Listening is a gift. There are so many people out there, who just want someone to sit down and just listen to them. They like to talk about their children, their spouse, their family, their friends. We all like that to a certain degree. It is important to us! I try to listen, really listen when someone is talking to me, writing to me. I try not to let my wonder through the hills and plains while someone is unburdening their heart. Listening is a true gem. It does not take a great deal to listen to someone's heart. I wonder why we don't do it more, and become experts at it, like we are experts on talking? I have always wondered that. I have a long way to go in perfecting my skills on listening, but I am trying hard to do so. If we are gifted with the sense of hearing, we should use it very wisely. In every walk of life, we are surrounded by people who are hurting, or lonely, and just need someone to take the time and really listen to them. Our elderly friends, elderly parents, our spouses, our children, our loved ones, any and all people no matter what walk of life they are in just want someone to listen.

I like retreats. It is nice to step away from your usual week of schedules and appointments. Sometimes our bodies just have to slow down a bit so we can do that. To step away is not to run away, but rather to take yourself out of the line of fire for some R and R. The only way we can find the calm and peaceful spot we so need is to go outside and see the sun, and feel the sun on our face. Maybe it is doing something kind for someone, taking a portion of your supper to a shut-in, to a dear friend, even to a stranger. Sometimes sending a card in the mail telling someone how much they mean to you, sending a card or making a phone call to someone ill, perhaps someone gravely ill; all these things help us put things into perspective. At times I seem to get so wound up and wrapped up in my schedule and my life that I just need a time to do these very things. Today I did that. It made me realize even more how blessed my life is. How many people there are who just have no one, and that for someone to come by and give them a hug and word of encouragement, well we all need that! We are in this world for a short time. What I do with that time allotted to me is very important. If I can ease the burden for someone along the way, then I have truly made this day a good day!

I do like that! New every morning. We have days that are not so easy, and when the new day comes, it is just that--a new day!
Last night I could not sleep, so I got up and read, and read, and read some more. It helps me relax and clear my mind of thoughts that come in those late night hours of quietness. I woke up this morning able to face the day again, but with refreshment and confidence that was a bit chipped away from me yesterday. We know that this walk in life is not an easy one, but it is made so much easier by thinking aloud what we are feeling or experiencing, and someone always knows just the way you feel, or just the right words to say. You know who you are! You wonderful encouragers! How you make this world shine, and how you sparkle!

I love libraries! I love the smell of books, the feel of the paper, the textures, the bindings, the books that are really worn. The pages that have been read and re-read as if the reader could not read the book enough. I love the books that have people's name written in them. I find it so comforting to hold a book that has been passed from person-to-person-to-person. I have a book that was my dad's that was written in the early 1900s. It is a wonderful book. It has my dad's name in it.

Can you imagine the history of this book? I wonder where my dad got this book, and who read this book before dad did.

My dad was a great reader, and he passed along the love of reading to me. I have nearly all of dad's books that were in his library. They are very special to me because they were his books. They are special because he shared them with me when I was a child, and then as an adult. Now as I pick those books up, and I do often; I sit down in my dad's old chair, under his own lamp that he made in as a young man, and go back in time. As I turn the pages, I think of my dad and our conversations regarding this book. My dad opened my eyes to the world. He gave me not only the gift of reading, but the most valuable thing to me, he read those books to me as I grew older. I can still remember his voice, and how he made those books come to life.

I like sparkly things. I like things that shine and things that draw you to them. I believe that is what draws me to people who are enthusiastic and who just shine with life. I can be so uplifted by those wonderful people! I am so thankful they are in my life.

But not everyone you meet can be that starry light. Sometimes life has burdened people down, and perhaps they just cannot see the stars for the clouds, and we all know how that can be. That is when those shiny sparkly people's example can give us that extra lift to be that sparkly and shining person for someone going through a cloudy stormy time. We can be to them what was given to us!

We are not meant to be alone. We need others at times to help us through those times when we know that just a little encouraging word, a smile, a pat on the back. We can turn those scars to stars!