Pennie Hunt
  • Home
  • Blog~ Corner of Spirit & Brave
  • BOOKS
  • BIO
  • Presentations
  • Social media
  • Contact Pennie
  • Love-Life
  • Pennie's Ponderings ~ Quotes
  • Pennie's Life Lessons
  • Videos
  • Pennie in the News
  • Meditations
  • Testimonials
  • UPCOMING EVENTS

​HOW STRONG IS YOUR NEED TO BELONG? By Pennie Hunt

4/29/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
When was the first time you felt like you belonged somewhere? Does the memory push you all the way back to your childhood? Your family? Elementary school?
When was the last time you felt like you didn’t belong? Was it recent? Were you embarrassed? Sad? Lonely? Afraid?

Are you part of a group, a team, a school, a club, a crew, a tribe, a family, a religion, a generation or a community? Of course you are. We are all affiliated in some way to a collection of others with a common interest or bond. Humans have a need for inclusion and connection. We fear and avoid isolation. So we join. We conform. We wear the uniform. We know the handshake, the secret knock on the door and the private password.
 
We are taught to mirror the actions and mannerisms of another person so they accept us as a reflection of themselves. We want acceptance and approval. We want to fit in. It is why as a teenager you may have tasted your first beer when you were at a party with friends. You probably hated it but kept sipping it until the taste was tolerable. You felt like you belonged. You felt like you were part of the cool kids. 
 
We mimic the actions of others because we don’t feel worthy to be accepted and included unless we do. We adapt and accept the expectations that the group has for us to be a member. 

Some of this is necessary. In kindergarten we learned how to stand in line, raise our hand, wait our turn and share in order to function in a space of civility and kindness. As we grew, we learned the basics of polite and compassionate living to be accepted as a member of our human society. 
 
For many people the need to belong is an instinct - a requirement for human survival. It can push us to act in ways that feel uncomfortable or are out of character. When we bend and mold ourselves to be such a contorted version of who we are that we don’t recognize our own reflection in the mirror, it becomes a problem. 

What if we could be ourselves? Our crazy, goofy, wild authentic self? 
What if we looked at each other not with our eyes, but with our hearts? Can you drop the expectation you hold for yourself and others and be open to the exploration of who YOU are… of who THEY are? 
 
Stand in your own light and learn to accept yourself. Find the people who will see YOU and love YOU. You may lose some people from your life who only liked you for who you were pretending to be. But when you step into your light and let yourself free to be who you really are, you will attract the people who should be standing with you. You will attract the people that love and adore the real you. You won’t have to work so hard to fit in. You will finally feel like you belong in a way you never have before.  
 
Pennie’s Life Lesson: When you allow yourself to be the authentic person you really are, you will attract the people you are meant to be with.

YOUR TURN...        
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below.  And please feel free to email me  at:
 PennieHunt@gmail.com.
 
                                                Thank you!  ​
                                      ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                                                         All Rights Reserved
                                          Copyright © 2013-2022 Pennie Hunt
                             This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward and share this post.  Please keep the entire message intact, including  contact, logo, and copyright information. ​
0 Comments

THE SLED

12/2/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
​It held my children, grandchildren, cousins, neighbors and dogs. It has been a rocket sliding down a hill, a snow wagon and a photo prop.
It caused laughter, delight and joy.  It caused fights, bruises and tears.

I am not even sure if I remember the day it arrived in our home.  Most likely it was delivered in a sleigh by a man in a red suit.  I do know the sled has been around for decades. 

I ran across it in my garage propped in a corner.  The runners once bright and shiny red looked rusty.  The wood worn, the original twine colored rope long ago replaced by a red version.

With the outside temperature too cold to turn on the garden hose, I did the next best thing – I brought it in the house.
I gave it a shower.
Leaning it against the tile I took the shower sprayer down and began cleaning off the years of neglect. 
​
As the cobwebs ran down the drain I saw my children – dressed in snowsuits, hats, mittens and boots.  Hardly able to move due to the layers of protection. The only skin showing was their faces with the glow of their cold blushed cheeks. 

The water poured brown and dirty as years of memories flashed through. 
​
The year it was taken to the lake while the men ice fished and the kids would take turns having sled rides across the frozen water.

The hill that seemed Alpine-big and served as the daredevil challenge for those days when the sled was ridden until little fingers were frozen and the draw of a warm bath and hot chocolate waiting at home became strong enough to end the fun.

The year my brother’s St. Bernard pulled the sled filled with squealing kids across Grandma’s yard.

Drying the sled off, I rubbed the runners to polish every inch while memories continued to reach every corner of my heart.

The way I felt as I watched my three most important loves, hearing their squeals of delight as I held my breath hoping they would reach the edge of the snow safely.

The way I ran to them when an unseen rock would derail their speed causing a tumble, a spill and tears.
The arguments over who would get the next turn.

Tying greenery and a plaid bow around the wooden slats, I remembered…
The day my daughter perched her babies on it to snap the perfect holiday  card photo
.

Picture
Picture
The Sled.
​​Now instead of the dirty corner of the garage, it stands in a place of honor next to my antique sewing machine surround by twinkling lights.
The red and green bow a crown of appreciation for work well done.

I walk by it and see those chubby snow kissed faces.
I hear the squeals of joy.
I think of how my children are grown and their children are taller than me.
I wonder how time has slid by so quickly --
year by year,
snow by melting snow,
and one quick ride down the hill at a time.
             ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Pay attention to the little things in life
​     – they slip and slide by quickly.”
 
Picture
YOUR TURN...         
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to think about the special memories in your life...what object spurs them?
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.
0 Comments

FREE FALLING

11/2/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
 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.
0 Comments

MIND BODY AND SOUL FOOD

9/15/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
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.
0 Comments

LIFE VEST

9/7/2018

0 Comments

 
This is a "Pennies From The Past" that I wrote in 2013.  On September 13, 2018 I will  have been in the water 11 years... and still I wear my life vest. 
Picture
LIFE VEST

I was forced in the water 5 years, 8 months and 5 days ago.
She was pushed recently. 

I met her last month.  Immediately, I saw the ache in her eyes as we spoke; the hurt that hides behind the everyday chit chat and smiles.  I know too well how to recognize the look of buried pain that is in the eyes of every grieving parent.

We shared photographs.  We all carry one.  Some are wrinkled and worn and some are sealed in protective covers to keep them safe.  I noticed the care she took when I handed her the picture of my son, J.T. and the loving way she brushed her fingers over it.  I silently thanked her for that.  I did the same with her photograph. 

We parents with angel children understand that the love we send them does not stop just because they are not physically here with us. 

Our stories are different, and yet the same.  The love we feel for our children.  The pain we feel without them.  The memories, the "did-that's”, the "wish-we-could's," the missing and the wanting all roll into one similar pond of pain.

I am further in the water than she is.  The hot and cold of it, the swirling and splashing is a continual dance of how we maneuver without drowning.  The trick is to do it with the grace and balance required to keep our heads above water -and breathing--always breathing.

At times I have fought the water current and at times I have floundered reaching for a life vest. The life vest has become one I wear secretly like bullet proof protection under my clothes with the hope that nothing this painful will ever penetrate my heart again. 

I continue forward.  I see others in the distance, with well-worn life vests, who have maneuvered the water much longer than I have.  I feel comfort in knowing they are leaving a trail to follow.

I turn to see the ones behind me as they wade in, stumbling and unsure if they will survive the voyage.  I reach my hand back to steady them as the waves hit, listen to them as they cry and help them position their life vests.

After 5 years, 8 months and 5 days I have learned to swim a little better. But, I will always wear my life vest. 
             ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie's Life Lesson:
           “Sometimes we need a life vest    

             and  sometimes we can be
             a life vest for others.”

            ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...         
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to reach out to others going through a difficult experience-- one that you have lived through!  
​
​
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.
0 Comments

Q-TIP IT!

8/11/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
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.
0 Comments

THE LOST DAY

6/23/2018

0 Comments

 
​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)
Picture
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.”
               ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ 

My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to think about the puzzle pieces you have allowed into the frame of your life.  How have you included negative, unhealthy ones to guide your feelings and emotions? 
​
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 © 2013-2018 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.
            ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
0 Comments

​EMOTIONAL BENEFITS

5/25/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
​EMOTIONAL BENEFITS

We are all on a search for "Emotional Benefits."

We all freely give
"I love you's" with the expectation that we will receive an I love you in return.    

Everything we do, say, act on or experience is with the expectation of making us feel good, feel happy, feel important or feel loved.

Our need to connect and belong is a driver in life.  Emotional benefit is attached.

Why do you think our world is so dependent on the buzzing of our cell phones? Because with every vibrational Tweet, every chiming phone call and every new friend request on Facebook we feel loved, needed, and wanted. We act with our heart and grab the phone!
Emotional benefit is attached. 

Unfortunately, we do very little in life without the expectation of reciprocity. We have learned this mutual give and take expectation throughout our life.


If I pick you for the volley ball team, Iexpect you will pick me next time.
If I invite you to lunch, I expect you to invite me to lunch.
If I FRIEND you on Facebook, I expect you to Friend me.
If I tell you I love you, I expect you to tell me you love me.
We expect this mutual exchange.
Emotional benefit is attached.

Imagine if we took the expectation out of the equation. Imagine if we friended, liked and loved just for the joy of friending, liking and loving.


Imagine joyfully giving without the expectation of an obligatory comparable response. 

I believe the real law of reciprocity should be based on our intent. 
If your intent is ~ 
     I will do this in order to receive that in           return -- then you are living your life in           a self-centered way. 

If your intent is ~
     I will do this with no expectation of                 return --  then you are living your life in           an other-centered way. 

You are making more deposits in the bank of emotional benefits than you expect to withdraw. 

Then the magic happens.

By changing the expectation of reciprocity, the Emotional Benefit we give to others will increase. The conditions of the game will be removed. Your own Emotional Benefit account will begin to overflow.

It will become clear that by acting with our heart in an other-centered way the search for our own Emotional Benefits will begin and end with making others feel good, happy, important and loved.
              ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~
Pennie's Life Lesson:
        “Unconditionally give and love
          for the joy of giving and loving.”  

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

Pennie Heart to Heart
EMOTIONAL BENEFITS

​My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you  to rush out there into your life and spread joy and love --expecting NOTHING in return and see what happens!  

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 © 2013-2018 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.
            ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
0 Comments

RISK FOR LOVE

2/16/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
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!"
             ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pennie Heart to Heart
 RISK FOR LOVE 

 YOUR TURN...         
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to fill yourself with love and if you are going to risk for anything - make it for love!  
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.
 If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission  please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
0 Comments

PUT DOWN YOUR MENTAL RED PEN!

1/21/2018

2 Comments

 
Picture
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 feedbackand 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.” 
               ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pennie Heart to Heart
PUT DOWN YOUR MENTAL RED PEN

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 © 2013-2018 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.
 If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission  please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
2 Comments

IT DOES NO GOOD TO WORRY

1/14/2018

1 Comment

 
Picture
  IT DOES NO GOOD
​       TO WORRY

He arrived Jan. 14th, 1985.  The mask over his eyes protected his sight, while the bilirubin lights controlled his jaundice.  It was over a week before he was able to leave the hospital.
I worried about him.

Before he turned two he fell out of the back of our pickup camper and was rushed to the emergency room with signs of a concussion.
I worried about him.

When I picked up my office phone an excited voice said,
“Hey Mom, it was so cool I hit the best jump with my skateboard before I crashed.  Now my whole chin is ripped open and gushing blood.” 

I dropped the phone and sped home from work to take him to the emergency room for his first stitches.  His enthusiasm for his accomplishment made it hard not to laugh, but as the stitches were added to his chin tears welled in his eyes and mine.  Clutching my hand he said,  
     “Don’t worry about me, Mom.”

It seemed with every birthday candle added to the cake worries were added to my heart. Would he make it through school, through his teenage years, through life?   
And all along the journey I heard,
    “Don’t worry about me, Mom. 
    It does no good to worry about me.”

​
I thought it was a mom’s duty to worry? 
To check to see if his tiny chest was rising and falling with his breath as he slept in his crib.
To pace the floor when he had a fever.
To make sure he ate a few vegetables and not just ice-cream.  
To monitor his school work and his grades. To lay awake at night until I heard his truck pull safely into the driveway. 

Today is his 33rd birthday. He was with me for 22 cakes, candles and celebrations. This will be the 11th birthday that he hasn’t been here to celebrate.  I spend the day remembering him. Telling stories, reliving experiences, laughing and crying.  

Picture
I reach to touch the chain that rarely leaves my neck. The simple gold necklace brings me comfort.  It brings me calmness as 
it lays safe and warm against my skin. 
My fingers glide across the smooth back of the pendant where the words,
 
   “Don’t worry about me mom, Love J.T.”
are engraved. 
​
​My thumb matches to his thumbprint on the front… connecting our love and reminding me he is in a place of peace and safety. Reminding me it was his path, not mine.  Reminding me it was in his control, not mine.
Reminding me that worrying didn’t bring me the power to save him.  Reminding me that he was wise in the knowing that it does no good to worry. 
               ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
              “It does no good to worry.” 
              ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

IT DOES NO GOOD TO WORRY

YOUR TURN...         
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to control the amount of energy and time you spend worrying. 

​Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below.  And please feel free to email me  at:

                PennieHunt@gmail.com. 
                          Thank you!  
                ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
​                                   All Rights Reserved
                 Copyright © 2013-2018 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.
 If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission  please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
1 Comment

THE SPACE BETWEEN

10/27/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
      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
0 Comments

TURN ON YOUR BLIND SPOT MONITOR

10/6/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
TURN ON YOUR BLIND SPOT MONITOR

My car has a feature called the Blind 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 personal Blind 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.”
                 ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

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

​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!

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
0 Comments

TEN YEARS

9/9/2017

7 Comments

 
Picture
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
Picture

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
7 Comments

LET THEM DANCE

7/21/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
     LET THEM               DANCE

She is a four year old, blonde, blue eyed student of life.  

The evening sunset was long gone and dinner had settled in our bellies.  Just as most of us sat down to relax, she jumped in the middle of the room to demonstrate the dance moves she was learning in ballet class.  She kicked off her worn pink western boots and transformed from a chatty whirlwind of activity into a seriously composed tiny dancer.  

Her voice whispered,
     “Tap, point, tap, point,” 
as she awkwardly rotated through her toe points and pirouettes.  

After several methodical demonstrations of her talent, the group began clapping.  Her irritation was obvious when she loudly stated,
       “No!  I am still doing it!”  

The clapping hushed immediately as the understanding was clear  -- she was not done yet!

How often in life do we interrupt someone else’s dance? 
We are so rushed, busy and preoccupied that we don’t notice their dance or take the time to let the moment unfold.

When we see a fellow soul loving life, enjoying the moment and singing their heart song, we should hold the space of delight with them.  We should let it last for them (and for ourselves) as long as it can.  We should stretch it into as much absolute pleasure as possible.  

She may be a four year old learning her way, but for that space in time she was a teacher of life.  The lesson was clear; the meaning was firm. We need to recognize another’s dance whatever form it takes and celebrate it as much as we do our own.  Allow it to last until the music of their heart stops and the dance is complete.
Don’t interrupt.  Let them dance.
                 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
     “Every soul has a dance to dance.
             Celebrate everyone’s heart dance.” 

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

YOUR TURN...         
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to applaud everyone's dance.  Let them dance for as long as they want.  Be in the moment of JOY with them!  
Let them dance! 
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

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

0 Comments

PERCEPTION of PERFECTION

7/14/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
PERCEPTION of PERFECTION

Recently it was pointed out to me that I am not 28 anymore. This message came in two ways.  One from my body as I bent over during a Yoga pose and thought to myself,

      “Whose knees are those?”

Later as I was questioning out loud how my knees have changed, a friend pointed out that my age number no longer begins with a "2."  

When did that happen?  For that matter, how did I rush through 3 and 4?  My friend’s point was, why would I expect to have 28 year old knees when I wasn’t 28 anymore and that I should stop being critical and accept myself and body for the beauty it holds, even if my number now begins with a "5." 

Whoa! That set off some major pondering in my head.  Accept myself?  Accept myself?

The first thing I had to do was contemplate what my perception of me at this age and space in my life should be.  What was I willing to accept? 

I will admit to being someone who over the years has had a difficult time with the perception of perfection.  I have been the over achiever who wanted to be perfect.

The perfect wife.
The perfect daughter.
The perfect mom.
The perfect friend.
All my life I have held a perception of what my perfect weight should be, what I should and shouldn't eat, how much I should work out, what I should be doing for others… the list could go on and on.   

Take a minute and visualize the Perception of Perfectionyou hold for yourself. 

Do you have it?  If you are like me it is an over exaggerated, unattainable Perception of Perfection fueled by our own self talk and the world we live in.  The media tells us minute-by-minute how we should look, dress and feel. We buy into this and continually believe we are not good enough.
           (Read Good Enough -click here!)

          
  Is this realistic?

My pondering has brought me to a place of honesty with myself.   My new mantra is this:
 Pennie’s Perception of Perfection= Honesty, Health and Happiness.

I may not be the same size I was and have the stamina I had at 28, but I look and feel pretty good.  I am healthy and I love my life.  And guess what?  My age number does start with "5" and those are my knees.

Now take out your paper and pen and write your ownPerception of Perfection that fits you. 
             ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ~  
Pennie's Life Lesson:
 “Our personal Perception of Perfection should be based in Honesty, Health and Happiness.”

              ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
YOUR TURN...         
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to love the age you are, the body you have and the joy life brings during all times of your life! 
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below.  And please feel free to email me  at:
 PennieHunt@gmail.com. 
                                  Thank you!  
                    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
           
                                               All Rights Reserved
                                                      Copyright © 2013-2017 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

Pennie Heart to Heart -
Why I wrote Perception of Perfection

0 Comments

WHO IS YOUR BACKSEAT DRIVER?

7/1/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
WHO IS YOUR BACKSEAT DRIVER?

Are you letting stories that you repeat over and over again define who you are?  Do you allow them to drive your life?  If you don’t know what I mean read:
WHO IS CHAUFFEURING YOUR LIFE?

Maybe you have your stories under control but have another problem… other PEOPLE who want to (or you allow to) chauffeur your life.  You know, that back seat driver that is always telling you where your life should go at every turn.  As you read that did someone immediately come to mind?  Did you see their face and hear their voice? If so, you know what I am talking about.

Humans need human contact to survive.  People need people.  We need time. We need touch.  We need connection.

What we don’t need is to feel like we are powerless or controlled.  We don’t need to feel like our emotions and happiness are totally dependent on pleasing someone else.  We don’t need to feel like our actions are being controlled by the demands of another person.

I do have a caveat here -- I am not talking about a mutually loving relationship where there is reciprocity of respect, kindness and love.  It is healthy when we give of our self and do acts of love and kindness for others and in return receive feelings of love and self-satisfaction.

I am talking about the sponges that soak up all of our good intentions and acts of kindness without returning any level of thoughtfulness.  Oh, occasionally they may throw a sweet gesture your way, but for the most part, they hold an expectation that you will always be there, always support them and always give, give, give.

We believe the control is created by the other person, but the reality is – WE create the situation by giving away our control.  We allow the back seat driver to steer our life and control our actions.  Let me say that again- WE create the situation by giving away our control.

By doing this we give away our happiness. We cheapen our value by letting others push our buttons. We feel tied like a puppet with no way to cut the strings.  And yet, we are the only ones who can.

It is even possible that the other person is not aware of this situation, but it has been going on for so long that it has become a habit that holds no consequences or responsibility on their side.  After all, they are in the cushy seat, the comfortable place, the receiving end.

We must create boundaries. 
Boundaries around what we will or won’t do. 
Boundaries around our self-inflicted guilt when we believe we are responsible for the other person. 
Boundaries around our hearts as a protection from the invisible force of expectation we feel from the other person. 
And boundaries around our minds that have been trained to create the illusion of obligation to this person.

Isn’t it time to put the brakes on?
If you are always giving family members or friends money to get them back on their feet, but never see them grow up and take control of their own life --Stop writing checks expecting this to change.

If someone is always late, wait an appropriate 10-15 minutes and then leave- they obviously feel their time is more important than yours. Don’t cheapen your value.

If you are the one who tries to make everything perfect for others in hopes of making them happy, but it is never enough-- it probably never will be enough and they will probably never be happy…and while doing this neither will you.

If you are under obligation to continually take care of or give to a person, evaluate if the obligation is real or is it just your perception that you “owe” someone your time and talent.  Evaluate the situation for codependency.  Are you getting something from being a martyr?  Even if you feel like you are being used and taken advantage of, have you become dependent on being needed?

If you are continually trying to stop giving your resources of time, finances, energy and control of your emotions and life to someone else, but only break free for short periods of time. Then you slip back into the old pattern again of one-way giving.  Chart how long you have been doing this pattern. Where has it gotten you?

If you are following a life path because someone told you it was the road you should take, but you hate the scenery, you feel lost, or you know in your heart it isn’t the way you should be going, it is never too late to stop, make a U-turn and let your soul’s GPS recalculate to guide you on YOUR path.  There isn’t time to be controlled by a backseat driver. Be your own navigator on this road of life.
Take control of your own steering wheel.
                  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
    “Take control of your own thoughts,
                      time and talent. 
         Don’t allow a back seat driver to
​                     steer your life.”
                    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

​
YOUR TURN...         
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to think about who is controlling your emotions and actions.  Shouldn't YOU be in control???


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
0 Comments

WHO IS CHAUFFEURING YOUR LIFE?

6/22/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
WHO IS CHAUFFEURING YOUR LIFE? 

Our lives are driven by stories.
We travel the road yielding to them as they climb into the back seat.

We turn left, we turn right and choose the forks in the road that we hope will lead us to our happily ever after.
With every turn we pick them up.
A story here.
A story there. 

Some are interesting.  Some are scary.  Some are fun.  Some we want to lock in the trunk and forget. They all merge together to create the book of our life.

Occasionally we are jolted to completely stop at a red light and a story forces its way into the front seat with us. 

Some are powerful and push us out of our driver’s seat and  takes over as the chauffeur of our lives. The story becomes the theme that overshadows all the other stories and events that we experience.

The story becomes who we are.

Every turn we make is because of the story.

Every decision is because of the story.  

For you, this may be a happy chauffeur taking you to just the right places – school, a career, a life partner, children and success.  The chauffeur takes you on the drive you hoped for and the life story you dreamt of.  

Or, the story may be one of grief, desperation, loss, or despair.  The story is sad and takes over your life.  You no longer have control of the wheel.

The story has control and circles you as if you are stuck in a round-a-bout reliving the tragedy over and over.  You feel like you can’t put on the brakes or turn a different direction. 

We all have experienced stories of good and bad; happiness and sadness.  It is up to us to melt our stories into a collective balance for our life.  Don’t allow an event or tragedy to lock you into park or worse-- navigate you to a dark, dead end street. 

Decide who you want to chauffeur your life.  Take control of your stories.

Each one can be told from many perspectives.
Concentrate on the great stories and look for ways to see lessons and grace in your challenging ones.
Keep your steering wheel balanced and driving happily through your life. 

Who is chauffeuring your life?  
                ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 Pennie’s Life Lesson:
       “Don’t allow one event or tragedy to                                  drive your life.
    Take control of your own steering wheel.”

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

YOUR TURN...         
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to think about the life stories you repeat over and over allowing them to define what your life is and  who you are.  Are they the stories you want to be in control of that?  Hmmmmm...


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


0 Comments

THE MAN   I NEVER KNEW

6/10/2017

2 Comments

 
Picture
     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.” 
​

Picture
Picture
Loren Franklin Hunt 1904-1931
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 © 2013-2017 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

Pennie HEART to Heart
The reason I wrote this post. 

2 Comments

FRAME YOUR LIFE

5/27/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
FRAME YOUR LIFE

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

I look for frames. 

I see the world as frames that will hold my words, my feelings and my emotions.  When I spot a frame I snap it quickly to be used with my writing to illustrate the point I intend to convey.


At times the frames I see create my words; or at least allow my words to come together in a meaningful way to reach the heart of the viewer.  One snapshot may speak of peace and calmness. One photo may paint the canvas for love.  

What if you looked at every moment in your life as a frame?  How would you fill it to create a memory?

Do you want to frame a moment filled with examples of happiness, kindness and love?

Or will you allow your frame to hold moments of being disengaged, angry, sad and confused?  

Many times people drift along believing that life is happening to them and they are helpless in the process.  That is a distorted view.


The control is in your hands.  You direct the focus and what the lens of your life captures.  It is up to you to search out the frames and fill them with the people and experiences YOU want to have.

I am not a photographer, but I fill my frames with meaning, with emotion and with feeling.

How will you fill your frames? 
               ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
 “Frame your world moment by moment, memory by memory to create a masterpiece of love and happiness.”

                 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
YOUR TURN...         
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to think about your life moment by moment and how you 'frame' each one. 


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



0 Comments

THIS KIND OF LOVE

5/6/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
         THIS
 KIND OF LOVE

Every bump in the road caused me to hold the door handle tighter as my contractions grew stronger.  A few short hours later my young 19-year-old self is syphoned into a whirlwind of new experiences.  A washcloth is put in my mouth to muffle my expressions of pain and my legs are strapped into stirrups. I hear,
       “The baby’s heartbeat is dropping,
         we have to move fast.”

Pushing, forceps, fear – these were not covered in the prenatal classes.  The cry of a tiny soul and the tears of his mother are ignored as he is swept away. 

My bed is wheeled to the hallway for a makeshift recovery room.  I watch every face as it passes and in a foggy drugged daze I wonder where he has been taken. 
Several hours later I hold the most beautiful gift I have ever been given.  I understand for the first time this kind of love. 
His name is Jeremiah.
~ ~ ~

Two years pass-- I wake up to a sharp pain.  Grabbing my swollen belly I stand as warm red fear flows down my leg. In a blink, I am on the maternity floor. 
There is no heart beat and yet my body contracts in the effort of labor.  I am alone in the sterile room as the tiny baby leaves my body. 
I squeeze the emergency button calling for help.  Stopping at the edge of my bed the doctor puts his arm around my shoulder and says,
     “Some ladies take this well and
       some have a hard time.”

I am numb… which would I be?

Twenty-four hours click by.  I walk by rooms where new moms are snuggling their babies.  I hear their newborn cries as I ride the elevator down, empty handed.
​I reach to pick up my beautiful toddler.  Someone stops me saying,
     ‘Be careful…
            it’s like you had a baby."                                                     

My heart bleeding, I swallow the words I want to shout – I DID HAVE A BABY – His name is Jake.
~ ~ ~

She is an angel.  Her round cherub face landing in my life through a sweet, simple birth.  The room glows with happiness.  The 9 month fear and worry about this pregnancy is now covered with everything soft and pink.  She fits in my arms as if she has always been there.  Together we are  happy and content.
It’s my 22nd birthday and I bring her home. Her name is Sarah.
~ ~ ~

Five years later football is on the television in the birthing room. The process is different from the first time. I’m an expert now, wanting to experience and remember every contraction, every moment of birth, as this will be my last.  His eyes twinkle with a warning of who he is… an impish let’s-get-this-party-started boy joins my life.  I hold him in fierce protection to keep him in this moment forever.  
His name is Jameson.
~ ~ ~

Motherhood arrived for me four times over eight years. In easy and difficult ways.

Jeremiah and Sarah are now grown with children of their own.  They are adults with successful resumes, education, and accomplishments.

Jameson hit the world ready to have fun and for a short 22 years brought love to all who knew him.  As a toddler, he played endlessly with his imaginary friend, “Jake.”  I believe the two were a prearranged team who now watch us from the magical space we all come from and will all return to.

Mothers are celebrated one day a year, but mothers celebrate day by day, moment by moment, breath by breath  We celebrate the moment we give birth and every moment we have with the special souls we call children. We cry at preschool graduations and cry when college diplomas are awarded.  We celebrate their success and accomplishments and hold pride for how their lives grew.  We hurt when they hurt and are painfully scarred if they pass before us.

The title of “Mother” and the gift of motherhood should not be taken lightly. Mothering is not a finite venture.  The love we feel for our children is one of powerful connection.  Whether they are with us for our lifetime or leave this life ahead of us, the love and connection is of equal strength.  We are bound to our children through magical golden cords that are not separated by age, by distance or by death. 
Mothers understand THIS kind of love.
            ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Motherhood should be celebrated day by day, moment by moment, and breath by breath.”
             ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...         
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to think about your mom, what motherhood means and how you can celebrate Mother's Day every day! 


Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below .  And please feel free to email me  at:
 PennieHunt@gmail.com.
 
                                                Thank you!  ​
                    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
           
                                               All Rights Reserved
                                                      Copyright © 2013-2017 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

0 Comments

DON’T CONNECT THE DOTS! 

2/25/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
DON’T CONNECT THE DOTS! 

Have you ever experienced a meltdown…the kind where you find yourself in a messy puddle on the floor?


 I have a concept called, "Pennie’s DOT Theory", that states:

 “Any event that happens to us, around us, or concerns us is just one tiny DOT in the grand adventure of life. If we over-think one DOT it becomes magnified and joins with 
other DOTs to form a mass of stress that creates imbalance and unhappiness.”

 If we blow one DOT out of proportion it can consume us, make us irrational and ultimately we end up in that messy puddle.  The problem is we over think a little DOT allowing it to become a big DOT.

Remember this –  
         D--O--T-    
       DON’T  OVER THINK the DOT! 
 

It happened to me.

It began with a flu shot.
Well, the flu shot is not responsible for the entire meltdown but it is the DOT that began the snowball rolling. For three days after the shot I felt tired, drained and far from the perky, optimistic, personality I am known for. 

My fatigue turned into a colossal cold.  Another DOT.


I stopped working out, stopped meditating, stopped eating right…DOT… DOT… DOT! 

As the days continued my snowball began rolling faster. More stressful DOTs showed up.  The imbalance grew.  I broke dishes, forgot things and my blood pressure went up.  

As the DOTs continued to connect, overwhelm set in.  I began allowing the profanities of human emotions to marinate with the DOTs…. You know the ones… words like, jealousy, resentment, anger, insecurity, and ultimately the BIG four letter word      
            - FEAR! 

Then it happened.

It doesn't matter what the “IT” was… it was just another DOT, but the most dangerous kind for me…my feelings were hurt.  The snowball aimed right for that DOT rolling around in it until every dirty bit of it was connected to the DOT party forming in my head.  It was just the DOT to heat up the snowball enough for it to come to a full stop, a complete meltdown and a DOT EXPLOSION! 

The pity party wasn't pretty.

The meltdown was ugly.
The DOT explosion was epic causing a massive heart attack.  You see, when you over-think little DOTs they join with other DOTs in the same way blood cells stick together to block your arteries.  You don’t function well and it eventually leads to a heart attack.  

Thank goodness DOT heart attacks don’t send you to the hospital.  Yet, they have the power to do just as much damage.  Accumulating and over-thinking DOTs stifles your happiness.  Fear takes over attacking your heart and breaking down its protective covering until an explosive meltdown occurs. A crack is formed and your heart is scared in hidden ways.  

Finally, I stepped back from the dirty puddle I was sitting in and realized I had broken my own DOT rules.  By over thinking every little DOT I had given them the power to become huge in my mind.  I allowed them to connect one, by one, stripping me of my calm, my contentment and my happiness. They blinded me and I couldn't see around them.

I carried the huge DOT mass around like a collection of boulders in a backpack.  Only as I dropped the backpack did they tumble out before me and I could see the tiny pebbles each of them really were.
Just tiny DOTs in the grand adventure of life! 
                   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Pennie’s Life Lesson:

“Any event that happens to us, around us, or concerns us is just one tiny DOT in the grand adventure of life.
        Don’t Over-Think the DOTs!"


***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.  Thank you!***
                                                               All Rights Reserved
                                                      Copyright © 2013 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

    Author

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

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

    Enjoy!
            Pennie


     

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    Categories

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

    RSS Feed

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

​
 Copyright © 2012- 2023  Pennie Hunt -  All Rights Reserved
Photographs by Pennie Hunt and Materpiecebysarah.com                          


  • Home
  • Blog~ Corner of Spirit & Brave
  • BOOKS
  • BIO
  • Presentations
  • Social media
  • Contact Pennie
  • Love-Life
  • Pennie's Ponderings ~ Quotes
  • Pennie's Life Lessons
  • Videos
  • Pennie in the News
  • Meditations
  • Testimonials
  • UPCOMING EVENTS