Pennie Hunt
  • Home
  • Blog~Writings From The Corner of Spirit & Brave
  • Love-Life
  • Pennie's Store
  • Presentations
  • Pennie's Ponderings ~ Quotes
  • Pennie's Life Lessons
  • Videos
  • Pennie in the News
  • Meditations
  • More About Pennie
  • Testimonials
  • Connect with Pennie
  • Contact Pennie
  • UPCOMING EVENTS
  • New Page

BREATH OF GREEN

3/17/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
So often I hear people saying they are rushed, tired and overwhelmed.
They are running from one meeting to the next, stressed about paying bills and worried about keeping others happy.

What they are ultimately doing is living in fear.
Fear of being late.
Fear of not having enough money.
Fear of disappointing others.

And the BIG one -fear of not being good enough.

Do you see yourself in that scenario?  If so, here is something that always works for me. 

Your mind cannot live in fear and love simultaneously.  Therefore, the answer is to increase love. You must begin by increasing the love inside of You!

Begin by understanding a new concept. Green is the color of love. Yes, Green! I know what you are thinking - wait a minute, what about red; the color of valentines, hearts and roses? 

Chakras, or energy centers, are located at strategic points in the body and are aligned with a color value.  The heart Chakra is Green and corresponds with unconditional love, compassion and healing.  Imagine a beautiful glowing emerald Green circle that radiates around your heart.

To increase love in yourself, for yourself and for others, you must fill this energy center with love.  This will in turn multiply and fill you with love.  Love will then spill outwardly - to others and to every aspect of your life.

This is where my "Breath of Green" comes in.  How often do you see green? Green is everywhere!  When you see Green, take in a slow deep breath.  As you do, visualize breathing in Green; breathing in love. At first you may even say out loud or to yourself,
     "breathe in love." 

As you exhale, imagine pushing out fear. Visualize fear as black, dirty, and ugly.  At first you may even say out loud or to yourself, 
     "breathe out fear."

This only takes a few seconds. Breathe in fresh, clean love. Exhale painful fear.
With every breath you will feel calmer.  No one will even know you are doing it, but they will notice a change in you.  YOU will FEEL a change in you. 

Soon you will begin to see Green everywhere. Your eyes will begin searching for it.

A woman will walk into a meeting wearing a Green sweater.

A dog with a Green leash will walk by you on the sidewalk.

The menu at the lunch deli will have the special outlined in Green. 

The junk mail you are throwing away will be in a Green envelope.

You will see a Green light as you are driving -Go Now- breathe in love!

Make an effort to try this for one week.   Once you experience the cleansing of fear and feel the new calmness of love take over, you will want to continue this practice.   
             ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie's Life Lesson:
   "Love and fear are not compatible.
   Fill yourself with love,  in order to  
   diminish fear." (Click here to Tweet!)
              ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
YOUR TURN...
 I shared this with you to give you a tool to relax and calm your busy life-- in a quick and easy way! 
How many times did you see and think Green just by reading this.  Tell us how this concept worked for 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 © 2013-2019 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.​
0 Comments

I CAN SEE FOR MILES

3/9/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture

I hadn’t seen her in over 10 years. Occasionally her name would appear in a comment on my social media posts. 
A smiley face here -A thumbs up there - Once in a while asking me to call her.  When I tried to call the number she posted, it was incorrect, and I was met with a recorded message that the number had been disconnected. 

Months went by and she again posted the correct number and asked me to call.  I did and left a voice mail with my phone number in case she wanted to call me back.  She never did.

A couple of weeks ago another familiar name caught my eye in a comment under one of my posts.  This time from her sister that simply said, “I don’t know if you heard but….”
My friend had passed away.

I was stunned.  I sat back in my chair reading the sentence over and over. The sentence that took me back to 7th grade when we were best friends.  When we spent summers swimming at the local pool and talking about boys.  The nights we would walk around our neighborhood and look at the stars.  The shopping, movies, phone calls and giggles. 

One day we were at a park and I climbed to the top of the playground slide. I held the sides of the ladder, looking out across the countryside and sang a song by The Who,
     “I can see for miles and miles and miles 
       and miles and miles…. Oh yeah.”
She laughed and laughed – partly at my horrible singing and partly because we really could see that far across the never-ending field and that far into the lives we had ahead of us.  


It was her laugh that I heard as I sat back in my chair not believing what I had just read.

Interestingly a month earlier, I had been contemplating how friendship can be deep and yet time, location, and so many circumstances can change the dynamic of the relationship. I wrote about the ebb and flow of friendships and how difficult it is to keep these deep connections through the years. 
            (Read that writing here.)

​I regret not trying harder to call when she asked me to.  I regret all the disconnected years since we ran through that playground.


I feel the loss.  The loss of a person who knew my teenage secrets. The loss of the person who stood up with me at my wedding in 1976.  The loss of a friendship. The loss of that laugh in my life

I hope my sweet friend is in a place where she can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles…. Oh yeah.
            ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Make the phone call.  It may be the last chance you get to hear your friend laugh.”(Click here to TWEET!)
             ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
**If you don't know the song make sure to listen tot he audio above- you will hear it. 

Pennie Heart to Heart
 I CAN SEE FOR MILES AND MILES

​YOUR TURN...         
How often do you communicate with your friends?
Do you ever have a little nag in your heart that is telling you to connect with someone?
Have you ever not returned a phone call?
 
My intent in writing this is to encourage you to make the phone call.  Connect with your friends.  Share stories, heartaches and laughter.  Do it today.  You never know when you won’t have the opportunity to do it again.
It happened to me.  

​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 © 2013-2019 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.​
0 Comments

CAREFREE

3/3/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
​Where are you on the Carefree Scale? A quick dictionary search on the word carefree stated -
 free from anxiety or responsibility, with the following words added: happy-go-lucky, free and easygoing, casual, relaxed, serene, cheerful, happy, merry, jolly, joyful, bright, sunny, bubbly, bouncy and breezy.
From 1 to 10 where would you rate yourself on a carefree scale?

Although I hope many of those words describe me, I don’t often 
​feel free from responsibility or carefree so I would rate myself low.  In fact, I wouldn’t use the word “carefree” when describing myself.  When I dig deep into my life backpack, I think there are many reasons for this. 

I was raised in a family where productivity and accomplishing were expected. I think this may be a common trait in military families. Both of my parents worked and my siblings and I were expected to set our alarms, get ourselves up, dressed, fed and have the dishes done before we walked to school.  All this at a younger age than would be acceptable today.  There was no sleeping in, no laying around the house, no video games or computers.

I was the baby of the family and the ‘accident’ that was never planned.  The joke of Pennie being an accident became a common family story. Although I felt loved and had a great family, I think in my very core I felt like I needed to prove that I was good enough to be here. I became a people pleaser, a peacemaker and never, ever, never said, “NO” to requests of my time.

I am also a Libra, the sign of the scales. I am always weighing what I should do when I should do it, if I am doing it right, if it is fair, if I should do more… to the point of exhaustion.

Recently I have been studying the Enneagram system and I am a 2- The Helper who is sensitive, supportive and fulfilled by giving to others even if it is at the expense of my own needs. Oh, and I am also a sensitive Empath.  I can’t walk through the grocery store without feeling the emotions, fear, anger, and hopelessness of others- often draining my own energy.

Whew!  When I look at the combination of all of this I wonder where would being carefree ever fit in.
Well, the answer is, it must!

I don’t think I am alone in this.  You may not have the bucket full of situations I outlined above, but you may have your own unique list.

I talk all the time about the importance of self-care.  The danger of worry and guilt and the damage it can do to your mind, body and soul. I believe a feeling of carefree bliss must be squeezed into the fiber of our lives.  When was the last time YOU felt carefree? Even for an hour or an afternoon?
​
I believe we must first find our own definition of what the feeling​ of being Carefree means to us and then practice it like you would yoga, meditation or any exercise routine you do. Incorporate time to be Carefree into your life as a ritual.  Give yourself breaks during the day to take a walk, watch the sunrise, sunset, (or both), without a mind filled with responsibilities or worry.  Build your carefree muscle to allow the time and strength to be FREE of CARES!  
              ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson: “Practice being carefree. Work your carefree muscle into a ritual of being Free of Cares for a committed space and time each day.” 
               ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
YOUR TURN...         
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to practice being Free of Cares.  Incorporate time into your day as a ritual to give yourself a break from the responsibilities and worries of 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 © 2013-2019 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.​
0 Comments

THREE ABILITIES THAT DETERMINE YOUR SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS

2/23/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
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? 

It comes down to three attributes. 
Here it is 1 – 2 – 3! 

1. The ability to accept and adapt to change.

2. The ability to believe you are Good  
     Enough to  love and be loved.

3. The ability to express gratitude.

Let me break these down for you.

I learned as a little girl growing up in a military family to make friends on the playground or stand alone.  I learned that I needed to accept the changes that occurred when my father received orders that moved us to a new community and that I needed to adapt to my new environment, make friends and enjoy the new normal.

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, but cultivate the ability to bloom 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 space 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 over 300,000 self-help books on the market are that we are not happy enough, healthy enough or holy enough.

Here’s the thing – WE ARE ALL GOOD ENOUGH!!  Just by the pure biological chance that we were created proves this –it is no accident!  We were all meant to be here! I can tell you this all day, but YOU must do the work on this one.  YOU have 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!

Lastly, you must express gratitude.  You will never receive more if you are not grateful for what you have.  If all you have is a pair of shoes and a burger to eat, be grateful for that! 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,”  feel gratitude with every cell of your body.  Tell others why you are thankful for them.  Write thank you notes, make phone calls, journal, pray, sing, dance – whatever moves you to a loving place, do it!

You cannot hold on to a negative like hurt, anger or fear when you are filled with gratitude.  Practice the ability to express gratitude until it becomes your DNA. 
                ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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;
The Ability to express gratitude.”
                                            ~ Pennie Hunt 
                   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~
​YOUR TURN...         
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to practice these three attributes until they become part of your daily living! Monitor how this positively affects your 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 © 2013-2019 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.​
0 Comments

THE BIG "W"

2/15/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
It can run your life.
It can wear you out.
 
I am talking about the BIG “W!”
WORRY!
 
How often do you worry?
How much of your life do you waste?
 
A friend told me once that good people worry.  Of course, we do. We have concern for our kids, family, friends. That is natural.
When occasional concern turns into manic worry, red flags should wave. Worry is really a negative form of meditation.  Meditation is training your mind to let go and be open to a space of peace.  When you fill your mind with worry, it fixates on negative thoughts- quite the opposite of peace.   
 
Ask these questions about the situation you are worried about:
   Can I change it?
   Can I stop it?
   Is it mine to worry about?
 
If you can change something you are worried about, then change it.
If you can stop a situation you are worried about, then stop it.
If it is yours to worry about, meaning it directly involves you and only you, then give it deep thought as to how to do the above- change it or stop it.
 
But if the worry is about another person, or an event that does not involve you – then it is none of your business to worry about.  You cannot control another person’s life path.  It is not your place to interfere. It’s almost rude on a soul level.
 
When you have no power over the situation then all the hours of worry you are donating are hours of negative meditation that only damage and stress you.
 
When you are worrying about the “possibility” of what may happen - another red flag. What are the odds of something that isn’t even reality turning into the event you are conjuring in your mind? And if it did, would it be as bad as you are visualizing? Probably not.
 
Even worse - after a life event happens, do you stir your mind with the worst scenario of what “could have” happened?  Do you relive the event, imagining a much worse outcome than what it actually was? Stop worrying about the ‘what if’s’ in life.
 
Here is a tip- find a “W”.  Yes, a “W.” It can be wooden, plastic, gold or a “W” you cut from a piece of paper.  Place it in a prominent spot in your home.  By your computer, on your kitchen counter, in your shower or on your nightstand - wherever you see it often.  This “W”  will remind you that anything you have ever worried about in your life has been resolved.  It may not resolve in the way you like, but it is in the past and you have lived through it.
 
The time you are giving to worrying is holding space that could be held by joy, laughter, fun, kindness, love or anything much more positive and productive than worrying.
 
When you see your "W"  take a deep breath and let go of the negative meditation on what you can’t control.  
                ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Worry is negative meditation.
Everything you have ever worried about has been resolved and you have lived through it.” 
                ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie Heart to Heart
 THE BIG "W"
YOUR TURN...         
 My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to stop negative meditation.  STOP WORRYING!   
​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 © 2013-2019 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.​
0 Comments

LOVE NOTES

2/9/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
I send Love Notes.  Some say,
 “Thank You.” 
Some say,
 “I’m Thinking of You.” Some say,
 “I Am Grateful To Have Met You.”
 And, some just say,
​ “Hi.” 
They all say – “I Love You.”

You see, I'm a conversationalist;
A communicator. I love to talk. I love to write. I love words and the way they somersault out of my mouth and into the hearts of those who receive them. I love to give pieces of myself to others by sending a gift that carries with it my heart thoughts.

Life may be too easy for us today.  We simply type a note through our emails or texting and it is magically in the hands of the receiver within seconds.  

I remember the magic of writing a letter to my Grandmother asking for my favorite peanut butter cookie recipe and waiting in anticipation for the postal service to deliver her response. 

I remember waiting two weeks for a letter from my sister with the much awaited pictures of my newborn nephew and then hurriedly writing her back to say,
“Send more!  Send more!”

Today we have immediacy and instant gratification.  But, there is magic in holding a note created with love; Tracing the swirl of the handwriting with your finger; Seeing the smudges of the ink or noticing the faint smell of the perfume or cologne of the sender; and knowing the message has traveled across the country or even across town to arrive in your hand. 

When I put pen to paper I spill my thoughts and emotions with the intent of someone else holding them.  My love and my energy travel with my words.  From my hand to their hand, I want them to hold the gift of me. 

Heart to heart communication cannot be generated by a machine.  This is personal. 
I send Love Notes.
                 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Take the time to write a love note to someone you care about– make it personal.”
                   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~
​YOUR TURN...         
 My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to get personal!  Send a handwritten note to someone you care about.  Share your thoughts.  Share your feelings.  Make it PERSONAL! 
​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 © 2013-2019 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.​
0 Comments

THE BEAT OF MY HEART

2/2/2019

0 Comments

 
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
This story happened to me several years ago - but I am re-sharing it in honor of Heart Health Month!
Picture
I watched the clock as I walked on the treadmill.
I had intentionally scheduled  the stress test appointment for  6 am, planning to drive the hour to my office and attend a 10 am meeting.

Suddenly I found myself laying on a hospital gurney with wires connected to a multitude of spots on my body and surrounded by a cardiology team.
One doctor repeatedly asked me how I felt.  I didn't feel bad until one of them said,
     “What your heart just did could be deadly
        and we want to take you upstairs.”

Confused by that comment and glancing at the clock once again I knew I needed to be finished soon or I would miss my meeting.
       “What is upstairs?” I asked.

The explanation came quickly,
     “The rhythm your heart just did can be
       caused by one of two things- you have
       blockages or your electrical firing system
       is not working correctly.”

Another voice jumped in with,
     “The only way we can rule out blockages is
       by doing a heart catheterization and we
       need to do it now!” 

I explained that I was an hour from home, I had come to the hospital alone and oh, by the way I had a 10 am meeting to get to. 

Once again the two doctors played tag team with their responses, telling me I needed to get my husband there and that there was little chance of them letting me leave the room with this type of deadly rhythm.  It was the third time I heard that word deadly that I asked them toplease stop saying it and that I indeed wanted to call my husband.

The group left me alone to make the call.  One cardiologist stood guard in the doorway watching me with a look of intense concern.  The minute I put the phone down the group returned.

The speed at which I found myself swept upstairs into a private room with two nurses monitoring me swirled my confusion even more. 
 
I laid there watching a different clock tick the minutes away until my husband would arrive.  Feverishly clicking away on my phone I sent emails to my staff as I typed meeting cancellations and directions for the day.  I sent texts to my children telling them the situation - at least what I knew.

Then, I noticed that both nurses were constantly monitoring me and the machinery I was connected to.  They never took their eyes off of me or left the room.
I knew this wasn’t good.

Finally I asked one of them
     “What happened to me?”
She placed one hand on my arm while keeping her eyes on the machine.
     “You experienced VTach - Ventricular
      Tachycardia.  For most people who do
       that we have to bring them back with the
       paddles  - if we get them back. 
      You are very lucky.”

My phone slid out of my hand.
​
I vaguely remember the big screen which showed the dye running through my body and the doctor saying,
     “There it goes... that is beautiful...
        not one blockage.”

The rest of the day, the follow up appointments and the new heart monitor, that I learned to wear like an accessory to my daily wardrobe, is a blurred memory.

My new “Electric Guy,” as I call him, is the Cardiologist that keeps me, my heart’s electrical system and my crazy rhythm controlled to avoid the mysterious fainting, bouts of weakness and blood pressure drops like I had experienced over the years. 

While researching VTach, I learned a few things about exercise, staying hydrated and avoiding stairs. Then I came across the meaning of heart.  Scrolling through the many medical definitions of this magical organ that pumps blood, I stopped on this:

      Heart - noun \ˈhärt\: the central or
        innermost part of  something;
        thought of as the place where
       emotions are felt

This is it!
The heart is more than the organ that pushes blood through our bodies.  I believe it is the innermost part of us.  It is the place where emotions are created, felt and shared.
 
I believe that heart health goes much deeper than changing your diet, lowering salt intake and counting 10,000 steps per day.
I believe the heart has the power to push not only physical blood, but the lifeblood of love, kindness and joy through our bodies.

The care and health of our heart begins with feeling these emotions in order for the heart to pump them through our bodies and out into our lives.  We must learn to respect these emotions, nurture them and grow them into feelings that help our heart function to its highest capacity. 

Instead of worrying, I prefer to believe my heart has an eccentric rhythm... maybe not the same as everyone else’s, but it is unique and it is mine.

In addition to the list of heart healthy ideas we have all heard about, I support its emotional health by feeding it love, joy and kindness every chance I get!

I try not to watch the clock anymore and the most important meeting I have is one where I am kind to someone, love someone and through joy feed my innermost self- my heart, the place where emotions are felt.
                   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
 Pennie’s Life Lesson:
 “The foundation for good heart health begins with expanding kindness, joy and love in the innermost self - our own heart.” 
              ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
YOUR TURN...         
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to pay attention to the messages your heart sends you; the power it holds in "feeling" the true rhythm of your 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 © 2013-2019 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.​
0 Comments

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU MADE A NEW FRIEND?

1/27/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
​When I was a child, my friendships were created by walking together to school, sitting next to each other in the cafeteria, and being chosen for the kickball team at recess. 

Later in my life, I remember having coffee with my friends as our babies played nearby and I wouldn’t think of going a day without talking to my friend on the phone.

I made friends sitting next to other mom’s as our children played soccer and baseball.  I have had coworkers that became close confidants and soul connections.

Now in our fast-paced world do we know what having a close friend is? Do we confuse friendship with acquaintance? Is friendship defined by a blue thumbs up on social media? Do these cartoon thumbs really represent a person that touches our heart or are many of them there for self-acknowledgment – the more the better.  
I asked the question- “What is your definition of a Friend?”  to a progression of ages.

 A 6- year old answered, “They are nice, funny.”

A 9-year-old responded with, “They are nice and they like who you are, not for how you look but for who you are.”

A 12-year-old reacted with, “Best pal, your forever buddy, someone who will be there if times get tough.”

Another 12-year-old replied, “Friendship is a bond that can’t easily be broken. Friends know what you’re going to say/do before you do it. They know what you are feeling.”

A 17-year-old quickly reacted with, “Friends are people that are loyal to each other.”

A 47-year-old answered, “Friends are people who make your problems their problems so you don’t have to go through it alone.”​

A 69-year-old said, “Someone I am always there for and they are always there for me.”

An 86-year-old said thoughtfully, “I tend to like people I have always been friends with. If you live to be old and can count your friends on the fingers of one hand- great!  If you have more, that’s a bonus!”

An 87-year-old answered – “Somebody that you can rely on to ask personal questions and she won’t tell anyone else and you do things together.”

I would agree with all these definitions. 
My definition would be someone that I hold mutual support, encouragement and trust with.  Someone I can laugh with and cry with. Someone, the first one, I would call
​at 2 AM to tell good news or bad.

Friendship morphs, grows stagnates, and disintegrates during different stages and circumstances in life. There are many reasons for the ebb and flow, closeness or detachment of a friendship.

Location plays a huge role.  As a child moving across town changes the dynamic of friendship.  For me, growing up in a military family moves across the country plunked me into new schools and new populations.  I learned how to make friends on the playground or stand alone.   

Divorce will create a situation of dividing property, belongings and yes, friends.  
 
As we age, death and illness become a reality of life.  Friends may pass away before us or become physically or mentally unable to participate in a friendship.  
                        
I have lived many places and I have had many friendships. Some are lasting like my oldest friend in life – shout out to Kristi.  Some have faded due to relocation. Some have been shattered from broken trust. Some have been lost through division of divorce and separation of death.

I wonder if, as our friend circle shrinks, should we be trying to make new friends? Or is my small inner circle of trusted friends enough.
No matter where you are in this cycle of life or what your definition of a friend is my hope for you is that you have at least one. 
             ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson 
“When you find a friend hold them close to your heart. A true friendship should be valued and honored.”
              ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  
Pennie Heart to Heart
 WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU MADE A NEW FRIEND??
YOUR TURN...         
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to note who your friends are.  How many do you have? Are they real friends or acquaintances? 
​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 © 2013-2019 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.
0 Comments

WHO ORDERS THE PIZZA?

1/19/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
This is the way the conversation went...

“Who orders the pizza?”
“Well, she calls and                      orders it.”
“No, I mean who decides             what kind of pizza to order?”
“We always have sausage.”
“Does she like sausage?”
“Sure, I guess.”
“But you are not sure.
     Maybe she is conceding to you. 
     Maybe she is resenting it.”
 
Later he asked me,
    “What kind of pizza do you like?”
​
I had to think about it and it took me a while to answer. I had picked sausage off the pizza for so long I didn’t remember what kind of pizza I really did like.
 
I don’t think this is an uncommon scenario. Many times it is easier to concede and let another person have what they want.
We do it out of love for them.
We do it out of avoidance- we don’t want to argue.
We do it because it really doesn’t matter that much to us.
 
On the other side, it is easy not to notice that someone is always giving in to our needs. That their needs may not be being met. That resentment may be building under the facade of agreement.
 
What is the “pizza” in your life - in your relationships? When we begin paying attention to this kind of give and take.... Or "give and give" situation, it becomes obvious that there are solutions.
Simple solutions.
 
My husband and I now order two pizzas.  One sausage for him.  One chicken and pineapple for me.  Yes, I LOVE chicken and pineapple on my pizza.  Preferably with extra sauce and extra cheese. The solution was so easy. 
 
Now we both get what we want.  There is no conceding.  There is no resentment. And there are always leftovers for lunch the next day.
             ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
Pennie’s Life Lesson ~ 
“Pay attention to “give and take” vs “give and give” situations in life.  Don’t be afraid to order your own pizza!”
              ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie Heart to Heart
 WHO ORDERS THE PIZZA
YOUR TURN...         
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to pay attention to when you are involved in a give and give situation. What solutions are there?
​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 © 2013-2019 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.
0 Comments

To My Angel Son

1/13/2019

0 Comments

 
​When I was pregnant, I wrote love letters to my babies.  After they were born, I continued this on their birthdays, Christmas or other days that I felt I had something to share with them.  Some were ushy, gushy with words of adoration.  Some were letters of frustration when I felt like I was failing and flailing in the world of motherhood.
This week is my son, J.T.’s 34th birthday and the 12th year he has celebrated in heaven.  Every year I write about him to celebrate his creation.  I thought this year I would write a letter “TO” him. 
​~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Picture
My J.T.,

I have written you many letters beginning when you were part of my body.  I knew you would be the last soul that would share my human space.  I wanted to feel every kick, every roll and every heartbeat.  I continued writing to you until you passed from this world.

Today it is time for me to write you one more letter.
​
Thank you for the sparkle in your eye when you were born that lit my heart and frightened me at the same time.  Thank you for choosing me to be your mom for the 22 years that you were given on this earth.  
Picture
Thank you for the bliss of nursing you in the middle of the night when the silence was magic and the world consisted of only you and me. ​ 
​Thank you for the joy of watching you dress like a little cowboy and play with imaginary friends, hit home runs and witness your daredevil skateboarding.  Thank you for the laughs, the hugs and the experience of you.
Picture
​Thank you for your patience with me as I stumbled through the journey of motherhood.  My attempt was not always pretty, not always right and far from perfect.  Thank you for understanding that being a mom is a learning process where I hold pride for the times I was successful and regret for the moments I can’t do over.

I am sorry for any moment of your life that I (or anyone else) didn’t make you feel accepted, loved or cherished.   You never deserved to feel anything less than the special gift you were.  You were Good Enough!  You were more than that… you were extraordinary!
​
It took years of trying to get you to understand the correct way to live before I realized you were teaching me that there is more than one path to follow in life.  You taught me that not everyone needs to follow the societal expectation of going to college, getting married, having 2.5 children, driving a minivan, owning a house and a 401K.   I came to realize that if you can buy your own lunch and are happy then who am I to insist on what trail to take?
​
Thank you for filling my life and my home with music.  When J.T. & The Basement Boys played downstairs my house shook with the vibration of joy. And when you sat alone on my patio playing your guitar and singing, my heart melted with the depth of your talent. ​
Picture
​
Thank you for your daughter.  When you told me you were going to be a dad at such a young age, when you weren’t doing a great job of taking care of yourself, I was afraid for you.  When you came out of the surgery room carrying that tiny bundle with the same sparkle in her eye that you had she lit my heart and freighted me at the same time.  She was nine months old when we said goodbye to you.   I held her tightly then and continue to do so now- grateful to have a glorious piece of you.  Thank you for teaching me there are no accidents in life.  Your beautiful M&M is supposed to be here because you aren’t. 
Picture
Thank you for the hard lessons in patience, acceptance and forgiveness. Thank you for the wondrous lessons of joy, gratitude and love.  All of which you and I must have agreed to accomplish in a space and time prior to being joined in this life.  This bound us together so deeply that I felt what was happening (good and bad) in your life before you told me.  Our hearts shared thoughts and a mystical silent language.

Thank you for understanding my meditation, my thoughts on the Universe, life, death and everything in between. 

​Thank you for our last in-person conversation when we sat in IHop eating pancakes and doodling pictures of ourselves on scrap paper.  Not drawings of our outward looks but our inner souls. You were so intent when you listened to me explain how we shouldn’t look at how tall or short, how large or thin a person is – that we should look deeper at their spirit and their soul. 
​
​You laughed when I drew a star for myself and put sparkles on it because I like stars, diamonds and sparkly lights.  We watched the people come in and out of the restaurant and described their souls. 

The conversation was about life, God, and love.  It was deep.  It was strong.  It was powerful.  You were introspective in a way I had never felt before. 
​You knew.  You knew you were leaving. 
Picture
​Thank you for the dreams, the manipulation of music, electronics and license plates that you use to send me delightful messages from the magical space you are in now.  At times I feel you brush by me and stop to give me one of your unmistakable glorious hugs that only you could share – and I thank you for that.

I believe souls are joined to help us understand the value of love.  My love didn’t stop on the day you left.  My love has grown every day from the first moment I knew you were part of my body and continues to grow with every breath I take.  The golden cord that I believe connects a mother to her infant is not severed at birth.  Nor is it disconnected at death.  The thread that connects my heart to yours holds strong.
​
​The tattoo that says, “Love, J.T.” in your writing that I carry over my heart reminds me of what I always told you – we are joined at the heart. 
Always have been.
Always will be.
 
I Love you so,
                           Mom
Picture
Jameson Tanner (J.T.) 1985-2007 (Photo taken 2007)
               ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~           
Pennie's Life Lesson:      
  "Write love letters to those you care about."
                ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
YOUR TURN...         
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to write a letter to someone you love - whether they are alive or not. 
​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 © 2013-2019 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.
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Author

    There is a certain magic about where I live both physically and spiritually – on the crossroads of Spirit and Brave. 

    It seems appropriate that my writings be found under the sign that locates my life.  I wish for all of you the ability to live in your Spirit to experience a life filled with love and gratitude and be Brave in the learning of your life lessons. 

    Enjoy!
            Pennie

     

    Archives

    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    Categories

    All
    Addiction
    Beginnings Endings
    Beginnings & Endings
    Beginnings & Endings
    Change
    Failure
    Father
    Father's Day
    Fear
    Forgive
    Forgiveness
    Gratitude
    Grief
    Happiness
    Healing
    Hope And Cope
    Hope And Cope
    Judgment
    Kindness
    Life Lessons
    Life Lessons
    LOVE
    Meditation
    Mindfulness
    Opioid Epidemic
    Risk
    Success
    Trust

    RSS Feed

PLEASE NOTE: This page does not provide medical or legal advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment or services to you or to any other individual. Through this site and links to other sites, Pennie Hunt provides general information for inspiration, encouragement and educational purposes only. The information provided in this site, or through links to other sites, is not a substitute for legal, medical or professional care, and you should not use the information in place of a visit, call or the advice of your lawyer, physician or other healthcare provider.                              
Picture
Picture
Copyright © 2012- 2019 Pennie Hunt -  All Rights Reserved
Photographs by Pennie Hunt and Materpiecebysarah.com