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The Value Of Being Independent

The one thing that I know now is that I should have done everything I could to learn to be responsible for myself and to be able to be live independently. So many young women like me fail to realize their own self worth and live life relying on others, particularly men to take care of them. 

I always found myself counting on others to take care of me. I had no confidence that I was able to be independent. I relied on others, my sisters and two husbands. I was afraid that I would not be able to meet financial matters such as rent and basis necessities on my own. So I lived with my older sister for some time and then I married too young for all the wrong reasons. I needed someone to take care of me. Well, that never worked out the way I had hoped it would. I ended up taking care of a husband and three young children. 

Eventually, that marriage ended and I began the first steps to finding the confidence to live on my own, raise the children pretty much on my own. I also found out at that time just how important education was. Although I had finished high school, I had no real job skills that could lead to a well paying job. But I survived. I went back to school and learned some skills. One thing I did find out was that I was very good with money management. Having little money will teach you some good lessons in money management. 

Now that I am older, I look back and realize the many opportunities that I could have taken advantage of but when I was young, I wasn’t even aware that these opportunities existed. Joining a branch of the military, the peace corps or working my way through college would have all been great opportunities. Oh to be young again and know what I know now.

I survived those young years and I learned many valuable lessons that would have saved myself and my children a lot of heartache and pain. Number one, get that education before you get married or have children. Number two, have confidence in yourself to survive. Number three, good planning and good decision making will save a lot of pain and heartache. And finally, number four, learn to be independent. 

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Yoga And Dancing For Your Health

Yoga is more than five simple exercises. It is a complete exercise program that consists of a lot more than five simple exercises. It includes breathing exercises, stretching exercises and can even include strengthening exercises. Yoga exercises are included as a part of physical therapy treatment. Right now I am doing physical therapy for my knees. These are the simple yoga exercises that I practice at home. 

I first started with yoga years ago when I was having muscle problems. It was simple yoga exercises that I do at home which has helped me to stay fit and healthy for years. Yoga is for any age and does not have to include complicated positions. I am not able to do standing on my head or twisting my body into some form of a pretzel.  What level you wish to take your yoga practice to is decided by each individual person.  

My simple yoga exercises consist of leg raising and bending stretches, arm raises and using an exercise ball. I try to spend about twenty minutes a day doing my yoga exercise. 

Another great form of simple exercise that I do occasionally is dancing. Turn on the music you love and dance. It’s fun and you can choose whatever level of physical exercise your body is capable of. Older people like me will not be physically able to dance as strenuously as a younger physically fit  person. But as long as you can move, you can dance.

Exercise is important for all of us. It should be a part of everyone’s health plan. So choose what you enjoy whether it’s bike riding, walking, swimming or any other form of exercise. Simple yoga exercise and dancing are two great choices for your health and body.

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Dreams of a Lottery Win: Family, Housing, and Philanthropy

It’s not likely I will ever win the lottery. You have to play to win and I rarely play the lottery. I sometimes buy a ticket if there’s really big numbers to win.

If I were to win the lottery I suppose it would change my life. First, I would be certain to make sure my family was taken care of. That means my kids and other close family members. I would pay off my house and maybe buy a newer house. Although I love my home I live in now, I will someday need a one story home, with a garage.

After those things were accomplished, I would donate a lot to foster children. I hear stories of mistreated and abused foster children and my heart goes out to them. I am not sure how or what I would do to help them. Perhaps start a foundation for foster children.

In terms of changing my life, I would also do some traveling to places that I dream of going to. I would visit Ireland and Scotland and Hawaii. I would also do some traveling in the western states of America. I often times joke that if I should ever win the lottery, I would buy a limousine and hire some handsome young man to drive me all over the USA.

While my odds of winning any large amounts of money are slim, it’s still fun to dream.

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Introducing Jungle Sports: The Ultimate Monkey Mascot Team

Monkey Business

I would start a new team named Jungle Sports. A money would be the team mascot and the team colors would be jungle colors of greens and browns. A monkey would be the team mascot.

You need to be competitive in tree climbing, rope climbing, and swinging from ropes to join the Jungle Sports team. Coconut throwing would also be included. Eating a lot of bananas would be helpful.

If anyone thinks they could be interested, well it’s up to them to get this sports team started.

Daily writing prompt
If you started a sports team, what would the colors and mascot be?

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Dream Cottage: My Ideal Reading and Writing Space

The perfect place for my personal reading and writing space would start with a small cottage looking out over a beach. I would be sitting on a small porch in the mornings sipping a cup of tea while watching the sun rise over the water. That is always a beautiful sight. The evenings I would sit on that same porch with a glass of wine in hand watching the amazing sunset.

At times I would be sitting on that small porch in a comfortable chair reading a good book or eating meals watching and listening to the ocean. Afternoons would be time for a long relaxing walk on the beach.

View of the Seal Rocks at the north end of Ocean Beach, San Francisco, California.

It would be a small cottage just big enough for one person. But there would be modern appliances and good air conditioning. Small and easy to clean. I don’t want to waste my time doing a lot of cleaning.

My ideal writing spot would be by a window with good lighting and an ocean view. It would be furnished with a long desk positioned near that window. The window would be open to allow the ocean breeze to gently blow the lacy curtains. A computer and a comfortable chair for the desk with drawers for paper, and other writing supplies. A plant hanging in the window would be a nice touch. Bookcases or shelves where I can organize my favorite books would cover one wall.

How peaceful and relaxing that small cottage of my dreams would be. How awesome to have a space just for me for writing and reading. Morning tea on the porch and wine at night. Eating meals outside while enjoying the ocean breeze. A girl can dream can’t she?

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Nostalgia for the 1983 Chrysler New Yorker

It was 1987 when I bought a 1983 Chrysler New Yorker 5th Avenue used car. It was in excellent condition and I had just gotten a new job so I was making enough to afford the payments.

It was a beautiful dark blue with soft blue interior. In 1987 it had all the newest electronic features like electric windows and doors. The first time I drove it to work, my supervisor was asking who the nice car belonged to.

A 1983 Chrysler New Yorker Fifth Avenue en.wikipedia; PD

I made sure that car was well taken care of. I refused to let my husband at the time work on it. He thought he was a great mechanic but he often times made problems worse. Instead for the first time, I started paying a real mechanic. I wasn’t going to let him mess up this car. And when my husband and I separated that car went with me. It survived my kids growing up and being hauled everywhere.

I drove that car for over six years, then made the mistake of buying something newer. Many times I wished I still had that 1983 Fifth Avenue car back. I have even been doing some searching for one like it. The memories are great but it’s time to move on and go with the SUV style of today’s popular vehicles with more modern features.

Daily writing prompt
What is your all time favorite automobile?

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Exploring the Best Sandra Brown Novels

I am a Sandra Brown fan. I have read several of her books and I enjoyed most of them. I think her early books were more romance than her newer books. I didn’t care a lot for those and ended up putting those aside. I may read those at a later date.

Sandra Brown Author Larry D. Moore

Some of Sandra Brown books that I have read include: Unspeakable, The Alibi, French Silk and Mean Streak. The first year I joined my book club, I choose her book “Overkill”. I have been a fan since then. I loved all of those books and I had a hard time putting those books down.

I just finished the Sandra Brown book “The Witness” and I recommend reading it. It’s full of intrigue, danger and love and romance.

At the moment, I have just started her new book “Blood Moon”. This is my book club choice for this year. It sounds very interesting but I have only read the first chapter yet. It will probably be another page turner. I am sure I won’t be disappointed and will be unable to put it down.

Daily writing prompt
What book are you reading right now?

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Lessons from an Adopted Grandmother

I never knew my actual grandparents. I saw my grandmother on my mother’s side a few times but never really knew her. It’s sad that I never really had grandparents in my life.

I made Madeline my adopted grandmother when I went to work for her as her caregiver. We sat and talked for hours when I had everything that was needed done. She told me some wonderful stories of her life. Madeline had grown up during the depression era and World War II. She had been a teacher and she told me about her college adventures and romances. She shared with me stories of the other man she almost married. Madeline lived away at college and came home on weekends by train. Madeline had a talent for music and she became a music teacher. Although her family couldn’t afford for her to go to college her church stepped in with a scholarship.

When Madeline came home as a teacher, one of the first things she did was form a school band. I remember her story of how she had friends, neighbors and other community members searching through attics for instruments for her students. And she managed to construct the first band for that high school.

Madeline married and had two children but continued teaching. But her family always came first and she raised two great children. She was loved by her students who still dropped in to visit with her when her health declined. Madeline was very active in church and community activities. At one of the town’s parades, Madeline was the Grand Marshall of the parade.

Madeline also did a lot of traveling after her retirement. When her sight failed, I would sit and read her the notes she had written about her travels. One evening we got out boxes of valentines from her grade school days. It was amazing to see old valentines with movable arms and legs. They don’t make valentines like that anymore.

I spent many hours with Madeline and I enjoyed every minute. She was a beautiful, unique woman who gave her time and love to so many others. I will never forget some of the lessons I learned from her. I always remember her kindness to everyone. I learned to be more tolerant of people. I offer find myself repeating something she would say. When asked if she liked a new food, she would either say she did like it. Or she would say “I wouldn’t walk around the block for it”.

Madeline died when she was 102. Her last unselfish act was to donate her body to science. She hoped that doctors would find cures for some of the problems that she had suffered.

Daily writing prompt
Describe a family member.

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Success: Different Versions

When I think of a successful person, the first person I think of is the late Charlie Kirk. I was stunned when I heard about his assassination. It happened during one of his events at Utah Valley University on September 10 of this year.

Charlie Kirk was a month away from his thirty second birthday when he was gunned down. Although he was very young he accomplished more in his short life than many of us, including me, will ever achieve.

Some of Charlie’s greatest accomplishments:

  • Started a non-profit organization named Turning Point USA in 2012 when he was only 18 years old
  • Was the author of a book “The College Scam”
  • Was the host of his own radio show
  • Was the speaker at the Republican National Convention 2020 and 2024
  • Was a proud follower of Jesus and talked with many young people regarding faith and family
  • Met with many world leaders

Those are just a few of the reasons I think that Charlie Kirk was an extremely successful person. It was Charlie’s faith that I most admired. His commitment to his faith, family and our country were a joy to hear. He traveled around the USA promoting freedom of speech, Christian values, and conservative values. He chose to debate and listen to other points of view. I have watched many of his videos of him challenging college students. He was always kind and showed so much common sense, which is so rare today.

I think Charlie was so successful in his life due mainly to his unfaltering faith in Christ. He was also very successful in his relationships. He had a beautiful, loving wife and two children.

I saw people mourning this young man all over the USA and countries overseas. You had to know this was a very special man who had touched millions of lives including mine even though I never met him. Charlie has been called to heaven, but now it’s up to us to carry on his faith and values.

Daily writing prompt
When you think of the word “successful,” who’s the first person that comes to mind and why?