The Secret Garden

As a child, I loved the movie “The Secret Garden.” It came up on an AI list as a Fall Literary Theme, and I couldn’t agree more. What I always loved about the movie was how Mary had to wander through the old mansion to find out more about her mother. The journey she had, along with her cousin, helped her work through her grief and helped him gain the strength he needed to thrive. The garden wasn’t magic; it was a secret. That secret gave the cousins a safe place to learn and grow.

What fall books would you suggest?

Hearts on a Scale

The most important ceremony was the Weighing of the Heart.  This had to happen in order for a person to be able to go to the afterlife.

The person would have their heart weighed to see if it was heavy or if it was light.  If someone’s heart was heavy, they would never make it to the afterlife and they would be stuck in the Underworld forever, or they would just disappear.

If a heart was light, the person would be able to go to the Land of Two Fields which was a place full of joy and happiness.  This was a place where the people would meet their loved ones that had died before them.

History for Kids

Today I was thinking about the scales of justice in ancient Egypt. On one side of the scale was a human heart, and on the other side was a feather. As it reads above, it was believed that if a person’s heart was lighter than the feather, it meant that they had lived a good life and would be welcomed into the afterlife. If their heart was heavier than the feather, it meant that they had lived a bad life and would be stuck in the underworld.

This belief is a reminder that the weight of our actions can have a profound impact on our lives. When we live good lives, we make the world a better place and we also make our own hearts lighter. When we live bad lives, we make the world a worse place and we also make our own hearts heavier.

So let’s all do our best to lift the weight of our hearts with goodness, giving, gratitude, and peace.

Current Watch

You Can Pour Drinks On Me. You Can Throw Food At Me… But For Good Reason Or Not, Nobody Hurts A Friend Of Mine!”

Shanks

I’m loving One Piece, the live action on Netflix. I had to watch some of the original episodes too. I adore Luffy. I haven’t gotten far in any of the series, but I’m going to keep watching because I really like the characters. I like the way they all bring their own talents to the table and the way they initially push back against Luffy’s seemingly naive positivity. It’s fun! Luffy is a great leader who reminds us to lighten up when facing uncertainty and stand up for the innocent. It’s a worthy watch.

If your superpower was being rubber, how would you use that to your advantage?

If I was rubber, I’m not exactly sure who I’d become but I do know I want to be the person that reminds people there’s good in the world.

Respect

One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.

Bryant H. McGill

I’m not always the best listener. My brain often leaves conversations without my permission. I get lost in thought or lost in a memory triggered by something said, or even just lost trying to process the first sentence of what they said. I do my best to listen, and even more so, I do my best to show with my actions that I listened. Whether by body language or by saying something in response that confirms I heard them. I’m definitely better at this in public. At home, I just want to not. The problem is that’s the most important place to listen! I love my family’s stories so much. I always want them to repeat, repeat, repeat! But I want to work harder on listening to their stories the first time. I want to be a part of their life. I want to know what’s going on. I’m interested in knowing and feeling all their pains and joys. I don’t ever want them to feel like they are alone.

Maybe starting today, I can write down something each of them told me about their day and put it in a journal everyday until January… Just might work

Bike Rides

Went on another bike ride and let me tell you, these bike rides make me feel so good. I get to spend quality time with my family, plus I get my heartrate up and get moving! I really love fitness, but finding a way to do it that fits my lifestyle was the challenge. This fits well for us.

I look forward to those fall bike rides.

Just Be

Today while I was walking, my main focus was to just be. With momming and schooling and working, letting myself and my thoughts just be and flow where ever they go, felt really nice. I like being outside because I don’t feel the urge to use social media out there. Just pulled my phone out to snap the vibes. I even thought about meditating but I decided to wait. It was buggy outside anyway.

Have you taken time to just let yourself be lately? How does that look for you?

Kindness

The best portion of a good man’s life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love.

William Wordsworth

Kindness will never go out of style. Consistent kindness is like water gentle but moves mountains.

I’ve been reading about the Romantic period and Wordsworth was kind of a big deal during this period. I’m glad I found this quote by him. I can’t wait to learn more!

You Are You!

Today you are you!
That is truer than true!
There is no one alive who is you-er than you!

Dr. Seuss

I had the honor of joining a writing group with all veterans today. It’s always fascinating to hear their stories. What intrigues me in every writing group, including today’s, is how different our stories are. We get to witness such a variety of unique perspectives. The stories we choose to share provide hints about our true selves. When we are consistent with our writing and sharing, we uncover and reveal our innermost selves.

Quenched

Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures.

John F. Kennedy

Wow, this is one of the most beautiful quotes I’ve shared all year. “Gradually changing opinions”— something about that line gives me butterflies. My opinions have evolved, but mostly because as a young lady, I spoke on things I didn’t quite understand fully.

Even the next line makes me feel good. “Slowly eroding old barriers.” Who wouldn’t want that? Liberation from the walls you’ve built. We initially build them to keep people out, but we don’t always realize that building walls keeps us in.

This last line speaks directly to the creative in me, “Quietly building new structures.” You know that sound you make after you drink a fresh cup of your favorite drink on a hot day? Well, that’s the feeling this quote gives me.