 This week I cleaned out many of my flowerpots. Although a few marigolds are hanging in there, even they are looking like they are ready to give up. Most of the flowers were straggly and tired. The blooms were shriveling, the stems were long and laying in the dirt, and there were no new flower buds in sight. It was time. As I filled my compost bin with the worn plants I began to wonder how they knew. How do flowers know when fall is coming? We have had an unusually hot summer. The temperatures are still ranging in the hotter-than-normal area. It hasn’t been very cool at night. How do they know when it is time to give up and concede that cold weather is coming? Of course I had to research this. It seems that plants know fall is coming by using internal circadian clocks to sense changes in the length of daylight and the temperature. When they sense this, it signals buds to harden, leaves to turn yellow and drop off, and growth is paused for the coming winter. So even though we continue to have fairly warm weather, the shorter days are signaling to my flowers that their time to bloom is over. Change is coming. Wouldn’t it be great if we could tell when change is coming in our lives? Sometimes change comes out of the blue. It hits us with no warning. No time to prepare. But, for most change, I believe we do know when it is coming. If we are paying attention. If our job is coming to an end, we typically hear rumors of layoffs, downsizing, or restructuring. There are signs. If a relationship is coming to an end we may believe it came out of the blue, but did it really? In hindsight there were probably subtle hints and indications of trouble. There were signs. During our life there is a natural progression of change. Childhood to adolescence. Graduation typically means you are entering into adulthood. Then with birthdays come aging. With each progression there are signs. Change can be difficult. We may be shocked by it, be angry at it, deny that it is happening, and even try to run away from it. No matter what our reaction is, change is going to happen in life. I believe the happiest, healthiest people are the ones that accept and adapt to change. Yes, it may catch us off guard, but most of the time if we are watching we will see signs. Our intuition tells us when a change is coming. There is a reason you hear terms like, ‘my gut feeling, inner knowing, or hunches.” It is because our minds, hearts, and bodies pick up on these knowings. Our body gives us signs when things feel off or are not quite right. When change is coming, there are signs. We may not be able to stop change, but we can learn to accept and adapt. And yes, our human circadian clocks are picking up on the signs of fall. The air smells a little fresher. The days are getting shorter. Conversations include talk about sweater weather and pumpkin spice. And yes, it is time to clean out the flowerpots. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: Pay attention to the signs of change. And then, accept and adapt. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN...
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2026 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. #CornerofSpiritandBrave #LoveYourLifeNoMatterWhat #JourneyThrough #PennieHunt #IAmGoodEnough #grief #Love #Joy #HowToBeHappy #Happiness
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 “I won’t be here to see that.” It was the last time we were all together. My two sons had baby girls 8 weeks apart. The babies were lying on a blanket, cooing and looking at each other in the sweetest way. My oldest son said to his younger brother, “J.T., it is going to be so fun watching these two grow up.” J.T. responded with, “I won’t be here to see that.” His older brother got angry and said, “Why do you always say that? Stop saying that!” J.T. matter-of-factly shrugged his shoulders and said, “Because I know I won’t be here that long.” I think he was about 5 years old the first time I heard him say it. I don’t remember the circumstance, but I remember the shock I felt hearing it. Why would a 5-year-old say that, and what would make him come up with such a statement? I didn’t question him, but I never forgot his words, “I won’t be here that long.” Over the years, it became a statement he recited many times. Not as a proclamation or a loud, bold announcement, just a quiet comment in passing at interesting times, when future events were being discussed. I never got used to the comment; I just tucked it in my mind that he had said it again. Then, one night I had a dream. My mom made quilts for many members of my family. She made one for J.T. during his cowboy stage. He loved putting on his boots and hat and riding his bouncy horse as he watched the Three Amigos movie. She poured love into this blue western quilt. Each square had a different horse print circled with ropes. He was in 4th grade when I had the dream. I was at a funeral. I walked around talking to people and then walked up to the casket. As I got closer and closer, the feeling became stronger and stronger – I knew it was one of my children. As I stood at the casket, I couldn’t see a face, but I began tucking a quilt around the inside edges of the wooden box. It was J.T.’s beautiful blue horse quilt. I didn’t need to see the face - I knew who I was tucking in. I jumped and flew out of bed. The dream was in vibrant color. The clarity was like I was living the experience, not just dreaming. The experience lodged permanently in my heart. Every time J.T. said he wouldn’t be here long, the dream ran through my mind, clear, in color, and frightening. This week will be 19 years since J.T. relocated to heaven. That day, watching the sweet babies kick and smile as babies do, was the last time I heard him say he wouldn’t be here long. Four months (122 days) later, he was gone. How did he know? I believe we all do. Somewhere inside our soul we know how long we will be here. I believe we all have a date. We may leave at different times and in different ways, but we have a date. Our souls know, and some of us know it on a human level more than others. J.T. knew. As for the dream? Maybe it was to prepare my mama’s heart, who knows, but I do believe we are given signs along the way in this life. Quite soft messages about what is ahead of us. Maybe J.T. and I were given a glimpse of our future in order for us to be grateful for the short time we had together. Whatever the reason, he was right. He wasn’t going to be here long. The reality is that life isn’t long, no matter how long we live. It goes by in a breath. Twenty-two years isn’t long, but I am grateful for every breath of it. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: Life doesn’t last long. Be grateful for every breath of it. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN...
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2026 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. #CornerofSpiritandBrave #LoveYourLifeNoMatterWhat #JourneyThrough #PennieHunt #IAmGoodEnough #grief #Love #Joy #HowToBeHappy #Happiness  It took ten seconds to hurt my heart. It was a quick, sharp jab that pierced straight through me with a force that jarred my balance. I was in a group of people and went up to talk to someone I admire and look up to. I was greeted with a comment that I felt was out of character for them. It didn’t match the person I believed her to be. I turned and walked away. I wasn’t sure if I should be angry, embarrassed, or disappointed. I thought about it for at least an hour. Then I made a decision -- I wasn’t going to allow a ten-second event to steal my whole day. I thought an hour was enough time and energy to give to the moment. In the scope of life, it wasn’t worth even an hour. I realized I could hold on to it for much longer. I could replay it in my mind over and over. I could allow the anger to boil. I could feel embarrassed that it happened. I could be disappointed in the person who jabbed me and allow that disappointment to skew my perception of them. I could retell the story to everyone who would listen and allow their perception of this person to be changed in a negative way. I could let ten seconds take over my thoughts, ruin my mood, and consume my entire day. But I didn’t. What I did was wonder how many times I may have allowed a small moment to change everything. How many times have I been in a great mood and one little thing shifted me into a dark, sad, angry mood? How many times had I given over my power to someone else for something they said or did? Can a quick ten seconds really do that? Yes, it can and when I thought about it, I realized I had allowed that to happen many times in my life. I also wondered if the person even realized that what they did and said was hurtful. Maybe they didn’t even know the impact it made on my heart. And then, thinking about this, I am sure I have done this myself. I am sure I have said or done something that was an unintentional jab to someone’s heart. And the worst part is, I didn’t realize what I had done. And, I know I have done it to myself through negative self-talk. Think about how ten seconds can change everything. Think about how a comment, an action, an unintentional event can hold so much power. If it happens to you, allow it to hold space in your mind and heart for a brief time. Try to understand what you can learn from it. Understand that everyone is human and we all say and do things in life that unintentionally cause hurt. Give the person grace when they do it to you. And then…let it go. Don’t allow ten seconds to steal your day. Don’t give the negative moment any space to live in your mind and heart. Allow yourself a short time to analyze it quickly, learn from it, and continue forward with your fabulous day! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: Don’t allow ten seconds to ruin your day. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN...
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2026 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. #CornerofSpiritandBrave #LoveYourLifeNoMatterWhat #JourneyThrough #PennieHunt #IAmGoodEnough #grief #Love #Joy #HowToBeHappy #Happiness  Pennie and her mom, Fern “Are you ok?” My grandmother was on the other end of the phone call. It had been a couple of days since I lost my baby boy. She wanted to know if I was ok, and to let me know she was thinking of me even though she was over 1,000 miles away. She told me the story of how she lost a baby boy. She wanted me to know she understood. She wanted me to know I would be happy again, that she cared, and she loved me.
“What are you doing?” From the day I moved out on my own, my mom called me every day. Sometimes 3 times a day. Her call always began the same way. She wanted to know what I was up to, how my kids were, and to hear my voice. Her calls never stopped. If I didn’t answer, her voicemail always began with, “This is Mom,” as if I didn’t know. With age came dementia. Her calls were fewer. I would put my phone on speaker mode and patiently listen while she repeated her question over and over. “What are you doing?” Now that I am a mom and grandma, I am the one making the phone calls. I try hard not to call every day, but I do call my children. I was thrilled when my grandchildren were old enough to have their own phones so I could call and text them too. My children may roll their eyes when they see my name light up on their phone. They probably think- there she is again. That is what I used to do when I knew it was my mom calling me. It wasn’t until my children grew up and were living on their own that I had a revelation. My mom wasn’t calling me to irritate me. She wasn’t being nosy. She wasn’t trying to be a nuisance. She was calling for 3 reasons. She wanted to know if I was happy. She wanted to know if I was safe and healthy. She wanted me to know she loved me. Looking back, it is no coincidence that in my mom’s final years when she lived in assisted living, I used those same ideas with her. I always… always, told her we wanted her to be happy, healthy, and safe. I tried to always tell her I loved her. Life has a funny way of circling around and repeating itself. My grandmother knew. My mother knew. And I know. The bond between moms and their children doesn’t stop when they grow up. The invisible, unbreakable golden thread of love connects our hearts. It reaches further and deeper than a phone line. We need to hear the voice of our child or grandchild. We need verification that they are ok. Safe. Healthy. Happy. We need them to feel loved. My mom has been gone for 7 years and my grandma for 43 years. I still remember their phone calls and wish I could have one more. Once you don’t have those calls anymore, you realize how lucky you were to have people who loved you enough to make them. Today, be the one who cares enough to make the call. And if you are one of the lucky ones who has someone in your life that loves you…answer their phone call. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: Answer the phone call. It could be someone who loves you. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  You may have heard the story… An old man had a habit of early morning walks on the beach. One day, after a storm, he saw a human figure in the distance moving like a dancer. As he came closer, he saw that it was a young woman, and she was not dancing but was reaching down to the sand, picking up starfish and very gently throwing them into the ocean. "Young lady," he asked, "Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" "The sun is up, and the tide is going out, and if I do not throw them in, they will die." "But young lady, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it? You cannot possibly make a difference." The young woman listened politely, paused, and then bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves, saying, "It made a difference for that one." The starfish story is attributed to Loren Eiseley’s original 1969 essay, “The Star Thrower.” His writing was much longer and more complex than this simplistic version. Today you can find the condensed script with varied characters and details on plaques in gift shops, quoted in books, and overused in marketing and speeches to motivate charitable giving and inspire individual responsibility. Living my life within the world of speakers, I have heard deep sighs and witnessed eye rolls at the mention of this story being included in a presentation. But today, as I watched the news spotlight the devastating flooding, fires, heat ravaging our world and the anger, disappointment, and hopelessness people are feeling, the simplicity of the starfish story came to my mind. I can’t sit in my living room and stop a war, put out fires, or take the downpour of rain from the flooded areas and move it to the drought-ridden lands. I can’t stop shootings in grocery stores, parks, and schools. I can’t change the anger and finger-pointing in the political arena. But what we can do…We can find our starfish. We can bring home a rescue dog and give them a forever home. Will that solve the problem of overpopulated shelters? Maybe not, but it will make a difference to that one. We can find a nonprofit with a mission we care about and volunteer our time or make a donation. Will that help every nonprofit? Maybe not, but it will make a difference to that one. We can lead with kindness. With every interaction with another person, be kind. Your barista, your lunch server, your coworker, your friends and family members. Be kind to the next person you see today. Will that make a difference in the life if every person in the world? Maybe not, but being kind to one person at a time matters. It will make a difference to that one. We cannot save everyone or solve every problem in the world, but what you do matters to the one you can help. Don’t be overwhelmed with the scope of a problem or issue. Small consistent actions can create change. Throw one starfish at a time. Be kind to one person at a time. Support one organization at a time. Encourage empathy and compassion in one situation at a time. Now more than ever, we need to make a difference where we can. Now more than ever, every small act of kindness matters. We need to find our starfish. The cynics may say throwing one or two won’t make a difference… but maybe it will. What is your starfish? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: Every small act of kindness matters. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN...
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2026 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. #CornerofSpiritandBrave #LoveYourLifeNoMatterWhat #JourneyThrough #PennieHunt #IAmGoodEnough #grief #Love #Joy #HowToBeHappy #Happiness  Do you have something that needs to be said? Deep down inside, we all do. It doesn’t have to be a secret… just something you need to say to someone. Life is short. We are only here for a blink of an eye. Don’t let your life end with your words unspoken. Do you need to say you are sorry? Do you owe someone a long overdue apology for a past hurt? Even if it happened some time ago, it is never too late to apologize. The other person may accept it or walk away, but apologize to them. Tell them you are sorry. Do you need to forgive someone? Do you have anger in your heart that has festered for years, and it is time to heal the disappointment? Tell them you forgive them. Do you need to share medical history? Do you have medical issues that run in your family and new generations may need to know? Tell them. Do you need to explain a past mistake? Do you need to ask for forgiveness? Even if you can’t change the outcome, is there someone you need to explain why you did what you did? Tell them why. Do you need to express praise? Is there a friend, family member, or coworker that has done something well? They did a great job. Maybe it was over and above expectations. They need to hear that from you. Tell them you are proud. Do you need to stand up for yourself and tell someone how you feel? Have you buried your feelings of betrayal and pain? Find a safe, non-contentious way to talk to them. Tell them about your pain. Do you need to answer a question? You may not even know what the question is, but your loved ones have questions they would like to ask. Give them permission to ask the question. And then, tell them. Do you need to say, I love you? Is there someone in your life that you have loved from a distance? Is there someone you have loved up close but taken for granted? Is there someone who you are close to, but you have never shared your feelings? Tell them you love them. Do you need to express gratitude? Do you need to thank people who have been in your life? The ones who helped you, stood by you, and loved you. Maybe at the time you didn’t fully appreciate their acts of service and love for you. Tell them you are grateful. Do you need to talk to your higher power, your God, nature, the Universe, or yourself? Do you have feelings and words that need to be expressed? Find a quiet, peaceful, safe place to talk. Say the words you need to say. We all have memories and stories to tell, and words to say. Don’t let this short life slip away without sharing these with the people who need to hear them. This is your wake-up call. Tell them. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: Don’t let your life end with your words unspoken. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN...
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2026 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. #CornerofSpiritandBrave #LoveYourLifeNoMatterWhat #JourneyThrough #PennieHunt #IAmGoodEnough #grief #Love #Joy #HowToBeHappy #Happiness  “Hold the fish with both hands. Reach your arms forward as close to the camera as you can, keeping your face and body back. The fish will look much bigger in the photo than it is in real life.” Those were his directions. He loved fishing, and he loved even more to talk about all the monster-size fish he caught. The reality was, many of the fish he caught were not that big, and he threw them back into the water so they could grow bigger. He was picky about which ones he embraced as a good fish story and which ones he released. His pictures and the perspective of fish size were important to him. My friend taught me many lessons, and this one about perspective was one of his best. Most of the time he used fishing stories, but the lesson rarely had to do with fishing. It has been years since my friend passed, but I have thought about this tip many times. This concept of embracing and releasing is embedded deeply in our lives…whether you realize it or not. We are all hooked by thoughts, beliefs, and experiences. Some are good. Some are bad. It is up to us to decide how we process them. What perspective we see them with. How we live through them and with them. We can take one bad experience in life and focus on it, holding it closer and closer to the camera so it seems bigger and bigger. We never allow our emotions to work through it. The trauma changes our lives, causing constant tension and stress. We let it become overwhelming. But if we really looked at it, we might be able to see it isn’t as life changing as we initially thought. We can reduce this whale of a problem into a little fish that we release. Conversely, we can have one small thought. An idea that if we let it float out of our mind, we can miss an opportunity. But if we take that one small idea and focus on it, examine it - hold it close to the camera - the perspective changes. We may realize it could be the beginning of a new business, a new relationship, a new life. It could be a big enough fish to keep and embrace as a story in our life. We live in a constant state of deciding what we should zoom in on and embrace and what we should step back from so we see the real size and importance of releasing it. Life is all about perspective. If you hold on to pain and view life from a perspective of negativity, you will live a life of tension and stress. Release it. If you hold on to love and joy, while viewing life from a perspective of positivity, you will live a life of happiness and peace. Embrace it. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: We can choose to release the negative in our life and magnify and embrace the positive. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN...
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2026 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. #CornerofSpiritandBrave #LoveYourLifeNoMatterWhat #JourneyThrough #PennieHunt #IAmGoodEnough #grief #Love #Joy #HowToBeHappy #Happiness  When I found it, I wanted to put three fingers up and recite the Girl Scout Oath. The plastic bag lying on the bottom of my cedar chest held memories of my childhood. The Brownie beanie was crumbling, but my Girl Scout beanie, belt, bow tie, sash, and gloves were folded just the way they were left decades ago. I unfolded the sash and laid it out to see the badges. Southwest Oklahoma Troop 901. Membership stars and the love pin that designated that I had shown love to family, friends, and the community. Angel wings showing the progression from being a Brownie to a Junior Girl Scout. It was the badges that grabbed my attention. A coffee cup for hospitality. Footsteps for walking, hiking, and nature. Skating. Water sports. Cooking/baking. Love and care of animals. The more I researched the badges I earned, the more amazed I became. The areas I worked to learn about as a child were the areas I have always loved throughout my life. Every morning I post a video of my coffee cup and welcome my followers into my day. I have always been a walker, hiker, and lover of nature. I grew up ice skating, roller skating, and water skiing. I can still skate and continue to be a water baby. Cooking and baking are one of my favorite pastimes. And if you know me, you know how I adore animals. Even the love pin struck me as I teach others how to, “Love Your Life- No Matter What!” How could I have known when I was 9 years old that I would center my life around those areas? Do we come into this life with a knowing of what we are meant to be a part of? Is our big life picture destined to be created before we are aware? Then the concept of gathering badges invaded my thoughts. I do remember the reading, the requirements, and the activities it took to be awarded a badge. As a young girl it was my first taste of this kind of accolade that seems to be repeated in life. Our school grades were the same type of process. Team sports all have requirements and a level of accomplishment to receive the trophies. It is the same with work promotions and life stages that give us badges, titles, and status. Don’t forget the badges of being a spouse, parent, grandparent, and friend. Do we just continue to add badges until our life sash is full? Last week I attended the National Speakers Association Conference (NSA). When I arrived, I put on my lanyard that held ribbons that documented my accomplishments. Fifteen+ Year Member. Power Women of NSA. NSA Author. It was my NSA sash. For four days there were ceremonies for accomplishments. People were called on stage and the list of requirements they met were announced and then a ribbon, a title, or a trophy was awarded to them. As these people walked through the halls, fellow members oohed and awed over their ribbon or newly given recognition. They beamed with pride. It was Girl Scouts all over again. I clearly remember walking over the small wooden bridge that ceremonially recognized the promotion from being a Brownie to a Junior Girl Scout. I remember wearing my sash and the pride I felt with every addition of a badge. Maybe life doesn’t change as much as we think. We will always want another badge for our sash. We continue to reach for them until our life sash is full, folded and tucked into a plastic bag. Then someday our badges may be found in a memory box of keepsakes. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: Life is a series of requirements and accomplishments. Choose your badges wisely. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN...
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2026 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. #CornerofSpiritandBrave #LoveYourLifeNoMatterWhat #JourneyThrough #PennieHunt #IAmGoodEnough #grief #Love #Joy #HowToBeHappy #Happiness  My word for this year is simplicity. I planned to organize, streamline, and simplify my life. Here we are halfway through the year, and I continue this mission. The nice people at Goodwill recognize me when I drive up with donations. My weekly garbage can is fuller than it has been in the past. And I am feeling a little lighter in my living spaces and the way I do my work. It is progress. What I didn’t expect by keeping simplicity in my mind, I would begin to look at the simple things in life differently. It gave me peace to spend time drinking coffee with my dogs on my lap in the morning. Watching the different birds wrangling for their place on the food tray of my bird feeder was amusing to me. Counting and naming the baby bunnies in my yard brought me joy. Simple, silly things were slowing me down to enjoy life more. It was during these moments of watching life in my backyard that I noticed dragonflies. Lots and lots of dragonflies. They were swarming above my yard in massive numbers. Day after day I watched them circling my property. I have always been a butterfly girl. I love the beauty of their colors. The way they float through the air. The mystery of how they begin as a caterpillar, seal themselves into a cocoon, and then emerge as a glorious, graceful creature. When I was a young girl, my grandmother taught me the story of butterflies representing transformation and rebirth. She would hide a butterfly made of icing on each wedding cake she decorated as a symbol of the new life the couple was stepping into. Yes, I am a butterfly girl. But this influx of dragonflies caught my attention. Of course I had to research them. I found the meaning of dragonflies in many different cultures. Native American Traditions often viewed them as spirit messengers between realms. In Japanese culture, they are seen as a symbol of courage and strength and are believed to carry the souls of ancestors. Celtic Folklore considers them creatures of the fairy realm, representing the thin veil between life, death, and the spiritual dimension After my research, I was captivated by the mystical dragonflies that were visiting me. I was convinced the ceremonial circling of my yard was a spiritual ritual of protection for me and recognition of all the loved ones I have lost. (Let me have my moment.) And then one morning on my patio, there it was sitting on the concrete. I am sure it was waiting for me. Luckily, I had my phone in my pocket and snapped several photos before it lifted its wings and joined its tribe in the ceremonial circling of my home.  I looked to see if my photos were worth keeping. To my surprise, when I zoomed in on the dragonfly, I hadn’t just snapped a picture of an insect. I had captured a vision of a majestic work of nature’s art. The design on its body was a perfect pattern of a glorious blue on black with white accents. Its huge eyes must have been scanning me as I took the photographs. Its wings were whisper thin with a delicate veining pattern that could only be created in a magical way. I had no idea that a dragonfly held such beauty. I don’t know why the dragonfly chose to pause on my patio, but I like to think it was so I would notice. I needed to notice that the little things in life are not always simple, but until we slow down, we may never realize that their simplicity is exquisite … and this beauty is in our own backyards. Simplicity isn’t always that simple. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: When you notice the simple things in life, you see their glorious beauty. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN...
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2026 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. #CornerofSpiritandBrave #LoveYourLifeNoMatterWhat #JourneyThrough #PennieHunt #IAmGoodEnough #grief #Love #Joy #HowToBeHappy #Happiness  Have you ever looked at your habits? We all have them. Many of them. Good habits. Bad habits. And some we never notice until we sit down and think about them. What if you made a list? To begin with, we need to define what a habit is. A habit is an automatic, learned behavior triggered by specific cues in your environment and established through repetition. Over time, these actions require little to no conscious thought to perform. According to the American Psychological Association, forming a habit relies on a three-step neurological loop: a cue that triggers the behavior, the behavior (action) itself, and a reward that reinforces the urge to repeat it. James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, adds one more step. He writes that four distinct psychological laws can be found in a habit: Cue, Craving, Response, and Reward. I agree with adding the “craving” piece to this habit discussion. So, back to your list of habits. I bet you can think of a few immediately. Some are simple, like the way you smile, laugh, or how you add simple words to your daily speech. Words like seriously, right, basically, or phrases like if I’m being honest, or do you know what I mean? Other habits can be more complex and harmful to your health. Smoking, drinking too much, nail-biting, etc. Then there are the habits that affect other people. Being constantly negative, critical, or sarcastic. These traits become habits that you don’t notice, but other people do. Your list is probably filled with negative habits, because negative habits are tightly tied to the craving aspect of habits. These stand out in your mind. But let’s not forget the positive habits you have. Are you polite and say please and thank you? Do you exercise and eat healthy? Do you sleep well, drink water, and floss? Are you kind and empathetic to others? Do you meditate? Add all of your good habits to your list. Why am I putting you through this exercise? It is because of this quote that is largely attributed to F.M. Alexander: “People don’t decide their future; they decide their habits, and their habits decide their future.” Let it sink in for a moment. Every habit, simple or complex, good and bad, that you listed, you have chosen. No one gave you the habit or forced you to claim that habit as yours. You decided it would be your habit. Over time, that habit has decided your future. If you ate healthily and had a consistent workout program for years, then you probably aged with strength and health. If you smoked and drank too much, you may have lung cancer or other health issues. If you were kind and compassionate, you probably have a circle of supportive and loving people surrounding you. If you had a habit of being critical and cruel, you probably don’t. The rewards from having good habits and the consequences of having bad habits become very clear. Remember this: the life you lead is the lesson you leave. When your life comes to an end, it will be the actions you took in life that leave lessons for others to learn from. What you consistently did, your habits, will be what people remember. Do you want your friends and family to remember the lessons they learned from watching your bad habits or the lessons they learned from watching your good habits? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: You don’t decide your future; you choose your habits, and your habits decide your future. Learn to crave your good habits. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN...
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2026 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. #CornerofSpiritandBrave #LoveYourLifeNoMatterWhat #JourneyThrough #PennieHunt #IAmGoodEnough #grief #Love #Joy #HowToBeHappy #Happiness  Four weeks ago, my daughter’s family moved to a different state. I was sad that my little ducklings were going to be so far away. I decided I needed to stay busy. Very busy. After the moving truck pulled away, I began cleaning my own house. I cleaned out closets. I did yard work, and one day I decided to power wash the garage floor. As I sprayed water, squeegeed and sprayed again, the floor began to shine. I was tired, but the idea of staying busy was helping me keep my mind off missing my grandsons. Suddenly I looked up from the wet floor, and there she was. Standing right in front of me on the driveway was a duck. I said, “Hello.” She just stared at me. I thought she would like the water, so I sprayed enough in the driveway to make a puddle. She immediately sat down in the middle of it and continued to watch me work. The next day she was there again. I once again said, “Hello.” She once again stared.  On the third day I saw her disappear into the bush in front of my dining room window. I ran into the house,looked out that window, and straight down into the bush. She was happily sitting on a nest. In that moment I named her, “Little Mama.” Day after day she would waddle out for a short time in the early morning and once again in the evening. Just to stretch her legs. Every time I saw her, I would greet her with, “Hello, Little Mama.” She wasn’t afraid of me but always stared at me. I read everything I could find on mallard ducks nesting. I learned that within 24 hours of hatching, the mama would walk her ducklings away from the nest and find water. I live a long, long way from water, so I was concerned. Then the day came. I looked out the dining room window and little mama looked up at me like she always did. Two little fluffy brown and yellow ducklings peeked at me as well. I was so excited! I called the Game and Fish Department with my concern about Little Mama and her ducklings finding water. I was reassured that nature had a plan, and she knew exactly how to take care of her ducklings, and they would be fine- even if they were going to travel a long way to find water.  The next morning, I was sad to see that Little Mama and the ducklings were gone. I never got to see them waddle down my driveway to their new life away from the nest. I am not sure how many ducklings actually hatched, but she left behind a perfect nest with 5 abandoned eggs. In my reading, I found that this is normal. I continued to check on the eggs, thinking maybe they would hatch and the nest would once again be filled with life. They didn’t. Through this experience, I have learned a lot about ducks. But I learned more about life. The feelings of empty nest syndrome don’t just happen to parents when their kids go to college. It can happen to anyone, no matter what age your kids or grandchildren are when they leave. It has been a reminder of how important it is to accept and adapt to change. You can be angry, sad, scared, and fight against it, but change is going to happen. If you accept and adapt, you will be happier. An empty nest is evidence that love has done its job. I also learned to be careful and specific about what you put out there to the Universe. I was sad when my daughter’s family (my ducklings) moved away. So, what did the Universe give me… a mama duck with a lesson for me. I needed to watch how she nurtured her eggs, and when the ducklings hatched, they all left. Life is a cycle and change is real. I needed to accept it. I miss Little Mama and her ducklings and hope they found the water they went looking for. I miss my human ducklings and hope they soak up all their new life holds for them. Now I am back to cleaning and decluttering my home and life. And in the future, I will be very specific about what I will ask the Universe for next. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: Every ending is also a beginning. An empty nest is evidence that love has done its job. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN...
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2026 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. #CornerofSpiritandBrave #LoveYourLifeNoMatterWhat #JourneyThrough #PennieHunt #IAmGoodEnough #grief #Love #Joy #HowToBeHappy #Happiness  My mom was terribly afraid of tornadoes. It didn’t matter if it was a tornado watch or warning, or if she just thought the sky looked like a potential tornado; she would panic. When I was young, we didn’t have a basement in our home, so at any sign or thought of a tornado, she would take my siblings and me across the street to the neighbors who did have a basement, so we could have appropriate shelter. When was the last time you were afraid? Were you afraid of storms, spiders, darkness? What caused your fear? Did a spider cause your fear? Did a dark night cause your fear? Did a tornado cause my mom’s fear? No. No. And no. When you think about it, most of the time we scare ourselves. My mom was never in a tornado. You probably have never been attacked by a spider. And has the dark of night ever caused you harm? These things do not cause our fear. We cause our fear. Our brains are continually scanning for threats and overestimating the risk of danger. When we do this enough times, it becomes a habit. We become very good at visualizing the worst possible outcome. We become very good at creating imagined monsters under our beds. When we do this, our adrenaline rises, our anxiety fills us, and our fight or flight response is on high defense. And, we have done it all to ourselves. Yes, we need to look both ways when we cross the street, and it probably isn’t a good idea to walk alone in a dark alley. We need to pay attention to real weather warnings, and don’t pick up a snake or try to pet a buffalo. Logical caution is a skill we need to learn. But giving our brain the freedom to create the worst-case scenario in our mind is not the way we should approach life. Our thoughts create our reality, and we control our thoughts. When the sky turns dark and clouds look frightening, refocus your thoughts. Instead of visualizing the roof flying off your house and your house turning into a pile of rubble, focus on the present moment. Right now, you are safe. Right now, it looks like a storm, so take appropriate precautions, but do not create a hysterical panic. If you see a spider, instead of visualizing it attacking you, focus on the present moment. The spider is small and several feet away. You can turn around, leaving the spider to his happy life, and you can walk away… no harm done. In every moment and every situation, we have the power to refocus and choose fear or faith. As creative beings, we can conjure up the most amazing frightening situations in our mind that can induce hysterical stress in our bodies. Or… we can focus our thoughts on the present and have faith that our situation is stable, safe, and we have the capacity to handle it calmly. Given this choice, why would we intentionally scare ourselves when we can live every moment in calm observation of our lives? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: Instead of allowing your thoughts to create irrational fear, use logical caution, and train your thoughts to stay in the present moment of calm observation. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ (*It is important that I mention that past traumas cause many people fears that are difficult to manage. PTSD is 100% real. I continue to struggle with driving in traffic after I was involved in a terrible accident years ago. In these cases, it is not self-inflicted but caused by a life-threatening or traumatic event. PTSD is not a case of scaring ourselves. This is not the fear I am referring to in this column.) YOUR TURN...
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2026 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. #CornerofSpiritandBrave #LoveYourLifeNoMatterWhat #JourneyThrough #PennieHunt #IAmGoodEnough #grief #Love #Joy #HowToBeHappy #Happiness  Do you lie in bed at night thinking about everything you have to do the next day? Then do you wake up in the morning already overwhelmed by what needs to be done in your next 16 hours? We all do this. We think everything is so important and we need to get it ALL done. We go 90 miles per hour trying to accomplish an impossible list of self-inflicted expectations. But, what if… what if you could only do one thing? What would that one thing be? Say this to yourself as you begin your day: If this day ends and only one thing gets done, it needs to be_________. How would you fill in that blank? Think about it. What is the most important thing on your to-do list for the day? What one thing holds the most meaning to you and should be a top priority? What one accomplishment would make you feel like you did something worthwhile today? Now let’s think further into the future. What do you need to get done this week? If this week ends and only one thing gets done, it needs to be_________. Fill in this blank. Go further. If this month ends and only one thing gets done, it needs to be_________. And it gets bigger. If this year ends and only one thing gets done, it needs to be_________. Do you see where I am going? This begins to put things into perspective. Think about all those things on your to-do list, all the day-after-day tasks, jobs, and expectations that add up on these lists. What are the most important ones? Which ones have true meaning and are important to accomplish 100%? If you could only pick one per day, and out of those, pick one for the week. Out of the weekly winners, pick one for the month and one for the year. Very quickly, you will begin to see what is important in life. And yes, this is where I am taking you… Look at your entire life. Say this out loud… If this life ends and only one thing gets done, it needs to be_________. How will you fill in that blank? When your life is over, what one thing do you want to know you accomplished? That makes you think, doesn’t it? We can fill in the blank a million different ways, but I challenge you to give it some thought. Maybe you instantly had an answer, or maybe this question will weigh on your mind for some time. It is an important answer to search for. Of course, none of us know how long our life will last, but I would guess the older you are, the more important the question is. Out of all the experiences in your life, what is the one thing that you got done that was the most important? The most meaningful? What was your top priority? If you can’t think of an answer, you have work to do. I could give you many hints about what I think the answer should be, and it wouldn’t be things like rebuilding the car that sits in your garage or taking another trip. You need to fill in your own blanks. My final blank would be… If this life ends and only one thing gets done, it needs to be to love. The end. Full stop. Just to love. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: Answer this question… When your life comes to an end, what will be the one thing you needed to do? The one important thing you got done? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN...
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2026 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. #CornerofSpiritandBrave #LoveYourLifeNoMatterWhat #JourneyThrough #PennieHunt #IAmGoodEnough #grief #Love #Joy #HowToBeHappy #Happiness  I loaded my three children into the van, jumped in the driver’s seat, and drove away. Looking in my rear-view mirror, I saw her standing in the driveway, waving and crying. I was exhausted from moving and ready to drive to my new home and begin the task of unpacking and settling into a new world 45 miles away from my mom. For years I had lived in the same community as my parents. Close enough to have Sunday dinners at her house and drop my kids off for her to watch when I did errands. I was only going to be 45 miles away. I didn’t think this move was tear-worthy. But my mom waved and cried. To be honest, I looked forward to it. At that time, 45 miles meant it would be a long-distance phone call. (If you don’t know what that means, ask someone who remembers when our phones were attached to the wall.) I looked forward to not answering a call from her 3 times a day and not having her stop to see me every day on her way home from work. Both could feel a bit smothering. I looked forward to being a bit more autonomous. As I drove, another memory filled my mind. This was the same view I remembered of my grandmother standing in her driveway, waving and crying when my parents loaded my siblings and me into the Pontiac station wagon and we drove away. That was a 2-day, 1080-mile trip that we made once a year to Illinois to see her. The same goodbye scene happened every year. And every year, my grandmother stood in the driveway waving and crying. This week was a new version of the same scene. My daughter’s family drove down the driveway on their way to their new home, 2 ½ hours away. I did my hugs and goodbyes and left their house a short while before they did. I couldn’t handle watching my 3 grandsons climb into their van and drive away. I couldn’t bear to be standing alone in the driveway waving and crying. I needed to cry alone. I know the saying about how we are supposed to give our children (and grandchildren) roots and wings. Roots so they remember where they came from. The deep-seated knowing of family, values, and identity. The understanding of who they are. And wings to fly on their own with the freedom to explore the world. To be independent and have the courage to follow their dreams and pursue their goals. It is the circle of life. I know my daughter’s family will be fine. My daughter and son-in-law will enjoy new opportunities. The boys will immerse themselves in a new school. They will all thrive and grow in their new community. Selfishly, I will miss them. I will miss dinners at my house. I’ll miss lunches and pedicures with my daughter. I’ll miss picking my grandchildren up from school, Saturday movies, and the occasional one-on-one dinner dates with them. I will miss the comfort of knowing they are 11 minutes away. And today I understand how my grandmother felt. I understand how my mom felt. I understand their deep sadness, the empty feeling, and the immediate loneliness as they waved and cried. After I moved away from living close to my mom, I never moved back. Turns out I missed the Sunday dinners, her phone calls, and her stopping at my house after work. The circle of life is a hard loop to close. Yes, occasionally I will make the 2 ½ hour trip to see my daughter and grandsons, and they will do the same to see me, but it will never be the same. The circle has closed. Some moments are worthy of tears. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: The circle of life repeats itself. The circle can be hard to close. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN...
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2026 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. #CornerofSpiritandBrave #LoveYourLifeNoMatterWhat #JourneyThrough #PennieHunt #IAmGoodEnough #grief #Love #Joy #HowToBeHappy #Happiness  It has been over 20 years since I gave any thought to fake flowers. You know, those artificial bundles of plastic that gave the illusion of a bouquet until you moved close enough to them to smell the plastic and see the rubber version of a rose. At the time, I was the director of a statewide organization, which meant I drove around the state a lot. On one memorable trip, a staff member was traveling with me. She worked virtually from her home on the opposite side of the state from where our office was located. Visiting people in her area, I commented on the plastic flowers planted in pots in front of many of the homes. My comment was something like, “Isn’t it funny how old ladies put out plastic flowers instead of real plants?” I did notice that she didn’t have a reply to that. A few hours later, as we pulled into her driveway and walked up to her front door, pots of fake flowers greeted me. She saw my face and immediately began laughing. I was embarrassed and ashamed of my earlier comment. She explained that given the short growing season and the unpredictability of the weather, the plastic flowers were a good alternative. Now, all these years later, I am filling about half of my pots with artificial flowers. After many seasons of waiting until after Memorial Day to plant flowers only to see them freeze from late spring snow, shredded by summer hail, brutally beaten by raging wind, or eaten by the lovely little critters that call my property home, I finally understood. I surrendered. I began seeing many social media posts with people demonstrating how they were filling their pots and flower beds with life-like artificial flowers. I took the leap and ordered some. These aren’t the old plastic kind. These are soft, bendable, lifelike beauties. The advertisement stated that these faux flowers look just like the real thing, adding natural beauty to your surroundings. They are made from high-quality silk and plastic materials for long-lasting beauty. UV-resistant, waterproof, and no fade, ensuring vibrant colors even under the sun's harsh rays. Who could resist that? I was sold and ordered a few. When they arrived, they were vacuum-packed into very tight bundles, making me wonder if I had been scammed into purchasing a ridiculously small, overpriced bouquet of nonsense. But once opened, they fluffed out and took over my entire dining room table. I was pleasantly surprised. Now my flowers have bloomed. Half of my pots still hold real purple petunias and orange and yellow blends of marigolds. But half of them happily hold bouquets of artificial flowers. My assessment so far is good. These pops of color around my home are not just low maintenance, they are almost no maintenance. I suspect I will occasionally give them a spray with the hose to wash off the dust the wind will surely blow onto them, but other than that, they are holding up to their advertised claims. Have I become an old plastic flower lady? I don’t know… maybe I have just become realistic. It is hard to fight Mother Nature. I will let her do what she will and enjoy the occasional wildflowers she sends my way. I will also continue to plant my little garden box and cross my fingers that the vegetables will survive the weather. But this summer I will enjoy my beautiful flowers. The live ones and the fake ones alike. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: Don’t make assumptions about the way other people do things. There is more than one way to beauty. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN...
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2026 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. #CornerofSpiritandBrave #LoveYourLifeNoMatterWhat #JourneyThrough #PennieHunt #IAmGoodEnough #grief #Love #Joy #HowToBeHappy #Happiness  It is clean sheet day! Isn’t that a wonderful feeling? That moment you slide your feet into the cool crispness of clean, fresh sheets! It is a luxury that I look forward to and enjoy! Did you know there is laundry soap, air freshener, and even candles that claim to smell like clean sheets? Everyone has a different description of what that smell is, but everyone understands the ‘feeling’ of clean sheet day. This clean sheet day came with an even bigger bonus. This time, the sheets were not only clean, but also new. Brand new out of the package and washed for the first time. Extra cool, crisp comfort! It was also time to take off the winter blankets and replace them with lightweight summer ones. I love heavy blankets that protect me from the cold nights. And the thick, heavy fur throw that lies across the bottom of the bed is delightful. But the weight of winter has been lifted. The cold, frigid temperatures are past, and the new, fresh dew-filled mornings of summer are here. There is a lightness in the air. A clean, fresh crispness. Along with the new sheets and lightweight blankets, I also changed the color scheme from a monotone canvas of beige and cream and added some springy greens. Nothing major, a few throw pillows with a fern leaf print that go well with the new sheets, and a new green lightweight throw across the foot of the bed. The bed and the room look brighter and lighter. I don’t typically re-style my bedroom with the change of seasons, but this year it seemed like the right thing to do. This year has felt heavy. Even though our winter gave us very little snow, it felt like a long, painful cold time. The weight of life is heavier than normal. It felt like it was the right time to lighten the load. The lifting of winter, heavy blankets, and the weight of the world seemed like a rite of passage. A walk into sunshine. I feel like my bedroom has been given a reset- a fresh start. A departure, a separation from the dark days of winter, and an open window to sunshine and renewal. This simple action has also given a cool, comforting feeling of reset to my mind and body. What can you do to give yourself the clean sheet feeling? Maybe your office needs to be decluttered- not organized, but decluttered. Get rid of the papers and unfinished business that pile up. Give yourself a clean sheet of space to work. Maybe your kitchen needs deep cleaning? Imagine cooking your next meal in a sparkling kitchen that invites your heart to enjoy cooking. There are many ways to give yourself the clean sheet feeling. Think of the best one for you and give yourself the gift of a reset. Say goodbye to winter and open your windows and your life to the cool crispness of that clean sheet feeling. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: Intentionally shed the heaviness of life to make room for resets and fresh starts. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN...
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2026 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. #CornerofSpiritandBrave #LoveYourLifeNoMatterWhat #JourneyThrough #PennieHunt #IAmGoodEnough #grief #Love #Joy #HowToBeHappy #Happiness  I love shiny things. Stars in the sky. When the sun hits the ocean creating hundreds of reflections of sun glitter. Sparkly lights over a city at night. Sequins. And diamonds. Especially diamonds. I have a few. My engagement and wedding ring. I also treasure the band of gold with 3 small diamonds – my Dad’s wedding band that I wear on my thumb. My Mom’s wedding set. I have other jewelry that holds diamonds and memories. I treasure them all. I have an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner that I occasionally clean these items in. It uses a high frequency to zap all the dirt away from the diamonds, leaving them bright and sparkly. It amazes me how they can go from dull to blinding brightness when I give them the attention they deserve and polish them with love. How many diamonds do you have? Diamonds don’t have to be set in gold and placed on your fingers or around your neck. Think about the diamonds you have in your life that don’t look like much, but if you give them the attention they deserve and polish them a little, they turn into a treasure. Do you have an old car that you imagine refurbishing into custom condition? Maybe you are ready to remodel a room in your home, taking it from an outdated style to a new, sleek, modern design. Maybe you have already refinished your great-grandmother’s rocking chair, and now it sits happily as the center of attention in your living room. They all just need attention and a little polish of love. They are all diamonds… just waiting. Now think deeper. Think of the people in your life. Your family and friends. Who have you been neglecting? Or if not neglecting, you haven’t been noticing their value. Is it time to call a friend and plan a lunch so you can share stories, catch up on each other’s news, and rehash memories? These are all forms of polishing. It brings out their shine and allows them to be a diamond in your life. When was the last time you spent time with your parents, if you are lucky enough to still have them with you? Is it time to give them a little polish of love? It doesn’t require much attention to pull out the luster of a relationship. The luster of another diamond in your life. And children. Oh, children, react the quickest and become blinding diamonds. Spending time with them is the strongest polish of love you can give them. They will be the brightest diamonds of all. Do you see how many diamonds you have in your life? More than you can count. They are everywhere. Your friends, your parents, your siblings, your spouse or partner, your children, and your grandchildren are all the diamonds of your life. Your life can be rich with these precious stones if you give them the attention they deserve and polish them with love. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: Polish the diamonds of your life with love. They deserve your attention. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN...
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2026 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. #CornerofSpiritandBrave #LoveYourLifeNoMatterWhat #JourneyThrough #PennieHunt #IAmGoodEnough #grief #Love #Joy #HowToBeHappy #Happiness  I am known as the Happiness Lady. The optimist. The upbeat, happy person who brings everyone else out of their funk, their sadness, and their difficult times. I am usually happy when I wake up and look forward to my days. But lately I have been down. I have had a relapse into sadness and am feeling a bit lost. It happens to me once in a while, and my husband reminds me that this feeling “is not very Pennie-Hunt-dot-com-like.” I don’t enjoy the feeling. It doesn’t feel like me. It doesn’t feel natural. Recently, I was having breakfast with my son, and he asked the simple question, how are you doing? Well, the flood gate of my mouth opened, and I laid out about a half dozen things that were not right in my world. He sat back in his chair and said, “Wow, I wasn’t expecting that! Aren’t you the one who teaches everyone to be happy and positive?” Yes, yes, I am. His reaction gave me a very quick and firm reset to my mood. We went on to have a very pleasant day together. I thought about that short part of our conversation for days. I realized that nothing on my list of concerns that came out of my mouth that day was under my control. I couldn’t change any of it. It was really a laundry list of life. Things that happen all the time. None of it was happening “to” me. It was all happening around me. Close enough for me to feel emotional about it. After I thought about it, I had to have a conversation with my heart… a heart-versation as I call them. I had to listen to what is heavy on my mind, analyze it, … and feel it. Then I needed to listen to what my heart was saying about it. I realized the situations that were weighing on me were affecting me, my emotions, and my attitude. They were making my heart hurt. Then I began reading some of my own writings and thinking about my own life lessons. I realized that even the happiness lady has times in life that rub on her heart. Even I can have a relapse into a gray area. I had to concentrate on some of my core beliefs…
Sometimes life is hard to understand. We need to think about bad stuff in a good way. There is always something good hidden in the bad. There is always a lesson to learn. I realized some of the situations I was stewing about were not mine to change. Not mine to worry about. And not my lesson to learn. Are they painful to feel? Yes. Are they hard to watch? Yes. But it is my choice in how I perceive them, how I react to them, and how I carry them in my life. What is heavy on your heart? We are all human, and all have times when we relapse into gray sadness. If you are experiencing this, know that you are not alone. Maybe it is time to look at the bad stuff in a good way. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: Life is a continual series of situations. How we perceive them is our choice. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN...
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2026 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. #CornerofSpiritandBrave #LoveYourLifeNoMatterWhat #JourneyThrough #PennieHunt #IAmGoodEnough #grief #Love #Joy #HowToBeHappy #Happiness  Gracie and Zenee Every morning, I sit in my office recliner, cover up with a blanket, and drink my coffee. My dogs sit on my lap. Zenee stretches out across the footrest, making herself look twice as long as she is, and immediately goes to sleep. Gracie jumps over Zenee to be higher on my lap, sits up straight, and waits for her complimentary morning massage. She extends her neck so that I can rub under her mouth down to her chest, all the while looking right into my eyes. She moves and shifts positions, making sure her entire body is massaged, but she never drops eye contact. At times, I reach for my coffee or my phone, and then I notice she is staring at my eyes. It is very clear… it is her time. It is one-on-one time. It means something to her to have that intimate connection. She wants, no, she expects me to look at her. We have all had this experience. If you think you haven’t, it is only because you didn’t notice. Today, our world works through electronics. We are constantly looking at a computer, a television, or a phone. We have been trained to do this. We believe we need to see a text or email the second it arrives, and we think we need to respond with lightning speed. We need to see the breaking news the moment it is posted. We need to know what is trending and what is on sale so that we can tap the buy button and have it delivered the next day. We need to research every question we have as soon as the thought crosses our minds. Everything is immediate, urgent, and in front of our faces at all times. But there is someone wanting your attention. Someone wants eye contact. Someone is waiting behind the screen and wants to see your eyes. It could be your partner, your spouse, your child, a friend, or your dog. But someone wants the intimate connection. Someone wants their time with you. We have seen this happen to other people. In a restaurant, a couple eats dinner with one hand while they are holding their phone and scrolling with the other. We notice this scenario, but do we notice when we are the ones doing it? You can’t be with your phone and your life at the same time. People who love you want to be with YOU, not the backside of your phone. They want to see your eyes. They want one-on-one time. It means something to them to have that intimate connection with you. Yes, technology seems to control our lives. We need to pay attention, be aware, and responsive to work, news, and communications. But not everything in life is of equal value. Prioritize your life choices and what matters at this moment. When you are out to dinner with your spouse, put the screen away and give them the time they deserve. When you are with your kids, be with your kids and teach them to put down their electronics. If your dog is staring at you with those big, loving brown eyes, pay attention to what the message is. We will not be successful at this all the time. We will not be connected all the time, but all the small moments, the intentional moments, of eye-to-eye connection add up. And now, I am going back to my chair, my blanket, and my coffee. I have two sweet Shih Tzus waiting for me and an important massage to give. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: Prioritize your life choices and what matters- you can’t be with your phone and your life at the same time. Make eye contact. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN...
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2026 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. #CornerofSpiritandBrave #LoveYourLifeNoMatterWhat #JourneyThrough #PennieHunt #IAmGoodEnough #grief #Love #Joy #HowToBeHappy #Happiness  Grandma Fern Hunt, Pennie Hunt, Daughter Sarah, Grandsons Dylan, Riley, Brady I remember how proud I was to give my mom her Mother’s Day gift. My elementary school artwork of painted handprints that formed flowers was all it took to make her ooh and aah about what a beautiful gift I had given her. As I grew, gifts became coffee and breakfast delivered to her bed, family meals out, and real flowers. When I became a mom, I received the elementary school artwork and proudly displayed it on the refrigerator for all to see. The Mother’s Day dance of balancing time between pampering and loving my mom and enjoying the time being pampered and loved by my children lasted for years. There was the year my mom took my young son shopping to buy me a Mother’s Day gift. Her idea was to purchase a couple of 99-cent six packs of marigolds from the local greenhouse. His idea was to buy me a beautiful dress. When I opened the gift, I could tell by the look on my mom’s face that the dress was much more expensive than her plan for a few flowers, but the pride on my son’s face had convinced her to buy the dress…and the flowers. As my children grew, the days of sticky little painted fingers and sweet toddler kisses went by too fast. My Mother’s Day gifts became coffee and breakfast delivered to my bed, family meals out, and bouquets of flowers. I blinked, and it was college, first apartments, weddings, and flying through life on their own. Each phase of the celebration of mothering is sweet, but one of the most meaningful times has been watching my daughter become a mother. Watching her journey through pregnancy and joining the club of motherhood stirs feelings of pride and joy. She has nurtured her children in a loving, caring way, with more grace and patience than I believe I had as a mother. With all the joy and love that Mother’s Day brings, it is important to understand that this can be a painful day of grief and loss for many. My mom passed away several years ago, and although I think of her and celebrate her, Mother’s Day is also a reminder that she is no longer with me. I love cards, flowers, and celebrations with my children and grandchildren, but Mother’s Day is also a reminder of the baby boy I lost and my grown son who has passed. The names Jake and Jameson are always in my mind, and thoughts of them hide behind my smile. Never forget the ones who struggle through this day because of loss, grief, infertility, or being away from their family. Be sensitive to those who hold sadness on this day. My heart swells with the love that surrounds Mother’s Day. The joy of loving my mom, experiencing birthing and loving my own children, and watching the next generation carry on the magic of motherhood is an amazing part of life. No matter what phase of Mother’s Day you are in, whether you spend the day with your own mom, your children, a friend, family, mentor, or have a quiet day alone… remember we are all here because somewhere there was a mom that brought us to this world. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: Blessings and love to moms everywhere! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN...
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2026 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. #CornerofSpiritandBrave #LoveYourLifeNoMatterWhat #JourneyThrough #PennieHunt #IAmGoodEnough #grief #Love #Joy #HowToBeHappy #Happiness  I try not to worry. I really do. I believe that worrying is a negative meditation. When we meditate, we either try to clear our minds or concentrate on something that creates a calm space. Worrying is the opposite. By thinking of a worrisome situation, we create a space that multiplies the worry. Most of the time, we are worrying about something we have no control over. Or we worry about things that are not that big of a deal, but by repeating the scenario in our mind, we are essentially training our brain to dwell in chaos. So, I try not to worry. Today, as I thought about how people worry, the 80/20 rule came to mind. In simple terms, the 80/20 rule is the concept that approximately 80% of outcomes come from about 20% of your effort. You can adapt this rule to many things in life, so let’s talk about it in terms of worrying. Our list of worries, the ones we repeat to ourselves over and over and allow them to grow into giant worries, probably sprout from 20% of our lives. That means 80% of our lives are moving along in a good way. Maybe even in a splendid way. Make a list of what you are worried about right now. Everyone has a different list. We worry about our children and families, our jobs, our bills, our pets, our health… this could go on in many ways and directions. And it could change moment by moment and day by day. Now, let’s look at what is going well in your life. How many family members and friends do you have who are happy? Do you have a home to live in? Do you have a job? Is your health good? Does your dog run to see you when you walk in the door? Do you have shoes to wear and food to eat? Can you see, hear, touch, taste, and experience life? This list could go on in many ways and directions too. But I feel like this will be a longer list. Now take an honest look at your life. I suspect that by stepping back and taking a reality check of the big picture, you have a lot to be thankful for and a lot that is splendid in your life. The worries come from a small percentage of your life. You may have one family member struggling, but the rest of your friends and family are doing well. You may be unhappy with one part of your job or one coworker, but the rest of your job is fine. When you analyze your life, those worries come from a small percentage- let’s say 20%- of your life. The other 80% is pretty great. And when you look at the worries that you have absolutely no control over, they are probably causing you the most anxiety. If you could control them, you would be taking the steps to change the situation. Taking action lightens the worry. So, if you can’t control it, release it. You might be thinking, " Oh, that is easy for her to say, her life is perfect." But let me set that thought straight. We are all human, and every one of us has that 20% in our life that can consume us in worry. Even me. Perspective is all about what you focus on, and what you focus on is your choice. So here is the question… are you going to allow 20% of your life to cause you anxiety? Or are you going to concentrate on the 80% of your life that creates happiness, peace, and joy? It is up to you, but the answer seems simple to me. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: Perspective is a choice of what you focus on. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN...
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2026 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. #CornerofSpiritandBrave #LoveYourLifeNoMatterWhat #JourneyThrough #PennieHunt #IAmGoodEnough #grief #Love #Joy #HowToBeHappy #Happiness  Recently, I was having dinner with a young woman who is very close to my heart. I was talking about how fast my children grew up, and now it seems like the grandchildren are growing up even faster. I told her the really sad thing is, the grandchildren don’t remember some of the times with them that are the most special memories to me. These moments happened when they were younger - too young for them to remember. That day, my friend gave me a lesson I will never forget. She said, “But YOU remember. The memories are for you.” What? I had never thought of it that way. I have great memories of times with my own grandmother. I wanted to be the same kind of memory maker that she was. Now I wonder if she thought about who she was making memories for. Me? Or herself? Or did she even realize she was making memories? Think about the best memories from your past. It could be from your childhood, college, or as an adult. Think of the memories you carry in your heart. Do the other people in that memory remember the event? Does it touch them the way it touches you? Maybe we can’t create intentional memories. Maybe it is in the moments of life where love is so deep that those special moments lodge in our hearts. We have no control over whose heart the memory lodges in. Maybe the memory floats around like the light of a firefly until it finds the right heart to burrow inside of. If you are lucky, you may be the space where the memory lands. It lives there happily and quietly until, in special moments, it flutters in your heart and tickles your brain to remember. Memories are unique. Even if a version of it lodges in another heart, your memory won’t be the same as the other version. We each encode, store, retain, and retrieve information, behaviors, and experiences in our own way. I remember that dinner and those words so clearly. When she said, “But YOU remember. The memories are for you,” those words burrowed deep in my heart. It was a message I needed. It was a learning moment I will never forget. Do I think my friend remembers saying it? I doubt if she does. It was one of those in-the-moment conversations that passed quickly. But so many times I have felt my heart flutter and tickle my mind to wake up that memory and remind me of the lesson I learned that day. Don’t expect others to remember events the same way you do. Your memories are unique to you. Your memories are for you. I would like to believe that somewhere deep inside, my children and grandchildren remember special times with me. I would like to believe these memories are burrowed in their hearts, waiting to flutter when the time is right. But even if that never happens, I remember. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: Your memories are for you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN...
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2026 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. #CornerofSpiritandBrave #LoveYourLifeNoMatterWhat #JourneyThrough #PennieHunt #IAmGoodEnough #grief #Love #Joy #HowToBeHappy #Happiness  I have an old clock. It is a Westclox Big Ben De Luxe, made by the Western Clock Company of La Salle, Illinois. The patent date is March 29, 1927, and was made in the late l920’s. This was one of Westclox’s premium lines of mechanical alarm clocks and has the green crackled enamel finish, which was a signature style at that time. It cost $3.75. This clock was a dependable middle-class family item that was required if you were a farmer or a railroad worker and needed to be at work on time. There is a plate on the bottom of the clock that is stamped, A.R. Davis. After researching this, I learned that A.R. Davis was a Westclox engineer and patent holder. His name is stamped on many clocks from that era. My great-grandmother was married to a man named Albert E. Davis and lived less than 2 hours from where this clock was manufactured. So, of course, I wonder if somehow there was a connection. That is a mystery that may never be solved. Other than that, it is just a clock. A clock that I always remember seeing on the bookshelf of our family home when I was growing up. A clock that I was drawn to. When my mother passed, it was a treasure that I brought to my house. Now it sits on a bookshelf in my office. Today I looked at it and kept wondering why. Why was it always in our home? Why did my parents believe it was important to keep? Why didn’t I ever ask questions about it? It was fun to do a little research and learn the details about where it was made and how old it was, but there is so much more I wish I knew. I wish I knew how many shelves it sat on. I wish I knew how many hands have held it, wound it, and set alarms on it. I wish I knew how many hours it counted before it stopped working. How long has it been permanently locked in at 4:23? In my mind, I think of a family in 1930. They probably lived in a small farming community in a small home, and this clock woke them every morning. The story in my mind is sweet and simple, but the real truth is a mystery. I think about the tick, tick, tick it made as it counted the minutes of a life from a time I never lived in. I wonder what the alarm sounded like as it went off in the morning. I wonder if the base is cracked and chipped from being slapped and knocked off a shelf when the alarm rang. I think of how this clock has been passed down in my family. I wonder when the story of who it belonged to and how many shelves it sat on stopped being told. Now it is a piece of décor that looks cool on my bookshelf without a story attached to it. The days of counting seconds, waking people up, and ticking away time are done. To me, it is a reminder of a past connected to me. A reminder of how fast time goes. And a reminder of mysteries that will never be solved. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: The real stories of the generations before us remain mysteries. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN...
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2026 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. #CornerofSpiritandBrave #LoveYourLifeNoMatterWhat #JourneyThrough #PennieHunt #IAmGoodEnough #grief #Love #Joy #HowToBeHappy #Happiness  If you have applied for a job, you probably have a work resume. You know, the document that highlights your skills, accomplishments, and work background. This gives a prospective employer a snapshot of your ability and if you would fit into their workplace. It tells the story of what you do. Have you considered creating a life resume? Not a summary that spotlights your work abilities, but a document that highlights how you are doing in life. Instead of sections on education and past work positions, your life resume would use a different format and include details on your strengths and challenges in life. It tells the story of who you are. Relationships. Are you connected? Are you surrounded by friends, family, a significant other, or a spouse? Do you hold children close to your heart? Do you give selflessly? Do you have associations and involvement with people? Do you have emotional commitments and connections with others? Outside World. Do you care about the environment, your community, and your world? Do you plant trees and nurture a garden? Do you support community improvements? Do you cherish this amazing world that we are lucky enough to inhabit? How do you care for the world outside of you? Spirituality. What do you believe in? What stirs your soul? What do you lean on during trying times and give gratitude for during times of plenty? What centers you and gives you peace? This may be your God, a religion, or a knowing. When you take a deep breath and look at the sky, what cleanses your thoughts? What do you hold sacred? This is spirituality. What is this for you? Wealth. This is not about your bank account or how fancy your car is. This is about feeling wealthy. Do you have what you need to survive? A shelter to live in where you feel safe. Do you have food to eat and clothes to keep you warm? But more than that, are you surrounded by friends and family, do you feel loved, and do you have free time to relax and read a book? These are all luxuries that should make you feel wealthy. What does your wealth look like? Purpose. I believe we are in this life for three reasons. To learn what we are here to learn, to teach what we are here to teach, and to love and be loved. How would you report your success in this area? Do you take lessons from your life experiences, even if they are failures or tragedies? Do you teach others when you have the opportunity to? Not in a boastful or bragging way, but in a kind and caring way. And finally, have you loved and been loved? Have you loved during the hard times and the good? Have you allowed others to invade your heart and felt their love reach inside to loop the love you hold and allow it to circle back to theirs? Have you loved family and strangers alike? Have you loved and been grateful for this amazing life you have been given? You may have more categories to include in your life resume, but you see the point. This isn’t about punching a time clock, hitting your goal, or how good you are at making money. This is about emotions, feelings, and your purpose in life. What would your life resume look like? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: A work resume tells the story of what you do. A life resume tells the story of who you are. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN...
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2026 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. #CornerofSpiritandBrave #LoveYourLifeNoMatterWhat #JourneyThrough #PennieHunt #IAmGoodEnough #grief #Love #Joy #HowToBeHappy #Happiness  I was not raised in a wealthy family. I never noticed. We always had clothes to wear and food to eat. Our vacations revolved around road trips to see grandparents or a camping adventure. We were taught to be respectful, do chores, and not talk back. My siblings and I spent most of our days building roads in the sandbox, riding our bikes to the swimming pool, and squabbling as kids do. It was a simple time. A happy time. I wonder if I knew I was happy when I was happy? I was in 9th grade when I took my first plane trip. We went to my uncle’s funeral. I remember seeing him at the visitation and crying uncontrollably. It was my first experience with grief. It was a new feeling in my gut. It hurt in a new way. It was not like a skinned knee from a bicycle crash. It was a wound to my heart that I had never felt before. I wonder if I knew I was grieving when I was grieving? I have a photo of me when I was 22. I weighed 97 lbs. This was much less than my ‘normal’ thin weight. I was married and had a toddler and a newborn. I was not eating and crying a lot. Looking at this photo and remembering that time, it is obvious I was struggling with postpartum depression. I do not remember anyone asking me if I was ok, after all, everything in my world seemed perfect. Postpartum depression was not a term that was used back then. Looking at the photo of this sad girl, I wonder if I knew I was depressed when I was depressed? So many times in life, we rush through experiences, good and bad, with an oblivious heart. We don’t feel the moment for what it is. We glaze over the emotions we are feeling- until we look back. Memories have a way of waking up past emotions. Looking at photographs, watching home videos, or bumping into an old friend can suck them right back to the surface in a new way. When you run into an old flame, you might remember the break-up, but when you see them, you may also remember the happy times that the pain buried. Watching those home videos of your childhood, you may be struck by the memories of how much you wanted to be a grown-up. How much you wanted your childhood to speed by so you could jump into life. You may also realize that this part of your life went by too fast and that you yearn for that time again. The simple time. The happy time. Looking at old photos of you, you may be overwhelmed by feelings. The excitement of when you were a teenager playing high school sports. The thrill of wearing that tux or white dress, walking down the aisle to begin a new life, and wondering what the future would hold. Oh, how young you looked. The combination of love and fear that filled your heart in the photo of you holding your newborn. And the grief that pours from the photo of you holding your loved one’s hand as they passed. There is nothing like a photo album to walk you through your life in an emotional way. And with every photo, you wonder…if you knew then what you feel now. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: Don’t rush life. Feel the emotions that every moment gives. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN... Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at:
[email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2026 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. #CornerofSpiritandBrave #LoveYourLifeNoMatterWhat #JourneyThrough #PennieHunt #IAmGoodEnough #grief #Love #Joy #HowToBeHappy #Happiness |
AuthorThere is a certain magic about where I live both physically and spiritually – on the crossroads of Spirit and Brave. Archives
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