catnipoflife

Observe life at its best, Listen to life’s songs, Embrace life’s bounties, Breathe the breath of life, Savor life to its fullest!

The Bench in Waiting

Today as I visited Serendipity, which I do quite often for her excellent photography, interesting articles, candid humor and wonderful musings, The Bench in Waiting immediately captured my attention. Thank you, Marilyn for your inspiration that guided me to reflect on The Ol’ Bench. . .

Photo Credit: Marilyn Armstrong

The Ol’ Bench

A resting place, a stopping-off point

Relief from labors along life’s way

The bench beckoned moments for solitude

To ponder reveries of the day

How many have passed this way

Stopped for a moment or two

Rested, mused, wondered

Contemplated what to do?

What decisions were made

Changes to start anew

Thoughts and reflections

Begin again, redo?

Beaten, battered, broken

Life’s pain abates

It holds a lifetime’s worth of stories …

And still, it waits

Awaits the next visitor

To settle down, to rest

To ponder, to wonder

Tomorrow — life’s next test

A resting place, a stopping-off point

Relief from labors along life’s way

The bench beckons moments for solitude

To ponder reveries of the day. . .


©2012 catnipoflife
Sharla Lee Shults

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The Masters Award is presented to Ed Parkinson (and Invitation to his Exhibition)

See on Scoop.itcatnipoflife

The Masters Award

The Masters Award is passed along to ONE blogger at a time.It began with Barbara @ Life in the Foothills (http://salmonfishingqueen.wordpress.com/?s=masters+award).  Its journey so far has included stops, enduring visits and accolades to…

The Masters Award (http://thewhyaboutthis.com/?s=masters+award)

The Masters Award (http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com)

The Masters Award (https://catnipoflife.wordpress.com/2012/11/13/the-masters-award/)

The Masters Award (http://greatpoetrymhf.wordpress.com)

Today, the announcement of the latest recipient of The Masters Award is made by Mary Helen Ferris to Ed Parkinson @www.spiritualartblog.com.

See on http://greatpoetrymhf.wordpress.com/2012/11/25/the-masters-award-is-presented-to-ed-parkinson-and-invitation-to-his-exhibition/#comment-6840

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Free Write Friday #10: Gratitude

This week the Free Write prompt from Kellie Elmore is the word “GRATITUDE.”  If you are not familiar with the free write challenge, feel free to read the intro on Kellie’s website. In short, here is what is expected. . .

  • Do not think. Do not edit. Do not pay attention to spelling, punctuation or form.
  • Just allow the moment, your feelings, your imagination to run free and…
  • Do not stop until you find yourself forcing your words or trying too hard to complete a thought.

Free Write Friday Prompt

We are taught from early childhood to say “please” and “thank you” to the point the words flow as naturally as chocolate syrup being poured over ice cream. If someone should ask why you reply as such, a common response would be “Because my mother taught me to say so.” But, is that all there is to it? Is simple saying “thank you” enough? Are those words being used from learning simply because it is the right thing to say, the way we were taught?

Thanksgiving brought with its celebration heartfelt thanks for the many, many blessings bestowed upon each of us on a daily basis as we journey through life. Echoes of thoughtfulness, thankfulness and gratitude resounded throughout the day as family and friends gathered in fellowship and prayer. In thinking back over the day, a question comes to mind: “Isn’t giving thanks being thoughtful in expressing gratitude for what we have?” So, what is the difference in being thankful and expressing gratitude?

When I was a young child, I was among those who were taught the right thing to say, the “please” and “thank yous.” But, I cannot remember ever being taught gratitude. Did its meaning evolve as my vocabulary bank received deposits of new and unfamiliar words? Perhaps with recognition of both the good and bad in life an awareness was evoked for all the things I was truly thankful. As for today’s experiences in the blogosphere, I am thankful for the words that sometimes flow more easily that others which offer inspiration for purposes unknown to me at the time written. Most importantly, however, is the gratitude I have for those who choose to read and follow the musings I so thoughtfully share. To me, being thankful is learned whereas gratitude is a choice.

My challenge to you: Wherever you are and whatever you’re doing today, pause and reflect on whom or what you are grateful. You may find it easy to name coming rather naturally or you may find it takes some time for the right choices. Just remember, regardless of whether easy or hard, the goal is still giving thanks and being grateful for all you have. Isn’t there a lot to be thankful for…all you have to do is put a little catnip into your life:  Observe life at its best, listen to life’s songs, embrace life’s bounties, breathe the breath of life and savor life to its fullest!

That’s it, folks…no rereading, editing or mulling over whether I accomplished what I intended. Let it fly. . .

 

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…for love, age does not matter!

OldWoman&Cat

… those blessed little creatures will always find a way to remind us that we matter….

Matters of the heart care not whether young or old—
A yearning for love, desire to be wanted, longing to be needed
A rekindling of joyful moments long ago gone cold…

Analogy for Aging

Aging—an ever-changing presence
Mirrors life’s essence

The view atop a mountain’s peek
Echoes not a single word
Music of a baby’s first cry—
Sweetest solo ever heard

Ocean waves during a storm
Crest majestically on their own
Vision of a child’s first steps—
Rocking and reeling, never alone

Fiery aura of dusk and dawn
Casts brilliant hues with every view
Youth’s outlook on love and life—
Promising, yet demanding debut

Natural ambiance of early spring
Unleashes new living entities
Expressive power of a young adult—
Racial, ethical identities

Falling leaves of autumn
Whirl whimsically through the air
Age of midlife crisis—
Unsettled over graying hair

Time for sweet reflection
Sets inner smiles aglow
Twilight years of old age—
Wisdom youth should know


©2012 catnipoflife
Sharla Lee Shults

“Aging is an inevitable process.
I surely wouldn’t want to grow younger.

The older you become, the more you know;
your bank account of knowledge is much richer.”

—William M. Holden (Author, n.d.)

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Free Write Friday #9: Photo Prompt

FreeWriteFridayBadge

Kellie Elmore welcomes us back to Free Write Friday (FWF)! If you are not familiar with FWF, feel free to read Kellie’s intro.  Here is the FWF prompt for this week…an image to which we are to respond What does this bring to mind…

 

Motionless in Flight

Swept away in an instant she became motionless in flight

Knowing the Earth she knew so well was no more

Was she afraid? Only for those left behind

Not of what lay ahead for her soul had already gone before

Be still, my love, all is not lost…for in dreams

I will come within quite whisperings of the night 

Sweeping you away in an instant

As you become motionless in flight

©catnipoflife
Sharla Lee Shults

This is truly a ‘free write’…decided not to read over and over and over as I am tempted to do because the objective is just to write what freely comes to mind. The rhyme and rhythm may be off but that’s okay in the FREE world of writing! Share your thoughts. . .

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Aw-w-w Precious Moment

On November 3, Penny Coho posted Precious – the moment – A  Mother’s Love

This is my Aw-w-w Precious Moment…thank you, Penny, for rekindling a wonderful memory!

Our daughter Nicole and granddaughter Natalie – First Kiss

Kiss of Promise

A gentle kiss on the head
Brought feelings of joy
A new life, the miracle of birth
A promise to always enjoy

A soft kiss on the forehead
Brought security to the night
Tucked in bed, sweet dreams
A promise to always be the light

A playful kiss on the nose
Brought giggles and laughter
Smiles that cheered away the blues
A promise to be there before and after

A sweet kiss on the cheek
Brought strength to cope
Leaving home, on my own
A promise of faith and hope

 A loving kiss on the lips
Not from Mama, Papa, sister, brother
The start of a new life
A promise of belief in another

©2012 Remembering
Sharla Lee Shults

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The Masters Award

Gratitude abounds for the award bestowed on catnipoflife by Penny Coho

@ The Why About This.

 

With a simple shake of the hand
A pledge is made, a bond is secured
Within the virtual world, words become bonds
Where pledges of friendship and hearts entwine

I don’t remember how I first ‘met’ Penny but I do know how she inspires me on a daily basis. Her words are words of wisdom, not to simply make a statement or impart knowledge (which they do), but to provide avenues for discovery and insight into one’s self. Penny’s natural curiosity about people and life have led her to focus her writing lens on creativity not solely for herself but instead mainly for others.

To my fellow bloggers: I am so thankful for the joy, inspiration, reflections and humor each of you share within the blogosphere. Whether through personal experiences or purposing writings toward book endeavors, you bring rays of sunshine, hopes for a better tomorrow, even in the darkest of hours.

Blogging is personal. The friendships gathered along the way have far surpassed any beginning thoughts or expectations and continue to grow each day. I feel truly blessed to share and be a part of your sharing with words of the heart and soul: words to lift others in times of need when neither you nor I know who exactly will be touched at the time the words are penned.

For the Masters Award, all of the following criteria must be met by the blog site receiving this award.  The blog site must be:

1) Inspirational – The blog must inspire one in some way.

2) Informative – The blog overall, must in one way or another impart information in a creative and captivating way.

3) Imaginative – The blog must titillate the imagination, making you see, hear or feel the message they are trying to impart.

4) Insightful – The blog should capture the inner nature of what is being written about, photographed, et al…and this includes seeing intuitively.

The Rules:

1) The blogger bestowing this award must tell why they are bestowing their award based on the four criteria. All the criteria have to be met.

2) The blogger bestowing the award must do so in a post on their blog site and include “The Masters Award” emblem. They must also include in their post a link to the site that they are bestowing the award to.  Please notify the person who you are bestowing the award upon with a note to them on their site.

3) The site who the award is bestowed upon must write a post of thanks, linking their post back to the site who bestowed the award upon them.

4) In the same post, they must pass on the :award based upon the criteria and they must follow these rules.

The New Recipient:

It is my honor and privilege, to bestow “The Masters Award” to Mary Helen Ferris, Greatpoetrymhf’s Weblogwhose words are derived from the heart reaching deep into the Spirit of the Soul. Mary Helen lives in Alberta, Canada where, as she puts it, the winter is a great time for writing. She is fascinated by water, fire, birds and most of all people. It is no wonder her writings, poetry and photography overflow with inspiration, captivating information, imagination teasing all senses and intuitive insight. When you visit her blog, it will become obvious from your very first visit how easily she meets the four criteria for this award. As for Mary Helen, the best description is provided in her own words:

I am a lover of sunsets
People and wonderful words
I am hermit who loves the birds.

I am a rebel who loves setting suns.
I am a traveler, I know you are one.

So take a moment, sit back and have what your please
Most of these poems were written on Soul’s knees.

Mary Helen Ferris
Nov 7, 2010

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This is another of those times that nothing else need be said. The music is Enya…OUTSTANDING! Thank you, Penny, for another wonderfully inspiring post!

Penny L Howe's avatarThe Why About This

It is one Thing to learn and know a lesson.

Quite another thing to “Use it!” ~ Penny L. Howe

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We have so much potential – each and every single one of us on this planet of ours. Please listen to your heart,. Grow and learn, share and LOVE!

~ Penny

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Do Not Suffer for one more minute!!!

See on Scoop.itWater the mind – READ

Holmes’ Significant Life Events Scale rates the loss of your spouse at 100! I can tell you that is about right.  I suffered behind the loss of my precious husband.  I do not want you to suffer for one minute longer!!! One of the things I did to help with that grief and loss was to write this book Stand In Your Anointment – This Too Shall Pass!!! Available on Amazon! There is helpful information in there. Please let me help you!! Check our my website too!! Helpful information is there http://www.victoryroadwellnesscenter.com.  Louise

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Porcelain Unicorn

It never ceases to amaze me how some things come full circle when least expected. I received the video link, Porcelain Unicorn, in an email message last April and filed it away in a personal folder because it is so compelling. Intentions were to revisit it during some quiet down time. This morning that revisitation occurred while trying desperately to find daylight at the end of the mega messages in my email Inbox.

Here is the background. . .

Legendary British film director Sir Ridley Scott launched a global film making contest for aspiring directors. It’s titled “Tell It Your Way.” There were over 600 entries.

The film could

  • be no longer than three minutes,
  • contain only six lines of narrative and
  • be a compelling story.

The winner was “Porcelain Unicorn” from American director Keegan Wilcox.

It’s a story of the lifetimes of two people (1930 – 1945) who are totally opposite, yet, very much the same – all told in less than 3 minutes.

Mythical symbol of magic
Enchanting in the realm of fairies
The unicorn imbues in dreams
Reflections of pure innocence

~catnipoflife

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