The Smell of Spring

March always reminds me of daffodils because they grew in the backyard of my childhood home. Being a March baby, I clearly remember my Mom cutting the daffodils and placing them in a vase on our kitchen table every year around my birthday. To me, daffodils are that joyful expression that Spring is coming (as is my birthday)!

There is something cheerful about seeing the daffodils and smelling the earth starting to come alive in Springtime. I bought myself a handful of daffodils yesterday at the store. As I arranged them in a small vase that was my Mom’s, I was smiling. It’s the little things, those precious moments that I treasure. Don’t you?

It’s been getting warmer here in Jersey and the birds are chatting away more than usual. Perhaps it’s not more than usual, but simply that it’s been so quiet throughout the Winter months. It’s good to hear them prattling away and calling to each other. I have been watching them eat from the suet bird feeders I got this Winter. They are so much fun to watch!

However, I saw that there is a possibility of a snow storm next week and much to everyone else’s chagrin, I’m smiling about it! I love snow as well and would welcome one last snowfall before Spring is officially here. Back in the 70’s I remember a snow storm on my birthday which I loved! Perhaps we have another one in store for 2021?

I hope that all of you are healthy and happy. I haven’t been writing as much lately, but I do think of you often. My darling rabbits and wildlife haven’t been seen in a long while. I’m not sure if they’ve moved, are hibernating or perhaps have met their demise which saddens me. I’m hoping for a resurgence in the Spring. I’ll stay in touch and let you know!

In the meantime, may you have a lovely Thursday afternoon in March wherever you are. May you take a few moments to notice The Presents of Presence in your day. Take an extra moment or two to just be, look up at the sky, notice the grass and the smell of Spring starting. Count your blessings and be grateful for your loved ones by your side. I am grateful for all of you.

Shine On!

xo

A Full Moon And Two Animal Visitors

I woke up early this morning to be greeted by an amazing full moon blazing across the sky.  Although my photo doesn’t do it any justice, the memory emblazoned on my brain/heart is spectacular.  There is something lovely about being out here in nature without many buildings thwarting the Universe’s beautiful gifts.

I’ve been watching this moon for a few days now, sitting by my front door in the quiet evenings when all is still and the stars are twinkling.  The silence here is soothing to me and I am grateful for it.  It’s like the sound of falling snow.  I’m always entranced by the unique sensations that come with being outside with snow falling all around me.

But as I was enjoying a serene moonlit night a few days ago, I had two visitors.  Yup!  You know how I get so excited when my animal friends come to visit!  Much to my surprise, the first visitor was aviary.  I had the distinct feeling that it was a bat, however, it could have been a bird.  As I was sitting under the overhang by my front door, suddenly it swooped toward me, circled around under the eaves of the porch roof and then left.  Believe me when I tell you, I was stunned.  It was like a whoosh of energy came and went in just a few seconds.  Most definitely, the bird was making its presence known to me.  I felt like it was a sign, but for what, I don’t know.  Do any of you know?

The second visitor came along about ten minutes later as I was still searching the skies for the bird who had left, wanting but not wanting it to return because I am a bit afraid of birds as it is.  Suddenly, my little bunny Clover came hopping across the lawn.  In the darkness, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye, but I wasn’t sure what it was.  Then he hopped right onto the slab where I sat in my rocking chair.  We both kinda gasped when he skittered to a stop, suddenly each aware of each other because I think he was merrily hopping by without noticing me sitting there and I was oblivious to where he was since it was dark outside.

He stopped about a foot away from me and for a moment we both froze, looking at each other.  Then he turned and hopped back behind the chair on the other side of the porch.  He didn’t move, nor did I.  We have been friendly for months now.  He is used to my voice, so I began softly talking with him.  He angled himself so that he could watch me with one eye.  Enough light from the moon shone by that time and I could see he was resting comfortably.  You know me, I was enjoying our time together, asking him about his home under my back porch and about his life.  He didn’t answer, but he did stay.  I talked about the moon and how beautiful the night was.  After a few minutes, I told him that it was time for me to go to bed and that it was late for him too.  I thanked him for our unexpected visit and told him goodbye.  As I got up, he remained stoically in his spot.  Thank goodness as I didn’t want him to bolt into my house!  I know he probably wouldn’t have gone in anyway, but I wanted to make sure.  Having a wild rabbit in a home with two diva cats wouldn’t be prudent on my part!

I wonder what message Clover had for me that night and what message the bird/bat was delivering.  If anyone has any ideas, please let me know.  I know that some of you have knowledge that I lack, so anything that comes to you, please pass it along to me!  Thank you!  Make sure you go out to see that beautiful moon tonight too!  It’s the second full moon in March!

Shine On!

xo

Go Ahead…Make Waves

Don’t worry if you’re making waves simply by being yourself. 

The moon does it all the time.  ~ Scott Stabile

 Rabbit Rabbit to you!  If you don’t know what I’m talking about, then please click here!

A friend shared this with me and I knew I had to share it with you.  Sometimes we tremble when we want to let it all hang out and be ourselves.  But the moon which does it all the time is admired!  This was just a great way to change the way you are thinking, don’t you think?  Don’t believe it is your destiny to just cower and think small.  No, my friends, it is your Divine Right to be yourself, to shine on and to be as big as the moon which we all look up to every night as it shines brightly in the night sky amongst the sparkling stars!

Shine On!

xo

August 1st

August 1st ~ Rabbit Rabbit

“May the Sun always shine through your clouds.” ~ The Presents of Presence

Happy First of August ~ wowza!  The month of July has simply flown by for me!  Has it done the same for you?  With one month of summer left here, I just thought I’d give a reminder to say, Rabbit-Rabbit today for luck the whole month through ~ and to remind you to look for the sunshine even when life is cloudy.

Have a lovely day!

Shine On!

xo

Out of Step With the Crowd

Yes, you march to the beat of a different drum…

And I’m right behind you!

Have you ever felt out of step with the crowd?  Recently I was chatting with a friend about cliques and how even some of the 40+ somethings we know can be cliquey.  Now I’m not a cliquey person and truth be told, I never really was.  My childhood didn’t allow for a lot of free time to spend with friends so I never had the opportunity to be a true part of the pack.  Not that I’m complaining as I think I’m a happier person because of it.  But back then, I did want to be a part of the group.

Now, I’m still not a part of the ‘in’ group which doesn’t bother me in the least.  I am friendly with everyone and therefore I can float as I wish, not worrying about the cliquey part of being in a certain group.  The competitiveness which breeds in this area doesn’t concern me because I don’t follow the pack rules.  Let’s just say, I’m my own pup!

It makes me happy to be this way ~ and I find it refreshing to find others who feel the same way.  Because many of our experiences mold us to be the people we are today, it’s important to embrace our differences and enjoy who we are!  By reveling in our true selves, we allow connections to others because we are comfortable in reaching out.  Does that make sense?

Having an illness or surviving abuse or enduring trauma changes us ~ it’s up to you how you allow it to change your life.  For me, although it sounds strange, my cancer diagnosis changed my life for the better.  It’s allowed me and my family to realize truly how precious life is and how vital enjoying the NOW is since we’ve learned that our only guarantee is this moment in time.  I didn’t realize the magnificence of life before ~ and now I won’t let that moment go!

What about you?  Are you reveling in the Uniqueness that is you?  Do you follow the pack or are you your own pup?  Have you endured sadness only to be able to help another along the way?  I think that adversity brings out the best in us ~ it allows us to dig deeper into our spiritual selves in order to deepen our connection to others.

Which brings me to today’s prompt which I read after I wrote this post ~ and to answer it ~ I began blogging, my FB page The Presents of Presence, my twitter account and pinterest because I enjoy learning new things ~ I enjoy sharing the quotes, the optimism and the inspiration that I find in the everyday ~ so I am not sure I ‘get’ social media, but I didn’t join because my family and friends did it.

Be a Beacon of Hope today to others!

Today I celebrate the UNIQUENESS that is YOU!

Shine On!

Don’t forget to say Rabbit Rabbit!

xo

Daily Prompt: The Social Network

Do you feel like you “get” social media, or do you just use it because that’s where all your friends and family are?

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/04/01/daily-prompt-social/

Today is Your Day to Twinkle Sparkle Glow and Shine

Today is Your Day to Twinkle Sparkle Glow Shine

Officially it’s January 1st, 2013, and with the dawn, a new year is heralded in today and officially closes the door on 2012….at least in my book.  I awoke this morning with the little ditty of Rabbit Rabbit in my head (and out my mouth) before my first sip of coffee.  I’m not taking any chances on the first day of the month AND new year!  Are you scratching your head and wondering why?  Here’s the answer!  https://misifusa.wordpress.com/2012/09/01/rabbit-rabbit/

In the meantime, I thought this was a great card to begin the new year with ~ Don’t you love the optimism of this card ~ it has the ability to make you smile and to increase your desire to continue to SHINE ON!  This is yet another year to shine for all of us!  Are you ready?  On your mark, get set and let’s Twinkle Sparkle Glow and Shine On this year!

It’s only a matter of attitude ~ a shift if you will ~ and like any habit, it’s one that you can acquire easily without much extra effort…you just have to remember that you are a shining star.  That’s it!

You shine on with your attitude, your words, your expressions and by being yourself!  Even the brightest stars may have days when we feel less than sparkly, but our light is always shining in our souls!  I would love to see us all twinkling, sparkling, glowing and shining this year!  Imagine if as a connected community we allowed our inner lights to blossom and ignite the lights in others!  We could be a fireball of enthusiastic bloggers who connect like the amazing twinkly lights of the New Year’s Ball in Times Square!  Imagine the world cheering us on as we descend next New Year’s Eve on a year filled with every type of shining moment imaginable!  Imagine the power of a community filled with love, light and individuals who’ve come together with enthusiasm, optimism and in inspiration!

So please join me this year as we travel on our Journey of Endurance ~

Igniting our inner stars to

Twinkle,

Sparkle,

Glow

and Shine On! 

Happy 2013!

xo

Rabbit, Rabbit…

Rabbit, Rabbit…White Rabbit, White Rabbit…

It’s been a long few days since my knee surgery.  Today is the first day that I’ve even remotely felt like venturing to write a post, but I thought it’s the perfect time to bring up a tradition that we’ve been doing for years.   Today is September 1st and on the first of every month, we say, “Rabbit, rabbit, white rabbit, white rabbit,” in the morning before breakfast (although it’s a loose rule because years ago when my son was 5, he cried because he forgot to say it before he ate and was convinced he would have a bad month)  So, being the good Mom, I amended the rule quickly before the tears really began rolling.  In fact, as my sons have grown, they’ve twisted the rabbit, rabbit to monkey, monkey ~ in a show of independence and yet caring for dear ol’ Mom.  Not quite rebelling as such, but doing it their way.  I don’t mind, I think it’s funny because they get such a kick out of saying it to me.

Do any of you know of this tradition?  I can’t tell you where it began for me or how…I just know that the start of the new month has me declaring that phrase before savoring my first sip of my coffee in the early morning and brings me a smile knowing that I’ve begun my month with luck!

I started looking up the phrase ‘Rabbit, rabbit” and a plethora of websites and theories abounded.  Some stated that the tradition started in the 1880s, some stated that there are conditions upon saying the phrase to another person, some even have a slight variation on the way it’s said (hare in the morning, rabbit at night).  It’s an interesting take on a cute family tradition that I never thought much about….until now.

One piqued my interest:

“There is a tradition in the military (at least in the USAF) involving white rabbit. It is a game, as well as a way to keep in touch with those with whom you were stationed. When a new month begins, it is a contest as to who can tell the other person ‘white rabbit’ first; must be live communication, no answering machines, letters, etc. Usually the wager would be a drink. However, like I said, it allowed you an ‘excuse’ to call people once a month and catch up.”

So, in the military tradition, I send you Rabbit, Rabbit first…

Now let’s go get a Mimosa to start off our month with luck!

For me, it’ll be lucky because you’re buying!

Have you said it this morning?

Rabbit, Rabbit, White Rabbit, White Rabbit

to YOU!

xo