The Kindness Tree

So whats the Moral to the Story?

I would like to think that I write with a purpose. I've noticed that many bloggers write just to tell their story. It seems to me this is alot like looking at someone's vacation pictures. Unless you've been there or, better yet, are in them, after a while, it can get kind of boring.
I'm sure there are many readers who enjoy this, especially if their story is similiar ~ kind of the "misery loves company" concept.

I take a different approach. I write to understand the story, just as I try to understand the meaning of things that happen in life. I realize that some may find this too preachey or too much like therapy. I hope that I can reach those readers that want to hear the morale to the story and are searching for "the purpose."

My goal is to have readers come away with a new thought, something to contemplate, and an opportunity to challenge themselves emotionally, spiritually and creatively.

I invite those of you out there that want an exclamation point at the end of the sentence, not just a plain old period, to join me with your stories, thoughts, ideas and wonderful words of wisdom or, at least, wonderful questions in search of the wisdom.

I dedicate this blog to you folks.  Just remember,

"Each day and the living of it, has to be a conscious creation to which discipline and order are relieved with some play and pure foolishness."  May Sarton(1912-1995),Belgian born American Writer

DEDICATED TO BELIEVERS

I am a believer.
I believe that dreams can come true if you put your heart and soul into them.
I believe in "happily ever after movies" with a moral that warms your heart and makes you cry.
I believe that people are trustworthy and sincere.
I believe that emotions are a good thing and that it never hurts to be open and honest.

I thought I wanted to be a lawyer when I was in High School but after an internship experience, I realized that law was not truly about justice and fairness.
I became a clinical social worker which was closer to my values of honesty, trust, respect and caring about relationships.  After many years in practise, I have come to realize that many  people would rather not dig so deep, are afraid of their feelings and prefer to live in some form of denial.

I currently own my own business and have come to realize that the business world is no different for a believer. In fact, it can squelch the best of passions one has. I have repeatedly been confronted with the realization that people do not always say what they really mean, do not act consistently with what they say, and are often defensive in response to my honesty.  Last, but not least, sincerity is too often not  the driving force behind others actions but money is.

I do believe that my customers appreciate my true commitment to fairness and the caring, peronal attention that I provide. I wish that was enough but, to my sad realization,  success is not necessasrily about kindness and caring.

So, I write this to those of you who are also dreamers. Read the book The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
and embrace your passions.

Hold onto some form of trust in your spirit and know that you are not alone.
While they invented "the Dream Catcher" for children to help them with their nighttime fears, I believe we should  invent a new dream catcher for adults who want to hold onto their dreams. Maybe it is not about dreams coming true but about the desire to hold onto those dreams and not letting anyone or anything take them away.

“SUMMER AND THE LIVING IS EASY

Why do I keep singing “Take me out to the Ball Game” and
‘Summertime and the Living is Easy”.

Wishful thinking, I guess.

As a WORK AT HOME MOM, it takes a great deal of concerted effort to make the most of those lazy, hazy days of summer.  It is difficult to stay focused on work when my kids are home during the summer.  Somehow, the fact that my summer work schedule is no different than every other season seems a little unfair in contrast to their abundant free time.  (I guess childhood envy is something we never truly outgrow!)

Honestly, I’d rather be “playing.” But, as this is not an option, I have had to define for myself how to make the most of the summer and appreciate it’s many benefits.
I thoroughly enjoy the extra hour of sleep each morning and savor the fact that dinner time can be somewhat flexible. Even taking a walk in the evening is a welcome treat.
And, sad but true, one of my real joys is having someone to share walking the dog with.

This summer, make a commitment to appreciate the small things. Be grateful for the change of pace. Enjoy seeing more of your children. Plan to BREAK THE RULES,
just for the fun of it.

It is so easy to quickly take things for granted such as the fact that my oldest son is now home from his first year at college. During the year, I would have jumped for joy at his being home and how quickly it seemed that we all fell back into our old routine. I guess that is the good news, in a certain way, but I have also not forgotten, for one moment, that summer will come and go faster than I can imagine so I try to cherish the time together.

I have committed to make everyday a ‘mini’ vacation, even if it only lasts a few moments.

It’s all about attitude and how you look at things. I choose to make this a great summer, come what may.

LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF "WHAT WAS THAT AGAIN?"

If only we could keep it simple, I bet we would find that illusive “HAPPINESS.”

I will be the first to admit I can get caught up in the complexities of life.
It is hard to avoid when everything around us reinforces the need to become wealthier, smarter, more competitive and more successful.

In fact, my oldest son so well illustrated this when he requested a lap top computer for High School graduation. My husband and I were a little taken aback, given the cost, and his response was that this was “standard protocol” (and, he is not a spoiled kid).
To our surprise, we have come to learn that this really is the case.

In a wonderful article on RAISING KIDS WITH THE RIGHT VALUES, (PARENTING MAGAZINE, March, 2006), Paula Spencer identifies the following values as most important:

INDIVIDUALITY,  INDEPENDENT  THINKING, HUNGER, POSSIBILITY AND HUMOR. (we will return to these again)

She defines HUNGER as “not having life handed to me on a silver platter and every heart’s desire made readily available.” I could not agree more.

So many parents I know pride themselves on giving their children whatever they want and find it so hard to say “No.” My husband and I have never fallen into this category. Partly due to the realities of life, but more importantly, because teaching our children the value of working hard and appreciating what they get has always been a priority.

When we took a big family vacation to Alaska, we started a fund a year before that we all contributed to by making small sacrifices and putting the money we saved into a big Bear Cookie jar. It was a wonderful lesson for us all and an opportunity to learn about giving up something to strive for a bigger goal. (We actually saved over $1,000-No bad, eh!)

CREATIVE CHALLENGE; TAKE SOME TIME AND IDENTIFY WHAT VALUES YOU BELIEVE IN AND WHAT YOU HOPE TO TEACH YOUR CHILDREN

Ask your spouse to do the same and compare lists. This could begin a wonderful dialogue about creating the family that you really value.

IS THERE ANY KINDNESS LEFT IN THE WORLD?

IF YOU RAN ACROSS A JERK (or even worse) TODAY,
OR THOUGHT TO YOURSELF THAT THE WORLD CAN BE A CRUEL PLACE, then ...
THIS ONE’S FOR YOU!

In today’s world, we often feel that the caring has somehow been lost.
Automated phone answering messages, impersonal service, things that break right after you pay to have them fixed, and the list goes on and on and ...

You get the point I’m sure,  as I would assume that you have certainly felt that way yourself  on more than one occasion.

In my own business, customers often comment on our personalized and caring service and the fact that it is so rare today, as if we were doing something very strange.
HOW SAD!!

With this in mind :  JOIN US AND LISTEN UP !!

OUR MOTTO IS
“KINDNESS IS CONTAGIOUS …SPREAD IT!!”

Stay Tuned until next time when we tell you more on  “HOW TO….