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 Heart Has NO Wrinkles

Heart-has-no-wrinklesIt is inevitable for the wrinkles of life to show their ‘ugly’ signs throughout the aging process. For some, the signs of aging appear much earlier than others. How soon they appear and the deepness of their appearance depends upon life itself…its ups & downs, as well as detours along the way. 

“Wave the magic wand!” we might say at some point. Ah-h-h-h, if only that would work but then we could find ourselves in the midst of a global storm! Yet, if we were without those wrinkles, what would that say about our lives? Would we have truly lived? Would we have smiled and laughed, as well as frowned and cried? Or, would our faces look pasty without any indications of former emotion?

Reflect back on times in your life perhaps when a wrinkle might have first appeared. What was your reaction? Did signs of any wrinkling change the love and compassion you feel in your heart?  To love and to be loved never ages regardless if wrinkles appear!

“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.”
Sophia Loren   

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C.A.T.N.I.P.

What would you label as being more important than your HEALTH and VITALITY? That should be an easy question to answer: NOTHING! Why? Because it would be difficult to live the life you love with your well-being simmering, sometimes barely simmering, on the back burner.

From the United States EPA (2023), Americans spend 90% of their time, not OUTdoors, but INdoors. Over half of American adults report spending 5 hours or fewer outside in nature each week. Over three-quarters spend 10 or fewer hours outside each week. (NATUREOFAMERICANS.ORG) Fox News reported recently nature deficit disorder as a problematic health issue. Negative health effects include obesity, cancer, heart disease, stress, anxiety, and depression.

The age of technology and the aftereffects of COVID have placed more and more demands on sitting at home or in an office staring at a computer screen. Then, there is also the cellphone which often times seems to be glued to people’s faces.

My challenge to you today: Step OUTdoors! Feel the energy of the earth beneath your feet. Listen to the soothing melodies of the wind and the birds. Feel the warmth of the sun on your skin. And, find comfort among the trees. In other words, BE outside. Trees are alive with energy flowing upward from the roots embedded deep within the earth as they gather their energy from the sun to grow and survive. The wind brushes the branches and leaves upon which the birds perch gracefully sometimes in joyful song.

HUG the TREE! Yes! Hug the tree! With your body tightly against the tree, offload all your emotional pain, absorbing the tree’s life-giving energy. The tree in return absorbs all the negative energy surging throughout you own body. The benefits of hugging the tree include reduced stress, improved immunity, lowered blood pressure, and quicker recovery from trauma or illness. (The Wilder Route. The Incredible Benefits of Tree Hugging) Thank the tree with love and move on about your day leaving any stress and anxiety behind you.

There is no age limit to hugging a tree. Make it a family and friends affair!

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Why catnip?

Question has arisen lately as to why catnip? Why indeed catnip! We all know what catnip does to the cat, but this is not about cats. This is about life. 60% of cats experience a behavioral reaction from catnip whereas 100% of humans undergo similar reactions when connected to nature. Excitement on one hand, tranquility on the other.

When I traveled to Boston with my daughter, Nicole, we stayed at the Encore Boston Harbor. What an exciting place this turned out to be. . . far beyond our expectations! Flowers, flowers, flowers, immaculate gardening everywhere. On one of our morning walks, we encountered this beautiful purple flower. Unfamiliar with it, Nicole used the plant identifier on her phone. Voila! CATNIP! The only catnip I had ever seen was simply a green plant. Excitement on one hand, tranquility on the other.

Thank you, Foxie, for your love of catnip. Otherwise, I may have never discovered the connection! Foxie is my 15-yr old calico Norwegian Forest Cat.

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QUESTION OF THE DAY

Below are a series of thought-proving questions. Read each question as though it were the title of a speech, article, or book.

THINK about how that question makes you FEEL. What action does it compel you to DO? For example, move on without giving it another thought vs. stop to listen or read about it.

Once you are “hooked” on the question that grabs you the most put the number of that question in the comments box. That’s it.

QUESTIONS:

1. What if you lived in a land of no “trees”?
2. When was the last time you felt the earth?
3. Do voices of nature call you home?
4. Does nature breathe?
5. Where is the diamond in the rough with the power to heal?

PS If none of these grab you, give me your thoughts around a similar theme:-)

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Today is About Freedom

The Catnip of Life is all about FREEDOM! Freedom to walk among the wildflowers, wade in a babbling brook, stand under a waterfall, enjoy excitement and relax in tranquility among the sights and sounds of Mother Nature. It is giving life and receiving life through life’s energies that propel us forward, sometimes backwards, but always with hope and love in our hearts!

Happy Independence Day! Enjoy all the freedoms this day has to offer always remembering the sacrifices that were made which made this nation FREE! God bless America!

#freedom #love #joy #celebration #independence #fourthofjuly

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Live from the Catnip of Life

Even when skies are gray, the sun is still shining. It is in the background but it is there. Shining as brightly as ever beyond the clouds, it is the center of our solar system.

Savor life to its fullest! BE the difference that makes the difference!
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the INside effects: How the Body Heals Itself

YOUR INVITATION!

I am so excited to be a featured author in the upcoming release of, the INside effects: How the Body Heals Itself. Also featured in the book are John Demartini, from the hit movie, The Secret, Lynne McTaggart from What the Bleep, and comedian, JP Sears.

You are invited to a special LIVE online book launch party event on Wednesday, July 5th from 7pm – 9:30 Eastern Time. Please register now to claim your spot. You will meet the authors, the publisher, learn how a book becomes a bestseller, and you. . . will be a part of helping us make our book a bestseller! 

Please wait until the time of the live event (Wednesday, July 5th from 7pm – 9:30 Eastern Time) to purchase your book.

Register here:  https://tinyurl.com/INsideeffectsbooklaunch

Wednesday July 5th at 4pm Pacific / 5pm Mountain / 6pm Central / 7pm Eastern

I look forward to seeing you there!

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CATNIP OF LIFE on the ROCKS (Literally)

Last week I had a photoshoot along the jetties at Panama City Beach, FL. This was scheduled to accompany an article I was asked to write about the Catnip of Life, which will be published during the month of June (Stroll Grand Lagoon – Delivering Neighborhood Connections). The photo shoot was an absolute blast! There are always stories to tell and of course, there is a ‘doozy’ behind this photo.

There were quite a number of photo shoots going on the day we were at the jetties. Some photographers had their professional equipment set up in the sand, while others were shooting with their phones. Mandjo Brokaw had just finished a shot when I turned around and spotted a young man standing tall on top of the same rock as depicted below. Another young man was snapping pictures with his phone.

Without even thinking twice, I turned to Mandjo Brokaw and exclaimed, “I want a photo on top of that rock (pointing to the young man as he stood proudly upon the rock, which was about 6 ft above the sand)! In an instant, I approached the young man with the camera after he finished snapping pictures.

Yes! I introduced myself and asked a favor. “I want a picture on that rock but need assistance getting to the top.” He grabbed me by the hand and up we went! I was barefoot so had to be careful because the sand was slippery on the rocks. He was steady as could be and led me right to the top, stepped aside, and I raised my hands to the glory of our Heavenly Father! (The young man’s name is Colin and very handsome!) 🙂

My only regret is that I didn’t have more pictures taken while I was there, perhaps sitting, instead of only standing, and on one foot, instead of both feet! hahahahaha Tomorrow IS another day and the jetties are surely not going anywhere soon!

Observe. Listen. Embrace. Breathe. Savor. Life to Its Fullest!

http://www.catnipoflife.info

#jetties #beachlife #nature #fun #photoshoot

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Live from the Catnip of Life

This is a FB live I completed on Thursday, May 11,2023. Even though wishes are expressed for a Terrific Thursday, the message holds fast any day of the week: Marvelous Monday, Thrilling Tuesday, Wonderful Wednesday, Terrific Thursday, Fabulous Friday, Super Saturday, and Splendid Sunday.

Step outside into the catnip of life! Need help in learning more about this catnip? Visit catnipoflife.info Click the tab Books & Contact for the new release Catnip of Life! Grab your copy today! You can walk hand in hand with Mother Nature regardless of a bright sunny day or amidst grey clouds and stormy weather. Like the effects catnip has on the cat, reel with excitement or relax in tranquility!

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Catnip word of the day: “petrichor”

Enjoy the simple things in life. . . learn to dance in the rain! Rain is fascinating. Rain is refreshing. Rain is rejuvenating. Rain is. . .

You finish the sentence as you see, feel, hear, even smell the rain. Speaking of the smell, while water is odorless, there is a distinct smell to rain, particularly after a dry spell. It is a pleasant, earthy smell that has a name – “petrichor.”

Did you know there is science behind rain? Yes, it is much more than simply water falling from the sky at which point you usually run so you don’t get wet!

As a kid, you probably loved to play in the rain. Run, jump, splash, even dance. Why should such joy be limited to days reminiscent of childhood? Afterall, you have an inner child that never grows old living and loving life to its fullest.

From the Catnip of Life. . .

Rain dances to many rhythms from drizzle to sprinkle, steady flow to downpour. It makes its own music as tiny to big raindrops scatter or merge gracefully like a ballerina or eye-catching as a flash dance. What about that sweet, pungent smell? Is it truly the rain emitting an odor, the rain interacting with the air, or the reaction of rain striking the earth? There’s definitely a fresh, earthy smell well before first drops fall. Actually, with an approaching rainstorm’s climb in humidity, the odor rises up from its earthly embrace. That’s the moment you say, “It smells like rain!”

SMELL THE RAIN

Ah! Nothing like the aroma
Of fresh-baked homemade bread
Or that distinct powerful scent
Warm cinnamon rolls spread!

Such succulent senses
Can dull any pain
But have you ever stopped
To smell morning rain?

Peace abides in the meadow
’Til twilight in the countryside
Where wet spicy fragrances
Of newly-cut timbers abide

Subtle, soothing perfumes
The colorful wildflowers yield
But have you ever stopped
To smell rain in a grassy field?

With morning light
A bracing essence drifts by
As sunbeams peep
From behind clouds in the sky

A bold rainbow arches
O’er a weather vane
But have you ever stopped
To smell lashing rain?

A farm road embraces
An afternoon shower
As dusty mist bathes
Each tree, every flower

Within a few moments
Freshness of senses is bestowed
But have you ever stopped
To smell rain on a dusty road?

What is this rain smell
Of which I so speak?
Somewhat surprising
And always unique

Breathe in the rain smells
Part of Mother Nature’s domain
Dance in the puddles
Left behind by the pouring rain

When the forecast is rainfall
Break away from daily routines
Let the rhythms of falling rain
Compose a song of tranquil scenes

Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with liquid silver drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby.
—Langston Hughes (American Poet, 1902–1967)

Visit catnipoflife.info

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