Recently Jason posted a blog featuring some tidbits Erma Bombeck left behind before she passed away from cancer. I have reread her thoughts a number of times. It’s almost as if I can’t read it enough. After I read her words I feel like I’ve found the “golden ticket.” It helps me put things in perspective and gives me permission to make sure I am enjoying each moment. …
Live Passionately
Make a Joyful Noise
This morning started as a normal Sunday morning at church. The opening song was starting as the priest and altar servers were walking down the aisle. As they approached the altar I noticed they had a visitor- a young girl, my guess is 3 1/2 – 4-years-old. She had followed them up on the altar. She was dancing freely to the music with a big grin on her face. She danced and danced for what seemed like minutes, but it was probably only ten seconds. Then she did something that surprised us all! (As if this wasn't surprising enough already!) She went up to the podium and grabbed the microphone, …
Hitchhiker’s Guide to America
Talk about escaping adulthood. May I introduce you to Matt "Fiddy" Fidler and Scotty MacDonald, two recent graduates hitchhiking their way to all 50 state capitals -- in 50 consecutive days or less. Their web site, Hitch50, documents the entire journey. From their own words: Why are we doing this? We both just graduated college and didn't exactly pursue the typical business jobs our classmates were chasing, so we needed something to do. Something fun to do, which involved traveling and meeting people and sharing experiences with them. So... we decided to hitchhike to every state capital, in …
Collect More Grass Stains
Yvonne over at the Lip-Sticking blog posted some thoughts by Erma Bombeck. Here are a few poignant tidbits from If I Had My Life to Live Over: I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded. I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good ' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone! wanted to light a fire in the fireplace. …
Passion Meets Purpose
Many jubilant thanks to Coach Kammie for the shout out regarding this post and the Escape Adulthood manifesto. Too kind.If you've ever thought that maybe you were meant to be doing something different with your life but wondered how the heck to even begin, you might take a gander at Kammie's blog, Passion Meets Purpose. She's got some good ideas. …
How to Have a Mental Breakdown
Never before has such a thorough, step-by-step guide to your very own mental breakdown been published, be it online or off. If you can master these easy to follow instructions, you too can be the envy of all your friends and find yourself well on your way to a life you've only dreamed of! • Treat traffic jams exactly as they are: carefully planned and sinister conspiracies designed to keep you from your destination. • Pack your day so full that you are not distracted by superficial things like the sunset, the smell of roses, or the toddler smiling at you from across the grocery …
Real Passion
Jason and I are blessed by a growing friendship with a fellow NSA'er, Eliz Greene. (The smiling woman on the right, in the picture.) She has an amazing story, which I highly recommend you read in her book, Passion for Life: Five simple strategies to find the happiness, satisfaction and zest you deserve. She travels the world encouraging people to bring balance and fulfillment to their lives every day. Sneak preview: She survived a heart attack while seven months pregnant with twins! Her passion for life is a gift that is contagious! I love being around her! Eliz is a triathlete and has …
Passion for Pigskin
The anticipation started about a month ago. Anyone who knows my husband Jason knows that he is very passionate about football season. He loves everything about it…the players, the rivalries, the highlights, the opportunity to eat chili and other yummy soups in your flannel pants, and also the fantasy football. Just talking about it all makes him smile from ear to ear, which is a big deal for someone who typically smiles with his mouth closed. The anticipation has brought him great joy these last few weeks. Sometimes the anticipation is the best part of something. I can’t count how many …
So Long, Crocodile Hunter
When I first saw Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter, I thought, "Now this guy is one big kid!" His boyish passion and wide-eyed enthusiasm were irresistible. Whether he was sticking his head in a crocodile's mouth or picking up an irritated snake by the tail, I couldn't stop watching. Needless to say, Kim and I were saddened to hear about his death yesterday. …
Just Scream
Do you ever just want to scream? When I was little, on those “tough” days my mom used to joke with us (I think she was serious, though.) that she wanted to scream. I remember thinking, “Then do it!” For some reason screaming is not seen as age-appropriate for adults. If you’ve been close to a playground filled with kids recently, you will soon remember how kids have no problem screaming. At the beginning of the summer, I took full advantage of the opportunity to scream at a local theme park, while enjoying the big drops on some rollercoasters. It felt great! I guess I’m not the only one who …