23 Looking for Miracles

On 03/17/202303/17/2023 By Susan St.PierreIn In my humble opinion...3 Comments

Rory asked these questions a day ago. It seemed a fun place to start the day.

Do you think being outside is good for a person’s wellbeing?

It is absolutely essential. When I’m outside, all my problems seem smaller. The immense beauty and expansive wonder of Nature (something I cannot fully explain) speaks to me. There are forces so much bigger than I. My favorite personal explanation is “It’s a place where I feel comfortably insignificant.”
Once when my granddaughter, at about 8 years old, was having a ‘meltdown’, my cure for it was asking her to go and sit outdoors. It worked. It always works.
I don’t consider it a distraction, but rather a reconnection.

How much of a sensation seeker are you?

This is a good one. I am a bit of a daredevil. But the path I take is usually testing my own limits. As an “eyes wide open” person when it comes to assessing physical danger, I don’t as often take safety risks as I test the “rules”. I think most rules are arbitrary nonsense. Remember the 6-foot distancing during the pandemic? Yeah…that one was actually an IQ test and most people were sadly scoring in the double digits. lol 😉

Do you believe in blind luck?

No. Since I decided to center my life around gratitude it has been even more beautiful. And to feel gratitude, one needs someone or something to thank. I am thankful to God for his grace and love. By finding that life direction which increases my perception of beauty and calm, I haven’t regretted the decision… and I truly don’t care what others think of it. Faith is absolutely a daily decision and no different from deciding what you’ll wear.
Since I’ve looked for miracles (I even did as a child), I’ve recognized SO much. It’s quite like the saying, “You can’t win the lottery if you don’t play.”

https://earthlycomforts.uk/2023/03/16/a-wild-aloha-to-you-27/

Simply 6-Minutes- 2/21/23 The Big Picture

On 02/21/202302/21/2023 By Susan St.PierreIn Writing Prompts8 Comments

Our challenge is to write a story by interpreting the photo below in only six minutes.

Pablo was tired of his grandfather’s constant reminder to look at something called “The Big Picture”. He was always so DARN positive!
It was foolish and old fashioned and, frankly, meant nothing to him.
Pablo had worries galore.
“Where would he get a new plow?”
“When would his son be old enough to help with chores?”
“Why didn’t the weather cooperate with his farming timeline?”
One day, news of his neighbor’s son being killed in a freak accident brought him to his knees.
Pablo was devastated for his neighbor and, of course, offered him his assistance with his farm in addition to his own duties.
He sat overwhelmed with his workload and placed his face in his hands.
Suddenly, his 5-year-old son grabbed him around the neck and kissed him on the cheek offering comfort to his distraught Dad.

And that’s when Pablo knew, for the first time, what his grandfather had always meant.

https://christinebialczak.com/2023/02/21/simply-6-minutes-welcome-to-the-challenge-02-21-2023/

Question Time Over Coffee- 12-25-22- Family and Friends

On 12/25/202212/25/2022 By Susan St.PierreIn In my humble opinion...5 Comments

Are you more socially or community-minded regarding people, or do you not think there is a difference between the two?

To me, it’s about family and close friends. The rest is just details.

On a scale of 1 – 10, how ethically minded do you think you are?
What behaviour do you consider to be ethical?

If you aren’t behaving ‘ethically’ at all times, then life is gonna be hard for you and the people around you.

Tattoos are a very personal lifestyle choice by those who have their bodies inked.

So – Do you think tattoos make people more confident or less?
Do tattoos look good on everyone?
[If you are inked, have you ever regretted any of your tattoos?]

I wouldn’t suggest what others do. Tattoos aren’t for me. [Just a guess, but people who tattoo their faces seem to want attention and/or fewer job interviews.]

What enrichment do you personally receive from being social?

It’s a wonderful way to test my own perceptions and values when I interact with decent, intelligent, people. I’m known as a gregarious person but I’m not really fond of socializing.

Have you become noticeably more socially isolated or socially interactive after the pandemic and the lockdowns? There may be no difference in your social behaviour; if this is the case, let me know below.

I didn’t even notice the lockdowns were going on. That’s how socially motivated I am. The views of others have nothing to do with my own measure of my worth so not socializing had no influence on my happiness. (My immediate family did not abide by any of the “idiotic” constraints either, so we acted normally.)

What would be your top sustainability tip?

Seems the topic of the day so, measure yourself against yourself – no one else. Self-reflection and self-improvement are the roots to being happy and fulfilled

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We live in a world that treats being open and vulnerable as a taboo and something to be frowned upon, so –

Do you find it easy or hard to talk to your friends and family about your health?

I don’t bow to taboos-especially when it comes to free expression-, but I also don’t find discussing myself and my health much of anyone’s business. Perhaps, my socialization philosophy needs improvement? I’ll think on it. lol

What will you be doing this weekend?

Enjoying the warmth of family and friends and feeling deep gratitude for our Saviour’s birth.

As the writer and author of your blog, how connected do you feel to your audience?

Does your blog reveal too much, too little or just the right balance of you to your readers?

I’ve made a few deeply appreciated friendships. That was a surprise to me. Overall, I don’t write for anyone else’s approval but my own. In real life, I’m quite genuine and I imagine my writing reflects that.

If you were granted a day at being one of your favourite book characters, who would you choose to be and why?

One of the first books that I loved was The Jungle Books by Rudyard Kipling (NOT DISNEY)- I think I’d like to be Mowgli for a day communing with his animal family and friends.

What do you believe is the greatest threat to our planet today?

Human arrogance.

https://earthlycomforts.uk/2022/12/24/question-time-over-coffee-10/

Something I wanted to Note

On 03/20/2022 By Susan St.PierreIn In my humble opinion...9 Comments

I just glanced around my kitchen and spotted gifts that my granddaughters picked out for me at Christmas. Since my blog’s foremost purpose is to document my thoughts for those precious girls, I needed to make this special note.
Each of them chose their gift separately and at different times. Katherine had found hers during an Autumn family vacation and Evelyn bought hers at the school holiday gift buying event.
Both are display items sporting the word “blessed”.
I’m so proud that each knew the importance of that term and attributed it to me. ❤
That tells me that I’ve inspired them toward hopefulness and gratitude.
Today, I was humbled and warmed to reflect on those special gifts!