Hope – downtoearthpositive

Memory & Hopes & Dreams

I am amazed by the power of memory, its effect on us, and how it can lead us to our hopes and dreams. After a text conversation with a friend last night about Arizona, I received a message from my daughter this morning. She said when they drive on dirt roads when on an Arizona discovery adventure, that my grandson starts talking about wanting to see a cow! I find this, not only exciting, but AMAZING!

My grandson is so young so I wonder how can he remember a ride or two over the past year? How does the mind work that he associates dirt roads with cows?

One of the best parts of our property and future home in Arizona is the 12 mile dirt-road-adventure to get there! Along the way, it is commonplace to see free range cattle. Truthfully, it is difficult not to stop and tell them how beautiful they are! Mooooooo a time or two, and if Grandbaby is along, to say, “Look at that cow”, “Cow says, MOO!” This particular bull was eating a Prickly Pear Cactus for breakfast —I know, right?

As if free range cattle isn’t enough, for me, the wild donkey take first prize. They are the cutest animals . . . EVER!

Now Gbaby has my memory going wild!

This reminds me of my first visit to Rickett’s Glenn State Park. It was easier when I lived closer, but I try and make a yearly pilgrimage there. It is a place of peace for me. When we first moved to that area we took a ride to see the park and I had this weird, “I’ve been here before familiarity feeling of, WHAT?” Only to find out that when I was nine months old, my family went camping and did the 19 Waterfall Trail. My Mom’s a tough one, she carried me most of the way for 3 1/2 miles!

With this experience in mind, and Gbaby relating to cows and dirt roads, I am reminded of just how amazingly powerful memory is. Memory can lead us to good, bad, or neutral feelings. But it can lead us into our day or even the future. It can affect our life-choices and relationships. I think the most important thing to keep in mind is that the memories we concentrate on, as well as, those we are creating for ourselves and others really can make a difference. Even if it is something as simple as riding on a dirt road!

These memories, particularly of Arizona and hugging my Gbaby, give me a sense of expectancy and urgency for today. It makes me want to climb up on the roof of the house we are flippig and nail in those shingles! Even though I know it will not be easy, it brings us one step closer to our dream. It gives me gumption to want to finish the model of the house we will build out in the desert highlands. Memory is a powerful tool for the future!

I write this blog as my protest against the negative era we find ourselves living in. I believe that we are all effected by it in various ways and different levels. I do what I can to “fight it” because I believe it is much healthier to embrace a more positive attitude, thus changing the world for the better.

I generally try and ask a question, or give a challenge in my blog. Today begs two questions:

What memories just make you feel great?
What will you do TODAY to create a good memory for yourself or someone else? (How about tomorrow?)

I hope that today you find yourself enjoying your memories and challenged to create new ones! You are welcome to share your thoughts, memories and hopes for new ones in the comments!

(Truly) Enjoying the Adventure,

Dr. Dink

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Please visit my other blog: The Brown Bag Letter

An earlier Cow blog —- one of my favorites! Slight Glance to the Left

The Beautiful waterfall image was found at: https://www.google.com/search?q=waterfall+trail+ricketts+glen&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjU5Ym28dXcAhXnpVkKHZU0BGIQ_AUICygC&biw=1242&bih=557#imgrc=-8iGBceeF_usqM:

Something to Live By . . .

Want something to live by? We’re All Gonna Die! Let’s face it, ALL of us are heading to death. Now, that is unavoidable and can be scary.

Wasn’t that nice of me to remind you that are going to die? You know, just in case someone hasn’t shared this nasty truth with you yet. Your welcome! I’m not so concerned with death, as much as it is an unwelcome part of life. Rather, I am more concerned with life. How will you choose to live your life? Will it be one of ultimate doom, “I’m dying, so why bother?” rather than, “I’m going to do my best to take each and every day for what it’s worth and look forward to the next.”

I think that every human being has his or her place in history. Some are known more than others. Some acquire super-stardom. Others end up working at a dead-end job, going through the daily routine, just biding time. Most of us are somewhere in the middle. Then others just stop living. On the other hand, there are people of every race, gender, creed and economic strata that LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST!

I am convinced that life is what we make it. I will be the absolute first one to admit that life can be pretty freakin’ shitty sometimes. Ask me, I’ve been there on more than a few occasions. You name it, I’ve either lived through it myself, or have walked with others in the middle of horrible life circumstances. Because of this, I have adopted an attitude of “making the best of today”. I think that might be the answer to not getting stuck in a pile of shit. After officiating more funerals than I can count or remember in 22 years of ministry, I realize that I may live to 104, or die in a tragic accident today. So, what does that leave me? Today, simply today. That doesn’t change the fact that there is a future to plan for and things to look forward to, but they are not guaranteed. Only now is guaranteed.

Over the years of officiating funerals, I’ve celebrated the lives of young children to, yes, 104! They represent community leaders and heroes, people from big families, little families & just normal everyday people. However, there are two that really stand out because it was so difficult to do their eulogies. The first was a guy, I’ll call him Tim. When I met with his family, I asked many questions about his life. All I could remember was them telling me, “He was a no-good-rotten-son-of-a-bitch!” Literally, the only positive thing they could tell me was that he donated his organs. On the opposite end of the spectrum was a woman, let’s call her Mom. She had no accomplishments, no group memberships, few interests other than weaving plastic canvas & she made the best potato salad ever. Hers was a very short eulogy. She was simply the “best mom ever!” Two opposite lives. Both influenced the lives of others. At the end of the day, the important thing is knowing that our effect upon others results in knowing they were loved. It doesn’t matter what titles we have, what awards we’ve received, or the amount of money we’ve made. It is what we do in our everyday lives with the people we encounter along the way that is appreciated now and remembered later.

So, what will you do with today? What dreams need to come out from your thoughts? What project do you want to accomplish? What beautiful things are there to see right beside you, in your yard, 20 miles away or across the world? What recipe have you been wanting to try? What words will you chose to use? Most importantly, how will you express to those that you love how much you truly do love them?

Enjoying the Adventure!

Dr. Dink

A Good Word

This is what I asked people as they passed by: What’s a good word for today? Here they are in the order I heard them, they speak for themselves!

Starbucks

I don’t know

Hope

Jesus

Beautiful

Sunshine

Joy

Education

Kindness

This question resulted in people smiling back at me and four great conversations about:

good coffee,
faith
what a local elementary school is doing to promote a healthy-attitude-environment for kids.
the need for people to be more positive in such a negative world.

So, it’s your turn . . . What’s a good word for the day?

Enjoying the Adventure!

Dr. Dink

Chance Encounter

OK, so the first thing I said to one of the ladies was, “I love you, you are my new best friend!!!!” I was heading to my favorite area to walk and was pulled by this magnetism from a mile out of the way. I mean, really, don’t yard sales pull you in too? When I arrived, she started googling over my grandson. She was instantly in love with his two year old self, then I overhear her saying, “Are you taking a nice walk with your Mommy?” (Meaning me, lol). She said it about 5 times when I said, “Mommy is at home—- I’m Grandma.” Her response? “You’re so pretty!” Now, let me ask, “don’t you want her to be your best friend too?”

I spent a while there looking around, mostly because I was enjoying their company so much. I did buy a couple of tank tops, but most of the clothes were out of my league. The casual dresses were so pretty & fashionable that I think if I bought one I would be compelled to join the local country club so I’d have a place to wear them! Not my down-to-earth style.
As I was getting ready to leave, I said to them both, “You two women are so wonderfully positive! You have made me smile the entire time I’ve been here. I’d like to know what drives your joy —can you tell me a story about your life? Your day? Was it the 8 cups of coffee you drank this morning?”

One Sister looked at the other and said, “Tell her.”

She began by saying, “I’ve had a lot of tragedy in my life.” Personally, I thought, “Did you not understand the question?” Her story was fascinating. Many years ago, she had been involved in a vehicle accident and was left for dead. Miraculously, physicians were able to revive her and after years of recovery, she had her life back. She embraced life with the attitude, “I guess God wasn’t done with me yet.” As she continued, I heard of an illness that nearly resulted in, “this doctor about killing me again!” They came from a family of 14 children, two had died, one of which was murdered.

I interrupted her, asking, “Many people would be bitter, sad, or fearful, how do keep that beautiful smile?” Her answer was something like this: she has always been grateful. It seems that having near death experiences have brought her to a place of embracing life to the fullest each day. Who has time to waste on negativity?

Then she giggled and told me about her zip-lining experience a couple of years ago. I shook my head and snickered as I remember the thrill of zip-lining myself. Imagine my shock when she said, “It broke!” As it turns out, something was wrong with the line and when she jumped off the platform the apparatus broke. She ended up hanging by the line for a long time and then her hands could no longer hold. . . yes, she broke her back in the fall. (Darn, Karen, this is supposed to be an uplifting blog!) Amazingly, she had a smile on her face the entire time she was talking. I walked away grateful for life, grateful for health, grateful that my zip-line trips have held tight & grateful that someone else was crazy over my grandbaby!

I believe that when you set out to embrace the positive that it will draw you in like a magnet. These beautiful sisters got up this morning, not knowing how much they would touch someone else’s life, but by chance, I am wonderfully changed by their stories.

Enjoying the Adventure!

Dr. Dink

63 Degrees!

It’s all perspective. I basically live in two states, Northeast & Southwest. At present I’m here & he’s there. When my husband and I talk on the phone, one of the most natural things to talk about is the weather. It’s been a delayed, long winter in the Northeast, so I find myself apologizing to him as he splits more wood to keep warm and I’m floating in the pool getting a great tan.

How exciting this morning when I looked: 63 degrees in both places! This doesn’t happen often. He’s putting on shorts while I’m wondering where my sweater is . . .

This got me thinking about perspective and what “works”. There are so many highly marketed items and ideals promising great results for anything from diets & exercise to the best of, well, almost any product. However, the truth is, what works for some will be the opposite for someone else. To have an attitude of positivity, I believe it is important to know this truth. We are not all the same. What works for you might just do the opposite for me. And this is OK!

So today, do me a favor. Think about what makes YOU feel good. What makes YOU smile? It may not interest your neighbor or co-worker, but that really doesn’t matter does it? I am willing to bet that the resulting smile on your face will benefit them too!

Enjoying the Adventure,

Dr. Dink