Happy 4th of July!

Being a Jersey Girl, the beach has always been important to me so when I saw this photo on FaceBook, I copied and pasted it here.  I wish I knew who the photographer was so I could give proper credit, but I don’t.  So thank you whomever you are!

We are in strange times here, aren’t we?  The laws (rules) keep changing so I’m never sure where we stand.  I guess that’s what the pandemic has started.  It’s made a lot uncertain in the world.  It’s brought fear, escalated emotions and a wide political divide.  But I’m not here to talk about that because that’s not what my blog is about as you know.

Instead, I want to go back in history and remember how our country was founded and the unity that breaking off from England to establish the USA resulted in a firm foundation.  I wish that unity again for all of us.  I wish we could see eachother as the same, yet different.  To be united as human citizens of our country and to celebrate what each person has to offer.  Because we all have goodness to offer and talents to share.

I’m reminded of hearing how we all bleed the same color and when we die, we all turn to the same dust.  What if we could remember that?  That yes, our skin may be different shades, our backgrounds and childhoods may vary, our socio-economic levels may not be the same, but…what is the same?  We are all humans on this planet who need the same things – food, shelter, clothing, air, water and love.

Love is what brings us together.  Love heals.  Love unites.  Love is a universal human emotion that grows when shared.  We can exponentially expand love without lessening it.  Love is essential.

I wish you love today and always.  Keep shining your heart lights dear friends!

Shine On!

xo

Memorial Day

“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic.  It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.”

– Arthur Ashe

I shan’t wish you a Happy Memorial Day for as a friend who is in the military reminded me, it isn’t a happy day.  It isn’t about picnics, nor getting a day off from work.  It is about remembrance for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for all of us to live in this country.  It is about those who survive, but still have limitations from their service time.  It is about serving others because you believe in our nation.  It is about honoring those who have passed.

So today please take a moment to send peace and love to all those who have passed and to those who have given of themselves to serve our country.  It saddens me that we have lost so many souls in a collection of unrest in our world.  Let’s say a prayer for peace today and remember all those for whom this day is in remembrance.

Shine On!

xo

 

4th of July

Celebrating with you today virtually ~ May your day be bright and happy!  May you find loving connections with all whom you come into contact!  May fireworks brighten your nights and BBQ family parties with friends and family make your day special!  Be free to love with a willingness to forgive, to embrace and to simply find the joy in this life.

You deserve it!

Shine On!

xo

Happy 4th of July Weekend

To me, this is idyllic ~ 2 inviting Adirondack chairs facing the sea.  Imagine us together today.  Sipping iced tea (or something stronger perhaps?), embraced by the sunlight, enveloped in the peaceful moment, silence and conversation flowing without awkwardness, the sea air filling our lungs with its sweetness.

Ahhh…pure bliss!  May your entire weekend be as such.

Shine On!

xo

*Photo credit: FB unknown

Dad’s Flag Day

Today is Flag Day for those in the United States.  June 14th, marks the celebration of the birthday of our flag ~ a reminder of the love of freedom, liberty and justice for all that our country stands for and that our flag embodies ~ it is a day to proudly fly the American Flag.

And for me, it is a reminder of my Dad, who proudly flew the American Flag from our porch’s flagpole.  It was my Dad who showed me how to roll the flag and put her away.  He carefully never let her touch the ground and when she was battered by wind and the elements he carefully folded her and disposed of her properly.

It’s funny because I’ve never really remembered how reverently he treated the flag until now ~ and it brings to mind that at his funeral, we were blessed to have the help of the Navy to make it a military funeral which he would have loved.  At his request, he was even ‘piped over the side’ by a friend ~ just one of the few nuances to his service that those who attended experienced.

Which brings me to the Daily Prompt as I think this moment of recall counts ~ today I realized how strongly he felt towards the flag and the USA.  I never really thought about it until now, but as clear as day, I can still see his daily ritual of putting the flag out in the morning and taking her in at night and if she were left out, she had to have the porch light illuminating her.  I’d bet wherever he is now, he’s the one in charge of the flag!

Father’s Day looms this weekend and the first anniversary of his death comes shortly afterwards.  It’s been a long year without him ~ full of struggles, tears and conflicting emotions.  In fact, it simply doesn’t seem like he’s dead sometimes because I can trick myself into thinking he’s on one of his biking trips.  But then of course, when I have to continue to take care of everything for his business and my parents’ affairs, I know he’s gone.

I didn’t have an easy relationship with my Dad.  It was fraught with turmoil.  But I’d really appreciate seeing him again standing on the porch unfurling the flag proudly today.  He was very proud of his country, proud to serve her and proud to be a Navy man.

Long May Her Flag Wave!

Shine On!

xo

Daily Prompt: In Good Faith

Describe a memory or encounter in which you considered your faith, religion, spirituality — or lack of — for the first time.

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/06/14/daily-prompt-faith/

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