The Corner of Spirit & Brave - Pennie Hunt

THE ICECREAM BUCKET

7/3/2020

The rusty handle fit every hand.

The hand of my grandfather as he turned and churned the milky richness inside.

The hand of my uncle as he packed ice and salt in the open space between the wooden slats and the metal cylinder, then taking over the chore and pleasure of the cranking.

The hand of my father as he impishly pushed his brother-in-law from the crank so he too could take credit for blending the anticipated delight.

The hands of my cousins, brother, sister and me struggling with joyous giggles, layering hand on top of hand to create the strength to turn the crank. Taking turns, we sat on the blanket covered throne watching the melting ice turn to cloudy salt water running down the side.

And then, when all capacity to budge the handle even one more turn became impossible, my grandmother’s bony hands pulled the frosted silver chamber from the bucket, opening it to reveal the deliciousness of my childhood.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~~
Pennie's Life Lesson:
“The simplicity of life becomes
the boldest of memories.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to spur a memory. What do you remember about summers of your past?
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 © 2013-2020 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 WILL PLANT AGAIN

6/28/2020

I went out to water my garden. I use the word, garden, loosely.
It is a dog pen that the former owners built on the back of my garage.
I have repurposed it to be a tiny garden area just big enough for green beans, carrots, spinach, and if I am lucky a tomato plant. At a time when the entire world seems off-kilter, it has become my little 12 x 8-foot corner of happiness. I love to watch things grow. It gives me great joy to remind my husband that the tomato in his salad was grown by me!

The fence around it keeps the deer out, but the bunnies and gophers have no problem sliding under it to enjoy, what they believe to be, their personal delicacies. To stop them, I have built up rocks around the perimeter and adorned it with flags and brightly colored whirling flowers. This has worked well until now.

That morning as I happily walked through the garage and opened the door that leads directly into the garden my happiness was squelched. One day before, I had three pretty rows of green beans, some feathery carrot tops, and a row of radishes. The carrot tops and radishes had vanished and half a row of beans had morphed from a flourishing line of green to single sticks stripped of their leaves. I didn’t know if it had been a bunny or a gopher that had filled their tummy, but I was angry. I instantly began silently spewing unkind thoughts in my head about these little varmints. It takes A LOT to get me angry, but this did it. They had invaded my private sanctuary.

I watered what was left and headed out for my morning walk. The area where I live is quiet with sprawling lots and wide curving roads. Typically, this is a peaceful time for me, but I couldn’t get the vision of my pitiful garden out of my mind. It is amazing how anger can push movement. I walked faster and faster. And then, in the middle of the road, I had to dodge to the side to keep from stepping on the body of a little gopher. It startled me and my anger went to sadness.
I walked on thinking about how many times I had watched these little creatures’ jet across the road in front of a car, their tiny legs moving faster than seemed possible.

Not more than 15 minutes further on my walk it happened again. This time it was a bunny in the road. My heart sank. I will admit to being more partial to the bunnies than the gophers. I watch them in the spring do their Cirque du Soleil act and sunbathe in my yard. I delight in naming the new babies and watch for them to return the next year.

My walk became slower as I realized the same playful balls of cuteness that I love to watch are also the ones that moments earlier I was enraged at for eating my garden. The shock of seeing the lifeless bodies in the road as I walked also slapped me with reality.
Did I really believe that deep below the earth the bunnies huddled together to conspire against me and my garden?
Did I really believe that gophers were vindictive?
No.
They do what animals (and humans) do- they dig holes to create a safe home for themselves and their families. They hunt and gather to find food for survival. They play and lay in the sunshine. They suffer accidents and loss.

When I sat down to write about this my anger had subsided. I had resolved to plant a few more seeds and salvage what was left of my garden.

As I typed I heard rumbling. The sky turned black opening to a lavish amount of rain and hail. Once again, I opened the door to my garden. The hail poured over my feet. What was left of my garden was now thrashed with more damage than any small animal could cause.

How simple our lives really are. We all want the same thing. To feel safe. To have food and shelter. To have someone to love and care for and love and care for us.
It is an uncomplicated formula.

At times it is easy to accomplish and we find ourselves feeling like a lucky bunny nibbling with joy in a field of fresh bean plants. At times life is difficult and we are slapped with the reality of uncertainty, fear, and loss. The trick is to accept and adapt to what we can’t control and be brave enough to start over.

Next year I will plant again.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Be brave enough to begin again.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to be brave enough to begin again.
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 © 2013-2020 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 IS A GOOD DAY

6/21/2020

I hugged him, kissed his forehead and said good night.
As I turned to walk away, he grabbed my arm and said,
     “This is a good day, such good day!”

It was a month before he passed away.
On a day that was circled with oxygen levels, medication and a sheepskin covered recliner – the things that became his life toward the end—I marveled at those words.

I looked at him in amazement and smiled at this incredible man. His mind was bright and clear but, it was as though his body was wilting as the determined disease gained control. Even though he knew he was dying, he continued to be grateful and look at life in a positive way.

But that was my Dad, Charlie Hunt.
He was a teacher.
Every day that he walked into his classroom filled with students he felt he was making a difference in their lives. But, outside of that, I am not sure if he knew he was teaching and making a difference with others in the grander classroom of life.

He demonstrated lessons in humility, kindness, dedication, and compassion. Once when I had treated him to a special gift he said,
   “Oh, I don’t need anything this fancy;
       you know we are just simple people.”

My Dad was teaching even in his last days. The final lesson he taught me was that no matter what life brings your way, always remember to begin and end every day knowing
      “THIS IS A GOOD DAY,
        SUCH A GOOD DAY!”

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all live life as simple people who celebrate every day in this way?
                  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie's Life Lesson-
“No matter what life brings your way, begin and end every day knowing ~
  THIS IS A GOOD DAY,
SUCH A GOOD DAY!"
                ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to enjoy every moment of every day... you never know how many days you will have. Every day IS a good day!
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 © 2013-2020 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.

WHY DIDN'T I

6/14/2020

Her nail polish was cheerful turquoise.
It matched the bright, happy color of her headband, however, everything between the nail polish and headband spoke of sadness.

Her teenage shoulders were bent from weakness as if they had carried years of stress. Her blue eyes rarely connected with mine as she took my order and prepared my sandwich.

It was a quick lunch stop for me as I was driving home from a speaking event.
In. . . and . . . out.
That is what I wanted.

It was late in the afternoon and only hunger could interrupt my determination to get home.

A fast sandwich and then back on the road.
I paid her, thanked her and hustled away with my lunch.

The whole time her despair was knocking on my heart’s door saying,
“Help, Help, let me in!”

I ran through the rain to the safety of my car and began the drive again. With every bite I took and every mile I drove I thought of her.

The knocking was still there.
The heaviness of her sadness.

The guilt grew with every swish of my windshield wipers. Guilt for keeping the words I wanted to say to her inside… beating them down deep into my throat because I didn’t want to take the time.

My mind was going faster than the speed limit with thoughts of ~

Why didn’t I?
Why didn’t I talk to her?
Why didn’t I ask about her day, her family, her life?

The shop was slow, I could have taken the time to talk to her, to help her, if only by showing I cared.

Why didn’t I?

How many times have I done this- missed an opportunity to help a stranger, or even someone close to me?

The heart knocks happen in small ways.
A word. A look. A feeling.
They are easy to miss and easy to ignore.

And yet, it is so easy to take a moment to smile, to ask, to give words of encouragement or a hug.
It’s so easy to let someone know you care.

Life lessons are hard to learn.
Especially when you miss the opportunity and there isn’t a “do over.”

This is one I won’t forget
Her turquoise sadness I won’t forget.
Next time I feel that knocking on my heart from someone in need, I will take the time.

Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Never miss a chance to care, help and show kindness. Never miss a chance to love.”

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to pay attention to times when you can help, say a kind word, or show you care. Take the time.
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 © 2013-2020 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.

MAKE THIS DAY MEANINGFUL

5/31/2020

They wake me up every day at 5:30. My furry Shih Tzu alarm clocks are prompt and routine driven. After a visit to the yard, ice water, (yes, they are spoiled), and breakfast, they happily follow me, coffee in hand, to my office. I sit in my chair and cover my lap with their favorite blanket. Maneuvering into a blended ball of fur, they snuggle down on my lap for meditation time. Putting my headphones on is the final cue for them to take a nap.

They follow this routine every day. In a similar way, I follow mine. When I wake up, I take a minute lying in bed to run through a mental list of what I am grateful for. Once I am up and have completed the dog routine, I do some form of meditation. I always use headphones to keep distractions away and because of this, it has been deemed my “plugin” time. I then read something uplifting, do some writing, and set my intention for the day.

Over the years my intentions have been to have a happy day, complete a project, or tied to an action. This week that changed.

I had been invited by a friend to read, “The Book of Joy.” Books like this tend to take me a while, as I like to read a little and allow it to marinate through my mind and heart. As I finished reading one of the chapters, I was struck by a line that the Dalai Lama said,
“I set my intention for the day:
That this day should be meaningful.”

That was powerful. That took my breath. That is when I stopped reading. It was going to take some time to digest this concept. I thought of how many years I had been setting a daily intention. Had I been doing it wrong?

Suddenly my daily intentions actually felt more like goals. A check mark on a to-do list. Something specific to accomplish or produce. Had any of my intentions brought meaning to my day or my life? This one line forced me to rediscover my purpose for daily intentions. In a way, it opened so many possibilities. By setting my intention every morning that my day should be meaningful without stipulations, criteria, or expectations it creates a new way of living. It allows for the unexpected and opens space for the interpretation of meaningful.

I began looking back at my life. How many days do I remember as holding meaning? How many days made a difference? We all have meaningful days when events happen in our lives like graduations, weddings, births, and deaths. We all know markers in history that were meaningful for our world. Hopefully, we have all had days when we have been good humans and done
meaningful things to make a difference and, in our way, move humanity forward. Big things are meaningful and memorable. But I believe by setting the intention of having a meaningful day it doesn’t always have to be the grand in-the-news type of action.

Meaningful can be smiling at strangers, helping your neighbor, or reading a book to a child.
Meaningful can be showing compassion and concern to someone with less than we have. Meaningful can be holding the hand of someone who is grieving.
Meaningful can be expressing love and joy.
Meaningful can be listening to someone else’s opinion even though it does not pair with yours.
Meaningful can be spending a day in nature to appreciate its glory and to rejuvenate our own soul.
Meaningful can be reading a book, watching a documentary, going to the gym, or doing something for self-improvement.
Meaningful can be so many things to each of us.

This morning as I took off my headphones and looked at my sweet dogs curled on my lap I thought, please let this day be meaningful. My intention is that when I lay my head on the pillow tonight and think about my day, I will believe it was.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson: “Set your intention to make every day meaningful.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to make your days meaningful.
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 © 2013-2020 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.

SEARCHING FOR SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS?

5/23/2020

Are you searching for the secret to happiness?

Do you wonder why other people seem to be more successful than you—even if you believe that you work harder than they do?

In my mind, a big part of happiness and success comes down to three attributes.
~The ability to accept and adapt to change.
~The ability to believe you are Good Enough to love and be loved.
~The ability to express gratitude.

Let me break these down for you.
I grew up in a military family. I knew when my Dad came home with a manila envelope that inside were transfer orders and the location of where we would be moving to. I remember the feeling of being the new kid walking down a classroom aisle to an empty desk in the front row while everyone stared at me. I hated it. I learned as a little girl that I had a choice -- make friends on the playground or stand alone. I realized that I needed to accept the changes that occurred when we moved to a new community, adapt to my new environment, make friends, and enjoy the journey.

This has served me well through career changes, divorce, and grief. While others live in the Who-Moved-My-Cheese stagnation unable to accept that their life has changed and unable to adapt to the new adventures ahead of them, successful, happy people hone the ability to accept and adapt. You may not always like the event that spurred the change, (and there is always change) but you must cultivate the ability to thrive in the space you find yourself – no matter what!

We are bombarded with the message that we are Not Good Enough! We all protect that sore space hidden inside where we believe we are not thin enough, smart enough, rich enough…the list goes on and on. The newest guilt inducers verified by the thousands of self-help books on the market are that we are not happy enough, healthy enough, or holy enough.

Here is the thing – WE ARE ALL GOOD ENOUGH! I believe that just by the pure biological chance that we were created and survived the birthing process proves this –it is no accident! We were all meant to be here. I believe you are good enough and I can tell you this all day, but YOU must do the work on this one. YOU must come to believe, right down to your inner core, that YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH!

It doesn’t matter what trauma you had as a child or what wrongs you have committed you must come to a place of knowing that you are good enough to love and be loved. If you don’t believe it no one else will believe it of you. Relationships, love, happiness, and success will avoid you—after all you are sending off the vibe that you aren’t good enough and don’t deserve it. When you are circled in that type of negativity- happiness and success beware!

Lastly, you must express gratitude. Until you are grateful for what you have, you will never receive more. Let me repeat that, until you are grateful for what you have, you will never receive more. If all you have is a pair of shoes on your feet and a sandwich to eat for lunch, be grateful for that! Then dig deeper. Be grateful every morning that you open your eyes. Be grateful for every step, every breath, and every moment you are given and for all that your life is filled with.

Don’t just say, “Thank you.” You must feel gratitude with every cell of your body. Tell others why you are thankful for them. Write thank-you notes, make phone calls, volunteer, journal, pray, sing, dance – whatever moves you to a grateful, loving place. Do it!

You cannot hold on to a negative like hurt, anger, or fear when you are filled with love and gratitude. Practice the ability to express gratitude until it becomes part of your DNA.
Life is wild and unpredictable.

If you are in search of happiness and success, begin studying the people you know who are happy and successful. I believe it won’t take you long to see that they hold and nurture these three qualities. They accept and adapt to change. They believe they are good enough. For them, expressing gratitude is not just social politeness, it is ingrained in sincerity.

When you begin to cultivate and practice these three attributes you may just find yourself smack dab in the middle of happiness and success.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“To be happy and successful cultivate these three attributes: The Ability to accept and adapt to change; The Ability to believe you are Good Enough to love and be loved; and The Ability to express gratitude.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to study successful happy people. Watch for these three attributes and then practice them yourself.
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 © 2013-2020 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 LIFEGUARD ON DUTY!

5/16/2020

The air was warm, the sun shining and the pool inviting. The sign was very clear-
WARNING
NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY!

This meant it was my choice to jump in the pool, but I was doing so at my own risk. I should be able to swim, because if not there was no one here to help me.

Luckily, I am a fairly proficient swimmer and was in the water in a flash! I kept rereading the sign as I paddled around the pool.

Isn’t that how life is? We are never promised calm waters and smooth sailing. We do not have personal lifeguards on duty to keep our heads above water or throw us a life ring. We are not given lifeboats that we can float in when life throws us difficult times.
We must learn, as the saying goes,
to Sink or Swim.

NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY is an invisible sign that hangs over all of our lives. It gives us a choice. We can either be brave enough to jump in and experience life
- OR -
We can forever sit on the side of the pool wondering what the cool water feels like.
Wondering if we could swim.
Wondering if we could save ourselves if the water begins to swirl.
Wondering if we could finish the length, win the race and hold the trophy.

My choice is to dive right in and submerge myself in the joys of life. I have become my own Lifeguard - watching carefully for the dangers and knowing that rough waters will face me and when they do I will get through them- head down and determined to move forward.

We may not be given our own personal Lifeguard, but that won’t stop me from jumping in every pool I see.
Will you join me or hold my towel?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie's Life Lesson:
“Be your own Lifeguard.
Jump in the water of life!”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pennie Heart to Heart
NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to be safe, but jump in and enjoy life.

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 © 2013-2020 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.

SECRETS YOUR MOM NEVER TELLS YOU --ABOUT BEING A MOM

5/10/2020

At 19 I jumped in the front seat of the craziest, scariest, most exhilarating roller coaster ride of my life. BAM! I Became A Mom!

I was mature, smart and ready to take on the world. (Weren’t we all at 19?) Little did I know that being a mom would be the most rewarding, life changing, ride I would ever jump into.
And jump I did, not once, but four times.

Everyone watched me do it.
And no one warned me about what was ahead – the ups, the downs, the jerks, the curves and the whiplashing shocks.
My own mother didn’t even hold up the“CAUTION PROCEED WITH CARE”sign!
She never told me the BAM of Being A Mom was a life jolt. She never told me the secrets.

She never told me that being a mom opens your heart to a love that you could never imagine. The birthing and cutting of a physical umbilical cord that attaches you human-to-human in no way cuts the invisible golden cords that attach you heart-to-heart. Their body may birth to the world an independent being, but a piece of this new soul is forever kept inside and connected to you.

She never told me that being a mom makes you vulnerable in a way you have NEVER been before. You open yourself to being dropped to your knees by your child’s tears, broken hearts and disappointments.
Their pain is your pain.

She never told me that being a mom means you will never sleep again. Well, never the same way you slept prior to the BAM. You may be prepared for the first months of sleep deprivation caused by night diaper changes and bottles that will soon pass.
What you aren’t ready for is the rest of your life sleeping with one ear half open to hear their cries from a nightmare, moans from a fever and footsteps as your teenager sneaks in the house passed curfew.
What you don’t know is long after they have grown and moved out of your home, you will sleep with a part of your heart open hoping they are safe, happy and loved.
You will never sleep fully again.

She never told me that being a mom is a 24 hour, 7 day a week, forever occupation.
No vacation days,
No sick leave and
No quitting!
Once you accept the position you are locked in heart, mind and soul – FOR LIFE!
**She never even whispered that it is a job you will love with all of your heart – and some days you won’t. On those days, you will peak at their sleeping faces and then wrap yourself in a cocoon of guilt and shame for allowing yourself to hate the job you love.

She never told me that being a mom brings you trophy words like Pride, Joy and Happiness that you can hang on your wall in an expression of motherhood.
It also brings you words like Anger, Hurt and Exhaustion that, in an attempt to hide your fear of inadequacy, you swallow and tuck in your belly hiding them so no one sees.

She never told me that being a mom makes you strong enough to endure the unthinkable.
You take on the risk of being told the baby you carry no longer has a heartbeat and you must be strong enough to walk out of the hospital carrying an empty blanket.
You take on the risk of birthing, nurturing and loving your child for years and then receiving the phone call that they are gone. In both cases holding tightly to the golden cords that now reach to your angel child.

She never told me that being a mom makes you understand that you will be joyous when your daughter is grown and has children of her own. You will watch through tears and laughter as she learns for herself, the unspoken secrets of being a mom.

Looking back, I would tell that naïve, 19 year old girl, who thought she knew it all,
to jump.
Jump with all the love, anticipation and joy she has because through all the ups and downs being a mom is the most amazing ride she will ever be on.
And through it all she will learn the unspoken code of never saying out loud the secret lessons of Being A Mom.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Mom’s are the gentle holders of our hearts. Hold theirs in return.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to  understand the ultimate love that goes in to being a MOM! Love yours today!!!

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 © 2013-2020 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.

May 10th, 2020

5/10/2020

ARE YOU SATISFIED?

5/3/2020

The server began clearing the dishes from our table and said,

“Would you like to order dessert or are you satisfied?”

This comment made me push back from the table and sit up straight. It wasn’t uncommon to be asked if you would like dessert after a restaurant meal. I’m used to hearing,
   “Would you like dessert?”
   “Did you save room for dessert?”
   “Can I tempt you with a sweet treat?”
And so many other ways I’ve been asked that question.
But…
It was the way she asked it that caused me to pause. Am I satisfied? I had to rethink my plan. Many times when I go out for a nice dinner, I automatically order dessert.

Sometimes I am completely stuffed by the time I have made my way through an appetizer, salad, the main meal…. and of course, dessert is part of the ritual of dining out. Being satisfied with what I had consumed so far had never played into the mindless response of ordering dessert.
I always want dessert!

The way she asked the question forced me to differentiate my want from my need; my contentment from my greed; my hunger from my desire.

The truth was I was full. My hunger had been (by definition) satisfied. The way she posed the question humbled me. I had just enjoyed a lovely meal. The quality and quantity was more than many people in our world have to eat in a day. I was embarrassed to ask for more.

This experience happened years ago, and yet, I have never forgotten that server. I have never forgotten the question. I have never forgotten the lesson.

How many times in life do we automatically want more? We want a nicer car, a bigger home, a larger paycheck. We want more attention, more friends, more love, and more happiness. When did we become so unfulfilled with where we are? Why have we learned this behavior of never being content with what we have?

Satisfaction comes from knowing when our belly is full, our thirst is quenched, and our life needs are met. The reality is, we can only drive one car at a time. We can only occupy one home at a time. And, no matter how much money we have, we can only eat one burger at a time. Satisfaction comes from knowing when enough is enough.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Be satisfied with where you are right now, with what you have right now, with the breath you are taking right now. Satisfaction comes from knowing when enough is enough.”

Pennie Heart to Heart
ARE YOU SATISFIED?

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to look at your life and realize when enough is enough.

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 © 2013-2020 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 BEGAN WITH JUST ONE

4/24/2020

A few short months ago I never thought that masks would be a hot new wardrobe accessory.
I never thought I would be making them.
But, here we are.

It began with just one. I was only going to make one mask so my husband would be safe when he did his quick runs to the grocery store. After looking through many online patterns and watching a few YouTube videos, I chose the one I would make.

My first attempt was created from an old sheet. According to some articles, sheets with a high thread count work well for keeping germs away from your face. After cutting, pinning, pressing, and sewing, I tucked a tissue in the secret pocket for an extra layer of filtration as suggested.
I was proud when I presented my husband with the finished product. He was impressed too until he tried it on. It did not quite cover his face and the elastic straps were a bit too short. But it fit me perfectly, so the cream-colored prototype became mine.

I cut the next one from red polka dot cotton fabric - a little larger, man-sized. This time I tucked a coffee filter in the secret pocket. It fit him perfectly. He even liked the color.

I planned on stopping there, but then I thought about my mother-in-law, our kids and their spouses, our grandchildren, and my sister in Houston. My project became bigger and my mission more important. I dug deeper into my plastic tubs of fabric. I made three small ones covered in sport balls for grandsons. I made teal ones for our daughters. I made a ‘Paris green” one, which was the new favorite color of one granddaughter, and one with happy puppies for another. A large blue one big enough to cover one son’s beard that is growing longer and thicker with each passing work-from-home day.
Each mask became customized by personality, size, and color.
I happily checked off names from my list.

And then, I found it.
Tucked in some fabric I had kept from my mom’s collection after she passed away, was a scrap of cloth with horses trotting across a beige and blue background. My hands followed the path of the horses as I remembered how many times I had tucked my little cowboy in bed under his favorite horse quilt. I remembered how my mom had sewn each block together and her fingers had needled every quilted stitch. I remembered how much he loved the security of the quilt my mom made for him over 35 years ago and how those horses had kept him warm and safe. I held the treasure I had found knowing it was the last memory of that quilt.

My son’s daughter was 9 months old when he passed in 2007. She has grown into a brilliant and beautiful young lady who loves horses and sees the world through her daddy’s chocolate brown eyes. This small piece of cloth was barely enough to make a mask, but I knew who it was for.

Fabric has a way of piecing together memories and patching together families. A project born out of a time of fear and uncertainty became heart-work for me. What began with making one mask has turned into 35 and counting. Each one created to protect someone I love. Each one carrying the story of the fabric it was made from.

Out of all the masks I have made, there is one that holds a special power. An extra layer of protection that isn’t tucked in the secret pocket. It is a protection from the love embedded in the fabric. It is protection from my mom and my son for a special girl they both loved.
As her chocolate brown eyes peek over the top of the horses on her mask, I know she will be safe.

I never thought I would be making masks.
But, here we are.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“The fabric you wear, the fabric you touch, and the fabric you
take for granted all carry a story.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to think about how the fabric you wear, the fabric you touch, and the fabric you take for granted all carry a story.
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 © 2013-2020 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.

WALK A MILE IN MY SMILE

4/19/2020

I have been called Pollyanna, Susie Sunshine, optimistic, positive and perky throughout my life. I accept all of those as terms of endearment, when actually at times they have been said in a teasing way.

I will admit to being a glass-is-full kind of girl. You know that saying, “Walk a mile in my shoes?” Well, I am asking you to,
“Walk a Mile in My Smile.”

I am far from perfect and I am not perky and positive every minute of every day. I have down times, sad days and occasionally become angry. But I am asking you to join me in the up-side of walking in my shoes.

I will admit to having the advantage of being blessed with a high happiness set point. This means I seem to keep a fairly high stance of happiness no matter what. When I do have the occasional gloomy, sad, inner rain, my body fights to regain its natural value of happiness.

But above that, I have learned to live with the habit of happiness. I have several rituals that I have used over the years to support this habit and they enable me to stay fairly true to my happiness set point. Here are just a few of these happiness enhancers that you may like to try.

Begin each day with gratitude. When your eyes open in the morning, take some time to lay there and be grateful for waking another day, for the bed you slept in, for the sleep you enjoyed and for the day ahead.

As you swing your feet off the bed for that first step of the day, say “Thank” as you place one foot down and “You” as you place the other foot. As you walk throughout your day, say “Thank you” with your steps. Subconsciously your mind will begin to fill in the blank of thank you for what.

As you are driving to work or to a meeting say, “Thank you” out loud for the meeting you are about to have, for the successful outcome and for the positive interaction you will have with those involved.

When you go to bed at night, instead of laying there running through the list of things you didn't get done or should have done differently, go through a mental list of thank-yous for all the people, places, and things that enriched your day.
An added bonus to this - If you have problems sleeping this will help with that too-- Counting thank-yous is better than counting sheep!

I bet you are noticing a pattern here. Yes, I believe the secret to my glass-is-always-full outlook is appreciation. If we appreciate every step we make, every breath we take and every interaction we have there will be little space left for negativity and anger.

Even if you have little to appreciate – begin there. Appreciate that. Be grateful for that. Say thank you for that.

As your appreciation grows so will your happiness. As your happiness grows the love you hold on the inside will spill to the outside and soon you will be walking miles in your own smile.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie's Life Lesson:
“As your appreciation and gratitude
grows so will your happiness!”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to think about how you are feeling and the pressure you are putting on yourself.
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 © 2013-2020 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.

HAFTA!!

4/12/2020

I woke up this morning already overwhelmed.

Before my eyes opened I was overwhelmed.

Before my feet even hit the floor I was overwhelmed.

  "There is so much I HAFTA do!"

My mind was already talking to me before I had time to shuffle to the coffee maker.
I HAFTA do laundry.
I HAFTA write a blog.
I HAFTA create my notes for a presentation next week.
I HAFTA hunt and gather, (my term for my not-so-favorite job of grocery shopping).
I HAFTA, I HAFTA, I HAFTA!   The list went on and on.

Feeling a bit less than enthusiastic to do any of it, suddenly the bubble over my head filled with...

"I don't HAFTA do anything!"  I really don't!

I decided that word should be banished from my vocabulary. I also decided to evict the words must, should, required, and for the bonus - I threw in gotta and oughtta!

The reality is what in life do we really HAFTA do?

I had clean clothes to wear today so I didn't HAFTA do laundry.

I wonder if I skipped a blog one week if anyone would actually notice and send me a 'where is it' message.

I know I could stand up and give my presentation next week without any notes.

And, I wouldn't starve if I didn't hunt and gather today.

Why do we put so much pressure on ourselves to feel like we are obligated to do...do...DO?

I realize we all have responsibilities in life and I am not saying we drop all common sense. I am saying we might be happier and healthier if we added common sense to our HAFTA list.

Once we get through the one or two things that are the necessary responsibilities and look further down the list, what if we measured them by whether they feed our soul or drain our energy. Whether they add joy or create chaos. Whether they lift our spirits or burden our soul.

What if we threw away our HAFTA lists and we began labeling tasks with the expressions of: like to; love to; want to; desire; crave; and even optional?

I realized that by taking away the forced implication of feeling like I "HAFTA" complete certain tasks and changing the mindset to a joyful desire of accomplishment that is totally optional, the overwhelm I felt went away.

Once my second cup of coffee set in I realized I like the tumbling hum of the dryer as it calms me to a place of feeling nestled and at home

I love to write-that is why I am either writing or thinking about writing all the time.

Sharing my message with people is my mission and making notes helps me feel prepared to give all I can to the people who come to hear me speak.

And after eating half of a very over ripe banana with my coffee, the vision of crackly fresh apples, baking banana bread and craving the smell of a simmering pot of vegetable soup made even the hunting and gathering outing seem desirable.

When I released the HAFTA pressure from my mind and turned most of my day into optional thinking I still accomplished just as much... and enjoyed the process!

Now with the smells of bread and soup swirling through my heart and home and my writing almost complete, I feel joyful, my soul has been fed and my spirit lifted to a higher space than when I woke this morning.

I don't HAFTA feel overwhelmed.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie's Life Lesson:
"Change your mindset from a
must do list to a want to list - then feel the stress and pressure
in your life lighten."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you think about how you are feeling and the pressure you are putting on yourself.
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 © 2013-2020 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.

Happy, Healthy, and Safe!

4/5/2020

The writing I am sharing with you today, I wrote almost 3 years ago about moving my Mom, The Fernster, into a retirement community. My mantra became what I wished for her to be- Happy, Healthy, and Safe.
I feel like the circumstances are different, but right now during the Corona Virus it is the wish I hold for all my family, friends, community and the world – and myself.
During that time of transition, my mom was frightened and confused.
During today’s time of uncertainty, we are all frightened and confused.
Please read and share this! (My Mom passed almost 9 months ago- send her love to heaven)
And stay happy, healthy and safe!

“Mom, we want you to be Happy, Healthy and Safe.”
She scrunched up her face in a mixture of confusion, mistrust and fear. She didn’t like this conversation. It was an intervention we dreaded. Making a move from being independent and living on your own when you are 86 to a situation where caretakers are required is a difficult transition.
Difficult for my mom.
Difficult for her children.

The odd mixture of confusion and fear visited me as well. Guilt joined right in.

Emotionally, my heart wants my mom to be strong, beautiful and sound minded until she is 100.

Logically, my mind understands the small frail woman before me needs help.

Her driving has become a rotation of accidents, body shops, insurance rate hikes and relief that no one was hurt.

Her falls are becoming more and more frequent as evident by the swollen green and blue bump on her forehead.

Her memory sways like a breeze blowing through – at times gentle and kind with the sweet smell of freshness and at times as if a harsh wind has cleared any signs of her life from just moments before. Names are lost, appointments missed, bills are not paid.

I want her to be Happy, Healthy and Safe.
That has become my mantra.
Happy, Healthy and Safe.
Happy, Healthy and Safe.
In the weeks after that initial intervention conversation, we visited a variety of retirement facilities and signed a contract with one.

The process of separating her life into boxes of KEEP, DONATE and THROW AWAY was both physically and emotionally painful. There were clothes three sizes too big for her shrunken frame. Dishes and a tea pot collection from my grandmothers. Photos of my parents laughing when they were young, carefree and dating. My dad’s military records that have been tucked away since 2005 when he passed.

I wore gloves to keep my hands from being cut and bruised by the papers, boxes and cleaning supplies.
But, there was nothing to protect my heart as I relived the memories of my mom as we invaded her life.

The house was empty as I walked out the door and down the sidewalk past the "For Sale" sign.

Happy, Healthy and Safe.
I know her new environment is just that.
I know it is the right thing to do.
I know it is necessary.
I also know there is no going back into that home and the space where my mom was the mom I remember.
Happy Healthy and Safe.
     Happy Healthy and Safe.
Isn’t that what we all want?
Isn’t that what we all need?

I wish this for my friends, my community and the world.
I wish this for my family.
I wish this for myself.
And I wish this for my Mom.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“We all want and need to be
   Happy, Healthy and Safe.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you think about our world situation is trying to teach us about being happy,healthy and safe!
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 © 2013-2020 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.

WHAT IF?

3/27/2020

This is an unusual time.
I have had moments that I felt as if we are in a Sci Fi movie. Scenes on the news of people dressed in a wardrobe of total protection are not just frightening to children, but to all of us.
Words like, isolation, social distancing, quarantine, and rationing, spill through every news report and conversations all begin with,
“What store has milk, bread or eggs?”
“Where can we find toilet paper?”

I don’t like it.

Seeing my loved ones through a computer is not the same as kissing their cheeks.
Virtual game night is fun, but it is not the same as sharing the same bowl of chips. (Will we ever be able to share chips again?)
I miss coffee and lunches with friends. I miss dinner and movie dates with my husband. I miss manicures and massages. I miss trips, concerts, and sporting events that have been cancelled. I miss running to the store just to pick up a tomato for my BLT without feeling like my life could be in danger.

All of this feels like distant memories of a past life that becomes increasingly blurred as the days goes by.

I feel pressure when I hear people are using this time to clean out every closet, write a book, and get in shape by working out and eating right. I am sure the new Corona Diet Plan will be out any day. That just makes me want to eat pop tarts - which I did before I went to bed last night.

I feel fear for those in areas with he most cases of this Corona Virus, the elderly, and the recently unemployed. I fear the financial ramifications for the world.
I feel admiration for those in the front lines of leadership trying to make the right decisions; for those serving us with formidable strength in the healthcare world; and for the entire chain of workers it takes to produce, transport, and stock the shelves of supermarkets.
When it isn’t cold and snowing, (yes, it is still winter where I live), I go for walks. I cross to the other side of the street if I see someone walking towards me. I count the cars in driveways and wonder if they are having a gathering of more than 10 or if they have gathered as a family to shelter at home -together.
Yesterday, I walked.
It wasn’t to add steps to my fitness counter or burn as many calories as I could.
I walked slow and with the intention of enjoying every step. The sun hit my face with a warmth that made 40 degrees feel like summer. I took deep breaths of clean, fresh air. It felt amazing to be out of my house where the air is continually circulated through the furnace.

I looked up to the bluest sky I have ever seen that was speckled with cotton white clouds. In the silence of not hearing traffic, or the noise of daily life, I heard birds. Birds singing glorious songs with their choir of friends. I saw carefree bunnies scampering through yards.
You are probably thinking this sounds a bit gushy and the next thing I will say is that blue birds appeared to tie ribbons in my hair like I was Cinderella in a Disney movie.
I won’t go that far, but...

It felt slow.
It felt quiet.
It felt peaceful.
It felt fresh and new.
It felt different.
What if this is the message of this virus? The message to slow down. To listen. To see things again- the things we take for granted and the things we miss in our hurried life.
What if the speed of which our life and world had gotten to was spinning so fast that we were heading for an implosion? What if this is it?
What if we needed a shake down? A wake-up call to be grateful for what is important.

As the days go by, I realize how grateful I am for simplicity. How grateful I am for food, water, and the shelter of my home. How grateful I am for the security of love from my family and friends. How grateful I am for dinner and movie dates with my husband at home with our sweet dogs snuggled next to us.

I realize what I really miss. I miss smiles and hugs. I miss cheek kisses. I miss the touch of my loved ones and voices that are not muffled by technology. I miss the freedom to move in whatever direction I desire.

The events, travel, and manicures seem of little importance.

The uncertainty of not knowing how or when this will end is nerve racking and I don’t have the answers. I do know that the most important lessons are taught in the most difficult of times. I do know that the sky is bluer, the birds are singing louder, and the world has slowed to a pace that we need to remember when this time of hunkering down ends.
What if it is time to listen to the quiet?
What if it is time for you to take a walk?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie's Life Lesson:
“The most important lessons are taught in the most difficult of times.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you think about our world situation is trying to teach us.
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 © 2013-2020 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.

EVERYTHING I WANT

3/21/2020

I snuck away with my Grandson, Dylan, for an afternoon of feeding the ducks in the park, picnicking and a little shopping.

After the ducks were fed and our tummies were full we moved on to shopping.

My shopping cart spilled over with the arms and legs of a three- year-old. As I maneuvered through the aisle, I asked him,

  “What should we buy for you today?
Maybe a shirt, a book, a……”

My list was interrupted when he said,

“I have everything I want.”

My cart came to a stop as I looked at his sweet face. I couldn't hide my smile at his remarkable comment.

   “You have everything you want?”

He may have been three, but he knew from the expression on my face that he must have given the million dollar answer.
He flashed his killer smile and said,

  “Yeah, I do!
   I have EVERYTHING I want! ”

I proceeded to tell him how lucky he was that he was so happy and had everything he wants. He smiled bigger, sat up taller and was very proud that yes, he must be lucky!

I have to say it stunned me. What little person (or big person for that matter) can say they have everything they want? I was still pondering this as we paid for his new football.   My idea – not his.

Later, we stopped by my house to feed my dog, Yogee. Yogee was much more interested in dancing around the floor with Dylan than eating. After about the third time I told Yogee to go eat her food Dylan looked at me and said,

"Maybe she just isn't hungry."

Again, I stopped to breathe in what he just said. I sat down and watched as Yogee’s tiny feet continued the happy dance as she circled around him. As every inch of her body wriggled and smiled, I realized – she, too, in this moment of time had everything she wanted.

We took Yogee to the back yard and this time it was Dylan’s turn to do the happy dance. He ran to my garden box. He circled it, hands clapping and sang,

  "Oh, this garden is BEAUTIFUL!!!"

That was it!
Three strikes to my heart!
Lessons learned!

At 3 years old, he could see the beauty in a garden and understood that "he" wasn't hungry for anything.
-- He had everything he wants!

This tiny boy had just demonstrated to me the simplicity of life. That as long as we are loved we do have everything we want.
That sometimes we don’t hunger for anything - we just need to dance.
And if we look we can find beauty in our own back yard.

I learned that right now, in this moment, I do have everything I want!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
 "When we are surrounded by love we don’t hunger for anything -- we have everything we want."
   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pennie Heart to Heart
EVERYTHING I WANT

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to be grateful for what you have. Do you need more, or do YOU have everything you want?
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at:
PennieHunt@gmail.com.
Thank you!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
      All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2013-2020 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.

PERSONAL TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE

3/14/2020

Take out a notebook.
Use a layout that is comfortable for you.
You can make headers across the top of the page.
You can use key words down the side.
Use a Word Document or a spreadsheet on your computer.
It doesn't matter what style you choose.

What I want you to do is create a reference guide to get you through the hard times of life.

Write down:
Things that bring you joy.
Things or people that bring you strength.
What brings you happiness.
What makes you feel loved.
Places where you feel safe; the people you feel safe with.
How you feel warm and protected.
What makes you feel ALIVE!

Write down as many categories as you want to and as many things, places, people, or actions you can think of for each category.

End with these last two which may be the most important:
- What makes you feel of service- what can
YOU do to help - who can YOU help.
- What you are grateful for.

My lists are long, but a sampling of mine would be:
My dogs, Gracie and Zenee, bring me joy.
Meditation brings me strength.
My grandchildren bring me happiness.
I feel loved by my husband, kids, grandchildren, friends, and family.
I feel safe at home in front of the fire drinking coffee and reading.
I feel protected when my husband holds my hand.
I feel ALIVE when I paint, speak, and write.
I can help others by - volunteering at Hospice, watching grand kids, or having coffee with someone who feels alone.
I am grateful for my warm comfortable bed, and the sunrise in the morning.

Now when sadness, grief, illness, loss, depression, loneliness, despair, or whatever feeling or experience visits your life pull out this list. Zero in on what you need.
Do you need to feel safe after you have a physical injury?
Do you need to feel happy when the emptiness of being alone for a holiday strikes?
Do you need strength to get through a difficult time in your job?
Whatever comes up in your life, you now have a catalog of ideas that you KNOW works for you.
You are prepared.
You are armed with answers and actions to get you through.
You have your own "Personal Troubleshooting Guide" for YOUR life.

Now, take out that notebook!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Create a notebook filled with ideas and options to get you through difficult times. Be prepared!”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

   YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to create a handbook of ideas to help you to help yourself during stressful times.
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!
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 © 2013-2020 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.

MEDITATION SAVED MY LIFE!!

3/5/2020

I began meditating over a decade ago during a very stressful time in my life.

I was certain my mind and body would explode from the pressure, as I tried to handle many highly emotional life situations. Desperation set in as I struggled to gain some essence of control in my world of chaos.

My first attempt at gaining relief from this tension was when I sat down, closed my eyes and with the sound of rain falling in my headphones said to myself over and over and over again,

"Clear my mind...

clear my mind...

clear my mind."

I didn't know what meditation was, nor did I realize that was what I was doing. I just knew I needed peace in my mind, heart and soul

I lasted about five minutes, before I jumped up believing I had failed as my mind hadn't cleared at all.

Determined, I continued this routine daily and soon I became more and more successful. Some days I could actually sit for the 5 minutes and my mind would clear. The minutes turned to ten, then fifteen and at times I would sit for hours.

Meditation saved my life.

I learned how to separate myself from the world outside of my body and control my emotions, thoughts and feelings. I could handle the stress of all that was happening in a clean, clear and calm way.

After years of learning about the many various types of meditation, I have settled in to what works for me.

I believe you do not have to follow a certain meditation dogma or philosophy to receive an emotional and physical benefit. The basic premise is to quiet your thoughts and allow calm, contentment and peace to fill the space of your mind and body.

Now, whether I want to relax and release tension or concentrate on one thought, I turn to daily meditation as my life saving method.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie's Life Lesson:
"Quiet your mind and allow calm,
contentment and peace to fill you."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to find your own place of quiet, place of solitude, place of peace.
   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
      All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2013-2020 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.

BREATHE LIKE YOU LOVE YOURSELF

2/24/2020

Take a breath.
Just for a moment take a breath and take the time to read this.
One breath.

We take breathing for granted, but without one breath we may not be here to take the next or the next. One breath is so precious. It is the most important thing we have and yet we pay such little attention to it.

Oh, if it is someone else, we notice.
When our babies are born, we wait to hear that first cry knowing that it means they have taken a breath and all is well. And when our kids are sick with bronchitis, we do everything we can to help them breathe. We set up vaporizers, rub Vicks on their chest, give them cough drops, and prop them upright to help them fill those precious lungs.
We want them to breathe because we love them.

Before my Dad passed from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, I had never given much thought to how important breathing is. As I watched him struggle with every inhale while a machine groaned and hissed to supply him with the right amount of oxygen I paid attention to his breath like I never had before. Over time, the scarring and hardening of his lungs got worse and it became harder and harder for his lungs to hold even a small amount of oxygen. I remember the pain as I held his hand and cried as he took his last breath.
I wanted him to breathe because I loved him.

It is our human nature to take care of others. To love others. But, what about showing the same attention to ourselves. When was the last time you breathed like you love yourself? When was the last time you paid attention to the importance of your own breath?

Take a breath now.
Slowly.
Feel the coolness of the air as it enters your nostrils. Feel as the breath passes through your nose, travels down the back of your throat and into your bronchial tubes, and slowly fills your lungs. Feel your lungs expand and your chest push out. Now follow the exhale as your lungs contract and releases the air to exit your body. Notice how it feels warm as you exhale.

Most of the time we never think about it or notice that we are breathing. Take some time right now to think about what a gift of love our breath is. Think of yourself as a young child in your care and you want that child to breathe because you love them. Breathe with slow, full intention.

Breathe like you love yourself.
Take a breath.
A precious breath.
A breath is the first and last thing we do in this life.
Let me repeat that.
A breath is the first and last thing we do in this life.
It is our beginning and our ending. Why wouldn’t we cherish it? Why wouldn’t we pay attention to the way it fills us with life? Why wouldn’t we breathe like we love ourselves?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“A breath is the first and last thing we do in this life. Cherish it. Breathe like you love yourself.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to understand the gift of each breath. To understand that with each breath love circulates through your body.
   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
      All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2013-2020 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
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LET'S GET OUR BUTTS ON THE RIDE!

2/22/2020

My husband and I both have a fear of Ferris wheels.
There is something about being suspended in mid-air, with our legs dangling from a bucket as it swings and rotates that is not our idea of fun.

Recently, while visiting Atlanta, we planned a day of sightseeing. We walked from our hotel to Centennial Olympic Park to visit the attractions in that area. With a little time before our first tour, we stumbled upon something that was hard to miss. The SkyView Atlanta Ferris Wheel. This isn't the average carnival Ferris wheel. This is 20 stories high; an impressive site to see.

We read the sign about how it rotates 4 times, the buckets are actually enclosed, air-conditioned gondolas and the ride takes about 15 minutes. None of this lessened our fear of Ferris wheels…. and this was a big one. There wasn't a line and we had some time, so we decided if we were going to do it we better get our butts on the ride.

Without hesitation, we bought our tickets, jumped in and heard the door lock. Suddenly we gave each other the what-have-we-done look! I’m not sure about my husband, but for the first rotation my eyes were closed, my breath was held and fear took over.

Reaching the top of the second rotation I opened my eyes.
The view was incredible! It felt like we could see the entire city. By the third rotation we were both smiling. After the forth we were glad to put our feet back on the ground, yet happy for the experience.

Isn't life so often like this? We stand by silently wishing we could jump on the ride, yet we hesitate and hush our enthusiasm. Our fear takes over and we play it safe by just watching instead of participating. The time isn't right, what if we would get hurt or fall off; of course we will do it another time.

Life isn't always a smooth ride. It can go round and round with monotonous predictability, then suddenly everywhere we turn, we are hit, jerked, and slammed like bumper cars jolting back and forth. It can be dangerous to ride life’s roller coaster up and down through the peaks and valleys.

On the ride of life, it is inside the bumps and jerks that we learn our biggest lessons. Without the valleys of fear and desperation we can’t appreciate the peaks of being on top where the view is incredible. If we stand on the sidelines, we miss the experience.

If we had thought about our fear we wouldn't have gotten on that Ferris wheel. We would have missed the experience. The second chance may have never come.

Now, "Let's get our butts on the RIDE!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie's Life Lesson:
"Don’t stand on the sidelines of life – jump in and enjoy the ride!”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to enjoy new experiences. You never know when you just may love it!!
   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
      All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2013-2020 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.

RISK FOR LOVE

2/13/2020

My husband has been called a Stand-Up-Guy.

He is grand in stature, grand in his life accomplishments, grand in his thinking and quietly grand in his giving.

He has a saying,
“If you’re going to risk, risk for love.”

We have many opportunities in life to risk- the stock market, gambling, new business ventures. But let’s look at the times we risk for love.

When you tell a potential life partner that you love them or ask them to marry you there is a chance for rejection.

We risk life as we know it when we bring a child into the world. And once they are here, we would risk anything to help them and keep them safe.

If you tell a friend you love them, there is a risk of shocking them, being uncomfortable or being told you are odd. People are not used to this kind of verbal affection.

We risk our emotions when we adopt a pet knowing they will reach in, imprint our hearts and then leave us long before we are ready to see them go.

When loving ourselves, we are critical and question whether we are good enough or deserving of self-care and self-love.

Even when doing acts of loving kindness there is the risk of being misunderstood or having your motives judged.

When you love there is risk.
Love anyway.
Love loud.
Love bold.
Love in every moment.
Love with all the breath you have in your soul.
Love until it trembles your very reason for living.

My husband is a Stand-Up-Guy. He lives his life in a conservative understated way. He believes in researching, weighing all options and knowing the odds.

He rarely takes chances; however, at a time when we thought our relationship was over he took the risk. He made the phone call. He began the conversation which led to our happy marriage.
He believes in risking for love.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie's Life Lesson-
“If you’re going to risk, risk for love!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pennie Heart to Heart
RISK FOR LOVE

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to fill yourself with love and if you are going to risk for anything - make it for love!
   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
      All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2013-2020 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 EVER THINK ABOUT LOVE?

2/8/2020

We talk about love all the time.
We love this thing and we love that person.
Yet, how often do you really THINK about love?

Most people spend more time deciding what to have for dinner than thinking about love. Shouldn’t this intense feeling of deep affection rally more than an occasional thought?

What is love?
What does it mean to love and be loved?
Who do you love and what makes you love them?
Who loves you and what makes them love YOU?
How do you show love through actions, words, expressions and service?
Are you showing it in a way that makes that person FEEL loved?
What makes YOU feel loved?
How do you feel when you GIVE love?

When you begin thinking about Love and asking these questions, your ability to express love and feel love will increase.
That only makes sense, right?

Take some time to study your habits of love. Study the way you love the ones closest to you and how they love you. Study how you show love to the clerk at the grocery store or the co-workers you interact with all day. Study how you treat yourself. Are you loving to yourself?

It is easy to create a habit of nonchalant loving without ever thinking about LOVE. Maybe it is time to begin nurturing the way you love.

Tell others that you love them. Show others that you love them. Start planning LOVE into your day.

Don’t forget to love yourself in the process!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Do you ever THINK about LOVE?
Maybe it is time to begin!”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to think - really think - about love and how you can better nurture it in your life.
   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
    All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2013-2020 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 A LOVE PUSHER!

2/1/2020

Are you a glass half full kind of person?
Not me!

I want my glass flowing to the brim, running over and spilling a big sloppy mess on the table!

I want to be flooded with feelings of love, kindness and compassion. I don’t want one little tiny space available for hate, anger, bitterness, resentment or fear.

Open your hand right now and look at it. What are you holding? Are you holding on to a past hurt; a past anger; a past failure; a fear?

When you hold on to these emotions you don’t have room for love. Release it all. Fill your hands and your heart with love, kindness and compassion.

You see, when you fill your space with love there is no vacancy for other emotions to move in. Hate, anger, bitterness, resentment can’t live where love, kindness and compassion reside.

Now go one step further.
PUSH love.
Yes, PUSH love to others.

Here is how I do it. Before I go into a meeting, have coffee with a friend or present my speeches before hundreds I PUSH love ahead of me.
I visualize the room, the faces and the event. With every breath I visualize PUSHING love through me and out to the space and people I will be interacting with.

Before I speak, I stand at the front of the empty room and visualize the chairs filled with people.
I PUSH love to every person that I know will attend.
I walk through the room PUSHING love through the space.

When I am at a school, a hospital, a Hospice and sometimes even a shopping mall I walk through PUSHING love!

The act of PUSHING LOVE cleanses the space. Fills it with kindness and compassion and in doing so fills ME with love, kindness and compassion. My cup spills over and others will feel it!

Don’t leave your cup just half full. Run it over. Fill every corner with love!
Become a LOVE PUSHER!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Visualize being filled with love.
With every breath PUSH love to others.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pennie Heart to Heart
I AM A LOVE PUSHER

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to think about LOVE way past Valentine's Day. Fill yourself with love and kindness and "Push" love to others. Think of LOVE every day!
   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
    All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2013-2020 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 PATH TO GRACE...

1/25/2020

MY PATH TO GRACE

“Let’s name her SPIKE,”
J.T. said with a grin as he dangled a tiny black spiked collar in front of me.
“We are not naming this cute little puppy that will be all of 12 lbs full grown SPIKE!”
I snapped.

My son’s grin told me that was the point- the humor of a tiny fluffy Shih Tzu with a name that conjured visions of an attack dog.

She was named Yogee, and yet even after both my son and Yogee passed away, everyone remembers the joke that followed her through her 15 years.

The sadness of losing a pet after that long opens up a thought process of do we want another dog? Can we handle the puppyhood? Did we want the responsibility? When should we think about it- is it too soon? Can we handle saying goodbye in another 15 years?

Loss is hard, but with everything in life, as they say… the beat goes on.
The heartbeat of love and life goes on.

I researched Shih Tzu breeders and found three, in three different states. All of them had a detailed process of applications and background checks before they considered the forever homes for their puppies. The waiting lists were 9-12 months, so I filled out the applications and put it out of my mind.

The crazy chain of events that happened next was, I believe, Grace in action!

It began with a simple text message from my daughter that read:

Brady just said, “Yogee is in heaven and Grandma is going to get a new Yogee  puppy –on TUESDAY!” Is he correct?

This made me chuckle coming from my 4 year old grandson. I responded with,

“Well, everything except Tuesday…
     maybe late summer.”

A few nights later I had a dream that Yogee had puppies next to my bed. The dream was clear, in color and felt like it was REAL. I reached down and picked up a white and copper brown one – the color I hoped for in my next Shih Tzu. I knew there were other puppies in the dream, but I could only see this one. Yogee was walking away.
I called to her saying over and over again that she needed to come back and take care of the puppies. She just shook her head and kept walking away as if she knew I would do it.

The extraordinary clarity of the dream spurred a long conversation with my husband the next morning about what it meant and why Yogee brought a puppy to me – the exact color that I wanted.

A couple of days passed, but the comment from my grandson and the dream lodged in my mind. Watching TV one evening, I received an email to my phone from one of the breeders saying she had a female puppy available and wanted to know if I was interested. The picture attached was of a white and copper furball of cuteness. It was her eyes that drew me in.

As I stretched the screen on my phone I saw familiar eyes… they were Yogee’s eyes looking deep into my heart.

Tears welled and I heard the word, --
   “Grace.”

Not wanting my husband to see my tears, I forwarded the email to him. I waited for his reaction. I saw him enlarge his screen to see the very thing I saw. The eyes.
He looked at me and said,

“What are we going to do?”

I didn’t know. We had resigned ourselves to wait and allow the loss of Yogee to settle. To enjoy a bit of freedom without the responsibility of a dog. And yet, the messages were clearly being laid before me. My tears surged with every conversation about this puppy and with every photo the breeder sent.

The messages continued.

We were told this puppy was the runt of the litter. (Just like Yogee.) After sleepless nights of caring for the tiny pup and worried about her ability to survive, the breeder wanted to keep her. Deciding she shouldn’t, she scanned her waiting list reading the profiles of prospective families and kept coming back to us.

When we found out that the puppy’s mother was named Beah, I knew. I ran to the scrapbook I had created for Yogee and pointing to the registration papers I showed my husband… Yogee’s mother was named Bea!

We made arrangements to visit the puppy. A sweet woman invited us into her home. She picked up the smallest of four puppies and laid her in my lap. She called her, Emma – mysteriously close to the name of my granddaughter Emmie – the daughter of my passed son.
She said,

     “There is something special about this
   puppy. I tell everyone I believe she is
   an angel.”

The day we adopted her our home filled with joy. We heard the patter of paws running on our floors. We enjoyed snuggles and cuddles and puppy kisses.
I was convinced she was brought to us through the mystical process of grace orchestrated by J.T. and Yogee … a process others may not understand or comprehend, but to me it was clear.

We named her Gracie Beah.

The next morning I took her to my daughter’s home so Gracie could meet her family. As I was leaving I told them all to say goodbye to Gracie. Hugs and kisses irrupted and the last in line was Brady, the one who predicted the arrival of a puppy.
He kissed her, looked in her eyes and said,

   “Goodbye Spike, Spikie, Spike.”

Stunned, I asked him why he called her that. He had no way of knowing the Spike story. He simply shrugged and said,

“I just felt like it.”

My daughter and I smiled at each other.
The last message had been given, and yes, the beat goes on.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Pay attention to the magical messages of Grace. Follow the path they lead you to.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Gracie 2016 and Gracie now.

Pennie Heart to Heart
MY PATH TO GRACE

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to watch for messages of Grace --and follow the path they lead you to.
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 © 2013-2020 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.

BASKET of BURDENS

1/17/2020

I remember it well, following the small, quiet woman down the hallway that led to the candlelit room.
She talked softly as she told me her name and explained how long she had been a massage therapist.
As we reached the doorway, she paused and said,
    “Before we go in you must leave your
   burdens here.”

She reached for a basket that was hanging next to the door.
How did she know I was overflowing with worries? Burdens?
I was holding more than would fit in her small basket.
Was it that obvious?
Were they clinging to the white cotton robe I wore like lint balls that you want to pick off before someone notices?

Smiling at my puzzled, fearful expression she explained,

“The Native American Culture believes in leaving your worries at the door before
     you enter a place of peace. You must put   your burdens in this basket, so our time
   together is free of worry, concern or
  despair. This will free your spirit and you
    will relax into clear serenity.”

I looked at her dark, sincere eyes and began mentally going through the list I carried:
My father’s illness;
work;
family;
appointments;
bills;
the list went on and on.

I cupped my hand as if I were pouring these worries, and so many more, into the basket and silently hearing them clunking as they piled in.
She smiled broadly as she saw the weight lift from me and become the duty of the basket.

For the next hour as I inhaled the smell of lavender and my muscles were relieved of their stress, I thought of the basket, the ritual, the splendor of it all.

My mind had also been relieved of tension in a very real way. I left feeling warmer, lighter, happier.

That evening I realized what I had forgotten. I had not stopped to gather my burdens from the basket as I left.
Was I supposed to?
Did I fail Burden Basket etiquette?

I couldn't forget the experience-
The reverence I felt as the basket was explained to me, the seriousness of the ritual and the calmness as a result of the process.

I needed one.
I needed a basket of my own.
So I began searching.

It wasn't until several years later in a small shop in New Mexico that I found one.
A Burden Basket!

With great excitement I purchased it.
Once I was home with my treasure, I hung it high at the entry of my meditation loft.
I took joy in the dumping of my burdens before I would enter my quiet space.

Now, it was more peaceful without the chatter -the irritating chatter of my worries.

And still, after years of this daily practice, I forget to gather my burdens as I leave the room.
     ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie's Life Lesson:
"Do not allow burdens to hold your mind, your heart or your home as their resting place. Remove them from your space of serenity."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pennie Heart to Heart
BASKET OF BURDEN

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to give you a tool to use to lessen your burdens.
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 © 2013-2020 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.

PLEASE NOTE: This page does not provide medical or legal advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment or services to you or to any other individual. Through this site and links to other sites, Pennie Hunt provides general information for inspiration, encouragement and educational purposes only. The information provided in this site, or through links to other sites, is not a substitute for legal, medical or professional care, and you should not use the information in place of a visit, call or the advice of your lawyer, physician or other healthcare provider.

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