Bright Side

I have a friend or two who always see negative before positive.
The why bother attitude....it's a gloomy day outlook.

They make me laugh and drive me crazy.
I'm sure I drive them crazy too.

I believe there is a positive side to every story.
Always.

Every situation I have ever been in somewhere, somehow there was a bright side.
And believe me it hasn't been easy.
Sometimes it took awhile to figure out what the heck the bright side was ...but it was always there.

If you don't look you will never ever find it.
It sounds preachy and simple and silly...but it's true !


:)

Double Nickels

Today is my birthday.

I love birthdays....!!!
Yours, his, hers theirs ....just not mine.
I try to ignore mine ...

But this year is different.
I'm 55.
Double Nickels.
And for some reason the thought of turning Double Nickels thrills me.
Why in the world would that thrill me ?!?!?

I think it's because I have finally figured out ME.

It took 55 years but I finally make sense to me.
I don't question anymore ...I follow the path ...
And if the doubters and the negative people doubt and throw negatives my way ...?
I just don't let it bother me anymore.

I wasted so much time and energy through the years on what other people think.
Ugh.

Now I listen to me.
Now I can honestly say I am happy with who I am.

Double Nickels Baby !!
I Love It.

:)

Good Morning

I laid on the couch yesterday evening for what I planned on being a 15 minute nap ..
Yep.
I took a nosedive into sleep.
I woke up about an hour ago and thought Wow !!
I needed that.

So now I am enjoying the sounds and sights of morning.
The quiet.
The birds chirping.
The squirrels and rabbits getting their day going.

The birds are really singing it up.
Imagine being so happy that the first thing you do each morning is sing ...!
Love it.

All this and the sunrise too.


Happy Sunday !!

:)

Raindrops Keep Falling ...

I got caught in the rain the other day.

I had fair warning....the sky looked like rain...there were a few sprinkles in the air...
But ...I was really enjoying my walk.
I thought I could get one more lap in before it started pouring.

Wrong.
It started pouring.

So there I was walking in the rain trying to act like I was prepared for a soaking ....
Yes. Yes. I PLANNED on walking in the rain today !!

But....I kept walking....
I grumbled all the way back to my car ...but... I kept walking.

Got home.
Dried off.
Life went on.

Then I got to thinking ...

That's not the first time I've been "rained' on and it certainly won't be the last.
My advice to me is Just. Keep.Walking.
Stay on that path.

It always stops raining...the sun will eventually shine.
It does get better.
It always gets better !

So next time I calculate the weather wrong and I end up getting soaked ...?
I just might be singing in the rain !!

:)

Wicker Walk Man

My sister and I are signed up to walk a half marathon in May.
So ...I am walking a little more than usual ..... getting the ol feet and legs ready for the big day.

I walk my lovely Wicker Park.
I go at different times but, it's the same path, same route each day.
Sometimes I see a familiar face.....but most times I see new, smiling faces ....

And then there's Wicker Walk Man.

I've named him that because Wicker Walk Man is there no matter what time, what day.
He is there.
He is always there.

Wicker Walk Man is a clockwise walker.
I like walking counterclockwise.
He walks his way. I walk mine.
Our paths cross two, three, sometimes four times.

Now, I'm usually lost in my music when I walk...but as people are walking towards me I look up and smile.
Most people smile or say Hi....

Wicker Walk Man never smiles or says Hi.
He looks at me and looks away.
Every. Single. Time.
He looks...I smile...He looks away.... He looks ..I smile..He looks away...
It's this nice little pattern we've formed.
I throw in a HI every so often just to shake things up ...but he always looks away.

I often wonder what's up with Wicker Walk Man.
What's his story ?
What's going through his mind when he sees me and my goofy smile headed his way ?
And why does he always look away with no response..no reaction ?

I have made it my mission to get a smile from Wicker Walk Man.
If he ever says Hi I will probably jump with joy ...!.

Cmon Wicker Walk Man...it's not so bad.
Smile !!

:)

Find your Happy Place

I love to walk.
My favorite place to walk is a local park.
Wicker Park.
It's a beautiful place with lots of trees.
2.2 miles around with my music in my ears.
It is truly my Happy Place.

Many times I have started my Wicker walks with a load of problems sitting on my head....carrying whatever I'm carrying along with me.
I start walking and... like magic... the load is lifted...the problems gone.

Find your Happy Place.
Whatever it is. Wherever it is.

It doesn't have to be somewhere far away that you visit once/twice a year.
It's near and around you and if you look ...you will find it.

Wicker Park has been in my town for as long as I can remember but it took me years to 'find' it.
I sure don't know what took me so long but Wicker is a part of me now.

I'm hoping you find your Happy Place.

:)