Have you ever felt like you had already experienced something that you thought you were experiencing for the first time?

 There are times when you have a deja vu moment at the same time you are experiencing something new. It doesn't make sense at all because you are sure you had never seen or experienced it before. It's like having the same dream over and over again, which then makes you wander if it is so you will learn something from it? Or is it just a reoccurring dream like many others that you don't remember, that has no meaning at all? Some things in life there just are no answer for, not even on Google. I have always believed that everything happens for a reason even though you may not ever know why it happened. But this pandemic however, has caused things to happen that would've, could've or should've never have happened to anyone. But unfortunately it did and all any of us can do is reach out and help whoever, whenever we can. Together we can get through this if United we Stand. Which is why it is so important to lend a helping hand to others, so they can stand strong beside us. And if you want to still have your favorite restaurants to be open to visit later, you need to order take out food from them now so they will be. TO EVERYONE out there suffering that is reading this remember that even though times are tough don't do anything to get through a temporary bad situation now, that you will then have to regret and pay the consequences for your actions for the rest of your life. It is not the situations that you face that determines the outcome it is your reaction to each situation that determines the outcome. If you want a positive outcome then before you react to a negative situation STOP and figure out what reaction would give you a chance to have a positive outcome. To anyone reading this that can help someone then help them. Because you know if it was happening to you then you would hope someone would help you. Like they say....by the grace of God there go I. And we all know that karma is karma and you reap what you sow. You may not be able to take care of all of their needs but if you give them one thing they need that's one less thing they need. You may not be able to help everyone but you can and should be kind to everyone you meet because you have no idea what they may be facing. Wishing everyone a safe and Happy New Year. 

When opportunities knock, OPEN THE DOOR

 Opportunities don't come often but when they do, don't miss out on your opportunity. You will miss out on the opportunities that come your way if you keep waiting for the RIGHT OPPORTUNITY that may or not come. When opportunities come knocking at your door you have to open the door. It may not be the perfect opportunity that you had hoped for but nothing is perfect so stop waiting for the perfect opportunity, it doesn't exist. When any opportunity comes knocking at your door, OPEN THE DOOR. As we ring in the New Year don't forget that if you bring with you what stunk about last year, it will be the same old crap just a different year. Don't carry your past painful experiences with you like sandbags that will make your lifes journey harder. JUST FLUSH IT so you can truly have a FRESH NEW START to the New Year. Lost opportunities are never lost they are just taken by someone else. 

Enjoying the Christmas Joy despite being in quarantine

 Although we couldn't all gather together for Christmas, we found a way to enjoy the Christmas Joy with everyone we couldn't see in person. We exchanged gifts by having them pick their gifts up outside while we waved from the window inside. Then this morning they called us after they opened up their gifts. Obviously it wasn't the same not being together but we still created memories of the Christmas we had during the pandemic. Before you know it we will be ringing in the New Year. Unfortunately some of our New Years Resolutions may have to be put on hold until later in the year. But we can all make a New Years Resolution to find small ways to help someone struggling due to the pandemic. You will have to get creative with your ideas to keep your social distance to keep everyone safe. The seeds of kindness you plant in your community, will grow in your community and spread to other communities. Giving your neighbors a helping hand will create better relationships in our neighborhoods. Paying it forward pays off for everyone later. Your random acts of kindness may not seem like much to you but they can make all the difference in the world to them. Especially NOW more than ever people desperately need random acts of kindness. You may have a lot of LOVE in your heart but can anyone FEEL it? You don't have to know how to swim to save someone drowning just throw them a life preserver. Merry Christmas everyone.

Trying to do something cheaper can cost you

 Sometimes you don't bother to read the instructions because you assume it will be easy to do. This usually backfires. Just when you almost get it done you end up realizing that something isn't quite right. Eventually you look at the instructions to troubleshoot what is wrong. Only to learn that you have to take it apart because you missed an important step. In the end it turns out that if you just would have read the directions it would have taken less time and hassle. Speaking of instructions, make sure you don't throw out the instructions to anything as you open your Christmas gifts. Because you may not think so but you just might need them. And I have learned that skimping on getting the exact supplies that are recommended won't save you money in the end. Because in the end you waste your time and money when it doesn't work without the exact supplies that are recommended. Substitutes can work but only if it can be substituted. In other words, it is what it is and it ain't going to work if it doesn't work. With only one day left until Christmas it's time to get those last minute things done because you are running out of minutes. Quarantine has changed how we celebrate Christmas but quarantine or not Santa will soon be here. Wishing everyone a Holly Jolly Christmas and a happy New Year. 

Watching out for each other and flying reindeer

 It won't be long now before Christmas. Christmas Joy is in the air. Although for some people who are all alone at Christmas, it is lonely. Reach out to those you know that are alone and share some joyous holiday cheer with them. You can warm their heart as well as their tummy with a tasty desert or your famous casserole dish. If you don't have time to bake you can share a conversation, even though you have to do it from a safe distance. Your mask may be covering up your smile but they can still see it in your eyes and feel it. With the quarantine many of us will be spending Christmas without being able to gather with our friends and family. But pandemic or not, Santa will soon be here. We bought a few plants that we are going to put in people's yards Christmas Eve without telling them. We hope when they find them Christmas morning for at least a brief moment they wander, did Santa bring it? Remember the reason for the season isn't going into debt buying gifts you can't afford to buy. Have a Holly Jolly Christmas everyone AND a Happy New Year. 

How are children going to believe that Santa fills their stockings when everywhere you look it says, great stocking stuffers?

Although children love the gifts they get from others, Santa's visit is the magical part of it. As adults we know that every child deserves the right to believe in Santa Claus. But it is hard when everywhere you look in stores there are signs that say, great stocking stuffers. Really? Sales papers get delivered to your home with headlines that say, great stocking stuffers. Even commercials on the TV advertisement say great stocking stuffers available at these locations. Can't we all come up with a CODE WORD to say instead of GREAT STOCKING STUFFERS? We should, so that the children can experience a magical Christmas. It won't be long before Christmas will be here. And even though we are quarantined and I know that Santa isn't coming to fill the stockings, I can't wait for Christmas. I have enjoyed the Christmas decorations that bring the Holly Jolly Spirit feeling. Being quaratined had brought the aura of our homes feel stuffy. But the bright cheerful colors have brought a much needed change into our homes. I have also had plenty of time to look at the ornaments on my Christmas tree. I have owned many of them for decades. I realized I have some special ornaments that I had not appreciated owning to enjoy, until now. You can get caught up in the fast paced world you live in and forget to STOP so you can "smell the roses." We can't enjoy what we got if we don't take the time to enjoy what we got. Just like kids won't believe that Santa fills their stockings if we don't come up with a CODE WORD for stocking stuffers.

The truth is easy to remember

 If you want to know if someone is telling the truth just ask the question several times. Because the truth is easy to remember but they forget the lie they told you so their answer is never the same. Sometimes when I know they keep telling me one lie after another I just keep asking them the same question to entertain myself. I am amused by how nontalaunt they are at saying something different each time with a straight face looking me dead in the eye. They seem to actually think I believe them. There was a time when you could see it on someone's face when they were lying. Nowadays people are good at keeping a poker face as they lie and unfortunately you can believe them. Don't tell someone yes to something if you know you have no intentions of doing it. An honest NO let's them know they need to ask someone else. One lie just leads to another and eventually even you don't know what the truth is and you will get trapped in your own lies. Honesty really is the best policy to live by not just for others but for yourself. Karma does bite you in the butt one day when you least expect it. And right now Santa is making a list of who is naughty or nice so be good for goodness sakes. 

Cyberspace apparently has a Bermuda triangle

 Today when my phone updated it somehow deleted all my emails from the last month. How can my phone even affect my emails is a mystery. As I wrote a blog just now it somehow disappeared. Is it happening to everyone or just me? Will it all suddenly reappear or is it forever lost in the cyberspace Bermuda triangle? Although we are all quarantined to keep each other safe I have realized that quarantining has many negative effects. My youngest grandchild seemed as if he had forgotten who we were when we recently seen him. I can not wait to see my grandchildren whenever I want. I read a story about someone who had not seen their parent in a nursing home in months by the time they did she did not know them. I am lucky to have a chance to create a bond with my grandkids again but their mother's dimentia worsening will make it harder for them to connect with her again. I try to make sure my blogs are more uplifting but the effects from this pandemic has had a negative impact on our lives. So many businesses have closed there doors permanently. The negative personal and financial affects on people all around the world are real and unfortunately have had negative impact on our lives. On a lighter note, the day after missing Thanksgiving this year we were already excitedly planning on what we were going to do next Thanksgiving. And now that they cooked their own Thanksgiving Dinner I will have less to prepare because they all made things that they plan on bringing for us all to enjoy. Now I won't have to wish I had two ovens because I will only be making part of the meal. Now that is one positive thing that came from the pandemic. And the fact that we have all missed each other we have lots of things planned to do together as soon as this pandemic ends. Absence does make the heart grow fonder. We have already planned on things we are going to do next Christmas even though it isn't even Christmas yet. I had not made gingerbread houses with my grown children since they were young. But they have decided next year a week before Christmas we were all going to gather and make a giant Christmas Village just because next year we can. I am glad we all still have the Christmas Joy even during the pandemic. 2020 has been a terrible year but luckily 2021 is just around the corner. Although the first few months will be rough we know once we all get the vaccine the quarantine will end and then even though it won't be exactly on New Years Day, we can all gather together to celebrate the New Year. It will be a celebration that we have all dreamed about to help us get through the last year of not being able to gather to celebrate anything. Like the song by Prince says we are going to celebrate like it's 1999 in 2021. Merry Christmas to everyone and cheers to finally having a vaccine. 

No two people are alike

 We may be similar but no two people are exactly alike. Not even identical twins. We each are unique. We may agree on some things but we don't agree on everything. Our differences are what makes us unique individuals. If we were all the same there wouldn't be any new inventions. It also would make things boring when you don't have anything new to talk about. We all have things that we are good at as well as things we are not good at. Luckily you don't have to know everything because you can always find someone who does know that you can ask. We can all look at the same thing but see something different. We can all hear the same thing yet interpret it differently. It doesn't mean that someone is right and someone has to be wrong. It just means that right or wrong we see what we see and hear what we hear. Don't let a simple difference in opinion over something that isn't important, destroy a relationship that in your opinion is important. Just because one person is a vegan and the other person isn't doesn't mean they can't go out for dinner together and have a good time. 

We won't know for a long time but one thing is for sure ...

 It's hard to imagine just how different things will be when the Pandemic ends. But without a doubt life as we all knew it will never be the same. Although they won't be the same, without a doubt we will figure it out as we go. If you want a positive outcome make sure every decision you make along the way you can be proud of yourself for when all is said and done. Because at the end of the day, pandemic or not, you will have to live with the consequences for every decision you make. If you don't want any regrets, then don't do anything that you would regret. If you wouldn't want it to happen to you, then don't do it to anyone else. If someone needs help and you can help them, then help them. Because if you needed help you would hope someone would help you. Just remember that times are tough on everyone so don't do anything that makes things harder on anyone. Although we need to social distance so the virus doesn't spread, they will still see the smile even behind your mask that you are sending their way. Be kind to everyone you meet because you have no idea what they may be facing. Spread a smile not the virus, wear a mask.

They may not remember you at all but they will never forget

 You can have a huge impact on someone's life even though they may not remember you at all. There are many times when you were steered in a certain way of thinking about things that had a positive affect on you. Sometimes you don't remember when, where or who taught you it, but what you learn during a brief encounter can make a world of difference. Encouraging words help others to FLUSH away any doubts that they may have. Some people don't understand how inspiring it is to hear something as simple as YOU DID A GOOD JOB. Telling someone THANK YOU may not seem like a big deal but it is to the person who you SHOULD say it to. And when the store is out of TOILET PAPER don't take it out on the cashier at the store. You can't imagine how many times they have had GROUCHY customers that they have encountered and had them spew their FRUSTRATION all over them. And remember they have no idea when TOILET PAPER will be back on the shelves. Instead you should THANK THEM for having to work during this pandemic touching every single item that every single customer they serve has touched before them. Try to give one person WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT once a week. Now during quarantine that can be hard when we can't go out and about to see anyone to have an encounter with. But you will go somewhere like the grocery or a drive thru restaurant at LEAST once in a week that you can and should say THANK YOU to. Remember to be KIND to everyone you meet because you have no idea what they may be facing. You may have a lot of LOVE in your heart but can anyone feel it? A wise man knows that if he doesn't SHARE his wisdom with anyone then no one can BENEFIT from his wisdom. WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT will give them the COURAGE they may.need to get through the difficult situations they are facing. And now more than ever during a PANDEMIC there are many people facing difficult situations. If you don't have nothing NICE to say then PLEASE don't say anything at all, THANK YOU

Christmas is the only holiday that last for more than 24 hours

 Most holidays you have only 24 hours to enjoy them. But Christmas, it can be felt and enjoyed for an entire month. The Christmas Joy is in the air throughout the entire month. All the holiday decorations everywhere you look keeps the Holly Jolly feeling flowing inside us. The Christmas shows are popping up for us to enjoy no matter how many times we have already watched them. I think more people will hang outdoor Christmas lights to bring some holiday cheer to their surroundings as they quarantine. Our local holiday tree stand has popped up like every Christmas Season before. But this year he added outdoor Christmas decor for sale, not just Christmas Trees and Stands. He realized that their customers needed the Christmas Joy not only inside their homes but outside during the Quarantine. And of course he knew he could provide what his customers needed and make a little extra money for himself that he sure needed. This year definitely isn't going to be a traditional Christmas. You won't be able to do some of the traditional things you normally do but that doesn't mean that you can't enjoy the Christmas Joy. Not even a pandemic can prevent you from enjoying the Christmas Spirit and love inside you still despite the fact that you are quarantined. It's just like the Grinch couldn't take away the Christmas Spirit in whoville in the movie The Grinch who stole Christmas. Going to break out the Christmas music this weekend so it's handy to set the mood throughout the season anytime I get in the mood to listen to them. Can't wait to hear Elvis, he is always the first one I listen to. It just wouldn't be Christmas without Elvis singing throughout the room spreading his Christmas Joy with his music. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Do you still have a record player? We do. Luckily they still sell record players and vinyl records. Heck some of those old vinyl records go for a lot of money today. Too bad most of us threw them out decades ago. There are many things we "used to have" that we threw away that are valuable today. Hard to say if someone saves everything we call them a hoarder. But they also could be someone who knows that if they hang on to something long enough it MAY become valuable someday. I definitely didn't think the clothes I wore in highschool would one day be vintage clothing that is highly sought after. I don't know how I went from writing about Christmas to clothing I wore decades ago. But during quarantine I have spent a lot more time on my phone where random things pop up sending my thoughts from one thing to another. One of the negative side affects from being quarantined for so long are bound to be caused to our eyes by spending too much time scrolling through the internet reading things that we would never read if we weren't bored out of our minds at times and need to fill it with anything to pass the time. I am still debating whether all this stuff I am reading about that I normally wouldn't read will positively inform me with information that will be useful in my life or is it just entertainment. Time will tell. Back to Christmas. Will you be hanging Christmas lights on the outside of your house this Christmas Season for you and your neighbors and the people who drive by your house can enjoy them?

You have to let it go to move on but you can't....

 You have to let go of the painful experiences in your past to get back up and moving again. But at the same time you can't forget what you learned from your past experiences in order to avoid experiencing them again. There is a difference between remembering them and reliving them. You can remember that it was a painful experience without experiencing the pain again. Your life experiences, both the good and the bad, are part of what shaped who you are TODAY. Your past doesn't define you but it does mold you into who you become. You can't change the past but you can change your future by what you learned from your past. If you remember something that you enjoyed doing then make a plan to do it again. If you remember something that hurt you, let that be a reminder not to ever do it again. We all make mistakes in life but a wise man never makes the same mistake twice. 

Being entertained by nature

 During the quarantine I have been entertained by the animals and insects in my yard. They just move about freely with no knowledge that there is a pandemic going on. Today I watched and heard a woodpecker going from one yard to another. The squirrels that I call tree rats just scampered around grabbing acorns and burying them for food in the winter. There were two of them that played chase with each other for hours it seemed. The butterflies and hummingbirds stopped by on there way through the neighborhood to gather some pollen from my flowers. As I was entertained by nature I felt relaxed, no longer feeling cooped up in quarantine. Watching nature is yoga for the mind, body and soul. Then out of the blue I got bit by an ant. I was so busy watching the squirrels that I hadn't noticed that I had stepped in a line of ants blocking them. As I stepped back to get out of their way I noticed that they all seemed to be carrying stuff. One of the had what looked like a piece of leaf that was five times his size. He kept wobbling out of line as he struggled to carry it. But he just got back in line and continued on his journey. I followed the trail of ants to see where they were going. It lead to a crack in the cement where one by one they disappeared as they carried their treasures they had found. Who knows how deep their underground home was or how many ants were hidden deep in the ground. You would be surprised at just how many species of bugs and animals that are living in your own yard. When you are feeling cooped up during quarantine go outside and do some yoga for your mind to see how many you can find.

Looking forward to some Christmas Joy

 Although covid-19 has been weighing heavy on our minds, don't let it keep you from feeling the Christmas Joy. For the next few weeks we can all use some holly jolly in our daily lives. Don't forget the reason for the season is to be Merry, not go into debt buying gifts that no one needs. Debt will only make your circumstances harder when you get the bills for what you bought. As we have been in quarantine for many months we have had plenty of time to go through drawers and cabinets to get them organized. We decided to go through old pictures and put them in photo albums to give as gifts to our grown children. We hope it brings them as much joy looking through them as we felt. I do have to admit that along with the joy of reliving happy memories it made me realize I was old. Friends of ours made their family and friends bird houses. My friends daughter in law spent the last few months during quarantine to grow beautiful potted plants for gifts. She used unusual objects that she had in her garage as flowerpots to make them unique to the recipients taste. For instance, even though I am not supposed to know, she pulled the hair out of a fifteen inch troll doll and grew me a beautiful succulent plant inside it. I can't wait to see it in person. During quarantine you can be creative and come up with handmade gifts that were made out of love that they will be able to feel. 

You can't be happy with what you got until....

 You can't be happy with what you got until you are thankful for what you got. You don't have everything you could ever want but as long as you have everything you need you should be thankful. There are some people struggling during this pandemic to have their basic needs met. Look at your circumstances and be thankful that your glass is half full and drink it. You could die of thirst surrounded by water if you don't take a drink. Write a list of all the things that you are thankful for and be thankful for them. It's all in how you look at it. You either see your glass as half empty or half full. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Time to get out the family recipes

 The recent pandemic spikes means if you want to have a family favorite dish this Thanksgiving during quarantine, you will need to get the recipe. Since we can't get together we must each make our individual Thanksgiving Feast. Some of the dishes were made by others and brought for us all to enjoy every year. Now if we want it, we will need to find out how to make it ourselves. I keep reminding myself that by the time the holidays come around next year we will all be vacinated. And after having to miss spending time together for an entire year it will make each of us appreciate getting together on a whole new level. We have had time to think about what we enjoy most about those around us now that we have experienced a quarantine where we couldn't be around them. Sometimes you don't know what you would miss until it is gone. Even the little things about someone that annoys you, you will miss. What will a Thanksgiving Dinner for only a few people look like? It is still a Day to be Thankful for everything you do have even though you can't physically spend it with everyone like you want to this year. A quarantine will take away how you celebrate but quarantine or not Thanksgiving is still Thanksgiving and we all have plenty to be thankful for. 

There will be a lot more leftovers this Thanksgiving

 We had planned on eating Thanksgiving outside this year. But with the number of those having covid-19 on the rise, doesn't seem safe to gather outside either. I had already made my list for the Thanksgiving Feast, now I will have to shorten my list. I don't need everything on the list if no one is coming. It was a surprise to see just how many of the items on my list I still wanted. And even though I know we won't eat much of each item, it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without them. So I am going to still make our traditional Thanksgiving Feast knowing that there is going to be a lot of leftovers. Which means for days we will be eating leftovers. Now I just have to choose which desserts I want to have leftovers from for later. Instead of gaining five pounds like I normally do from Thanksgiving Dinner I worry that I will gain ten pounds from having too many leftovers. 

Is it a New Day or Ground Hog Day?

 Every day you wake up is a New Day. When you get out of bed start thinking about what you can do today. Don't get out of bed and relive everything that happened yesterday. All that does is make everyday a repeat of yesterday like in the movie Ground Hog Day. It's the same old thing just a different day. You can't go through life reliving yesterday and enjoy your TODAY'S, no more than you can safely drive a car only looking in the rearview mirror. It's impossible to let go of your past if you keep it fresh on your mind. The instant the thought of yesterday pops up, JUST FLUSH IT out of your mind before you have to relive it again and again. Spend today and every today enjoying what TODAY brings for you to enjoy. To enjoy your life you got to enjoy it while you are living it. 

If you keep putting it off until tomorrow it will never get done

 Nothing will get done if you keep putting it off until tomorrow. You have to do it TODAY eventually so do it TODAY so you can relax tomorrow. Yesterday is already gone, tomorrow may never come but TODAY is the day to do what you need to do so that it gets done. Otherwise you will spend all your TODAY'S wasting your time and energy making plans for how you are going to do it TOMORROW, OVER AND OVER AGAIN. Just do it so you can JUST FLUSH IT OUT OF YOUR MIND. The sooner you get it done, the sooner you can relax because it's done. 

Whether it is true or not

 If you believe it is true then whether it is true or not, it is what you base your opinion on. Your thoughts are your reality. Whether they are based on real reality doesn't matter. Your thoughts are the reality you live. If you want to change any part of your life you will have to change how you think before your reality will change. It is all in how you look at it. If you see only the negatives then you can't have a positive thought about anything. You don't need to pay thousands of dollars to go hear a motivational speaker. Just get in the habit of looking as long and hard as you have to until you find something positive about every day. It's like one time my friend and I stopped by a little junk store. Before we got out of the car we could see that this was truly a junk store. And to beat all it was car part junk not knick knacks like we were looking for. For the fun of it we decided to make a game out of going inside and hunt to see if we could find anything we would want to buy. It wasn't necessarily fun looking through all the rusty dirty items but we took on the challenge. And we were both determined to find something, it was a game we were determined to win, just cause. Just as I was about to give up, I found something that still hangs on my wall nearly three decades later. It was a basket woven to be a crow. He said his dad had hung that up when he first opened the store up decades ago. So now it is over a half of a century old and I will treasure it forever. If I didn't look until I found it, I never would have found it. It is not the circumstances that you face that determines the outcome. It is how you react to whatever you face that determines the outcome. You will find what you seek. If you look for a way for you to have a positive outcome you will find a way for you to have a positive outcome, no matter what you are facing. If you look for trouble you will find it. 

because other people are doing it doesn't make it right

 If you know it isn't the right thing to do then don't do it. Just because other people are doing it doesn't change the fact that you know you shouldn't do it. So don't do it. Doing the right thing is the right thing to do, period. You choosing not to do it won't necessarily stop someone who is already doing it. But standing up for what is right can inspire others to not do it. If you ignore it or participate in wrong doings you are making it acceptable behavior. And if you accept it, it will become a common occurrence. By accepting it you better expect it to happen eventually to you or someone you love. You must stop any bad behavior from the start so it won't happen to anyone if you want to make sure it doesn't happen to you. Remember what goes around comes around. And you do reap what you sow. Unfortunately as a society everyone of us have to live with what each and every one of us sow into our communities. If you want to feel safe in your own community you have to do everything you can to make sure everyone in your community is safe. Common courtesy, common decency and common sense need to be what we all have in common. Plant seeds of humanity into your neighborhood so it can grow. The WORLD won't get better on it's OWN, WE ALL MUST DO OUR PART. 

 

Our lives are like a soap opera

 As the WORLD turns, is the name of a soap opera, but it is also the perfect name for the description of LIFE. You never know what you will have to face during your life's journey. No matter what happens, it is your life's journey. You will navigate through it as you face the good times and the bad times. No matter what gets thrown your way it's just life. And AS THE WORLD TURNS our life's journey continues. We only have one life to live and we just have to enjoy life while we are living it. It may not be the life you thought you would live but you have to be thankful that you are alive to live it. This pandemic has literally turned the entire World. And AS THE WORLD TURNS, this pandemic has thrown us all for a loop. But we will all get through this more united than ever as together we stood up against a common enemy. We saw each other as a partner not as enemies. Everything happens for a reason and sometimes a tornado in your life is the only way you were ever going to get there. 

Taking care of yourself is not selfish, it's being smart.

 You have to take care of yourself first in order to be able to help those around you when they need your help. Your not being selfish, your being smart. It may be hard to say no, but if you know you can't, then you have to say no because it is in everyone's best interest. You can throw someone a life preserver if they find themselves on thin ice. But you can't go on the thin ice to help them and put yourself in danger. It's important to be helpful and optimistic, but you have to be realistic about what you can and cannot do for someone. Taking on more than you can handle means not everything will get done. You can only do what you can do. Doing what is best for you is what is best in the long run for everyone. Especially now during a pandemic you have to be careful to keep yourself safe so that you keep everyone around you safe. Doing what is best for yourself is not being selfish it's necessary to ensure that you will be able to help others when they really need your help in the future.

It won't happen if you don't do something to make it happen

 You can't wait for something to fall into your lap. You have to go after what you want. You have to do the work it takes to get it. Nothing will change if you don't actually do something so that change is possible. Keep in mind that if you don't do something different than nothing will change. It will be the same old thing just a different day. Make your plans to make changes in baby steps so you don't set yourself up for failure by setting unrealistic goals. It seems less overwhelming when you tackle it one step at a time. As you reach each step give yourself credit for the work you put into it to get you there. It will motivate you to get started on the next step. But you won't get anything done if you don't get up and do something, so get up and get'r done.

A narrow view can keep you from seeing it

 If you have a narrow point of view, you might not see what is right in front of you. If you walk around with blinders on you could get blindsided. You need to stay focused but keep an open mind so you can see any opportunities that you can take or dangers  to avoid along your journey. Things in life don't always go as planned. You can plan the path you need to take but you won't know how hard your journey will be to get there. Don't limit your possibilities by not seeing what is possible for you. Keep all your options open by seeing what options are available for you. Keep your eyes wide open on your life's journey to enjoy all that life has to offer you to enjoy. Knowing what to do is only possible if you know what you need to do. What worked for someone else may not work for you. What worked before may not work anymore. Don't limit yourself on what you can do by limiting your point of view. You can't choose what is truly best for you if you don't know what all your choices are. 

What will the holidays look like this year because of the pandemic?

 Tomorrow is Halloween. But because of the pandemic it will be different. Luckily my grandkids are going to an outdoor Halloween party. Therefore I won't have to worry, as much, about the number of people who could possibly expose them to covid-19. But as we all know even a small family gathering also has some risk. And even though the grocery store has its risk, you got to eat so you have to put on your mask and take that risk. Things will be different but my grandkids were still excited as they ordered their costumes on line to avoid the stores. We have decided to gather for a Thanksgiving meal, but we will be eating outside this year, just in case someone has it and doesn't know it. It will be a shorter visit but it will be nice to get together after many months apart. I know without a doubt that I want to watch the grandkids open their Christmas gifts from us. Pandemic or not I wouldn't miss the Joy they ooze at Christmas time for the World. Hopefully we will start New Years Day with a vaccine to end the Pandemic of 2020. Forever we will each remember what life was like during a pandemic. But don't let the pandemic stop you and your family from enjoying life. It may be different but you will just have to learn how to enjoy life in spite of the pandemic. The holidays are still a chance to create special memories and share your love and joy with others, even if you have to do it from a social distance or virtually. 

Don't let our differences blind us from seeing our similarities

 We are all unique individuals which means there will be differences between us. You don't have to agree with everything they say to call them your friend. BUT if you want a friendship with them, you do have to agree to disagree to enjoy the love and friendship, in spite of your differences. Choosing to build a relationship based on you both having the same core values to build on. You may not agree in little ways but that's okay as long as you agree on the important things in Life. Who you surround yourself with has a profound affect on your life so you have to choose wisely. But don't let the small differences of opinions on subjects that don't matter in the long run, keep you from enjoying them as a friend. You will never know someone if you don't take the time to get to know them just because they have a different opinion than you do on something insignificant. We won't agree on everything but as long as we agree to disagree we can enjoy each others company. 

Are you waiting for the perfect opportunity?

 Are you waiting until the perfect time to do something? Since nothing is ever perfect, you might be wasting your time. Not only do you waste your time, you miss out on all the opportunities that you passed up on because they weren't perfect. It doesn't matter what PERFECT thing, person or opportunity you are waiting on, NOTHING IS PERFECT. NO ONE IS PERFECT. So don't look for what is not there. Don't wait on it because it isn't coming. Take advantage of the people and the opportunities that come your way so you don't miss out on the only opportunities you will ever have. Opportunity may come knocking at your door but you will never know unless you open the door when it does.

Trying to please everyone is stupid because you can't please everyone

 The turmoil you go through trying to please everyone around you can damage your health. It's impossible to please everyone. Fifty percent will be upset either way you go. It's nice that you want to please others, it shows you have compassion for others. But you have to take care of your own needs and desires for your overall well being. Doing something you REALLY HATE the thought of doing just to please someone else is not good for you or for the relationship with the person you are doing it for. You won't bond while doing it because you will be frustrated that you are doing something you absolutely don't want to be doing it. Be honest with yourself and with them from the beginning and tell them no. An honest no does far less damage. Sure they will be disappointed but trust me, they will get over it. But if you force yourself to do something that you absolutely don't want to do the turmoil inside you will have a negative impact on your overall well being. You feel pressured to do it so you stress over the thought of doing it for days or even weeks before it is even time to do it. The ten minutes or an hour of doing something to please someone else isn't worth the countless hours or days you lived in turmoil. Just be honest with yourself and them from the start and say no. There is nothing wrong with saying no. Just say NO so you can JUST FLUSH IT OUT OF YOUR MIND to maintain your overall well being. An honest NO is best for everyone.

You may not like it when it rains, but we need the rain

 Having to go out while it is raining isn't what you want but we need the rain. Needing something is a blessing when you get it, even though it may come at an inconvenient time. You have to be thankful that it came. You may have a favorite Season but there is something to enjoy about each Season. Those that live in colder climates couldn't imagine living in sunny Florida. But those that live in Florida can't imagine living in freezing winters. You adapt to whatever climate you live in just like you have to adapt in this ever changing WORLD we live in. The challenges we all face during this pandemic is tough whether it is cold or hot outside. We will get through this but we will have to adjust and bend like a pretzel to do it. You may get wet when it is raining but you know we need the rain.

It's not a good deal if you buy something you don't need

 If you don't need it you don't buy anything no matter what a "good deal" it is. As I was clearing out my closet to make room to start setting the gifts I bought for Christmas, I found lots of little "good deal" items in there that I had bought for a "good deal" since last Christmas. There were a few that I was excited to wrap up that I knew who I bought it for would love. But there was also a pile of items that no one i know would even want. I tried to remember if I bought it for anyone in particular but I had to admit that I only bought it because it was a "good deal." I didn't want to wrap them for anyone and they feel obligated to pretend that they love the gift that I bought them. Then take it straight home and throw it in their closet with a bunch of other gifts that people had bought them (that they won't use) over the years past. Don't waste your money on junk no one would want no matter how good of a deal it is. That's a waste of money and closet space for anyone to store it in. Bake them there favorite pie instead. That definitely won't end up in the closet. 

Memories that need something to trigger them to remember them

 Our minds have stored more memories then we even know. Some memories you think of often. Sights, smells, sounds, and words can trigger particular memories. Like when I hear an old song that I loved as a teenager. I can see and feel present in the decades old memory as if I had been time warped back. I am sure there has been times when someone relives a memory that you two shared that you had totally forgotten about. But it triggers the memory that you had buried deep in your mind then instantly you can vividly see it in your mind. At that moment you say, oh yeah I remember that now. Having happy memories be triggered is a good thing. But unpleasant memories can also be triggered the same way. I have learned that certain songs bring up negative memories so whether I like the song or not I turn the channel before I get time warped back and have to relive it. Spending time during the quarantine to have more conversations with friends and family, on the phone of course. It has triggered many fond memories that we both had forgotten about as we have plenty of time to connect and just have "small talk" that we never made time for before the pandemic. I am hoping we all call each other more often even after the pandemic to have more chances to relive treasured memories that we won't remember unless they get triggered. 

To maintain your overall well being takes more than just watching what you eat

 You already know that to maintain good health you have to watch what you eat and exercise. But did you know that to maintain your overall well being you have to also watch what you let eat at you mentally too. Just like you have to avoid unhealthy food you have to avoid letting negative thoughts eat at you. Take the painful experiences from your past and JUST FLUSH IT out of your mind to maintain your overall well being. You may have had no choice but to go through the painful experiences when they happened the first time but YOU CAN AND YOU SHOULD choose to not relive it. Everytime you relive it in your mind over and over again then you yourself are letting  it hurt you over and over again. JUST FLUSH IT out of your mind every time it pops up in your mind so you can maintain your overall well being. You can't stop negative thoughts from popping up front and center in your mind, our minds have a never ending stream of thoughts running through it. But at a quick glance you can JUST FLUSH IT out of your mind before it can cause any damage. To stay healthy it is not JUST what you eat but what is eating at you.

When the Halloween stuff goes out on the shelf, so too does the Christmas stuff go out on the shelves beside it.

 Every year as they put out the Halloween stuff they also put out the Christmas stuff. They go hand in hand apparently. Thanksgiving doesn't even get mentioned. With the pandemic going on still in full swing the holidays will be a little different this year. With social distancing still a must I am not sure the family will be able to gather together. That will be very sad but, it's a pandemic so we will have to make memories another way. Today I had my oldest grandkids take snapshots of things that they wanted on Amazon. Although they won't be surprised at what I get them since they picked them out themselves. But I could invision the smiles on their faces and hear the excitement in their voices as they looked for things to take snapshots of to send me. It was a Christmas memory that I was able to enjoy in October. I am sure even though it won't be a surprise they will smile every time they remember what gift they were getting from Grandpa and Grandma. As they wander what is in the packages under the tree from their parents and others, the thought of what we will bring over will pop up from time to time. And the day I bring their gifts over even though they know what it is, it will bring a smile to their faces to finally have what they sent snapshots of. It might not be the same kind of Christmas but the Christmas Joy will still be in the air, even during a pandemic. But regardless if they know what is in each package the robots I always make out of their boxes of presents will still make them smile from ear to ear. And even I don't know what they will look like until I start creating them. Don't let the pandemic take the Joy out of Christmas. It may be different but it's an opportunity to get creative with your Christmas Joy and make memories to treasure of your Christmas during the pandemic. I just had Christmas Joy with my grandkids in October because of the pandemic and I will get to enjoy it with them again when it gets closer to Christmas. So it really is all  in how you look at it. I can be disappointed that I couldn't get out and shop for gifts that would be a surprise to them because of the pandemic. Or I can look at the fun and Christmas Joy I just had with my grandkids in October that I had never done before because of the pandemic. The pandemic has many negative effects but if you look for it you would see it also has had some positive effects. Like people getting connected to their human side and having compassion for each other. Like families spending time together and enjoying family meals together. Make a list of all the things you have done that you enjoyed but you would have never done if it wasn't for the pandemic. 

Saying please and thank you is more important than you may ever know

 You probably already know how hard it is to resist someone when they say please. The look on their face seems to be begging you as much as the word please does. You know that if you want something you may have to say please to get it. But telling someone thank you for normal everyday things should not be overlooked. My son actually got all of us in the habit of saying Thank You for even the little everyday things. Like making him dinner, he has instilled in my grandchildren the same thing, they all say Thank You as I hand them their food or a snack. He even tells me Thank You when I do his laundry. When you tell someone Thank You it makes their efforts feel important. Even if as his Mom of course I am going to cook for him and do his laundry, it sure feels nice when he notices and says Thank You. Acknowledging when someone does something for you with a Thank You is important. When a stranger tells you Thank You when you do something nice for them it makes you feel good. When someone holds a door open for you, automatically you smile and say Thank You. Especially during this pandemic when someone holds the door open for me I am so very Thankful because that is one less thing I have to touch that could have coronavirus on it. Remember to say Thank You to acknowledge someone's good deed whether it is your spouse, your child, your parents, your friend, your neighbor, your lawn guy, the store clerk or a stranger. It will mean more to them then you will ever know.

A bump in the road doesn't change your direction it just adds a detour

 Throughout your life's journey there will be an occasional BUMP along the way. Just like when there is road construction areas you just take a detour that will lead you around it. It will lead you right back on track, just a little annoying. In your personal life there will be bumps that you will have to figure out how to go around them yet still remain on your path. With the pandemic the road has been VERY BUMPY for everyone. For some it has made them take a different route with a different destination then they thought they would go. I have talked to many restaurant employees who had to find other types of jobs since restaurants took an especially hard hit during the pandemic. At first they were upset about changing careers but after six months they like their new line of work and are thankful that they had no choice, they needed income or they never would have thought about it as a career. People whos jobs allow them to work from home during the pandemic love it. They hope there bosses will allow them to work from home permanently. Trying to keep companies going during the pandemic has had many bumps and hurdles to accomplish. Patience and creativity are key during the pandemic. Remember anyone can make a mountain out of a mole hill if they keep adding dirt. Don't react to a bump in a way that turns it into a mountain. Just go around the bump.

What is the most important thing you learned about yourself during quarantine?

 During quarantine you have a lot of free time on your hands. Which means you have a lot of free time to think about the "little things" that you never even noticed before. You get to know those around you as well as yourself in a much deeper personal level. Unfortunately some of the things that you notice aren't exactly positive traits. You can't change the negative traits you saw in others, but you will forever judge them with what you learned in mind. But the negative traits you saw in yourself, well you know you have to work on eliminating them to be the best you can be. Having time to reflect on yourself and evaluate where you are and who you truly are is at times painful. Be thankful that you have had the time and the insight to see your strengths and build on them. As well as seen your weaknesses that you can overcome so they don't hold you back. Living through a pandemic has forever changed us all. We went from a fast paced world too busy to stop and smell the roses, to a quarantine where at a snail's pace we can't help but notice every new bloom on our rose bushes. There are many positive things that have happened to us all on a HUMAN level, which in reality we all needed because we had lost touch with our HUMAN side. To be the best you can be you have to work on the things you noticed that you have to change about yourself that is keeping you from being the best you can be.

Your EMOTIONS create energy

 It's hard to hide your EMOTIONS. If someone is angry you feel it, the tension is in the air. You could be full of positive news to share with them and the tension they bring can zap the happy right out of you. Who you choose to associate with has an impact on your EMOTIONS. Do you know someone who is always sucking the joy out of you with their negative energy? Do not let anyone become a vacuum and suck the joy out of you. Look around you and be honest with yourself. Decide if you are surrounding yourself with people who evoke positivity in you. Your thoughts make up the reality that you live. If you have negative thoughts, it will have a negative impact in your life. If you have positive thoughts, it will have a positive impact in your reality. Focus on the positive things in a situation to have a chance for a positive outcome. If you react in a negative way to a negative situation, there is no chance at all of anything but a negative outcome. Don't surround yourself with people that point out all the negatives. Look for those that give you encouraging words that will help you navigate through the tough times. To keep a positive attitude you have to surround yourself with positive people who evoke positive thoughts.

Relax when you can to keep moving when you have to

 When you got a busy day coming up make sure when you are making plans that you plan on getting rested up for it. Don't wait until the last minute to get prepared leaving no time to relax to have energy for your busy day. To do the best you can do you got to be the best you can be. And to be the best you can be you need to get proper rest so you can be the best you can be. A little ZEN TIME will go a long way. Don't make so many plans that you overwhelm yourself, leave time in your busy life to have the ZEN TIME you need for your overall well being. 

Why did they stop teaching it in schools?

 My teenage son has been so bored during quarantine that he has entertained himself by learning how to cook us a meal. Showing him how to do it was not only bonding but as his parent it is awesome to know that he now will be able to cook for himself throughout his life. Way back when I was in school every student, both male and female, had to take a Cooking class, a sewing class and a Child education class in school. It was mandatory to pass. It was to make sure that everyone had basic LIFE skills that they needed to be independent. Why don't they teach our children this in school these days? They are still just as important as reading and writing. Art and music and creativity are also Important to our overall well being. Why don't schools have those types of classes on a regular basis anymore? We need to try and bring back those classes into our schools mandatory curriculum so they can learn BASIC LIFE skills that they will need to be independent when they graduate. 

It may not be exactly the same but they both are good

 Having to rely on home-made meals with your family, has made us all chefs. The joy in the voice of the many stories I have heard from people surprised that they could even cook. They would have never known if they weren't forced to because restaurants are closed. As they described the ingredients they put in their chilli I realized it was nothing like mine but it sounded good. Many people have told me that even after the quarantine is over, there was several meals they planned on making often on a regular basis. Home-made meals are also healthier foods. The memories and bonds we are making with our families during quarantine are ones we will be thankful for long after the pandemic is gone. Even during difficult times there are moments of Joy. 

Plant a positive seed and watch it grow

 A positive message can have a long lasting effect on the well being of individuals. Words of encouragement can immediately turn someone's day from a bad day to a good day. Positive thoughts can spark creativity and boost their self-esteem. It gives them a positive outlook that will allow them to have a positive outcome. With a positive attitude they can do everything better and they are more pleasant to be around. Plant a positive message and watch it grow. Let them know that no one is good at everything but everyone is good at something. Focus on what you are good at and build from that. The rollercoaster of Life is full of ups and downs, as well as twists and turns. A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery while they navigate through the detours on their life's journey. Give them words of encouragement to help them on their life's journey. 

If you see trouble coming then get out of the way

 If you know it isn't good for you then don't do it. If you know it ain't right, then don't do it. If you are heading in the wrong direction then turn around. If you know what to expect then you shouldn't be surprised. If you see trouble coming then get out of the way! Accepting the things you can not change will let you focus on the things you can change. It is what it is, so accept it for what it is. Knowing what you can do is only possible if you acknowledge and accept that there are things you can't do. You can only do what you can do. 

The twists and turns are part of your life's journey

 To navigate through life during a pandemic we all have to bend and twist like a pretzel. But we will get done what we need to get done. The rollercoaster of Life will have it's ups and downs, but we will put on our seatbelts and we will be fine. To get through the tough downward times just remember that it will soon shoot upward again. Just make sure you don't do anything on the downward times that will prevent you from experiencing an upward moment. The outcome is not determined by the circumstances that you must face but on how you react to the situations you face. If you do the RIGHT thing then everything will be ALRIGHT. 

A "point of view" that they didn't see

Your "point of view" is your reality, even if it isn't what others see. If you show them a different view they might see things differently. Just telling them that they got it all wrong won't matter because until they can see it from a different "point of view," they can only see it from their view. After years of frustration with my neighbor over his loud noises that are impossible to sleep through, there is finally peace after nine pm. One short conversation over the fence solved it after years of arguments. His reasoning was he had a lot of issues he was dealing with. I brought it to his attention that I nor my husband nor my son had ever done anything to cause him any of those issues. I also brought to his attention that everyone especially nowadays was facing tough issues. But that as neighbors we didn't have to make things harder for each other. He agreed and stops the noise by nine pm now that he sees it from that point of view. I wish we would have had that conversation years ago and avoided all the sleepless nights. When you want them to understand your point of view then you have to show it to them from your point of view so they can see it. Telling them and showing them are two different things. If you want to get your point across you have to show them your point of view. We all have a different point of view because we see things differently even when we are seeing the same thing. It's all in how you look at it. If you want them to see what you see then show them so they can see it from a different view. Seeing is believing.

Being thrifty now because you have to

During these tough economic times you have to learn how to be thrifty. Instead of being embarrassed that you have very little money, be proud of yourself for being thrifty to get by. What you have learned will save you money even when you get back on your feet. Because of the quarantines and restaurants being closed, many people had to learn how to cook. When the pandemic is over you can continue being thrifty and continue to cook for your family. Just think of all the money you can save for peace of mind now and in the future. Times have been tough but there have been many positive things that have come out of it, like quality time spent with family that wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for the pandemic. And through the struggles I believe humanity will grow in our neighborhoods.

Doing something for someone else is good for you

When you help someone else when you don't have to, it makes not only them feel good, you feel good. It's hard to describe just how good you feel about yourself. It's so refreshing to know you made a positive difference in someone's life. Sometimes when you are always doing something for your family and friends it feels more like an obligation to help those you love. But when you show kindness to a complete stranger that you don't know and will probably never see again, that is an amazing feeling. Of course it is just as amazing to the stranger you help. I remember being short ten cents at a store and told the cashier to take off one of my items and the Lady behind me in line handed me a dime and said here that isn't necessary, I can help. Now a dime doesn't seem like much but it brought tears to my eyes. I had a little money in the bank but I was trying to stay on budget. I just was so overwhelmed with emotion that she cared enough to help me. Especially when many people in this World seems so cruel and uncaring towards each other. You don't have to solve someone's problem to help them. It doesn't have to cost money even. Just having compassion and acting on it to make a positive difference can make all the difference in the world. Just a kind word, or a smile, or holding the door open for someone can have a positive effect on them. A random act of kindness goes a long way. I would like to thank Mr. Mike for his kind words I got in his email this morning, it definitely was nice to find and started my day off in an inspiring way. Be kind to everyone you meet because you have no idea what they may be facing.

How do you want to be remembered?

What will people remember about you? Will they remember how you were when you were at your best behavior or will they have more memories of your not so pleasant times? It's possible they will remember both the good and the bad times. But hopefully you had more positive interactions than bad. We are all human and have bad moments. Do the good memories far outweigh the bad memories? You may have a lot of love in your heart but can anyone feel it? Take the time to let those around you feel your love. What you do today will create the memories they will have of you. So create the special memories each and every day that you want them to remember about you.

Are you overwhelmed with things that are out of your control?

If you are overwhelmed by things that are out of your control, then ease your mind by focusing on the things you can control. Many things that are weighing heavy on our minds during this pandemic, are out of anyone's control. It's hard to know what lies ahead when what the future will hold is uncertain for all of us. But don't lose focus on your integrity and your honor during these difficult times. Because when it's over you want to be proud of how you handled yourself during these difficult times. And you will reap what you sow. Doing what is right through good times and bad times is the only way for you to have a positive outcome when things are all said and done. You can't say that you had no choice because the choice to do what's right is yours and yours alone even during a pandemic. Even a pandemic is no excuse for bad behavior. Be kind to everyone you meet because you have no idea what they may be facing.

Your EGO can get in your way

Having self esteem and pride in yourself is very important. But when your EGO is too big, it can get in your way. It can prevent you from seeing things realistically. It can prevent you from seeing that having flexibility is necessary to achieve your ultimate goals. It can prevent you from hearing the facts necessary to achieve your goals. If you think that you know everything then you won't be able to learn as you go. If you want to work things out in your favor it will take being open to what it will take in order for things to work out best for everyone involved. Sometimes the only way to get what you need, is to compromise so that they can get what they need too. You may be the CEO of the company but without your employees it wouldn't be as successful.

You know if you play in the rain you are going to get wet

You know that if you want to be the best you can be, you have to do the best that you can. You know that if you go looking for trouble, you will find it. What you get out of life is based on what you put into it. If you surround yourself with people who inspire you to be better than you have a good chance to do better. If you surround yourself with those who will lead you down a rocky path then you will have no chance at all of doing better. If you set yourself up for success then you will be successful. If you set yourself up for failure then you will fail. Look around you and ask yourself, is this where I want to be? If you are heading in the wrong direction then turn around and get back on track.

When you write it in permanent ink in cyberspace it is permanent

You probably should think about it before you hit send. Once you send it in cyberspace it will be written in permanent ink. Surely you know that. Recently I had received a message on Facebook from an old friend I had not seen in almost a decade. Before I responded I scrolled through their old post to see what they had been up to. It didn't take long to learn that where they were in life wasn't anywhere I wanted to go. Obviously I did not respond. Had they not posted all the chaos for me to see, I could have made a decision I would have regretted. Take a moment to go through your own social media accounts to see what your posts say to those that might read it. Are you someone who they would want to be around? Before you hit the send button, take a moment to think about what message that would send about you.

It's not only what you say that matters, how you say it also determines what they hear

If your tone of voice says your disappointed then they can't hear the compliment you said in your words. If your tone makes them go into "Defense Mode" their ears close. It's seven percent what you say and ninety three percent how you say it. Your words might be what they need to hear but if they can't hear you they won't be able to help them. If you are grouchy it is best that you save your encouraging words until you can say them in a encouraging way. I looked into the mirror and said the same message with different tones in my voice like happy, glad, proud, frustrated, disappointed, disgusted, and angry. I saw my face go through all kinds of distorted ways as I tried to show each of those emotions. And let me tell you what, if you try looking in the mirror you would see just how ugly and scary you can look when you say it in every negative tone. When you say it with a happy tone, everyone is happy. When you say it in a proud tone , they feel how proud you are of them. So remember that it is seven percent what you say and ninety three percent how you say it.

In tough times you have to make tough decisions

One thing is for sure, the pandemic has given us all a culture shock that will forever change us all. Nothing will be the same. Businesses will not return to business as usual. Until it is done reeking havoc, we will not know what will be left to build upon. Don't be so quick to make a decision that will narrow your point of view or make your options so limited when all is said and done. Keep an open mind to the possibilities so that you have a positive outcome when it's over. Don't let greed and fear change who you are. Don't lower your standards to get by during the pandemic or you won't have the moral support and pride to stand on your own two feet when it is over. Times are tough and we will all have tough decisions to make to get through these tough times. Even during a pandemic your future is determined by your actions today. Be kind to everyone you meet because you have no idea what they may be facing.

Without competition your opinion means nothing

Having competition will keep everyone to compete for your business. Without all the "Mom and Pop" stores to keep them honest they honestly don't have to care whether their customers are happy or not. They know that since the customers have no where else to even get what they need, they will have no choice but to come there if they want it. The pandemic has caused, and will continue to cause a lot of these "Mom and Pop" stores to close their doors for good. As that happens the "customer service" at those stores remaining open will not be necessarily good because they have no competition. They know that customers won't dare complain when they have no where else to get what they need. They will have to take whatever the store managers and employees do if what they need can only be purchased there. So keep this in mind when you need something now to support your local "Mom and Pop" stores so they can remain open. Because having competition will keep stores competing for your business.

Like they say, sometimes it is better to say nothing at all

I am sure you have  heard the saying, If you don't have anything nice to say then don't say anything at all.

To be the best you can be only takes doing your best

No one is good at everything, but everyone is good at something. To be the best you can be, takes doing the best you can. You won't be successful at everything you try but to be successful at anything you have to give it your best and try. If you can't do it you can at least say with pride, I gave it my best effort. Others may not see how hard you tried but all that matters is that you know that you did the best you could. Sometimes to be successful you have to first learn from the mistakes you make while trying. Keep in mind when you were young and you were trying to learn to ride a bike. Everyone falls down many times but because they want to ride the bike, they keep trying until they finally get the hang of it. Success doesn't happen in an instant, it comes from hard work.

When is going from a million to ten a good thing?

Our minds have an endless stream of thoughts clogging up our mind to the point where PEACE of MIND has no room to get in. If you can reduce a million thoughts down to ten, you immediately feel better and you can think more clearly. PEACE of MIND really is JUST a FLUSH away. All you got to do is take all but ten of the million thoughts that are clogging you up and JUST FLUSH IT out of your mind so PEACE of MIND has room to get in. To clearly see what you need to do you have to be able to clearly think about it to see what you need to do. Clearing the clutter of thoughts in your mind is the only way for PEACE of MIND to have room to get in, so JUST FLUSH IT. PEACE of MIND really is JUST a FLUSH away.

As long as you take care of your necessities in your life, you will have at least your necessities

Making your "to do" list with more than you can possibly do is a guarantee that you won't get your "to do" list done. Don't set yourself up for failure. You can be so overwhelmed just thinking about everything on your "to do" list that you can wear yourself out mentally and physically without doing anything. Have more than one list. One list of the things that are a necessity to get done and a "when I get extra time" I will do list. Separating things you need done into more smaller, manageable projects will motivate you, by not overwhelming you. You can only do what you can do no matter how long you write your "to do" list. To lessen your load start by taking everything that doesn't really need done off your list. It may be as easy as one, two three but not possible if there is also a four, five, six "to do" too.

The outcome is determined by how you react

Many of us all around the World from all walks of life are having to deal with uncertainty at these difficult times. Although we are each affected on many different levels, we are all affected. The pandemic has forever changed every single person in the entire World. Stress is a natural reaction to life experiences. But too much stress causes problems in nearly every system in your body. Including your immune system. It increases your risk of a heart attack or stroke. If it is not a life or death situation then don't stress about it to the point where you make it one. The outcome is not based solely on the situation you are facing but on how you react to the situation you are facing. Before you react STOP and think about what is the best possible outcome and then do whatever you have to do to have the best outcome possible. Learn how to reduce your stress so your immune system stays strong and you reduce your chances of a heart attack or stroke. Being mentally stressed out has a negative outcome on your physically well being as well. If it isn't important in the big picture of your life then JUST FLUSH IT out of your mind to ease your stress. If it doesn't really need to be done then don't stress about getting it done. If it has to be done, then get it done so you don't have to stress about doing it.

Without saying a word you are still saying something

If you look the other way, you are saying it is okay with you. If you ignore bad behavior when it is happening to anyone, you are saying that it is acceptable. By making it acceptable behavior, it will become a common occurrence. If you ACCEPT it then you can EXPECT it will eventually happen to you or someone you love. Choosing to do nothing is still a choice you make. Without saying a word you are saying something. If you wouldn't want it to happen to you or someone you love, then you must prevent it from happening to anyone. If you want to feel safe in your community, then you have to ensure that everyone in your community is safe. If you see someone who needs help then help them. Wouldn't you want someone to help you if it was happening to you or someone you love?

Is a junk drawer really full of junk?

The more time I spend at home the more "junk drawers" I find. I have also realized that "junk drawers" are not always in a drawer. I found "junk drawers" in baskets, in boxes, as well as drawers. There seemed to be a "junk drawer" in every room, tucked somewhere out of sight. As I needed things I would dig through a "junk drawer' hoping to find just what I needed. What I noticed was most of what was in these "junk drawers" was really junk. They were full of all kinds of things that I would never need or even use. I would find little tidbits of pieces needed for things that I didn't even own anymore. Have you looked at what you have in your "junk drawers" recently? It is a walk down memory lane as the tidbits bring up old memories. I decided to spend a few seconds each time I found myself digging through a "junk drawer" to enjoy the memory of an item then throw it away. Slowly but surely I got rid of enough junk out of the "junk drawer" to quickly be able to find the tools and the tidbits that I might need. By the time I get done, I hope to have only one "junk drawer" in the whole house not one in each room. You never know what you might find in a "junk drawer" but I guarantee you that if you look through your "junk drawer" you will find a lot of junk.

Not knowing what to expect is worse than expecting the worst

Like the old saying says, Hope for the best but plan for the worst. If you expect the worst then you start making a plan about what you can do if the worst happens. If you don't know what to expect, it will catch you completely off guard, knocking you down.  That is why giving someone an honest no does far less damage than telling them yes when you know you have no intentions of doing it. If you tell them no they will find another way to do it. If you tell them yes then they won't look for another way to do it, because they took you at your word that you would do it. If you know what to expect you know what you need to do. Being prepared for anything means you will be prepared for whatever comes your way.

You may forget what you said but they won't forget

My fortune cookie took me a minute to understand. It said, No one has a good enough memory to be a good liar. Suddenly as I realized what it was saying, I could see several images of people in my mind who I had run across throughout life. They would say one thing one conversation and the next time the details were different. I had often wandered if they realized that last time they said four and this time they said seven. But they always seemed to not remember as they continued on with their story. There had been a time or two where I stopped someone in mid conversation to say hey last time you said four. This only caused tension in the air as they tried to deny ever telling me four. Now I have learned to not bother to confront them. But what I did learn was I would never believe a word they said anymore. Like the Fortune cookie said no one has a good enough memory to be a good liar.

You become very creative when times are tough

When times get tough you have to get creative to get through the tough times. When you are faced with tough decisions, you will have to think of a way to have the best outcome. Which also will take "creative thinking" to figure out a way, by thinking outside of the box to make a positive outcome even possible. In stead of being angry during the quarantine about being stuck at home, get creative with ideas of things you can do while you are stuck at home. By the time the quarantine is over, your yard and your house will get a homemade makeover that you would have never done if you weren't quarantined. For years to come you will be proud of all the "little projects" you had done. Even going to get groceries when you find empty shelves takes creativity to provide food for your family. Who knows you just might discover some new family favorites that you never would have cooked except you had to get creative with what you had.

When you are in "defense mode" you can't see or hear

When you feel threatened you go into "Defense Mode." That is the natural human reaction to protect yourself. You build a "wall" to shield yourself from getting hurt. But you can't always live in "Defense Mode" or that "wall" will block you from all the good things in your life too. You don't have to, nor should you, let your guard down but you need to take the "wall" down if you want to enjoy your life while you are living it. You may be surrounded by those that love you but if you don't take the "wall" down, you won't be able to feel it. If you are always in "Defense Mode" then even though you may have a lot of love in your heart, no one will be able to see it or feel it.

You can't move past what you don't leave in the past

We all have had negative experiences at different times throughout our lifetime. You just have to learn from them to make sure you don't repeat them. You can't move past what has happened in your past unless you leave it in your past. Keeping it FRESH on your mind makes it the present moment you live day after day because you relive it over and over again. You have to take the painful experiences from your past and JUST FLUSH IT out of your mind so you can enjoy today. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come but TODAY is yours to enjoy. No matter how many times you relive it, the outcome will be the same. You can't change what happened no matter how many times you relive it. But you can quit reliving your yesterdays. Otherwise everyday is the same as it was yesterday. Don't carry every past painful experience with you like a sandbag on your life's journey. Lighten your load, JUST FLUSH IT,

Are you waiting for something that may never come?

Having dreams is good but realistically, not every dream comes true. Don't miss out on the "little things" in life waiting on "something big" that may or may not come your way. To enjoy life while you are living it takes enjoying it while you are living it. Some of your most treasured memories can come from even the most not so pleasant moments in your life. Some of your greatest achievements were only possible out of necessity when you had been knocked down. It may take a "tornado" in your life to get you where you need to be. Life doesn't always turn out like we had planned but we only have one life to live to enjoy, so enjoy it while you are living it. Like the plaque on my wall says, so this isn't "home sweet home" ADJUST.

Do you see it as a weed or a wish flower?

Dandelions have two lives to live in a short amount of time. First they grow into a sunny yellow flower adding a touch of color in a sea of green grass. Then one day it shrivels up and before long it blooms a second time into a white fluffy flower. Some people see a red seed dandelion as merely a weed. While other people see it as a unique flower that is two flowers in one to enjoy.  They look forward to a chance to make a wish on it, that is if they catch it at the right stage of growth. When you see a dandelion do you see a weed or a wish flower? Do you see a glass as half empty or half full? How you look at something will determine what you see. If all you see is the negative side to everything then you will never see the positive side of anything. There are pros and cons to everything but before you make a decision about anything, you need to consider both the pros and cons. Sometimes the bad outweighs the good, but sometimes the good outweighs the bad. Which is why you need to think about the positive in each situation not only the negatives in each situation so you will know if the good outweighs the bad.

You may have thought about it but...

I read a story the other day about the generosity of a customer giving a car to a fast food employee, who's car had broke down. He had seen him walking to work and after years of coming to the restraunt he knew he was a hard worker and was always pleasant. He had an extra car so anonymously, with the help of the manager he gave him the car. Most people don't have an expensive way like that to help someone in need to that extent. But every random act of kindness makes a positive difference to them. The story inspired me to do something to help a random stranger. With the pandemic I wasn't going out to see anyone. After thinking about it I finally thought of something I could do. Since I didn't know what anyone needed I decided I could at least make someone smile. I gathered some of my grandkids toys that they had outgrown to put out at the road and sit on my porch and wait to see the smile on the face of who stopped by to pick it up for free. I put out the kitchen playset with the table, dishes, food, toy appliances, even a toy microwave, as well as many other toys they had outgrown. Within literally two minutes, a car pulled in my driveway and two women got out with smiles on their faces as they loaded up their car. I couldn't help myself, I hollared out have fun, as I waved with a big smile on my face. As I thought about all the fun times their children would have when they got it home, it warmed my heart to imagine the smile it put on their faces. Now more than ever before people could sure benefit from random acts of kindness.

When you care too much about what everyone else says...

When you realize that opinions are as diverse and plentiful as leaves on trees, you realize that your OWN opinion is of the greatest worth. That is when your confidence grows. Respecting your OWN opinion transforms you and your World. When you begin to care too much about what everyone else says, your confidence shrinks. If you keep changing your opinions based on what others say, you are no longer yourself. To determine if someone is sane or insane, is based on whether they can on their OWN make decisions for themselves. You will never gain someone's respect by changing everytime the wind blows, it is when you stand confident in your OWN worth that respect is earned. Before anyone else will respect you, you have to respect yourself. To be proud of yourself you have to be proud of who you are. Keep in mind that no one is perfect, we all make mistakes. But as long as we learn from our mistakes, it's just life lessons we learned the hard way. Just growing pains. So when someone gives you their opinion, invision it as merely one of many leaves blowing in the wind.

You won't know unless you try

Obviously no one knows how to do everything. And what they do know how to do now, is only because they tried to do something that they had no idea how to do. You won't know unless you try. If you tell yourself that you can't do it, then you won't be able to do it because you will never even try to do it. Start saying I don't know how to do it but I will try and who knows maybe I will be able to do it. And if you try but can't do it you can at least say I tried. And then if it is still something that you need done, you can find someone who can get it done for you. If you are going to have any chance at all you will have to take a chance. To get anywhere starts by  taking the first step to get there. Opportunity may come knocking at your door but if you don't open the door you will miss your opportunity. You miss one hundred percent of the shots you don't take. There is no magic wand to make things happen it takes actually doing something to make anything happen. If you want any chance at all at getting it, you will have to do whatever it takes to get it. You have to be stubborn about your goals but be flexible about your method to reach them.

If you want to have a right to your opinion you have to let others have a right to their opinion

We all have our own opinions. Therefore we know that our opinions are all different. We don't have to agree with everything to agree that we should respect and accept the fact that our opinions are going to be different, and that is okay. As long as we treat each other with respect and common decency, our differences in opinions doesn't matter. It's not our differences that matter but what we all have in common that matters most. Common sense, common decency and common courtesy is what we all need to have in common. As long as we all stay connected to our human side, we can spread HUMANITY to replace the INSANITY we see in society. Be kind to everyone you meet because you have no idea what they may be facing. This is true now more than ever.

A moment to gather your thoughts is necessary to make an informed decision

Being spontaneous from time to time is important. But if you are making an important decision you need to consider all the facts so you can make an informed decision not an uneducated guess. Even what you do spontaneously takes a little bit of common sense before you decide. There are always consequences for your decisions which is why you have to take a few moments to think about it before you react. Because once you react you can't take it back. And how you react determines the consequences that you will have to live with. Remember that if something sounds too good to be true then it probably isn't true. Also you have to remember that what works for someone else doesn't mean it will work for you. You have to do what is best for you because you are the only one who has to live with the consequences. It's your life and your decisions make up the reality you live.

You can't appreciate it until you acknowledge it

We all take a lot of things for granted. If you make a list of all the things that you are grateful for, you will realize that you really don't need what you thought you were lacking. You can't appreciate what you got if you don't acknowledge what you got. Just think how lucky you are to have everything you need, not feel cheated that you don't have everything you want. When you get upset at the cost of your car repair, remember some people don't have a car. Don't get angry that you have to repair the roof on your house, be thankful you have a home because some people don't. As we all struggle through this pandemic, we will have to keep writing a list of things that we are thankful for to distract us from thinking about what we can't do. I know everyday I am so thankful that I have electricity to stay cool from the scorching heat outside. Just waking up everyday is something to be thankful for. To enjoy what you have, you have to know what you got.

Don't hit the snooze button

To start your day off on the right foot starts by you NOT hitting the snooze button. You set your alarm for the exact time so you know you have enough time to wake up and get started on time. If you hit the snooze button you will start off behind schedule. Just get up when it goes off. There is a reason you set it for that time. Most of the ten minutes of snooze time you spend frustratingly trying to fall back asleep. Then you run around frantically trying to get ready on time. You are your most alert and energetic in the morning hours. So starting the morning off right will determine how productive your day will be. You know breakfast is the most important meal of the day and if you hit that snooze button you won't have time to fuel up for the day. Your day starts the minute the alarm goes off and hitting the snooze button is your decision whether you will have a good day or a bad, think about that before you hit the snooze button.  If you find that you need ten more minutes of sleep each day then go to bed ten minutes earlier each night. I often wander why they put the snooze button on an alarm at all. Because like they say if you SNOOZE you LOSE.

If you want things to be different then you have to do something different

If you keep doing what you are doing you are going to keep getting what you are getting. If you want things to change then make a change. Life has no remote control so you have to get up and change it yourself. If you want anything to be different you will have to do something different, otherwise it's the same old thing just a different day. Remember the definition to insanity is to keep doing things the same way and expecting a different result. Without a change nothing will change. If you know it's time for a change then stop wasting your time. Some situations require you to have to make major changes but most of the time, with a few tweaks and minor changes it can make all the difference in the world. Before you know what needs to change you have to be totally honest with yourself about what has to change. Change can be hard and sometimes painful but nothing is more painful than staying stuck somewhere that you don't belong. Before you celebrate INDEPENDENCE DAY, make the changes that are necessary for you to be able to celebrate the personal independence free from things that were holding you down. A change will do you good so for goodness sake JUST CHANGE IT.

Don't let their opinions change who you are

We each as individuals are unique. You can have things in common with others but we are all totally different from each other. We each have our own opinions. It is okay to listen to other people's opinions but the only opinion that matters is yours. You can't keep changing who you are to please others because then you are no longer yourself. You decide what is best for you because you are the only one who has to live with the consequences of your decisions. You decide whether you are honest or not just like you decide what to eat for dinner. Just because other people are doing it doesn't mean it's the right thing for you to do. You won't be comfortable in the skin you are in unless you are comfortable with what you are doing in the skin you are in. If you want people to know you as a honest, hard working person who is compassionate, then be honest, hard working and compassionate. Like the sign I saw said... Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.

Choose your battles

You don't have to win every battle to win a war. Choose what is worth fighting for because sometimes PEACE is better than being right. Compromise let's everyone win. With a little give and take you can both get what you need. Working together gets a whole lot more accomplished then playing tug of war against each other, and nothing gets accomplished. Neither of you can get everything you want but you both can get everything you need. You can be stubborn about your goals but you have to be flexible about how you can achieve them. As long as there is compromise then your goals won't be compromised.

You won't know which way to go until you know where you want to go to

You have to decide where you want to go before you can choose which way to go. You can't just sign up for college until you decide what degree you need to get the kind of job you want when you graduate. You won't know what direction to go on the highway until you decide where you are going. You can't reach your goals unless you set goals for yourself. Your dreams can't come true if you don't have dreams. If you get knocked down in life you have to either stay down or get up. You may have not have been able to prevent yourself from falling down but whether you stay down or not, is your choice. Sometimes it takes you falling down lower than you have ever been to stand back up taller and stronger than you ever were. Sometimes it takes a tornado to get you where you are supposed to be because it was the only way to get you there. It's hard to understand but growing pains are painful. But nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere you don't belong.

Have you heard the phrase, my way or the highway?

I hadn't heard the saying, it's my way or the highway, in a long time. So when I heard it I was surprised. There are many things from decades past that have become common and popular again. I never thought I would see bell bottom pants come back in style, but they have. Unfortunately none of us, or at least I didn't, save any items for four decades until they would become popular again. When I see someone wearing styles like I did four decades ago it brings a ton of visual memories that make me smile. When I hear "old phrases" from time to time, it brings up many happy memories for me to enjoy. Our minds are full of buried memories that are forgotten and they won't be remembered unless something triggers them. I have always enjoyed walking around a flea market where old memories can be triggered as I look at what people are selling. I don't have to buy anything, I just have to see an object that triggers a forgotten memory suddenly vivid front and center in my mind. One day I saw an old lamp exactly like the one my aunt had in her home. Instantly many memories of time spent at her house flooded in my mind that made me smile from ear to ear. I felt bad when the lady selling it thought for sure I was going to buy it after spending so much time staring at it while I was reliving memories with a big smile on my face. I stroll through the many ailes of the flea market enjoying all the buried memories that all the random objects trigger. Each time I go there I never know which relative or friend I will get to spend time with.

You don't have to have the answer you just have to listen

It's sad when you see someone going through a rough time and there is nothing you can do to help and you have no advice to give them. But that doesn't mean you can't help them get through it. If you just take the time to listen to them, it helps. If you listen long enough it helps them feel better. If you just allow them to share their story and respond with empathy and understanding, it helps them. You don't have to have the answer you just have to take the time to listen. It's possible as they tell you they not only feel better but they see the "whole picture" and see an answer to their problem. You don't have to be a doctor to make someone feel better, you just have to be a compassionate person and take the time to listen to them. They say laughter is the best medicine and you can give it away for free.

Father's day is the day you let your father know how much you love him

To be a parent is a hard job. As a parent there is nothing you wouldn't do for your children. Letting your Father know how special he is to you, means more to him than any child will ever know. We are just  twenty seven hours away from making the day all about him to show him how special he is to us. As I helped my grandkids make cards for their Father you could feel the love that they had for him. When your children are little they just beam from the inside out with love that is easily seen and felt. The quarantine may keep some people from being able to physically visit their Fathers this year. That doesn't mean you can't talk to him so he can feel your love. Time talking about memories you two have shared will still allow him to feel your love. For those of us who's Father's are no longer with us, you can still think about memories you shared with him and feel his love. And if there is truth that their spirits are still here with us, he will feel your love. Happy Father's day to every Father.

Don't stunt your growth

You have no choice in how tall you are. But you can stunt your "personal growth." How you VIEW yourself, NOT how other people VIEW you, will decide whether you personally grow where you are planted. If you only focus on your faults, you can't see your many strengths on which you have to build on. The only way to make the "most of what you got" is to realize what you actually have first. You don't have to be good at everything, you just have to be good at everything that you decide to do. People are entitled to their own opinions but the only opinion that matters is your opinion. Your personal growth depends on whether you let yourself grow naturally without stunting your personal growth. You have what it takes, the only question is, will you use what you have? 

Everytime you think of it, you feel the pain

Take the painful experiences from your past and JUST FLUSH IT out of your mind. Keeping it FRESH on your mind won't allow you to HEAL. Everytime you relive it in your mind, it hurts you. Once was bad enough. You can't STOP the painful memories from popping up but you can JUST FLUSH IT quickly out of your mind so it can't hurt you again and again. You can't forget it but you can choose to never relive it again. By the same token, if you enjoyed a past experience you should plan on doing it again. Choosing to do the things that evoke happy feelings and AVOID anything that evokes negative feelings. Your thoughts make up the "REALITY" you live. You can't have a feeling without a thought. Remember Peter Pan couldn't FLY until he thought of happy thoughts. There are times in life when the only way to have a good day is to FLUSH AWAY a bad day. Peace of mind really is JUST a FLUSH away, so JUST FLUSH IT. To have peace of mind you got to make room for it to get in.

If the answer is no then don't say yes

Don't say yes to someone when you know you have no intentions of doing it. An honest NO does far less damage. If you say yes then they stop looking for another way to get what they need done. If you would have just been honest and said no, they would have kept looking for a way to get it done. Don't say it if you don't mean it. There is nothing wrong telling someone NO. But saying yes when you know darn well that there is NO chance you would do it, is wrong. By the same token you can't overwhelm yourself with more than you can actually do by saying yes to everyone. If it is honestly more than you can handle then tell them NO, I would if I could but I just can't. You can't honestly say yes if the honest answer is NO. They may not like the answer but regardless they will appreciate an honest answer. If you tell them yes then keep your word. Like they say, A person is only as good as his word.

We all want it but who will get it?

Everyone wants to feel loved. You may have a lot of love in your heart but can anyone feel it? Just because you think that they know you love them, doesn't mean they feel your love. You need to tell them and show them how much you love them so they can feel it. If you don't, then they won't. No one will know what you are thinking if you don't tell them what you are thinking. You may have a lot of love in your heart but can anyone feel it? Ask yourself that question when you are with those who you love, then make sure they can feel it.

What businesses will be open after the quarantine ends?

For months we have had to shutdown everything to stop the spread of covid19. It has been devastating economically and emotionally frustrating. When will they be able to begin to recover? Who knows how much longer some of the local business will suffer financially before they are forced to close their doors for good. Some communities will suffer far more than they can endure. After the quarantine is over every business that closed will be less jobs available for those living in those communities. Running down to get what you need from stores that were usually open, won't be possible due to them closing.  If you want your local stores to be open you have to support them now so that they will be. We will be better budgeters and more thrifty than we have been over the past few decades. We would replace items not because they were broke but because we wanted the new style. Hopefully we will remain more thrifty after we recover so we are in less unnecessary burden of debt to carry.

Compromise takes communication

You have to compromise to make things work for everyone involved. You have to each communicate what you need to figure out a compromise that works for both of you. You can't be one sided when you aren't the only one involved. Well I guess you can but you won't get anywhere if you can't do it alone. Working it out so that things work out takes communication and compromise. To be a team it takes teamwork. You can only get what you need if they get what they need. Otherwise no one gets what they need because it takes a team effort so you have to work together that's why it is called teamwork. If you need a team to do it then be a team player.

Don't let anyone or anything suck the JOY out of you

To enjoy life while you are living you have to enjoy it while you are living it, even during a pandemic. I have heard countless stories from many people of memories created with their families as they spent time together during the quarantine. And for many people their families had not spent quality family time together in years, unless it was a Holiday. So although the pandemic has hurt us all, months together has bonded families that wouldn't have been possible if it hadn't happened. It's hard to see anything positive about a pandemic. But if you want to enjoy life while you are living in a pandemic, you have to look for anything positive that you can find. As the quarantine is nearing it's end, don't let the regular family time end with it.

We can agree to disagree and continue the conversation

They may be family but that doesn't mean you will agree on everything. They can be a good friend even though they can be very different from you. You might not like everything about your job, but still like your job. Your dog is still your best friend even though they may chew on your favorite pair of shoes. Just because someone doesn't see what you see doesn't mean they didn't see something completely different. Ten people could see the same thing yet each one see something different. There is no wrong answer when you are asked your opinion on something. Your point of view is the only view you can see and their point of view is the only one they can see. You don't have to agree with someone to get along, you just have to agree to disagree and change the subject. If you want to have a right to your opinion you have to respect other people's opinions. My favorite uncle and I have very different opinions on a lot of things yet we are super close. We know the subjects that we disagree on and we both agree to change the subject whenever they come up. There are plenty of other things to talk about. The subjects we can't talk about we each talk to other people about. Choosing to agree to disagree is followed by choosing to change the subject.