DON'T MAKE YOURSELF SMALL
"I'll try to make myself as small as possible," she said as she pulled her arms close to her body and settled into the middle seat between me and the man sleeping by the window. When I fly, I have learned to take the aisle seat when I can. It allows me to exit quickly when the plane lands and to have one side free, giving the perception of more space. At times I enjoy the window seat, but I really hate the dreaded middle seat. When my new seat mate made her comment, I laughed and responded with some fluffy chit chat about how the middle seat is a tuff one to sit in. The plane took off. Ear phones on. Pretzels delivered. The comment floated in my head… I'll try to make myself as small as possible. I thought about how many times I had done that in life...made myself small to allow room for others to have the space they need, to be comfortable, to spread their wings, to shine in the spotlight...even if it was at the expense of my own comfort. An honorable thing to do, right? Well, yes, it can be at the right moment, for the right reason. The problem is, it can become a habit. If you constantly pull back in the shadow of others you are not allowing your soul to shine. The beauty of YOU is hidden. The gifts you were brought here to share will never be known. I believe we are here to stretch our souls. To learn. To teach. To love. We cannot do this with our arms pulled in forcing our bodies to contort into a small version of our real self. Stand tall. Put those arms up. Speak your message. Let your soul out to shine in the spotlight of life. Only then will you gift the world with the real you. The YOU you were sent here to be. The YOU you were sent to share. Only then will the real YOU be loved. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie's Life Lesson: "Don't make yourself small in order to make someone else seem big." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN... My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to be brave enough to stand in your own space. Spread out! Own the gifts you are here to share! 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
0 Comments
STOP THINKING AND BEGIN THANKING
Have you found yourself in a situation where you think and think and think and can’t see a way through? Maybe you need to change your tactic. Maybe you don’t have a THINKINGproblem… maybe you have a THANKINGproblem. When you can’t THINK your way through, you need to THANK your way through! We live in a world that values process, procedure, charts, graphs, reports, analysis, logic and hard cold facts. But some situations cannot be logic-ed through! Some situations don’t make sense no matter how many charts you make or ways you look at it. Some situations are out of our control to change. Some situations are so painful that thinking about them becomes unbearable. Some situations you cannot THINK your way through! Yet, you can THANK your way through. Do you want a new job, a new home, a new relationship and you THINK about it all the time, but you don’t move forward. Until you are thankful for what you have you will never have more. Let me repeat that… Until you are thankful for what you have you will never have more. Don’t waste your time THINKING, poor me, I will never get that job, big house or perfect relationship. This kind of stinking thinking just builds resentment, anger and frustration. Instead, be thankful for the job you have now- no matter how bad it is; be thankful for the place you live now – no matter what size or condition it is in; and be thankful for the friends, family and relationships you already have –even if you don’t have that perfect partner right now. Once you begin being thankful for what you have you begin to get more! If you are grieving the loss of a job, relationship, or the passing of someone dear to you, turn any bitterness or anger into gratitude. Be thankful for the time you had with that situation or person. Be thankful for what you learned from them, (good and bad). Be thankful for the love they brought into your life and the love you had the opportunity to express to them – no matter what length of time that you had with them. When you turn THINKING intoTHANKING the pain of your grief will lighten. Once you begin being thankful for what you had or what you have now, you will begin to see your life in a new way. Change that one little letter in the middle of the word… stop THINKING and beginTHANKING! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: “When you can’t THINK your way through, THANK your way through.” ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to step back from your challenges and look at what you can be grateful for NOW! 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 © 2013-2016 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 
EVERYTHING I WANT I snuck away with my Grandson, Dylan, for an afternoon of feeding the ducks in the park, picnicking and a little shopping. After the ducks were fed andour tummies were full we moved on to shopping. My shopping cart spilled over with the arms and legs of a three- year-old. As I maneuvered through the aisle I asked him, “What should we buy for you today? Maybe a shirt, a book, a……” My list was interrupted when he said, “I have everything I want.” My cart came to a stop as I looked at his sweet face. I couldn't hide my smile at his remarkable comment. “You have everything you want?” He may have been three, but he knew from the expression on my face that he must have given the million dollar answer. He flashed his killer smile and said, “Yeah, I do! I have EVERYTHING I want! ” I proceeded to tell him how lucky he was that he was so happy and had everything he wants. He smiled bigger, sat up taller and was very proud that yes, he must be lucky! I have to say it stunned me. What little person (or big person for that matter) can say they have everything they want? I was still pondering this as we paid for his new football. My idea – not his. Later, we stopped by my house to feed my dog, Yogee. Yogee was much more interested in dancing around the floor with Dylan than eating. After about the third time I told Yogee to go eat her food Dylan looked at me and said, "Maybe she just isn't hungry." Again, I stopped to breathe in what he just said. I sat down and watched as Yogee’s tiny feet continued the happy dance as she circled around him. As every inch of her body wriggled and smiled, I realized – she too, in this moment of time had everything she wanted. We took Yogee to the back yard and this time it was Dylan’s turn to do the happy dance. He ran to my garden box. He circled it, hands clapping and sang, "Oh, this garden is BEAUTIFUL!!!" That was it! Three strikes to my heart! Lessons learned! At 3 years old he could see the beauty in a garden and understood that "he" wasn't hungry for anything. -- He had everything he wants! This tiny boy had just demonstrated to me the simplicity of life. That as long as we are loved we do have everything we want. That sometimes we don’t hunger for anything - we just need to dance. And if we look we can find beauty in our own back yard. I learned that right now, in this moment, I do have everything I want! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: "When we are surrounded by love we don’t hunger for anything -- we have everything we want." YOUR TURN... My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to be grateful for what you have. Do you need more, or, to YOU have everything you want? 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 
THE ICE CREAM BUCKET
The rusty handle fit every hand. The hand of my grandfather as he turned and churned the milky richness inside. The hand of my uncle as he packed ice and salt in the open space between the wooden slats and the metal cylinder, then taking over the chore and pleasure of the cranking. The hand of my father as he impishly pushed his brother-in-law from the crank so he too could take credit for blending the anticipated delight. The hands of my cousins, brother, sister and me struggling with joyous giggles, layering hand on top of hand to create the strength to turn the crank. Taking turns, we sat on the blanket covered throne watching the melting ice turn to cloudy salt water running down the side. And then, when all capacity to budge the handle even one more turn became impossible, my grandmother’s bony hands pulled the frosted silver chamber from the bucket, opening it to reveal the deliciousness of my childhood. Pennie’s Life Lesson: “The simplicity of life becomes the boldest of memories.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
YOUR TURN... My intent in sharing this with you is to spur a memory. What do you remember about past summers? 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 
LIFE COMES WITH AN EXIT LANE
I remember the first time I drove in a round-about. 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 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 round-about 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 the 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 an Exit Lane! We don’t have to stay in the comfortable circle watching the exits to adventure and change fly by us. We don’t have to stay on the inside of the circle watching others speed by taking opportunities when they arise. We don’t have to accept less than our spirit deserves! 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 an exit lane. Actually many!! Move over, turn on that blinker and try one. If it isn’t the right one, try another, and another, and another. This is the road of life and you are the only one who can drive it. Now, as I travel through round-abouts, 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 exits that have taken me on magnificent adventures. Pennie’s Life Lesson: “You are the only one that can drive YOUR road of life. Don’t miss the exits to love, adventure and happiness.” ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN... My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to try new things in life. Don't be stuck on the same path if it doesn't serve your spirit! 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 |
AuthorThere is a certain magic about where I live both physically and spiritually – on the crossroads of Spirit and Brave. Archives
September 2023
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
|
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. |