Did you ever feel like you were on a merry-go-round. You know where you go round and round and round, and don't really get anywhere?
I have been thinking about that. It seems I am somewhat in that loop right now, but the only way I can get it to stop is to just say "I want to get off!" Life does that if we are not careful. Giving ourselves to so many tasks, promises, deadlines and commitments. We only have so much time in 24 hours, and sometimes we just cannot go another day in that same way. I really think that sometimes we experience things so we can learn to slow down a bit, and look around us and decide what is most important. I don't function at my best when I just see blurs, and do not see faces. I like to stop and talk, and really spend time with people. It does not matter if they are people we know. Today I was in line getting some things before I came back home, and this lady that was in front of me was having a time with her paperwork, and the things she was trying to hold. We started talking, and before you know we had become friends. It is so nice to get off that merry-go-round, and talk with those around us.

Come on over and sit a spell. I lived in Arkansas for a lot of years, and I dearly love the people in Arkansas. I have a lot of dear friends there, and people I love to visit because I miss them so much! One of the things you first find out when you go there is that you will never be treated as a stranger! I would go outside in my yard to work in the flowers, and I would hear someone say...
Come on over and sit a spell. I would walk over and right away, they would go and get the iced tea, and we would sit and rock and sit and rock! What a great thing front porches are. They are definitely friendship builders! I love front porches, and I can't wait until it is nice enough to sit on the front porch, and see if I can develop front porch friendships here too.

How can I make your day better? Don't you like to think about that! We all have people in our lives that make our day just a little better because they are simply in it! If we would listen and take to heart everything that is said out in the media, in the papers, on the web news, and around our communities and in our universities, and work place, we would literally go around with a very very depressed mind. I don't listen to much news because the effect it has is so negative. Rather I try to pick up things that I want to read further, talk about it with friends, and generally just talk about things that we can do to make this place just a bit better for having been in it.
How can I make your day better? I hope that I can. I know you make my day better dear friends, because you are in my life.

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!