Category Archives: Random Musings

Encore Quotes – Family Traditions

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I hope as the weekend approaches you take a moment to consider those Christmas traditions you hold dear.  Are you doing things simply because you’ve “always done it that way?”  Are you exhausting yourself chasing some self-imposed standard that no longer meets your needs?  Instead, I would invite you to consider which activities, decorations, and traditions truly hold a special meaning for you.  Pursue those!  Have a peaceful and heartfelt weekend!

Lynn

Encore Quotes – Choose Gratitude

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Happy Friday fellow Voyagers!  Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone, we’ve survived Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and we’re well on our way to rushing toward the holiday where we feel the need to buy more, do more, decorate more, celebrate more.  The race is on…only 25 days till the big day, and soon the papers and televisions and computer screens will be reminding you that you must hurry, hurry, hurry.

So I hope after this week’s post reminding you to see the “wonder” in things, that you’ll take a moment to slow down, take a deep breath, and be grateful for this moment ~ right now.  Have a fabulous weekend!

Lynn

Photo credit: Josh Felise

A Teacher’s Perspective on Wonder — SpEd Tales – Stories for Teachers

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Last night, my family went to see the movie Wonder. I hoped my two, young sons would watch the movie and leave with a renewed understanding of what it means to be kind, but I wasn’t prepared for the lesson it had for me. It is November. The season of darkness and paperwork. By November,Read…

via A Teacher’s Perspective on Wonder — SpEd Tales – Stories for Teachers

Do you ever have one of those moments when you read something so true it gives you a kinda lump in your throat?  It happened to me this morning!  So even though I had a different post all ready to go, I decided to switch horses and reblog this one because it’s a

MUST READ!

And not just for us teacher types, but for us all!  In the past week, I’ve run across some very cranky people in my daily dealings!

  • The lady who got all bent out of shape because the line didn’t move quickly enough.
  • The taxi driver who rode our tail last night because his need to be first exceeded our need to be first.
  • The friend in the restaurant last night who “b*tched” because his french fries were only warm – not hot.

And when I read this blog this morning, it occurred to me again that we all need to recognize that

Everyone has a story

and we all need to learn to approach each other with a little bit of wonder.  We get to choose.  I hope the rest of your month (aw heck, the whole year) is “wonderful!”

Lynn

Encore Quotes – What Really Matters?

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Can you believe we’re heading into Thanksgiving already?  Wasn’t it just summertime about a second ago?  And before we know it, Christmas will have come and gone.  In all the rush, I hope you will take a moment each morning and ask yourself two questions:

What’s really important today?

What’s not so important at all?

I wish you a peaceful weekend, taking the time to enjoy those things that really matter!

Lynn

Time Passages

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Everyone is affected by the time change in different ways.  Some like it, some hate it.  For me, it’s not quite that simple.  Over the years, I have developed some very quirky ways in which I make note of the passage of time:

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When hubs completed his architectural thesis, in 1981, there was ONE computer on our university campus!  That computer took up the entire basement of the administration building, and it took an entire weekend to process one topographical map.  I mark the creation of all things computer by the year 1981.

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Most people love the late summer, when Black-eyed Susans begin to bloom – but for me, they always represented that time when I needed to return to my classroom and get it set up for the beginning of a new school year.  Part celebration, part dread!.

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Our very good friends were married locally on November 10th, 2000.  On that day, the snow here was falling so hard it was impossible to see.  Google maps were not yet commonplace, and because of the weather and our inability to navigate, we missed that important wedding.  I judge our local weather (easy or hard winter) by the weather on November 10th.  I also mark the availability of smart phone apps by that date…

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And now, as we head into the holiday season, I look to Pearl Harbor Day.  I distinctly remember finishing the writing of my Christmas cards while hubs was in the hospital, recovering from minor surgery.  I had the task completed on Pearl Harbor day, and as a result, that year was the most organized and stress-free holiday season ever!  Now I set my goal of having lots of things done by Pearl Harbor Day (December 7th).  It is my personal benchmark of being able to relax at Christmas.

Well I’m not the kind to live in the past
The years run too short and the days too fast
The things you lean on are the things that don’t last
Well it’s just now and then my line gets cast into these
Time passages

So how about it?  What unorthodox events mark the passage of time for you?

Lynn

 

 

Encore Quotes – Inner Peace

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Happy Friday, everyone!  I hope you take a moment to recognize that you get to choose how to react to all the chaos that surrounds us.  Don’t let yourselves become needlessly outraged.  Take a deep breath. Recognize all the good, and have a wonderful weekend!

Lynn

That’s Outrageous!

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I’ve been thinking recently about causes of stress in our lives.  As I’ve said before, this is a pretty good gig!  What could possibly be causing angst?  And then I heard an expression somewhere that resonated with me:

We have become a country addicted to OUTRAGE!

As I started to examine that concept, I can see so many examples of its truth.  Everywhere we look, something in the media, social or otherwise, is just begging us to get riled up.  Remember the days when the paper was delivered in the morning, and the news was on TV at 5:00 and 10:00 pm?  Not much time for anything but reporting real events.  But these days, a 24-hour news cycle, coupled with thousands of different media outlets plying for your attention, has given rise to endless “click bait.”

Now I’m not saying that we should become complacent.  We SHOULD be outraged by some a$$hole who shoots hundreds of people in Las Vegas.  We SHOULD be outraged by an idiot who drives a truck into a crowd of innocent people.

But pictures of fat Trump? or Hillary with an enraged face? or Melania’s high heels? or what this or that celebrity did or did not say?  REALLY?????  Do we need to be outraged at that nonsense?  Reporters on TV are no longer “reporters” – they are “commentators”…and they are banking on their ability to get you hooked.

And maybe this is just a sign that I’m getting old, but don’t they teach how to detect bias in high school English any more? Like:

  • Are there inflammatory words in this headline?
  • Is this trying to sway my opinion or get me to hop on board?
  • Is this intentionally misleading?
  • Is it the intent of the publisher just to sway me to click on the site (and hopefully on advertisers?)
  • Is it their intent to incite or outrage the reader?

 

As I was surfing around, I found this video on YouTube which, while a little old, still rings true:

Outrage

So how’s about everyone just take a big deep breath, be grateful in the moment, and vow to look for happier, compassionate, uplifting events in our world.  OK, I know, that sounded pretty PollyAnna, even to me!  (gag me with a spoon!)

But my point is, we do have some control.  As consumers, we get to decide what ‘news’ to read, what sites to click on.  We have more control than you might imagine.  My friend over at Intrepid Kate has instituted her own Facebook policy.  She will scroll her feed until she comes across negativity.  When that happens, she shuts it down and wanders over to something more fun like Instagram or Pinterest.

As for me, I’ve taken to using the “Unfollow” button on my Facebook feed.  Those friends who insist on posting negativity are getting ‘turned off’ (not Unfriended, mind you – I’m just taking a break from their posts.)

I have successfully reduced my Facebook feed to friends who provide “soul-enhancing relationships,” advertisements, and PUPPIES!  Oh yeah, and goofy videos…

So I would encourage you to reserve your outrage for more than Tarantulas in the Guacamole (watch the video).

Random.Ranting.Over.  Can’t wait to hear your thoughts…

Lynn

 

Encore Quotes – If Only

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As I have gone about collecting advice for newly or soon-to-be retired people, there seems to be a theme:

Don’t wait.  Do it now.  Step out of your comfort zone.

Wouldn’t we hate to get to the end, wishing we had done those things we had always dreamed of doing?  Life truly is about collecting experiences.  So I wish you a wonderful weekend, and I hope you enjoy every single moment of your Voyage!

Lynn

Encore Quotes – Travel Makes You Richer

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Happy Friday, fellow Voyagers!  A couple of years ago we decided not to build a big fancy-schmancy new home, and instead, opted to sell our property so that we might pursue a wider range of experiences on the Voyage.  Best. Decision. Ever!!!  So this Friday finds me exploring and taking in all the funky sites, soaking up the flavor of this fine city.  Life truly is about collecting experiences…Not Stuff!  And so, as I sit here under the Public Market sign, drinking a Pumpkin Spiced Chai (cliche, I know…but so delicious!) I’m wishing you all a weekend full of rich exploration!

Lynn

Encore Quotes – Who Will You Become?

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And retirement is just the beginning of a new and exciting voyage!  Are you becoming the person you have always wanted to be?  Are you chasing your dreams?  Do you continue to have Big Goals?  I hope so!  Have a wonderful weekend, fellow voyagers!

Lynn