Month: April 2012

Versatile Blogger Award – 4/2012

/ www.spilledcookies.com / 17 Comments

I’ve been nominated for a Versatile Blogger Award by http://shianwrites.wordpress.com/

Yay!!!! Thank you so much, Shian!!  I am humbled and honored. Please take the time to check out her blog, she’s got a lot to offer and enjoy!

Here are the rules for the award:
1.Add the award to your blog.
2.Thank the blogger who gave it to you and include a link to their blog.
3.Mention 7 random things about yourself.
4.List the rules.
5.Give the award to 15 or more bloggers

Here are 7 random things about me:
1. I love the sound of thunder and rain.
2. I love a fireplace, hot cocoa, and a good book in the winter time.

3. I love hiking in the woods. .
4. I love all kinds of meditation and interesting music.
5. I am an eternal optimist, but have a love for the darkness.
6. I like watching movies – mind benders, action, and horror, though I like an occasional situational comedy like “Dan In Real Life.”
7. When I was a little girl I wanted to be a pilot.

Here are my nominated bloggers

  1. http://freedomtoafulllife.wordpress.com/
  2. http://amykeast.com/
  3. http://kathrynrubidoux.wordpress.com/
  4. http://ram0singhal.wordpress.com/
  5. http://organizedlivingessentials.com/
  6. http://stephyness.wordpress.com/
  7. http://birdmartin.wordpress.com/
  8. http://jennysserendipity.wordpress.com/
  9. http://lesplaisirssimplesdelavie.wordpress.com/
  10. http://reflectionsinapuddle.wordpress.com/
  11. http://memyselfandela.wordpress.com/
  12. http://myvoyagethroughtime.wordpress.com/
  13. http://terry1954.wordpress.com/
  14. http://bornattwentyfive.wordpress.com/
  15. http://thinkcoffeemedia.com/

These are just a few of the great blogs I’ve found, hope you take the time to enjoy them as much as I do!!

Unconditional Love – What an Example!

/ www.spilledcookies.com / 3 Comments

One of the best examples that we have of unconditional love is found in our four-legged friends. 

A dog will love you and celebrate you being back with them whether you’ve been gone 5 minutes or 5 days.  It’s all irrelevant because the only thing they care about is NOW and that you are there for them to see, love on, play with, and entertain. 

In that sense, they are also a great reminder of how to live in the moment.  A dog isn’t thinking about how you didn’t keep a promise 5 minutes ago or fifteen years ago.  A dog isn’t going to stop and debate whether you should have to work to earn his trust back or whether you need to do other things to win his favor. 

For that matter, a dog isn’t going to try to convince you that you should act this way or that way in order to be accepted or allowed to hang out with them.  A dog just doesn’t let all of that interfere with the most important thing, which is to live in the moment, and enjoy every second with you.

When you think about TRUE unconditional love it puts a whole new perspective on things doesn’t it?  Of course, we as humans cannot live with this kind of unconditional love.  We have to have limits and boundaries in order to stay healthy, happy and to help others understand what is acceptable behavior. 

Still, what a cute little four-legged reminder of how to live in the moment, accept what is in front of us, and celebrate life.

Cherry Coley (c)

Related articles

A Bit of Magic – Just For Fun

/ www.spilledcookies.com / 18 Comments

I remember as a kid lying up on the roof of the house, or the hood of the car, or even in the yard under a tree and staring up at the clouds making the shapes of them take the form of bunnies, cars, and whatever else we could find if we looked hard enough.

There’s a bit of magic in noticing how the light plays on the clouds, creating images.  So many times we’ve seen angels hovering, and fairies hiding in the clouds as well as other images that make us stop and smile.

This morning, I took a picture, then stared at it and had to smile at the huge dragon that was staring back at me from the clouds.  It made me thankful again for imagination and the wonder of moving clouds.  What a magical way to start the day.  Can you see the dragon?  In the year of the dragon that’s a sign of good luck.

Cherry Coley (c)

 

End of a Hard Week

/ www.spilledcookies.com / 10 Comments

This week has been hard.   There have been a lot of odd things to deal with in many areas.  One of the things I was working really hard on fell through and it completely threw me off track. 

My dad’s cat passed away and somehow that was like losing another piece of both of my parents again.  Yet he was an old cat and just got sick, so it was one of those things. 

I suppose there are times when the days will just seem harder, longer than others.  I don’t like it, just for the record.

I found myself spreading myself way too thin on too many things.  I still have a ton to unpack and sort through.  I will be going along and making good progress, then I’ll run across a stack of coasters my mom crocheted and get lost in the memory of sitting and talking to her while she made them. 

Or I’ll run across some pictures, an old card or note, and will just wind up staring at it for a long while not realizing how much time has passed. 

This week has also been a week of nightmares.  Sleepless nights and what sleep there was to be had was tainted with dreams of searching through fog and darkness trying to find my way.  It’s a mirror to how I’ve felt this week. 

Today, I just didn’t feel good.  Worn out tired from restlessness, allergies that are trying to turn into a cold and worry over our little dog who managed to somehow hurt himself yesterday.  Lord, I really don’t need all this right now.  I was able to get some medicine and go home to take a nap this afternoon and that made a world of difference.

Some weeks are just harder than others for no particular reason, just a lot of odd and unrelated stuff.  One thing I’ve noticed to be true though is that before good things happen, often there is a time of trail and struggles.  I am choosing to think that this week is a precursor to a much better week next week. 

Cherry Coley ©

Grudges and Resentment? Forgiveness is better

/ www.spilledcookies.com / 16 Comments

“Our purpose in life should be to see one another through, not see through one another,” – Zig Ziglar

I saw this quote this morning and had to stop and really think about it.  I have to admit, there have been times someone has kind of rubbed me the wrong way and I spent more time trying to see through them and what they were up too, and not just helping them along. 

I confess to not being the most trusting person, though I do try to give people the benefit of the doubt, especially when I first meet them, but if they should betray my trust or lie to me in some fashion then it will take a long time and a lot of good experiences with them for me to begin to trust them again. 

That’s not to say I am holding grudges.  I am not a grudge holder in the least.  I will, usually, forgive the action, but not be so willing to trust the person whole heartedly again.  Grudges are hurtful and can cause the holder of the grudge to become bitter, angry and resentful.  What’s more is the person you are holding the grudge against may not even know you are holding a grudge, so who are you really hurting?  

It took me years to truly own the gift of forgiveness.  Forgiveness is for you, trust is for them.  You can forgive and live your life free of bitterness, anger and resentment, and then decide who you will trust and who needs to earn your trust again.

I choose the path of forgiveness because I refuse to waste my energy with wasted emotions like hate, bitterness, anger, revenge, and grudges.  That’s not to say that those things are not justified at times and that I never feel them, because I do, but I choose what stays and what goes in my emotional bank.

It bothers me when I talk to people and they bring up some grudge they have been hanging on to for years.  They get animated when they talk about it, their face turns red, their voice gets louder, anger flashes in their expression, and their whole demeanor changes.  Stop and think about the changes that just took place in their body and what possible effects that could cause.  I have known several people, filled with bitterness that are constantly plagued with one illness after another.     

How we view others, respond to our circumstances, attitude and mindset have an impact not just on our mental health, but our spiritual and physical health too.  Everything works together and if we are holding onto old baggage like grudges and hurts from the past, then we are holding on to a type of spiritual and mental poison that is affecting us every day, and having no effect on the person we’re holding the hurt against. 

As for me, I am making it a point to discuss these type of issues as I come across them in my life.  I would rather choose to help someone along and see them grow, succeed and be happy.  Life is about celebrating milestones and learning to appreciate the things and people around us.  It’s so much easier to do that and be aware of what’s going on when I’m not focused on something that happened a long time ago.

Cherry Coley (c)

 

Related articles

Be A Channel For Sharing

/ www.spilledcookies.com / 7 Comments

“God has given us two hands – one to receive with and the other to give with.  We are not cisterns made for hoarding; we are channels made for sharing.” – Billy Graham

This quote by Billy Graham is a great reminder that we are not meant to just take in this life, but are meant to share as well.  I have been guilty of giving too much at times and not taking anything for myself. 

Life is about balance, you must have it to be healthy and feel good in general, but it’s vital to feel good about yourself.  No one can give all the time without taking the time to recharge, revitalize and fill your spiritual, physical and mental resources. 

If you don’t take the time to rest, you will quickly start to feel tired, less like running that marathon, and even weak.  It’s the same with our spiritual side – if you don’t take the time to seek solitude, pray, meditate or find your inner peace you will start to feel stress and strain more until you begin to just feel emotionally and spiritually drained.

Mental recharging is just as important!  I start to feel down if I am not stretching myself by reading or learning something new.  Seeking knowledge is more than just a hobby with me; it’s a way of life.  I have a great need to keep exercising my mind and learning new perspectives, problem solving skills and new technology. 

These are just three of the aspects of a balanced life, but I seem to have to remind myself now and then that I’ve let one thing slip a little and it’s time to take a moment to recharge that area.  You would think since we were designed for balance that it would all come naturally, but it doesn’t, that’s why it’s important to stay aware of what’s going on in our personal world. 

Interesting how it’s all set up too that we must use the balance of giving and receiving in each of these areas.  We were designed to take in knowledge, then share what we’ve learned with others, to take in spiritual experiences, and share those experiences with others who are also seeking and needing to be refreshed.  We were designed to test our limits physically, to find others along a similar path for the journey, but also to help those who need help along the way.

Take the time to be thankful for living today and then see where you are in this balancing act.  We all benefit by helping each other along the way and I’d love to hear from you!

 Cherry Coley ©