Reflections From a Country Girl

I’ve been watching this lovely plant growing and growing in my little area beside the back door.  I thought it was a sunflower and have been anxiously awaiting it’s flowers that were so beautiful last year. 

As the fall approached I realized it was not going to bloom into a lovely sunflower.  Now, I was not even sure it was one. 

Within the past few days, white flowers have started blooming on that plant. They are lovely little delicate blossoms and I have been enjoying them through my kitchen window. 

Meanwhile, I’ve been noticing the weeds and bushes are growing around my mailbox out front so I decided to get the trimmer and cut some of them down.  Most of the time I am carefully going to the mailbox after dark and didn’t want a spider or other little varmint to grab hold of me when I brush the bushes away while getting my mail. 

Low and behold, there, in the midst of the bushes, were many of the same little white flowers that greet me at the back door these days.  I suppose that means the flowers at the back door are really weeds … yes, weeds!

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How many times have you heard this in your lifetime?  

When grandma and grandpa use to visit, they likely asked you this on and off. Maybe your parents asked. Maybe they already decided for you what they wanted you to become.  As a school counselor, I saw that happen often.  Sad but true. 

As a child in the school setting we likely heard this often, too. In high school, the question became an even more serious one. They say you change your major a minimum of four times in college.  I’m not sure how accurate that statement is but I did.  

I suspect some of us never got it right.  

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I was out with friends last night for a bite to eat and some good conversation.  There were five of us.  It occurred to me when I was sitting there that these folks stepped in and out of my life at different times and for different reasons over the past ten years…one stepped back in as recently as a month ago.  All of them are great people and have various talents and interests.  All of them, like me, have weaknesses and vulnerabilities that come and go, too.  

We got on the subject of the “Funky Winkerbean” cartoon Sunday in the paper.  Two guys are working on a speaker system…one talking…says he thinks a great deal about the old days lately….he missed the days when everything was bright and shiny…”then one day the road you’re following suddenly turns and you find yourself somewhere you never planned to be.” He finishes off his cartoon by saying….”what I need is a GPS system for life.”  

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It occurred to me recently that there are some of us who have opinions and comments about everything and who aren’t scared to say what we think.  To be honest, I think this is – generally – a good thing.  After all, life is just too short to do anything differently – unless it is consistently negative comments.  

I have most often looked at things from a positive perspective … trying to avoid the roadblocks … working around them if they do fall in my path, and moving on to see what adventures await me.  This is scary to some, intimidating to others, and refreshing to many of my friends. 

I had someone ask if I gave talks or seminars on these issues of importance.  It occurred to me that most do not realize I do this from time to time.  

With that in mind…here are some areas I talk about…give seminars on…and just plain ole have an opinion on that some want me to share.  If nothing else, you will see the humor in many of the titles.  Enjoy.  

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October is here and it’s time for the smells of fall….pumpkins, cinnamon, turkey.  I call it the flavors of the season. 

Since relationships are important to all of us, it’s critical to continue to consider the spice in your life … regardless of the season.  

There are many things you can to do rekindle a solid … or even troubled … relationship if both of you do it in a kind and loving spirit and are willing to work closely together to make it stronger.  The very best thing is to refocus positive energies on communication at all levels of your partnership and watch your relationship kindle around the warm spirit of your hearts!

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