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Sunday, November 29, 2015

FOOD FOR THOUGHT...CRANBERRY SALAD

I love have always loved the phrase, "food for thought."  I recently thought how nice it would be to offer food with thought, so over the holiday season (maybe longer if it goes well) I will be posting a family recipe with most of my posts and reflecting on the ones that bring back happy memories in honor of my mother and the wonderful holiday traditions she created in the kitchen.

The recipe that first comes to mind when I think of helping in the kitchen for the holidays is my mother's cranberry salad, made from fresh (Ocean Spray) whole cranberries.  I now live in an area that grows cranberries for Ocean Spray...such wonderful irony.

Ingredients:

1 - 16 oz. can crushed pineapple
1 lb. marshmallows (cut into pieces and let stand overnight in ziploc bag)
1 lb. whole cranberries
2 cups sugar
2 cups whipping cream
1/2 Crushed walnuts (or your choice of nuts)

Grind cranberries (we used to grind ours with an old turn-handle meat grinder but you can also use a food processor, etc.). Place in a bowl, pour sugar over the cranberries, cover, put in refrigerator and let stand overnight.
Next morning...Whip the whipping cream and fold into cranberries along with the nuts.  Pour mixture into a large, oblong pan (I use my glass baking dish), cover with saran wrap and then with foil.  Put into freezer over night.  To serve, cut into squares and serve on a lettuce bed on a small plate.

This was always a favorite recipe of the kids as it tasted more like dessert than salad.  The fun for us was when mom would grind the cranberries with the old turn-handle meat grinder, which was secured to a cutting board that was attached to the counter.  The cranberries would make a loud popping sound as you turned the handle and you had to make sure to place your hand over the top as you put each load in to grind so they would not jump out of the top.  We had to remember to place a huge tray on the floor to catch all the cranberry juice that would drain off of the cutting board as we ground them up, but then we got to drink the cranberry juice...oh yeah.

I loved this tradition with my mother.  It always made it feel like Christmas for me. I love that you can choose to keep the traditions you knew growing up or change them to suit you as you grow in your adult life and have kids of your own. Some of the most precious traditions I have now are the ones I created for my son and I as he grew. You can even choose to do something new each year and have no traditions.

When you look back on holidays past, what are your favorite memories of your family traditions?  Remember to just keep the fond memories of holidays past when you are living your holiday present (no pun intended...lol).  Depression can set in more so this time of year, but there are many things you can do to fight it off, beginning with fond memories of family traditions.



Thank you for taking the time to stop and visit and please, if you like what you've read, leave a comment. Also, please respect the copyright/trademark rights of the artist's work. Copying and using any work posted here is forbidden without express permission. If you have a blog or website of your own I would love to visit it. After your comment, make sure to post your link and I will stop by and leave a comment as well. Happy blogging.

Friday, November 27, 2015

HOLI-DAZE...

So many things about the holidays are loving and joyful and happy and filled with laughter and togetherness, but when you lose one or more people in your life who meant everything to you, the holidays can seem like nothing more than a daunting task to "make it through" from year to year.  These feelings can seem amplified to someone who suffers from chemical depression as my son and I do.

For me, this year has proven much easier than those since my mother passed as I have made a very conscious effort to wrap my heart around the positive aspects and feelings she brought into my life, but the looming sadness is still in my heart. My son however, is having a really tough time this year and it breaks my heart because, hard as I try, I cannot help him through it.  It also breaks my heart that my friend who lost her son is having a hard time and I wish I could help her through as well because I know that she feels the loss so harshly this time of year.

Because of how common it is to reflect on those we no longer have in our lives during the holidays (holi-daze), I began researching things we could do to alleviate some of that pain and sorrow.  The following article by Linda Mintle at Beliefnet.com, was very helpful to me in adding some suggestions to my arsenal. I hope that after you read it you may find some positive tips to take with you as well:

"Today, on Cyber Monday, I won’t be shopping. I will be attending the funeral of my neighbor who, at 64 years of age, was working in his yard and died. His death was sudden and unexpected. I wished him Happy Thanksgiving before I left to visit family and a few hours later he collapsed in his yard. I will never see or speak to him again. His wife never saw it coming. Now, she will face the holidays without her husband of 40 years. So sad.


When I was on Janet Parshall’s radio show a few weeks ago, so many of the calls were about loss during the holidays. So for all of us who have lost a loved one during this time, here are some tips to help us get through this time, grieve, remember, but not get stuck in our grief.

1) Grieve. Acknowledge the loss and allow the feelings to come. So many things can trigger grief during this time–music, commercials, photographs, etc. The year my mom died just before Christmas, I remember baking and suddenly feeling overwhelmed. I needed to ask my mom a question about the baking and I couldn’t. For whatever reason, this hit me hard and I started to cry. I realized that so much of my mom’s contribution to the holidays was her incredible baking. Baking triggered the memory.

2) Attend a support group if it would be helpful. This is no time to be strong and go it alone. Grief needs to be shared. Find people who can listen and grieve with you.

3) Reach out to someone in need. One of the best antidotes to feeling down and saddened is to do something for someone else. Take an angel off the Angel tree, volunteer in a soup kitchen, visit a shelter or hospital, participate in a church activity or community event. Giving to others takes your mind off yourself and improves your mood.

4) Resist the urge to compare your situation to others. It’s easy to look at people celebrating and feel deprived or resentful. Don’t go there. Anger will come as part of the grieving process, but don’t allow that anger to move to resentment.

5) Have an exit strategy if you become overwhelmed. Find a quiet room in a family get together, leave the church sanctuary for a side room to cry, etc.

6) Honor the memory of the person. Talk about the person rather than avoiding the loss. In our family, we talk about mom’s pies and how much we miss them, the sound of her laughter, the love for her grandkids, etc. Share a favorite story. Laugh about funny moments. This helps keep the memories alive.

7) If the loss is fresh, don’t push yourself. Do as little or as much as you feel you can handle. There is no right way to handle grief. Pay attention to your physical life–sleep, eating well and resting.

8) Allow yourself moments of joy and laughter without feeling guilty. There will be moments of joy and laughter. Allow them to come. You can’t sustain grief 24/7 or your body will be too stressed. Sometimes a light distraction like a funny movie can even help.

9) Remind yourself that this too shall pass. The intensity of grief lessens with time. Time does heal. As the months go by, you will feel stronger and better, but it does take time.

10) Comfort yourself with God’s Word. God is a present help in time of trouble. He knows our grief and our sorrows and promises to comfort us. Ask Him to help you through this difficult time.

Read more: http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/doinglifetogether/2013/12/10-ways-to-deal-with-loss-during-the-holidays.html#ixzz3sjyoWQ7T

Read more at http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/doinglifetogether/2013/12/10-ways-to-deal-with-loss-during-the-holidays.html#JtpLu1bL6pgkC4TQ.99"


One thing I have learned from year to year is that we all grieve differently and heal at different rates in different ways and that is as it should be.  Take your time to heal and don't let anyone in your life tell you how long that should be or how you "should" or "shouldn't" feel during this process.  You are you and you deal with things in your own way.  Embrace that and know that the people in your life who truly love you for who you are through and through, will embrace that too.

Thank you for taking the time to stop and visit and please, if you like what you've read, leave a comment. Also, please respect the copyright/trademark rights of the artist's work. Copying and using any work posted here is forbidden without express permission. If you have a blog or website of your own I would love to visit it. After your comment, make sure to post your link and I will stop by and leave a comment as well. Happy blogging.

LET'S WRITE LETTERS...


While we still write letters to Santa, letters to senators, letters to soldiers, and letters to editors, the sad truth is that we seldom, if ever, write letters to each other anymore.  The art of letter-writing has fast become a dying art.  

In this day of instant gratification people have lost patience and therefore things that take time, like sending letters and waiting for a response, are just not done anymore.  People either text or email one another, with the occasional phone call in between.  Sometimes I receive a letter in a Christmas card, however they are usually a "form" type of letter depicting the previous years' events and noteworthy news and, while I do appreciate receiving those, I still miss reading about it in handwritten ink.  

From time to time I engage in a letter-writing campaign and send letters to all of my friends, but even then I receive text or email back at best.  If I had a Christmas wish this year it would be that I could receive a hand-written letter from a friend, at least three pages long so I could savor all it says and enjoy taking the time to sit down and read it in their beautiful handwriting.

If you have people you love who live in other states or cities, see if they would be interested in writing letters back and forth.  You can still text and email and call, but add the letter-writing back into your arsenal of communication skills and believe me, you will enjoy this personal touch.


Thank you for taking the time to stop and visit and please, if you like what you've read, leave a comment. Also, please respect the copyright/trademark rights of the artist's work. Copying and using any work posted here is forbidden without express permission. If you have a blog or website of your own I would love to visit it. After your comment, make sure to post your link and I will stop by and leave a comment as well. Happy blogging.

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

GIVING THANKS FOR ONE ANOTHER...


HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
While Thanksgiving is a time for giving thanks for the things that we have and are blessed with, it is most important for me to give thanks for the people in my life...past and present.  To my mother for who I am...to my father for my artistic side...to my son for bringing out the best in me, to the family who stuck by me and to the friends both near and far who stick with me through thick and thin and through all the hills and valleys.  I love and cherish each and every one of you and am so, so grateful for your presence in my life and for letting me be present in yours.

Thank you for taking the time to stop and visit and please, if you like what you've read, leave a comment. Also, please respect the copyright/trademark rights of the artist's work. Copying and using any work posted here is forbidden without express permission. If you have a blog or website of your own I would love to visit it. After your comment, make sure to post your link and I will stop by and leave a comment as well. Happy blogging.

ANOTHER SAPPHIC POEM...A GIRL TO A GIRL



A GIRL TO A GIRL

You touch my life with the gift of your presence,
I'm eternally whole because of your essence;

You live in my heart, you color my world,
A soul full of passion, a girl to a girl;

If you need me I'm with you so never forget,
You're a part of me now, I'll never regret;

Never know guilt, never know fear,
Trust in our faith, no need to shed tears;

We have what we were, we have what we are,
Our bond is unbroken, not near and not far;

Break not the circle, we'll always be there,
To lean on each other with love and with care.

(c) Kimberly D Miller

Thank you for taking the time to stop and visit and please, if you like what you've read, leave a comment. Also, please respect the copyright/trademark rights of the artist's work. Copying and using any work posted here is forbidden without express permission. If you have a blog or website of your own I would love to visit it. After your comment, make sure to post your link and I will stop by and leave a comment as well. Happy blogging.

Sunday, November 22, 2015

I HAVE A WEB STORE...

I now have a web store showcasing my crafts, jewelry, photographs, etc.  Click on the tab above labeled, "WEB STORE," and check them out!!! I'm so excited!!!


Thank you for taking the time to stop and visit and please, if you like what you've read, leave a comment. Also, please respect the copyright/trademark rights of the artist's work. Copying and using any work posted here is forbidden without express permission. If you have a blog or website of your own I would love to visit it. After your comment, make sure to post your link and I will stop by and leave a comment as well. Happy blogging.

Saturday, November 21, 2015

DELEGATE, DELEGATE...

((c) Kimberly D Miller...This is a picture of a dilapidated house that I love in Smith River)

DELEGATE, DELEGATE...

With Thanksgiving right around the corner there are so many conversations in the air about family get-togethers and plans. Several people I know are hosting large gatherings, one in particular with more than 16 people...wow!


For me it will be a very quiet day spent working on art projects (happily), but it got me thinking about something that can be applied to the preparation of these gatherings, as well as every other aspect of life...DELEGATION.


To delegate work is to divide the project at hand into as many small parts as there are people available to handle each aspect. Potlucks are great examples of delegating a gathering, with each person attending being responsible for bringing an assigned dish...in this way the work load on the host is lessened greatly and everyone feels equally good about their contribution to the meal.


The holiday meal is traditionally a lot of work and to lessen the load, see if you can allow yourself to delegate and share the workload if you are hosting the gathering. If you are not delegating assigned dishes, make sure you delegate parts of the meal, be it cooking, decorating, setting the table, cleaning, etc., to one or more of the guests/family members and ask for help when they arrive...there is no shame in asking for help, even though many of us view it as a sign of weakness. In fact it proves just how much respect you have for you in that you don't make yourself completely exhausted by taking on every aspect of the gathering alone. On the other side of the coin, if you are attending a meal, offer to bring something and/or help clean up afterward...anything to help, even voluntary delegation.


This concept is not only beneficial for a holiday meal, but in every aspect of life... your work life, your home life, your social life. Being secure enough to delegate means being filled with self-confidence and self-love to allow yourself to take a deep breath and let it out fully while others are helping you ease many of your burdens and tough moments in life. You needn't count on yourself to handle everything alone and let's face it, it is hard to ask for help sometimes (I'm terrible at it) but I know from experience that the times that I allow myself to do so, are the times that I can achieve what I wish to achieve to the depths that I wish to achieve them without the negative connotations dragging me down.



Be kind to yourself...start with this holiday season by delegating or helping others do so and bring that ability to delegate with you into every aspect of your life so your life can be filled with ease and comfort...so you can fully live it!!! Delegate!!!


Thank you for taking the time to stop and visit and please, if you like what you've read, leave a comment. Also, please respect the copyright/trademark rights of the artist's work. Copying and using any work posted here is forbidden without express permission. If you have a blog or website of your own I would love to visit it. After your comment, make sure to post your link and I will stop by and leave a comment as well. Happy blogging.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

KUDOS, KUDOS, ENCORE, ENCORE!!!

KUDOS, KUDOS, ENCORE, ENCORE!!!


While we go on and on about improving ourselves, we often forget to stop along the way and pat ourselves on the back for our progress.


Each day offers new challenges to surmount and overcome and new people to interact with in some way (or sometimes familiar people to interact with in a new way). Today I patted myself on the back, for not only did I manage to overcome several issues at work, I also did so after having been down for two days with a really bad cold and sinus infection. I am proud of myself for having the strength to stick to the new ways in which I told myself I would approach life now, in the positive ways and because of that I owe so much gratitude, not only to those people in my life who have helped and influenced me, but to the universe and to myself.


You work hard everyday and I don't mean at your job (although I'm sure you do that as well). You work hard every time you try. Each time you try to do something, accomplish something, help someone, make an effort to effectuate change in positive ways, you work hard to do it and for that you need to pat yourself on the back and thank yourself for never giving up...giving in...for sticking to it.


For all you do to move forward in positive, healthy ways, give yourself the kudos your deserve followed by a huge applause and an encore every day...you deserve it!



Thank you for taking the time to stop and visit and please, if you like what you've read, leave a comment. Also, please respect the copyright/trademark rights of the artist's work. Copying and using any work posted here is forbidden without express permission. If you have a blog or website of your own I would love to visit it. After your comment, make sure to post your link and I will stop by and leave a comment as well. Happy blogging.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

GET OFF THE PHONE!!!

(c)Kimberly D Miller - Bastendorf Beach at Sunset
I recently had the pleasure of engaging in an enlightening conversation with a woman who came into the store one weekend. She told me a sad but empowering story about her recent visit to see relatives in Washington state. She said she hadn't seen her sister and her family in over 2 years so she decided to make the 7-hour drive and stay a week with them to catch up and get reacquainted. The day she arrived she said that her sister and her husband and her niece and nephew were glad to see her and told her how much they had missed her. Everyone gathered round that night as dinner was prepared and chatted with one another, engaging in family banter and laughter...it was fulfilling and delightful for her in just that moment. Then it happened...they all retired to the living room to sit and talk after dinner, but as soon as everyone was seated, the son opened his laptop, the daughter began texting on her phone, the brother-in-law turned on the television and the sister opened up her Ipad. I shook my head in sadness and I listened to this story unfold as this topic has always been one of my pet peeves. She tried to ignore this at first and began talking to her family but she was met with silence and the occasional, “uh huh.” Feeling defeated after several stale attempts, she stood up, went to the bedroom, packed her bag and came out into the living room. Her sister noticed the bag and asked her what was up. The woman said, “I drove 7 hours to see you all and none of you can look up from your electronic devices long enough to acknowledge my presence in the room so I think I will drive back home. It's worse being alone with people in the room than it is at home alone.” This jolted them enough to put down their devices, mostly at her sister's insistence, and needless to say they had a nice, long visit.

What a sad commentary on our times. I so hate what our technological “advances” have done to our society. People have become reclusive and rude and so unaware of how to interact with one another. My biggest pet peeve and one that I refuse to do to other people, is when I am on the phone with someone and someone else calls in and I am asked to “hold” while they see what that person wants. I am always being put on hold by impersonal companies that I have to deal with and I think it is so rude to be put on hold by a personal friend. Sure there are emergencies that arise, but you can come up with a code for those closest to you so that you know it is an emergency and need to answer, otherwise there is no reason to be put on hold by a friend, especially when they are the ones who called you in the first place. Also, when you visit someone, why wouldn't you spend all your time with them? Why go to visit someone and spend your time buried in a device? It is so sad that we don't know how to interact without these devices. Our poor children are not going to know how to approach another human being and strike up a conversation without the use of an electronic device, an emoticon and and “lol.” The next thing you know people are going to be sitting at the dinner table texting someone to pass them the salt...really?

We are missing out on so much by this antisocial behavior caused by our obsession with electronic devices. As humans we require a certain amount of touch and love and contact in order to remain healthy and happy. Do yourself a favor and try to get out there and interact with people before you lose them all from your life. Show them they are important, tell them they are. If you text them, tell them you love them and miss them and have general discussions but do it when you have the time and not when it takes away from spending time with people you are with in that moment. Life is short...spend time with as many friends and family members as possible while you still can.


Thank you for taking the time to stop and visit and please, if you like what you've read, leave a comment. Also, please respect the copyright/trademark rights of the artist's work. Copying and using any work posted here is forbidden without express permission. If you have a blog or website of your own I would love to visit it. After your comment, make sure to post your link and I will stop by and leave a comment as well. Happy blogging.

Saturday, November 7, 2015

LOOKING FOR LOVE IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES...



LOOKING FOR LOVE IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES...

While I am aware that this was an old song title, it is also a deep and profound observation for how we, as humans, live our lives. 

So many of us actively seek love instead of letting it come into our lives as it may.  I was talking with a woman yesterday who kept using the phrase, "When I find love," and I asked her what she meant by that, although I was already certain of the answer. She stated that she had been looking for years for that special someone to love who would be "the one."  I asked her how she was "looking," and she said that she was online on several dating sites and joined several local singles groups and frequented bars.  As our conversation progressed she made many self-deprecating remarks about her looks and personality.  I then realized, even by the way she held herself, that this wonderful person had little to no self-esteem.  While I commended her efforts of getting out there and seeking "the one," I also knew in my heart that unless she found comfort in who she was, she most likely would never find the right "one."

We, as humans, seek love and understanding from others, but many of us overlook the approval of the most important person...us.  We need to seek inwardly before seeking out.  I once heard the expression, if you don't love yourself, how do you expect others to...I love this expression.  I notice that when I am attracted to a person it is their self-confidence, self-love and comfort in their own skin that I find the most attractive.  Even people who I am not immediately attracted to by physical attributes, can become wildly attractive as I get to know them because of their confidence and comfort with themselves.  

How do I love myself you may ask?  My question to you is this...how can you not?  You spend more time with you than with anyone else on the planet. If you are doing things and saying things in your daily life that you yourself do not approve of, then turn that around and do and say only things that make you proud of yourself. If you are not happy with what you see when you look in the mirror, then try different looks that will make you happy with your outward image.  Find the things you think are not working for you, identify them beyond a shadow of a doubt, and turn them to your advantage. Praise yourself for your achievements and forgive yourself for your failures because you are after all, only human. Once you have done that you will find yourself irresistible and when that happens, so will everyone else. 


Thank you for taking the time to stop and visit and please, if you like what you've read, leave a comment. Also, please respect the copyright/trademark rights of the artist's work. Copying and using any work posted here is forbidden without express permission. If you have a blog or website of your own I would love to visit it. After your comment, make sure to post your link and I will stop by and leave a comment as well. Happy blogging.

SAPPHIC POEM #365...MY SISTER, MY FRIEND...

I am still writing poetry for my upcoming book and wanted to share this one:

MY SISTER, MY FRIEND

My sister, my friend, my lover, my vault,
We're tied by design, we're on the same fault;

Look deep in my eyes and feel my soul,
The passion we share is what makes us whole;

My hand on your breast surrounding your heart,
It's where we begin, it's where we start;

Slay your fears and find your strength,
For we can go through any lengths;

My sister, my friend, my lover, my heart,
May we always be close, may our souls never part.

(c) 2015 Kimberly D Miller


Thank you for taking the time to stop and visit and please, if you like what you've read, leave a comment. Also, please respect the copyright/trademark rights of the artist's work. Copying and using any work posted here is forbidden without express permission. If you have a blog or website of your own I would love to visit it. After your comment, make sure to post your link and I will stop by and leave a comment as well. Happy blogging.

JUST SAY IT…


Did you ever want to just express yourself to someone but fear stopped you?  Fear of how they might react, fear of how they would interpret what you meant, fear of our feelings not being returned in the way we had hoped, fear of rejection, fear of the outcome in general?  Expression is everything…it’s how we relate to one another…how we become friends, lovers, partners, etc. 

When fear stops us from communicating in the way our heart guides us to do, this unexpressed communication can build up inside of us and actually hinder the very relationship we wanted only to nurture in the first place.  We build up frustration and misery because we want to say something or tell someone how we feel about whatever subject may be on our minds, and then that frustration can turn into anger and that anger can be misdirected at the very person we were trying to express our feelings to. 

For me it has always been a fear of rejection due to it happening to me almost every time I love someone, but I have come to realize that expressing love for someone is a good thing because love is good in all forms and should be shared at all costs.  If it leads to rejection then it's better to find that out sooner rather than later so you can move forward.  The expression of love is what life is all about and need not be feared or attached to expectations. 

There is a trick to communicating effectively though.  The trick is to make sure that you are kind.  Think about what you want to say first and make sure that how you relay these feelings is in a respectful, loving and considerate manner, taking the other person's feelings by the hand.  Be empathetic as though what you were going to say was going to be said to you instead.  How you convey your feelings is equally, if not more important that what you actually say.

No matter your relationship or the degree of your relationship with another person, make sure to communicate freely and often and if you have something to say, don’t fear it…just say it.




Thank you for taking the time to stop and visit and please, if you like what you've read, leave a comment. Also, please respect the copyright/trademark rights of the artist's work. Copying and using any work posted here is forbidden without express permission. If you have a blog or website of your own I would love to visit it. After your comment, make sure to post your link and I will stop by and leave a comment as well. Happy blogging.

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

IT'S JUST FOR A TIME...

It can be daunting to think of things in terms of “forever,” but certain things we do in life have our heads turned in that direction i.e., relationships, weddings, buying a house or a business, etc. It can also mean the difference in how we approach things and subsequently deal with them. There are people who never marry for the very reason that it is “forever,” so they approach relationships with a defeatist attitude because then, if things take a turn for the serious, they feel justified in running. There are people who never buy a house or even plant roots in one place for very long for fear they may be there “forever,” so they create temporary situations in their life so that things won't seem so dull and hum drum because if that should happen...they would run. There are people who refuse to diet because they think they have to give up certain foods “forever,” and I could go on.


The word “forever” is defined as “for all time,” meaning for the remaining time you have left on earth. How you approach your choices in life will determine your outcome and if you approach everything as though it were “forever,” you may become overwhelmed and ultimately make choices that you will most likely subconsciously sabotage.


The answer? Tell yourself that everything is just “for a time,” not “forever.” Everything, even being here in this realm of life, is just for a time. We use the term “forever” for so many things, but there is really is no such thing. We live from moment to moment and we can make as many things last for as long as we want them to or for as long as they are meant to last. Telling yourself that it is “for a time,” gives you breathing room and if you know that everything in life is just “for a time,” you will make the most of that time and the best of that situation.



Try to take the “forever” out of your thought pattern and replace it with the phrase “for a time,” and see if you feel the difference in your attitude and your approach to your decisions in life. Ultimately you will feel much lighter and not prone to take everything so seriously, which in turn helps you see the positive side to every situation, which keeps you on track to making the best choices you can make for your life. Eventually you will notice that the things that did last forever (up to now), did so because you approached them in baby steps "for a time."



Thank you for taking the time to stop and visit and please, if you like what you've read, leave a comment. Also, please respect the copyright/trademark rights of the artist's work. Copying and using any work posted here is forbidden without express permission. If you have a blog or website of your own I would love to visit it. After your comment, make sure to post your link and I will stop by and leave a comment as well. Happy blogging.

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

TRUST ME...TRUST ME...


This is April...at least that's the name I gave her and she seems to like it.  I came home from work and there she was, sitting on the bench on the back deck, making herself at home. We have many stray cats that roam our neighborhood but none that have been brave enough to hang out so closely when we are home.  I love angora Siamese.  I knew she would be skittish but I had to try.  I slowly opened the door and, as suspected, every little movement and noise I made put her on instant guard.  I began talking to her in my "animal voice" which is similar to the ones we use when we talk to babies, and she would come forward and then back up for quite some time.  At one point I left the back door open and told her to hold on as I would go and get her a can of tuna.  She came a little closer to the door when she heard the can opener and then I sat in the doorway on the floor, put the can out on the deck in front of me and talked to her gently until she was brave enough to come and take a little food.  We went on in this pattern for about 15 minutes and then I let my hand dangle on the ground while she ate.  Little by little she came over and sniffed it and then ran back, then crept back up and ate more food and then rubbed my hand with her head a little. Eventually she was letting me pet her head and guiding my hand every step of the way as I did.  Once she trusted me she crawled up into my lap and rubbed all over me, letting me know just how starved for affection she was.  I was so honored that I could build her trust up and now I have a new friend.  The next morning I could see from my room that she was at the back door so I went down and opened the door and talked to her. She took a few minutes to trust me again, but then she was right there, loving my hand as I pet her wherever she insisted.  I had to go to work though, so I said goodbye and closed the door. She stayed on the deck, staring up at the window, breaking my heart with her beautiful, blue eyes.


If you live alone (or even if you don't), consider letting a pet adopt you...they have so much love to give keep you from being lonely...they are so grateful for so little. 



Thank you for taking the time to stop and visit and please, if you like what you've read, leave a comment. Also, please respect the copyright/trademark rights of the artist's work. Copying and using any work posted here is forbidden without express permission. If you have a blog or website of your own I would love to visit it. After your comment, make sure to post your link and I will stop by and leave a comment as well. Happy blogging.

Sunday, November 1, 2015

AFFIRM, AFFIRM, AFFIRM...

Affirmations are by far one of the most important tools you can use to change your life around to a positive and excitingly abundant adventure.  I have lately been reading many articles on the subject and came across this one one by Caroline Rushforth at Mindbodygreen.com.  It is entitled, 10 Affirmations to Boost Your Self-Esteem:


Self-esteem is a belief system that we create as we grow older. It is interchangeable with confidence, self-worth, self-belief and self-love. Although some people may portray themselves as being confident, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they have an abundance of self esteem.

Particular circumstances that happen to us at an early age have an effect on how we feel about ourselves and our perception of who we are. Comments people say to us, the experiences we have, and the learning’s we gain from our environment, all impact on our belief system and personal development. It’s important to remember that we are all unique in our own ways. No one is the same and nor should you want to be the same as someone else! To embrace the miracle of who you are is a wonderful thing.

To make progress in your life, it is important to be aware of how much respect you give to yourself to start with. People often look to others to validate themselves in many aspects causing them to lose their own power and control. How often do you look to your friends or those around you to make you feel good about yourself?

In order to improve your self-esteem you need to change how you interact with yourself and also other people. If you look into the mirror and say negative things, or tell yourself you are no good at something, you are going against your personal power and becoming a victim to yourself. As a result, you send messages to your unconscious mind to think and behave in a negative way, this then impacts on the way people interact with you. Self-esteem means believing in yourself, knowing that you are doing the best you know how, even if a few days later you might see a better way. It means living by your beliefs and values no matter what others say or do.

Of course inner healing of your past is not something that just happens over night, and if there have been situations and experiences that have damaged your self-esteem, I recommend that you use the technique I included in “A Simple Technique to Control Your Thoughts” or you can get in touch about having an Insight Session.

Think of the day ahead; picture yourself interacting with people in ways that affirm your worth, respect your feelings and honour who you are deep within. Think of how you will feel at the end of the day when you act in this way. Notice that as you respect yourself, others respect you also. Decide that you are worthy and give yourself permission to be true to who you are, with every word you say, and every interaction you have.

Some positive affirmations you could use on a daily basis:

  1. I am competent, smart and able.
  2. I believe in myself.
  3. I recognize the many good qualities I have.
  4. I see the best in other people.
  5. I surround myself with people who bring out the best in me.
  6. I let go of negative thoughts and feelings about myself.
  7. I love who I have become.
  8. I am always growing and developing.
  9. My opinions resonate with who I am.
  10. I am congruent in everything I say and do.
You can choose which affirmations resonate with you in the best way; and of course you may also create your own as well. By repeating these daily, you will transmit perfect nourishment to your inner being, your unconscious mind, your core self.


Thank you for taking the time to stop and visit and please, if you like what you've read, leave a comment. Also, please respect the copyright/trademark rights of the artist's work. Copying and using any work posted here is forbidden without express permission. If you have a blog or website of your own I would love to visit it. After your comment, make sure to post your link and I will stop by and leave a comment as well. Happy blogging.

IT'S ALMOST TIME..

My book of sapphic poetry is drawing ever near to completion.  I wrote yet another poem to include today:

IT'S ALMOST TIME...

Our bond cannot be broken, it spans both space and time,
Two souls split apart, for no reason, for no rhyme;

They set us free, on our own, to roam the earth alone,
For centuries we yearned and searched, for our kindred home;

If we're not meant to live as one, we'll search the future from the past,
We'll search for lifetimes yet to come, to break the spell as it was cast;

When we break through and finally know, I'll take you by the hand,
I'll lead you home, through my heart, our souls will understand;

We'll live our lives with truth and trust, the spell will come undone,
We'll be together out and proud, we'll finally live as one.



Thank you for taking the time to stop and visit and please, if you like what you've read, leave a comment. Also, please respect the copyright/trademark rights of the artist's work. Copying and using any work posted here is forbidden without express permission. If you have a blog or website of your own I would love to visit it. After your comment, make sure to post your link and I will stop by and leave a comment as well. Happy blogging.

MUSINGS OF A DAY...

(c) 2015 Kimberly D Miller Photography

The other day I went to the beach, as I do at least two or three times a week, and these are the musings that escaped from my heart, onto my journal page:

Sitting on the sand, propped up against a log, the slightest breeze wafting over my skin as I gaze out upon the horizon across the beautiful, blue sea I know in this moment that I am happy. A pelican soars above the surf searching for its afternoon meal as the fish below scatter for their lives. The sound of the waves as they crash to the shore lull my senses to serenity and my being to inner peace. A few people walk the beach, couples hand in hand, they know as I know, they see the truth, they understand. My restlessness is at peace as the sun begins to set, signaling the evening, giving it permission to ascend and take its rightful turn.




Thank you for taking the time to stop and visit and please, if you like what you've read, leave a comment. Also, please respect the copyright/trademark rights of the artist's work. Copying and using any work posted here is forbidden without express permission. If you have a blog or website of your own I would love to visit it. After your comment, make sure to post your link and I will stop by and leave a comment as well. Happy blogging.