I’ve shared Jeff’s blog before, and I loved this one. Not only for the message, but I’m a sucker for a really good chocolate chip cookie. Maybe I need to find an excuse for a trip to Tyler??
Can’t believe we’re in September. Where do these years go? Hope it’s cooling down wherever you may be. Read, enjoy and happy almost Fall!!
http://us12.forward-to-friend.com/forward/show?u=2faa118cd9fe72d8634827528&id=7c1ce306f1
“Owning a German shepherd taught me more about self-awareness and safety than any class ever did.”
I work with German Shepherd Rescue, I foster, and have adopted two GSD’s. They are an amazing breed. When I divorced and moved into my new place “alone”, it gave me pause. Suddenly being “alone” really screamed – – – “ALONE”!
I’d always had smallish dogs. Welsh Corgis and Cocker Spaniels mostly, 20-25 pounds, give or take. Now, I wanted something that would make a statement, with a lot of clear glass in my new front door, I wanted a pair of pointed, alert ears to be visible!
I loved this article shared on our rescue email, not only because it’s about GSD’s specifically, but in general, a good reminder for those of you alone, or by yourself a lot if your significant other travels. I know I walk taller and more aware when I take my two out. They are 175 pounds combined, and now that I have 2 pairs of pointed ears looking out the front door – I feel safer, and not so alone.
Hope you enjoy the quick read!
http://www.sheknows.com/pets-and-animals/articles/1119507/self-defense-tips-from-german-shepherd
Yep – I admit it, I’m a football fanatic. I’m VERY loyal to my teams, heck, I’m very loyal period.
If you know anything about college football, most especially my alma mater, then you know “Coach” – the former head football coach of the University of Texas at Austin – Darrell K. Royal. When he passed several years ago, an icon was lost – but not his “wisdom” which still lives on today.
As we face trials in our lives, and we are ready to give up, or give in, may his words become an inspiration to all of us:
“As long as a person doesn’t admit he is defeated, he is not defeated – He’s just a little behind and isn’t through fighting.”
We are not done fighting!
Bring on Notre Dame!!!! : -)
Siddhartha Gautama, The Buddha – speaks sage advice! I quote the Buddha as we all strive to find balance and contentment in life:
“Health is the greatest gift, Contentment the greatest wealth, Faithfulness the best relationship.”
What wise words to follow. Peace to you all.
I was recently reading an article in a monthly newsletter and it’s subject matter was certainly something that I have spent hours reflecting upon. As I enter the “senior” time of my life, I look back at all the things I postponed, because of _______________. (Fill in the blank) There always seems to be a good reason, at the time, to put off the adventure I long for.
This article was entitled: “Risk While You Can” and written by Dwight Edwards. Below is an excerpt that I share with you all.
“Not long ago a survey was done among a large group of elderly men and women. The question was asked, “What three things would you do differently if you could live your life over?” They were then given a dozen or so possible answers to choose from. Guess what response ranked number one? “I would have risked more” was the runaway, first place answer.
How interesting! In the twilight of their lives, their greatest regret was not that they hadn’t made enough money, hadn’t visited enough countries, hadn’t made a bigger name for themselves, etc. It was simply that they had played safe too often, had settled for vanilla too frequently, and too easily had chosen the safety of the bench rather than the dangers and glories of being actually out on the field. But they couldn’t escape the lingering regret of shunned risks and forfeited possibilities. Risking always costs; but not risking often costs even more in the long run. Someone put it well:
“There was a very cautious man,
Who never laughed or played;
He never risked, he never tried,
He never sang or prayed.
And when he one day passed away
His insurance was denied;
For since he never really lived,
They claimed he never died!”
Wayne Gretzky, the greatest to ever skate the ice, is exactly right – “You miss 100% of the shots you never take.”
The author’s advice???? “Let’s take the shots!”
The other day, I was perusing articles of similar content to my blog, and subsequent book. I love being able to share and pass along information to you all when I find something of value!
These two sites seem to hold valuable information when searching for financial planners, etc. Whether your divorce is impending, current or past and “over” – this will always be good information for you to have. Even for those of you still married, someday you may be alone and/or widowed – you still have to know how to make smart decisions. Therefore, I share:
“Dear Liz: Every so often your column mentions an organization that lists financial planners that are fee-only. I cannot find this information on your site. Please keep mentioning this in your column.
Answer: You can get referrals to fee-only planners who charge by the hour at http://www.garrettplanningnetwork.com. If you’re looking for fee-only planners who charge a retainer or a percentage of assets, you’ll find those at http://www.napfa.org.”
Always looking out for you!!
Won’t work. You don’t build anything from the top “down”. Picture if you will, a house being built. If you tried to start with the roof, what would hold it up? Where’s the strong foundation to support it?
One brick at a time, brick by brick – sounds like the lyrics to a country western song, although that certainly dates me as now they just refer to it as “country”!
When people tell you that after your divorce you just try to take it one day at a tie, putting one foot in front of the other. You’re rebuilding your life, whether you are divorced or widowed, it’s the same. What you had – is gone. Poof!
The life you had, even if you felt you had worked your way up to the “top”, is non existent. You cannot rebuild it from the top down. You’re going to have to start over whether you want to or not. Finances may not be the same, certainly family and friends are not going to be the same. Your purpose in life has suddenly altered and you are starting over. You’re foundation has shifted as it does in an earthquake – a good synonym for life after divorce, an earthquake hit you and everything has crumbled and fallen down.
So you get yourself up, dust yourself off and as Frank Sinatra once said, “Get back in the race”.
One brick at a time . . . brick by brick . . . one foot in front of the other . . . one day at a time.
This statistic is an eye opener! I just read where there are over 19 million singles over the age of 55!
Wow, that’s a whole lot of people sitting on a sofa eating alone while watching TV on any given night.
No wonder those administrators of Social Security are so worried, they should be! We are a staggering number.
I can also see why all those dating websites continue to thrive, and give us (false) hope that there really IS someone out there that we can grow old with together.
The breakdown that I would find even more telling would be this – of those 19 million singles over the age of 55, what are the percentages:
You wonder how many are single because they want to be, and of that number, how many because they never trusted marriage and are happy in their “solo-ness”? How many are single because they’re divorced and their heart was broken and will never trust again. Of that number, how many are female, how many are male?
I would love to see a better breakdown, but until then, I remain curious, and curiously alone . . . uh, I mean single.
suddenlysinglewomen 