Patience, PATIENCE!

Hi everyone,
Here it is Tuesday already! I hope you had a blessed Easter holiday weekend.

Who did you appreciate last week? I got a very sweet note from my sister telling me she appreciates me :-). She already knows I appreciate her. I wrote about her generosity and kindness in a story that got published last year - she's my hero when it comes to helping others...

What did you appreciate this past week? I appreciated a game of Scrabble with my husband on Sunday - and the chance to watch one of my favorite TV shows this weekend - "As Time Goes By." I don't watch TV much, so I "save up" to really enjoy the couple of favorites that I have.

And this week's word is...patience!! Either I am running out of it or people have started a conspiracy to see if they can grab it away from me, ha!

I live in a retirement community - no, of COURSE I'm not old enough, but my husband is :-) Anyway, most of the people here are...retired - surprise, surprise. The thing is, I think many of them really need to go back to work or find something constructive to DO with their time. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that for the past 4 days I have heard the leaf blowers out in surround-sound (front and back!) no less than 4 or 5 hours every single day. The leaves get blown into the street for pick up and as they're being blown, more are falling. So out comes the leaf blower the next morning - and the next - and the next. It can be a very irritating noise, let me assure you. Add to that our regular lawn maintenance crews weed-whacking and mowing and it's a constant drone. And so...I try to be patient.

But then I go to the grocery store that is right out in front of our community - and guess what? They got bored with leaf blowing and now they are standing in the middle of the aisles...picture it: cart, husband, wife - stretched across nearly every aisle of the grocery. No single file here, no siree Bob! And so...I try to be patient.

I recognize that I am blessed to have wonderful neighbors. They happen to like yard work a wee bit more than I do (I still can't understand why they are willing to pay a hefty homeowner's association fee that includes lawn care!) and I need to be more tolerant of that. And so...I try to be patient - at the mailbox, on the street, at the bank - wherever.

My little crippled cat just ate and is sleeping peacefully - until his "brother" starts agitating him. Then they are sparring like middle-weight champions and I have to stop what I'm doing and referee to make sure the crippled guy doesn't get beat up. And so...I try to be patient.

My elderly pup just went out 10 minutes ago - but guess what? She needs to go out again. I stop what I'm doing and take her out, where she - guess what? Stands smelling the wind! And so...I try to be patient.

My husband - well, let's not even go there, LOL. After 31 years, that is one area I HAVE developed SOME patience in!

My question for you is...where and with whom do you need to have more patience? I know people have to be patient with me at times and it's only fair that I return the favor. And, honestly, it's not going to hurt me one bit to be more patient. Actually, I think it will do me a world of good... how about you?

Blessings,
Linda
www.LindasWorkshops.com
Linda@LindasWorkshops.com

Appreciation

Hi all!

So...how's your attitude been lately? Mine has improved after a stern lecture from ...me! It is so hard to believe that March is almost over and when I think of that, it reminds me that time is flying by. I just don't have any extra to spare to give to a bad attitude :-)

And this week's word is "appreciation." WHAT do you appreciate? This week, I am really appreciating sunshine and a bit of warmth after a long winter. I am appreciating the spikes of a few gladiolas coming out of the ground in my tiny little patio garden. I love seeing that perhaps this colder-than-usual winter did not kill my 3-year-old avocado plant, although it certainly is looking worse for the wear after spending some time in the garage during the last cold spell (probably 10 days longer than it needed to because I forgot it was there!). I appreciate the opportunity to visit with a long-time friend next week. I appreciate the fresh cup of coffee from my Keurig brewer that greets me nearly every morning. I appreciate that my 15 2/3-year-old puppy is still with us, still taking a walk every morning, still following me around from room to room when I'm working in my home office.

Next question... WHO do you appreciate? I got an email from a workshop participant the other day that was signed, "Your faithful fan". I couldn't get the grin off my face all day. That made me feel downright good! And I sent her a note to that effect. I sent another note to a client last week who makes my job so much more fun by being easy to work with. I told my husband I appreciated his cleaning up the dishes after lunch with company on Sunday (no, of COURSE he didn't do it the way I would have, but I still appreciate the effort!!) I tell him often that I appreciate how hard he works at his music store, his personal integrity, and the effort he puts forth teaching classes online. Okay, so I don't appreciate the way he gets lasagna sauce on the fresh dishtowel - or the way he hides the dog's treats in places that leave crumbs :-). Why dwell on that? There is so much more to appreciate than to get upset about...and lasagna sauce washes out and crumbs get swept up...

So I'll ask again - WHAT do you appreciate? Why not stop a minute and just enjoy whatever it is?

WHO do you appreciate? Why not tell them or drop them a note?

And this week, why not look around and see what else - and who else - you can appreciate?

I appreciate EACH of you! Thanks for "listening!"

Blessings,
Linda
www.LindasWorkshops.com
Linda@LindasWorkshops.com