PLAN PAST –
or Suffer from “Now What” Syndrome You planned for a year. You sent out invitations, ordered a cake and said “Yes” to the dress. The day comes and it is spectacular. It is the fairy tale wedding of the year. Even the honeymoon was perfect. And then, you came home to a new life with a partner and Now What? Now, things like laundry, negotiating finances, and toothpaste in the sink become reality and you are not adapting well. You didn’t plan past the wedding cake. You brought home one or two, maybe more, sweet-smelling bundles from the hospital. You bathed them, fed them and nurtured them through talking, taking their first step and all the steps after that right until they walked across the stage- cap and gown on, tassel dangling and your pride beaming. You help them pack their car, you make sandwiches for the road and tuck cash in their hand. The door closes on your child as they drive off to a new life leaving you in an empty nest and Now What? Your purpose has just driven away and what will you do now? You didn’t plan past parenting. The turkey is bought, or jellybean baskets are filled, or the tree is up and presents are wrapped- whichever holiday it is, you have prepared for the fun, food and family. The house is filled with laughter and joy. The day after comes and Now What? The house is quiet and empty. Your heart sinks from sudden loneliness. Your festive holiday adrenalin is drained and has puddled on the floor. You didn’t plan past the holiday. The dreaded school reunion is 6 months away, so you work out, diet, lose those 30 pounds and fit into that little black dress. The day after comes and Now What? You sleep in because working out is overrated, a cheeseburger and fries sound good for lunch- after all you haven’t had them in 6 months and so it goes. Soon the little black dress is tucked in the back of your closet with the other "too small" clothes. You didn’t plan past the reunion. It happened. Rehab. A little too much drinking, pills, gambling or whatever your addictive vice is. You can do the 30-60-90 days. You do the counseling, the group sharing, the journaling and inner work. The day comes when you finish. Your mind is clear, your body cleansed and the world looks bright and possible again. And Now What? You return to the old life, the old friends, the old habits and you are pulled further and further away from the protection of rehab and fall into the familiar arms of your vice. You didn’t plan past 30-60-90 days. This is how we do life. We look at the gold ring. We reach for it. We get it. And then what? We don’t plan the next step. We don’t plan the next goal or the maintenance of our accomplishment. Without planning past we will suffer from the slow slide backward into the darkness of depression, or relapse into old habits and routines. Planning past should become as much a part of your process as your steps to success. Plan past the wedding cake – visualize and talk about how your shared life will be. Plan past parenting. Do not curl into a tight ball of depression disappearing into your empty nest. Look at it as a new adventure, time for YOU to fill this newfound space with the experiences YOU want to pursue. Plan past the holiday, so that after the presents are gone, the tree is put away and leftovers are eaten you have scheduled what is next on your calendar to fill the quiet. Plan past the reunion. Don’t lose weight for a specific moment in time. Get in shape for yourself, your health, your longevity. You will look and feel great for every event… not just one reunion. Plan past a program. The 30-60-90 day programs might work for the time you are there, but you need a life program. One that doesn’t end when you walk out of a facility. One that is ingrained in your belief system 100%....then it becomes YOUR program. Your way of life. Your success! Be proactive. Look at your life in long-term successes. Short term goals are great stepping stones, but to be successful in life you must not look at a goal as the finale. Always be prepared and have a vision for what comes next. Only then will you walk a life-path of achievement knowing that each successful step you take creates a trail of confidence behind you and a road of determination ahead of you. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: “Don’t stop when you reach a goal. Plan past the achievement. Have a vision for what comes next.” ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to think about what comes next in your life. Incorporate "Planning Past" into your life. 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 © 2013-2018 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.
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THE HIDDEN BLOOM OF SURVIVAL
It was one of those early summer storms. The sky became noisy and black. The rain began in timid drops turning to large fierce slapping and then the thumps. The sound I always dread. Thumps of hard frozen rain as if a snowball fight had ensued battering every sign that spring had gifted us with. The trees were pushed side to side by the force of the wind, while the hail pelted their fresh leaves. Everything from cars, rooftops, gardens, bushes, flowers were fair game for the one way assault. It was the sad reality that seemed to strike at least once a year. The thrashing was brutal. Days later as I surveyed the damage, I watered the zucchini I had planted in a pot on my patio. The leaves were crumpled and torn from the ravaging storm. And then I saw it. The bloom of yellow hidden below the damaged leaves. Smiling I watered it gently feeling the strength of the plant that had survived the storm and still had the energy to bloom- a glorious golden bloom that would ultimately form a healthy squash. As I watered, I couldn’t help but think this is how life is. How we as humans are given life storms pelting us with pain, anguish, physical and emotional damage. And yet, we survive. We survive by pulling from the roots of our souls and the core of our bodies to repair the outward appearance and our lives. And even then, the mental and physical pain can last long after the visible bruises and wounds have healed. Healing takes time. Healing takes strength. Healing takes courage. Healing takes loving ourselves and love from others. The goal is to come out the other side into the sunshine sharing our lessons and blooming gloriously back into life. Some of my flowers didn’t survive. Their shredded blooms and stems were too destroyed to come back. My hope is that by next spring they will reappear- stronger and more beautiful than before. In the meantime I will nurture my zucchini with love and cherish its message of strength, courage and survival. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: “Healing takes time, strength, courage and most of all love. Allow yourself time to bloom again!” ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
My intent in sharing this with you is to help you realize that we are all given storms in our lives - and yes, we can survive and bloom again1
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 © 2013-2018 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.
Hello Friends,
Many of you have heard about my June 11th accident. You may have seen the social media posts with the photographs of my vehicle. Now, almost a month into my healing journey, this experience has given me many lessons including those of patience and gratitude. I truly believe I was held in spiritual grace that day or I would not be alive today. I truly believe I have been held in a place of love and grace every day since by so many that I would like to thank now. I would like to thank the drivers who immediately stopped to offer help after my accident. I would like to thank the first responders that were at the scene -
I would like to thank the physicians, nurses, physical therapists, and all the medical professionals that cared for me in the hospital and continue to care for me during this recovery process. I would like to thank my husband for being with me through all of this. For never leaving my side through the pain, the nightmares, the tears and trauma. For fielding the endless stream of insurance and medical phone calls and paperwork – and never complaining. For stepping in to post “Pennie’s From The Past” to keep my social media, newsletter and PennieHunt.com going. For being my rock and my safety cushion. I would like to thank our children and my entire group of family and friends, for the love and care they have given me. For the hand holding, the encouragement, the flowers, the phone calls, the meals, and the hours and hours of emotional and physical support. I would like to thank YOU, my friends, followers, readers and supporters--- I have read every post, email, and comment and felt every prayer and loving wish you have sent to me. On the morning of my accident, I posted this on social media along with a picture quote that I will place below. This came from the blog I had posted the day before about a lesson I learned from my Dad when he was dying and how even though he was dying he saw the good in every day. This was the post: ************************* “No matter what life brings your way, begin and end every day knowing ~THIS IS A GOOD DAY, SUCH A GOOD DAY!"~Pennie Hunt It's Monday! Yes, you have a choice to make. - YOU have the choice of making this a GOOD DAY or dragging through another Monday. - YOU have the choice of making this a GRAND WEEK full of excitement, accomplishment and fun or just an average, typical, boring, unproductive week. Which will it be? As for me.... it's going to be spectacular! 
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Yes, my day, June 11 2018, did turn out to be “spectacular,” but not in the way I expected. At some point in the future I will write about the accident and my healing process, but for now, as my body and spirit allow, I will be slowly edging back into my routine of posting on social media, writing my blogs, creating videos and speaking. I will edge back into giving you tips and techniques about happiness and how to Love Your Life – NO MATTER WHAT!© I am so very, very grateful to still be here in this life and to be able to serve in this way! Laying in the emergency room that evening shaking, frightened, in pain and shock the doctor put these socks on my feet. They made me smile as I heard my Dad’s voice and thought of the quote I had posted that morning, “No matter what life brings your way, begin and end every day knowing- THIS IS A GOOD DAY, SUCH A GOOD DAY!" -Pennie Hunt Keep smiling and thinking happy thoughts, With Love and Blessings, Pennie 
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 © 2013-2018 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.
Dear friends and subscribers to the Pennie Hunt blog,
Today I want to let you know that this week’s writing will be a “Pennie’s from the Past”. Pennie continues to be on hiatus due to injuries she suffered in a serious car crash on June 11th. Pennie sends her love and gratitude for all of your notes, emails and thoughts during this time. Fortunately, prior to the accident, Pennie taught me how to access her website and social media accounts so that I could make posts on her behalf for circumstances such as this. I hope you enjoy this post from 2016 titled, “The Ice Cream Bucket”. Do you have a memory of something so simple that is etched vividly in your mind? That is what this is to Pennie. It is short and yet, so very sweet to me. Please enjoy reading it and Pennie would love to hear about your memories. Pennie sends along her love to each and every one of you. Ken (Pennie’s husband, and her #1 fan) 
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.” ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
My intent in sharing this with you is to spur a memory. What do you remember about summers of your past?
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 © 2013-2018 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. |
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