BUSY
“How are you?” – “Oh, I’m so BUSY!” “Hello there, how ya doin?” – “I am swamped, I’m too BUSY!” “What are you up too, want to ….. "No, no, no, I can’t I have too much going on- I’m too BUSY!” “I’m busy” has become our response to any greeting. Busy has become our natural state. Busy has become a thing- a noun – like a dark shadow that circles our lives. Do you see what we are doing to ourselves? When did we begin equating being busy with success? Maybe it began as an attempt to seem important by verbally listing the engagements, meetings and commitments we have on our to-do-list…and ending with a sigh. Always a sigh. At some point we began believing our own self talk. After all, our mind and brain will believe our own voice more than any other voice. And we were very convincing. We began to believe that we had to have a list to keep up with everyone else. We had to be busy! We began to believe that the level of busy-ness was the measure of our own self-worth. So the list became longer. We foolishly became filled with distracting details of our activities. The exchanged expression of ALL we have to do became expected. And exhausting. But, we didn’t stop there. We began adding things to our lives. Remember being busy = success! Yes, life moves fast. New age electronics have increased this speed at an astounding pace. It is frightening to ponder. We all have work, families, responsibilities and commitments. Do we have to make ourselves even more overwhelmed with the continual documenting of our busy-ness to everyone we interact with? Secretly we just want to scream! What if we began answering greetings with, “I’m well, I’m happy and I am thrilled to see you today!” What if we greeted others with, “What is making you happy today?” And then, shut up and smile. Possibly, just possibly, the response may be more engaging than the level of overloaded activities filling the pack on their back. They may just share a joyful story or expression of happiness. The way greetings are meant to be. Here is mine to you: “Hello there, how are you? What brings you joy today?” And your response is??? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: “Stop telling yourself and others how busy you are. Instead speak of the joy and happiness that fills your life!” ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to notice how often you say you are "TOO BUSY." Are you really? Is it a habit to say that? Is it true? 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 © 2013-2016 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
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Burial Ground
While going through old photos I found one of myself from several years ago. I saw the familiar outward smile for the experience of the moment, but it was the inward sadness spilling from my eyes that colored the photo with memories. I can read people well and always sense sadness by their eyes and in their smile. I naively thought I was gifted in covering my own inner feelings from others. This photo, this smile was all too clear to me. My face was the cover of a book that held the story of a mother's despair. My smile forced, my face swollen from the pressure of holding grief. The photo, taken two years after my son passed was validation of the wear my pain had caused. The physical reaction to heart break. I have searched the photo for days, re-feeling the moments after his passing....from the phone call until now years later. I've tried to grasp the transition of feelings over time. I have become a Burial Ground. We all have endured the loss of a loved one. I have experienced many, so I say this from understanding and comparison. A mother’s grief for a child is different. We accept the gift of creating a life within our bodies, nurturing that life and bringing it forward to re-gift to the world. We endure the shock, the pain, and the irreversible moment of having that life ripped from us. We are mothers willing to carry any weight we must in protection and honor of our child. We plan the service, pick the flowers and stand over a casket. We remember the smell of the soft spot on the back of their neck and the smell of the funeral home. For many, the burial ground is a memory of freshly piled dirt that covers our child in a brown dust of isolation. Over time grass will become the green blanket that forms a backdrop for repeated splashes of colorful flowers, creating moments of beauty, while the pain remains very alive buried underneath. In the same way our mother bodies become a burial ground. For years the pain shows on our faces. Slowly we learn how to live in a new way. Even as more time passes, as the smiles become more genuine, the eyes will always be the lenses into our eternal pain. Our outward lives experience splashes of joy and moments of happiness, while our hearts never recover from the pain buried inside. Hidden beneath, our child is held tightly protected in our broken hearts. We become a living, walking, breathing burial ground guarding the life that will forever remain cradled inside of us. I scanned through more and more photos of myself and watched as the swelling receded from my face. The smile began to sparkle. Joy returned. Looking deeply though, I see it, the way I have always seen it in other grieving moms. I see it in myself. Concentrating on my eyes I realize they have become my determined gatekeepers for my internal burial ground. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie's Life Lesson: “When you look deeply into eyes, you will see the pain of the past.” ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to notice the pain carried secretly inside....in you and in others. 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 © 2013-2016 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 
THE LOST DAY
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. A Lost 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 on 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.” ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
YOUR TURN...
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? 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 © 2013-2016 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 
DO YOU EVER THINK ABOUT LOVE?
We talk about love all the time. We love this thing and we love that person. Yet, how often do you really THINK about love? Most people spend more time deciding what to have for dinner than thinking about love. Shouldn’t this intense feeling of deep affection rally more than an occasional thought? What is love? What does it mean to love and be loved? Who do you love and what makes you love them? Who loves you and what makes them love YOU? How do you show love through actions, words, expressions and service? Are you showing it in a way that makes that person FEEL loved? What makes YOU feel loved? How do you feel when you GIVE love? When you begin thinking about Love and asking these questions your ability to express love and feel love will increase. That only makes sense, right? Take some time to study your habits of love. Study the way you love the ones closest to you and how they love you. Study how you show love to the clerk at the grocery store or the co-workers you interact with all day. Study how you treat yourself. Are you loving to yourself? It is easy to create a habit of nonchalant loving without ever thinking about LOVE. Maybe it is time to begin nurturing the way you love. Tell others that you love them. Show others that you love them. Start planning LOVE into your day. Don’t forget to love yourself in the process! Pennie’s Life Lesson: “Do you ever THINK about LOVE? Maybe it is time to begin!” ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to think - really think - about love and how you can better nurture it in your life. 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 © 2013-2016 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 
HAFTA!
I woke up this morning already overwhelmed. Before my eyes opened I was overwhelmed. Before my feet even hit the floor I was overwhelmed. “There is so much I HAFTA do!” My mind was already talking to me before I had time to shuffle to the coffee maker. I HAFTA do laundry. I HAFTA write a blog. I HAFTA create my notes for a presentation next week. I HAFTA hunt and gather, (my term for my not-so-favorite job of grocery shopping). I HAFTA, I HAFTA, I HAFTA! The list went on and on. Feeling a bit less than enthusiastic to do any of it, suddenly the bubble over my head filled with… “I don’t HAFTA do anything!” I really don’t! I decided that word should be banished from my vocabulary. I also decided to evict the words must, should,required, and for the bonus – I threw in gotta and oughtta! The reality is what in life do we really HAFTA do? I had clean clothes to wear today so I didn’t HAFTA do laundry. I wonder if I skipped a blog one week if anyone would actually notice and send me a ‘where is it’ message. I know I could stand up and give my presentation next week without any notes. And, I wouldn’t starve if I didn’t hunt and gather today. Why do we put so much pressure on ourselves to feel like we are obligated to do…do…DO? I realize we all have responsibilities in life and I am not saying we drop all common sense. I am saying we might be happier and healthier if we added common sense to our HAFTA list. Once we get through the one or two things that are the necessary responsibilities and look further down the list, what if we measured them by whether they feed our soul or drain our energy. Whether they add joy or create chaos. Whether they lift our spirit or burden our soul. What if we threw away our HAFTA lists and we began labeling tasks with the expressions of : like to; love to; want to; desire; crave; and even optional? I realized that by taking away the forced implication of feeling like I “HAFTA” complete certain tasks and changing the mindset to a joyful desire of accomplishment that is totally optional, the overwhelm I felt went away. Once my second cup of coffee set in I realized I like the tumbling hum of the dryer as it calms me to a place of feeling nestled and at home I love to write—that is why I am either writing or thinking about writing all the time. Sharing my message with people is my mission and making notes helps me feel prepared to give all I can to the people who come to hear me speak. And after eating half of a very over ripe banana with my coffee, the vision of crackly fresh apples, baking banana bread and craving the smell of a simmering pot of vegetable soup made even the hunting and gathering outing seem desirable. When I released the HAFTA pressure from my mind and turned most of my day into optional thinking I still accomplished just as much…and enjoyed the process! Now with the smells of bread and soup swirling through my heart and home and my writing almost complete, I feel joyful, my soul has been fed and my spirit lifted to a higher space than when I woke this morning. I don’t HAFTA feel overwhelmed. Pennie’s Life Lesson: “Change your mindset from a must do list to a want to list - then feel the stress and pressure in your life lighten.” ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN... My intent in sharing this with you is to help you differentiate between what is a must and what isn't and to change the mind set of what you 'hafta' do into something you love to do. 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! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE
It seemed like a giant step to the front platform of the church. When the piano began playing it was our cue to begin singing. Each time we visited our grandmother who lived states away, my brother, sister and I sang, This Little Light of Mine, at the Hurricane Baptist Church. When we sang my body swayed back and forth – mostly from nerves. My eyes linked to the glowing face of my grandmother. Her smile encouraged me to sing loud and strong. I loved her and would do anything to make her proud and happy – even overcome the fear I felt standing on a huge stage in front of a crowd to sing the same lyrics year after year. Not long ago I was back in the Hurricane Baptist Church. As I stood in the pew looking at the one small step to the front platform I realized the passing of time had shrunk the size and scale of the space I stood in as a little girl. Decades of events skipped through my mind. This was the church where my parents were married. This was the church where I cried at funerals. And this was the church where I learned the song that I could hear as it circled my memory now. Occasionally, a life lesson is a long time in the learning. Standing in that pew I realized the lesson my grandmother was very intentionally teaching. We could have sung a different song every year, but it was always THAT song. She wanted us to sing it over and over again until we understood the meaning. We all have our own unique spirit inside; a one of a kind light that needs to shine. We must bravely allow our individual personality, our talent and our joy to be seen and shared. We must have the courage to stand up in front of others and hold up our light. And, never allow anyone to smother it. What a bold and bright lesson in one little song. This church was my grandmother’s space; a home where she felt love and joy. This is where HER light shinned. This is where I followed her encouragement and love to take that giant step as a little girl. This is where I held up my little light and allowed it to shine boldly, brightly and bravely. This is where I now understood the power of my spirit and the importance of bringing it out into the open space for others to see. Yes, this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. Pennie’s Life Lesson: “Allow your light to shine boldly, brightly and bravely…only then will you know the power of your spirit.” ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN... My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to shine the inner spirit of who you are to the rest of the world. It is in this light you will find fulfillment and happiness. How do you let your light shine? Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below . And please feel free to email me at: PennieHunt@gmail.com. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2013-2016 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 
THE ICE CREAM BUCKET
The rusty handle fit every hand. The hand of my grandfather as he turned and churned the milky richness inside. The hand of my uncle as he packed ice and salt in the open space between the wooden slats and the metal cylinder, then taking over the chore and pleasure of the cranking. The hand of my father as he impishly pushed his brother-in-law from the crank so he too could take credit for blending the anticipated delight. The hands of my cousins, brother, sister and me struggling with joyous giggles, layering hand on top of hand to create the strength to turn the crank. Taking turns, we sat on the blanket covered throne watching the melting ice turn to cloudy salt water running down the side. And then, when all capacity to budge the handle even one more turn became impossible, my grandmother’s bony hands pulled the frosted silver chamber from the bucket, opening it to reveal the deliciousness of my childhood. Pennie’s Life Lesson: “The simplicity of life becomes the boldest of memories.”
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YOUR TURN... My intent in sharing this with you is to spur a memory. What do you remember about past summers? 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 © 2013-2016 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 
THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS
It happened in Kmart. It was one of those moments that I can never reproduce, but I will remember it forever as an opening point-- A moment that opened my heart, my understanding and my eyes to the power of forgiveness. “I blame you for nothing, I forgive you everything and I will always love you.” He looked shocked, confused and stunned as he stopped to look at me. “What?” I repeated with a little more importance on always, “I blame you for nothing, I forgive you everything and I will always love you.” This time the face of my grown child turned to a delicious mixture of relief, acceptance and love. He dropped the bundle of socks, toiletries and food that he was holding in his arms into the shopping cart. The hug was long, the tears honest and the meaning understood. This is how forgiveness works. I can easily forgive others for cutting in front of me in line, taking the parking spot I was clearly heading toward or for a snapping comment that I seem to be on the receiving end of. I assume they are having a difficult day. You never know what the bubble over their head is holding, what is going on in their life, or what hurt they carry. I am happy to report that I have successfully accomplished forgiveness with most people and circumstances in my life. The disclaimer here is that I am a soul in progress. My humanness allows for human emotions. I have tried countless forgiveness methods, such as: The Bury and Forget It Method; The If I Don’t Talk About It, It Didn't Happen Method; And the popular This Person Doesn't Deserve Forgiveness, So I Am Going To Lock Them In A Box, Put Them On A Shelf To Occasionally Take Down And Kick Them Method. Forgiveness is a life lesson I continually attempt to perfect. The forgiveness challenge for me has been with those who have harpooned my heart in a penetrating way. When I helped someone, cared for them and trusted them to hold my heart in friendship or love, only to have them rip it from my chest, pierce it and then hand it back to me. Is the expectation that I won’t feel the scar? Even more difficult is when a perceived injustice is done to someone I love. Is the expectation that I watch with no malice felt toward the offender? That day in the shopping isle the answer became a clear,YES. I came to understand that when you forgive, relief, acceptance and love become a two-way effort. My heart no longer carried the heavy weight of anger, betrayal and disappointment. I no longer had to continue the painful circle of picking the scab to feel it bleed and begin to heal, only to begin the picking again. When I felt the relief in me that day, the lightening of my spirit, and the release of the burden of carrying all those negative emotions, I realized that forgiving is a gift to myself. I emptied my heart of the dirty work of bitter resentment and opened more space for love. When he heard my words and dropped his bundle into the shopping cart he also dropped his fear, shame and regrets and opened more space in his heart to love and be loved. By forgiving, I am not condoning, excusing or pardoning another’s actions. I am not saying that in every circumstance I will forget or remove all awareness of the offense in an effort to reconcile a relationship. Some relationships are best left as a lesson in our past. I am suggesting we begin looking at things differently and open our vision to see that blaming, resenting and revenge do more harm to ourselves than to others. We are all learning from our humanness. We all make mistakes. We all feel shame. We all inflict hurt. None of us can say we haven’t wronged another. It’s time we start seeing the power of forgiveness. Pennie’s Life Lesson: “Forgiveness is a gift that opens more space for love – in you and others.” ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN... My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to forgive. Let go of past hurts. Forgive others AND forgive yourself! Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below . And please feel free to email me at: PennieHunt@gmail.com. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2016 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  NERVOUS OR EXCITED His little four year old body began shaking and he said, “Mommy, I am so nervous!” “Why are you nervous,” she said, “YOU love to go with Grandma?” “Oh, wait, I’m not nervous, I mean I am EXCITED!” he answered. How many times in life do we confuse nerves with excitement? Is it the painful tingling sensation of nerves we feel in our bodies? Or The butterflies of excitement and anticipation that tingles us to our core? Can you tell the difference between the two? Even worse, how many times do we allow nerves to steal our excitement? In an unattainable search for perfection, we allow festive occasions to turn into a check list of worries and what ifs. Life should be a grand adventure filled with fun and enthusiasm for what is ahead of us. Just as those butterflies begin to flutter in joy, fear creeps in disguised as nerves. We are afraid we will be late, miss a deadline, the wedding won’t be perfect and on and on. We visualize the worst outcomes. Outcomes that will rarely happen. And here is the bottom line – most of it we cannot control, anyway! Why not visualize the best? Visualize wonderful days, grand adventures, joyous occasions and happy endings. Be aware enough to understand the difference between nervousness and excitement! Allow EXCITEMENT to push out the nervous fear, so that you can enjoy life to its fullest! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: “Understand the difference between Excitement and Nerves. Allow EXCITEMENT to push away the fear disguised as nerves.” ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to watch for the difference between excitment and nerves.... don't allow nerves to take away your excitment for 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 © 2013-2016 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 
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 your Green 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.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN...
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! 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 © 2013-2016 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 
THE MEMORY MAKER
One hand carried my bucket while the other grasped the largest stick I could find to swish away the foliage and shoo away the bugs. I would follow my grandmother trying to match my small footprints with hers. We were on safari in this land of wilderness. Reaching the creek, we searched for a rocky entry to the water. Stepping in, the mud squished between my toes as my feet and legs quickly became red and numb from the cold. I took deep breaths as the crawdads snapped at my feet and the sunfish brushed their thorned backs against me. We would hike back to her house with treasures in our buckets – magnificent rocks that sparkled in the sun like diamonds and gold; crawdads to watch as they pinched and squirmed; snail shells; and flowers. All were the riches of life and the secrets of nature. Her property bordered a state park. She didn’t take me in her car to the paved parking lot to play on the sand filled playground. She didn’t take me to the groomed pebble lined paths with arrows signaling points of interest. She took me on a quest-- trekking from her yard to the thickly wooded seclusion where trees were curled with the bending of age and the over grown creek bed was the land of nature in full celebration. Even today, I remember the sounds of the crickets, the smell of the muddy creek water and the constant swatting of mosquitoes as we ate our picnic lunches while discussing how the flow of the water smoothed and polished the rocks. Nothing my grandmother did with me was average or normal. It was always an adventure; an artistic creation; a moment of learned love. She was a Memory Maker. Making memories is the experience. The gift of an experience is worth more than any item we can give. The gift of an experience can even make legs covered in mosquito bites a joyful memory! Who can you be a Memory Maker for? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: “Give the gift of time and experiences. Be a Memory Maker!” ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN... My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to create those moments in life you AND others will always remember. Be a Memory Maker! Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below . And please feel free to email me at: PennieHunt@gmail.com. Thank you ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2013-2016 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 
THREE WORDS
Can you describe yourself in three words? How do you see yourself? How do you believe others see you? When I was asked these questions I thought of words like Mom, Grandmother, wife, speaker, writer, but I wanted better words. wanted words with more grandeur. I wanted words that carried with them not just a superficial description of looks or my job(s) in life, but a feeling, a purpose and a mission. After weeks of rolling this idea through every wrinkle of my mind and struggling to create a short list of three, I decided I wasn't the most reliable person to ask. I wanted to know how I was doing and if others would give me a passing grade or if I needed to study harder and practice more in order to be described in the way I hoped. So, I sent out this email: Hello, I am working on a project and wonder if you would take a second to help me out. It is easy - all I need you to do is send me a few adjectives that you'd think of to honestly describe me. You can send me three or twenty or as many you wish to share, but make it easy for you. No, this isn't one of the silly email "forwards" -- I really am working on a project. Thank you so much in advance for doing this! Pennie This is not an exercise for the faint of spirit. As I hit the send button, bubbles over my head began filling with words I wouldn't like. What if the responses were negative? What if they were less than flattering? What if no one responded; what would that mean? But there it was, heading through the mysteries of the Internet and landing smack in the middle of 100 computer screens! I sent it to close friends and to acquaintances. I sent it to family members. I sent it to people who see me daily and ones who hadn't seen me in 10 years. I sent it to those who I was confident would say glowing things and I sent it to those who I feared might not. From young adolescent friends of my son to legislators, they held my life image at their computer keyboards. I waited. The first response came in minutes, others came weeks later. They came in clusters of pings to my computer and in single messages late in the night. They came in short emails with just three words. They came in lists of adjectives depicting my impression on them with long elaborations of why they chose the words they did. The fear of what would be given me as the mirror of myself became a life opening experience. I was humbled by the response as an ultimate washing of appreciation and love came through in the words given to me. Some made me laugh. Some made me cry. Some made me cry more. Only three people asked me why I wanted to know. It didn’t seem to matter. They just responded. I created a spread sheet to track the words. Repeated words were given a tally mark. The spreadsheet grew with a list of 197 words. Very quickly 13 words began creating a pattern of repetition. The top three winners were Caring, Thoughtful, and Kind. These were followed closely with Compassionate, Honest, and Loving. What a lesson I had learned! These are simple words, but I realize these are my words of grandeur; my words of feeling, purpose and mission. These are my words to live by. Now, I have a standard to uphold. This is how others see me and I don’t want to let them down. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie's Life Lesson: When you create a standard of compassion, kindness and love to live your life by- you will receive compassion, kindness and love from others. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
YOUR TURN...
I shared this with you to encourage you to think about how you see yourself AND how others see you. Is it the vision you want? Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below . And please feel free to email me at: PennieHunt@gmail.com. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2016 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  WHO TAUGHT YOU HOW TO SMILE? I’m a natural smiler. I smile all the time. Some people don’t. At 6’5” my husband’s size is intimidating. His natural serious expression adds to this intimidating appearance and can unintentionally make him appear angry, annoyed or uninterested. Recently, when I was encouraging him to SMILE, he responded with, “I am smiling on the inside. No one ever taught me how to smile on the outside.” As babies we are taught to walk by repeatedly being stood in front of open arms and encouraged to move our feet in clumsy toddler fashion until we move across the room. If we don’t succeed we fall and are reinforced that it “feels better” to walk than to fall. Were you taught to smile in the same way? Were you taught how to raise the corners of your mouth to form one smile after another like putting one foot in front of the other to walk? We aren’t taught that even the slightest lift of the corners of our mouths lessens the creases in our foreheads, removes the heaviness on our face, and allows our eyes to sparkle. We aren’t taught that a smile is a gift we give ourselves and the easiest gift to give to others --It is almost guaranteed that if you give one you will receive one in return. We aren’t taught that smiles have the power to change someone’s day; to lift a heart; and to share love in a spontaneous way. We aren’t taught that a pleasant resting face with the hint of a smile creates a welcoming persona when others see you and a full out smile when you meet people makes them feel important and ‘seen.” We aren’t taught that a smile opens doors, opens opportunities and opens hearts.” We aren’t taught that it “feels better” to smile. I am giving you the SMILE CHALLENGE. For one week practice smiling like you do any other health routine like exercise, brushing your teeth or sleeping. Three times a day stand in front of a mirror and lift the corners of your mouth. At first you may have to use your two index fingers to push those corners up, but I promise you they WILL move! Try variations of how you smile. A pleasant grin. A happy beam. A full out show-all-your-teeth smile. Then throughout the day let yourself smile. Smile at strangers as you pass them. Smile at the sunshine. Smile to and for yourself when you are alone. It just Feels Better to smile! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: “A smile opens doors, opens opportunities and opens hearts.” ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN...
I shared this with you to encourage you share your smile with yourself and others. It really does FEEL better to smile! 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 © 2013-2016 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 
PEACE FEELS LIKE…
My grandson drew a picture with a caption that read, “Peace Feels Like Sitting in a Warm Chair.” At six years old he understands his Place of Peace. It is a place where he feels safe, loved, centered and warm. His Place of Peace is in the safety of a chair with the sun warming his heart and looking into the magical wonders of the ocean. It reminded me of my meditation chair. It is growing old and tattered and as with the wisdom of age, has become softer, safer and stronger. It has held me for years of long hours of meditations, journaling and prayers. The spirit of these practices layer into every aging wrinkle of the chair’s fabric. I feel a sacred sense of love and kindness every morning as I sink into its safe arms… settling into my Place of Peace. What does Peace feel like to you? Where do you feel safe, loved, centered and warm? How often do you visit this sacred space to warm your heart and center your soul? For me, I agree with the wisdom of a six year old, - “Peace Feels Like Sitting in a Warm Chair.” ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: “Find your Place of Peace. Visit it often.” ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
YOUR TURN...
I shared this with you to encourage you think about what PEACE feels like to you. Tell me where your Place of Peace is! hare 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 © 2013-2016 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  BREATH OF GREEN
So often I hear people saying they are rushed, tired and overwhelmed. They are running from one meeting to the next, stressed about paying bills and worried about keeping others happy. What they are ultimately doing is living in fear. Fear of being late. Fear of not having enough money. Fear of disappointing others. And the BIG one -fear of not being good enough. Do you see yourself in that scenario? If so, here is something that always works for me. Your mind cannot live in fear and love simultaneously. Therefore, the answer is to increase love. You must begin by increasing the love inside of You! Begin by understanding a new concept. Green is the color of love. Yes, Green! I know what you are thinking - wait a minute, what about red; the color of valentines, hearts and roses? Chakras, or energy centers, are located at strategic points in the body and are aligned with a color value. The heart Chakra is Green and corresponds with unconditional love, compassion and healing. Imagine a beautiful glowing emerald Green circle that radiates around your heart. To increase love in yourself, for yourself and for others, you must fill this energy center with love. This will in turn multiply and fill you with love. Love will then spill outwardly - to others and to every aspect of your life. This is where my "Breath of Green" comes in. How often do you see green? Green is everywhere! When you see Green, take in a slow deep breath. As you do, visualize breathing in Green; breathing in love. At first you may even say out loud or to yourself, "breathe in love." As you exhale imagine pushing out fear. Visualize fear as black, dirty, and ugly. At first you may even say out loud or to yourself, "breathe out fear." This only takes a few seconds. Breathe in fresh clean love. Exhale painful fear. With every breath you will feel calmer. No one will even know you are doing it, but they will notice a change in you. YOU will FEEL a change in you. Soon you will begin to see Green everywhere. Your eyes will begin searching for it. A woman will walk into a meeting wearing a Green sweater. A dog with a Green leash will walk by you on the sidewalk. The menu at the lunch deli will have the special outlined in Green. The junk mail you are throwing away will be in a Green envelope. You will see a Green light as you are driving -Go Now- breathe in love! Make an effort to try this for one week. Once you experience the cleansing of fear and feel the new calmness of love take over, you will want to continue this practice. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie's Life Lesson: "Love and fear are not compatible. Fill yourself with love, in order to diminish fear." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN... I shared this with you to give you a tool to relax and calm your busy life-- in a quick and easy way! How many times did you see and think Green just by reading this. Tell us how this concept worked for you! Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below . And please feel free to email me at: PennieHunt@gmail.com. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2016 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 
SOMETHING ABOUT YOGEE
I wanted a Yorkie. Looking at the puppies I picked one to hold and see what kind of personality she had. But, there was this Shih Tzu that pulled me closer. My mind kept saying, I want a Yorkie. With determination and intention, the Shih Tzu knocked the Yorkie out of the way and got right in my face as if to say, “There is no question here who you belong to…it’s me!” Looking in her eyes I knew… There was something about Yogee. She was 27 days old when she came home with me. A tiny fur ball of delight that I hid in my pet-free apartment. Well, until I received the letter stating that I had 30 days to get rid of the dog or move out. Yogee and I loved our new home. I called it the house that Yogee built, after all it was because of her that I purchased it. Yogee loved everyone and quickly became a part of everyone’s life. My kids, friends and the man in my life. She was 7 when my youngest son passed away. She loved him and he loved her. Yogee sat on my lap for weeks and we grieved together. We meditated together. We survived together. There was something about Yogee. When she was 10 she had what seemed like a stroke. She collapsed and didn’t recognize anyone or her surroundings. Rushing her to the animal hospital an hour away panic increased with every minute. Leaving her there and saying goodbye for the night I was convinced I may never see her again. The next day I received a call that I could pick her up. The veterinarian came out carrying a perky, tail-wagging Yogee acting as if she had just been enjoying a spa day. For over half of her life Yogee suffered from a heart murmur and a degenerating heart valve. She would experience fainting and seizures if she became too excited. Every time I held my breath frightened and every time she would pop up and look at me as if nothing happened. Her entourage of veterinarians, dog sitters, acupuncturist and groomers were amazed at her ability to always rally from health issues. Her favorite vet called her, “Remarkable.” This became our mantra for her – of course she will be fine, she is Remarkable! There was something about Yogee. When I married that “man in my life,” we became a little triangle of a family. Our plans, our travel, our world revolved around keeping Yogee safe, happy and healthy. We wouldn’t of had it any other way. My husband told her daily that she was, “Everything Good” – an accurate statement. Yogee brought, “everything good” into our lives. In her last months she began to lose weight and slowed down, but she never missed a chance to follow me around the kitchen as I cooked, greet friends and family or share my popcorn as we watched movies. She stayed longer than anyone expected. Fifteen years, 8 months and 17 days. I believe it was to take care of me. Too take care of my husband and our family. She took her job of loving us as her life purpose. I believe her tenacity to beat all the odds was driven by her will to live. Her commitment to her life purpose. She did it with grace, patience and care. She taught us loyalty was unconditional and love was forever. Through the hardest of times and happiest of occasions, she was there. I held her as she slipped away. I felt her little body fill with calmness – relief – release - peace. I had never felt closer to her than in that moment. I could feel the tearing of my heart as pain ripped through. At the same time a lava of love began bubbling up through my breaking heart and spilling out of the brokenness in a flow of gratitude for being the lucky one that was chosen by Yogee. Dogs don’t stay with us long enough. I believe we are all here to learn, teach and love. Dogs love with such intense unconditional love. Maybe that is why they don’t stay long…. They can only love at that level of intensity for a short period of time. If we have soul families, and I believe we do, she is definitely in mine. Souls come into our lives in unexpected ways. Yogee only knew one way – love. She chose me to teach, to guide and to share that love with. Her blanket remains on the foot of my bed. I feel her in my home and in my heart. She (and I) may have released her body, but our souls will never release each other. There is something about Yogee. Pennie’s Life Lesson: “We don’t always choose the souls that change our lives. Sometimes they choose us.” ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Yogee Soo May 9, 2000- Jan. 25, 2016
YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to share my love for Yogee and join you in the love of your fur family. 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 © 2013-2016 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 Thank you!  1300 LESSONS
I TOOK 55 YEARS TO LEARN 1. Make friends on the playground or stand alone - Learn to Love Change! I grew up in a military family, which meant I would just make friends in school and it was time to move- again. At the time I believed this was child abuse, but it taught me how to build relationships, grow friendships and hone the ability to accept and love change. 2. Don’t wish your life away! I remember how I couldn't wait to be thirteen. My Mom said, “Don’t wish your life away.” That didn't pacify me at the time, but now 43 very quick years later I understand the wisdom in that statement. 3. I love Brussels sprouts! I really do! I hated Brussels sprouts for 54 years. The truth is I had never tried one. Not long ago I did. I have been trying to make up for lost time ever since. The moral here is – you can’t hate what you haven’t tried and you can’t judge what you haven’t lived. Let that statement simmer a minute. 4. Don’t tell anyone you are on a diet! If you need to make a life change like losing weight or changing jobs you may need a support group or career coach, but don’t tell anyone else. People will scrutinize every pound you lose (and gain), every job you apply for and every rejection letter you receive. If they don’t know, when you have set backs and disappointments they won’t magnify your defeat. Wait until you have good news to share and let them celebrate the victory with you. 5. Know when to say NO and when to say YES! For years I said, “Yes” to everyone and every request for my energy and time. After suffering a few creative stress induced illnesses I learned that I couldn't do it all and I wasn't Wonder Woman. I learned how to say, “No” when I needed to. I also learned to say, “Yes” to myself. 6. Not everyone likes me! What is not to like about me? I was the people pleasing cocker spaniel that when I got kicked wanted to jump up and lick the face of the kicker to prove that I was sweet, kind and deserving of love. The reality is – not everyone likes cocker spaniels! There are enough people who do and those are the ones I spend my time liking and loving. Don’t waste your time trying to prove yourself to anyone who just doesn't like you. 7. Do what you LOVE! Don’t waste a precious moment of time doing work you hate. Do what brings you joy and contentment. If you can’t do it full time do it as a hobby, but do what you love! 8. Know when to risk and know when to let go! I owned Apple stock when it was $22 a share and sold it at $24. Big mistake! This is a perfect example of doing this wrong. Knowing when to hold something and when to let it go is an intuitive skill that I believe grows with listening to your inner voice when it tells you to run down the street after them yelling, “I love you!” or to turn and walk away as the sun sets and the credits roll. 9. Take care of yourself! Being healthy matters, so control what you can. Just like you take care of your car by cleaning it, getting checkups and supplying it with quality fuel, take care of the body that carries your soul in the same way. Once you hit the mile markers of 40, 50, 55 and beyond you will be happy you did! 10. Be quiet and listen. Meditation saved my life. Sit alone and in silence. Listen to your heart. Listen to the silence. You will be amazed at what you hear! 11. We are all one phone call away from our knees. It happens to everyone. When the phone rings and the message of loss is delivered, you will be on your knees. With the aid of love and grace we will stand back up stronger than before. Once this hard lesson has been learned your heart will expand with the love required to support others when they fall. 12. Every moment we choose the path of Fear or Faith. We are constantly given the choice of walking the path of fear of failure or the path of faith in the future. The road of faith is a much happier road to travel. Choose faith! 13. Gratefulness leads to love and yes, Love is the answer to every question! Being here in this body, on this Earth and at this time is a privilege. Be humbled by the magnitude of it. Do not take anything for granted. Be grateful for every moment, every breath, every experience and every lesson learned; Being grateful leads to living in a space of love. The most important lesson and the basis for all the lessons I have learned is LOVE! Life begins and ends with love. Love yourself. Love others. Love animals. Love nature. With every breath be grateful for being here to love. That’s it, bottom line… Love your heart out! I do realize that was 13 lessons and not 1300, but most of them took me 100 or more experiences to learn, so I am giving myself extra credit. Learn YOUR lessons well. Happy Living! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN... What lessons have you learned? Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. 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 Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ You won't want to miss hearing this audio!
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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. |