ADVICE TO SELF...

If you spend any time at all on electronic media (phone, computer, tablet, etc.) you know that everybody and his dog is trying to give you advice.

So I looked up advice - thinking perhaps I was missing something. Here's a partial list of what I found:

• opinion
• recommendation
• counsel
• guide
• hint
• "word to the wise"

(Only a partial list--it went on and on and on.)

Since I'm limiting the topic to advice I give myself (or plan to give myself, or hope to give myself), I went with recommendation, guide, and hint. Herewith my conclusions:

1. Time is always a big topic in my life. So #1 advice to myself is to take my time when working on a project or making a decision. After all, Life is not a race. There's no medal or reward or blue ribbon for getting farther along than everybody else. That's Life itself, not races or Olympics or college degrees. Those all have their rewards. 
2. If I know what I'm doing, then don't listen to advice from others. Just keep on. Don't waste my time getting distracted from my main event.
3. Do one step at a time; multi-tasking is often a prelude to disaster.
4. Don't get pulled into a contest with other people. Just admire them and their accomplishment, and keep on plugging.
5. Ignore "health" advice (this is everywhere in social media), unless it's given to me personally by someone treating me professionally.
6. Believe in myself. After all, I have to live with myself.
7. Beware of these suspicious words: 

• Always . . .
• Never . . .
• You should try . . .

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You've probably heard it said, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." Do I need to expound on the absurdity of this? Thank you.

What makes more sense is a bit of philosophy attributed to Socrates:

KNOW THYSELF

Words worth following.

Blessings,

Thursday's Child

5 cents? Hmmm.....

 CAN YOU SPELL THANKFUL?

Yes, I know it's January, not November. And yes, we don't usually celebrate Thanksgiving this early in the year. But today I felt like being thankful and wanted to explore some of the ways we can show thankfulness. Ready?

T - Today. Remember, everyday is "today"--and you can be thankful.

H - Here. Wherever you are, whatever you're doing.

A - All the time. All ways. St. Paul says we should give thanks in all circumstances. That is a really, really tall order for me. But I'm working on it.

N - Now. This very minute. No waiting for an appropriate (whatever that is) time or day or event. 

K - Kindness--one of the ways we show we're thankful. As my friend Liz Flaherty says, "Be kind to somebody."

F - Freely--with abandon--scatter your thanks everywhere you can. 

U - Uplifted - the way you'll feel when you give thanks.

L - Love. One of the greatest ways to give thanks. And--the more you give, the more you find is returned to you. 

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We all have reasons to be thankful--yours may be different from mine, but the really simple act of saying "thank you"--to whomever or whatever you believe is the source of your reason for thankfulness will make a difference in your life. It has, and continues to do so, for me.

Blessings,

Thursday's Child

 HERE WE GO!

Nine days into the new year--2025!--and what is there to say? Anything new? I doubt it.

I reread some of the January posts from earlier years--no inspiration there.

Also looked for cool quotations on a website devoted to providing them. No help.

Sat and pondered what's going on in my life, and the lives of my family and friends. Decided (1) probably much the same as what's going on in yours. And (2) If that's true, then what I report would bore you.

So I will merely wish you a wonderful year to come! 2025--did you ever think you'd write that? I didn't. Sounds like something out of a sci fi story. And if you have any doubts about going ahead in a new year, think about the advice from Hal Borland above.

Enjoy the journey!

Thursday's Child

 FAVORITE THINGS....

I looked up favorite and discovered that it's possible to have more than one favorite thing! How wonderful is that?

1--One that is treated or regarded with special favor or liking:
     That song is my favorite.

     Especially--a person who is specially loved, trusted, or provided with
       favors by someone of high rank or authority:
     The king granted the land to two of his favorites.

2--A competitor judged most likely to win:
     Which horse is the favorite in this race?

And we all know about adding websites to our list of favorites--a/k/a bookmarks.

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Today I'm looking at definition #1--my own special likings. No particular order; just because a group is labeled second or third doesn't mean it is of lesser value.

First--Things that Make Me Smile
   The word Bookstore on a sign. . . or Library
   Puppies (I love L L Bean catalogs!)
   New fabric for making things

Second--Things that Give Me Comfort
   Food--mashed potatoes, homemade soup, brownies,
     tacos, pizza
   Warm clothes in winter; cool clothes in hot weather
   Quilts made by hand (mine or someone else's)

Third--Things that Bring Me Peace
   A new book by a favorite author
   A letter from my child or a friend
   A dependable vehicle

Fourth--Things that Make Me Get up in the Morning
   The smell of coffee brewing
   A project I want to continue or finish
   Appointments I want to keep

Fifth--Things I Can't Imagine Living Without
   Music
   My own home
   A church I belong to



 
Make your own list--you may surprise yourself what you really, really, really like a whole lot.

I discovered that my list of favorites is never-ending. I could go on and on and on.............

But I won't! Have a blessed week!