes. Nothing seemed to fit me right. I went to shoe stores. There wasn’t a pair that I wanted to bring home. I even went to my favorite home stores where typically pillows, plants and pots excite me. None of them did. My enthusiasm and adrenaline faded.

I drove home at the end of my day in an empty car and my money still in my purse. What just happened? I love to shop. It is exciting to buy new things. It is thrilling and satisfying for me to find deals. I have days when I see dozens of things I want, but I am in a hurry and don’t have the time to shop. But this day I was ready to shop in every way. So how did I come home empty-handed?
I thought about this for days. Shopping didn’t seem to hold the same thrill as it used to. There wasn’t anything I really loved. There wasn’t anything I really wanted. Maybe a “shopping spree” wasn’t what I needed.

Maybe what I needed was a “living spree.” Maybe I needed a day of feeling joy. A day of happiness. A day of doing things that make me feel alive. A living spree!

How would I do that? How would anyone do that? I thought of a few ways.

What if we… Defined what brings us joy and happiness? To refresh your memory, slow down. Watch a child play. Get down on their level. Look at the magic of life through their eyes. Remember what brought you joy as a child. Once you remember the joy, do it again. Play with a puppy, eat ice cream, dance and celebrate life!

What if we… Counted? We count money. We count time. We count accomplishments and goals. We count calories and pounds. We count fingers, toes and jellybeans in a jar. But what if we counted smiles? How many we gave and how many we were given. What if we counted laughs and giggles? What if we counted blessings? What if we counted what is important?

What if we… Stepped out of our comfort zone and tried new experiences? It could be anything from trying a new food to learning a new skill or hobby. Trying new things just might help us grow and discover new passions. We may find a new way to bring joy and happiness to our lives.

What if we… Went deep digging into nature? Go outside. Dig deep into the dirt until you see earthworms and ants. Plant something. Trees, seeds, flowers or vegetables. Watch how the sun and the rain nurture them. Watch them grow. Let your bare feet feel the grass. Swim in a lake. Hike. Jump in the ocean. Wrap yourself in nature.

What if we… Gave ourselves the gift of doing nothing? Take a peaceful pause. Stop. Sit. Breathe. Notice how it feels. Notice what you smell, what you hear, and what you see. Notice where your mind goes. Can you do this for 5 minutes? Can you do this for an hour? Have a journal nearby to write down the creative thoughts that come to you.

What if we… Were surrounded by positive people? We deserve to be motivated, encouraged, supported, lifted, surrounded by love, inspired and celebrated! People we love deserve the same. Don’t settle for anything less from those you spend time with and don’t give anything less to those you love.

What if we… Gave? What if we gave to others? What if we gave our time, experience and expertise to help others? What if we gave joy and happiness? What if we gave laughter and smiles? What if we gave hope?

Sometimes it isn’t shopping, buying and adding to our collection of things that brings us joy and happiness. Sometimes we need to take the time to love life. Go on a Living Spree!
                                                       ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                                                           Pennie’s Life Lesson:
                                Treat yourself to a living spree! It may become a habit.
                                                        ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
#CornerofSpiritandBrave #loveyourlifenomatterwhat #journeythrough #PennieHunt

YOUR TURN...        
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below.  And please feel free to email me  at:
 [email protected]. 
                                                Thank you!  ​
                                      ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                                                         All Rights Reserved
                                          Copyright © 2013-2023 Pennie Hunt
                             This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward and share this post.  Please keep the entire message intact, including  contact, logo, and copyright information. ​

It was a crazy circle I couldn’t get out of. That is how I remember the first time I drove in a roundabout. The other drivers sped in and out, changing lanes with confidence. The rush of the cars pushed me into the comfort zone of continuing to circle a couple of times without venturing to the exits. Finally, on the third try, I clicked on my blinker, moved into the turning lane and maneuvered through my exit. Eureka! I felt relief!

How many times do we get stuck in the roundabout of life?

We may feel like we are not smart enough to go back to school to gain the education we want. It is easy to stay status quo watching the years pass without making that move, while life seems to speed by. So we circle.

We really don’t like our job, but the fear of interviewing and trying something new keeps us in our comfort zone. It isn’t what we want, but it seems better than taking a step into the unknown. So we circle.

We stay in a relationship that we know does not serve our spirit, but the idea of being alone is worse than staying where we are. So we circle.
We believe we are too young or too old, or just not good enough to take a risk. So we circle.

Here’s the deal -- Life Comes With Turning Lanes!

We don’t have to stay in the comfortable circle watching the turns that lead to a new road or a new adventure fly by us. We don’t have to stay inside the safety of the center circle watching others speed by taking opportunities when they arise. We don’t have to accept less than our spirit deserves because we are afraid to take a risk!
Stop driving in circles. Don’t continue to look at the same dotted yellow lines believing there is only one way. Life does come with turning lanes. Move over, turn on that blinker and try one. If it isn’t the right one, try another, and another, and another. This is your road of life and you are the only one who can drive it.

Now, as I travel through roundabouts, I think back to my first trip through and I chuckle.

In the same way, I look back at my life and the opportunities that frightened me and I chuckle.  Without clicking on my blinker and moving into the turning lane I would have continued in a very small circle without exploring the turns that have taken me on magnificent adventures. Without learning how to take a risk when I knew my life needed a different path, I would have never seen the amazing scenery I have experienced in my life.

Not all of my turns have been perfect, but the good news is there is always another turn ahead. Another opportunity. Another experience and journey.

I still am not a big fan of roundabouts. I would rather come to a stop, look both ways and think about which way I am going to turn, and then proceed with caution. I have come to realize that the roundabouts in life allow so many opportunities to choose from. So many chances to change. And so many ways to live your life. Don’t be afraid to drive right in and pick the turn that leads you to the adventure and happiness that you deserve.
​
Pennie’s Life Lesson: You are the only one that can drive YOUR road of life.  Don’t miss the turns that lead to adventure and happiness.

YOUR TURN...        
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below.  And please feel free to email me  at:
 [email protected]. 
                                                Thank you!  ​
                                      ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                                                         All Rights Reserved
                                          Copyright © 2013-2023 Pennie Hunt
                             This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward and share this post.  Please keep the entire message intact, including  contact, logo, and copyright information. ​

She asked me if I would teach her. I wasn’t sure I could. After all, it had been years since I crocheted anything. Decades, really. But this was an opportunity to spend time with my granddaughter and I wasn’t going to let that pass by.

I decided a scarf would be a great first project. We went to the fabric store and bought yarn. She picked green and cream. I chose brown and beige. We sat down with her new set of hooks and my old set that I dug out of my craft closet.

Deep breath. I thought of all the blankets, scarves, hats, and even the Sesame Street Christmas ornaments I had crocheted when my kids were small. Surely, I could remember how. It would be just like riding a bike, right? Something you never forget.

We rolled our yarn skeins into big balls, chatting about how long our scarves should be and how we should design the color. Then we picked up our hooks and began. I showed her how to make the beginning loop and how to circle the yarn around her pinky finger, over the back of her hand while keeping her pointer finger up to control the tension of the yarn. I said, “wrap the yarn around the hook and pull it through the loop.” Again, I repeated, “wrap the yarn around the hook and pull it through the loop.”

She watched and in a quick few minutes we were creating our chains. When they were the length we wanted, I demonstrated how to turn the project around and begin the second row. Then the third and the fourth.

The yarn gliding through my fingers felt familiar. Like a friend I hadn’t been with in a while, but now that we were together again the speed of my yarn through my hook increased with every stitch. To her it felt awkward and new. She concentrated and her moves were slow and methodical. I watched her trying variations of holding the hook and controlling the tension of the yarn. I explained to her if she learned to let the yarn run through her fingers the correct way, soon she would be an expert and it would begin to feel normal.

I would stop and watch her. She would stop and watch me.

Hours went by as we laughed, chatted and told stories. I heard about her school and I told her how my mom taught me how to crochet and sew and how my grandmother taught me how to decorate cakes and paint.

We changed to the second color and our beginning chains were turning into scarves. Her work was becoming even and consistent. Her yarn was gliding through her fingers the correct way. She began talking about other projects she wanted to crochet and other artistic endeavors we should do together.

Because of my granddaughter, I was revisiting a hobby I had put away long ago. I enjoyed it again. It was creative and relaxing. It was fun and I was good at it. I remembered how to do it – just like riding a bike.

She asked me if I would teach her, but with every thought, giggle, and stitch she was teaching me not to forget the fun in life. She was teaching me how to remember what I am good at and to teach it to others. She taught me how to keep the chains in life strong and how important it is to pass them on to those who follow us.

Now… let’s get out the sewing machine and those paintbrushes- I have much more to share.
                                    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                                                        Pennie’s Life Lesson:
​                            Don’t let your skills be forgotten. Share the chains of life.
                                     ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...        
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below.  And please feel free to email me  at:
 [email protected]. 
                                                Thank you!  ​
                                      ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                                                         All Rights Reserved
                                          Copyright © 2013-2023 Pennie Hunt
                             This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward and share this post.  Please keep the entire message intact, including  contact, logo, and copyright information. ​