FIRST you have to ACKNOWLEDGE IT

     You THINK that if you DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE what is GOING ON then you WILL have NO KNOWLEDGE about what is REALLY GOING ON.

     You can PRETEND that it ISN'T HAPPENING but that DOESN'T MEAN that it ISN'T HAPPENING.

     You can IGNORE what IS HAPPENING but that DOESN'T MEAN that it ISN'T HAPPENING.

    You can LOOK THE OTHER WAY while it IS HAPPENING but you KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING.

     Have you HEARD the phrase SPEAK NOW or forever hold your PEACE?

    Well if you SEE someone being TREATED BADLY and you DON'T STOP it from HAPPENING then it will become ACCEPTABLE and it will KEEP HAPPENING.

     If you DON'T WANT it to HAPPEN to YOU or SOMEONE YOU LOVE then DON'T LET it HAPPEN TO ANYONE.

     NO ONE will have PEACE if we DON'T SPEAK UP to make sure it NEVER HAPPENS TO ANYONE.

    

Don't CHOOSE to Carry SANDBAGS

     When you have something WEIGHING HEAVY on your MIND it can make the WEIGHT you have to CARRY..... TOO HEAVY TO CARRY.

     LEARN from it what you NEED to then..... JUST FLUSH IT out of your MIND to LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD 

     Keeping it FRESH ON YOUR MIND is like CHOOSING to carry SAND BAGS everywhere you go on your LIFE'S JOURNEY.

   Which OBVIOUSLY will only make your JOURNEY HARDER than it has to be.

     You may not have CHOSEN what happened in YOUR PAST but you can CHOOSE whether you let it WEIGH HEAVY on YOUR MIND TODAY.

     Take the NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES from your PAST and LEARN from it what you need to then.....JUST FLUSH IT out of your MIND.

    If you want PEACE OF MIND you have to JUST FLUSH IT so PEACE OF MIND will have ROOM to GET IN.

     PEACE OF MIND is JUST a FLUSH AWAY.... so ..... JUST FLUSH IT so you can LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD and ENJOY YOUR JOURNEY.

    

    

     

SEASONS CHANGE and everything CHANGES

      You can never get TOO COMFORTABLE in LIFE because LIFE is always CHANGING.

      But LIFE would get BORING if things never CHANGED.

      NEW INVENTIONS would not be POSSIBLE if someone didn't CHANGE THINGS UP and the RESULT is the CREATIVE POSITIVE CHANGES for us all.

       Our UNIQUENESS is what INSPIRES UNIQUE CHANGES that we never knew was even POSSIBLE to ACHIEVE.

     So when a YOUNG person says they are going to CONQUER THE IMPOSSIBLE when they GROW UP you have to ENCOURAGE THEM to be able to be CREATIVE SO THEY CAN ACHIEVE the IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS they have.

     EMBRACE YOUR UNIQUENESS instead of FEELING WEIRD because you THINK DIFFERENTLY then other people do.

    Because the TRUTH is that ONE DAY the WORLD WILL BENEFIT in a POSITIVE WAY from YOUR WEIRD DREAMS that are now a REALITY. 

     If you DREAM OF GOING TO MARS then get CREATIVE and BUILD A ROCKET that can TAKE YOU TO MARS.

       Your DREAMS CAN'T COME TRUE if you DON'T HAVE DREAMS then FOCUS ON MAKING YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE.

I can FEEL the HOLLY JOLLY as soon as I see all the CHRISTMAS ON DISPLAY

     It's been awhile since I have seen the TWINKLE IN THE EYES of OTHERS everywhere I go. 

     Although we are all facing many challenges these days and don't SMILE as much, the CHRISTMAS CHEER is OFFICIALLY on DISPLAY to make US SMILE.

     I couldn't help myself when I walked in the store I had to buy a new CHRISTMAS item to DISPLAY at HOME so I could bring some HOLLY JOLLY HOME with me to ENJOY.

    This YEAR I decided I will buy more CHRISTMAS to DISPLAY then NORMAL because the more HOLLY JOLLY the BETTER and....  

    I know I can't decorate as NORMAL because we have a new PUPPY and...... well if you have EVER  had a PUPPY YOU KNOW WHY.

     So I will buy cheaper CHRISTMAS TO DISPLAY and keep the TREASURED CHRISTMAS ITEMS safely tucked away this year so he can't eat my TREASURED CHRISTMAS ITEMS this year.

     To bring a SMILE TO OUR FACES and to get a little EXERCISE we should all go AS OFTEN as we can to ENJOY the CHRISTMAS they have on DISPLAY as we WALK around the store.

    As I am ENJOYING the HALLOWEEN MONTH OF MOVIES I also get to ENJOY some HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS CHEER TOO!

     

    

    

    

Well I know you don't want to hear the words.....THINGS JUST HAPPEN but....

      There is NO way to GIVE an HONEST ANSWER to EVERYTHING because there are some things that there just ISN'T AN ANSWER TO, NOT EVEN on GOOGLE.

     And if it is something that has HURT YOU.....there is JUST NO ANSWER that can TAKE AWAY YOUR PAIN.

      I know it DOESN'T sound COMFORTING when someone says.... IT'S JUST LIFE....BUT the TRUTH is... things JUST HAPPEN IN LIFE.

      It WOULD BE NICE if I could tell my CHILDREN and my GRANDCHILDREN that LIFE IS ALWAYS EASY, because the TRUTH is that LIFE ISN'T ALWAYS EASY.

      I have to be HONEST with them so they can be PREPARED to put in the HARD WORK to ENJOY LIFE on the GOOD DAYS AND THE BAD DAYS.

       BECAUSE.... WE only HAVE the TIME WE HAVE....SO WE have to ENJOY EVERY MOMENT THAT WE HAVE.

      Like the plaque on my wall says ...

I asked God for ALL THINGS that I might ENJOY LIFE. HE GAVE ME LIFE that I might ENJOY ALL THINGS.

     

      

     

     

What did they say?

     Ten people can HEAR IT yet WHAT THEY HEARD can be TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

     YOU may have been CONFUSED by WHAT YOU HEARD because HOW YOU INTERPRETED what YOU HEARD....DETERMINES WHAT YOU THOUGHT YOU HEARD.

     SO..... DON'T REACT to WHAT YOU THOUGHT YOU HEARD.

    WAIT to  REACT until you LEARN WHAT THEY MEANT FOR YOU TO INTERPRET BY WHAT THEY SAID for YOU TO HEAR.

    BECAUSE...... ONCE YOU REACT..... YOU CAN'T TAKE IT BACK.... YOU WILL HAVE TO FACE THE CONSEQUENCES for HOW YOU REACTED.

     Keep in mind that a FORTUNE COOKIE MESSAGE has a DIFFERENT MEANING to EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.

    TRY IT.  Sometime by when you GATHER in a Group, READ A FORTUNE COOKIE MESSAGE OUT LOUD and have EACH PERSON write down what the MESSAGE MEANS TO THEM.

    You will SEE HOW EACH PERSON INTERPRETED it DIFFERENTLY.

     Goes to SHOW YOU that HOW YOU  FEEL ABOUT LIFE is HOW YOU LOOK AT IT.

     Are you the TYPE OF PERSON that SEES the GLASS HALF FULL....OR HALF EMPTY?

    

    

What YOU SEE depends on what YOU LOOK FOR

     If YOU ONLY LOOK for the NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES you have had then.... YOU CAN ONLY FEEL NEGATIVELY.

    FOR INSTANCE....

     Although YOU may have had a FLAT TIRE while you were out driving on the road TODAY.... YOU CAN still be THANKFUL that YOU DIDN'T have a WRECK TODAY.

    After YOU SPEND FIVE MINUTES changing YOUR TIRE, YOU COULD get a FEW MILES down the road.... about a FIVE MINUTE DRIVE.....and come upon a terrible WRECK.

    YOU have to CONSIDER that YOU were POSSIBLY LUCKY that YOU WERE DELAYED by FIVE MINUTES or that could have POSSIBLY been YOU that was in A WRECK.

     YOU can EITHER FEEL LUCKY OR YOU CAN BE ANGRY about having a FLAT TIRE....the CHOICE IS YOURS HOW YOU CHOOSE to SEE IT.

     Just like YOU can CHOOSE to SEE the GLASS HALF FULL and TAKE A DRINK AND QUENCH YOUR THIRST OR...

    YOU COULD DIE OF THIRST because YOU REFUSE TO TAKE A DRINK because YOUR GLASS is HALF EMPTY.

     IT'S UP TO YOU to LOOK for the POSITIVITY in EVERY SITUATION so YOU CAN SEE HOW YOU can have a POSITIVE OUTCOME to EVERY SITUATION YOU MUST FACE.

     YOUR LIFE'S JOURNEY will be full of CHALLENGES.

    BUT the BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU WILL EVER FACE is CHALLENGING YOURSELF to FIND the POSITIVE in EVERY SITUATION that YOU WILL HAVE TO FACE.

    YOU CAN either be YOUR BIGGEST ENEMY OR YOUR BIGGEST CHEERLEADER on YOUR LIFE'S JOURNEY. 

    CHEERS 🥂 TO POSITIVE THINKING!

OBVIOUSLY If YOU DON'T Try then ....

   Obviously YOU CAN'T possibly succeed if YOU DON'T get up and try to DO IT.

    Obviously YOU CAN'T HONESTLY say it is IMPOSSIBLE TO DO IT if YOU NEVER EVEN TRIED TO DO IT.

    Obviously YOU CAN'T understand the TRUTH if YOU DON'T get ALL THE FACTS so YOU KNOW THE TRUTH.

     Obviously YOU CAN'T take care of YOURSELF if you are always putting OTHERS FIRST and YOU ARE TOO TIRED to take care of YOURSELF.

     Obviously YOU CAN'T make a POSITIVE DIFFERENCE in the world UNLESS YOU DO SOMETHING that will have a POSITIVE IMPACT ON OTHERS.

     OBVIOUSLY YOU MAY have a LOT OF LOVE in YOUR HEART but.... CAN ANYONE FEEL IT?

     OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF if YOU have ANY CHANCE to be the BEST YOU that YOU CAN BE.

    

Where did the birds go during the HURRICANE?

    As we walk around our yard after Hurricane Milton to survey it to see if there was any damage, we noticed A LOT OF FROGS jumping around.

    The FROGS were enjoying HOPPING from PUDDLE TO PUDDLE as they SPLASHED water into the air.

    Although many small branches had fallen down from the TREES there were MANY BIRDS CHIRPING joyfully.

    All the BIRDS were enjoying the abundance of WORMS that were forced out of the ground after their UNDERGROUND HOMES WERE FLOODED.

    The FLOWERS were beginning to DRY OFF and STAND UP and OPEN THEIR PETALS as the SUN SHINED on them now that the STORM had passed.

    The BUTTERFLIES AND BEES came out to ENJOY the POLLEN that somehow REMAINED even after ENDURING HURRICANE WINDS AND RAIN pounding down on them.

    Where did the BIRDS GO to WAIT OUT THE HURRICANE?

    Where did the FROGS GO to WAIT OUT THE HURRICANE?

    Where did the BUTTERFLIES AND BEES GO to WAIT OUT THE HURRICANE?

    You may NEVER KNOW WHERE NATURE IS HIDING during A HURRICANE IN YOUR BACKYARD, but AFTER THE STORM PASSES you can ENJOY EVERYTHING that is in your BACK YARD FOR YOU TO ENJOY!

All you can do is get PREPARED and HUNKER DOWN

    As we RECOVER from Hurricane Helene we also have to PREPARE for Hurricane Milton then HUNKER DOWN and WAIT. 

     LUCKILY the STORES had RESTOCKED their shelves and GAS STATIONS had PLENTY OF GAS to FILL UP our tanks.

    UNFORTUNATELY with JUST HOURS BEFORE HURRICANE MILTON ARRIVES we find out our GENERATOR won't FIRE UP after sitting in the SHED since LAST YEAR'S HURRICANE SEASON.

    It's TOO LATE to go out and SEARCH for another one so here WE GO waiting to see if we will LOSE OUR ELECTRICITY.

    It's HARD to PREPARE for WHATEVER THE STORM will bring......all you can do is PRAY that you are PREPARED ENOUGH for WHATEVER THE STORM will bring.

    STAY SAFE EVERYONE because PREPARED OR NOT here comes HURRICANE MILTON.

    

We ALL have a REASON but that DOESN'T mean you have an EXCUSE

    We ALL have had a PLACE to PLACE BLAME ON but that DOESN'T MEAN you have ANYONE BUT YOURSELF TO BLAME.

    YOU ALONE are RESPONSIBLE for YOUR ACTIONS..... REGARDLESS of the SITUATIONS that YOU have had to FACE.

    IT'S NOT the CIRCUMSTANCES that you are IN that will DETERMINE the OUTCOME it is HOW YOU REACT to the CIRCUMSTANCES that you MUST FACE that WILL DETERMINE THE OUTCOME.

    YOU ALONE DECIDE whether YOU ARE AN HONEST PERSON OR NOT...... REGARDLESS of whether ANYONE AROUND YOU IS HONEST OR NOT.

     JUST because SOMEONE ELSE is DOING IT DOESN'T MEAN it is the RIGHT THING TO DO..... IT'S UP TO YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

      You can BLAME IT ON THE MOON but YOU KNOW THAT YOU HONESTLY HAVE NO ONE but YOURSELF TO BLAME.

       JUST BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF AND YOU WILL BE AN HONEST PERSON.

HUMANITY is A SHINING LIGHT during a very DARK TIME for the victims in Hurricane Helene's PATH OF DESTRUCTION

      The MAGNITUDE of the DESTRUCTION in Hurricane Helene's PATH will not be TRULY KNOWN for weeks.

      The PAINFUL SUFFERING that TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE have ENDURED and will CONTINUE TO ENDURE in their FUTURE is IMPOSSIBLE TO IMAGINE.

      The LOVE and HUMANITY that has been SHOWN, FELT AND SEEN of NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS and HUMANS HELPING HUMANS is the TRUE AMERICAN WAY!

      UNITED WE STAND UP TOGETHER IN UNITY to SUPPORT EACH OTHER because that's what HUMANS DO.

      We DON'T HAVE TO AGREE to be A HUMAN, BUT we DO HAVE TO AGREE TO DISAGREE to STAND UNITED.

      SPREAD SEEDS OF HUMANITY AND HUMANITY WILL SPREAD AND REPLACE THE INSANITY WE SEE.

     The GRASSROOTS HEROES ARE COMING FROM EVERYWHERE TO HELP THEIR NEIGHBORS!

      

Keep your EARS and EYES WIDE OPEN OR ......

    You can't PRETEND that there ISN'T a GIANT BOULDER that is BLOCKING your PATHWAY, because it will BLOCK YOUR PATH unless you ACKNOWLEDGE IT AND GO AROUND IT. 

   You can't IGNORE BAD BEHAVIOR because that will make it become ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR....... THEN you will have to EXPECT IT to HAPPEN TO YOU or SOMEONE YOU LOVE.... so DON'T LET IT HAPPEN TO ANYONE.

   You can't PRETEND like you DIDN'T SEE IT because ONCE YOU SEE IT ..... YOU CAN'T UNSEE IT.

    You can't IGNORE what they SAID .... because they SAID IT LOUD AND CLEAR.

    You can't PUT YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND and THINK IT WILL GO AWAY.... because IT WON'T GO AWAY.

     It may be HARD TO BELIEVE but.....

     It may be HARD TO UNDERSTAND but ...

     It may be HARD TO DO but ....

     It may be TRUE that the TRUTH MAY HURT YOU but......

     It IS WHAT IT IS..... UNTIL YOU ARE HONEST WITH YOURSELF AND SEE THAT IT AIN'T WHAT YOU THOUGHT IT WAS......

     KEEP YOUR MIND OPEN TO THE HONEST TRUTH that is RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU.