Granny-O Speaks

November 14, 2021

Reflections. The universe reflects back to you, all you give. Give out what you want to come back. For example you are not going to have a lot of happiness around you if you are grumbly. You will get what you give. On your grumbly days, a lot of people around you will be grumbly. It is your fault. You are probably tired of me saying everything is your fault. Sorry. The reason it works for you to take responsibility for a situation is, as you remember, you can only change your world by changing yourself. You want to have an input. You want to improve your life. You want to be happy. You can change the way the world responds to you, by the way you respond to the world. So be glad when the ball is in your court. Reflect on that for a minute. It is all you, it is all me it is all everyone who is in charge of putting a smile on the face of the human race. Each one of us makes the world around us what it is, or what it is not. Wouldn’t it be great if every day people could just be happy? Just think, everyone happy? Wow. That would be something. Sometimes the holidays bring out the best in us, and sometimes the holidays can be a nightmare. What is going on here? It is the same holiday for everyone present, and yet the occasion can be good, bad or ugly depending on you. Depending on each and everyone of you. A lot of people spend a lot of time and a lot of money getting home for the holidays. Family. Family can bring great joy to you. There can be so much love and appreciation among all of you, that you can’t wait to get together again. You can never have enough of being with your family. On the other hand, family can kick you when you are down. Maybe the holidays bring tears to your eyes instead of a smiles on your mouths. Sadness comes when there is a lack of appreciation. When those who are near and dear to you know how to push all your buttons. Nothing is sacred. Nothing is fun. Everything is a war at your house when you all get together. Holidays become an obligation instead of a celebration. The price of a homecooked meal is more expensive than if you had gone out to the most expensive restaurant. If there is no appreciation, everything falls apart fast, even if the feast is on the table. Food feeds the body not the soul. Love and appreciation feed the soul. Family gatherings can be a wow, or too often they can be an ow. There are loud voices , people walking away from the table and doors slamming. If it happens once, it will happen again. If something in the family dynamics does not change, the family dynamics will stay the same. So before you head out the door on this holiday, think of things you can do or say to show your appreciation for those at the table. Make the people around you feel glad not sad you are there. Remember your world is a reflection of what you are sending out into the world. Try a hug. Say a kind word. Compliment someone about anything. Have a conversation. Listen to what the other people have to say. Put a smile on your face and keep it there. It is hard to show people your appreciation if you are frowning. Get excited about what is going on around you. In the days, months and years to come, this holiday will be a memory. Why not make it the best holiday you have ever had. Let your ears hear laughter. Let your heart feel the love and the joy. Show your appreciation for the day. This is your family. Your family is God’s gift to you, and you are God’s gift to your family. Wow, how blessed you all are. Be grateful. It is your fault if everything goes south, and it is your fault if it is the best day of your life so far. You choose. What is your pleasure? I am grateful for you.

Granny-o

November 13, 2021

You can be your best while at the same time encouraging others to be their best too. Life should be a win win event. Competition should not be an I win you lose type of thing. If everybody wins, then everybody comes back to play again another day. It is called good sportsmanship. Often after a game the winner who came in first will congratulate the person who came in second. There are no losers, one person just came in first. People who play at their own level of excellence help their opponents get better, thereby raising the bar. Winning does not mean as much if you bested someone who is having a bad day. One of the most rewarding sports to watch is the Special Olympics. The smart among us could learn a lot from those who are less smart or physically handicapped, and from their parents too. The parents cheer like crazy for any progress their athlete makes. The competitors cheer each other on, and everyone gets a trophy or a ribbon depending on which one is being given out that day. I saw a competition once when a runner with Down’s syndrome was winning. One of the other Down’s syndrome contestants fell. The guy who was winning stopped and went back. He helped the fallen to his feet and helped him over the finish line. That guy was the real winner even though he did not come in first. There is room in this world for everyone to work at becoming his own best. Everyone should be applauded for his effort and his personal growth, because everyone who improves is a success. Encouragement goes a long way to creating happiness. It makes both the giver and the receiver happier. One by one we humans in this world could become nicer people. One by one we humans in this world will become happier people when we start being kinder to our fellow man. Our own value goes up when we value others in our lives. There are different levels of excellence. Be cheerleaders. Rah Rah Rah. Tomorrow the game of life is starting all over again. At the pep rally today everyone was cheering like crazy. The gym went wild when the cheerleaders were doing their thing. “Give me an E…Give me a V…Give me another E…Give me an R…Give me a Y…Give me an O…give me an N…Give me an E… What do you have?” All the people in the bleachers yelled EVERYONE. Say it again” E V E R Y O N E. Everyone indeed. Be a cheerleader. You can be your best, I will applaud you. Let’s cheer for everyone else too, so they can also be their best. Wow. Have a great moment. Have a great day. Be happy.

Granny-o

November 12, 2021

Sometimes I too run into temporary problems, or disappointments. None of us is immuned to being human. Life happens. The way I handle these bothersome moments, is to think about what I have suggested to you to do when you are unexpectedly blindsided. After all I would never ask anyone to do anything I would not do myself. Unless the thing I needed done is beyond my ken and I can’t handle it myself. Then I ask someone to help me or get professional help. For instance, I live with four people who I love very much. I also live with a dog. A big dog. The dog needs to be walked, but she is very strong, and uncontrollable occasionally. I cannot walk her because she might pull me over and break me. If I let go of the leash, she might run away and never come back. There are three of us who can handle the dog. Three of us who can walk her. Therefore, one of the three walk the dog. Even though I would not be able to walk her myself. There are exceptions to most every rule. Suggestions are not written in stone, and every problem has its own unique solution. This is what happened to me today. I was typing an entry into my journal. I have been putting my heart and soul into it for a month or more, and I always save my entries after I have completed them. This morning as I was typing all of a sudden everything went blank. No words, just whiteness. I couldn’t figure out what had happened. I poked around. I don’t know what buttons I pushed, but my journal was gone. My entire journal was gone. My immediate reaction was ow. I was upset. Not crazy upset, but sad upset. I took a deep breath and backed away from the situation. Then I remembered the bowling ball thing. You know the one… even if you have to carry around a sixteen-pound bowling ball with you all the time, it will be okay. If you can see beyond the bowling ball on your lap and still see the miracles that are out there it will be okay. God doesn’t make mistakes, but I do and computers sometimes do also. Remembering the bowling ball, I decided to not cry over spilt milk. What is gone is gone. No use stressing. I will however try to find the source of the problem before I start my journal anew. The way I did not lose my happiness is by putting everything into perspective. Losing my journal, the words of my heart, is not that big a deal when you think about it. As a matter of fact, it had no import to anyone but me at this point. So, as they say in France, “That’s Life”. I don’t know French very well, so I am paraphrasing here. Here is another suggestion I made. Don’t make excuses why you don’t want to walk, just do it. If it is raining take an umbrella. This morning it was raining. Not hard, mostly a drizzle, but it was cloudy and damp outside, and I decided I would not walk. No excuses. I usually would have, but I just did not feel like walking in the rain this morning. Nothing is written in stone. You can make choices on a moment-to-moment basis. Being happy is being able to adjust to situations as they come along. Being happy is being able to smile because there is so much out there to smile about. It is never the end of the world. Do not freak out. Figure it out and be happy.

Granny-o

November 11, 2021,

Walking. Walking is good for many reasons, but one of the best reasons is walking gets you out of confined spaces of your life. You can see the sky, instead of the the inside your house, you can see trees, grass and flowers instead of the the inside of your car, or the ceilings inside the stores you frequent. Walking also slows you down in your busy life. Even if you are power walking most people will not be able to walk faster than three miles an hour. Walking is free, if you are able you can do it, you can afford it. Walking gives you the opportunity to see your world from a new perspective, from the ground up. Walking is stepping out into nature. You see God’s creations instead of what man has done. Walking is great. It gives you time to think your thoughts, and let’s not forget exercise. Walking is not only good for the soul, it is good for your body. So what excuse is there not to walk? There are always excuses for why not to do what you do not want to do. Sometimes if you take a leap of faith and try something new, you will find you are more energized and happier. when I can, I walk 3 to 4 miles a day. Half the distance in the morning and the other half in the afternoon. I love being home, but I also love being outside. If it is cold, I bundle up with layers of clothing, a hat and gloves. Then off I go. If it is raining, I take my umbrella. I take all different routes in my neighborhood, or sometimes I walk down familiar streets. It doesn’t matter where I walk, or when I walk. I am not out to prove anything. I just like to walk. No equipment necessary, just open the door and start walking. Life does not have to be complicated. Step by step walking will improve your life. Do it while you can, or you will regret not doing it when you can’t. Appreciate the now moments of your life. Be happy. Sometimes if the conditions are right you might even see a rainbow. I love rainbows. Enjoy your day today. Remember happiness is a choice.

Granny-o

November 10, 2021

God. I imagine God as a most magical experience. For me, God is the biggest wow there has ever been. God is the biggest wow that will be for ever and ever and ever. God has thought of everything. God loves each and everyone of us. God never makes mistakes. God is that perfect. Wow. God created everything. He even created you and me. Work with me here. If God created you and me, and God never makes mistakes, then it goes to follow we are perfect examples of God’s handiwork. Wow. Does that make you feel special or what? The way I see it is we are all, each and everyone of us, the unique vision of the master. We are all perfect in our own way. Being happy is my gift back to God, showing Him my gratitude for everything I am, and for everything I have ever had, or will ever have from this day forward. Wow. What a gift I am to me. I am the total package. How could I possibly not be happy? I just can’t get over it. I am here, living in God’s world. As I look around with my cartoon eyes I am totally amazed over and over again. I think it is why wow is my favorite word. What do you think? Be happy. It seems if God gave you and me so much, that happiness should be our constant companion. When a person gives another person a gift, the giver only wants the receiver to smile and to be happy. God has given us so much more than we could possibly give one another. If all we want in return is for someone to be happy when we give them a gift, maybe that is what God wants too. Wow. Life is one big wow. God has Blessed you. God has blessed me. God has blessed all of us. We are all a gift from God. Our gratitude for a job well done is shown by our happiness. Have a wonderful day. Be happy.

Granny-o

November 9, 2021

You are a 2? How can that be? Let me see if I understand what you are saying. On a happiness scale of 1-10 you are a 2. How can that be possible? A 2 means that you are almost totally unhappy. You have given up hope. You have lost your way. If you are a 2 on the happiness scale right now as you are reading this blog of mine, something is wrong in your life. Even a blind man could see that. What could be so terrible? There are a lot of things that could make you feel like a 2 or if there weren’t any number 2 people the scale would be 3-10. So, first of all let’s establish you are not alone in your sadness. There are many people in your situation. Does that make you feel any better? They say that misery enjoys company. Whoever they are. I do not buy into that theory. Misery enjoys nothing. Okay. You do not need me to tell you what your problem is, your problem is all you are thinking about. Morning, noon and night it is all you are thinking about. I am sorry you are suffering. What I can remind you of is your problem is only temporary. It might be earth shaking for you right now, but it is not the end of the world. You cannot bottom out. So that should give you some hope. Second of all, worrying never ever helps. So don’t do it. Life will play out as it plays out and your worrying will not change the outcome. Fix what you can. Get help when you need it, and hold on tight if you are stuck in a quagmire and can’t get out. Sooner or later you will get beyond the nightmare. Sooner or later everything will be good again. Actually everything is good now, you just are not noticing it. Baby steps. Don’t expect an overnight jump from being a 2 to being a 10. One step at a time, before you can be a 4, you have to be a 3. Baby steps. Instead of being overwhelmed by your current situation, think of one thing you can be happy about right now. Dig deep if you must, but stop feeling sorry for yourself and find one thing. Now close your eyes and thank God for your one happiness. Remember, baby steps. Don’t rush it. Keep appreciating the reason for the glimmer of happiness. Keep your eyes closed. Take a deep breath, and then slowly open your eyes. Now think about another thing, and again close your eyes and thank God for number 2 on your gratitude list. Don’t rush it. Savor the moment. Try again and again, or stop if you must, but don’t ever stop being grateful. Tomorrow will come and you can think of number 3 then, if you can’t get there now. Gratitude is one of the main ingredients to being happy. You can’t make cookies without sugar. (Where did that come from? I have never said that before, but we can both agree it is true. A cookie without sugar would not be a cookie, it would just be butter in a pile of flour. Forgive me for sidestepping here) Sometimes working through your troubles is an emotional strain, and you have to release the pressure. Even for me thinking about you having a problem has caused me to have a bit of anxiety. Let’s get beyond where you are, because it is true, when you are blue it affects those around you. Keep feeling gratitude, and pretty soon you will be smiling again. Then you can deal with your problem. Every problem has a solution. It might not bring back what you had before the problem happened, but the solution will allow you to stay on the path to your future. Don’t mourn for what you don’t have, appreciate and be grateful what you still have, even in your darkest hour. This is November 9th. It will be Thanksgiving soon. It gives you a little time to get your act together. Again, by changing yourself you can change your world. It is all on you my dear. If you can smile and be happy, the people in your life will be able to smile and be happy too. You can do it. Aren’t you tired of seeing smiles turned upside down all the time? Get a grip. Be brave. Ask for help, if you need help. When you open your eyes as your day begins look for the miracles that you have been missing. Say thank you and everything will get better. Happy will happen again for you. It is 4:34 AM where I am. It is always the right time to be grateful. It is always the right time to be happy. Have a wonderful wonderful day.

Granny-o

November 8,2021

Changing. Sometimes change is good, and sometimes it tests what you are really made of. Things are always changing. Nothing ever stays the same. Part of the reason for change is that you are never the same, so the way you see the world changes. The way you look in the mirror changes and even your needs change. All the time life gets more interesting because change means growth. If you are blessed enough to live more than 73 years as I have been, change is a good thing. Imagine if every day of your life were exactly the same as the day before, wouldn’t that be a drag? Miracles would be nothing special. Saying nothing special about miracles sounds wrong. All miracles are special by definition. You ask how can I possibly be happy when everything is always changing? The secret is to appreciate where you have been and where you are today. For instance, watch a baby. In the beginning a baby is totally dependent on his mother and father. Then one day he can roll over, and before you know it he can sit up. On another day he can stand. Follow him on his journey and one day he will be walking. That is only the beginning. You applauded all of those changes. Then he is a toddler, then a kid, then a teenager and then an adult. Wow, talk about changes In life. Change does not stop at 21. Change happens continually for ever and ever and ever. Are you scared? No need to freak. No need to be sad. Change is a natural part of life. Be happy. Happy changes too. What made you happy at 21 will be a great memory, but your needs change so what makes you happy today is different than it was then. You need to change your mindset if you want to find happiness over and over again. Have faith, be flexible and know everything will work out sooner or later. You probably don’t notice the changes in yourself, but see someone that you haven’t seen in twenty years and the change would be incredible. It doesn’t mean the change was bad. It depends on the way your friend reacted to the change. If she were willing to step out of her comfort zone and adjust to changes, than she would have aged well. The secret is, again, to enjoy the moments of your life over and over as they are happening, and then remember the good things when the days pass away. Memories. If you want to be happy focus on what you want to remember, not on what you want to forget. Remember, happiness is a choice. Aim your heart in the right direction and you will hit the bulls eye of happiness every time. Grow with me. The best is yet to be. My face just smiled. Are you smiling too?

Granny-o

November 6, 2021

What pictures? My blogs are suppose to be informative and helpful. I am trying to suggest to you life is a most wonderful adventure. I do not choose to entertain with a lot of pictures. Books for adults don’t usually have pictures. Books I read usually have artistically eye catching covers, but if you take the dust jackets off, no pictures. Words are the creators of the pictures in your mind. So don’t expect a lot of pictures. I remember once when I was reading about a famous artist’s work, I was so impressed by the description of the art that when I actually saw the picture, I was disappointed. It is not necessary to read each of these entries at the same time. Pick and choose. See if there are ones that grab your attention. See if any of the words you see help you to connect with the joys of your heart. I hope you Email me, so we can have a conversation. I would love to hear from you. Let me know what you are thinking. What in your life puts a smile on your face? When are the miracles of your days knocking on your heart reminding you it is all a gift? Let me know. Let’s talk about it. We are all rowing our own boats. Row row row your boat gently down the stream. Merrily merrily merrrily merrily…life is but a dream. Sometimes children are more in touch with happiness than adults are. Remember your childhood ditties. Remember when you would find yourself singing, just because you were so happy. How often do you just start singing now? How many times do you hear someone say they love being old? How often do you hear anyone say this is the best day of my life so far? It is all a gift my dears. It is all a gift. I cannot say that enough. Be open to the possibility it gets better and better and better. Life improves with age. Keep rowing your boat, and go with the flow. It is all good. Choose happiness even if tears sometimes need to fall from your eyes. Tears will be dried by the morning sun the way blue skies follow the darkest storms. What pictures? Thanks for sharing some time with me. I hope you reach out as I am trying to reach out to you. We need each other. People need each other. It is the truth. People will add to your happiness if you appreciate them, and If you share your thoughts with them. People in your life will help you reconnect with your heart. What pictures? Be happy. It is 2:23 AM right now as I am writing this blog. I am feeling incredibly happy. Enjoy your moment as I am enjoying mine.

Granny-o

November 4, 2021

Rich or poor, no matter what your financial status, why not be happy? What could be wrong with happiness. People who are happy applaud it, people who are not dismiss it. It is the same idea with rich and poor people. The rich like being rich, they might not be happy, but they like being rich. Poor people do not think they will ever be rich, but a lot of poor people are happy. What could this possibly mean? Does it make sense? It makes sense if you remember that money does not buy happiness. Money might keep you from getting threatening phone calls in the middle of the night. Money might keep a roof over your head and food in your belly. You might be able to buy all that money can buy, but money cannot buy happiness. Here is the difference. Poor people live day to day. They appreciate each other and need each other. Poor people usually do not have high paying, high pressure jobs, or they would not be poor. Poor people share what they have with their family and friends. Poor people have no problem sleeping. Rich people lock their money up in banks, real estate and investments. Rich people are always under the gun, are very stressed, never have time for family or friends, and take pills to sleep. Poor people are grateful for what they have, rich people never have enough. Would I want to be rich? I have enough money, that people who were penniless might think I am rich. The rich would think that I am probably on the lower side of middle class. Middle class now means that you earn in excess of $100,000.00 a year. I never earned more than $35,000.00 per year in all the years I worked, and that was before taxes. So I have enough money to keep me safe and warm. I use money as a tool, to buy what I need, and occasionally what I want. I do not want much because I have everything I need. Not only that, I am grateful for everything I have. Wow. I am happy. Why not. I like being happy. I am loved. I am appreciated, and I am so blessed. Love and appreciation are gifts that keep on giving. No need to return them to the store because you don’t like them, they are the wrong size, or not your cup of tea. Love and appreciation are always the right gifts. The interesting thing is they are all free for anyone who wants them. Life is a gift, and it is everything you could ever want it to be. Why not be happy? The other thing that makes me happy is being old. I love being old. If you are old now, are you happy? If you are not old yet, then you will have to wait. Old takes time. Believe me old age is usually wasted on the old. Let’s try to see if we can find your happiness no matter what your age. Let me help if I can. Rich or poor it doesn’t matter. We are all human, and we all want to be happy. Have a wonderful wonderful day.

Granny-o

November 1, 2021

This is the moment. Live it. You and you alone will decide what memories you will have of the moments of your life. Open your cartoon eyes and look around. Where are you? What miracles are you experiencing right now? Are you feeling grateful? In my world it is now 3:03 AM, and I am already happy. I have been up for almost an hour, and the longer I am up, the happier I am. Why? Because it is all a gift. Life is all a gift. When I am tired I sleep, when I am awake I take a deep breath and again thank God for allowing me to be. Wow. 73. Wow. I don’t really use explanation points very often, because everything is worth excitement. It would look silly to have every sentence ending with an exclamation point. This is the way I express myself. I wish you could see my cartoon eyes wide open and ready for this day. They would tell my story. Wow. 73. Wow. A twitch just went up my spine. It is 3:09 AM and I am already at the starting gate ready to go. How cool is that? No drugs, no sleep enhancers and no alcohol. My only drug is the oxygen I breathe from the trees. Wow. My left shoulder and my heart are twitching. I am so happy. It is all about appreciation, and I am the great appreciator. I just started to smile again. No mirrors, but I can feel the corners of my mouth going up. Happiness is a choice. I have been sad really sad, and I have been happy, incredibly happy. I find for me, happy is better. I choose to be happy at any time of every day. We all have a 24/7 opportunity to find and have our own happiness. Both elbows are twitching. I just can’t get over what a gift it is to be alive in God’s world. I can’t get over it. I am so loved, and for that reason I am able to share my love with others. This is the moment when I am thinking about you. It is 3:17 AM and I am hoping with all my heart you are happy too. What is your favorite word that puts a smile on your face? Right now, are you happy? You could be. You should be. It is so much better than being sad. I know from experience. It is much better. I will remember being up in the middle of the night, it happens quite often, and will again say thank you. My world is quiet and I am listening to my heart. Wow. You are also awake right now, It might be any time where ever you are but you are awake sharing the moment with me. Smile. Be happy. There are so many reasons to be. It would be a good idea to do so. I know that a lot of people have not found or rediscovered their happiness in a long time. If there is anything I can do to help, please leave a comment and maybe we can make it better for you and better for me too. Have a most wonderful moment, and a perfectly glorious day.

Granny-o