Take Away 155 ~ Ask

Take Away 155 ~ You Never Get What You Don't Ask For: 

Go ahead.

Ask for what you want.

Ask for what you need.

TAKE AWAY: I mean ... people are not mind readers. What's the worst that can happen?

Take Away 154 ~ You Never Lose It

Take Away 154 - You Never Lose It

I once read that creativity never goes away. It may lay dormant for awhile but you never lose it.

TAKE AWAY: Just dust off your creativity and get to it.

Take Away 153 - Tune Up My Listener

The other night I heard a guy say that he was complacent in hearing a friend's plea for help.  His friend ended up dying by his own hand. It reminded me of a time about 14 years ago when I was receiving calls from an acquaintance who struggled with various addictions. She was a hot mess. I let her calls go to voicemail because I didn't feel equipped to help her. She eventually committed suicide.

Truth is, the best way sometimes to help is to listen. I needed to hear that guy's story to be reminded that I should be listening carefully to those around me.

TAKE AWAY: Simply listen. Don't judge. Be fearless.

Take Away 152 ~ Never Give Up

Oh man, it's been an awful long while since I visited this blog to make an entry. I am not giving up until I have 365 take aways.  Just sayin'.

TAKE AWAY: 

Never give up.

Don't make too many rules that you can't follow.

Don't give up on me, okay?



Take Away 151 ~ Take Care

Hubby and I have both been sick the last couple of days. Exact same hacking cough, general tiredness and upset stomachs. Flu, I'm guessing.  Today, we were like twins coughing simultaneously.  I had to laugh because if we felt any worse, I'm not sure who would take care of us.

Take Away:  Don't be sick on the same day.

Take Away 150 ~ Surprises

Criminy sakes, it has been a long time since I've posted here. I started this blog in September, 2011 with the intention of it being a 365 day project. I'm not giving up. I still have take aways to write about. This morning I read through a few of them I have written here and I'm not sorry I started this project.

 

So, last week my son sent me two boxes of photos and a few other old items that his dad had mailed him. His dad and I divorced over 14 years ago and I left those things behind. What a treat to get them back. Of the many treasures is a cook book I had put together of old family recipes. I was greatly surprised to get it back. Happy surprised!

SURPRISES:  I think I'll divide up some of the old photos

that are of relatives that might like to have them. I'll send

them in a card. I'll bet they'll love the surprise as much

as I did last week. It's never too late to surprise people.

Take Away 149 ~ Luxury

Our air conditioner hit the skids last weekend and we had a couple of days this week with no cool air while the temps outside rose to 100 and continue to climb. We didn't panic. Lots of people in our area do not have a/c. Some people in Yuma, Arizona, where we used to live, located only 8 miles from hell, don't have a/c.  We knew we were not gonna die.  Be uncomfortable? Yes. So what? We were. Uncomfortable, that is. But, not horribly. After the sun went down, we opened the windows, started the fans and it got comfortable.

TAKE AWAY:  It's okay to be uncomfortable. 

I am grateful to be uncomfortable sometimes.

Take Away 148 ~ Tenacity

I just finished a month long A to Z Blogging Challenge.  I started out thinking it was going to be a breeze but turns out it was more time consuming than I thought. I had to continually be looking ahead and thinking of something new to write. I am one who must have a photo in my blog posts so it was fun to go into my archives as well as shoot new pics for some visual aid. Bottom line is I posted every letter of the alphabet even though some days I thought I should just quit. 

TAKE AWAY:  I have more tenacity in me

than I thought.

Who knew?

Take Away 147 ~ Blogging is Good

I'm participating in an A to Z Blogging Challenge for the month of April.  Frankly, I'm over it but I need to finish what I started.  Today's letter is O. Short of writing about oatmeal cookies, I went back into my archives and found a title that started with an O, copied and pasted it for my post today. While doing that, I realized starting a blog was the best thing I've done in a long time. I love going back and reading about all the adventures in my life. I only wish I had started recording it sooner.

Take Away: write down your memories!

Someday you'll be glad you did.



Take Away 146 ~ Wait for It

We took a Sunday drive yesterday, leaving late in the morning. The weather was gray and as much as I would have loved to just stay home, I always regret it when we don't get out at least for a short drive. We headed to Yakima and quite frankly it was boring. I was feeling super disappointed that I had not spotted something I could shoot with my camera.  And then ... just 20 minutes from home ... there it was. An old, falling down house we have passed dozens of times before. I yelled "PULL OVER!!". I got some very nice shots and we were on our way.

Take Away: Don't let disappointment seep in too soon.

Sometimes it is in the very last minute that

I'll find what I'm looking for.

Take Away 145 ~ Go Out of Your Way

I met early this morning with a friend for coffee and we decided to take a drive down by the river before I dropped her off at work. It was a little out of the way but not much. Secretly, I was hoping to spot an eagle as I had brought my new camera along. Just as we got to the end of the park, I spotted him. Oddly enough, my friend had never seen an eagle before.

Take Away:  Go out of your way whenever possible

and time allows. You never know what you'll see, hear or do.

I love that!

Take Away 144 ~ Escaping

We took a 3-day weekend trip to the coast recently. This time of year is not famous for great weather but just the act of getting ready for it and anticipating the trip is enough to keep this girl from going insane. Every time we go west, it is such a change in pace and landscape that I actually have the feeling of what it would be like to be on a different planet as we are driving home.

TAKE AWAY: Never miss an opportunity to escape

once in awhile. It matters not where you go,

just go.

Take Away 143 ~ Morning Pages

I signed up for an online class ... hoping to get out of the writing slump I've been in for far too long. One of the suggestions was to read a copy of The Artist's Way. I'm only 3 chapters in but have taken the suggestion to write 3 pages first thing in the morning, no matter what. It works! Creative juices are flowing. I'm a bit scatter-brained and finding that my thoughts are racing even after I fall asleep at night. I wake up for ideas but can't seem to hang on to them. I know this will all settle down.

TAKE AWAY: Take suggestions or leave them.

It matters not. When the time is right, I won't

be able to avoid action.

The

time

is

right!

Take Away 142 ~ Just Ask

Yesterday was the first time I've had my camera out the entire 21 days of December. Crazy.  I asked a friend if I could shoot some pics of her with her visiting mom. She had not seen her mom in 4 years. I pushed past my fear of rejection (would my friend think I was being a weirdo?) and asked if they would let me photograph them together. They said yes. We met at the park. 20 minutes later we had some great photos, a few tears, and a lot of laughter.  If I hadn't asked, I would have missed it.

TAKE AWAY:  Just ask. The worst thing that can

happen is nothing.

Take Away 141 ~ Challenges

I do best when I am under a challenge.  I've been playing the Minimize Game. For each day of the month, I minimize something from my household. It gets challenging when you get into the last week of the month.  But when things are hard seems to be the times I love the most.

TAKE AWAY: Set goals. Be challenged. Never give up!

Take Away 140 ~ Just Pick Up Where You Left Off

Dang. It's been awhile since I posted here!  I was talking with a co-worker last week about blogging and mentioned this blog. Then I looked to see it has been far too long since I posted. That's okay. I'm not much of a quitter. I follow blogs where there are no posts for a long time and it's always so nice when the blogger finally does post.

TAKE AWAY:  Just pick up where you left off.

Don't let complacency and time be an excuse for quitting. That's all.

Take Away 139 ~ Naps

I've been dog-tired lately. My job, which I've had since the end of November, is very busy and it kicks my tail. My work days fly by fast, and I really like that in a job. But I am spent by 5 o'clock and when Friday arrives I swear I couldn't do it one more day.  I rise up early every day, even on the weekends. I can hardly stand the thought of sleeping away my "off" time.  But today I opted for a 30 minute nap.  It was heaven.

TAKE AWAY:  It's okay to take a nap. My world is definitely

a better place when I do.

Take Away 138 ~ The Cure

My hubby had surgery on his thumb a little over two months ago. The surgeon said it would be back in shape in about 8 weeks. He lied. After physical therapy and giving that hand a rest, it still hurts and he's been on his motorcycle only once. He said riding was okay but pulling in the clutch was not a pretty scene.  I'm not sure if the surgery worked. He wakes up every single day to pain. In fact, I wonder if it's not worse because of the surgery.

TAKE AWAY: Sometimes the cure is worse than the hurt.

Take Away 137 - Make a List

My hubby had surgery this week and the doctor gave him a very strong narcotic for the pain. I quickly realized he would not be able to remember when he took the meds and it's important to stay on top of the pain shortly after surgery.  I only took one day off so he would be on his own the 2nd day.  I wrote the time schedule on a dry erase board and asked him to scratch thru the time when he took his meds.  It worked!

My hubby will be the first one to tease me about all the lists I make but I think he was glad to have this one!

TAKE AWAY: Make lists even if your spouse gives you a hard time.

Take Away 136 - Surfer Hair

I learned a cool technique for drying my hair this week from our office's cutest fashionista.  She learned it from another office fashion plate.  You take a t-shirt and rub your hair dry with it just like the California surfer dudes and dudettes.  It leaves your hair kinky and curly with lots of body.  Spray a little product in it and it's a cool look that lasts all day. (Note: I closed my eyes and pretended I was on a warm beach, which made my mornings so much better this week!)

TAKE AWAY: I don't need to spend 20 minutes under the hair

dryer every day. Love those new fashion tips!

 

You should just try it!!!!