Beauty: In Frustrating Moments

Value: Beauty It was early Monday morning and my husband’s alarm on his Samsung Tab 3 went off just before 3:00 am. He was totally annoyed and couldn’t think why. Sometimes, we touch knobs and buttons by accident and we are altogether in the dark as to why things happen. So, as he wandered around the house seemingly wide awake he took a picture out of the front door to record a snow fall the day after Mother’s Day. It was only a skiff of snow, but the glistening of the streetlights and the powder white substance on the front lawn was a beautiful site. He was wide awake for several more minutes, but he soon was fast asleep again with his photo - a special prize! How many of us see beauty in our frustrating moments. Value beauty!

Nature: How serene!

Value: Nature To Hadley, solitude is yoga. To Emily, solitude is reading the scriptures. Today, my solitude is sitting in my car at the park under the shade of a tree with a warm breeze whispering through the front windows. The cottonwood leaves were shimmering high above where wispy and powder-puff clouds hover above. The birds are chirping in the distance accompanied by the whiz of vehicles about 300 yards away. The squeak of the playground swings are accompanied by father and child interacting and mother and son playing catch with a beach ball. Sounds echo close by in the slam of a car door and the conversations of two cyclists swiftly passing by my car. How serene! Two roller bladers pass by on the walking path 30 yards away. A flag waves proudly in the distance on the top of a tall building and some quail run swiftly across the pathway and grass into the bushes by my side. Nature is serenity - beautiful and peaceful. Value Nature!

Positive Reinforcement: You're A Good Breather

Value: Positive Reinforcement Have you ever told a co-worker “Good Job?” Have you told your son or daughter lately that you appreciate their help (no matter how great or small)? Have you smiled at a store clerk and thanked them for their assistance? Have you patted your dog’s head and said “Good Dog?” OR Have you ever had someone complain to you, yell, throw a pen (or something bigger) at you, scream, or hold up their “one” finger salute? I’m sure you would have preferred a positive comment rather than a negative one. We all need to use positive reinforcement even if it is only to say “You’re a good breather!” In our homes now, we are rushed to get off to work and school. We are stressed at the end of the day because of commitments, homework or a home that needs repairs, cleaning, or just everyday meal preparation. How many of us tend to find fault with or criticize our family members/friends or rag on them for things done wrong or not at all? Strive each day to find something nice to say. Find ways to complement each other. Find ways to bring kindness into your conversations. Find ways to reinforce good behavior in your children and loved ones. Value positive reinforcement!

Belief: Life After Death

Value: Belief We have had two distant cousins die in the last week from illnesses that have been brutal on each of these individuals. The first cousin died of ALS where the family watched a brilliant mother and wife who had been a gardener, a candy maker, and a community minded individual become unable to care for herself. The second cousin was a mother who survived cancer for 21 years and finally passed away in hospital. We had a daughter who died two years ago of colon cancer. She fought a good fight for 4½ years. She left four wonderful children still in their pre-teen state and a wonderful husband who cared for her each and every day. She had wonderful friends and family that rallied by her side with all modern medicine could do, but still the Lord wanted her home. She was heard calling out to and speaking briefly to her late grandmother who she saw at the foot of her bed the day before she died. Because I believe in life after death, in a life with loved ones and family, I know with all of my being that this life is not the end. All deaths are hard because we do not have them with us in this life to be part of our daily activities, but it is easy to know that it won’t be long until we are together again, laughing and talking in a world that is free of death, sorrow and pain. Value Belief!

Reading: Read To Me

Value: Reading Last month, I was impressed with an auto glass repair shop for having a book shelf in their waiting room along with a table full of magazines. On that book shelf were a several books that were unusual for an auto shop, for example: History of Art, RV Repair and Maintenance Manual, and Story of Painting. How nice it was to think that someone’s new talent for the future may have been found in one of those books. I love books. I look at, read, study, and peruse. I catalogue all my books at home by topic like a library so that I can find what I am looking for very easily. We have books for reference, like dictionaries, languages, gardening, computers, cooking, health, psychology, parenting, teaching, writing, etc. We have always had a collection. We get books from libraries, book stores (physical stores or online), or from garage sales, second hand stores, neighbors and ‘free to me’ book drop offs. My latest acquisitions have been the classics or other books - in duplicate. I keep them in my car and one grandchild will take one and then I can read with them in person, over the phone, or on FaceTime or Skype. Last night a 6 year old sat next to me intensely listening as I read the first 2 chapters of The Indian in the Cupboard. Cherish reading. Read to your children or those in your charge. Have them read to you or to each other. Turn off your other gaming electronics for an hour or more each day to foster reading. Imaginations can be fostered, interests can be captured and magic can happen thru books. Grades will improve and you will ignite a love of reading for the rest of their lives. Value Reading!

Courtesy: Morning Traffic

Value: Courtesy May 4th, I was on the I-15 first thing in the morning and found six lanes of heavy traffic. Upon entering the freeway, I stood still for 2 minutes and then I was able to proceed to 20 mph. Cars would try to change lanes and something unusual was happening. Cars parted and they were also allowing others to change lanes. I was amazed – was it the full moon. I maybe witnessed the honk for a car not jumping at a green light left turn but, hey, the day started great. Yet, the next day, I needed an extra dose of patience. The day started with every intersection hearing a horn honked and every lane of traffic had its clown who needed to dart in and out shoving their car into the tightest of openings. I don’t think everyone who drives has had driver’s education. I can really tell! There were no blinkers used for lane changes, no proper spaces left between vehicles, no shoulder checking and no courtesy for entering or exiting vehicles – either those already there or the new ones trying to make their move. Maybe my patience has to come from within before I even begin my drive? Value courtesy!