The Corner of Spirit & Brave

Q-TIP IT!

8/11/2018

Q-Tip It!

Years ago when my husband and I were dating I learned a powerful lesson.

He would occasionally say something like,
  “I need a couple of days.”

Of course I immediately took this personally and thought something was wrong. I would call him and stop by his house to see if he was okay, after all I must have said or done something to upset him.

He would assure me I hadn't and that it didn't have anything to do with me or “us.”

I soon realized he was right. It didn't have anything to do with me. We just have different ways of recharging.
He needs downtime.
He needs a quiet respite to rest, relax and regenerate.

For me, when I need recharging I feed on the energy of being with people. Talking, laughing and companionship regenerates me, so of course when he would tell me he needed time to himself I felt pushed away.
I took it personally.

How many times in life do we take things personally and the reality is that it has nothing to do with us? Whenever a stressful situation occurs many of us default immediately to the negative. We blame ourselves.

Let’s look at it differently.
Let go of the immediate assumption and realize it isn't always about us…it could always be something else that causes someone to be cranky, in a hurry or snap at us.

Here is a trick to help with this self-inflicted internalization of stress. Q-tip it! Yes, Q-tip it!
  Quit Taking It Personally!

As a reminder, take a couple of Q-Tips and tape them to your computer, your bathroom mirror, or your car visor. Look at them often and when something happens in life that sets off your internal blame game, remember to Q-Tip it!

The lesson I learned from my (now) husband all those years ago has saved me from many hours of needless worry.
It isn't always about me.
And guess what, now we recharge using what works for both of us. We recharge together, laughing, talking and in the quiet space of each other’s companionship.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“When the stress of life sets off your
internal blame game, Q-tip it!
Quit Taking It personally!”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to think about why things upset you... are you taking it personally when it has nothing to do with 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 © 2013-2018 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward this post.  Please keep the entire message intact, including  contact, logo, and copyright information.

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THE SPACE BETWEEN

10/27/2017

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THE SPACE
  BETWEEN

Have you ever thought about the space between?

The space between the thought and
saying it.
The space between the idea and doing it.
The space between the ring of a phone and saying hello.
The space between the moment of opportunity and the miss.

The space between is that sacred second of decision? That instant when you make a decision to do something – or not.

Hawaii has a phenomenon known as the Green Flash. It is a blink-of-the-eye blaze of intense emerald green that occurs in the second that the sunsets on the horizon of the ocean. The mystical space between day and night.

The Green Flash is just that – a flash that lasts a second, or maybe two. It isn’t visible with every sunset and because of the quickness of its presence it is easy to miss.

We are given “the space between” many times in our days and our lives. When missed, we feel regret, remorse and sorrow. We fear we will never have the chance again to say the words, implement the idea, pick up the phone or grasp the opportunity.

The space between often times is not something we can predict or create again. We don’t always get a do over, but we can hone our sense of understanding of the Green Flashes in our lives.
Never allow closed eyes to stop you from seeing them and never allow fear to keep you from taking action.

Use the space between.
Use your sacred second to take a breath and…
Put your thoughts into words and say them out loud.
Take your idea from your mind to reality.
Answer the call.
Recognize the opportunity and jump when you see the opening.

Don’t blink in that split second when the sun sets. Open your eyes and be ready for yourGreen Flash.
  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Never allow closed eyes to stop you from seeing opportunities and never allow fear to keep you from taking action.”
   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pennie Heart to Heart
Why I wrote:
THE SPACE BETWEEN

My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to watch for your sacred seconds of decision - don't miss a Green Flash in your life!
YOUR TURN -
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at:
PennieHunt@gmail.com.
Thank you!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2013-2017 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward this post. Please keep the entire message intact, including contact, logo, and copyright information.
If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com

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I DRIVE HIS TRUCK

9/12/2015

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I DRIVE HIS TRUCK

It sits in the garage.

Everyone wonders why
I keep it.

The dust and dirt of the seasons covers it. I walk by it every day as the months and years come and go.

Twice a year I drive it.

I slide in the seat.
The smell of him is fading and the air freshener he tucked in the vent is beginning to crumble.

I carefully back down the driveway.
The gear shift is tight with age.

The windows rattle and the water seeps in as I drive it through the car wash.

The repair shop asks me why I want the oil changed when there has only been 50 miles driven since the last service.
I don’t tell them.

When I drive I feel his arms blend with mine as our hands in unison hold the steering wheel.

I push in his Bob Dylan cassette and it crackles loudly through the speakers.
Our hands drum to the beat.

And we are off.

We drive together, he and I, through 22 years of memories; the good, the painful, the magical and the tragic.

We find ourselves in a place where here and there - now and then doesn't matter.
A place where love binds us back together.

When I carried him I wanted to experience and remember every moment of my pregnancy and every un-medicated contraction during his arrival.
It would be my last passage through the process.
I re-live these now.

His first steps, his first words and his first day of school blur into the yellow lines of the road we travel.

We drive by the baseball field where his Little League Tournaments were played and the skate park responsible for his first stitches.

We stop at the gardens where the stone holds his name and the saying by Rumi.

We pass the gas station where I bought his last tank of gas.

The wind whistles as we drive through town by his apartment and onto the interstate where we drive fast as our thoughts and pain escalate

I hear his fishing poles and baseball equipment rattle in the back.

The speed is cleansing.

Together we sing, we laugh, we shout, we cry. We say prayers of gratitude for his life, our life together, his brother, his sister, family, friends -- and his daughter.

I hear the echo from so many years ago when the phone rang with a voice telling me he was gone.

Carefully I position it back in the garage.
Bob Dylan stops.

Time is put in park as I feel his beard brush against my cheek and,

      “I love you, mom,” hums in my ears.

I answer,

       “I love you too, honey. I love you so.”

Another anniversary of
that phone call comes to
an end.

His birthday will be here soon.

Until then
it sits in the garage.

Everyone wonders why I keep it.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Love binds us together
no matter what separates us."

J.T. (Jameson Tanner) Lindemann 1985-2007

YOUR TURN...
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below .
And please feel free to email me at:
PennieHunt@gmail.com.
Thank you!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2013-2014 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward this post.
Please keep the entire message intact, including
contact, logo, and copyright information.
If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission
please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
Thank you!

12 Comments

RISK FOR LOVE

2/13/2015

1 Comment

RISK FOR LOVE

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!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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!

YOUR TURN - Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at:
PennieHunt@gmail.com.
Thank you!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
   All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2013-2015 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward this post.
Please keep the entire message intact, including
contact, logo, and copyright information.
If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission
please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
Thank you!

1 Comment

WE WILL HAVE A PARTY

1/9/2015

4 Comments

WE WILL HAVE A PARTY

It's his 30th birthday, so we will have a party.
A celebration of his creation day.

Thirty years ago he arrived with twinkly eyes and an impish smile.
And he taught me love.

Twenty eight years ago he laid in an emergency room limp from a concussion.
And he taught me fear.

Twenty five years ago he
dressed in a cowboy hat,
chaps and boots as he
watched the Three
Amigos Movie with
invisible friends and a
rocking horse.

And he taught me joy
and laughter. He taught
me imagination –
or was it reality?

Twenty one years ago he hit home runs over the fence and danced through the bases.
And he taught me possibility and
to dance with life.

Fifteen years ago he challenged life for the risk of adventure.
And he taught me patience.

Twelve years ago he sat on the edge of the ocean.
And he taught me what being an “artist”
really means.

Ten years ago he wrote me notes of love.
And he taught me
compassion.

Nine years ago, guitar in hand, he serenaded me with a song about "Mom."
And he taught me pride.

Eight years ago he opened his heart to receive his newborn daughter as she arrived with twinkly eyes and an impish smile.
He opened his arms to share her with me.
And he taught me the continuation of
love.

Seven years ago he traveled on a new adventure leaving his body behind.
And through the darkness of despair he
taught me grace and gratitude.

And then

He gently held my hand and powerfully lifted me up.

He began life with me in a new way.
   And he taught me courage and strength.

He began whispering to me through thoughts and feelings.
   And he taught me to listen.

He began appearing to me in nature, music and messages.
   And he taught me awareness.

He began visiting me in dreams and visions.
   And he taught me faith.

We will celebrate him!
A celebration of his creation day.

We will celebrate love and joy; laughter and imagination; possibility, patience and pride.

We will celebrate with compassion, courage and strength; with awareness and faith.

We will dance for him.

We will dance with him.

It's his 30th birthday, so we WILL have a party!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie's Life Lesson:
“Love teaches us to celebrate!
Celebrate those you love!”

Jameson Tanner (J.T.) 1985-2007

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

My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to look at those you love --celebrate them now while they are here...AND celebrate them when they are gone.

YOUR TURN - Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at:
PennieHunt@gmail.com.
Thank you!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2013-2015 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward this post.
Please keep the entire message intact, including
contact, logo, and copyright information.
If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission
please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
Thank you!

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WHEN IT COMES TO LOVE, ANYTHING WILL HELP

12/20/2014

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When it comes to love, Anything Will Help!

I turned the corner to head home after doing my weekly errands. I noticed at the street light ahead there was a man holding his cardboard sign that read,
“Anything will help.”

Pulling up next to him I rolled down my window and handed him one of my coffee shop gift cards that I carry just for occasions like this. I explained to him where the coffee shop was and that he could get something hot to drink and eat on this cold day.

After he said, “Thank YOU,” for the third time our eyes met and I believe in that second he felt love.

In that moment I felt love. I felt the love being returned from him and I also felt love for myself for showing kindness.

Love works that way.

If we don’t see love we can’t be love. In the moment he looked at me he understood that the gift card held more than a cup of coffee and a sandwich, it held love.

When he looked in my eyes and saw love, he mirrored the love back to me filling me up with love from him and magnifying the love I hold inside of myself. Once we see love, we can BE love.

How many times do we have the opportunity to show love for others to see? The answer is constantly!

Love is not just for special celebrations or certain holidays. Love is for every moment of every day. The more love we show, the more love others see, the more love they can be filled with and the more love they show to others. This is the pay-it-forward of the heart.

We see this mirrored magnification work all the time…. If you show anger, others show anger and it spreads. If you see fear, you become fear and it grows.

Why would we want to waste our time on that?

Become what you want more of.
Become Love.
Show love.

It’s easy to show it with flowers, gifts and in big ways. It is harder to show it in every moment in small ways.

Be the love that others see.
Even showing small amounts of love will be mirrored back to you.
When it comes to love, Anything Will Help!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“When you become the love that others see love will be mirrored back to you.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
!!! CHECK OUT THE VIDEO BELOW!   !!!
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to think about love during this holiday season. How can you show love, be love and receive love in these last few days of the year?

YOUR TURN - Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at:
PennieHunt@gmail.com.
Thank you!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

      All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2013-2014 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward this post.
Please keep the entire message intact, including
contact, logo, and copyright information.
If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission
please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
Thank you!

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THE ONLY WAY TO BECOME A BETTER FOOTBALL PLAYER IS TO PRACTICE FOOTBALL

9/26/2014

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THE ONLY WAY TO BECOME
A BETTER FOOTBALL PLAYER
IS TO PRACTICE FOOTBALL

Recently, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said,

“The only way to become
a better football player is to
practice football.”

It doesn't get much simpler than that!

Yet for our accomplishments we wait for just the right time, the right situation and for the wind to be blowing in just the right direction before we take action. We wish, we hope, we pray expecting success to fall from the sky into our ever-so-deserving laps.

Hmmmm….. how is that working for you?

Let’s take this simple formula and fill in our own blanks:

The only way to become a better __________________
is to practice _________________.

Words like: piano player – piano; salesperson – sales; gardener – gardening; friend and friendship fit easily into this equation.

An example for me is,

“The only way to become a better writer is to practice writing.”

I write every day.
My theory is that by writing a little every day I will complete an article or story every week. By the end of a year I will have 52 pieces of writing.

Will they all be good? No, probably not. But somewhere in the 52 there will be some that are good and sifting to the top there may even be a few that are great!

I’m not the best writer in the world. I use incomplete sentences, my typos come back and slap me after the publish button has been hit, and I couldn't live without my spell checker.

But, I believe I have stories to share, ideas to document and people to reach out to.
I do this through my writing.

I won’t become a better writer by waiting for the perfect words, the perfect thought or the perfect space to write from.
I become a better writer by writing.

Why make it more difficult than it is. It is just this simple.

“The only way to become a better football player is to practice football.”

Now fill in your blanks!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Don’t wait for your accomplishments to come to you  – practice your way to success!”

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to pursue an accomplishment that you believe is out of your reach! YOU are Good Enough to do it!!

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 © 2013-2014 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward this post.
Please keep the entire message intact, including
contact, logo, and copyright information.
If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission
please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
Thank you!

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DECISION FATIGUE

9/19/2014

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DECISION FATIGUE

Are you tired of being in
the decision parade?

Every day we make
decisions about:

What clothes to wear; should we walk or bike to work or school; do we stop to get coffee and once there do we want coffee, latte, cappuccino, one shot, two shots, decaf or regular; what meetings do we attend; which project do we work on; which applicants do we hire; which emails do we respond to; which Facebook posts do we read; and should we Tweet?

Take a breath. And then. . .

After work do we exercise and what does that look like? A walk, Yoga, do we use a home gym, do we join a gym, do we Bow Flex, Crossfit or go straight to Insanity?

And then it is time for dinner, but wait! Are we Vegetarian, Vegan, Raw, Atkins, Paleo, South Beach, or should we be in the Zone?

After all that we just want to relax and watch T.V., but how do we decide between the 800+ channels, thousands of movies, and hundreds of shows available at the push of a button.

Take another breath. And then...

If that doesn't give us decision fatigue, step back and look at the big picture of life decisions:

What school to attend; what degree to get; what career path to take; who to date; should we get married or stay single; should we have kids and how many; should we buy a house- which house or should we rent; what car to drive; what friends to associate with; which charity to support; which sport to like and which team to cheer for; how much money to save; and where should we retire?

WHEW!

No wonder we live with our mind swirling so fast that we need small computers that fit in our hand to keep all of these decisions organized.

And yes, we have to decide which one of those smartphone computers will work the best for us!

STOP!

What if we just stopped!
Sit still.
Sit quiet.
Don't make one decision.
Close your eyes.
Your body will breathe on its own- no decision necessary.
Be at peace for five minutes or an hour.

You may just decide to make this part of your day.
Give yourself permission to disengage from the decision parade.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Allow yourself to disengage from the decisions of life
  and breathe in the presence of being here now. ”

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to slow down and let your mind rest from the constant questions in life. Relax into a place of quiet where no answers are required. Be here now.

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 © 2013-2014 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward this post.
Please keep the entire message intact, including
contact, logo, and copyright information.
If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission
please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
Thank you!

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USE YOUR WORDS

9/5/2014

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USE YOUR WORDS!

The toddler was obviously distraught as he cried and thrashed his arms.

His mom, calmly said,

      “I don’t know what is wrong.
Tell me what is wrong.
Use your words.”

This scene echoed in my mind. It wasn't the frustration of a two year old that impacted me. It was the wisdom of the mom to encourage him by saying,
“Use your words.”

How often do we need to be told to – Use Your Words?

How often do we allow anger, fear, impatience, disappointment to bring us to the point of tears and outbursts? We don’t express what is at the core of the problem. We don’t share our experience out loud with others allowing our vulnerability to be shared.

Use your words!

How often do we see others in the adult version of the toddler’s meltdown and push them away without encouraging them to share their feelings?

Use your words!

How often do we see something we agree with or enjoy on social media and find it easy just to click an automated button that expresses “like” for us without taking the time to write how much we loved it and how it touched our heart—and why?

Use your words!

How often do we pass strangers in our day’s journey without acknowledging their space in the world… not a “Hi,” “Hello,” or “Have a wonderful day?”

Use your words!

How often do we pass the opportunity without telling the ones closest to us that we love and appreciate them and just assume they must know?

Use your words!

From the moment a baby is born we begin talking to them and telling them we love them. When they are able to say their first word we are filled with pride and joy. We are given voices to interact on the most human level with others.

Use your words to acknowledge others. Don’t look at the ground as you walk. Look at the faces of those walking with you. Use your words to express kindness.

Use your words to express where your fear and hurt is coming from. Don’t lash out with a violent thrashing temper when you are frustrated or angry.

Use your words to tell people how you feel.
If you love them, say it!

Don’t assume others know how you feel. Don’t sit behind a screen tapping an automated “LIKE” button allowing a machine to express your thoughts.
Take the time to use your words!

Say them, speak them and write them.

Use Your WORDS!

Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Don’t allow anger to explode or fear to silence you. Use your words to express your feelings!”

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to use your words to express yourself. Don't allow anger or fear to speak for you in violent or silent ways. Express your feelings in kind and loving ways.

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 © 2013-2014 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward this post.
Please keep the entire message intact, including
contact, logo, and copyright information.
If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission
please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
Thank you!

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TURN ON YOUR BLIND SPOT MONITOR

8/29/2014

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TURN ON YOUR BLIND SPOT MONITOR

My car has a feature called theBlind Spot Monitor.  When turned on, this life saving invention warns you when a vehicle is detected in your blind spot. You know, that spot to your side and just over your shoulder that you can’t see.

When a vehicle is detected a warning light flashes in the side mirror to indicate a potentially hazardous lane change. The light stays on until the vehicle in the blind spot is safely ahead or behind you leaving you free to change lanes.

Wouldn't it be nice if we all had a Blind Spot Monitor?

Think about all of the things we don’t see that are hidden in our personal blind spots. You know, that spot to your side and just over your shoulder that you can’t see; OR choose not to.

This spot is probably overflowing with items in three categories: actions or failures to act, tolerations and grace.

Actions or failures to act. When was the last time you did something, even unintentionally, that caused direct or indirect pain? This is the cause and effect syndrome. Examples of this include: not following through on promises, telling small untruths, or arriving late to an appointment or event. Hidden in our personal blind spot is the hurt we cause others by our broken promises, untruths, and undependability. All of these type of actions that we either take or don’t take fall into this first category.

Tolerations. Yes, I may have just created a new word.
Definition ala Pennie:
Tol-er-a-tions: the people, places, circumstances
or things that cause us to participate in the act of
tolerating.

This could very well put us on the opposite side of the scale from the first category. We permit people to take advantage of us by breaking promises or telling lies. We tolerate laziness, sloppy work products, and misbehavior by ourselves and others by pushing it into our blind spot and telling ourselves it isn’t a big deal. We ignore our own health, fitness and happiness. All of these tolerations fit nicely into our blind spot.

Grace. This may be the saddest and most important category of all. The idea that so much love, laughter and goodness in life slips into our blind spot where we don’t appreciate them. They become wasted grace. Close your eyes and feel hugs from your partner, the laughter of a child, the smile from a stranger, the smell of morning coffee and the wag of your dog’s tail. Yes, I said feel because I want to intentionally stir the emotion these examples of love and grace create. How many times does grace go unnoticed in a day and huddle in our blind spot?

Now imagine with me what life would be like if we turned on our personalBlind Spot Monitor.

It would flash a beacon in our mind to indicate a potential hazard and guide us into the lane of safety. When we came close to not following through on a promise the beacon would spark to warn us to change course. When we tolerated our slipping health or unhappiness the beacon would remind us that loving ourselves is a priority.

And most importantly with every act of grace we encountered the loving light would spotlight the event so we wouldn’t miss it.

Yes, I believe we all have the capacity of this personal life saving feature.
We all have a Blind Spot Monitor.
We just need to turn it on and watch for the flashing beacon.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pennie's Life Lesson:
“Turn on your personal Blind Spot Monitor
to enjoy all of life through open eyes.”

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to be aware of all that goes on in your life...little and big. Do not allow your blind spot to cheat you out of the wonderful moments of grace that surround you. Turn ON your blind spot monitor!

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 © 2013-2014 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward this post.
Please keep the entire message intact, including
contact, logo, and copyright information.
If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission
please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
Thank you!

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THE MEMORY MAKER

8/22/2014

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THE MEMORY MAKER

One hand carried my bucket
while the other grasped the largest stick I could find to swish away the foliage and shoo away the bugs.

I would follow my grandmother trying to match my small footprints with hers. We were on safari in this land of wilderness.

Reaching the creek, we searched for a rocky entry to the water. Stepping in, the mud squished between my toes as my feet and legs quickly became red and numb from the cold. I took deep breaths as the crawdads snapped at my feet and the sunfish brushed their thorned backs against me.

We would hike back to her house with treasures in our buckets – magnificent rocks that sparkled in the sun like diamonds and gold; crawdads to watch as they pinched and squirmed; snail shells; and flowers.
All were the riches of life and the secrets of nature.

Her property bordered a state park.
She didn’t take me in her car to the paved parking lot to play on the sand filled playground.
She didn’t take me to the groomed pebble lined paths with arrows signaling points of interest.
She took me on a quest-- trekking from her yard to the thickly wooded seclusion where trees were curled with the bending of age and the over grown creek bed was the land of nature in full celebration.

Even today, I remember the sounds of the crickets, the smell of the muddy creek water and the constant swatting of mosquitoes as we ate our picnic lunches while discussing how the flow of the water smoothed and polished the rocks.
Nothing my grandmother did with me was average or normal. It was always an adventure; an artistic creation; a moment of learned love.

She was a Memory Maker.

Making memories is the experience.
The gift of an experience is worth more than any item we can give.
The gift of an experience can even make legs covered in mosquito bites a joyful memory!

Who can you be a Memory Maker for?

Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Give the gift of time and experiences.
Be a Memory Maker!”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to create those moments in life you AND others will always remember. Be a Memory Maker!

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 © 2013-2014 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward this post.
Please keep the entire message intact, including
contact, logo, and copyright information.
If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission
please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
Thank you!

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WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR SUCCESS TO?

8/17/2014

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WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR SUCCESS TO?

Recently, I heard a question that made me ponder:

          “What do you attribute your place in life,
your success, to?”

Of course I thought of defining moments in my life, graduations, marriage, and the birth of my children.
But this was asked in a deeper sense than that. It is one of those questions that should be given careful thought.

For me the answer came swiftly.

I was raised in a military family. When the word “ORDERS” was mentioned around my house it meant we would be moving. I remember waiting for my Dad to come home from work and running to see if he was carrying the yellow envelope; the one that held the name of the location of our next home.

He would walk in, cocooned in his military green uniform and black shiny boots, whistling and smiling as if he held the secret to the universe in his hand.

Once the location was revealed my small bare feet would jump on his shiny boots. He would dance me around the kitchen while the family chattered about dates and logistics of the move.

My Mom, a tiny powerhouse of a woman, was a working mom at a time when most moms weren’t. With every new set of orders she orchestrated movers, house sales, school transfers, 3 unhappy children and travel. She was tuff, strong and not afraid to stand up for what she believed in.

For me, dancing with my Dad was the only fun part. Orders meant leaving friends and starting over. I thought for sure that this was child abuse. I remember cleaning out my desk at school; walking to the school office with my Mom to fill out separation paperwork; and saying goodbye to teachers and classmates.

I can still breathe the smell of the manila paper and packing boxes the movers used to wrap our belongs before loading them into the moving van.

I can still feel the place in my stomach where fear boiled as I walked into a new school, met new teachers and filled a new desk.
Yes, I was certain this was child abuse.

It taught me a valuable lesson--- make friends on the playground or stand alone.

I attribute the place I hold in life and any success I have to this lesson.

I may not have a best friend who has held my hand from preschool to midlife. I may not have a house to visit where I was raised with a wall chalked with my height measurements as I grew.

But, I learned that some lessons come wrapped in pain and discomfort.
I learned how to accept change with a whistle and a smile.
I learned how to be tuff, strong and not afraid to stand up for what I believe in.
I learned how to talk and communicate.
I learned how to tell my story.
I learned that relationships are important.
I learned friend building.

Now here is the question for you to ponder:

“What do YOU attribute your place in life, your success, to?”

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

Pennie's Life Lesson:
"Make friends on the playground or stand alone."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to remember those moments in life where you learned a defining lesson...one that added to your success in life. Is there someone you need to thank for that lesson?

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 © 2013-2014 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward this post.
Please keep the entire message intact, including
contact, logo, and copyright information.
If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission
please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
Thank you!

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THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE

8/2/2014

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THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE

It seemed like a giant step to the front platform of the church.

When the piano began playing it was our cue to begin singing. Each time we visited our grandmother who lived states away, my brother, sister and I sang, This Little Light of Mine, at the Hurricane Baptist Church.

When we sang my body swayed back and forth – mostly from nerves. My eyes linked to the glowing face of my grandmother. Her smile encouraged me to sing loud and strong. I loved her and would do anything to make her proud and happy – even overcome the fear I felt standing on a huge stage in front of a crowd to sing the same lyrics year after year.

Not long ago I was back in the Hurricane Baptist Church. As I stood in the pew looking at the one small step to the front platform I realized the passing of time had shrunk the size and scale of the space I stood in as a little girl.

Decades of events skipped through my mind. This was the church where my parents were married. This was the church where I cried at funerals. And this was the church where I learned the song that I could hear as it circled my memory now.

Occasionally, a life lesson is a long time in the learning. Standing in that pew I realized the lesson my grandmother was very intentionally teaching. We could have sung a different song every year, but it was always THAT song. She wanted us to sing it over and over again until we understood the meaning.

We all have our own unique spirit inside; a one of a kind light that needs to shine. We must bravely allow our individual personality, our talent and our joy to be seen and shared. We must have the courage to stand up in front of others and hold up our light. And, never allow anyone to smother it. What a bold and bright lesson in one little song.

This church was my grandmother’s space; a home where she felt love and joy. This is where HER light shinned. This is where I followed her encouragement and love to take that giant step as a little girl. This is where I held up my little light and allowed it to shine boldly, brightly and bravely. This is where I now understood the power of my spirit and the importance of bringing it out into the open space for others to see.

Yes, this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.

Pennie’s Life Lesson: “Allow your light to shine boldly, brightly and bravely…only then will you know the power of your spirit.”
   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to shine the inner spirit of who you are to the rest of the world. It is in this light you will find fulfillment and happiness. How do you let your light shine?
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 © 2013-2014 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward this post.
Please keep the entire message intact, including
contact, logo, and copyright information.
If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission
please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
Thank you!

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MAGNIFICENT MOMENT OF THE DAY

7/25/2014

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MAGNIFICENT MOMENT OF THE DAY

What was your golden moment of the day?

That moment when just for an instant life is quiet and the spectacular happens.

Can you think of one?

Magnificent Moments occur all the time -- right in front of us. They happen when we least expect it in soft miniature ways and grand glorious ways. They happen as bold aggressive attention grabbers and as mystical whispers.

It may be the unexpected bonus at work; the call from a friend you haven’t heard from in months; or the crisp perfume of morning as you water your garden in the early hours of dawn.

It may be the breath of a baby as they lay sleeping on your shoulder; the excitement of your dog’s greeting when you walk in the door; or the sun as it ripples diamonds across the ocean.

You see, Magnificent Moments are everywhere and given to everyone. When we are children we live in the time and space of Magnificent Moments where everything seems magical.

As we age we are blinded by commitments and responsibilities. We hurry through time and space tripping and stumbling right over the magic.

Begin watching for your Magnificent Moment of the day. Catch that one moment when magic moves you to a place of still; a place of awe; a place of wonder.

When spectacular happens stop to breathe it in. Savor it and at the end of the day remember how delicious it tasted.

When you are on the lookout you will begin to notice that you are surrounded by golden moments.

The challenge will become choosing the one that is the mostmagnificent!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Be aware of and grateful for Magnificent Moments.”

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

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to pay attention to the Magnificent Moments that happen in your life every day.... and experience the joy they bring 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 © 2013-2014 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward this post.
Please keep the entire message intact, including
contact, logo, and copyright information.
If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission
please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
Thank you!

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SYNCHRONICITY AND THE TRAVELING COFFEE MUG

7/18/2014

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SYNCHRONICITY AND THE TRAVELING COFFEE MUG

Have you experienced an event
that seemed like an
amazing coincidence?
One that you couldn't shake
from your mind and you
believed there was more to it
than mere chance?

I believe that when occurrences happen without a direct trail of cause and effect and yet make a profound impact of significant connection that there is more to it than chance, happenstance or accidental association. Carl Jung studied these meaningful coincidences and coined the term “synchronicity.”

I watch for these moments in my life and recently one of my readers shared her experience.

She wrote:

. . . I totally believe in signs and such. Went to my local
Goodwill and there was a Pennie Hunt "Good Enough"
mug, right there calling to me and reminding me that I
AM Good Enough. Thank You for being, well you and
sharing your story and message. . .

She went on to explain that she took the mug home and interpreted it as a very positive sign during a challenging time in her life.

My Good Enough mugs are peppered across the country and some have even traveled across oceans. The idea that this person was a follower of my work, found herself struggling in life and came across one of my mugs with the message that she IS Good Enough at just the time that she needed to hear it is lovely synchronicity!

Yes, I did wonder who was giving my mug to the Goodwill, but even that has a magical synchronicity to it.

Obviously someone had passed on the mug without knowing it was at just the perfect time for it to become available to the person who needed to hear the message of hope. There was no intentional cause-and-effect in motion, yet it was a trail of simultaneous events with no discernible connection and the outcome was significantly and meaningfully related.

I know there are those out there who will bring out their calculators to argue statistics and probability theorems of how this mug traveled to her community and ended up on the shelf at her local Goodwill – I feel compassion for them and the magic of life that they are missing.

I believe that our outer world will lie before us what our inner self requires. When this realization is adopted, our job is to listen and pay attention.

Pay attention to the magical, meaningful coincidences that become the serendipitous synchronicity that brings life to life.

Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Watch for meaningful coincidences that relay messages of significant connection – Synchronicity!”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to pay attention to the magical connections that happen right before you in the form of numbers, words, people and things that pop into your life without logical explanation.

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 © 2013-2014 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward this post.
Please keep the entire message intact, including
contact, logo, and copyright information.
If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission
please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
Thank you!

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MIND, BODY AND SOUL FOOD

7/11/2014

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MIND, BODY AND SOUL FOOD

If we are what we eat then today I am oatmeal, blueberries, a turkey sandwich, an apple, salmon, salad and green beans.
Oh, and a medium vanilla chia latte and one...okay, two really tasty sugar cookies.
Well, I'm not perfect!

Think about what else we feed ourselves every day that helps to create who we are.

Did you savor the taste of love and joy?

or

Did you eat a big helping of self-criticism and negative talk?

Did you swallow shame and guilt?

How much anger and resentment did you chew on today?

What about that green smoothie of jealousy you had for a midafternoon snack?

And then right before bed did you munch on doubt and insecurity?

All of these things blend into one big combo meal of emotions and feelings that feed who we are. Have you heard the expression, "junk in- junk out?"

This is exactly what happens to your body and life. In the same way eating high calorie, sugar-filled junk food will show outwardly in the form of weight gain, when you feed yourself negativity then negativity will show outwardly to create a life of anger, depression and pain.

Isn't it time to pay attention to what you feed your mind, body and soul?

Create a menu of positive self-empowering mind, body and soul food.

Begin mixing in healthy amounts of gratitude and self-care into your diet.

None of us are perfect and along with the occasional really tasty sugar cookie there will be times that negative self-talk, doubt or shame will sneak into your daily diet.

Forgive yourself when you indulge in these and then - move on!

If you knew you had the power to create happiness in your life wouldn't you do it?

Well, you do!

It all starts with being grateful. Begin and end each day in gratitude. Just like weight lifting begins strengthening your body with one work out at a time, exercising your gratitude and self- compassion muscles will reshape your life one thank-you and one act of self-love at a time.

Gratitude leads to love, joy and kindness.   When you begin fueling your soul with these it will show outwardly bringing happiness to your life.

YOU do have the power to become what you eat!
Eat wisely.

Pennie's Life Lesson:
"You are what you eat --
feed love to your mind, body and soul!"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to pay attention to your negative self talk and emotions that you consume and replace them with loving self care and gratitude.
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 © 2013-2014 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward this post.
Please keep the entire message intact, including
contact, logo, and copyright information.
If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission
please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
Thank you!

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I AM GOOD ENOUGH

7/4/2014

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Good Enough

It was 4 o’clock in the morning on September 17, 2007 when I wrote my son’s obituary.

I wrote about the twinkle in his eye he had when he was born.

I wrote about how he wore chaps and a cowboy hat when he was little and loved the “Three Amigos” movie.
I wrote about the home runs he hit in Little League and how to him the competition was less important than having fun. I wrote about his talent with the guitar, drums and song writing.
I wrote about his sense of humor, his style and his big hugs and smile.
I wrote about his compassion for others, his love for his family and friends, and his pride for his daughter.

I didn't write about his flaws.
I didn't write about his missteps.
I didn't write about his mistakes.
I didn't write that at times he felt like he was not “good enough.”

We all hold a secret space inside that we don’t feel good enough in one area or many.

We are not tall enough, thin enough, or beautiful enough.

We are not educated enough, successful enough or powerful enough.

We are not strong enough, eager enough or motivated enough.

We are not caring enough, loving enough or doing enough.

We are not happy enough, healthy enough or holy enough.

By constantly comparing ourselves to what others are doing, we will live in the shadow of what we expect for ourselves. The internal conversation goes like this:

“They are better than me.
They expect me to be better.
I expect me to be better.”

Then our mind’s response is:

“Therefore I am not good enough to be loved
AND I don’t even love myself.”

How do some people get past this and some don’t. How do some hold the inspiration to succeed and some medicate it away with food, excessive exercise or drugs?

They learn what I call The Power of Cope and Hope. Let me share this concept.

COPE: Accept the life gifts that cannot be changed. If you are 5’ 2” you will never be 6’. If you experience tragedy in your life you will never be able to return to the life as you knew it before. If a loved one passes away you do not have the power to bring them back.

Some things you just do not have the authority to change. Even tragedy, disappointment and crisis are the life gifts given to you. They are not given to you as punishment. They are given to you for the purpose of learning, loving and teaching.

The challenges and heartbreaks in your life also hold the opposite value of love and gratitude. You must learn to search for it. In the process of accepting the gifts you are given you will learn to cope. Search for what is good and what you can be grateful for in every situation in your life.

HOPE: Hold hope that the things that can be changed will change. If you don’t have an education today, know that you can achieve one in the future. Are you struggling to gain a foot hold on a career path or finding the life partner you desire? Be excited with every disastrous date you experience and every career door that is closed in your face. This just means you are one date closer to the perfect life partner; one job interview closer to the job you are designed to do.

If you are in the darkness of depression or grief, know there is a light that will enter your life again. If you are struggling with addiction, believe that you can follow the path of sobriety. Hold hope as a given. Aknowing that while you stand in an undesirable space now, you won’t always be standing there.

It is in understanding and practicing The Power of Cope and Hope that we begin to believe we ARE good enough. The secret “I’m-not-good-enough” space we hold will fill with light to force out the fear of being less than anyone else. We begin to understand that life is not something that happens to us - life is something that is given to us. Our internal conversation will begin to be one of power, self-love and confidence.

In the end it doesn't matter that we made mistakes or had missteps. In the end, as in our beginning, we are all no better or less than another. We are all born with a twinkle in our eye. And, none of our obituaries will say that we were not good enough.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pennie's Life Lesson:
"No one is better or less than another.
We are all Good Enough!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to love yourself and BELIEVE that YOU are good 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 © 2013-2014 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward this post.
Please keep the entire message intact, including
contact, logo, and copyright information.
If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission
please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
Thank you!

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I FORGIVE ME!

6/27/2014

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I FORGIVE ME!

There is a poem by Mary Oliver
that begins,



You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees

For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body

love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Forgiveness is a big word and grows to the status of huge when it is prefaced with the word, self. Forgiving myself is easier to whisper than to accomplish. I say whisper because I would not be so bold as to shout to the world, I FORGIVE ME!

What confidence that would require to be so egoistic as to forgive ourselves! However this is the most important kind of forgiveness.

Self-forgiveness is a demanding process. We must learn to step carefully on the stones of compassion and acceptance while shame, guilt, regret and judgment swirl around us. The stones are sharp and jagged as we maneuver our way, growing stronger through the struggle; learning a little here and a little there as we come closer to the green field of forgiveness that waits for us.

We don’t have to be proud of what we have done – and we have all done “it.” The “it” always relates to hurting others or ourselves. Then we put ourselves in continual critic mode of how bad we are and deserving of punishment. We chastise ourselves with ruthless determination holding ourselves to a higher standard than we do others. We replay a grander drama in our minds than the reality of “it”, believing that what we did was catastrophic.

We create a self-imposed illusion of what others think of us. We construct ideas about ourselves from this illusion. The perceived assessment of others about our actions creates the vulnerability of outside judgment. At times our true fear is not our offense, but that someone will find out that we are living in shame.

Self-forgiveness is not easy. It is not healed instantly or permanently with the wave of a wand.

However, we deserve to treat ourselves with the same compassion we would someone we love. Each time you slip into the murky darkness of shame and guilt you are withholding love from yourself.

Pull yourself back.
Make amends to those who deserve it.
Then move forward.
Stop holding yourself as a hostage to the past.
Believe that external opinions are out of our control, none of our business and should hold no influence on our own self-acceptance.

Choose to love YOU.
See yourself through your own unconditionally loving eyes.

Remember…

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees

For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body

love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie's Life Lesson:
“When you surrender to shame and guilt
you are withholding love from yourself.”   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to practice the most important kind of forgiveness - self-forgiveness!
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 © 2013-2014 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward this post.
Please keep the entire message intact, including
contact, logo, and copyright information.
If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission
please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
Thank you!

1 Comment

WHAT IS YOUR SOUL GOAL?

6/20/2014

2 Comments

WHAT IS YOUR
SOUL GOAL?

Goals. We hear about them all the time. Goals at school. Goals at work. Goals for the new year. Goals for our finances, our love life, and our status.
Goals, goals,goals!

This is not a lecture on how to write a goal and stick to it. I want you to think about the goal that matters the most – your Soul Goal.

You may already be neck deep in your life goals. You are probably already measuring them, tracking them and think you have everything under control. Yet, are you experiencing a little gnawing inside. Is there a tiny whisper nibbling at your heart? Has it been there for years, but you have hushed it?

That whisper is your Soul Goal. The good news is this is one goal you don’t have to write down, track or measure. You just need to listen to your heart because it is already there.

I believe the soul is the script of all we have been and all we will be. It has drama, action, comedy, heartbreak and love coded into this personal documentary. Yes, there is an intended outcome to the story. I believe the ending to your script is to successfully learn how to love yourself and others. The Soul Goal is our personal method of how we accomplish that.

Have you always had a desire to paint, work with animals or heal?

If we are here to learn how to love ourselves and others and your inner desire is to paint, then you learn to love yourself by painting. By painting you create art that is a gift you can share with others. In doing so you touch their hearts. You love others by creating your art.

If your inner desire is to heal, you may become a doctor, nurse, counselor, or Reiki Master. You love yourself by following your inner voice and by doing this you heal and love others. You touch their hearts. You love others by healing.

Do you see how this works? Your Soul Goal is the technique by which you reach the outcome of loving yourself and others.

Listen to your whisper. Pay attention to the gnawing. If it is unclear what your Soul Goal is – pay attention to when you feel the most alive, happy and content. This is the criteria for your Soul Goal. This doesn’t have to be difficult.

I am a writer and a speaker. While working through other careers in my life, the whisper, the gnawing was always there. I would attempt to incorporate snippets of my Soul Goal into my work. I would speak about my work topics and I would write heart-filled stories and give them as gifts. I knew when I was doing this I felt the most alive, happy and content.

My Soul Goal is simple. It is one line:
To share my life lessons through speaking and writing.

In the process I love myself by doing what makes me feel the most alive. I love others by reaching out my heart to touch theirs.

I’m not suggesting you give up all of your other goals. School, work, family and life goals matter. I’m not suggesting you quit your job to become a starving artist.

What I am suggesting is that you listen to your heart as it whispers your Soul Goal. I am suggesting you find a way to incorporate this whisper into your life.

You don’t have to create ideas that you format into action steps and turn these into strategies and objectives. None of this is necessary. You can tip toe into accomplishing your Soul Goal. Take a painting class one night a week. Volunteer at an animal rescue center or a nursing home. Whatever your whisper is calling you to do, find a place and begin

Remember, your Soul Goal makes you feel alive, happy and content. It should be fun! It should bring you joy! It just takes loving yourself enough to do what your soul is asking you to do.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie's Life Lesson:
“When you fulfill your Soul Goal
you feel alive, happy and content.” ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to live your Soul Goal and understand when you do you will be filled with 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 © 2013-2014 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward this post.
Please keep the entire message intact, including
contact, logo, and copyright information.
If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission
please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
Thank you!

2 Comments

THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS

6/14/2014

2 Comments

THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS

It happened in Kmart.

It was one of those moments that I can never reproduce, but I will remember it forever as an opening point-- A moment that opened my heart, my understanding and my eyes to the power of forgiveness.

  “I blame you for nothing, I forgive you everything and I
will always love you.”

He looked shocked, confused and stunned as he stopped to look at me.

  “What?”

I repeated with a little more importance on always,

  “I blame you for nothing, I forgive you everything and I
will always love you.”

This time the face of my grown child turned to a delicious mixture of relief, acceptance and love. He dropped the bundle of socks, toiletries and food that he was holding in his arms into the shopping cart.
The hug was long, the tears honest and the meaning understood.

This is how forgiveness works.

I can easily forgive others for cutting in front of me in line, taking the parking spot I was clearly heading toward or for a snapping comment that I seem to be on the receiving end of.

I assume they are having a difficult day. You never know what the bubble over their head is holding, what is going on in their life, or what hurt they carry.

I am happy to report that I have successfully accomplished forgiveness with most people and circumstances in my life.

The disclaimer here is that I am a soul in progress.
My humanness allows for human emotions.
I have tried countless forgiveness methods, such as:

The Bury and Forget It Method;

The If I Don’t Talk About It, It Didn't Happen Method;

And the popular

This Person Doesn't Deserve Forgiveness, So I Am
Going To Lock Them In A Box, Put Them On A
Shelf To Occasionally Take Down And Kick Them
Method.

Forgiveness is a life lesson I continually attempt to perfect.

The forgiveness challenge for me has been with those who have harpooned my heart in a penetrating way. When I helped someone, cared for them and trusted them to hold my heart in friendship or love, only to have them rip it from my chest, pierce it and then hand it back to me.
Is the expectation that I won’t feel the scar?

Even more difficult is when a perceived injustice is done to someone I love.
Is the expectation that I watch with no malice felt toward the offender?

That day in the shopping isle the answer became a clear, YES.

I came to understand that when you forgive, relief, acceptance and love become a two-way effort. My heart no longer carried the heavy weight of anger, betrayal and disappointment.
I no longer had to continue the painful circle of picking the scab to feel it bleed and begin to heal, only to begin the picking again.

When I felt the relief in me that day, the lightening of my spirit, and the release of the burden of carrying all those negative emotions, I realized that forgiving is a gift to myself. I emptied my heart of the dirty work of bitter resentment and opened more space for love.

When he heard my words and dropped his bundle into the shopping cart he also dropped his fear, shame and regrets and opened more space in his heart to love and be loved.

By forgiving, I am not condoning, excusing or pardoning another’s actions. I am not saying that in every circumstance I will forget or remove all awareness of the offense in an effort to reconcile a relationship. Some relationships are best left as a lesson in our past.

I am suggesting we begin looking at things differently and open our vision to see that blaming, resenting and revenge do more harm to ourselves than to others.
We are all learning from our humanness.
We all make mistakes.
We all feel shame.
We all inflict hurt.
None of us can say we haven’t wronged another.

It’s time we start seeing the power of forgiveness.

Pennie’s Life Lesson: “Forgiveness is a gift that opens more space for love – in you and others.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to forgive. Let go of past hurts. Forgive others AND forgive 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 © 2013-2014 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward this post.
Please keep the entire message intact, including
contact, logo, and copyright information.
If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission
please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
Thank you!

2 Comments

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THE TOILET OVERFLOWS

6/6/2014

4 Comments

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THE TOILET OVERFLOWS

I felt overwhelmed.

With several speaking engagements ahead of me, blogs to write and my self-imposed deadline for the completion of my book, I felt like the toilet had just overflowed.

You know, that panicked feeling of running to get the plunger as the water overflows and every towel you own is being thrown on the floor in an effort to control.

The smell of not feeling Good Enough was quickly rising to the top of my bowl.
How would I ever get it all done?

So I did the logical thing – I turned the valve to OFF.
I stopped the gushing stream that overflowed my mind and walked away from all the fear, pressure and commitments.

I went outside and dug holes.

I put my hands in the black dirt.
I dug holes for tomato plants.
I dug holes for bushes.
I dug holes for geraniums and marigolds.

I layered each hole with peat moss, potting soil and vermiculite and then gently placed plants inside carefully pushing the earth around the roots and up to the stem.

My body eased and relaxed as I enjoyed the process of nurturing.

My mind did nothing except watch the movement of my hands. It had emptied to a space of quiet silence with no worries of deadlines or commitments.
The valve remained OFF.

Suddenly it became very clear to me how easy it would be to complete all of my obligations. I had just been “Layering” myself in a dangerous way.

Instead of layering myself with the joy of what I was doing, in the same loving way I layered the soil around the plants, I had been layering myself in a negative way… I wasn't being gentle, careful or kind.

I was being self-demanding to the point of overwhelm. No wonder I felt blocked like the water was flooding over. In the process, instead of allowing my roots to stretch in the delightful enjoyment of these life opportunities I had tightened myself into a root bound knot with two options.

I could either continue to squeeze the grip around myself forever running in an effort to control
or
I could clear my mind, do nothing and allow myself the time to relax into the joy of life.

Meditation comes in many forms. Today it arrived while my hands were in the dirt and I realized that when you allow your mind the space to do nothing – it becomes easier to do everything.

Pennie’s Life Lesson: “When you allow your mind the space to do nothing – it becomes easier to do everything.”

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to step back when you are feeling overwhelmed. In the space between overwhelm and that step you may find clarity.
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 © 2013-2014 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward this post.
Please keep the entire message intact, including
contact, logo, and copyright information.
If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission
please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
Thank you!

4 Comments

BE THANKFUL FOR SOUL SLAPS AND AIRBAG MOMENTS

5/30/2014

0 Comments

BE THANKFUL FOR SOUL SLAPS AND AIRBAG MOMENTS

You are driving along the boulevard of life believing everything is fine and then
WAM! BAM! ...
in one flash the airbag goes off in your face and for a moment of unconscious confusion you don't know what happened,
how it happened or
why it happened, …but it changes everything.

These airbag moments slap your soul in a life altering second when the world stops and our thinking is forever realigned.

Life is instantly, and permanently, categorized as before and after. Your brain files all memories of the past and visions of the future in relation to the moment… it changes everything.

The slaps are at times harsh heart jabbing events and at times joyous celebrations.

The moment your child is born.

The phone call that brings you to your knees.

The last walk from the office as you change careers or life stages.

The undeniable mistake that can't be reversed.

The receiving of life, love and happiness ....or the ripping away of the same.

These all cause a slap to the soul that says, "WAKE UP!"

Wake up to see what you had, what you have and what you will be given.

Wake up to be thankful for it all and for the time you held it.

Wake up to understand that THIS moment is the moment that counts and don't take the people or experiences in your life for granted.

No one journeys through this life without Soul Slaps and Airbag Moments. There is no secret bubble of protection that shields us from the vulnerability of being stricken.

Peace comes from learning to appreciate the Soul Slaps as lessons that move our journey forward.
The breaking open of our hearts creates space for love to expand and being brought to our knees, by pain or joy, forces us to lift our heads and look up instead of down.
The understanding of this will bring the calmness required to heal.

Pennie's Life Lesson:
"Be thankful for Soul Slaps and the ability to see the lessons in both the joyous and the jabbing."

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to see the lessons in all life altering events-- good and bad.
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 © 2013-2014 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward this post.
Please keep the entire message intact, including
contact, logo, and copyright information.
If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission
please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
Thank you!

0 Comments

THE MAN I NEVER KNEW

5/23/2014

0 Comments

THE MAN
I NEVER KNEW

It was the third cemetery I had walked through in less than 24 hours.

While visiting the state where my grandparents lived, the passing of time lead me to where snapshots of my childhood were now tucked within the granite speckled grass.

My mind flash-danced through memories as I walked.

The laughter of my handsome uncle who I was certain I would grow up to marry, until he passed away as a result of a truck accident.

My aunt’s impish smile and her black cat-eyed glasses that were popular in the 60’s. She brought a new word into my vocabulary and world – Cancer.

My grandmother whose kind gentle hands taught me how to paint, decorate cakes and see the magical, spiritual side of life - and death.

My cousin, one year older than me, that shared my memories of homemade ice cream on our grandparent’s porch and reminded us all that life can end with one attack to the heart.

The man I called Grandad. It was a name that fit. He was tall, gentle, quiet and grand in the way he blended strength and kindness. My dad was 4 when Grandad came into his life and took over the role his dad had left vacant.

Now, on my third stop, I searched for a name that held no memories for me. No snapshots of the past. I searched for the man who passed away from tuberculosis when my dad was 9 months old.

Up and down the grass I walked.
Then in the area marked by a crumbling post that once read, Section 3, I found a simple flat stone.

Loren Franklin Hunt

1904-1931

I am not sure what I thought I would feel or learn from this discovery.
I am not sure if I expected a connection of heart or spirit.

I was sure that I needed to, in some way, meet the man I never knew- yet without him fathering my dad I wouldn't be here. I needed to feel the same love and respect for him as I did all the others I had visited in the grass that day.

I stood a long time to study his name.
I wondered what his laugh sounded like; what his smile was like; what his hands felt like as he held my newborn Dad; and I wondered if he was as grand in his strength and kindness as the man who stepped into his shoes.

Life repeats in serendipitous ways. When my son passed away, also at a young age, he too left a 9 month old child, my granddaughter. I realized as I stood there why I had been driven to find the marker of a man I never knew.

It was for him.

It was for my dad.

It was for me.

It was for my son.

It was for my granddaughter.

I closed my eyes and sent a wish of hope that someday someone will care enough to search in the same way I did for the name of a man they never knew and share love and respect for his life and the generations that followed him.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie's Life Lesson:
“Love doesn’t stop when you leave this life.
Send gratitude to all who came before you.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to remember not only the people you knew in this life, but also the ones you didn't know.
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 © 2013-2014 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward this post.
Please keep the entire message intact, including
contact, logo, and copyright information.
If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission
please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
Thank you!

0 Comments

PUT DOWN YOUR MENTAL RED PEN!

5/16/2014

1 Comment

PUT DOWN YOUR
MENTAL RED PEN!

Do you remember in school when your assignments were returned to you after the teacher made corrections with a red pen?
Those red check marks, circles and comments cut right to your heart as if a neon sign was flashing “FAILURE!”

Could this be where we learned the concept of judging?
We have been conditioned to point out what is unacceptable, wrong or incomplete.

We all have a mental red pen that constantly searches and rates everything within our focus.

We judge others on their clothes, income, status and even the behavior of their children.
We judge restaurants by how good the food is, how clean the floor is and how immediate the service is.
We judge the weather by the temperature, the wind speed and the humidity.

And the mental red pen does double duty when we judge ourselves. The number on the scale is too high; there are too many gray hairs; accomplishments are not grand enough; on and on and on.

What if we stepped back from the mental red pen?
Stop the check marks, circles and comments and adopt the phrase,

“Isn't that interesting?”

The next time you see a girl with blue hair, tattoos and piercings or want to thrash yourself for the two pounds you gained on vacation, step back, take a breath and say,

            “Isn't that interesting?”

This is not saying you condone everything you see and every action you or others make.
It is just the calm acknowledgement of observation.
Not good. Not bad. Not negative. Not hateful.

The phrase, “Isn't that interesting?” may become a buffer between you and confrontation. It may become a kinder frame for self-talk instead of the negative chatter we are used to hearing. It may become a new perspective into non-judgment of others.

The mental red pen can become the means for feedback and not failure.

Can you live one day without judging yourself or others? Try it.
You will notice just how often you do engage that mental red pen of acceptability or failure.

After you complete one day, try for two, then three.
You may just step back from this exercise and say,

“Isn't that interesting?”

Pennie’s Life Lesson:
"Put down your mental red pen.
Instead of judging yourself and others say,
“Isn't that interesting.”

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

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to help all of us see our own mental red pen and to try an alternative to judging-- try observing.
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 © 2013-2014 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward this post.
Please keep the entire message intact, including
contact, logo, and copyright information.
If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission
please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
Thank you!

1 Comment

Q-TIP IT!

THE SPACE BETWEEN

Pennie Heart to Heart
Why I wrote:
THE SPACE BETWEEN

I DRIVE HIS TRUCK

J.T. (Jameson Tanner) Lindemann 1985-2007

RISK FOR LOVE

WE WILL HAVE A PARTY

WHEN IT COMES TO LOVE, ANYTHING WILL HELP

THE ONLY WAY TO BECOME A BETTER FOOTBALL PLAYER IS TO PRACTICE FOOTBALL

DECISION FATIGUE

USE YOUR WORDS

TURN ON YOUR BLIND SPOT MONITOR

THE MEMORY MAKER

WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR SUCCESS TO?

THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE

THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE

MAGNIFICENT MOMENT OF THE DAY

MAGNIFICENT MOMENT OF THE DAY

SYNCHRONICITY AND THE TRAVELING COFFEE MUG

SYNCHRONICITY AND THE TRAVELING COFFEE MUG

MIND, BODY AND SOUL FOOD

MIND, BODY AND SOUL FOOD

I AM GOOD ENOUGH

I FORGIVE ME!

WHAT IS YOUR SOUL GOAL?

THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THE TOILET OVERFLOWS

BE THANKFUL FOR SOUL SLAPS AND AIRBAG MOMENTS

THE MAN I NEVER KNEW

PUT DOWN YOUR MENTAL RED PEN!

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Pennie Heart to Heart​Why I wrote:THE SPACE BETWEEN

J.T. (Jameson Tanner) Lindemann 1985-2007

THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE

MAGNIFICENT MOMENT OF THE DAY

SYNCHRONICITY AND THE TRAVELING COFFEE MUG

MIND, BODY AND SOUL FOOD

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Pennie Heart to Heart
Why I wrote:
THE SPACE BETWEEN