Fun Friday – A Field Trip – 3 Lessons Learned

 

Do you remember going on field trips in elementary school, and the teacher assigned partners? I was on a field trip of sorts recently, and it wasn’t until I saw a social media post, that I realized, I should have been assigned a partner.

It was a last-minute decision when I hopped in my car to join my colleague as she accompanied a group trip to the zoo. I was in the area the same day as their visit, and it was a great day for a short drive. The wind was silent, the brilliant sun made me drowsy, but the upbeat sounds from the car radio kept me alert.

Once I arrived at the zoo, I followed the steady flow of families through the gates and off to the exhibits. I texted my colleague and met up with her and see how things were going.

“Everybody is off visiting different exhibits. We’ve already eaten and rode the Tram,” she said.

“Oh yeah, I always like to ride the train.”

My colleague pointed me in the direction of the ride an off I went. There were a few families in line for the ride. The sign above the ticket booth read, Train Rides $3.00. The friendly cashier said, “One ticket?” with a question in her tone.

The train pulled into the make-believe station and blared its’ horn, incoming passengers disembarked, and those of us waiting, boarded. The red train had short seats, and no covering as I remembered the zoo train rides. The seats were large enough to hold two kids comfortable or one adult. I slid in anyway, ready for the ride.

As we pulled away from the station, the kids seated in front of me waived to people on the sidelines as we passed them. I joined in, smiling, and waiving too. It was a jiggly ride through a forest, a couple of tunnels, and over a bridge.

The train ride ended, I explored a few more exhibits, then headed home. Later that evening I saw photos that my colleague posted on social media. She had pictures of some of the adults on the trip, riding the Tram. Then it dawned on me why my train ride seemed different. I didn’t make it to the Tram, I was on the train. The kiddie train, where I was the only adult riding without a child.

The Tram (Train) I was supposed to ride

That visit to the zoo was one field trip where I could have used a partner; someone to make sure I arrived at the correct destination. Here are 3 Lessons learned from the zoo trip:

1.      Read – read closely, read for details. I was supposed to look for the Tram ride, not the Train. I thought it was the same thing.

2.     Ask questions – if I had asked questions, I would have known the Tram and Train were two different rides.

3.     Observe your surroundings – perhaps if I had looked around, I would have noticed that there were not any people my age riding alone.

The next time you venture out on a trip, take a friend. If they can’t keep you focused, at least you can share a laugh.

 

 

Wordless Wednesday - The joy of music - A violinist play old school hits

There is joy in listening to music. Check ot a style or genere of music that you don't always listen to, just for the fun of it. Today, take a listen to this violinist.

YouTube Video Credit:  Daniel D.

Motivational Monday – Create and celebrate your success – 3 Tips to get you started

 

Success is...a road trip to perform comedy.

What is the story behind your glory? We all have something to shout about, give praise, or simply say thank you. When seeds are planted, your harvest eventually grows. Celebrate the stage you’re in right now.

There is a gospel song where the lyrics say, “I’ve had some good days, and I’ve had some hills to climb, but all of my good days outweigh my bad days…” Even though some days seem like a challenge, keep pressing forward, and let your good days outweigh your bad days.

Create your success now - Here are 3 Tips:

1.      Determine what success means to you – does it mean starting a project you’ve always wanted to do? Does it mean focusing on your health and wellness? Maybe success is getting your child into a college. You decide.

2.      Visualize your goals – what does success look like to you? Create a vision board with pictures of what you want to achieve.

3.      Get rid of limiting beliefs – no more saying, “I don’t have the skills for that job,” or “I could never do that.” Instead of saying those phrases try saying, “I am, I can, I will” and add whatever you want behind those statements.

Celebrate each step along your path to success.

Here are three quotes of encouragement:

1.      “All dream can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.”    -Walt Disney

2.      “The whole secret of a successful life is to find what is one’s destiny to do, and then do it.” -   Henry Ford 

3.      “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”    -Arthur Ashe

 

Wellness Wednesday - Fall into a healthy routine - 3 affirmations to shift your thinking

When was the last time you took a relaxed stroll through a park, your neighborhood, or simply added a few extra steps to your day? Did you say yesterday? You are well on your way to a healthier, happier you.

A walk through my neighborhood was both invigorating and peaceful. I slowed my pace long enough to soak up the scenes of fall - colorful leaves scattered the ground and Halloween decorations graced front lawns. The scenes remeinded me of positive affirmations that also stir joy and peace.

Declare what you want to be true in your life, through affirmations. You can use positive affirmations for all aspects of life - improved self-confidence, weight loss, finances, and relationships, to name a few.

Below are three affirmations to start you on your way:

-"I claim my desires. I hold great visions. I am ready to receive.

-"I am attracting great succes and prosperity."

-"My body is heaalthy and strong."

Check out more positive affirmations here.

Fall into a healthy routine by shifting your thinking and including positive affirmations into your life.

Motivational Monday - World Menopause Day – 4 Ways to stress less and enjoy life more

 

World menopause Day is celebrated, October 18^th, press “pause” on everything else and celebrate you. You are uniquely and wonderfully made. The transition to menopause can be frustrating and stressful, but you can make this a stage of discovery. Invest in yourself.

No more permission slips to sign, no more calls of, “I forgot my lunch,” and no more parent conferences. There may still be days that include meditation, medication, and exasperation.

How will you embrace and celebrate aging gracefully? Do things that help you to relax. Here are 4 Ways to stress less and enjoy life more:

1.      Host a tea party – call a few friends, serve finger sandwiches, soup, and something sweet. Celebrate friendships, play games, and laugh a lot.

2.      Plan a Getaway – perhaps it’s a day trip, or a weekend excursion, do something that will leave you feeling refreshed.

3.      Pamper yourself – give yourself a makeover, not because you’re hung up on looks, but because it makes you feel good. A facial refreshes your skin, a massage eases tension, and a different hair style can give you a fun look. Take a few fun photos or selfies.

4.      Engage in laugher – find ways to incorporate humor into your day. Do you enjoy watching romantic comedies, attending comedy shows, or reading books that include humor?

Although World Menopause Day is celebrated on October 18^th, it’s just the beginning of embracing aging gracefully. Place a few things on “pause”  and make time for self-care activities that will leave you feeling refreshed.

Do you enjoy reading fun essays with a flair of humor? Grab a copy of my book Menopause Ain't No Joke here.

Wacky Wednesday - National Popcorn Poppin' Month - 5 Fun Facts and 20 Flavored Popcorn Recipes

Photo Credit: parentviews

National Popcorn Poppin' Month is celebrated in October. How many facts do you know about popcorn? Here are 5 Fun Facts to add to your popcorn knowledge:

1.  Americans eat around 17 billion quarts of popcorn every yeawr. This amount would fill the Empire State Building 18 times.

2.  Popcorn kernels can pop up to 3 feet in the air.

3.  The first commercial popcorn machine was invented in 1885.

4.  Popcorn was temporarily banned in movies in 1949 because of how noisy it is.

5.  Each kernel of popcorn contains 4% water. It is water that actually makes the popcorn pop as it heats up and causes enough pressure inside the kernel to burst the popcorn open.

Facts were obtained from whatthepopcorn.com.

If you are a popcorn connaisseur and like flavored popcorn, let your palate experience one of these popcorn recipes.

What fun facts or popcorn recipes would you add tot he list above?

Motivational Monday – Positive Attitude Month – 5 Tips for a Positive Attitude

 

Come alnong, see what 'm sharing on today's blog post

You get what you expect. Expect greatness. Expect your dreams to come true. Expect a breakthrough. The month of October is observed as Positive Attitude Month, find something positive about every day, and it will develop into a habit.

Author Frank Sonnenberg says, “If you believe today’s going to be awesome, you’re going to be happier and more productive than if you fear problems lurking around every corner.” This does not mean that you have to be an over the top, happy-go-lucky person if that is not your personality. What is does mean is to view your potentially stressful situations differently.

I’m sure you can think of a ton of situations that could cause stress. How about parenting, growing old(er), and weight gain, to name a few. The way I view these things is with humor. Here are the opening lines to one of my comedy sets:

I’ve been engaging in extreme sports for 25 years…they’re called parenting and weight gain. Some people gained weight during COVID. I gained before, during, and after. I like to see things through to completion. COVID’s not over yet.

 

At the end of the day, I’m sill 10 pounds overweight (from where I was pre-COVID), and my sons periodically test my patience, but I use humor to get through the stress. You can too, armed with a positive attitude.

Here are 5 Tips that will help you to have a positive attitude:

1.      Start the day in a way that makes you feel relaxed – Whether you have five minutes or 15 minutes, use the time you have, to set the tone for your day. This can be accomplished through meditation, reading a devotional, or something else of your choosing.

2.      Express gratitude – rather than focus on things that drive you crazy or that you have no control over, find three things to be grateful for. It can be little things. I bet something just popped in your head, say it now out loud – I am grateful for…

3.      Hang out with positive people – this one is self-explanatory. If you don’t think you can find anyone positive to hang out with, at the very least run from negative energy. If someone is being negative and bringing you down, find a way to escape the conversation, flea the area.

4.      Exercise – the experts say that exercise is a natural feel-good drug because of the positive chemicals it releases into the bloodstream.

5.      Recharge  - doing the same routine day in and day out can become mundane, and your motivation and positivity begin to wane. Recharge by taking a vacation, staycation, or some fun activity that takes you away from your routine.

I challenge you for the next 30 days, to practice having a positive attitude. I know this will take you past the month of October, but do it anyway, and check in to let me and other readers know your results.

Remember, you get what you expect. Expect greatness.

Fun Friday – World Smile Day – 3 Ways to Celebrate

 

World Smile Day is celebrated on October 1^st and became an official Holiday in 1999. People are encouraged to use this day to smile and “make small acts of kindness worldwide (nationaltoday.com).”

This is the perfect day to share your smile and encourage others around you to do the same. A daily dose of cheer never hurt anyone.

Here are 3 ways to celebrate World Smile Day:

1.      Create a fun video or TikTok.

2.      Post a picture on social media of you smiling and tell one thing that makes you smile.

3.      Commit a random act of kindness

What would you add to the list of ways to celebrate World Smile Day?

Here are a few fun smiles:

Wishing you a day filled with smiles and joy.

H