Encouraging words
moving us forward...
"If you see something beautiful in someone, speak it.” ~ Ruthie Lindsey
I admit it.
I am a lover of words and I have spent a lifetime surrounding myself with them.
Whether those words are found within my collection of books, within cards that I received, letters that were written…words have been there as a source of inspiration for me. I have a hope chest filled with cards and letters, items that bring me joy when I need it and I consider them true treasures…
My parents brought me up in a home where words were encouraged. Conversations were a centerpiece of our lives and ideas were something that were exchanged easily. Politics, history, philosophy, sports, literature, religion…whatever topic that came up, we loved to learn from each other through discussions...If you had a thought that was different, it was accepted but it came with a responsibility to make sure you could defend and support why you thought that way…My father enjoyed describing that as the art of debating.
Many of these conversations took place at our dinner table. The dinner table was not a place to sit in silence and eat. Instead it was a lively place, filled with the sounds of laughter and conversation…
The dinner table was a gathering place where we could see each other and talk. It was also the one place we were guaranteed to see each other during a busy working day and life on a farm was always busy…
“How was your day today?”
“How was school?”
“What is one new thing you learned?”
Meals were meant to be enjoyed equally for the quality of the homemade food my mother prepared and for the conversations my father initiated.
Trips to the public library usually came on a weekly basis and our set of World Book Encyclopedias were a source of both facts and fascination…
Newspapers and crossword puzzles could be found in our living room and in my parent’s bedroom. A reading lamp was an essential piece of furniture.
Words were everywhere.
Looking back, these experiences are probably one of the main reasons I was drawn to libraries and would eventually find myself working in that environment for many years.
Once I came across a small collection of cards and letters my mother collected during the pandemic. She labeled them “COVID cards” and wrote underneath “These are real keepers!”
Words of encouragement are “real keepers”...As I looked through her stack of inspiration, I remembered how isolating a time that was, especially for the elderly. For many of us, including my mother, simple communication, like those cards, provided comfort during a very lonely time.
And apparently those words within those cards meant enough to her that she kept them, right next to her chair…to look at whenever she needed them…
My mother’s “keeper cards” are a great reminder of the power of positive words in a chaotic world and that encouraging words really mean something…
And the world can never have too many of them…
What do you think?
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Tranquil Moments…
I asked my niece, Jennifer Malphy, if she could share some of her nature photos with my newsletter audience. Each week I will feature a new photo. Here is this week’s:
Children’s Corner
Back in 1999, when I was an elementary school librarian, I started a project where I wrote letters (old fashioned, printed letters) to a variety of famous people. This was prior to the daily use of email and text messages. My questions were simple…
1) From your own life experiences, how has reading affected your life in a positive manner?
2) Was there any particular person or experience in your life that made you aware of the value of literature and the importance of reading?
I am going to share these letters and let you experience the joy many of my students (and myself) have gotten from their touching words - Here is this week’s:
This week’s Smile video…
As part of our new series “Kindness 101,” Steve Hartman is sharing stories built around themes of kindness and character and the people who’ve mastered both. His latest lesson is compassion.
#believe #smilevideos #spreadkindnessandlove
What I am watching…
The past few weeks I have been watching the comedy series Young Sheldon on Netflix. I want to thank my brother, Pat and sister-in-law, Sandy for introducing me to this series. It is a great way to spend winter evenings watching something that puts a smile on my face!
Forever grateful…
I was especially moved by the heartfelt words late-night host Stephen Colbert shared regarding the passing of country singer Toby Keith earlier this week. It was a wonderful testament that people can be from very different political views but still be respectful and also be great friends. The two men made an unlikely pair, in Stephen’s words, “like when a duck and a horse are friends.”
Podcast Picks
In need of a good read? Or just want to keep up with the books everyone's talking about? NPR's Book of the Day gives you today's very best writing in a snackable, skimmable, pocket-sized podcast. Whether you're looking to engage with the big questions of our times – or temporarily escape from them – we've got an author who will speak to you, all genres, mood and writing styles included. Catch today's great books in 15 minutes or less.
Comedy Lift…
I love to share funny cartoons or memes with friends and family. Who doesn’t need to smile? Here’s this week’s Comedy Lift…
Music Moments
Music inspires me in many ways. Here’s Toby Keith singing a song I used to line dance to back in the 1990's, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy”...Enjoy!
Quote of the week
Until next week. Please remember…Begin and end each day with a grateful heart…and always, always be kind….