Sunday, September 29, 2013

Southern Fried Festival, Revisited

Welcome!


We enjoyed the Southern Fried Festival on the courthouse square in Columbia, Tennessee so much last year that we decided to try it again this year.  It was a beautiful day with a high around 80 degrees.

I love festivals and similar outings, because there is so much positive energy around them.  There is fun, food, and fellowship.  What a great combination!

I'd like to share some of the festival with you in a few words and pictures-


Time for lunch!



You can have your picture taken with Barney and Gomer!


You can even have your picture sketched.


You could buy something novel and pretty like at Vintage Again & Diva Wind Chimes akjtmart@bellsouth.net).


                                                                 Kim Martin


                       Nothing like country music to make your outing complete!


We took a little break by the fountain to contemplate the wonderful afternoon we'd spent and to make plans to return next year before going back home, tired, but happy!

Special announcement:  Two book signings for my new book,  Photographic Encounters of the Spirit Kind, are coming up next month in Columbia, Tennessee:
-Saturday, October 12 from noon until 3:00 PM at The Old Curiosity Book Shop
-Thursday, October 17 from 6:30 PM until 7:30 PM at the Maury County Public Library

Positive thought:  "Always try to be a little kinder than necessary."-James M. Barrie  (From a plaque we saw at the festival.)

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Fall is Here!



Today (September 22) may be the first day of fall, but it's really not that obvious yet here in our part of Tennessee.  The nights are cooler with a few cool days, but for the most part, it's been rather warm with highs in the 70's and 80's, which is fine with me!

There are some pretty fall flowers in bloom, and the leaves are beginning to change colors. To show you what it's like here, I took a few pictures to share with you.  Enjoy!




"...September was crisp and golden as an apple..."
-J.K. Rowling





                        People and things don't have to be perfect to be beautiful!


Trees in our yard are merely tinged with color.




Positive thought:  Embrace life, no matter where you are or what the season!
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky

Friday, September 13, 2013

The Golden Rule, Revisited

Welcome!



In my May 5, 2012 blog post, I wrote about The Golden Rule.  I think that it's very important, especially in today's society, so I thought I'd tackle the subject again.

The reason for my writing this is because of something that came up in my life recently.  I had left a message on a man's answering machine a few weeks ago that I was going to give him a free book (Photographic Encounters of the Spirit Kind) as a gift, since he'd been so helpful with part of my new book.  All he had to do was to return my call and give me his address so I could send it to him.  Days, weeks went by, and he still hadn't returned my call.  I couldn't understand why, as he seemed to be a nice guy.  I was starting to get a complex, and I imagined all sorts of reasons why he didn't call.  Thankfully, a couple of days ago, he did call me, apologizing for not having called, because he'd written my phone number on a piece of paper and had lost it, but finally had found it.  He said he couldn't wait to read my book!  We need to give people the benefit of the doubt.

It's amazing how often we jump to the wrong negative conclusions.  I guess it's in our negative programming, and we just have to overcome it. 

Anyway, the above incident made me think about the way we treat each other in light of The Golden Rule.  Wikipedia defines The Golden Rule as, "One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself."  It also goes on to say,..."a person living by this rule treats all people with consideration, not just members of his or her in-group."

I recently found a great web site "Zen Habits" that has a helpful post,"18 Practical Tips for Living the Golden Rule."  It states that when you treat others with kindness, you'll be happier, and you'll make the people around you happier, too.  A couple of the practical tips dealing with stopping criticism and controlling others were especially good.

Most religions deal with treating people with kindness and respect:
"A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated."
-Jainism, Sutrakritanga



Some examples treating people with kindness and respect would include, to mention a few are:
-Promptly replying to emails, phone calls, etc., especially if you're in business!  (Unless there's a real problem like the man I mentioned above)
-Thanking people for any kindness they have shown you
-Complimenting people on things they've done or have
-Helping others

Some specific instances of kindness and respect from other people that have come into my life that make me feel good to remember are:
-One of my former school classmates is always friendly and makes you feel good to be around her, because she focuses on you and makes you feel good about yourself.  She has charm, because someone who is charming always makes the other person feel important.
-I recently ordered something handmade online, and the woman who made the item for me, went out of her way to make sure I was happy.  She responded quickly to a question I had.  (Bet she has a lot of repeat customers!)
-A businessman who sent Greg and me a free $30.00 gift certificate to his restaurant for our wedding anniversary, because something I ordered for Greg hadn't come on time
-People who compliment me on things related to me personally

These people have got it right!

No matter how positive we try to be, sometimes negativity creeps in.  We have to be ever-vigilant.

 I was reading a few days ago about how powerful our thoughts can be.  If we could all just try to be more positive and kind, think how the world could be transformed, one positive thought at a time!

Positive thought:  "Thoughts become things." -Mike Dooley,  www.tut.com
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky

Sunday, September 8, 2013

End-of-Summer Beauty

Welcome!

"By all these lovely tokens
September days are here,
With summer's best of weather
And autumn's best of cheer."
-Helen Hunt Jackson




I've about decided that this is my favorite time of year.  It's still in my favorite season, but the weather is usually calmer right now than earlier in the summer.  The nights are cooler, and everything seems more peaceful.  Some beautiful flowers, including wildflowers, are in full bloom.

Greg and I had a picnic in a lovely park Labor Day weekend.  Afterwards, we went on a stroll through the park, and I took some pictures along the way.

Here are some of those pictures I'd like to share-









"When summer gathers her robes of glory, and like a dream, glides away."- Sarah Helen Whitman

Positive thought: "There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart."- Celia Thaxter
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Heavenly Messages

Welcome!



We are not alone.  We are being counseled every day, if we just pay attention.  The signs are everywhere.

A few days ago, I was trying to decide on a good topic for a blog post, when, as I was coming out of a grocery store, I happened to look down, and there on the asphalt was the unmistakable shape of a heart.  I thought, of course, why didn't I think of it before?  This was something that I used every day that I needed to share with my readers, signs from above, heavenly messages.


I have the heart as my symbol, so that when a heart shows up in my life, it reminds me that all is well, that we are being watched over, and that we are blessed.  Now, I often see hearts everywhere I go-on buildings, signs, clothing, bags, etc.  I got the idea of having my personal symbol from one of Rhonda Byrne's wonderful books which have made such a positive difference in my life.

Other than your personal symbol, you can also receive other heavenly messages by being aware of the numbers that often show up in your life.  These numbers are explained in Doreen Virtue's helpful book, Angel Numbers.



Those images that you see in clouds (or anywhere else!) might hold special significance for you.



In the interesting weekly magazine, Woman's World, there is a page entitled "My Guardian Angel," where Doreen Virtue comments on angel stories that readers have sent in.  These stories are about messages that people have received from their departed loved ones.

The paranormal photos that are in my book, Photographic Encounters of the Spirit Kind, are from spirits that are trying to communicate with the living.


       Paranormal Mirror Featured in  Photographic Encounters of the Spirit Kind

If we just look, become more aware, messages are everywhere that just might help us have happier, more positive lives.  They will certainly make life more interesting!

Positive thought:  Look for the positive, and you will certainly find it!
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky