Be The One That Makes Others Feel Special

Hallo again everyone. After weeks of rain here in Devon, we are finally having a few days of brightness, although it has turned much colder, but i would much rather have that. Here's Benji, my little Cavapoo, when we had a dusting of snow yesterday. 

I've faffed around a bit today (I'm pretty good at 'faffing' I'll have you know. In fact, it's probably one of my strong points!  Motivation...not so much. Patience....that's definitely a no-no).  Anyway, I digress - as it's the afternoon now and I'm just sitting around, I thought I would write another Blog Post.

Don't you just love the first quote above ?  Surely we can still be kind and civil to each other even if we don't agree on a certain subject?  What I don't like, is meanness, which can take many forms.... unkindness, unfairness, spitefulness, to name but a few. 

I'm not on Facebook quite so much now as, because of the algorithms (no, me neither!) they use these days, sometimes Posts from my friends don't appear until several days later.  I use Instagram much more, where  there are so many like minded women, who post photos of their pets, their gardens, lovely images of their walks etc, and it just seems like a much more serene place to be. Everyone is very kind and always very encouraging to each other. Now I'm not naive - I realise that Trolls appear there as well, but I haven't encountered any. 

I always love to read the School Reports  of my grandchildren (that is when they were actually going to school), and, obviously. I was delighted when they had done well in their various subjects, but what I loved most of all, was when the Teacher used to say that they were always kind and caring towards their classmates, and considerate towards others. You can't ask for more than that, and I always used to tell them how pleased I was to read comments like that. 

Caring about others, and giving to others, helps us as individuals as well. Not only do we physically feel better, but our self-esteem benefits as well, if we can shift our focus to what is around us and not what is within us. None of us knows what may be going on behind the scenes as it were, in someone else's life, so, surely, it's worth going that extra mile to be kind to all those we come into contact with. 

So then, on that note, I will leave you once again. I know it's a bit late, but I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy, healthy and peaceful New Year. May 2023 be kind to all of us. 

All quotes today courtesy of Pinterest.

Start September with Positive Thoughts

Hallo again everyone. It's been a while!  I hope you are all keeping in good spirits as we start the new month and start to enter a new Season. 

Can you believe it's September already?!  Even in this most strangest of years, the days, weeks and months still seem to be galloping by. This will certainly be a year that we will never forget!  Even though people are gradually out and about a bit more now, everything is so different. But oh the joy of meeting up with a friend and actually going out for lunch after five months!  Something that I used to do all the time. My, how we used to take things for granted!

As you can see from the above photo, this is the time of the year when I start cutting back in the garden, which I was doing yesterday. I always call it putting the garden to bed until the next year. Fortunately, the roses are still doing splendidly, and the geraniums are still giving plenty of colour. 

Anyway, I thought it would be a good idea to start the new month with some positivity, and so I am including a few quotes courtesy of Pinterest.com. I think we can all do with these.  

Don't forget to hang on to HOPE.  There's never been a better time to say......this too shall pass....and it will.  Look after yourselves little peeps and keep safe. 

I'll leave you with a couple of pics of little Benji, who loves to play hide and seek in the garden. Hopefully they might make you smile 😊 

Just One Word Today....Kindness

Just a simple little post today, from me to you, and it features one of my favourite words .... KINDNESS.  

We need more kindness in the world today, and, yes, gentleness and respect. We need far less hate and aggression.  Less pulling people down, and more building people up. 

The quotes today are all courtesy of Pinterest. I came across this Interview with Roald Dahl, and I couldn't agree with him more....

"I think kindness is my number one attribute in a human being.  I'll put it before any of the things like courage or bravery or generosity, or anything else."

Interviewer.. "or brains even?"

"Oh, gosh, yes.  Brains is one of the least. You can be a lovely person without brains, absolutely lovely. Kindness - that simple word.  To be kind - it covers everything, in my mind.  If you're kind, that's it."

Perhaps you might have your own favourite word as to how life should be lived ....but, to my mind, if you're kind, you care for others, you love, you have empathy, you have generosity of spirit, and you want the very best for that other person. 

May you be surrounded by kindness as you go through your week ❤️

Women Of A Certain Age ....

I was thinking just the other day about how fortunate we ‘women of a certain age’ are in the year 2020 (When I say ‘women of a certain age’, I think I’m being kind to myself, as I’m sure I’m now in the ‘women past their sell by date age’!).

When I think of my grandma’s time, and even my mum’s time, I can see how things have really improved over these past fifty years or so.  Don’t get me wrong, I realise that we still have some way to go. I’m a big fan of the “me too” movement, and it’s so good to see how that Movement  has improved things for women over just the past couple of years. Now, at long last, talented women are achieving those top jobs, and getting salaries to match their male counterparts.  When you think where we’ve come from, that really is worthy of huge celebration.  

There are so many amazing groups that women can join now, to learn new things, and to forge exciting new friendships.  These things don’t just happen, of course.  You have to go out and look for them.  I know, sometimes, it’s easier to just carry on with the ‘same old’, and if you’re happy doing just that, then that’s fine too.  The main thing is, we have CHOICE these days.  Just remember the old saying......”life is not a rehearsal.”  THIS IS IT!

I do think it’s important to keep a close circle of lady friends.  As we get older, these ladies become even more important, and we realise how blessed we are to have them in our lives.   Cherish these friends, and let them know how much they mean to you.  Remember, life can change in an instant.  Never be afraid to say “I love you”, or  compliment them when they look good, or tell them when you like their new perfume, or lipstick, or whatever.  Try to love all the stages of your life, for they are all magical in their own way.

I hope you have enjoyed all the little quotes I have included with my Post today - all courtesy of Pinterest.com.  I’ll leave you with one that, hopefully, will make you smile, from the wonderful Dame Maggie Smith......

See you next time little peeps, and thank you for taking the time to read my ramblings

Happy Valentines Day From Me To You.

I thought I would just pen a little post today and send some love out into the Universe 💖

Lovers of Jane Austen will know that the above quote comes from her novel, Pride and Prejudice. 

Do you believe in Valentines Day?  Do you celebrate it or do you just studiously ignore it?!  Even if you’re on your own, you can still spoil YOURSELF a little on this day of love.  I’m sure many people will say that they don’t need a special day to mark their love, but for those still going through what seems like a very long Winter, surely it’s lovely to have an excuse to celebrate. I thought I would include some famous love quotes..  In this digital age, I’m sure actually sitting down and writing a love letter seems positively prehistoric!  Well, it works for me!

Does anyone enjoy vintage cards as much as I do?  Here are just a few vintage Valentines cards, courtesy of Pinterest 

So wherever you are reading this, I hope you will all have a lovely day.  One thing I think is really good these days,  is that female friends, if they’re not seeing anyone,  get together on this day and maybe go to watch a movie and have a bite to eat, or just simply cook a meal at home.  Love between friends is very important as we go through our lives. Certainly, I am so thankful for the female friends in my life.  As they say, love is love, and amen to that. 

Kindness Matters....

Hallo peeps!  Wishing you a Splendiforous Sunday.  Here in the U.K. today, we are going to be battered by Storm Ciara with torrential rain and winds of up to 80 mph., so stay safe everyone. 

So today I thought we could all concentrate on kindness, and just how a simple act of kindness can make such a difference to another person. A lot of people, it seems these days, just concentrate on nastiness and negativity. (I love Social Media, but sometimes I think it has a lot to answer for 🙈).  

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the quotes I have collected for you today, courtesy of Pinterest.com

So then, a simple little post from me today, but sometimes 'simple' is okay - right?!  

Sunday Solace

Good morning, good afternoon or good evening, depending on when you are reading this Post, which I'm writing here in ye merry olde England. 

Today I am grateful for a few dry days, as we have had constant rain since the end of September!   There has been severe flooding in many parts of England over the past few weeks, and it's heartbreaking to see the terrible damage caused to peoples' homes and businesses.  The Army have now been called in to help out.  The trouble is, when this sort of thing happens, it can be up to a year before people are able to get back into their homes. So as I sit in the comfort of my own warm home, I do give thanks. 

Although I love the longer days of Summer, what a wonderful backdrop of stunning colour Autumn provides us with. I thought I would just show a few pics to remind us of the beauty of nature at this time of the year.  These photos were all taken at Dartington Gardens, which is only a twenty minute drive away from where I live. The gardens there look wonderful at any time of the year...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 A few years ago in my Blog, I used to have a Sunday Solace feature, so I've decided to bring it back for a few weeks.  I thought I would bring you some inspirational quotes - quotes that I have always loved. I do hope you will enjoy them.....

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt by the heart." (Helen Keller)

"Keep your face always towards the sunshine, and shadows will fall behind you." (Walt Whitman).

"What we think, we become."  (Buddha).

"It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light." (Aristotle Onassis).

"Try to be a rainbow in somebody's cloud."  (Maya Angelou).

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." (Aesop) 

Well, it's time for me to leave you once again. I hope all is well with you and that you have a good week ahead.

For those of you who are interested, you can see photos of my Summer garden in my new Featured Post today. Just look for it on the right hand sidebar of the Blog 😊