Life is full of ups and downs, wins and losses, sweet and sour, dark and light. You don't get to be my age without having learned a few truths. This is some of what I know for sure . . .
Its the little things in life which mean the most . . . its not the clothes you wear, or the car that you drive . . . the house that you live in, or even the place that you live.
Its small things like having someone notice that you weren't on church on Sunday, so they give you a call or a message to make sure you're alright. Knowing that you are missed when you are not there, and that people care.
The little things in life aren’t really little. They become the cornerstone of our days and they create the life we live. They gradually paint the masterpiece that is life, yet we mistakenly believe that only the big things make a profound difference. Let this be your happy challenge today: be mindful of the smaller details of your moments. 
Its having fresh sheets on the bed, especially if they have been hung out on the line to dry. They smell so beautiful. Its being able to reach over in the middle of the night and feel the warmth of someone close by and knowing you are not alone, and if you are at the stage where you are living on your own, its knowing that you were and are loved, even if they're not right there.
Its sitting in the comfort of your own home, with your feet up relaxing, with a hot cuppa in your hands after having done something hard and physically taxing, and rejoicing in a job well done. Even if your physically hard and taxing isn't moving the same mountain that someone else's hard and taxing is. Its knowing that you've done your very best and being content with that.
Its small gestures like cheerful hellos, even from strangers. A pat on the back. A shake of the hand. A friendly wave. A smile. People making a space for you in their lives. Being remembered, cherished, loved, valued . . . . just for being you . . . . and in remembering, cherishing, valuing, loving others, just for being them.
The taste of a crisp sweet apple when you first bite into it . . . bread and butter and jam. Its just having bread and butter and jam to enjoy . . . its being able to appreciate what true wealth is and knowing its not just $$$ in the bank or hand, that make you truly wealthy . . . but that by just having even the most basic things, basic necessities covered, you have much more than many in this world have. This is what makes you rich. Its in recognising that true wealth comes when you recognise that you have enough. Enough to live and to love. Anything more is icing, on an already pretty tasty cake.
Sun rises, sun sets . . . and everything in between. Its being able to get the most out of a every day, be it a sunny day or a rainy day, a warm one or a cold one. Its in being able to find the joy in living and being and recognising that true joy comes from within and not without. People, things and experiences don't make you happy. YOU make you happy. Joy is within your power to create. You make the glass half full or half empty. Its about choice. We may not be able to choose what happens to us, but we can choose how we react to what happens to us, and how we react is . . . everything.
Its in loving and in being loved. If we love first, then being loved is sure to follow. Maybe not necessarily from those we have loved, but a kindness given/shared/entertained is never wasted. Like karma, what you put out into the universe all comes back to you in one way or another. If all that you do, think, say is motivated from a truly loving centre . . . a place of love . . . then that is what matters most.
We had a lovely visit yesterday from Sister Turnbull who served here in Chester last year, just prior to finishing her mission and returning home to Oz. It was so lovely to see her and to know that being in our home while she was here, our spending time with her . . . meant enough to her that spending time with us was something she wanted to do upon her return for a visit to all the places she served when she was on her mission. We had a lovely visit each other for a couple of hours. She is such an amazing young woman! We love you Mads!
Happy Halloween! I hope you have got some goodies in for all the ghosties and ghoulies that will be tap, tap, tapping at your door tonight! I picked up some yesterday. Each year we seem to get a few more than we did the year before. I think there is going to be a Trunk and Treat at the church as well. We never go to that because we don't want to leave our dog on her own. People tend to shoot of fireworks and they really distress her. This next week is going to be very hard on her. People tend to be shooting them off every night. She spent last night hovering between us on the sofa. I found that putting a blanket over her, helped her a lot. This fear of fireworks seems to be getting worse for her the older she gets. They never bothered her when she was a puppy. Its strange that.
And with that I will leave you with a thought for the day . . .
° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
*.˛.Be yourself,
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
*.˛.Be yourself,
because an original
is worth infinitely more
than a copy. •。★★ 。* 。
Cooking in The English Kitchen today . . . A Simple Cottage Pie. YUM!
I wish for each of you a lovely Wednesday. Be positive and don't forget!
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And I do too!
PS - I am a bit disappointed this morning. I had an e-mail from my Editor. I had e-mailed him last week because he had been really quiet. It seems now that the release of my next book will not be until January now. Apparently they have fallen behind on production. (I have a theory about that but will keep it to myself.) Anyways, it won't be out now until January. I am a bit sad to miss the Christmas Sales period, but it is what it is. At least I am having another book published so am trying hard to focus on the positive aspect of it all. To have one book published is anyone's dream come true, but to have two published, well, that's even more of a dream come true.
PS - I am a bit disappointed this morning. I had an e-mail from my Editor. I had e-mailed him last week because he had been really quiet. It seems now that the release of my next book will not be until January now. Apparently they have fallen behind on production. (I have a theory about that but will keep it to myself.) Anyways, it won't be out now until January. I am a bit sad to miss the Christmas Sales period, but it is what it is. At least I am having another book published so am trying hard to focus on the positive aspect of it all. To have one book published is anyone's dream come true, but to have two published, well, that's even more of a dream come true.
