The Softness of Early Morning – Mars, PA August, 2017
Be Soft.
Don’t let the havoc
make you hard.
Don’t let the hurt
make you hate.
Don’t let the struggles
steal your joy.
Don’t let the bitterness
steal your sweetness.
Be kind.
Give love freely.
Be soft.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
“Broken” – Abstract Watercolor 11×14 140lb Saunders Waterford Cold Press
The broken
will always
be able
to love harder
than most.Once you have been
in the dark,
you learn
to appreciate
everything
that shines.
Embrace
the brokenness
and let
your light
shine.
Cheers & Hugs
Jodi
“Broken” – Abstract Watercolor 11×14 Matted and Framed
No Trespassing…
I pass this sign, and many others like it,
on a daily walk with Charlie along the country road we live on.
The other day, in particular,
it struck me as being so sad.
What is so important that we must stop people,
that we must block them…. from entering what we feel is ours only?
I wish there were more "All are Welcome" signs along the road.
I wish there were more "C'mon in," "My House is Your House," "Peace to all who Enter."
Remember the song we sang as children?
"This land is your land. This land is my land…. This land was made for you and me."
Let's open our hearts.
Let's open our arms.
Let's open our eyes.
Let's open our ears.
Let's open our homes.
Let's open our land.
And if you have time, I urge you to quietly listen to this deeply moving version of "This Land," by a young Bruce Springsteen from over 30 years ago.
Let's keep trying!
This land was made for you and me.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Mariposa Latin Inspired Grille, Sedona, Arizona – July 2017
Mariposa (the Spanish word for butterfly).
Being
Becoming
Blooming
Creating
Discovering
Embracing
Evolving
Flowing
Fluttering
Forgetting
Forgiving
Growing
Inspiring
Learning
Living
Loving
Overcoming
Reflecting
Remembering
Soul Searching
Surviving.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
In case you forgot to remind yourself this morning…
It’s a new day ready for fresh beginnings.
Your smile can light up a room.
Your beauty is way more than just your appearance.
You alone are more than enough.
You are doing a pretty awesome job at this thing called life.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
PS – I also need to remind myself of this, and these maple tree seedpods I fondly remember as “helicopters” from my childhood spring days at Grandma’s remind me of the hope each day brings and the beauty and potential we all have within just waiting to be shared.
Cherish the Moments!
Sunrise on Forsythe – Mars, PA – 5/8/17
Even if no one bothers to look…
The sunrise, of course, doesn’t care if we watch it or not.
It will keep on being beautiful,
even if no one bothers to look at it.
Yesterday morning I was on the road very early
and couldn’t resist driving down one of my favorite roads in our little community.
It was a cold, but sunny morning
with a nip in the air and frost on the grass.
As the warmth of the sun shone,
the steam and fog rose from the ice crystal-kissed earth and cold creeks and ponds.
I drove home slowly on my way back from my early morning run,
sipping my steaming coffee, but drinking in the beginning of a new day.
I wish I took time to notice it more often….
It’s there – just waiting for me to enjoy its beauty.
And with or without me –
that sunrise just keeps on being beautiful!
It made me think a bit too…
About being beautiful.
No – not Hollywood beauty…
not Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition beauty.
But about being a beautiful person –
in my heart and in my thoughts and in my character and in my actions.
And I want to make an effort to be a beautiful person…
even if no one bothers to look.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Gene Amole also wrote a book I just bought on Amazon called “The Last Chapter.” I look forward to reading it and will share my thoughts.
Even the rockiest, roughest of roads
often have patches of beauty.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
I received one of the most precious gifts yesterday from my BFF, Jill…. this darling little clutch purse for the wedding.
What is so special about it is what is on the inside.
From the outside, it is absolutely gorgeous!
But when I opened it up, I burst into tears.
The lining is made from a photo of hubby and me with our soon-to-be-groom son (taken at our oldest son’s wedding from 3 1/2 years ago!)
Isn’t this such a beautiful gift? What a wonderful idea for brides, bridesmaids, mothers of brides and grooms! Such a unique and personal gift. Jill ordered it from AngeeW’s ETSY shop.
And clever, beautiful, kind Jill, wrote this beautiful note.
I don’t know how I hit the lottery on most amazing BFF and friends, but I am so grateful! And what a wonderful reminder to all of us that it IS indeed what’s on the inside that counts.
Especially as we grow older and all the “lovely” saggy, wrinkly, things begin to happen we need not discuss, it is especially important to remember who we are on the inside.
No matter our age, gender, ethnicity, physical appearance – we all have the ability to exude a bright, loving aura. Have you ever noticed how a person who is maybe just average looking but has a bright, positive, happy, loving disposition seems so much more beautiful? And sometimes people who are especially physically attractive, but not kind people can become unattractive?
I love how Jill expresses it…. she sees a person’s “aura!”
Let’s make a focused effort this week (and always) to look for a person’s aura – and remember that it is what’s on the inside that counts.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Reach…
Reach for those who love you
to support you when you are sad.
Reach for those who you love
to share the joy when you are glad.
Reach into the darkness
and find a way to glow.
Read as high as you can…
and then reach a little higher.
Reach…
that is where the magic happens.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
It was all a blur…
until I looked closely.
I stopped and closed my eyes,
and I took a deep breath.
I exhaled slowly,
and then I opened my eyes.
And there it was…
I saw the beauty.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 