Wordless Wednesday - April is National Jazz Month

 

YouTube Video Credit: Black History in Two Minutes or so

John E, Lawrence Masterpiece

Contemporary Jazz

Kenny G - The Moment (Official Video)

YouTube Video Credit: Kenny G

70 Minutes of Gospel Jazz Music - Saxaphone

YouTube Video Credit: No Stress Life

Muffins with Mom – When the student becomes the teacher

A teachable moment

 

I stood behind them in quiet observation. My son  leaned over near his vehicle’s tire,  explaining to his dad, how he realized the tire needed attention. Their voices were muffled, but the gestures and body movements played like a silent movie as I looked on.

Have you ever wondered whether you child has listened to the lessons you tried to teach them? As my children grew through the stages of learning and developing, there were times when they made me question my sanity (that’s when I leaned on faith). Today when I watch them silently, and listen to the things they say, I know they have learned many lessons.

If I’m being completely honest, there are many times I learn lessons from my sons. There are days when I’m excited to learn something new, then there are days when I fight change. For instance, I don’t like upgrading my cell phone. My son said, “A new phone has so many features that you can use for your blog and writing.”

“That’s okay, I’m just getting comfortable with the features on the phone I’ve had for two years.”

My son finally convinced me to get a new phone, one that was outside of my technology skillset. “I’ll help you get it set up,” he said. And he did.

It was the middle of the night (10pm) as he to coach me through various features of the phone. “Do you want to set up face recognition for unlocking your phone?”

“Sure, why not” I said.

“Take off your glasses and follow the directions.”

I did as my son instructed, I removed my glasses, and stared at my reflection in the phone…and screamed with my eyes. My hair bonnet was perched on my head, the collar of my warm fleece housecoat was prevalent, and there appeared to be dark circles under my eyes. I moved my head up, down, and side to side as the arrows on the phone directed me.

My son fiddled with his phone as he waited for me to complete the task he had given to me. I interrupted his focus. “Um, I don’t think this facial recognition is going to recognize me tomorrow.”

As I learn to do different things with technology, my son learns to be patient. As you age remember, you’re never too old to learn something new; And it’s okay that the student becomes the teacher.

What is one thing that you have learned recently?

Fitness Friday – There’s an app for that – What tool do you use for fitness?

 

Workout complete!

Fat, fat go away, don’t come back another day. I repeat that mantra over and over, in hopes to convince my inner thinner girl to show up. Some days are better than others in search of a consistent fitness lifestyle.

One thing that I have found to be valuable in a fitness routine is use of a fitness app. You can access a workout from almost anywhere…and that’s exactly what I did, while on vacation.

I rolled out of bed, leaving behind four plush down filled pillows, and warm blankets. The room was dark, the only audible sounds were the humming of the heater, and a creaking noise. I soon discovered that the creaking sound was from my ankles and other joints snapping into place in the early morning.

A few stretches later, I was dressed in yoga attire, shoes laced, and ready to exercise in my hotel room. I selected a 30-minute workout from my app, that didn’t require weights or other equipment. My body weight proved to be suitable for a strength workout (comparable to lifting  heavy weights).

The warm-up started, the repetitions became more intense, the trainer talked…I yelled back, as much as I could in a quiet room with strangers on the outskirts of my area. Following the trainer, I was jumping and, twisting, with added heavy breathing and grunting that he wasn’t doing.

I was praying that sleeping vacationers in rooms next to or below me didn’t hear muffled sounds, and my feet slapping the carpet and assume I needed to place the Do Not Disturb door hanger in view.

After thirty minutes, I chanted once again, Fat, fat, go away, don’t come back another day.

Find the tools that work best for you, that will keep you consistent in your self-care. Whether your tool is an app, or something entirely different…Don’t give up on yourself.

What tools do you use for fitness motivation?

 

Wordless Wednesday - Humorist are Artists Month

Humorist are Artists Month is observed in March. A famous humorist who's work I've followed is Erma Bombeck. She was an American humorist who "achieved popularity for her syndicated newspaper humor column (Wikipedia).

YouTube Video Credit: By Daly Quotes

Celebrate Humorist are Artists Month by learning about local humorists in your area and supporting their work. Post a kind note on social media about a humorist you know

Motivational Monday - World Poetry Day - 3 Ways to observe

Words are sweet music to the soul. World Poetry Day is the perfect opportunity to blend words and sounds to create a poem that dances from your lips into the atmosphere. This national holiday is celebrated on March 21^st.

If someone asked you to share one poem that motivates you, what would you share? It would be hard for me to choose just one poem. Two of my favorites are Don’t Quit, and Footsteps in the Sand. Since I’ve shared those recently, I’ll share a different source of motivation today, The Serenity Prayer.

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the SENERITY to accept the things I cannot change, The COURAGE to change the things I can, and the WISDOM to know the difference.

 

Below are two poems recited through video, that can serve as inspiration.

If - by Rudyard Kipling - Read by Miciael Caine

YouTube Video Credit: Upgrade Your Mindset

Invictus by William Henley - Read by Morgan Freeman

YouTube Credit:  Upgrade Your Mindset

Here are 3 ways you can observe World Poetry Day:

1.      Write a poem

2.      Host a poetry slam – gather a few friends, identify a theme, and read your original poems or something by your favorite poet. Set the atmosphere at home by diming the lights in a room of your home, serve light snacks and beverages of your choice, and start the show by snapping your fingers.

3.      Give a book of poetry t someone as a gift

Ideas one and two were adapted from Nationaltoday.com.

Leave a comment about how you will observe World Poetry Day.

  

Happy St. Patrick's Day

 

There is always something fun to do at a 

Parks & Recreation Conference

Have you ever written a limerick? Give it  try. Check out the "How to" video by tacher and picture book author Shannon Anderson

St. Patrick's Day Limerick Writing Lesson

Wordless Wednesday - National Reading Month

 

Children's Room - Public Library

Motivational Monday – Where do you find courage?

 

Do you have the courage to succeed? Sure you do. Where do you find your courage? Merriam Webster defines courage as, “mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear or difficulty.”

Perhaps your courage comes in the form of faith, family, or friends. Kind words and gestures can inspire courage as well as things we read and stories we hear.

A friend gave me a decorative tin box that fits in the palm of my hand. On the lid of the tin are the words,  Give it to God. The inside of the box holds the words Prayer Box. Included also is a three-inch pencil and a miniature pad of paper to write prayers or challenges you want to give to God.

The little tin box is a reminder for me to have the courage let go of things that cause worry or stress. There’s no magic to this process, but it does require faith, positive thoughts, and more faith. One of my favorite poems is Don’t Quit, here is it below.

Don't Quit
by Edgar A. Guest

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit -
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns.
As everyone of us sometimes learns.
And many a fellow turns about when he
Might have won had he stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow -
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than it seems
To a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up when he
Might have captured the victor's cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out -
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And when you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things seem worst,
You must not quit.

 

Where do you find courage?

Fun Friday - Women's History Month - Women in comedy

The month of March is celebrated as Women's History Month. Have fun and laugh out loud with women in comedy. Below are a couple of shows to check out.

YouTube Video Credit: 7 Kids Is a Nightmare - Chelle T - DryBar Comedy

YouTube Video Credit - Clean Eating Doesn't Mean What You Think It means - Lisa Mills

Dry Bar Comedy

Words of Wisdom - Hungry for Humor in Your Writing? Feed Your Muse

 

                                                   Photo Credit: Ypsilanti District Library

Do you enjoy humor? Would you like to incorporate more of it into your writing? You don’t need to be a comedian to write “funny.” 

YpsiWrites and the Ypsilanti District Library are hosting a writer's workshop titled Hungry for Humor? Feed Your Muse. In the workshop, you’ll learn tips for sprinkling humor throughout your writing. The session will include writing prompts and exercises. You'll leave with a recipe that will feed the humorous side of your muse!

I am humbled to announce that I will be leading the workshop. The workshop is free, but you must register to receive the link.

Motivational Monday – Laughter Wellness

 

Photo Credit: westmont.org

“Laughter can improve your mood.” I’ve seen this statement many times and I believe it. I came across an article recently that talked about Laughter Wellness. An invisible thought bubble popped above my head that said, “now that’s something I’d like to hear more about.”

The concept of Laughter Wellness is to spark laughter and positive energies while improving peoples’ health and quality of life. If you want to learn more about this, check out the article, A New Vision of Wellness. In the meantime, practice using your smile muscles.

We can surely find a reason to smile every day. If nothing jumps out at you that causes you to smile, create an opportunity. Here’s a story for you…

My son washed his clothes the other day, which is not a new concept for him. Afterall, he is a responsible young adult. However, when I opened the door to our compact laundry room, it looked like the aftermath of fireworks display or a kaleidoscope that popped open. I said, “buddy, did you pull your clothes from the dryer and toss them in the air?”

This laundry episode reminded me of a picture book titled, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. My spoof of this title would be, Don’t Let Your Son Do the Laundry. Better yet it could be a spin-off of the picture book, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. You may be familiar with this book. The mouse was given a cookie, then he wanted milk to go with it. When he received the milk, he wanted something else.

In my story the main character would be a lion named Larry and the book would be titled – If you give Larry Laundry. Larry is a lion who roars about everything. He roars about cleaning his room, her roars about making his bed, but most of all he roars about doing laundry. What happens if you give Larry laundry to wash?

If you give Larry laundry to wash…he’ll want to use all of the laundry detergent.

Once he uses all of the laundry detergent…the washing machine will overflow, and he’ll need to use all of the clean towels to soak up the water and suds.

Guess what? I just made up this scenario as I’m typing this blog post. It is not well thought out, but it brought a smile to  my face, and could turn into a fun story for a child.

What does all this have to do with laughter wellness? It’s about finding something that makes you smile and lightens your mood.

How will you use laughter today to lighten your mood, and set off positive energies?

Wednesday Wisdom – World Book Day – 10 Ways to celebrate

 

Do you need a reason to immerse yourself in a good book? Well, World Book Day is celebrated on March 3^rd. The purpose of World Book Day is to ensure that every child has a book of their own. You can be a part of the initiative by donating a book to a child and encouraging your friends to do the same.

If yo9u love books as much as a child does, here are more ways to celebrate:

1.      Read a book

2.      Share a book

3.      Listen to a book in your car during a long commute

4.      Buy a book for a friend

5.      Visit the library and check out a book by your favorite author

6.      Write a book ( or at least begin the process)

7.      Participate in a book discussion group

8.      Watch a movie where one of the characters is an author (there are several on the Hallmark Channel

9.      Donate to a cause that supports literacy

10.  Support an author by giving them a book review

There are a gazillion other ways to celebrate World Book Day, but most of all encourage a child to read. Give them the gift of a book, it could open a whole new world of exploration and creativity.

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

Because it’s World Book Day, I want to offer something to you! Purchase a copy of one of my books today, Menopause Ain’t No Joke or Laughter H.E.L.P.S and you’ll be entered in a drawing for an Amazon gift card. Your purchase must be made by midnight (EST) on March 3^rd.

Happy Reading!