I am not a great photographer. At least not like a professional photographer, who captures the ice cream as it drips off the nose of a two-year-old or the unpredictable belly laugh of a bride as her new husband kisses her neck.

I look for frames.
I see the world as frames that will hold my words, my feelings and my emotions. When I spot a frame, I snap it quickly to be used with my writing to illustrate the point I intend to convey. At times the frames I see create my words or allow my words to come together in a meaningful way to reach the heart of the viewer. One snapshot may hold a quote that speaks of peace and calmness. One photo may hold my words about love. These words travel through newspapers and through the internet to land with the person who is meant to see, and feel, the message.

What if you looked at every moment in your life as a frame?  How would you fill it to create a memory?  Do you want to frame a moment filled with experiences of happiness, examples of kindness, and feelings of love? Of course, we all do.
The problem is at times we become stuck in an uncomfortable frame. We all have snapshots in time that hold moments of being angry, sad, confused and even devastated. 

Many times people drift along believing that life is happening to them and they are helpless in the process. They feel like it is just the way it is. Their distorted view portrays a person who is an unlucky victim. They feel helpless and at the mercy of what life throws at them.

We all have those sad, lonely, unfortunate photos of hard times in life. We know they are there. It is ok and healthy to share them from time to time, but don’t let them become the only story in your photo album of life. Don’t let them minimize the memory shots that illustrate the good times, the learnings, and the spectacular events of life.

The control is in your hands. You direct the focus and what the lens of your life captures. It is up to you to search out the frames and fill them with the people and experiences YOU want to have. It is up to you to revisit the good memories and share the good times. It is up to you to remember the unfortunate memories and learn the lessons they bring.

I am not a photographer, but I see my life in frames. I fill them moment by moment, memory by memory with all that life offers me. I fill my frames with meaning, with emotion and with feeling.
​How will you fill your frames?
                                                            ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                                                          Pennie’s Life Lesson:
                     Frame your world moment by moment, memory by memory
                                              to create a life of joy and happiness.
                                                           ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

#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:
 PennieHunt@gmail.com. 
                                                                 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. ​

Do you dream of traveling through Europe? Do you want to buy a boat, get a degree, or write a book? Do you have a list of ‘want to’s” or a bucket full of “some day’s?” Do you have an official Bucket List of things you want to do?  Do you think you have all the time in the world to get them done?
 
Do you play the game, What if it was your last day to live, how would you spend it? Would you skydive, climb a mountain, or bungee jump?
 
I have never had a Bucket List. I didn’t think I needed to write my life dreams down. I thought it was kind of silly to carry my wild ideas in a bucket only to worry about them spilling over the top or dribbling out through a tiny hole in the bottom. They were safer neatly stashed in a wrinkle of my brain and not shared with anyone.
 
Until last week. 
I was on an airport shuttle and heard the driver telling a passenger that he wanted to go to Hawaii before he dies. He described pictures he had seen of the tropical beaches in such detail that I could feel the breeze on my cheek and my feet in the sand. The passenger asked the monumental question… “Why don’t you go now?”
 
The driver explained that he didn’t know if he could take off work and didn’t have anyone to go with. He went on to say how he was single and didn’t want to go alone. He said he had a sister that would join him, but he didn’t want to go with a family member. After he finished his list of excuses, the fifty-ish-looking driver ended with, “…but I’ll go before I die.” I was convinced that if the trip to the airport was much longer the passenger would have agreed to join him in paradise. 
 
Everyone has a reason for not exploring their dreams or experiencing the adventures they want to have. Everyone has excuses. Everyone believes they have time. 
 
You may think you are too young or too old to do it. You may be waiting for a partner or someone to join you on the adventure. You may just need someone to say it’s ok and to give you permission. You may be afraid. Fear can be stronger than hope. Are you afraid to do something and need someone to give you a loving push? Do you live waiting and hoping for the stars to align and for everything to be perfect in your world… and then you will do it?
 
I also don’t play the last-day-to-live game. My logical brain thinks it is an exercise of frustration. How could we possibly fit everything we want to do before we die into one day?
 
But now I realize that is the point of the game. Do not wait to do all you want to do until you are rushed to get it all done. We never know when that day will come or how many days we have in this life. Start going, doing, and experiencing now!
 
Do not wait to begin filling and emptying that bucket. And please do not leave a bucket full of regrets, hopes, wishes, and dreams behind when you die.
Plan now to leave an empty bucket. An empty bucket to remind your friends and loved ones to follow your example of experiencing life to the fullest. Leave only memories of the adventures and dreams you experienced. 
 
After hearing the conversation in the shuttle that day, I couldn’t shake the feeling of how behind I am. I realize that I have done many of the common Bucket List items. I did go back to school and received a degree. I have written a book- 3 to be exact. I have been to Hawaii many times. But, I have so many things I still want to do.
 
I also realize that with age my bucket items have changed. For example, my desire to skydive disappeared after I was in a major car accident. The risk of bodily harm is no longer appealing to me. 
 
I did come up with several experiences for my before-I-die list. This week I started writing down my official Bucket List. I didn’t think in terms of wanting to do them, but in terms of, I WILL do them. 
 
As I wrote, I also began planning how to make it happen. I took all excuses off the table. Instead of thinking “I couldn’t do it because,” I changed my self-talk to, “I will and this is how.”
 
The most important concept I have in mind is this — If not now, when? 
 
Our Bucket List is something only we can control. It is personal and unique to our desires and dreams. Only we can control what we want to do in this life and when and how we are going to do it. Only we can decide if we will leave a bucket full of regrets or a bucket full of memories. I know which one I plan to leave. 
​
                               ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                               Pennie’s Life Lesson: If not now, when?
                                ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

#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:
 PennieHunt@gmail.com. 
                                                                 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 play this little game. When I am going on a walk, shopping, or sitting in a coffee shop, I listen to snippets of conversations. It goes something like this…

I am walking in a fairly busy area. A couple walk past me and I hear the man raging about a contractor they used. His anger comes out with, “When is he going to be done? This project was supposed to be done months ago! I have had it!”

A few more steps and a teenager passes me as she rages into her phone, “I swear I can’t stand my parents, they won’t let me do anything!”

Around the next corner a crying woman is walking with her mom, “But Mom, I loved him so much, how could he be so cruel and just leave like that?”

As I reached my car two men are standing close by in a heated argument about politics. “Are you kidding me? You are going to vote for that idiot? He is going to bury our country!”

It used to be when I played this game, I would hear fun snippets about love and life. I would string them together in a funny little scenario that ran through my mind creating a happy and hilarious story.

It seems like now everyone is angry. Everyone is raging about EVERYTHING! I see angry faces and hear raging arguments. I used to think road rage was out of control, but now I believe we are all surrounded by a fireball of Life Rage. People rage about politics, inflation, the cost of living, war and whose fault the battle is, jobs, families and the crazy weather.

People rage over simple things. The server is too slow, the food isn’t hot enough, the piece of pie is too small and the checkout line is too long.

And people don’t agree on anything. Everyone has their version of a situation or problem and their version of how it should be handled or solved. Rage is met with opposing rage and so the fireball grows and becomes hotter. Some of us try to jump away from the heat, but rage touches all of us. Even children feel it and mimic it with their friends. Do you see the children watching and learning the pattern of rage?

Becoming angry is okay when it is expressed outwardly in a thoughtful, meaningful way. A way that leads to mutual discussion and mediation. A way that sets boundaries and uses controlled emotions. When anger feeds anger and spreads to rage it is not okay. When the fireball rolls like a snowball picking up speed and growing in size it is not okay.

In the midst of the collective, red-faced, angry rage all the good in life goes unnoticed. Rage causes blindness. Blindness to the goodness of people. Blindness to the idea of working together to solve problems instead of battling against each other and creating more. Anger, rage, and fear block the possibility of respect, love, and kindness.  What has switched in our world that any of us thinks this is okay?

I have faith in mankind. I believe we are made to love. I believe we are meant to be kind. I believe we have the tools to be caring and thoughtful. But I admit, my fun little game that used to be happy to play isn’t fun anymore. This contagious outbreak of Life Rage needs to stop.

You and I can only control one person at a time --the person in our mirror. Think of what you are raging about - and stop. Practice being peaceful and feel the power in your peace. Pass that peace and power to others.
 
Go back to gratitude. Being grateful for one small thing at a time starts the snowball rolling in the right direction. I heard a quote from Michael J. Fox this week that said, “With gratitude optimism is sustainable.” I believe this is true. I believe we need to be optimistic. I believe gratitude and optimism are contagious.

Begin now before rage takes over your life. I look forward to my little game being fun again. And now, what are YOU grateful for?
​                                ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                                                   Pennie’s Life Lesson:
                                Control your rage before it controls you. 
​                                          ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

#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:
 PennieHunt@gmail.com. 
                                                                 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. ​

 Most of our moms had one. As a little girl, I remember how the smell of cedar filled the room when we opened it. It felt like a secret treasure box filled with photos, linens, and memories.

Although Hope Chests can be traced back to the 15th century in Europe, the tradition of a Hope Chest became popular in America in the 20th century. Hardworking parents would give them to their daughters as birthday and graduation gifts. Young women filled them with linens, cookbooks, dishes, and special items wrapped in the hopes and dreams of their future marriage.

I can only imagine the items my Mom filled her Hope Chest with. The pillowcases she embroidered. The crocheted doilies that would cover the tables in the home she would share with her future husband. The secret treasures wrapped in hopes and dreams.

Years ago, my Mom gave me the chest. For a long time it sat in the corner of a room with little fanfare or attention. The one broken leg was replaced with a block of wood so it would sit level. It was something I didn’t think much about. It was just a place to store blankets.

It was when my Mom was in her last years that I saw the chest patiently waiting for me. Waiting for me to notice her under the pile of blankets that had overflowed from the inside to completely cover the top of her. Maybe it was the impending loss of my Mom that made me think of her. Maybe it was hope that drew me to her. Maybe it was the power of memories that pulled me to recognize her as the special piece of history she was.

I threw the blankets off her and raised the lid. The smell of cedar circled me with memories. I could see the chest once again in my Mom’s bedroom positioned in a place of honor. She was like a princess that held treasures of her kingdom and my Mom had treated her with the deserved respect of royalty.

 I remembered as a child opening it and seeing my Mom’s wedding book and her wedding dress folded neatly and wrapped in plastic. My fingers would stretch a hole in the plastic to feel the lace and imagine my Mom wearing it as she walked down the aisle to meet my dad.  

I realized I had not treated her with the same reverence as my Mom had. She was deserving of much more than to be a blanket holder. I arranged to have her professionally refinished. When she was delivered back to my home, her glow of royalty was back.

Now she sits proudly at the foot of my guest room bed as if the princess is back in a fitting place of honor. Her broken leg is repaired and back to its original strength and position of holding her upright and level. The hinges and ornamental hardware are polished and looks as if her shining crown is once again proudly displayed. She is now filled with photos, antique linens, and memories. Memories of my Mom, me, our life together, and my life as a Mom.

Someday this special chest will belong to my daughter. My hope is that she will see the importance of the Hope Chest and the power it holds. The power to not only hold memories, but to bring them to life in the deepest part of your heart. The power to hold and cherish your hopes and dreams in order to pass them into the hands of the future. My hope is she will place her in a space of honor and respect, fitting the princess she is.
​                                        ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                                               Pennie’s Life Lesson:
                        Remember the memories, hopes, and dreams that
                                           your Mom passes on to you.
                       Cherish them and treat them with the respect they deserve.
                               ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

#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:
 PennieHunt@gmail.com. 
                                                                 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. 

If you know me, really know me, you know my dogs’ names, their story, our story, and what they mean to my heart. 

After my Dad passed away I was asked to accept an award that was being presented in his honor from the school where he taught. During the presentation, the speaker outlined programs my Dad had started and the accomplishments he made. I learned how he left his heart prints in the life of the school and in the lives of the students he taught. I didn’t know any of this before he passed.

After my son, J.T., passed two years later, I heard stories of how he touched people. I heard from many people that he taught them how to play guitar. I heard from a minister that J.T. had contacted him and convinced his church to give financial support to a young family in need. I learned how he had befriended an internationally recognized artist and over coffee, they would talk about the Universe. I didn’t know any of this before he passed.

How many times in life do we believe we know someone, yet we haven’t taken the time to know what makes their heart sing?  We hurry through our days, our lives, and our relationships without knowing who and what they love or what is important to them. We don’t know what impact they are having by investing a piece of themselves in the hearts of another.

I regret not knowing these remarkable details about my Son and my Dad when they were alive.  How I wish I could go back and share with my Dad my pride in his accomplishments when they happened. How I wish I could have shared in the conversations with my Son and the artist as they talked about the Universe.

How I wish my heart had sung with theirs during those magic moments of their lives. 

It isn’t that hard, really. We need to slow the pace of our lives. We need to take the screens away from our faces. Screens that include televisions, computers, phones, and the emotional privacy screen we put up to keep us from getting too close or revealing too much. We need to sit knee to knee, eye to eye, and connect. We need to care enough to listen and learn each other’s heart songs, likes and loves -the simple ones and the grand ones. We need to share their magic moments. We need to really know them.

As for me, a dog came into my life when I was desperately lonely and alone. She saved my spirit. She was with me through a divorce and the loss of my Dad and my Son. Her name was Yogee.

After 16 years she left me, but I wasn’t alone for long. I am convinced that Yogee maneuvered a way to bring a piece of herself back to me. The path to my sweet Gracie is a story of magic and love. After a year of loving Gracie, her little sister Zenee joined our family. Yes, our home is filled with Grace and Zen. Yogee, Gracie, and Zenee make my heart sing.

If you know me, really know me, you know my dogs’ names, their story, our story, and what they mean to my heart.   
                                 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                                                  Pennie’s Life Lesson:
                                     Care enough to really know someone –
                                         know what makes their heart sing.
                            ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

#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:
 PennieHunt@gmail.com. 
                                                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’s a state of awe. One of the deepest and most powerful aspects of the human experience. It changed their self-concept, their connection with others, and the way they see the world. These are examples of how this overwhelming experience of emotions and feelings is described.
 
This phenomenon has been experienced by astronauts when they see the Earth from the distance of space. It has been named the Overview Effect. It is an experience that shifts the perspective of what the Earth is and makes the viewer feel interconnected with the planet and all who live there.
 
I try to visualize what this would be like. What it would feel like to see our Earth from that distance. It must look amazing to see it as an entire sphere where every country, every ocean, and every person is joined. Where everyone and everything is connected. The feeling of how everything affects the other must be powerful.  From that distance, you wouldn’t notice the small things- the issues and problems that don’t matter.
 
Most of the time we only see our world from a very small view. We see what pertains to us. What will benefit us? What will create profit for us? We don’t look past our own feet.
 
What if we could step back from our life and look at it from a distance? What would we see?
When we are close, we just see ourselves and feel our feelings. With every step back the picture would become larger and we would become smaller. We would see our families and our friends. We would feel how our thoughts and reactions affect them. We would realize how the little things we worry about or struggle with seem to fade.
 
Take another step back and we would see our homes, our streets, and our communities. Another step to see our state and our country. Keep moving back and see the entire world. We would see how our actions affect all who live there.
 
A few more steps and soon we see what a small speck we become in the whole picture. We would see how we all connect to create the puzzle of our lives. We would notice how each speck creates the picture and if a speck here and there disappears the puzzle would have missing pieces. This is how, even without knowing it, we all work together. We would see how the actions of each person affect the entire picture.
 
What if this new view changed our self-concept, our connection with others, and the way we see the world?
 
Maybe we would work better together. Maybe we would release the anger, resentment, and disagreements we carry. Maybe we would drop the small, petty problems and work to be the best puzzle piece we can be so that we connect in a complete picture.
 
I don’t live in a bubble of fantasy. I know that life isn’t all rainbows, glitter, and unicorns. But maybe we need to listen to the astronauts. The ones who have seen us from the distance of space. The ones who have seen the magnificent puzzle put together in a glorious sphere of beauty. Maybe we all need to feel connected in that state of awe.  
​                                         ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                                               Pennie’s Life Lesson:
                        Step back from yourself and see bigger view of life.
                                               Stand in a state of awe.
                              ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

#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:
 PennieHunt@gmail.com. 
                                                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 am curious. I ask a lot of questions. I want to know how things work. I want to know the story behind the story. I want to know what others think, how they think, and why they think the way they do. I collect information.

We watch the news and read the papers for the top stories. We go to the library and read books to find out how things have happened in the past and learn new ways of doing things. We spend hours searching the internet to learn, verify and satisfy our desire to absorb more, know more, and see more.

Information surrounds us. It is easy to feel bombarded by it. Have we become too involved in the bells and whistles of how information is presented to us? Does this cause us to miss what is right in front of us? What if we slowed down and listened to the information that is being given to us in quiet and unspoken ways?

Are you searching for a life partner or a friend? When you meet someone, you may instantly connect the dots of commonality. You both like to travel. You both like football and share a favorite team. You both love sushi! You quickly think it is a match made in heaven. However, this is not all the information you need. Watch for the unspoken information. Watch how they treat the server when you are out to dinner. Pay attention to their kindness in difficult situations. Does their temper flair with road rage? How do they treat their family?

You may be hiring a new employee and their resume is outstanding. On paper they are amazing. Maybe they are, or maybe they just know how to write an amazing resume. When you call them to set up an interview how do you feel talking to them? Are they polite, enthusiastic, and happy to hear from you? When you interview them, do they tell negative stories about their past jobs, or do they seem grateful for all their experiences? Does their persona fit with the culture and environment of your workplace?  

All these unwritten cues are free information being laid right in front of you. Information that speaks to their character, values, and personality. These are qualities you cannot train or teach a new employee. And if you are the applicant, it goes both ways. What information are you being given about this future employer?

If you are fired from a job don’t look at it as failure. You have just been invited to find success elsewhere. This experience gives you information on how to do better or act differently in your next job.

If you find yourself exhausted, ill, and unable to function you are receiving information. We humans have an incredible body system, but if we allow it to be abused, overworked, and overstressed it will break down. Headaches, fatigue, sleeplessness, weight loss, or gain is your body’s way of giving you messages. You may be stretching yourself too far. Pay attention when your body is signaling information to you - before it becomes a serious health issue.

If someone is abnormally quiet or is uncharacteristically short-tempered, you are receiving information. If someone emotionally hits you the wrong way, take a breath. Listen and watch. Look into their eyes and into their hearts. Hear what they aren’t saying. You may not know what is happening in their life, but there is more to the story. Don’t judge until you have all the information.

Be an information gatherer, seeker, and collector. Be curious. Ask questions. Watch people when they don’t know you are watching. Pay attention to the information that is right in front of you. Find the story behind the story. Don’t label the experiences of life as good or bad. It is all information.
                               ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                                                    Pennie’s Life Lesson:
Everything that is said, done, and happens in life gives you information.
                                                             Listen to it.
                                  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It was the best hug ever! It was long, filled with meaning, and cut right to my heart. The hug was saying things that went way past words. I was surprised by it, which is odd because I am a hugger. I hug everyone. I hug friends every time I see them. I hug people I meet. I hug strangers. This hug was initiated by one of the people I love the most in my life. One of the people I am closest to. One of the people I cherish. I was surprised by it because this person and I rarely hug.

The hug stayed with me for days. I relived it over and over and each time I enjoyed it like it just happened. I savored the feeling.

If you research hugging, you will see the same bullet points repeated.
Hugging can reduce stress by reducing the hormone cortisol. High levels of this hormone can cause health issues like sleep problems, obesity, low immunity, and more. Hugging can boost our mood and make us feel happier and supported.
 
Hugging can improve heart health. Frequent hugging can lower blood pressure, which may reduce the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

Hugging can boost self-esteem. The power of touch can convey feelings of safety, love, and connection. When we are feeling lost or depressed, a hug can help ground us and give us a feeling of belonging.

Hugging can improve all types of relationships. Hugs express an intimate connection that goes deeper than words alone. This type of physical touch causes the release of oxytocin. This “love hormone” or “cuddle hormone” as it is called, creates a feeling of closeness.

Hugging can reduce pain. When we hug, our bodies release hormones called endorphins. These endorphins are natural pain-relievers that just make us feel good.

I know all of these facts and as I said, I am a hugger, but what this special hug made me realize is, sometimes I overlook the people I care about the most. I feel like this happens often in life. We are more polite to strangers than to our own family. We volunteer our time to worthy organizations when maybe we need to be spending time with loved ones. And maybe for me, I miss the opportunity to hug the people closest to me.

That special hug made me feel warm and loved. Why wouldn’t I want to show this kind of physical touch to the people I love the most as often as I can?

I believe physical touch is essential to our well-being. I remember sitting for hours holding my babies as they nestled in my arms feeling safe and secure. As they grew, I held them as they cried with scraped knees from bicycle accidents and the pain of young love and broken hearts. When I would visit my mom in the last years of her life, she wanted nothing more than for me to hold her hand. When the visit was done, she would hold me tightly never wanting our hug to end. It doesn’t matter what age we are, we all need hugs.

From the moment we are born until our last day, it is an essential form of physical touch that we all need to give and receive. We all need physical connection and the feelings of love, trust, and comfort that a hug gives. When we hug energy is given and received. We need this transfer of emotional energy.

I read once that humans need four hugs a day for survival, eight hugs for maintenance, and twelve for growth. I don’t know if that is true, but it sounds good.  Maybe it is a guideline we should all follow.

Who can you hug today? Make it the best hug ever!
​                                   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                                                      Pennie’s Life Lesson:
                A hug is something you give and almost always receive in return.
​                                                     Make hugging 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:
 PennieHunt@gmail.com. 
                                                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 love to paint. I am far from a professional. I am more of a hobby painter. I can lose myself for hours in my art room mixing colors and creating my idea of masterpieces. The good ones I give away as gifts. Many of the not-so-good ones are stacked in the “lessons learned” pile in the corner of the room.
 
It is the process I love. The quiet. The alone time. The thinking space. I love seeing the image in my mind of what I want to paint and watching it come to life on the canvas. I have learned a lot in my little art room. About painting and about life.
 
I have learned that color adds emotion, mood, and energy to a painting. It can create a sense of calm serenity or excited energy.
 
I have learned that too much of anything can muddy the painting in a hurry. Too many colors mixed together in one spot can create a dirty brown that covers the brightness of the intended brush strokes.

I have learned that at times less is more. There must be white space for contrast to show the shadows from the highlights. A space of nothing. A space to take a breath. A break to show depth and dimension.
 
I have learned that one stroke of white for a highlight or the darkening of a shadow can turn an OK painting into a good painting. It is the tiny adjustment that makes a difference.
 
I have learned that the up-close perspective of the painter can be limiting. It is when you stand back and look at the painting from a distance that you see how each stroke of paint comes together. You see how the layering, texture, color, and even the small unintentional spots of brown work together to create your masterpiece. It is only from this perspective of distance that you see the harmony and balance in the full life of the painting.
 
Life is not much different.

In life, you need a little fun or color to create calm serenity or excited energy.

In life, trying to do too much can lead to a dirty layer of stress that smoothers the happiness you are meant to feel.

In life, there are times when less is more. You need quiet time to do nothing. You need alone time. You need space to breathe.

In life, tiny adjustments make a difference. Kindness to others. Appreciation. Gratitude. These don’t take much time and are easily given. They make a difference.

In life, perspective can be limiting. When you are standing in the middle of the busy action of living, you may not see the whole picture. You need to stand back and look at your life from a distance to see the full view. Then you can see how the layering of years adds experience and wisdom. You see how the texture of the joys and heartaches adds the contrast of depth and dimension to your life. You see how even unintentional mistakes and missteps moved you forward. It is only from the perspective of distance that you feel the full meaning of your life.

Every day you are given is a blank canvas waiting for you to paint it. The masterpiece you create is in your hands. Draw it with magic and paint it with colors of vibrant feeling. Fill it with words of wonder and questions of curiosity. Sprinkle it with compassion and splash it with kindness. Generously spread love. Always, always leave space for joy.

When you stand back and look at it all together, your perspective will change. The strokes, mistakes, challenges, lessons learned, and the successes you experience in life will make sense. You will see how every event worked together to create harmony and balance.

Every day, you are given a new canvas. You create the masterpiece of your life!
​                                              ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                                                 Pennie’s Life Lesson:
           You hold the vision and the power to create your day and your life.
                                                  Make it a masterpiece!
                                   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

​#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:
 PennieHunt@gmail.com. 
                                                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. 

​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:
 PennieHunt@gmail.com. 
                                                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. ​

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:
 PennieHunt@gmail.com. 
                                                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:
 PennieHunt@gmail.com. 
                                                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:
 PennieHunt@gmail.com. 
                                                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:
 PennieHunt@gmail.com. 
                                                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. ​

​No one believes me, but it is true. When I was in  4th-grade, I won a spelling contest. I don’t remember the words, but I do remember the prize. A small pocket-sized dictionary. The New Vest Pocket Webster Dictionary to be exact. I still have it. It’s in my desk drawer. I keep it as a reminder of what I can do, of what I am capable of, and of the possibilities of my dreams- even when no one believes in them - except me.

I remember that day in  4th-grade. We were in a line around the perimeter of the classroom. I leaned next to the cabinet where the pencil sharpener was bolted to a wooden countertop. The countertop where my 4th-grade crush had carved my initials PH deep into the wood. We went around the circle spelling words and sitting down when we didn’t spell one correctly. I was the last one standing. I surprised myself! I was so proud to be given the dictionary. I quickly wrote my name inside in my best 4th-grade penmanship and tucked it in my school desk.

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 © 2013-2023 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. ​

We were sitting in a funeral home at a round table in a small meeting room. I had been here before. Not at this funeral home and not planning this funeral, but I have been in this space. The space where someone is no longer with us. The space where we plan the final goodbye. The space of exhaustion from the days leading up to this moment. I had done this many times before- sat in a chair like this in the space of sadness, grief and yes, love.

This time it was for my mother-in-law, Marion. I say her name because we should. We should say the names of our loved ones who have passed from this life. It shows respect and honor for who they were. It helps us remember them.
​
During the conversation, the funeral director was going through a list of options when my husband said,
      “No, none of that is necessary. She was a simple person.”

I smiled, remembering another time I heard that comment. It was a few months before my Dad, Charlie Hunt, passed. He had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and it was his last few months of life. I had treated my parents to a nice hotel room. My Dad looked around the room and said,
     “Oh, we don’t need anything this fancy – we are simple people.”

Hearing my husband say it about his Mom made the room we were sitting in feel bigger. Suddenly it held the memories of all the funerals I had planned in the last few years. It held their faces, their last days, their last words. And it held a shocking reality.

The reality is that we are all simple people. Most people don’t like to admit it. Most people don’t like to show it. We hide it behind the house we live in, the cars we drive, the toys we buy and the clothes we wear. We cover our simplicity with titles, accomplishments and awards. We spend a lifetime trying to prove that we are somebody. We use our careers and status to help us believe we are important. That we have climbed the ladder to the top and have made it far above the simple people.

But, are we that important? Are we really above anyone?

The truth is we are all just simple people. Stripped down to our raw nakedness of being human we are all the same. We all arrived in this life in the same way without any of these possessions or accolades. Without the house, the cars, the toys, the clothes, the awards and titles we are all just people. We all matter. We are all equally important. We are all loved by someone. We have all made a difference in our life – to someone. We are all simply living and making our way through this life the best we can.
Maybe it is time to wake up to this reality. I’m not saying we should get rid of all that we have worked for or earned in our life. I’m just saying maybe it is time to put it all into perspective. The shiny things we buy and the big titles we carry don’t change who we are. They don’t make us bigger or better than anyone else.
 
Don’t wait until you have been given a diagnosis and realize you have months to live. Don’t wait until you say your last goodbye to a loved one to see this reality. None of these things, possessions, properties, titles or awards matter.
Understand this now… we are all simple people.
                                  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson: We all come into this life and leave the same way- as simple people. 
                                    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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 © 2013-2023 Pennie Hunt
                             This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
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I have over 30 spots on my body where I have been scraped, burned and lasered. I have just returned from my 6-month dermatology appointment. As I look at these fresh wounds, I remember an appointment 4 years ago…

It was a quick visit. Routine really. It was more of a vanity issue to have one ugly mole removed than a health concern. The ugly one and a few others were frozen with liquid nitrogen and one removed and sent in for a biopsy – just to make sure, the doctor said. I got dressed, gathered my purse, paid the receptionist, took the brochure the doctor gave me about skin cancer and went on with my day. When I got home, I cleaned out my car and the brochure went into the recycling bin. After all I thought, - it won’t happen to me.

There have been many times in my life when I have been surprised. This phone call was one of them. “The biopsy came back positive,” the nurse said. 
Melanoma.

She scheduled an appointment for me to have a larger section of skin removed for another biopsy. Where was that brochure? I hadn’t even read it.

“Melanoma is a BIG DEAL,” the doctor said as she sat down next to me in the examining room. We read the lab report together. This had been found early and the hope was that by removing a larger section it would capture all of the Melanoma cells. This was a long visit. Numbing of my leg. ​A larger, deeper piece of my skin was removed. ​Stitches.

As I got dressed, I searched through the doctor’s display of information for the brochure. The one titled, “SKIN CANCER.” 

This time I kept it. This time I read it.
It outlined three types of skin cancer. I scanned through the first two and came to the third. I read - Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. The brochure went on to outline all the things you should do to Prevent-Detect-Live.

I have pretty much done everything it said I shouldn’t do. I remember so many years ago, splashing on baby oil to lay in the sun to gain the perfect tan. The years- YEARS- of water skiing, swimming and hiking. And yes, visits to tanning beds.

As time went on I heard about skin cancer and sunscreen was added to my life, but not in the amount or intensity it should have been.

I always thought it won’t happen to me.

Regular dermatology appointments became a must in my life. Being self-aware of changes in my skin became routine. Six months after that first Melanoma removal it was time for another skin check. This time I had one that I was suspicious of and pointed it out to the dermatologist. She felt it was probably fine, but she listened to my concerns, removed the suspicious spot and sent it in for a biopsy.

Again, the phone call came, and the biopsy was again positive for Melanoma. My life repeated the scenario of taking a larger section of my skin, more stitches and more reality. It had happened to me again.

That was four years ago. Now I have regular 6-month dermatology appointments. Now I continually scan every mole and spot on my body. Now I wear hats and sun-protective clothing and pay attention to the best sunscreen and how I apply it. Now I encourage others to do the same.

The sting of these 30 new red sores reminds me to never forget and never get careless. The minor discomfort is a gentle reminder to love myself enough to take care of ME! A reminder that if it can happen to others why couldn’t it happen to me. And if it can happen to me, it can happen to ​anyone.
                                  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                                                   Pennie’s Life Lesson:
​                                Love yourself enough to take care of YOU!  
​                                              ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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 © 2013-2023 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. ​

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 © 2013-2023 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. ​

My name is Pennie Hunt and I am a Firewalker. That is probably not something you would expect me to say, but it is true. I even have the t-shirt to prove it!

Several years ago, I attended a motivational conference. After days of inner work about personal power and strength, focus and motivation, the climax of the event was a fire walk.

A huge pile of wood crackled and burned until it fell into a thick layer of chunky red-hot coals. We were instructed not to run, to walk at a slow, steady pace and don’t stop. Look up and forward at our destination, not down at the fiery hot coals. Others could stand behind the starting line, but fire walking was something we had to do alone.

As I stood at the edge of this path of fire watching others successfully walk through and celebrate at the finish line, I wondered if I had the courage to do it. The previous days of learning (and believing) that I had the strength to control my own outcome circled in my head.

Did I have the courage? The answer was, YES! As I stepped up to the coals, barefoot and ready, I heard the crowd cheering words of encouragement. Once I took the first step there was no turning back. The cheers became muffled behind me. I looked up, walked forward, and listened to my own voice tell me I could do it. As I stepped into the wet pad of moss waiting for me at the end, my hands flew up, my support team cheered, and yes, I may have cried with excitement-- I did it!

I came home from that event exhilarated and believing I could accomplish anything, after all, I was a Firewalker!! Many times since then I have revisited the learnings of that event and the feelings of walking over burning hot coals. I realize how it has related to the many fires I have walked through in my life. 

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. The lessons I learned that day on the burning coals work for all of life’s fires. I will share a few here.

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.

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 have to deal with the pain.

You must feel the fire, but keep moving through. If you get stuck too long, the fire begins to feel normal to you. You become used to the burning and the attention you receive for being there. Eventually, others may 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, but ultimately you have to learn the lessons and walk through fires alone.

You must look up and forward as you walk. As you walk, if you continually look down at the fire, the fear will consume you causing you to live a life of victimization and bitterness. You must look ahead to a future past the fire.

You must check for smoldering sparks. 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.

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! 

I am Pennie Hunt and I am a Firewalker. And guess what, YOU are too.
                                ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                                                  Pennie’s Life Lesson:
               Believe you have the courage to walk through the fires of life
                            and be grateful for the lessons they teach you. 
                                ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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 © 2013-2023 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. ​

Do you believe you have value? I don’t mean a monetary price tag. I mean a value of importance and worth to family, friends, coworkers, employers and your community. Do you believe you hold value to them? Do you value yourself?

Hmmm. Never thought of that? We can become so caught up in our daily lives that we begin to go through the motions of work, school, caretaking, commitments, and obligations. All the things we believe we must do. We can become so mechanical in our actions that we don’t think about what value we are adding. We just move from one task to the next.

This can desensitize us to feeling the emotions that attach to our movements and to the people we are moving for. We can block the acceptance of gratitude and appreciation from others because we don’t see the value we have given them. And they don’t tell us. Our self-worth can settle into a space much lower than it should be because we have blocked the energy of value from others that would feed our worthiness.

If you asked someone what value you bring to them what would they say? A teenager may say things like – you take me to school and cook for me. A coworker may say – you get your work done on time so I can get mine done on time. These kinds of answers make us feel competent but might not make us feel valuable. What would your spouse or partner say if you asked the same question?

Wouldn’t it be great if the answers were – when you cook for me it makes me feel loved and cared for. Or -- when you get your work done on time you make me feel supported and that we are a team that can trust each other. Your value to me is the mutual trust and support we share.

Could you answer the question if someone asked what value they bring to you? It works both ways. If you want to feel valued, you must communicate to others how you value them. Action and body language communicate as deeply as words. When someone you care about walks into the room, look up from your computer or phone and show interest and happiness. Show that you value them enough to give them your full attention.

In business we talk about ‘value added’ and how we can add value to our product or service. Can we use this same concept in our life and interaction with others? Can we pay attention and really think about what value we are adding? Can we pay attention to what value others are adding?

Feeling valued and expressing how you value others becomes a dance of complicated simplicity. It is simple to tell people how important they are to you and why. It is simple to express your gratitude for them. We seem to make it complicated by couching our feelings in words of task accomplishments instead of words of value, appreciation and gratitude for having them in our lives.

Begin telling others today what value they bring to your life. Use words of feelings and emotions. You may be surprised how they will reciprocate by telling you what value you bring to them. You will begin to understand the value you hold, and your self-esteem and self-worth will grow. Your confidence will expand. Your relationships will flourish. How you value yourself will become an important compass for your life. You will know you have value.
​                            ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
                Express to others why they are valuable to you and your life.
                                     Believe you add value to them.
                                    Always, always, value yourself. 
​                            ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

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 © 2013-2023 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. ​

​When he hit the ball over the fence, all the coaches seated two rows in front of me stood up and asked, “Where did he come from?” It was the third pitch and the third time in a row he struck a home run hit.

We just moved to this new community and J.T. was trying out to be on one of the 10–12-year-old Little League teams. He had played baseball since he could stand on his chubby baby legs and carry around a plastic bat. He was proficient at hitting that hard and that far. It was a good thing, as he wasn’t a fast runner, so he had to hit it over the fence, or they would get him out at first base.

I should explain, he wouldn’t just run the bases after he hit the ball over the fence. Every step was filled with a dancing combination of excitement, happiness and enthusiasm. He would jump on home plate with joy. He didn’t play for the score or accolades. He played to have fun and fill everyone who watched him with laughter and joy.

This is how he lived his life. To have fun and spread joy and laughter.

Music lit him up. He couldn’t stand still when he heard it. He would jump up and start dancing.  His hands were always drumming on the steering wheel as he drove and sang along with the radio. He played his drums with a fire that came from somewhere inside of him and his guitar became an appendage of his body that he couldn’t live without.

When he laughed, everyone laughed with him. He cared about family, friends and strangers in a deeply connected way. He wondered about everyone’s story. He carried the heartache and the heartbreak of others as if it was his burden to hold.
And he could hug. Oh, he could hug. He would surround you in a circle of energy that would penetrate straight to your heart and back to his. Just when you thought he was done, he would squeeze a little harder for one more zap of love. You never wanted him to let go.

When he was a teenager, we took him to Laguna Beach. Early one morning we stood on our hotel balcony looking out at the ocean. In the distance on a rock formation that had surfaced during low tide, my husband pointed to a figure and said, “That’s JT.”  He was sitting as far out as he could at the edge of the largest rock. The ocean waves were slapping the rocks around him and the mist of the water spraying the air gave the scene a mystical feel.

We watched him for a long time, imagining what he was thinking, what he was wondering about. My husband said, “He is an artist.”

It was true. He was a true artist, a musician, an adventurer and a lover of nature and all beings. He had a deep connection to feelings and emotions. And an even deeper curiosity about life, the universe and what might lie beyond this human experience.

After he passed at the age of 22, I found a crumpled paper in his wallet with a phone number scratched on it. I did an internet search for the number and found it belonged to a well-known artist. I sent him an email asking if he knew my son and why his number might be in my son’s wallet.

His swift response included this:  I remember JT coming to my Gallery. He seemed to really get involved in my work which is the greatest of compliments for me. I think his involvement in music connected him to my work. We fine arts people have a wonderful connection because of our mission. I am very sorry I didn't get to know him better as he did have that sparkle in his eye from his wondering about the Universe. 

I thought that was a magical way to describe my son. He did have a sparkle in his eye and always wondered. Wondered about life, people, heartbreaks, happiness, and all things that make up the Universe.

To answer the question, where did he come from? Maybe someday I will find out. Someday I hope to join him in the special mystical, magical place I believe he went to… or should I say he returned to.
​                                  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Some people, sweet and attractive, and strong and healthy, happen to die young. They are masters in disguise teaching us about impermanence.” - Dalai Lama XIV
                                              ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
                          In memory of my son, J.T. 1/14/1985—9/13/2007 

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 © 2013-2023 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. ​

Sometimes I hear a comment that makes me ponder. Recently I heard someone say if you have an hour of work to do and two weeks to do it in, it doesn’t matter if you complete it in the first hour or the last hour of the timeframe - as long as you get it done.

I have been pondering that idea for days. I realize I have done both in my life. For the most part, I prefer to get things done sooner than later. When the task is done, I can relax and enjoy the rest of the time feeling confident that I am not running behind or putting myself under pressure at the last minute. This scenario works well for me.

There are times when I relax first, believing I have lots of time to get it done. Usually, I keep thinking about it until inevitably something happens that fills that time leaving me in the pressure cooker. I become overwhelmed, nervous and afraid I won’t get the job done.

I know people that the second scenario is their go-to. They wait until the last hour and then seem to work well under pressure. It is almost a game of chance for them to beat the clock right before the buzzer goes off.

In most cases, I guess neither way is right or wrong as long as you complete the task.
I did think of one exception. We have an entire lifetime to express love and kindness, support and encouragement, joy and happiness. If we use the idea that it doesn’t matter if we do this in the first years of our lives or wait until the last hour of our life to express these feelings, there is a difference. I don’t believe any of these can be done in the last hour or year and have the same impact.

If you knew someone who was critical, mean, unhappy and never expressed love or kindness their entire life, but in the last moments tried to get it all done, would it hold the same meaning to you as someone who expressed it their entire life?

Maybe this is a time when accomplishing it sooner than later is a better option. Maybe if you began expressing love and kindness, support and encouragement, joy and happiness at a very young age, it becomes a habit that you continue throughout your lifetime. It makes a difference.

Maybe if you never learned how to express love and kindness, support and encouragement, joy and happiness in the early years of your life, it also becomes a habit of not showing these traits throughout your lifetime. It makes a difference.

We have an entire lifetime to get this job done. The glitch is we don’t have a set time frame or know if that lifetime will be 22 or 103 years. So, I think it might be best to begin thinking about how you express feelings and emotions early in your life. If you are lucky, you were taught how to do this and began at a young age.

If you are reading this and think you better start before it is too late. Don’t wait. This is one thing that you don’t want to wait until the last hour to get it done. It makes a difference.

Sometimes I hear a comment that makes me ponder. I hope this one does the same for you.
                                       ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
                                                         Pennie’s Life Lesson:
                                  Some things are better done sooner than later.
                                                             It makes a difference.
                                                     ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

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 © 2013-2023 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. ​

In this new year I am going to release to find space for peace.
What does that mean? 
 
Over a decade ago, I gave up on New Year’s Resolutions. They never worked for me… or maybe I never worked intently on them. I always felt like I failed three weeks into the new year. So after years of trying I stopped making resolutions and I began choosing a word for my year. A word I could concentrate on that acts as a GPS to keep me on track. A concept I would ponder and pay attention to for an entire year. This has worked much better for me than a resolution.
 
I print out the word and place it in places I see every day like on my computer screen, my bathroom mirror and my car visor. When I see it, I am reminded to keep the word, and its meaning, a priority in my life.
 
This year I struggled with the word. I knew I wanted to clean out some areas in my life. I tried a few words on for size. 
 
I thought of how I wanted to purge some things, but I don’t like that word. When I say ‘purge’ it doesn’t feel good coming out of my mouth. It leaves a bad taste. 
Maybe “downsize?’ No, that didn’t hit the mark. 
 
Clean, eject, remove, eliminate, rid, dispose, declutter. None of these seemed right. 
 
I landed on release. That is what I was going for. This year I want to release things. I want to release clothes and household items I don’t use and donate them to those in need. I want to release things I keep in the hope of using them someday, but probably won’t. I want to release a few pounds and give them back to the Universe or to wherever pounds go when they leave your body. 
 
But more than that…
I want to release comparison, competition and criticism that I have received and given.  Resentment, anger​, past hurts and wounds need to go. 
 
Then I asked myself a big question. Why? Why is releasing important to me? Why do I want to release these things? The answer was loud and clear - to create peace. 
 
I want to live in a clutter-free environment that feels peaceful. I want to be at peace with my health and body. From my closets to my heart and mind, I want plenty of space for peace.
 
I also don’t want to feel like this is a chore or punishment. I want to learn to love the process of releasing. I’ve never been good at letting go. I become attached to things. I’m sentimental and attach emotion to items. 
 
I have sweaters that I’ve had for 20 years. I’ve held a few grudges just as long. I find places to stuff old clothes just on the chance I want to pull them out and wear them again. I find places to stuff emotions just in case I want to pull them out and carry them around again. 
 
This year I want to learn how to love walking away from what I don’t need and find joy in walking into the open space of peace it leaves.
 
Does this sound like a lot? It is! But what if I could be successful at releasing even half of what I hope to? I would be dancing in a big opening of peace! The more I’m able to release the bigger my dance floor will be.
 
This year my word is a phrase, Release to Find Peace. 
I’ll let you know how it goes. 
What will your word (or phrase) be?
                                               ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                                                       Pennie’s Life Lesson:
                                   When you release, you open space for peace.
                                   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things
 
I bet you couldn’t read that without singing it. Here we are, Christmas week and all the decorations, wrapping, baking and music sends me back to memories of my past. Just like the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein song, I can remember a few of my favorite things from my childhood.

The holiday dinners my mom made with all my favorite foods. The cut-out sugar cookies were my favorite treat. The different trees we had over the years, green, flocked, live, artificial, and yes, we had one of those silver trees with the color wheel shining on it that was oh so trendy at the time. (If you know what I am talking about we have just revealed our age.)

I remember the year my brother climbed into the garage attic to find the gifts our parents had hidden there. My sister and I stood at the bottom of the ladder laughing and clapping our hands when he held up our presents. I squealed when he held up the Chatty Cathy Doll that I had begged my parents for. I also remember the lack of surprise and guilt on Christmas morning when she was standing under the Christmas tree waiting for me.

My Dad was the king of giving funny gifts and teasing us about what Santa would bring. We went through a phase of eating pop-tarts every morning for breakfast. My sister and I hated the hard corners and edges. We would break them off and pile them in a corner on our plate so we could enjoy eating just the creamy soft inner part. My dad would continually grump at us for wasting half of the toaster treat. For Christmas that year we were given a box full of our broken pop-tart edges. I have no idea where he had hidden them for all those months, but I remember his glee when we opened the box.

Another year he had collected enough identical boxes from his work to wrap every one of our gifts. It was impossible for my brother, sister and I to guess what was in the boxes that were all the same shape, size and even weight. My Dad was very proud of himself for pulling off such a clever scheme.

One of my favorite Christmas gifts was from my brother. For days I would hear an odd squeaking sound coming from his bedroom. My entire family repeatedly told me it was something wrong with the furnace and they would call the repairman after the holidays. On Christmas morning my brother came out of his room with a very oddly wrapped gift for me. It was a cage that held my new buddy, Oscar the hamster. Oscar had been running in his squeaky wheel for days in my brother’s room. No repairman was needed.

The moment that Oscar came into my life brought me joy that I have never forgotten. Because of that memory years later, my own three children woke up on Christmas morning to find 3 hamster cages with their new best buddies inside. And the joy was repeated.

We all have childhood memories like this. We can all remember our favorite things about holidays in the past. Why not share these memories with others during this holiday week?

My song would go something like this…
Petrified pop-tarts and silver-shined trees
A hamster named Oscar – oh yes, if you please!
Brown paper packages that all look the same
These are a few of my favorite things
 
When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad
                                 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                                                       Pennie’s Life Lesson:
                      Take some time to remember a few of your favorite things from
                                                        holidays of the past.
                              Share your memories with someone you love.
                                            ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

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 © 2013-2022 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. ​

For many people winter is long, cold and isolating. Many suffer from seasonal depression caused by the long dark days of winter. Many struggle with the lack of friends or family support during the holidays. This kind of cold makes us hunker down in our homes curled tightly in a “protect me” position. We try to protect our hearts.

It is human nature during any type of cold to do this, not just winter. The feelings of cold and isolation can strike at any time. Anger, rejection, betrayal, grief, fear, and depression all create feelings of cold and isolation.

Have you noticed when we receive difficult news, or tragedy hits we instantly reach for our heart, pull our shoulders inward, curl our back forward, and sometimes even drop to the floor? This circles our heart in protection. We want to enclose ourselves in a cocoon so that the cold and pain cannot reach us.

The tight “protect me” pose closes our body posture in a way that tightens around our heart secluding it from others. Secluding us from others. We feel cold and isolated from everyone as if we are alone in a frigid storm just trying to survive.

When the end of winter is in sight or the journey through a life challenge becomes easier, we see the sun fill our lives once again. The days become longer and brighter. We become lighter. As the warmth rejuvenates us, we stand up taller in a happier, open stance. Our back straightens and our hands reach away from our hearts opening our chests to breathe again. This strengthens and stretches our lives in a more openhearted way, allowing love to flow through our hearts freely once again. We break out of our cocoons to feel the sun, leave the isolation and open our hearts to others.

This openheartedness creates a glow that not only warms us, but everyone we interact with. By pulling back the layers that protected us from the cold, like Superman pulling back his shirt, we reveal our hearts and come alive once again.

Does this cycle sound familiar to you?
Do you see it in yourself? 
Do you see it in others?
A little introspective time alone to regroup and analyze our life isn’t always a bad thing. But when the cold feels too lonely and the isolation becomes too deep ask for help. Never be afraid to ask for help. Invite a friend or family member to listen to your fears and concerns.

If you see a friend or family member cocooning too deeply, knock on their door, call their phone, or reach out to check on them. A small gesture can offer hope that they desperately need.

Ask for help when you need it, offer hope when it’s needed. Let me say that again, ask for help when you need it, offer hope when it’s needed.

Pay attention to how and when you curl into the “protect me” position. Pay attention to how and when you break free of your cocoon to spread your butterfly wings for all to see. There is a time for both.
Power comes with knowing when to safely curl and when to fly.
The real power comes from knowing when you need help and when you need to offer hope.
                                   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
Pennie’s Life Lesson: Ask for help when you need it, offer hope when it’s needed.
                                             ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  

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 © 2013-2022 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. ​