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. ​

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The next time I experience a Lost Day I will at least understand what is happening.  I will try to lean into it with the knowing of why and the understanding of my emotions. 
 
As I write this, I sit in self-satisfaction for solving the puzzle.  Finding the piece that skews my life picture.
Today I accomplished!
I achieved!
I made an impact - if only in my own life.
            ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ 
Pennie's Life Lesson:           
“Pay attention to the puzzle pieces that create the picture of your life. Don’t force pieces to fit that don’t belong.”
               ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ 

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.
            ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

​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.”  
              ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

DON'T MAKE YOURSELF SMALL
​
"I'll try to make myself as small as possible,"
she said as she pulled her arms close to her body and settled into the middle seat between me and the man sleeping by the window.
 
When I fly, I have learned to take the aisle seat when I can. It allows me to exit quickly when the plane lands and to have one side free, giving the perception of more space. At times I enjoy the window seat, but I really hate the dreaded middle seat.
 
When my new seat mate made her comment,  I laughed and responded with some fluffy chit chat about how the middle seat is a tuff one to sit in.
 
The plane took off.
Ear phones on.
Pretzels delivered. 
 
The comment floated in my head…
  I'll try to make myself as small as possible.
 
I thought about how many times I had done that in life...made myself small to allow room for others to have the space they need, to be comfortable, to spread their wings, to shine in the spotlight...even if it was at the expense of my own comfort.
 
An honorable thing to do, right?
 
Well, yes, it can be at the right moment, for the right reason. The problem is, it can become a habit. 
 
If you constantly pull back in the shadow of others you are not allowing your soul to shine. The beauty of YOU is hidden. The gifts you were brought here to share will never be known.
I believe we are here to stretch our souls. To learn. To teach. To love. 
We cannot do this with our arms pulled in forcing our bodies to contort into a small version of our real self.
 
Stand tall. 
Put those arms up.
Speak your message.
Let your soul out to shine in the spotlight of life.
Only then will you gift the world with the real you.
The YOU you were sent here to be.
The YOU you were sent to share.
Only then will the real YOU be loved.
               ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
Pennie's Life Lesson:
           "Don't make yourself small
         in order to make someone else                                                seem big."
               ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ​

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

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

      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.”
​                 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~       

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

My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to create a space of calm in your home... a place for you to feel safe and loved. 

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

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.
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                                                 please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com

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

The Charlie Hunt
3 Strike Rule
​
My Dad had a rule of giving businesses and people three chances. 

He felt that anyone can have a day when things just don’t go right and shouldn’t be judged on one interaction or experience.  So he would allow three times to get it right. 

He wouldn’t discount a restaurant if he had a bad meal the first time he visited, or complain if a sales clerk didn’t treat him kindly, or judge a person by on misguided choice. 

He would give them a second chance. 

And a third. 

But, if on the third chance they were still inadequate or unkind he would feel confident that he gave them enough of his time to show their potential before he decided they would not be a part of his life.

My Dad passed away in 2005.  Now when I have an unpleasant experience I try to remember the Charlie Hunt 3 Strikes Rule before I immediately form an opinion. 

The second or third pitch just might be a home run!    

Pennie’s Life Lesson:
      "Don't judge on the first experience
                          or the second  
  - the third pitch just might be a home run." 
​
YOUR TURN...         
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to remember that everyone can have a bad day, an off moment, a slip in judgment.  What if you gave them three changes, before you judged 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 © 2013-2017 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
  

         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

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
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                 If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission       
                                                 please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com
                                                                             Thank you!

THREE ABILITIES THAT DETERMINE YOUR SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS
​
Are you searching for the secret to happiness?

Do you wonder why other people seem to be more successful than you—even if you believe that you work harder than they do? 

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

1. The ability to accept and adapt to change.

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

3. The ability to express gratitude.

Let me break these down for you.

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

This has served me well through career changes, divorce and grief.  While others live in the Who-Moved-My-Cheese stagnation unable to accept that their life has changed and unable to adapt to the new adventures ahead of them, successful, happy people hone the ability to accept and adapt.  You may not always like the event that spurred the change, but cultivate the ability to bloom in the space you find yourself – no matter what!

We are bombarded with the message that we are Not Good Enough!  We all protect that space inside where we believe we are not thin enough, smart enough, rich enough…the list goes on and on.  The newest guilt inducers verified by the over 300,000 self-help books on the market are that we are not happy enough, healthy enough or holy enough.

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

It doesn't matter what trauma you had as a child or what wrongs you have committed, you must come to a place of knowing that you are Good Enough to love and be loved.  If you don’t believe it no one else will believe it of you.  Relationships, love, happiness and success will avoid you—after all you are sending off the vibe that you aren't Good Enough and don’t deserve it!

Lastly, you must express gratitude.  You will never receive more if you are not grateful for what you have.  If all you have is a pair of shoes and a burger to eat, be grateful for that! Be grateful for every step, every breath, and every moment you are given and for all that your life is filled with.

Don’t just say, “Thank you,”  feel gratitude with every cell of your body.  Tell others why you are thankful for them.  Write thank you notes, make phone calls, journal, pray, sing, dance – whatever moves you to a loving place, do it!

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

Pennie's Life Lesson:
“To be happy and successful cultivate these three attributes:
The Ability to accept and adapt to change; The Ability to believe you are Good Enough to love and be loved;
The Ability to express gratitude.”
                                            ~ Pennie Hunt 

                   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~
 My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to practice these three attributes until they become part of your daily living! Monitor how this positively affects your life! 

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

WHAT I LEARNED IN A DARK MOVIE THEATER

I bought one ticket.
I bought the large popcorn and drink combo.
I sat in the last row.  Middle seat.
I had never done this before.

There is something about seeing movies in a theater.  The big screen mesmerizes me.  The sound swallows me.  The popcorn tastes like it could be the last gourmet meal of my life – to me it’s that good. I love going to a movie theater, but I had never in my life gone alone.

There was a movie I wanted to see. The timing wasn’t right, no one wanted to see it with me, so I thought I would have to wait until it was out as a rental.

The movie chased around in my thoughts.  It was about someone who had lost a child.  Of course that is what drew me to it.  The common thread.  The curiosity.  I wondered if the movie would portray my thoughts and feelings.  I wondered if I would learn something I didn’t know about grief. 
It followed me around pulling my heart along, not allowing me to push it away.  I couldn’t shake the feeling that I needed to see the movie.

Driving an hour to the shopping area, my whole body smiled.  The entire day was mine. A day of “me” time.
After a little shopping and lunch at my favorite place, the movie flashed in my mind.  I quickly looked on my phone.  It was playing at a budget theater nearby and I had just enough time to make it there. 
But…I had never done this before -- gone to a movie alone. 
Is that weird?
Is it weird that I am kind of afraid to do this? Is it strange that this movie has such a grasp on me, constantly taking space in my thoughts?
My fear played ping pong with the movie. 
The movie won. 

The back row wasn’t bad.  It felt safe.  No one could see me – or the giant bucket of popcorn I balanced on my lap.  At 1:00 in the afternoon on a weekday there were 6 other people there to share my theater.  None of them came alone.  Except me.

I shut off my phone.  Two hours went quickly.  The movie was amazing. 
I cried.  I hurt.  At times I wanted to shout at the screen. There were moments I wanted to pray.
I understood why I needed to see the movie.  The message was for me.
I sat in my seat until the last credit rolled, the lights were bright and the workers came in to clean up any abandoned popcorn buckets.

A few things became very clear.
It was clear to me that I would not have received the message the movie brought to me if I hadn’t listened to my heart pushing me to see it.

It was clear to me that although going to a movie alone may seem like a silly fear to some, it was real to me.  Walking into that theater was empowering. 
It was clear I had missed opportunities in my life when I allowed fear to win.

It was clear to me that I did need to see the movie.  I needed to see it alone.  I needed to be able to cry alone.  I needed to absorb the meaning of the movie’s message --alone.

Life is magical how it manipulates us, bringing us messages we need to hear, putting us in places we need to be, pushing us to do things that we are afraid to do. 
All of it done with the intent of giving us clarity. 

And yes, I ate the entire bucket of popcorn….

Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Listen when life is pulling, pushing and prodding you to do something that stirs fear.  Until you walk into it, you will never fully gain understanding, clarity and strength.”

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

Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below.  And please feel free to email me  at:
 PennieHunt@gmail.com. 
                                Thank you!  
                      ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
                                    All Rights Reserved
                      Copyright © 2013-2017 Pennie Hunt
            This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
                           Feel free to forward this post.
             Please keep the entire message intact, including
                   contact, logo, and copyright information.
       If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint              permission please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com

MEDITATION SAVED MY LIFE!

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

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

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

     "Clear my mind...

        clear my mind...

        clear my mind."

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

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

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

Meditation saved my life.

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

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

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

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

Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below.  And please feel free to email me  at:
 PennieHunt@gmail.com. 
                                Thank you!  
                      ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
                                    All Rights Reserved
                      Copyright © 2013-2017 Pennie Hunt
            This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
                           Feel free to forward this post.
             Please keep the entire message intact, including
                   contact, logo, and copyright information.
       If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint              permission please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com

       WHAT DO
        YOU DO?

We are all so tied to that question.  It is in the top three questions we ask when we meet someone new.
It is stamped on our business cards, on our income tax form and in our hearts. 

Executive Director, Counselor, Teacher, or Plumber – it doesn’t matter what you label it with- it probably isn’t accurate.
When I left my position as “Executive Director,” I struggled with a new label, a new title and a new identity.

It took me some time to transition, but after careful thought I came up with my new response. When I was asked that ever popular question, I began proudly stating,

      “I am a Speaker and an Author.”

That was followed with the question,

      “What do you speak and write about?”

I realized that calling myself a speaker and author was not an accurate description of what my life mission is.

I have stood in front of people all over the country speaking for years.
I have arranged words in creative ways beginning with writing my first story, “The Purple Easter Bunny,” in 2nd grade. 

But why do I do this? What impact does it have on others?

Now I answer that question in a totally different way.  A way that lays out my life mission in eleven words.

     “I Teach People How to
       Love Their Life –
       NO MATTER WHAT!” 

That gets right to the heart of it and begins a conversation that has depth and touches hearts.  Everyone wants to learn how to do this and immediately asks me for more information.
I do it through sharing my life stories, my life lessons and yes, of course, through speaking and writing.
But my mission in life is to help others Love Their Lives. That’s it…. Short, simple and to the point.

The labels and titles we stamp on our business cards are more of an importance booster for our egos.  They don’t really say who we are or what we do.

How can you say what you do in a way people understand?
How can you share your life mission in a way that touches hearts? 

An Executive Director – Leads people to fulfilling their goals.

A Counselor – Creates a space for others to learn about themselves.

A Teacher – Opens the minds of others to new experiences.

A Plumber – Is a Problem Solver

An Artists doesn’t just paint, sculpt or draw—they capture emotion in a way that activates emotion in others.

There are so many ways of saying what you do without the textbook titles we have been trained to respond with. The title is of little importance.  It is the reason you do it – the“why” of what you do that matters. 

The next time someone asks you, “What do you do?”  What will you say?
            ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Say what you do in a way that touches hearts and states YOUR heart’s mission.” 
             ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 YOUR TURN...         
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to think about what YOU do and how you express that to others.  

***Since we all learn from each other, I would love to have you share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below or on my  FACEBOOK  page.
​ And please feel free to email me  at:
 PennieHunt@gmail.com. 
                                                Thank you!  
                   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  
​                                    All Rights Reserved
                 Copyright © 2013-2016 Pennie Hunt
         This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward this post.  Please keep the entire message intact, including  contact, logo, and copyright information.
 If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission  please email: Penniehunt@gmail.com

       THE BEAT
    OF MY HEART

I watched the clock as I walked on the treadmill.
I had intentionally scheduled  the stress test appointment for  6 am, planning to drive the hour to my office and attend a 10 am meeting.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I try not to watch the clock anymore and the most important meeting I have is one where I am kind to someone, love someone and through joy feed my innermost self- my heart, the place where emotions are felt.
                   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
 Pennie’s Life Lesson:
 “The foundation for good heart health begins with expanding kindness, joy and love in the inner most self - our own heart.” 
                   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~                           
YOUR TURN... 

My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to pay attention to the messages your heart sends you; the power it holds in "feeling" the true rhythm of your life. 

***Since we all learn from each other, I would love to have you share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below or on my  FACEBOOK  page.
                   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                                    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