Words are Powerful!

 "The tongue has no bones, but is strong enough to break a heart. So be careful with your words."  

                     by Still Moments 

It is known about the physical pain of suffering, childbirth, illness, burns, terminal diseases, etc. What is difficult to evaluate is the hidden pain and hurt from words. As with everything we do, we have choices.  If we learn to think first, we can make sure that our words have a positive effect because of our love of others. It does not mean that we can't share constructive criticism if the purpose is to help each other to be better individuals. 

If we can remember how words hurt us, we can begin to walk in the shoes of others and anticipate how they might feel when we speak. Words spoken in anger can't be retracted in the memory of those around us.  

What is also remembered are words of kindness, forgiveness, acceptance, and compassion. Our hearts are tender and all of us need love and respect from our families, friends, co-workers, fellow church members, neighbors and even those we disagree with. 

It is easy to lose control and lash out at others.  It takes effort to think of a way to express our feelings without cussing, using fists, knives or guns. We can use words to compromise with respect and dignity for all involved.  Bullying is not confined to children. We can recognize the power of our words to either hurt and criticize or to respect the life and dignity of others.  

Physical and emotional pain are a part of all of our lives. We can send out our words to heal each other and smooth out the life paths of ourselves and others. We treat others the way we want to be treated.  

Please check out my books and artwork on my new website:  illuminangels.com 

                                                                                     Friends

    "Remember you don't need a certain number of friends.  Just a number of friends you can count on."         Hippie Peace Freaks

         

     As we travel through life, there are many moments ranging from happiness to agony.  When we                 experience the physical isolation of Covid restrictions, illness, or fear, life becomes more difficult             because we have lost our connections to our family, friends, and co-workers. We are restricted from            touching, hugging, visiting in person, and interactions in group settings.  

     This is the time that friends who remain active in our lives fill these voids and remind us that we are          still alive and we are able to continue our relationships. It is different but still very real and                         comforting.  When my mother died, it was family and friends who provided solace, listening, and             caring with calls, visits, and greeting cards. Having friends who may also be family members, fellow          church members, neighbors or card players, can make a huge difference in the grieving process. 

      Thank you to all of the special people in my life who made themselves available during this personal          crisis. I found out that there are many people that I can count on!   

      Please check out my new website for my books, artwork and prints,  illuminangels.com. 

        

 I hope everyone had peaceful and happy holidays.  It was difficult for me this year because my mother died, very peacefully, in late December.  It was expected but it is always significant when it is a parent.  

I discovered that the most important part of the holidays is the people in our lives.  The gifts, the hectic schedules, the shopping trips, planning get-togethers, wrapping and trip planning are the icing on the cake and not essential for the spirit of the special days of holidays. The loss of someone special hopefully makes us more protective and appreciative of the significant people in our lives.  

My lifetime wish for you is in a quote.

"Don't wish me happiness.  I don't expect to be happy all the time.... Wish me courage and strength and a sense of humor.  I will need them all."    Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Life is what we make of it.  We can choose to be kind and happy or angry and sad. Anger is the absense of love. Love has endless capacity and inclusiveness. I hope that we can walk in other's shoes and develop a respect for those who have different viewpoints. Loves gives us the ability to find win/win solutions as we collaborate and interact with each other.  

Life is too short to waste it on anxiety, stress, and animosity. Keep your glass half-full and celebrate life.

Please check out my new website with my art and my books. illuminangels.com

 'Merry Christmas!

"Maybe this is the year you get everything you want! Or maybe this is the year to appreciate everything you have."  Teresa de Grosbois 

The last years have been very difficult with the pandemic, wars, world wide weather disasters with floods, fires, eruptions, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and financial issues.  We can't change what has happened but we can appreciate what we do have.  We can find much to celebrate when we look around and find our family and friends, neighbors and our communities reaching out to each other with love and peace. 

The two goals that have the greatest impact:  Love God, and love others as we love ourselves.  Everyone is suffering in some way.  The care and concern of others can make our own burdens easier.  

"Humble means recognizing that we are not on earth to see how important we can become, but to see how much difference we can make in the lives of others."  Gordon B Hinkley                                                       

I wish you humble and meaningful holidays filled with the wonder of loving and sharing our lives with others. 

Please check out my artwork and books on my website illuminangels.com                                                                                          

      After We Are Thankful

"Oh, Heavenly Father,

We Thank Thee for food and remember the Hungry.

We thank Thee for health and remember the sick.

We thank Thee for friends and remember the friendless.

We thank Thee for freedom and remember the enslaved.

May these remembrances stir us to service.

That thy gifts to us may be used for others. 

Amen"

Dear Abby column

I hope that we remember there are many ways to share love for the holidays and the rest of the year.  We can reach out to the hopeless, homeless, friendless, those who are disabled or sick, and anyone we observe who are sad or lonely. It takes time and effort to meet these needs that are not able to be purchased. It is the type of gifting that melts the heart and makes us feel that we are making a difference.  I hope that you have "melt the heart" holidays.  Physical gifts are forgotten but gifts of the heart are remembered and cherished.  

Please check out my website, illuminangels.com for inspiration.  There you will find original artwork, and books, and framed and unframed vinyl prints. 

 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.