Autumn Leaves and Berries

Every leaf speaks bliss to me,
Fluttering from the autumn tree.
~ Emily Bronte

A perfect autumn day.

Warm with a wispy touch of cool,

sparrows chattering in the treetops,

Kitty's snoozing in a sunbeam

and I'm off to my writers' conference.

Wishing you a WONDERFUL weekend!
Brenda
xox


 © Photo: Brenda Leyland

 

Writers Conference

The writers conference looms straight ahead and I'm finalizing my speaking notes for Saturday. I had gathered so much information,  I had the job of paring down to essentials. It's been a good exercise as now everything is fresh in my mind again. Getting excited now!

I just enjoyed reading a posting by Kim de Young at the Get It Done Girl. She shares about how women tend not to truly value the gifts they have because they come so easily to them. I know I've done that in the past, so it was good to be reminded to value the gifts that have been given to us to share. Kim says,

"What I’ve noticed for myself and what I want to share with you is the importance of noticing that which comes easily to you, and placing value on it. What’s easy for you probably isn’t what comes easily to others. And, if you’re like most women, you’re probably taking your gift for granted. We do that to ourselves very often. We don’t often value that which comes easily.  For me, stepping into my gift, opened up so many opportunities that I could never have imagined a year ago."  Click here for the complete post.

For instance, some people ask if I'm nervous about speaking this weekend, but I'm not. Because I know from past experience that when I get in front of a classroom of people, my teaching gift slips on as easily as comfy slippers and I feel quite at home.

Have you ever experienced that? Where you just know this is where you're supposed to be and what you're supposed to be doing?

With that I'm off now...

Brenda

   

Carol Burnett Book: This Time Together

I am reading Carol Burnett's latest book This Time Together. I so enjoyed all the funny bits and I laughed heartily through most of it. There are also places that are more poignant.

Something that really touched me in the midst of all the humour were the beautiful quotes Carol shares from her daughter, Carrie Hamilton.  Carrie died of cancer in 2002. One saying Carol shared: "One day one of the nurses asked how come Carrie smiled so much. (Carrie) replied, 'Every day I wake up and decide: today I'm going to love my life.' "

 "Our legacy is really the lives we touch, the inspiration we give, altering someone's plan -- if even for a moment -- and getting them to think, cry, laugh, argue.  More than anything, we are remembered for our smiles; the ones we share with our closest and dearest, and the ones we bestow on a total stranger, who needed it RIGHT THEN, and God put you there to deliver." ~ Carrie Hamilton, December 2001 

Today, may you be in the right place at the right time -- whether it's to deliver that smile or receive it!

Hugs to you all...
Brenda
xox

Three Keys To Leaving On Time, Part 2

Matthew Smith / unsplash.com

What fun it was to get your feedback about my previous post.  I found it very interesting that most who left a thoughtful comment seemed to belong to the clan of Being Early-On Time. 

As I mentioned in my previous post, Rick and I follow 'different' clocks in our lives. He's not only on time, but early for events (or he would be if he could hurry his wife). And me? I admit, ever since I was a girl, I have been a member of the Barely On Time-Running Late clan. No matter how much my mom tried to hurry me along, I was the last one in the car. Fortunately for me, Rick's a very patient man. But still I've been working on not trying his patience too often.

In my view, being late is not a beautiful way to live -- it's not honouring to others. So, over the years, I've worked at it, and I discovered three keys that work for me, for us. (Interesting note, these keys work in many other situations that come up.)

Key One. BE CLEAR that we both understand the same thing when we say 'Let's leave at two o'clock.' So we confirm that that means we're out the door and actually backing the car out at two, not gathering my stuff, doing last minute checks, restocking tissue for my purse, etc.

Key Two. PLAN that it will take me 15-20 minutes longer than I think it will. That has really helped me. So if we need to leave at two o'clock, in my mind we're leaving at 1:45, which then gives me 15 minutes to get all my little tasks done. As I work towards that end, I'm usually all ready and in the car on time.

Key Three. HUMOUR really helps. We purposely find ways to keep things light. One way is to ask Rick how much of the garage he got 'painted' while he waited. It's my way of acknowledging I know I'm a little behind and keeping him waiting, and he has a chance to respond in kind, as he is a man who likes to tease. By the way, he 'painted' the garage several times since we're married -- haha).

I hope one day to be a fully adopted member of the Early-On Time family.  In the meantime, we try to synchronize our individual inner clocks and keep in step. Together. Two hearts. One rhythm.

Now, we're off to meet friends for coffee.

And we're on time!

Brenda

⏰

  

We're Leaving At Two O'Clock, Part 1

We're Leaving At Two O'Clock, Part 1

Mpho Mojapelo / unsplash.com

I've got a question for you today: What is your understanding of "We're leaving at two o'clock"?

When you plan an outing with your spouse and you decide a time when you are leaving, say two o'clock, does that mean you are in the car backing out of your driveway at two o'clock? Does it mean you're at the front door putting on your coat and shoes, shutting off the lights, checking for your keys? Or, does it mean at two o'clock you're gathering the stuff you need to take, brushing your teeth, taking a last drink of water, looking for Kleenex for your purse, making sure the iron is off?

I'd love to hear your thoughts about it; I don't have time to share mine at present for sister-in-law is coming this morning and we have to leave for the airport at 10:45 am -- as in we are in the car backing it out of the garage at that time.

The reason I ask this is that I finally realized Hubby and I have 'different' clocks by which we run our lives, but I think I've uncovered a key to understanding it. Stay tuned for more in the next post.

Wishing you timely moments today!

Brenda


Three Keys To Leaving on Time, Part 2