Stream of conscientious tonight: Reading friend's blogs ... home and hearth ... purging ... decluttering ... smudging.

Reminds me of my recent time in the mountains of New Mexico ... Meeting a wise and lovely Native American women ... as I purchased a beautiful sage stick from her. She added a decorative touch to her handcrafted sage sticks by weaving in a variety of colorful native wildflowers. Each of the sage sticks she crafted was unique, carefully and simply displayed in the open trunk of her car parked at the weekly Taos Farmer's Market.

Smudging ... to smear or blur, to blend ... to customize, make it your own and yet slightly different.

Life goes on. Letting go of what is behind and pressing on; forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead (Philippians 3:11-13)

The essence of optimism is that it takes no account of the present, but it is a source of inspiration, of vitality and hope where others have resigned; it enables a man to hold his head high, to claim the future for himself and not to abandon it to his enemy. ~Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Paper tigers … This image was on the front page of my morning newspaper recently — and seeing it prompted me to consider my own adventures with paper tigers. So, I started writing this post … And decided today was the day to post it.

The imagery of a paper tiger: fierce in appearance — but in reality, it is absolutely nothing to be afraid of. It is merely paper; it cannot bring harm and has no true power … Except for the mental pause of seeing something that in real-life is quite threatening (and of course, the mental pause which prompts blog posts!).

More ... (Including tips for considering your own paper tigers and determining your personal anchors of optimism!)

Apparently, I am in the proverbial graduate level course of learning to deal with difficult people — once and for all. (I hope ...) But I think I can safely assume this, as I absolutely know I am in the midst of finals week for this Life Lesson! ;-)

And, while thankfully I am not alone is this course ... It is not always an easy thing to deal with difficult people — even if they are merely paper tigers!

About a month ago, I wrote about finding a rhythm. Just putting the words together seemed to empower me as I moved through a very difficult time of my life. And, honestly, it was more of a conclusion of said time, but it seemed fierce and ever-threatening. However, the view  from this side of it enables me to see it as one of the most empowering and clarifying experiences I have been blessed to be a part of ...

So, my two tips for dealing with difficult people are:
1. Be patient.
2. Be quiet.

And while I realize that those two forms of (in)action may, at first glance, appear to be the very last way anyone wants to deal with people who seem to thrive on belittling or inflicting pain upon others ... I can testify that it does in fact disable to the process. And, in truth, clogs the flow of aggravation for you, as well as the flow of supposed satisfaction for the "difficult" person.

Reacting, participating, going tit-for-tat only feeds the monster. Silence pulls the plug of the fuel supply! And, after all, you have probably said all there is to be said. Right? Difficult people do not want resolution anyway; they turn a deaf eye to the voice of reason.

So, what to do with all those perfect one-liners playing in your head when you recall a situation with said difficult person?? Journal, scream them at full volume, vent to a friend or allow the scene to play out in your head. Be as ridiculous and as loud and as rude as you feel like.

Then, return to who you are and realize that wrestlin' with a pig only makes you muddy and mad — while the pig enjoys every minute!

Determine where your boundaries are with the "difficult people" in your life. Close the gate, post the Keep Out sign! And consider said action on your part a personal favor to the folks who just seem to thrive on chaos and doing their part to maintain it! ;-)

Arrogance and rudeness are training wheels on the bicycle of life — for weak people who cannot keep their balance without them. ~Laura Teresa Marquez

If what you are doing is not moving you towards your goals, then it’s moving you away from your goals. ~Brian Tracy

It took awhile for me to get the full meaning of this slogan from years back. Initially, I took it to mean life is change, waves, even beauty — like the beach. However, then I experienced the "life is a 'beach' and then you die" aspect ...

Perspective? Or simply two sides of the proverbial coin?

This is the first photo I took as I deboarded the plane at Honolulu International Airport. I had returned to my homeland — the place of my birth. The experience proved to be both sides of the coin regarding life as a beach.

In my book, life is like the island of Oahu: Varied. Lush and green, dry and desert-like. Misty valleys and hillsides, unique elevations blended with beautiful ocean-side views. It offers soothing walks amidst inspiring beauty and the quieting rhythm of the surf; along with the absolute maddening traffic weaving through scenic highways as well as a diverse group of people at polar ends of enduring one another!

There is not a road that will allow you to drive full-circle around the island of Oahu. That had not changed since my parents lived there. (And I am sure that has something to do with the fact that if you could, you would drive through an extremely impoverished area of despair, dilapidated buildings and homeless people on your way to elegant and pricey high-rise hotels and resorts. And visa versa.)

Isn't that just like life? Don't we sort of quarantine the icky parts, to the point of simply ignoring them and pretending they just are not there? And the heck of it is, they are right next door to the places in our heart we enjoy visiting all the time.

Walking the beaches I had merely seen in photos and seeing the hospital were I was born, the distinctive Tripler Army Hospital, from the window of the plane proved to be quite emotional for me. I had not anticipated that part of my visit. But then, since my "let's get acquainted" walk with death had come the year before via ovarian cancer, I guess seeing where I took my first breaths would be emotional.

Life is a beach (and for me, it is in Oahu). And it is what we make it and what we choose to protect as we wait upon the next big wave. (Think: Beach Erosion Control Programs ...) Life is the beach where we can find solace as we listen and wait; as we stroll along the shoreline, as we gaze upon the horizon line and wonder what lies beyond — and even as we plunge ourselves into the water and immerse ourselves in the flow and current.

And, while the waiting part is not something we easily accept, it is part of life. In fact often, the wait is viewed as surrender or a delay in the journey to where we want to be. But there are necessary times of waiting ... For the waves of creatively, hope, wisdom and insight.

And even though we can resolve to maintain our focus — soothing ourselves with the organic, blended salve of rest, forgiveness, perseverance and simply being in the moment — we cannot “create” our own waves. There is a rhythm to life, an order of events — a Master Plan. However, we can choose to make the most of the life on the beach … Even during in the waiting times … Because we know that eventually the next big wave will come!

So, which beach typifies your life?

What wave are you waiting for?

(Or have I merely rambled and made little sense to anyone who lives outside of my head??)

I was driving home from an errand this morning; and, as is my habit, I had my camera so I could capture moments of the day and the view ...

As I turned down a country road near my home, I glanced over and saw this horse. So, I pulled over and reached for my camera. However, all I could do was sit there watching this beautiful, strong animal. He looked my way and started walking toward "my end" of the long barbed-wire fence which wrapped around a long section of grassland over about 100 acres — give or take a few ...

In that moment, I began to remember Renner and my experiences last month with horses (Inspirational Horses and More Horse Inspirations) and ultimately spending the afternoon with Renner, Kira and Jenny ...

All that flashed through my mind and then I "knew" things would work out today. (And they did.) And, at about that time, my horse visitor went back to his breakfast.

Even tonight, horses seem to be "visiting" ... I keep coming across quotations, photos and blogs that refer to horses. And tonight I rest in the nurtured discipline of the “loose-corralling” over endless acres of provisional lands with these horses in my heart and in my mind. These magnificent and inspirational beasts who lead (and sometimes carry) me to my dreams ...

First Snow — November 2006

Each day is like this scene from my back door a year ago. The bright light from the morning sun illuminates the way to a clean slate of a new day. And once we take that first step — the day begins to change.

So, questions (for you, and for myself, this morning) are: "How will you begin your day? What steps will you take through the day to arrive at day's end? What thoughts will float (or run frantically ...) through your mind at sunset?

How we answer these questions largely depends upon whether we chose "instead" or "in addition to" ...

Most of us "get it" when it comes to knowing that we cannot "do it all." However, knowing it and living it are two different tunes. And one is not always included in the rhythm of our days. Knowing it, means you can comfort someone else when they feel inadequate or as though they are not "getting anything done" ... Living it means you can comfort yourself and dance to this lively little ditty ...  instead beating yourself up for not "getting anything done" and merely hearing loud and ominous drum beats of doom.

Today, I am celebrating to the sweet melody of this tune and its soothing beat. I am choosing to work on a project instead of and not in addition to everything else I do on a weekday. And it feels fabulous! (And, I am posting myself this note of reminder for the next time I make the opposite choice ... 'cause "You better put it all behind you baby; life goes on ..." And it is the process of "getting down the heart of the matter" that paves the road to Healing.)

I am the writer, illustrator and the editor-in-chief of my story. And although I elect to publish selected chapters and verses from said story, there are subscriber-only chapters and verses and even defining words of my story. (Of course, there are also select, privately savored aspects of my story that empower ... energize ... soothe ... and inspire me as I dream of and as I write new chapters ...)

A herd of Angus grazing on winter wheat ...

Give this pup his last dose of homeopathic remedies ... Settle him into his bed ... Stroke his head (they only part of him that seems not to ache ...) and go to bed myself. It has been a very emotional and very challenging 24 hours. I am grateful for loving and well-trained vet care, and for the opportunity to love and care for this beautiful and loving and vibrant animal.

O.K. I've been tagged by my dear friend, Otter. She is an inspiration, so I shall play ... 

Otter at: http://ottermakesasplash.zaadz.com tagged me.

RULES:
1. Link to the person's blog who tagged you. (check!)

2. Post these rules on your blog. (check!)

3. List seven random and/or weird facts about yourself. (check!)

4. Tag seven random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs. (check!)

5. Let each person know that they have been tagged ... (check!)


Seven random and/or weird facts about myself:

1.  When I was little girl, I used to remove the brown and black crayons (and gray, if I had the box of 24) from the box as I "only liked the bright ones" ...

2. Because I was always the tallest person in my classes through elementary school, I was challenged to ignore taunts and names such as "Jolly Green Giant" and "Giraffe" during that time. (However, I often wonder if that was part of the reason I had such close relationships with my teachers since they were aware of the namecalling.)

3. During cheerleader tryouts in the ninth grade, I stood absolutely frozen in front of my classmates and the faculty judges -- unable to speak or move. (But -- as per my faculty advisor who tallied the votes -- enough of my fellow students voted for me that I actually won the popular vote even though I would not be cheerleader due to the judges votes. Winning the popular vote was a total surprise but a nice silver lining, since my "friend" said I could never win. And -- good or bad -- her charge was the only reason I tried out for cheerleader anyway. Fortunately, I realized she really wasn't a true friend anyway (and I didn't want to be a cheerleader). So, apparently everything does have a way of working out! ::wink::

4.  As a junior in high school, I contacted Hallmark for details of how I could sell my greeting cards through their company. (To which they politely replied with a form letter of rejection. A couple of years later, my greeting cards were on sale at a vintage clothing store.)

5. My resume includes a range of interesting jobs such as: aid to the physically-challenged; selling furniture; housekeeper/maid; sign painter; as well as activities and employment that allowed for me to meet two state governors, three different U.S. presidents and various and sundry legislators and members of Congress.

6. I met (for the very first time) and married my DH within a three week time period. (We "knew" we were made for each other ... So, we committed to love, honor and cherish, and proceeded to weather the challenges of loving for our two oldest children -- whose mother had died when they were very young (and who are still attempting to find their way ...), caring for ailing parents, my own adventures with cancer and the rest of our "very-real-life" for close to 20 years. And he still "loves me so ... It's in his kiss! That's where it is!")

7. I adopted the name, Lucente (shining) Stella (star) because of the situations (in the proverbial dark) which required me to journey onward by the mere light of the stars and my own luminations. (In said journey, I enjoy making gratitude lists ... like this one.

That's all folks! ;-)

(And, I hope these friends will play ...)

• http://maitrilibellule.zaadz.com
• http://grywlfmrgns.zaadz.com
• http://romanlily.zaadz.com
• http://trustsurrenderlove.zaadz.com
• http://metaphoric.zaadz.com
• http://ponysong.zaadz.com
• http://dei-sub-numine-viget.zaadz.com

Living in a rural area, I am blessed with spectacular views of nature. It is my habit to keep my camera handy, in order to capture views from my drives to and from, here and there.

This evening I enjoyed a beautiful November Sky as it displayed the Sun's descent on the horizon line ...

Photo Credit

Cold temperatures inspire me. More than that, they empower and liberate me from Routine. And while I am no slave to a routine, there are new rhythms which find their way into my life during the month of November. Such as steaming milk and making my own version of café mocha!