"Positively Patriotic"

 The photograph above shows some special things in our memorabilia room that are meaningful to us-a picture of a painting of George Washington, who was one of our country's Founding Fathers, and our first president. 

There is also an old postcard that belonged to Greg's grandmother that someone had sent her. The post- card depicts the signing of the "Declaration of Independence." The 56 signers of this important document included Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, John Hancock, and Samuel Adams. Thomas Jefferson was the main author of this document. He was our third president, and he also founded the University of Virginia. Each of these men is outstanding in his own way.

~"Where liberty dwells, there is my country."- Benjamin Franklin

The brown booklet behind the postcard contains a copy of the "Declaration of Independence," as well as the "Constitution of the United States" which we got for free from Hillsdale College a few years ago. It was published by Cato Institute.

This is a special anniversary for our country, the United States of America, 250 years old! What a milestone! We should all feel positively patriotic!

~"God bless America, land that I love."- Irving Berlin

~"America is a tune. It must be sung together."- Gerald Stanley Lee 

~"The federal government should only be flying the flag that represents all people, the American flag."- Marjorie Taylor Greene

~"I stand fearlessly for small dogs, the American flag, motherhood, and the 'Bible.' That's why people love me."- Art Linkletter

I love to read about, and watch shows about our Founding Fathers and all of the great men and women who have helped make our country strong. I get a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes when I see the American flag fluttering in the wind or images of Paul Revere riding on horseback to warn others that the British were coming. 

~"Liberty and independence forever."- Davy Crockett

~"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."- John F. Kennedy

In my new book about Appalachia which will be published soon, I have a whole chapter about patriotism in Southern Appalachia. I'll have more to tell about my book next month.

~"I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free...there ain't no doubt I love this land. God bless the U.S.A."- Lee Greenwood

~Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, August 1, 2026, Becky

 

"How to Be More Positive"

 

Sometimes, it seems hard to get and maintain a positive frame of mind, but there are things we can all do in order to be more positive. We just have to do those things that feel right for us.

I feel more positive and uplifted when I occasionally get to hear "The Constitution Minute" on our local radio station. Also, I can always go anytime to www.constitutionminute.com to hear the same messages that are on the radio.

"The Constitution Minute" is a positive, patriotic message from Dr. Larry Arnn, the president of Hillsdale College. "The Constitution is key to securing liberty for all Americans..." In addition to an uplifting message, you can also request a free pocket-sized copy of our Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. These documents contain important information that all Americans need to know.

Greg and I recently went through about two weeks of challenges that began when our television suddenly stopped working. We're thankfully getting everything satisfactorily resolved, and as we're looking back on everything, these so-called negative events actually turned into something positive. 

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

For instance, Greg discovered some skills that he didn't realize that he had. Also, we got to take a break from our usual routine of busyness, and as a result, we got to go and do some enjoyable, relaxing things that we hadn't made time for in a while, like walking in the park.

(Let's have some fun!"- Jesse Kelly)

You can meet the nicest people and pets in the park-

Get a best furry friend, like Iris.

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole."- Roger Caras

We also recently enjoyed our town's fireworks for the first time since we've lived here-

Finally, if you'd like a super-easy way to be more positive, etc., be sure to "Immerse yourself  in soothing, healing sounds of the handpan infused with a pure frequency of 528 Hertz."- Malte Marten

528 hz handpan music my favorite healing meditation. It is supposed to promote positivity as well as other good qualities.

Also, please check out my memoir, "Down Memory Lane" by Becky Arnott. For more information, just click the widget above.

~Positive thought- Positive thinking is "only thinking thoughts of what you want. And it makes sense because negative thoughts hurt us. Negative thoughts attract what we don't want, they make us feel bad, and they harm our health. So why on earth would anyone indulge in them? ...think only of what you want!"- Rhonda Byrne

Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, August 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 Fourth of July

 

Today, I have a patriotic post for a patriotic day, the Fourth of July, a very important day in the history of our great country, the United States of America!

Through words and pictures, I'd like to help celebrate the liberty, the freedom that we now have for which our forefathers so bravely fought.

Just a few days ago, I came across this post card (below) when I was looking through some old photographs that had belonged to Greg's parents. The post card depicts the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It is from a painting by the artist John Trumbull. (This post card is now proudly displayed in our new memorabilia room since freedom means so much to us.)

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." -From "The Declaration of Independence" (1776)

Some patriots, including Greg's fourth great-grandfather, John Arnot, are honored on this stone in Bent Creek Cemetery in Whitesburg, Tennessee because they fought in the Revolutionary War. (Please see my related "The Art of Positive Living" blog post, "Honoring a Patriot," on 6/6/21 for more about John Arnot.)

"I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!' -Patrick Henry

Local patriots proudly show their true patriotic colors-

"My patriotic heart beats red, white, and blue." -Anonymous

"Freedom is one of the deepest and noblest aspirations of the human spirit." -Ronald Reagan

"And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free, and I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me....God bless the U. S. A." -Lee Greenwood

(For real inspiration, check out the Lee Greenwood "God Bless the U. S. A." videos on Youtube.)

"From every mountainside, let freedom ring." -Martin Luther King, Jr.

"From the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with foam, God bless America, my home sweet home." -Irving Berlin

"And the rocket's red glare, the bomb bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave, O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?" -Francis Scott Key (from "The Star-Spangled Banner," the United States national anthem)

Small Business Feature:

At the Wayne Scott Strawberry Festival in Unicoi, Tennessee in May, I met an artist who owns a small business, Old House Art. Her abstract pieces are really pretty, colorful. She not only paints pictures, but she makes jewelry, as well.

I loved her earrings so much, that I bought a pair. They were reasonably priced, too!

"I believe in America because we have great dreams, and because we have the opportunity to make those dreams come true." -Wendell Willkie

I'm remembering my parents on their wedding anniversary. They married on the Fourth of July. That day was, of course, extra special for them. And, they were extra special, too.

I've been featuring cats quite a bit lately, so I decided that it was time to feature a dog on this blog post. It's only fair to the dogs and for those who love them!

Dog Feature:

Here's a rescue dog that was at the Unicoi Strawberry Festival that was hoping to be adopted. Bet someone picked up this little guy pretty quickly! What a cutie!

FYI

Did you know that there's another special day in July that is not that well-known? It's "National Ice Cream Day" which is the third Sunday in July. This year it's on July 18. Hope to see you at the ice cream parlor!

Oh, and have a Happy Fourth of July!

Positive thought: "Remember: light overcomes the darkness, good overcomes evil, love overcomes hate, and positive overcomes the negative, always."-Becky Arnott

Thanks for visiting! Until Sunday, August 1, 2021, Becky