The Corner of Spirit & Brave

FREE FALLING

11/2/2018

I fell down.
I am not sure how, but my entire body fell to the ground.
My knees took a hard hit followed by the rest of my body as it stretched out on the dirty concrete sliding (less than gracefully) until I put my hands out to stop myself. My suitcase and purse fell over next to me. Lying on my belly, arms reaching forward and my legs behind in a childlike Slip-n-Slide position.
I was confused and stunned.

There were no signs of a hole or bump, nothing that I slipped on. I just fell down. One minute I was thanking the shuttle driver, handing him a tip, pushing my suitcase and the next minute I was flat on the dirty concrete.  I felt like a fish that had just been taken out of the safety of its pond and thrown floundering on the shore.

I quickly got up, told the shuttle driver I was fine and moved toward the curbside check in. Every step I took was slow and precise. After dropping my suitcase off I found the first rest room in the airport to see if my knees were intact under my jeans and wash the dirt off my red sore hands. Minor scratches were all my body incurred, but my ego and confidence were silently damaged.

I sat on the plane during my flight reliving what happened. How it happened and why it happened. I didn’t have the answers, but I knew I felt vulnerable.

I am grateful that I wasn’t really hurt. I know a broken wrist is common when you put your hands out to stop a fall. The way my knees hit I could have damaged them. I could have hit my head.
My scuffed knees and sore hands will heal and my confidence and ego will recover.

We have all fallen in many different ways. Falls happen in life. Most happen when we least expect it. We don’t see it coming. We aren’t prepared. The best we can do is slide through it as gracefully as possible, pick ourselves up, wash our hands and keep going.  This is how we learn. It is in the falling, failing and floundering that we move forward.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
     “When you fall down in life, pick yourself up, wash your hands
and keep going.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pennie Heart to Heart
FREE FALLING

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to understand that we all fall in life- in may areas, work, relationships, personal expectations.... it is how we get up, shake it off and move forward that counts.
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 and share this post.  Please keep the entire message intact, including  contact, logo, and copyright information.

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MIND BODY AND SOUL FOOD

9/15/2018

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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 chai 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 © 2013-2018 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.

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THE LOST DAY

6/23/2018

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Dear friends and subscribers to the Pennie Hunt blog,

Today I want to let you know that this week’s writing will be a “Pennie’s from the Past”. Pennie continues to be on hiatus due to injuries she suffered in a serious car crash on June 11th.
Fortunately, prior to the accident, Pennie taught me how to access her website and social media accounts so that I could make posts on her behalf for circumstances such as this. I hope you enjoy this post from 2016 titled, “The Lost Day”. Pennie sends along her love to each and every one of you.
Ken (Pennie’s husband, and her #1 fan)

I lost my day.
It began in the normal way.
Alarm.
Glass of water.
Cup of coffee.
Work out.
Shower.
Then... I lost it.

My day became an endless loop of wondering what I should do. Not wanting to do anything. Feeling disappointed in myself that I wasn’t accomplishing, achieving or making an impact, I walked from window to window looking out at the world feeling lost. I didn’t have a plan for the day. I was uneasy. Restless. Uncertain.
And then, it was over.
I lost my day.

Now, holding a brand new day in my grasp and enjoying all that comes with it I look back on that day and realize I occasionally experience what I call A Lost Day.
A day lost in time that I wasted. I’m not talking about a day spent reading or relaxing, which I find necessary to rejuvenate both mind and soul and is far from wasted. ALost Day is spent spinning and twirling in indecision. Not being able to focus on a desire.

In my self-analyzation I uncovered this...
I was raised in a military family where it was ingrained in my DNA to work hard, accomplish and achieve. I often times find myself at the end of a day spewing a list of "completion". From laundry to writing I do a mental review of what I did to add value during the day. Could it be possible if I don’t“do” I must not be of value?

Our minds are funny little puzzles consisting of pieces created at birth with more picked up as we journey through life. We maneuver the unchangeable ones to create a frame. All other misshaped pieces are turned and tried until they fit together to create the picture of our lives.
Over time we may crinkle and bend a piece or two and might even lose one, but the frame remains the landing pad. The secret code of our belief system’s DNA.

Here is the thing... although I was raised with the core value of hard work and accomplishment I was never taught that without doing that I was not of value. That became one of the internal puzzle pieces that my mind created and connected to another piece as I built my life. So of course when I have a day of spinning in indecision I feel useless and wasteful. I experience the frustration of a Lost Day.

The next time I experience a Lost Day I will at least understand what is happening. I will try to lean into it with the knowing of why and the understanding of my emotions.

As I write this, I sit in self-satisfaction for solving the puzzle. Finding the piece that skews my life picture.
Today I accomplished!
I achieved!
I made an impact - if only in my own life.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie's Life Lesson:
“Pay attention to the puzzle pieces that create the picture of your life. Don’t force pieces to fit that don’t belong.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

TEN YEARS

Sitting in my car I look up at the apartment in front of me.
Top floor.
Center window.
Looking for answers, memories, for him.

It’s been ten years.
Ten years since my son lived there.
Ten years since he tickled me with his beard and gave me one of his giant bear hugs.
Ten years since I have heard his guitar and his voice.
Ten years since I walked past the yellow caution tape and through the door in search of a “feeling” of him.
Ten years since I packed his things into boxes.
Ten years since grief and pain invaded my body.
It’s been ten years since I wrote my son’s obituary.

My son was pure magic.
He was funny, talented, caring and kind.
He turned heads with his infatuating energy and turned hearts with his never ending love.

He died in that apartment.
He was an addict.

I felt desperately alone.
Addiction is a circle of shame – for the addict and the family.
His very inner circle of family and friends knew.
Only MY very inner circle of family and friends knew.

His addiction was kept private.
No one knew he smoked pot for the first time when he was 12.
No one knew the first rehab was when he was 16.
No one knew he became addicted to an anti-anxiety drug a doctor prescribed for him.
No one knew he went to rehab the second time.
No one knew he began using prescription drugs again after having his wisdom teeth pulled and prescribed pain medication.
No one knew he went to rehab the third time.
No one knew how hard he tried to get better.
No one knew the cycle, the rollercoaster, the nightmare.

No one knew his pain or mine.
No one knew what caused his death.

The rumors, the gossip, the questions only made waiting for the autopsy more difficult.
It didn’t make sense to me, but I wanted to believe it when I read:
     CAUSE OF DEATH- Bronchopneumonia.

I locked the rest of the report in my home safe and in the safety of my heart. I didn’t want to say out loud that there was Methadone in his system within the normal toxic range, but it was also in the therapeutic range for treatment.
I didn’t want to see the small amount of Diazepam (Valium) in his system. Both prescribed to him.

I have learned that toxicology reports are only accurate if done swiftly. If there is a delay the results are skewed. In these cases the cause is almost always reported as- Bronchopneumonia. My son’s autopsy was not conducted until four days after he passed.

For most of these years I have only spoken about the details with very select people, in private settings of safety.

After ten years, it is time for me to stand in the truth.
My son was an addict.
Addiction and drugs killed him.

The image of an addict as someone found lying in an alley with a needle in their arm needs to be redefined.
Addicts are our brothers, our sisters, our parents, our best friends and our children. They are on every level of economic status and emotional strength. They collide with addiction in an infinite number of ways.

I’ve spoken to rehab groups.
I’ve met with parents of addicts.
I’ve held the hands of others who have lost children.
I have quietly watched the reports of more and more dying. More and more families struggling. More and more people criticized, shamed and shunned for suffering from addiction.

The struggle is real.
My son was not alone.
His story is the story of so many others.

We need to talk about it. We need to build a better network of ‘immediate’ treatment and support. We need to celebrate success and recovery in the same way we celebrate winning a battle with cancer… knowing that recurrence is possible, but support and hope never fades.

This epidemic needs to stop!
No one should have to hide behind shame and stigma when they desperately need help.

No sister should have to tattoo her brother’s memory on her wrist.
No brother should have to lose his best friend.
No Mom should have to write her child’s obituary.
No parent should have to close another casket.

I look up at the apartment in front of me. Top floor.
Center window.
Looking for answers, memories, for him.

I think of a conversation I had with my oldest son after the funeral.
     “Mom, what will we do when it’s been
     ten years and we forget him?”
My answer was the same that day as it is today,
     “Oh, honey, ten years is a long, long
   time, but we will never forget him!”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“No matter how long it takes to stand in your truth, step past the fear and stand in the light.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~

LINKS TO SPREAD AWARENESS AND HELP

Please visit and share this link to Celebrating Lost Loved Ones. A map to build awareness and celebrate the magical lives lost to this epidemic:
http://arcg.is/2dduJah

In memory of my J.T. 1985-2007
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pennie Heart to Heart
The reason I wrote: TEN YEARS

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
My intent in sharing this with you is to speak your truth - especially if it can help others!

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

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to walk into your fear. Don't allow it to keep you from the clarity it brings.

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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MEDITATION SAVED MY LIFE!

1/20/2017

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MEDITATION SAVED MY LIFE!

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

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

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

"Clear my mind...

clear my mind...

clear my mind."

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

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

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

Meditation saved my life.

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

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

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

Now, whether I want to relax and release tension or concentrate on one thought, I turn to daily meditation as my life saving method.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie's Life Lesson:
"Quiet your mind and allow calm,
contentment and peace to fill you."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to find your own place of quiet, place of solitude, place of peace.

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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THE WALK

1/6/2017

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THE WALK

I began this year with a walk.
I had walked around this lake many times, but this time was different.
It was cold. The wind raw.
Not my typical walking weather.
I bundle up in layers of protection and begin.

A wind gust stings my face and I think of January of 2016 when my dog, Yogee, passed. Like the wind, the memory stings my heart. I draw my scarf tighter around my neck and dig deeper to pull warm memories of her around me. Happy memories of her.

I turn a corner and remember March, when a new joy filled my heart. I named this fur child, Gracie. I smile at the way she has added love, energy and, yes, Grace to my life.

A sequence of three planes fly over me. I look at them remembering all of the flights I have been on, the trips I have taken, and the adventures I have enjoyed in life.

Couples walk by and I think of the paths I have walked. Sometimes with a partner holding my hand keeping me stable, safe and secure. Sometimes alone struggling to see the road ahead. Equally teaching me and taking me to my next destination in life.

Cars rush by on one side of the lake and I feel the rush of my life. How I have pushed through spaces in such a hurry to move on… missing the little things, the important things, the meaning of things.

I hear a squeal and turn to see children running across the frozen lake, their dog chasing them in a game of frozen slip and slide. I reach for my heart fearing the thickness of the ice may not be strong enough to hold them. Then I see myself, ice skates on racing across the ice, circling my brother as he ice fishes and my dog running close behind. I feel the pain of the times I fell, laughed and bounced back up.
When did I grow up?
When did I become afraid?
When did I learn fear?
When did I stop enjoying the game?

Halfway around the lake the bitter wind makes me want to turn back. The distance ahead is shorter. I’ve seen what is behind me. My only choice is forward.

And then I stop.
The sun is reflecting off the lake and shining in my eyes. The frozen water dances like glitter and warms me. I close my eyes and remember my times being at the ocean, watching the sun shimmer across the waves. To me each sparkle from the reflection is a person who was here and gone….jumping and shouting at me,
“love this time, enjoy this life and even though you can’t see us we are still here!”
I feel them with me as I push forward.

Coming to the end of my circle I reach a bridge. Stepping on its wooden frame I see the bridges I have crossed when life gave me no other choice than to jump the gap below. I see the bridges I have burned and the ones that have burned me. I am silently thankful for being brave enough to cross all of them.

Running down the slope of the last hill the walk goes faster, the memories flash quicker, time speeds by. I think of things I have done that I wish I could undo. Things I have said that I wish I could take back. I think of things I have accomplished and people I have helped and my heart hopes that my honorable actions outweigh my wrong doings.

January 1st is no different than December 31st or any other day. Sunrise to sunrise the days blur.
The years pass.
The walk continues.
It isn’t the turning of the calendar page – its memories that turn time. It’s how we loved and how we were loved. It’s the hearts that met ours to create the scenery in our journey.

Geese fly over sounding their horns of celebration. Celebration of joy, of love, of life.

I began this year with a walk.
t was cold. The wind raw.
I bundle up in layers of protection and continue.

Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Be grateful for this walk you take through life. Enjoy every fall, every bridge, and every step.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to experience this walk we take through life. Be grateful for all the paths, the falls and the steps forward.
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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TWO-A-DAYS

10/28/2016

2 Comments

TWO-A-DAYS

Have you ever participated in a team sport, trained for a marathon or tried to lose weight?

A common practice during these times is,TWO-A-Days. This is when a team or person doubles up on their efforts and for a time practices or works out twice in the same day.

The concept of doubling up, or TWO-A-Days, may also apply to studying during exam season or even when you have a cold and double your intake of vitamin C.

I have a new application for this concept.

There are times when your mind and soul need this same kind of extra attention. When you are overwhelmed, overstressed, or overtired—you know, those times when the faster you go the more you have to do and it seems like there is never enough time to get it all done. Your mind is racing and you feel like you are going crazy!

This is the perfect time to add TWO-A-Days to your life. Twice a day begin just sitting. If you meditate now, begin doing it twice a day. If meditation is foreign to you, just give yourself 5, 10, or 15 minutes twice a day to just sit, relax and breathe.

I realize this seems impossible when you already are stretched for time and don’t have a minute to spare. But, THIS is exactly when you need to do it the most. Giving this extra time and space to clearing your mind puts the chaos on hold and helps you gain mental and physical balance. During stressful times it also allows space for answers to come.

TWO-A-Days don’t have to be just for sports. Learn to implement this into your own life. Once you get through the stressful time you may realize all the benefits it brings into your life. Peacefulness, calm, the ability to cope, and the lessening of the physical damage stress does to your body are all benefits of this practice. You may decide giving yourself the gift of quiet twice a day is something you want to continue every day.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Give yourself the gift of quiet twice a day. You deserve the peace it will bring to your life.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to understand that during the craziest times of life, you need to take care of yourself in a calm and loving way!

***Since we all learn from each other, I would love to have you share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below or on my FACEBOOK page.
And please feel free to email me at:
PennieHunt@gmail.com.
Thank you!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2013-2016 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

2 Comments

Pennie Heart to HeartPUT DOWN YOUR MENTAL RED PEN

IT DOES NO GOOD TO WORRY

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

Pennie Heart to HeartThe reason I wrote:​​TURN ON YOUR ​BLIND SPOT MONITOR

Pennie Heart to HeartThe reason I wrote:​​THE ROAD TO TRANQUILITY

LINKS TO SPREAD AWARENESS AND HELP

In memory of my J.T. 1985-2007 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pennie Heart to HeartThe reason I wrote:​ TEN YEARS

​Pennie Heart to Heart - Why I wrote LET THEM DANCE

Pennie Heart to Heart - Why I wrote Perception of Perfection

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Archives

Categories

Pennie Heart to Heart
PUT DOWN YOUR MENTAL RED PEN

Pennie Heart to Heart
Why I wrote:
THE SPACE BETWEEN

Pennie Heart to Heart
The reason I wrote:
TURN ON YOUR
BLIND SPOT MONITOR

Pennie Heart to Heart
The reason I wrote:
THE ROAD TO TRANQUILITY

In memory of my J.T. 1985-2007
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pennie Heart to Heart
The reason I wrote: TEN YEARS

Pennie Heart to Heart -
Why I wrote LET THEM DANCE

Pennie Heart to Heart -
Why I wrote Perception of Perfection