Time to take 5! Stop what you are doing, maximize the screen, take a deep breath and relax!
“Take a wild journey into Mother Nature’s Kaleidoscope! This is a visual exploration of the wonderful world of symmetry, using clouds, waves, and sunsets to create a mesmerizing mosaic of shifting, churning colors.” ~Mother Nature Videos
clouds lazily drift
waves ebb with the tide
sunsets mesmerize
A visit to Alastair’s Blog directed me to The Daily Post @wordpress.com where the prompt for today is reflection on one’s name. I must say I have always been grateful to my parents for the decision they made in arriving at my name. It could have been much worse and I could have hated it. On the contrary, I love my name!
OOPS! Wrong one…this should be the human!
My birth certificate reads Anita Sharla Lee. Anita was chosen because it was also my mother’s first name, that is, after she had it changed! Yep! She was one who did not like her first name at all. Thus, a choice: live with it or change it! Annie became Anita. The Hebrew, Italian, Ukrainian, American and Spanish meaning for Anita is grace.
For my middle name, Mom chose the name Sharla. Later on in life I asked her how she came by that name. I was very familiar with Charlotte, Charlene and Charlie but Sharla was different. She said she read the name in a comic book that depicted a story of an Indian princess. Since I have always been pleased with her choice I can say I am a “princess of smiles” because one always smiles when reading a comic book!
As to origin, I found the name Sharla referenced as being of English, American, German and French beginnings. Most references point to the English meaning of Sharla, which is “free man, strong” and the French translation of “little and womanly,” It is predominately a girl’s name. [Not sure why the reference to ‘man’ but I am definitely a girl and very womanly!]
That brings us to the last name of Lee. As was the case with my middle name, search results produced many different possibilities as of origin, Celtic, American, Latin, Irish and Old English. In both Celtic and American, its meaning is healer. Latin is lion, Irish is poetic, while English is meadow or wood. This could mean that I have the heart of a lion beating poetically with healing powers of nature found in a meadow or woods! Sounds pretty good, don’t you think?
What about your name? Name that… YOU! and let me know in the comments and I will start an extension of Alastair’s list (see below) and add your name.
Other takes on the Daily Prompt:
Alastair has listed 93 other takes on this Daily Prompt on his blog! Instead of my relisting his list, visit Alastair’s Blog for my list would be the same as his list! There are some really great stories! REALLY!
Dare to dream the impossible for it too may one day be possible!
Life is no life at all without dreams…
Dream a little, live a little – Live a little, dream a lot – Dream a lot, live a lot – Your choice!
“Life is a song – sing it. Life is a game – play it. Life is a challenge – meet it. Life is a dream – realize it. Life is a sacrifice – offer it. Life is love – enjoy it.”
—Sai Baba (Indian leader, 1838–1918)
“The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream. The oak sleeps in the acorn, the bird waits in the egg, and in the highest vision of the soul a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of realities.”
—James Allen (British philosophical writer, 1864–1912)
Life is a trail of tears, the will to cope
A mountain of discomfort based on hope
It is a highway of dreams, a road very demanding
Out of balance at times, but not without understanding
—Sharla Lee Shults, catnipoflife
We never get what we want,
We never want what we get,
We never have what we like,
We never like what we have.
And still we live & love.
That’s life…
The best kind of friends
are the kind you can sit with on a porch swing,
Never say a word,
And walk away feeling like it was
the best conversation you’ve ever had.
Even in times of hardships and sadness one can find beauty. That beauty to me is the beauty of heart. While tears may seem to never subside, the heart still remains strong within its rhythmical beats of life. Take life one heartbeat at a time relishing in each moment, never forgetting you are beautiful! Just stop & listen for a while.
Life has loveliness to sell, all beautiful and splendid things, blue waves whitened on a cliff, soaring fire that sways and sings, and children’s faces looking up, holding wonder like a cup. —Sara Teasdale (American lyrical poet, 1884–1933)
Treasures of the Heart: Moments Captured
Life is a trail of tears, the will to cope
A mountain of discomfort based on hope
It is a highway of dreams, a road very demanding
Out of balance at times, but not without understanding
Along life’s journey appear visions of despair
Wants and desires, times that seem totally unfair
While the expedition can be arduous and cruel
It can also be full of beauty shiny as a jewel
Life’s bounties offer gifts to lovingly share
Ready to be opened and handled with care
Its treasures of the heart tenderly unfold
Becoming moments captured within the soul
A kitten’s purr or a dog standing guard
These are life’s blessings in our own backyard
Images snapped with the blinking of an eye
Are stored in the mind’s diary never to die
Family and friends enjoy a wonderful relationship
Rallying around a campfire in fun and fellowship
Reminiscent of times past—love, lives and such
Stories echo memories thought of so much
Life is an incredible album of sad and joyful times
Echoing of discordant notes and melodious chimes
Count not the yearly months, weeks or even days –
Capture the moments encountered within each phase
©2013 catnipoflife
Sharla Lee Shults
See on Scoop.it – America & Beyond
“Like a bee that settles on the fragrant pistils of a flower, and sips in the nectar for honey, so should you sip in the nectar from between the lips of your love.”
Since there is so much history behind the art of kissing I am posting this to America and beyond. Of course, kissing is definitely an intricate part of the catnipoflife so it will also be ‘planted’ on catnip just like a first kiss!
See on www.brainpickings.org
There is no advance notice for inspiration. It comes within a moment’s time without notification, without hesitation. It comes from near, it comes from afar: As close as one’s backyard, as faraway as across oceans and continents. catnipoflife is blessed with many wonderful followers across many divides, each of whom presents his or her perspectives on life, experiences of life, joys, sorrows and personal reflections.
Today while visiting press-inside, I was inspired by the video, Danube Delta, Romania: a unique region in Europe – where one still may find, at least in certain places, untouched wild nature, unaltered by civilization. Not only did it provide so much beauty of the country but it was set to background music by Enya. By truly listening to the lyrics of Enya’s music, you will understand the catnip of life!
Enjoy and marvel in the wonders of nature within a world of endless possibilities!
so much beauty
so much beauty
outside as well as within
waiting to be explored
inviting you to begin
looking and listening
reaching for touch
laughing, singing
enjoying so much
away from the noise
the hustle, the stress
knowing inside and out
when moments need rest
abiding in the heart
deepening in the soul
waiting for the time
to unleash and behold
©2013 catnipoflife
Sharla Lee Shults
…is the beauty of the day itself.
This post was inspired by Penny Coho @TheWhyAboutThis. Visit Penny’s site for Sometimes all we need to start the day. . . You, too, will leave with inspiration just as I did.
Have a wonderful day, evening, and all through the night!
“The beauty of life surrounds us, open your heart and see through the eyes of your soul! ” ~catnipoflife
So often events of life leave us with questions without answers…Why is THIS happening? Why is this happening to ME? What did I DO? What did I do? WHY me? Why ME? WHY ME!
Life is a struggle, it is up to us to accept it. It IS a Bed of Roses full of many thorns. Yet from its thorny stem bursts forth velvety soft petals of such a rich radiance that its aromatic fragrance emits an essence of healing.
Next time you question WHY me? Why ME? WHY ME! reflect on the thankfulness of your ability to see the beauty! At that point, lift your head high, let the “Why me?” become Thank You!
beauty is all around us
hiding among
spines and thorns
of the cactus and rose
Surrounding
the broken limbs
the naked branches
Lying among
the ugly weeds
the dried up leaves
It sleeps, it waits
Timeless
in its splendor
For just the right moment
To emit its power to heal
To soothe
To comfort
To embrace
©2012 catnipoflife
Sharla Lee Shults
catnipoflife 