Category Archives: Thoughts On Life

In the Wild Blue Yonder

Thoughts On Life, ,

To you my friend. I’ll hold you in my heart until we meet again in the wild blue yonder.

I miss finishing each other’s sentences with the exact right thing. I miss laughing with you until I double over. I miss the way that you encouraged me to do things.

With you I learned that I could:

  • Do a 180 degree turn around in a pickup truck to get to that ice cream stand we just drove by
  • Carry an abandoned kitten that we found for half a mile to get home
  • Hike up an actual mountain in the state of Maine carrying a backpack
  • Put up a tent in the dark
  • Survive getting divorced and become a better person in the end

You also taught me that no matter what happens there is some good to be found. And that when times are rough, they will be good again.

You made my life better by being the bright spot that you were to so many. I miss you but a little bit of you goes wherever I go.

American Redbud-Lesson From a Tree in Our Yard

Country Life, Gardens, Thoughts On Life,

If you don’t like where you are at, move. You are not a tree.

I don’t know who first said this but I love it. We have the ability to change our lives.

Don’t waste it!

Time Well Spent

Thoughts On Life,

I just finished reading All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. I would highly recommend it. It is not the most fun book that I have ever read but that is to be expected since most of it takes place during World War II.

I would say that it made me think about things I hadn’t given much thought to before. And it may have changed the way that I think about people just a little bit.

If you aren’t looking for that sort of thing, it is still a good story with lots of character development. It would be an excellent book for a Book Group to undertake.

Now on to my next book!

Morning Sky

Country Life, Thoughts On Life, ,

Ohio is moody. This was my view when I arrived at work on Monday morning. The view was indeed spectacular with the beautiful sky and the cottony, white frosted trees.

Some years it has been 70 and sunny in April. Other years there have been several inches of snow.

Yesterday it rained all day long and was in the fifties. Today it has been high winds and enough snow to pile up on the fence.

We had daffodils last year at this time. Overall, could be better, could be worse. Either way I know that I will be whining by the end of June that it is too hot. This too shall pass.

Life Is Short, Have Fun!

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This is what I saw when I looked into the office area opposite from mine at work. Lest we forget, happier people are more productive.

And the beverage glass is actually a tape dispenser so this is appropriate for the work place. Besides, it’s not an every day occurrence. I came in the next day and the rabbit was sitting up and looking very productive, wearing a pair of eyeglasses. 😁

6 Ideas (Or create a ripple)

Thoughts On Life,

With all the angst and horrific things happening in our country and abroad, I felt compelled to do something. But I felt I could do nothing to have an impact. Then I came across the above quote on my Facebook memories. Great words from a humble woman who made a difference.

Makes you feel like you should perform some heroic or prophetic act doesn’t it? But she was talking about a simple act. What are some simple things that can be done?

  1. Smile at someone.
  2. Take a few minutes to listen to someone.
  3. Tell someone you hope they have a nice day.
  4. Bite your tongue instead of saying something mean or telling someone off.
  5. Take a minute to write or email someone an uplifting note.
  6. Tell a young person they are good at something.

The first few items could brighten the day of another person. A worthy goal in itself. A few simple, kind words might also be the difference between whether someone is so down or angry or depressed that they take a life. Be it their own or that of other/s.

A couple of the ideas could make the difference between whether someone pursues their talents and go on to make great discoveries or do things that change the world.

Sometimes it doesn’t take much to change a train of thought and a course of action. And you may never have a clue. Granted, most these simple ideas will not have such far reaching results. But what if just one time, one of them does?

I challenge you to do just one of these ideas. Or come up with some of your own. I would love to hear them. Create many ripples.

Work, what? No!

Country Life, Dogs & Other Animals, Thoughts On Life, Uncategorized, ,

It is hard to go to work when the second hand on the clock hits 6:00 am but you look down and see this face looking back at you from your lap.

And then you look over and also see this.

And on your way to get your coat, there is a little furry sheltie who got up to see where you are going.

And then a large, orange cat awaits at the base of the coat rack.

And they wonder at work, why I start to talk of retirement. Actually, I don’t think they wonder very hard. There is a whole world awaiting me!

Gratitude List

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My journal had a page for a preprinted gratitude list so I thought I would make a list of things that make me happy.

Who would have guessed that number one would be dogs? Hmmmm, everyone who’s ever met me?!

So according to the list, an ideal time for me would be a spring hike through gardens with my dogs while reading a book and eating a dessert. Sounds like a great time. I couldn’t work the pens in there but there has to be something left for when I get home!

Enough!

Dogs & Other Animals, Thoughts On Life,

I had a moment of clarity and vision today. It was not good.

I am a scientist. I was at work reviewing a new batch of SDS’s (formerly MSDS’s). Safety Data Sheets-a source containing information about the safety, or lack there of, of various chemicals. One of the ways they determine this is by animal testing. There, at the back of the reports were the figures derived from the Draize tests on rabbit eyes to determine sensitivity. And results of other tests done on rats, mice, etc. Some of these chemicals are acids, folks!

I had to make my mind a blank to avoid having an emotional meltdown at work, thinking what this actually meant for these animals and what they must have suffered. It turns my stomach and causes me distress.

Yes, I am a scientist. I do not need evidence from experiments on some poor animals to know that acid in my eyes or on my skin is going to cause me harm.

Enough already! These barbaric tests must stop!

Food for Thought

Thoughts On Life,

I’m trying something new this year. I got a planner for the year that has month at a time pages and weekly pages with lines to write what you do each day. That way I can keep track of my commitments but also be able to write daily.

And what am I writing on these daily pages you might ask? (Or if you don’t want to ask, then as Rosanna Rosanna Danna often said…Never-mind.) I am going to do one kind thing everyday and record it in the journal. By keeping a record, it keeps me mindful and wanting to make sure that I have something to record. Most times it’s nothing fantastic.

It could be something as simple as leaving a quarter in the cart at our local Aldi’s grocery store. (You have to put in a quarter to get a cart and then you get your quarter back when you return the cart.) At least I am working on the habit of consciously being kind. I hope that this leads to bigger and kinder things from me.

Some days when I’m jotting down my kind act (or picking my brain to remember something I did that was nice) I wonder what should really qualify? When what I come up with is “Haul wood to the house while my hubby is sick so he can rest”, does that really qualify as something nice? Isn’t that just something I should do anyway?

So I’ve discovered that the difference between being nice, and doing what you should, is sometimes a fine line. Food for thought…