"Some Thoughts About Christmas Past, and the New Year"

 

I have some thoughts about this past Christmas, as well as about the new year.

In my last "The Art of Positive Living" blog post on Sunday, December 3, 2023, I discussed the spirit of Christmas. I mentioned several things that the spirit of Christmas could be, but there's another important one that I should have mentioned, but didn't, and that was-

music!

Around the first of December, I was really busy painting portraits and making coal jewelry, as well as doing the usual pre-Christmas activities, so much so that I just didn't have that spirit-of-Christmas feeling, until I was shopping in one store where I heard a beautiful song over the store's sound system, with the words, "That's Christmas to me." I researched those words, and I found out that the song was sung by a group that was new to me, Pentatonix. I also discovered that besides Christmas songs, they sing other types of songs, as well. So now, I'm a yearlong fan!

So, music is another great way to get yourself into the spirit of Christmas.

Thankfully, most of us have a relatively merry Christmas with family and/or friends, with Christmas cards, holiday gatherings, and various other holiday activities, but for some, the Christmas/New Year's holidays are not so happy, especially if a loved one has passed away during that time. In that case, Dr. Laura Koniver has the answer for depression, sorrow, and anxiety, etc., for then, as well as for any time of the year. (See www.intuition-physician.com for more information.)

For 2024, I started thinking about a quote that I really like, "Why fit in when you were born to stand out?" (Dr. Seuss) The truth is that we are all unique individuals, and we should just try to be ourselves, to be who God created us to be, instead of trying to be like everyone else.

For example, just because everyone else is wearing black tights, doesn't mean that is necessarily right for us. Instead, dress however you like; wear whatever suits you; don't try to be a carbon copy of everyone else.

Also, don't go along with the crowd on even more important matters. We need to decide if the path we're taking is the right one. 

I'm still working on several New Year's resolutions. I'm devoting one week for each one. For example, Greg and I tend to be workaholics, and we need to get more sleep, so we worked on a plan to get in bed 15 minutes earlier each night until we reach our target time. Another week, we're working to incorporate more fun into our lives. We've made out a fun-list of things to do and places to go, to just have fun! Sounds like a plan!

What positive changes would you like to see in your life?

~Cute pet feature-

This doggie (above) is all ready to go-"2024, here I come!" (Are you ready to go, too?)

Positive thought: "What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?" -John Steinbeck

Thanks for visiting! Until Saturday, February 3, 2024, Becky

The Good Old Days

 

I'm so glad you are here for my first blog post on this first Saturday of the month. I plan to have every "The Art of Positive Living" post on the first Saturday of every month from now on. I will post my blog, "Spirit Photographs," on the third Saturday of each month.

I've been thinking a lot about the subject of my post for today, something that is close to my heart, the good old days, since my newly revised book, "Down Memory Lane,"* is about the good old days!

Although we perhaps romanticize days in the past, there is much we can learn from the positive aspects of those days.

And, here are many of them-

~People were very patriotic.

"I pledge allegiance to the flag...."

~People read books, had hobbies, and played board games.

~School students were generally well-behaved. Those few who weren't, were disciplined. The worst thing that I can remember when I went to school was that one boy had to be sent home because his hair was too long in the back.

~Most people graduated from high school, and many went on to higher education.

~People dressed nicely. Here's an excerpt from a chapter in my book that Greg wrote - "Personal appearance was important. Most people looked neat and well-groomed. Shirt tails were tucked in and shoes were shined....Most people looked fit and trim."

~People were honest. If they found a missing wallet, they'd return it. Also, they kept their word. If they said they were going to do something, they would do it. If they found out they couldn't do it, they'd let it be known.

"Do what you know to be right." -David Icke

~Religion was important to most people.

~In fact, two of my high school graduation gifts were two small gold crosses that two different people gave me. 

~People were generally complimentary to each other. They tried to make people feel good about themselves. Things like this mean a lot to others.

~People helped their friends, relatives, and neighbors when needed.

~One day, Greg and I were at a garage, and a woman who was a receptionist there was so nice. She was pleasant and very efficient. She seemed happy, and she made you feel better by just being around her. 

~Most television shows and movies were G-rated. They were good, decent. quality shows. The characters set a good example. The good guys won. There was a moral to every story.

~People were industrious, hard-working, and ambitious. Most kept the same job or profession their whole lives. My grandfather was a doctor who truly cared about other people, and he charged his patients very little.

~The man was the breadwinner, and his wife stayed home and kept house and cared for their children.

~Families had fun times together, like going on picnics with made-from-scratch dishes like homemade potato salad or fresh green beans.

~Most leaders were honest and respected.

~Music was harmonious.

~In the early days, all food was organic.

How does life today compare to the good old days?

Thankfully, we generally stack up pretty well overall, but, of course, there is plenty of room for improvement. Any areas in which we are lacking can be turned around. Anywhere that we're falling short can be remedied with some positive planning and some work, but it can be done, individually and/or by people working together.

If we do that, then we can then truly say, "The good ol' days are being made right now." -From Blue Bell Ice Cream commercial

Coincidentally, I just recently found out about a really neat festival, the "Good Old Days" street festival in Pacific Grove, California this weekend. There will be a parade, a pie-eating contest, and much more! It sounds like fun!

Appalachian Author Feature: Linda Hudson Hoagland  

FYI: facebook.com/lindahudsonhoagland/

Linda Hoagland lives in Southwest Virginia. She is a talented author who has won several writing awards for her poetry, short stories, and books. Some of her book titles are "Snooping Can Be Dangerous," "The Backwards House." and "The Best Darn Secret." Do these sound intriguing! If so, be sure and check out her work. 

Also, Linda makes beautiful angel afghans that are for sale. If you are interested in these, contact her at lhhoagland@yahoo.com 

*For more information about my book, "Down Memory Lane," please see the widget above. It's available on Amazon in both the paperback and Kindle versions.

Positive thought: "We are all here to 'practice being godlike'-to treat others how we'd like to be treated." -From "Tools for Freedom"

Thanks for visiting! Until Saturday, June 3, 2023, Becky 

The Next "The Art of Positive Living" Blog Post

Welcome!

I have been seriously ill the past few weeks and was unable to write my monthly blog post. I'm still recuperating, but plan to publish my next post late in the day on Sunday, February 3.

Thanks so much for your understanding.

Positive thought: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."-Philippians 4:13
Thanks for visiting! Until Sunday, February 3, 2019, Becky

A Week with No Computer!

Welcome!

I'm glad to be back blogging! I'm almost a week late with my monthly "The Art of Positive Living" blog post because for the first time (And hopefully the last!) our computer crashed due to a power surge, but that's okay because good came from it.

"Every problem has a gift for you in its hands."
-Richard Bach

The good things that came from our computer concern are-

-Greg and I needed a new computer anyway since our other one was six years old! Our new one works really well; it's a great improvement over our old one, so much faster, etc. (Sometimes circumstances force you to change, to get you out of your old rut.)

-Going through any mini-crisis like we did with our computer makes you appreciate people that can help you overcome adversity like computer experts Gary and Lynn who put us back on track. A huge thanks to them!

-I got to connect with some people on the phone rather than just sending them emails.

-Greg and I had more time to do some other things like...

having a picnic in our favorite park on a beautiful day in June, which is my favorite month.

-Also, during this time, since I couldn't find any store-bought shorts that I could use, I just made my own by turning some old jeans that I already had into shorts. However, these are shorts that I'll just wear around the house since I'm certainly not an accomplished seamstress. (This is an understatement!)

I learned the shorts trick from Greg since he's made his own shorts from jeans several times. He's a very thrifty and resourceful guy!

Actually, everyone we know, everyone we encounter, has something valuable to teach us if we just pay attention.

-During this time, since I couldn't use "Microsoft Word," I wrote some chapters of  a new book I started using paper and a pen, so that way I didn't lose any momentum on writing my book which I plan to publish in late summer.

This book is not paranormal like my last book, "Photographic Encounters of the Spirit Kind." Instead, it's more along the lines of this blog, "The Art of Positive Living." I'll let you know more about it during the next couple of months or so.

My blog post for next month will be delayed for about a week because Greg and I will be involved with a special event in early July. So, I plan to publish my next "The Art of Positive Living" blog post on Monday, July 9 which happens to be the date of my mother's birthday.

May you enjoy the beauty of this special time of year!

Your bench is waiting!

"You've got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative."
-Johnny Mercer
Thanks for visiting! Until Monday, July 9, 2018, Becky

Positive Thoughts for the New Year

Welcome!

Glad you're here today!

Hope your  year has been going great so far!

Just to help keep things on the right track for the new year, I'd like to share some positive thoughts with you using quotes and  pictures.

Without further adieu, here they are: (Enjoy!)

"Every moment is a fresh beginning."-T. S. Eliot

 (A robin symbolizes new beginnings.) 

"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all."-Laura Ingalls Wilder

"Be yourself because an original is worth more than a copy."-Unknown

"Life is beautiful. Enjoy the ride."-Mitch Koppel

"Let the beauty of what you love be what you do."-Rumi

"Life is as sweet as a cupcake."-Unknown

"Kindness matters."

""Life is so much easier with a sense of humor."-Unknown

"Think happy thoughts."-Unknown

"Dwell on the beauty of life...."-Marcus Aurelius

"Taking time to do nothing often brings everything into perspective."-Doe Zantamata

"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It is already tomorrow in Australia."-Charles Shultz

Important note: Starting next month, February 2017, "The Art of Positive Living" blog will be only on the first Sunday of each month, and starting this month, the "Spirit Photographs" blog will be only on the third Saturday of each month.

Positive thought: "A good life is when you assume nothing, do more, need less, smile often, dream big, laugh a lot, and realize how blessed you are."-Unknown

Thanks for visiting! Until, Sunday, February 5, 2017, Becky

People Living Positively

A big welcome to you, and to the new year, 2017!

This is the time of  year many of us make our resolutions, and one of mine every year is to live my life more positively.

This past fall, I got to visit with a woman I know who seems to live a positive, fulfilling life.

   

Her name is Vonnie.

I didn't realize how talented and creative she was until she took me on a tour of  her yard.

She makes beautiful pieces of art out of found objects.

Seeing these cute pieces makes you want to run home and make something!

She even has a mini-farm, complete with real chickens.

After going on her tour, (The tour was longer than I've shown here.) one could even sit on one of the benches, contemplate nature, and listen to the water from the nearby creek peacefully flowing over the rocks.

Not only is Vonnie creative, but she's also a success coach and an aromatherapist. She even started, and is the leader of a local business networking group. She stays active, and seems to really enjoy her life which includes her husband and son.

She's such an inspiration to be around, and is a great example of someone who is living her life positively, and is helping others to live positive lives, as well.

There are some other people I'd like to mention that inspire me to live more positively-

I really admire another talented, creative woman, a graphic designer, that I often work with. Although she has a serious, chronic illness, she is still a successful business person. She has a wonderful sense of humor which I believe has helped her live a more positive life.

Without her encouragement, I think that I would have had a more difficult time achieving the business goals that I have set for myself.

Another encouraging, positive person in my life is a psychic that I sometimes call. She helps me get back on the right track when I need some advice. Genuine psychics are great because they know the truth of what's really going on with us mere mortals! The bottom line is this, whenever I talk with her, I feel greatly uplifted.

Also, there's an older man who works at our local convenience center (garbage dump) who seems happy whenever he sees me, and he always has something positive to say. Boy, if you can be pleasant while working at the garbage dump, there's hope for all of us!

Finally, Pastor Joel Osteen is great! He has such a positive message for all of us on how to live happier, more fulfilling lives. Not only is he a minister of the largest Protestant church in the United States, but he is also a successful author of several empowering books.

Greg and I were lucky to see Joel at one of his recent book signings at our local book store. He was just as nice in person as he seems to be on his television show.

These are just some of the people that I know that tend to live positive lives. Their positive attitudes spill over from themselves which helps other people.

In this new year, let us resolve to become the best that we can be, to make the most of ourselves. We may not be a creative artist or a great speaker, but we are all talented and creative in our ways. We need to find that talent and use it, not only to benefit ourselves, but in so doing, to be a blessing to the world, as well.

"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works..."
-Matthew 5:16, ESV

Want to be a better you in the new year? If so, just go to Mike Dooley's "Love Your Life 30 Day Project" on TUT. It's free!  See the website link below, and scroll down to find this project and sign up!

www.tut.com

Positive thought: "Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will."-Zig Ziglar
Thanks for visiting, Until Sunday, January 15, 2017, Becky

Sharing a Favorite Photo, with Love

Welcome!

Someone recently asked me what my favorite location for taking photographs was. My answer is that I really don't have a favorite location because I just love taking pictures wherever I am, both at home and away from home. There's an opportunity for picture-taking everywhere if we just look around us.

Also, I was asked to share my favorite photo. I could answer it this way:
"Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I'm going to take tomorrow."-Imogen Cunningham

With that said, I did select one photograph from several of my favorites to share on this blog post.

It's one of the photos that I featured on my "The Art of Positive Living" blog, a post entitled "Positive Memories" (8/7/16). I took this photo at my niece's beautiful wedding a couple of years ago in one of the most romantic cities in the world, Savannah, Georgia.

Although there was a professional wedding photographer there taking pictures, the family had wanted me to take photos, as well, since my photographs, in their words, "make the ordinary extraordinary."

Even though I wasn't a professional photographer* then, I did my best, and I took a lot of pictures, trying not to miss any important shots.

In the above photo, the couple is taking a stroll around the beautiful grounds after the ceremony. I followed them around, and was lucky to have captured the image with my camera.

My steps in taking this photo are:
"I walk,
I look,
I see,
I stop,
I photograph."
-Leon Levinstein

The above quote really is pretty much how I take all of my photographs.

In case I need to tweak up any photos, I go to a free online editing site for lightening up, etc. the images.

However, I'm investigating something I just heard about, an innovative compact camera that a new company Light has developed since I'm always looking for new ways to improve my photography. It even works really well in low-light conditions.

From taking a family group photo when I was only nine years old, to taking informal photos of my parents opening gifts from each other when I was a teenager, to taking pictures with my husband, Greg, during our travels, I can happily say that I'm hooked on photography.

In fact, photography is in my blood since my father was an avid photographer when I was growing up.

In conclusion, model Christie Brinkley in her book "Timeless Beauty" sums up my feelings about photography this way: "I love to grab a camera and walk around looking for beauty. I find beauty everywhere....I am transported by the magic and light, and I...feel enlightened both physically and spiritually by the beauty."

I couldn't have expressed it any better myself!

*To check out more of my photos, please see the heading "Photography" on my website, www.beckyarnottartist.com . Many of my photos are on iStock .com which is part of "Getty Images."

Positive thought: "Photography is the only language that can be understood anywhere in the world."-Bruno Barby
Thanks for visiting! Until Sunday, September 4, 2016, Becky

(This blog post is under the copyright of Becky Arnott, 8/27/16.)

A Tennessee Road Trip, Part 2

On last week's blog post, "A Tennessee Road Trip," that I wrote on 7/24/16, I told about our fun trip to David Crockett State Park in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee.

On this post, I'll tell about part two of our road trip.

After we left the park, on the way home, we went through another interesting place, Ethridge, Tennessee, that we had visited a couple of years ago. In fact, I wrote a blog post about it on 8/11/14. We enjoyed being there so much that we decided to stop back by and see a couple of things we missed last time.

This vintage truck and the outside of this building were all we saw when we went by on our last trip to Ethridge since this business was closed.

It's reopened, so we got to see inside this time.

An Old Soda Fountain

It's called the "Ira Irving Gen. Store & Bus Station."

We were surprised that there was a Greyhound bus station in this small town, but it's mostly for the benefit of the Amish who live in Lawrence County, Tennessee. Besides their buggies, the Amish have to rely on either the bus, taxi, or plane for their transportation since they don't have cars, etc.

A Member of the Old Order Amish Community

This is an old building that is next door to the general store and bus station that has all sorts of interesting tools and other items for sell that would especially appeal to the Amish.

Life certainly is fascinating, especially when you travel! Travel opens up new places to explore and fun things to do. We can hardly wait for our next adventure!

Starting next month, I'll be publishing "The Art of Positive Living" posts only on the first and third Sundays of each month, and the "Spirit Photographs" posts on the first Saturday of each month, at least for now, as I have a pretty full schedule, trying to juggle all of my many projects.

Positive thought: "I haven't been everywhere, but it's on my list."-Susan Sontag
Thanks for visiting! Until next Sunday, Becky