Holidays and Politics

It is a tough time with many of the polarized political views.  It is difficult to discuss intense feelings associated with politics such as mandates for Covid, taxes etc.  We all want to be together but it is stressful to enjoy each other unless these hot-button topics can be shelved until the end of the holidays.  How wonderful if we can enjoy the moment and truly love each other with open arms.  

"Today me will live in the moment. Unless it is unpleasant.  In which case me will eat a (Christmas?) cookie."  Cookie Monster, Muppet

"Next time you are discussing an important issue with someone, ask yourself,  'Is this a monologue or a dialogue? Personally, I'm only interested in the latter."  Reese Witherspoon, Actor

Anger and frustration is the absense of love.  It is not possible to love when angry! Make the most of this life and spend more time loving than hating.  The two greatest commandments:  Love God and love others as you love yourself.  I hope you love yourself alot!!! 

Happy Thanksgiving!! Thankful people are happy people.  We can find so much to celebrate if we look for the good in life!!

Check out my new website for an art gallery, sales of original artwork, vinyl prints, and framed vinyl prints. illuminangels.com  

 "The most wasted of days is one without laughter." E. E. Cummings 

It is hard to find something to laugh about when things are not going well in our lives. I remember when my daughter was about three years old.  I had a newborn in my arms, a two year old and a five year old.  I was feeling overwhelmed with the reponsibilities associated with four young children. I went to change the baby and when I came back, I found toilet paper all over my house, from one end to the other.  

I felt like crying as I didn't think I could handle one more disaster. I asked my three year old daughter why she chose to toilet-paper my home.  She looked up at me and said, "But mom, I just wanted to see how long it was!"  I couldn't help myself when I started laughing slowly at first but eventually I was feeling the tears and the shoulders shaking. It was not the answer I was expecting, for sure! My stress level was slowly declining as I shook with laughter. It is much better than crying, I decided.  

Life is too short to short-change a sense of humor.  My daughter is 48 years old now and that moment is still fresh in my mind because of finding the humor in life, on incident and one day at a time.  When you have the opportunity, try laughing instead of crying! 

Check out my original paintings, vinyl prints, original photos and my books at illuminangels.com.  My email is illuminangels@gmail.com.  

 "The day you stop running is the day you start moving forward."  Kierkegoald

Many of us are procrastinators.  It is much easier to ignore the the issue than to face and conquer it.  I know because I have been afraid of following my dream. It takes concentration and patience for me to tackle anything involving a computer!  

When I postpone something that appears to be overwhelming, I am constantly thinking about what I have been avoiding until my self-esteem plummets.  If I took the wasted energy I used to emotionally "run away", I could get the job done quickly and as efficiently as possible considering my lagging computer skills. 

I have been writing and illustrating my own books.  I have two completed books and one in process.  My home is filled with various artwork projects.  It is exciting and frustrating at the same time.  I have had to stop running and start facing my fears and inadequacies.  

Life is what we make it.  It is our life, our choices, our responsibility and we can choose to move forward. Wasting time blaming others for our situation takes away from our ability to control our own destiny.  

Take charge of your life and make a difference for others!  Be bold and lift up yourself and others with an attitude of graditude! 

Check out my new website!  illuminangels.com  I have original artwork, vinyl prints, framed vinyl prints, framed photographs and books for sale.  

 "Have patience with all the world, but first of all with yourself." Saint Francis de Sales

Covid has impacted the entire world.  It has caused deaths, heartache, financial difficulties, shortages of everything, physical and emotional interactions with others, caused isolation and lack of work.  It has changed our use of Zoom and the internet for work, school, training, social networking, virtual doctor visits and participation in activities.  

It has also taught us to depend on God, our neighbors, friends and co-workers to survive until this on-going crisis is contained or resolved.  It has created conflicts over treatments, masks, social distancing, social contacts, medical issues and hospital beds. It is easy to blame the current situation on political leaders and politics in general, world conflicts, media portrayals of information/misinformation.  

The bottom line is that the entire world has been impacted with an illness that can affect all ages, races, lifestyles and social groups. It has, in effect, slowed the world down and it grabbed our attention. We have been forced to be patient while waiting for this illness to abate so that the world can start over and regroup. Life as we know it will never be the same.  

Life is what we make of it.  Everyday we can choose to be content, find inner peace and hope for a better tomorrow. By finding the positives in a dismal situation, we can help ourselves to get through the worst and reach for the future. Families have had time together, good or bad, to survive.  

Look back on the last two years and I'm sure you can find something positive that has impacted you, your family and friends. We have to find peace within ourselves before we can offer it to others.  Send out a positive ripple in the ponds of life to become a source of strength for others. Find a way to serve others, and you find a purpose in your life.  

Remember to first have patience with yourself then offer the gift of patience to others.  We are all in this together!

Please check out my new website with my artwork, book and vinyl prints.  illuminangels.com

Wishing

"May your life be as you wish it.  May you wish it as it is. " A quote from Katherine Wright's yearbook. 

There is a considerable amount of wisdom in these words, especially today.  Sometimes we spend so much time wishing things were different, we waste our life on regret. 

Instead, we can look at what we have and appreciate what we do have.  Simple but mighty.  Life is too short to waste on regret.  We can live today and hope that the future, although very different, may in many ways be better than what we had before the virus.  

I am finding that my computer skills are increasing as I attempt to live my life as much as possible from home.  I am connecting with family and friends in unusual ways.  I have time to think about why I am here and what I hope to accomplish with my life.  I thought about all of the men and women who have lost their lives in the military service.  We must make their sacrifices worth something by living our lives fully in the moment.  

There are many heroes both in and out of the military.  People in the medical field such as doctors, nurses, chaplains, nurse aids, housekeeping staff, emergency medical staff, employees in gas stations, stores, pharmacists, cab drivers, nursing home workers, food bank and other volunteers, school teachers, flight attendants, pilots, bus drivers, etc.  The list is endless and the kindness of others silently takes away the fear and isolation. 

Remember to bring hope to others.  Pray for those who are ill or working many hours to keep us going.  Remember, a mask worn by us can protect others around us if we are carriers of the virus.  It may protect us, especially to remember not to touch our face unnecessarily.  

Life is a journey.  Let us help each other so that the journey is easier and safer.  

Check out my book, e book and audio book, "The Dying Teach Us How to Live" and my art gallery. 

Mother's Day Has Changed!

It was a mother's day of mixed blessings.  I went to visit my mother who is in a nursing home on hospice care and experiencing dementia. She probably had a stroke earlier last week and I wasn't sure if she would come out of the lethargy, extreme confusion and lack of appetite.  After three days, she was back to herself! Amazing for a ninety-four year old! 

I have been visiting with her through the efforts of the staff of the nursing facility who help her to Face Time family.  I also went on mother's day and saw her through the window.  She doesn't understand why I can't visit  in person or hug her.  At first she thought I was mad at her. It was so different since I have been her caregiver for almost fifteen years.  I am so grateful that mom is in a home with people who care about her.  She always says, "I am happy here.  They take good care of me."  It helps so much to know that she is comfortable, clean and has loving caregivers. 

I've found out that I can count my blessings and be thankful that I placed her in a safe place before the virus lock down.  The staff are trying very hard to protect their clients and themselves.  They are heroes in my estimation because they literally risk their lives every day and work long hours. 

I am thankful for my current health and pray for those who are ill.  I am happy my mother recognized me on mother's day.  I appreciate my family and friends who stay in touch and provide encouragement.  Some day this will be just a memory and our lives will return to "normal" for this time frame in the world.  I hope we remember the blessings also!  Remember your faith is a wonderful refuge and try to find ways to help others who are also having a difficult time.  We are all in this together!  I'm keeping all of you in my prayers! Enjoy the family and friends you can visit with!  Life is so precious and it has become more valuable in the pandemic. 

Values

"There is no security for anybody if there is insecurity for many."  Eleanor Roosevelt

Many historical plagues, pandemics, and high death rates has its beginnings in slums, poor sanitation, homelessness, lack of healthcare, joblessness, over crowded living conditions, poor nutrition, rampant crime and hopelessness.  When these conditions incubate diseases, the result is expansion of the victims including friends, neighbors, co-workers, family, church and education associates, and employers.

We may forget that our lives are intertwined among the United States, other countries and the world in general.  We are interdependent on each other in order to maintain our lives with safety, medical issues, jobs, economies, mental health and pandemics.

It makes sense that if all families had a home, proper sanitation and healthcare, adequate nutrition, access to education, job opportunities, and safety, the incidents of rapidly spreading diseases would be diminished. We are all in this together.  Individuals who own businesses need people to purchase services and items for sale.  People who need services and items need money for purchases. Without give and take, the economy can not function. Not only do all the human beings in the world share souls, they also share the same needs, wants and dreams.

"Our Lord doesn't look at the greatness of our actions or even the difficulty as at the love at which we do them." The greatness of a country lies in its treatment of the marginalized and dependent members of society. Yes, we are our "brother's keeper".  Our destinies could be different and we could have been the person born in poverty instead of in a position of opportunity.

Remember the seniors, handicapped, ill or isolated people in your life who may be having difficulty in this time of crisis.  I am greatly indebted to my friend and neighbor who buys my groceries. It may seem like a small gift but to the recipient, it has a major impact.  We can all "make a difference" in unique ways, no matter how small and insignificant it seems. Just do it with love!  Check out my book, ebook and audio book, "The Dying Teach Us How to Live", my art gallery and vinyl prints