Happy Friday!

(Choose to look closer this weekend!)

xo

A fond farewell . . . .

One week ago today, television producer Sherwood Schwartz died in Los Angeles. He was 94 and best known for creating Gilligan's Island and The Brady Bunch. He wrote the theme songs to both programs.  Following his death, a farewell letter titled "A Conversation at the Gates" was given to The Hollywood Reporter from the late writer's family. Mr. Schwartz had asked that they  publish this letter upon his death.

A Conversation at the Gates

One day in the not too distant future, I will find myself standing in front of the Pearly Gates.

I knock.

A pleasant voice calls out, "Who's there?"

"Sherwood Schwartz," I answer.

"One moment," says the Voice. "I have lots of Schwartzes on my list."

"Did you say Sherwood?"

"Yes, Sherwood Schwartz. I was born November 14, 1916. My parents were Rose and Herman Schwartz."

"Yes, yes, I have it right here. Your parents loved you very much."

"I loved them very much as well. I lived with them until I got married."

"To Mildred, according to my records," says the Voice.

"Yes. I never believed in love at first sight until I met Mildred. I always thought 'love at first sight' was just poetic babble."

"That's what they all say until it happens to them."

"I loved Mildred with all my heart for over sixty-nine years. I'm sure she loved me as much as I loved her."

"She did," says the Voice. "And you had four children, Donald, Lloyd, Ross and Hope."

"Four wonderful children," I couldn't help adding.

"All of them quite different, but all of them talented, and hard-working. I'm pleased I was able to watch each of them reach certain goals."

"You sound very proud of them," says the Voice.

"Mildred and I were always very proud. We took good care of them when they were young, and they took good care of us when we got old."

"I see they each have two children; Donald, two girls, Lloyd two boys, Ross two girls, and Hope two girls."

"All of them talented and industrious, like their parents," I say.

"All well-educated in different professions: Medicine, Law, and Entertainment."

"I see you also have four great grandchildren. Two great granddaughters, and two great grandsons."

I say, "You keep very good records."

"I have to," says the Voice. "People keep coming and going all the time. You've been pretty busy yourself. After college you started writing and you never stopped."

"That's because writing isn't a profession; it's a disease. And it's accompanied by a disease that's even worse.....re-writing."

"I know all about that," says the Voice. "You're not the first writer to knock on my gate. But at least you were successful. Many writers are not."

"That's true. I've been well-rewarded with plenty of money for me, for my family, and for my many charities."

"A good life I would say," says the Voice, "with plenty of awards and honors."

"And plenty of hard knocks from critics," I reply.

"That comes with the territory," says the Voice, "but you've had lots of compensation. Not just money; thousands of fan letters you've received from people all over the world, thanking you for entertaining them with words that brought them a smile or a laugh, sometimes when they needed it the most."

Then the Voice continues apologetically, "I didn't mean to keep you waiting outside the gate. Go ahead: Ask. Ask what they all want to know when they knock at my gate: Am I going to Heaven or not?"

"That's what I was going to ask when I got here," I say, "then I suddenly realized something when we talked, Heaven is where I've been since the day I was born."

A fond farewell,

Photo via The Hollywood Reporter

. . . . and have you told them today?

"Sometimes people are beautiful.

Not in looks.

Not in what they say.

Just in what they are."

-Markus Zusak

If we sat down to think about the precious little things in life--those that make our lives more vibrant, connected and inspired--we would find genuine, heartfelt moments that shape our lives and make us who we are. Little things like a job well done, someone being there for you, an honest compliment, taking time to play, and being a good person. The little things really are the cornerstone of a full life.

We can't take the little things for granted. They have built companies, friendships and just about everything of value. No act of generosity, kindness or service is ever wasted, no matter how small. Everything matters. Everything we do helps or hurts, adds up or takes away. We need to count on each other for the little things that make life so big. In the end, it is not the days or the years that we remember, but the moments.

From the book the little things

by Kobi Yamada


Photo by James Christie Photography

Sensory Deprivation . . . .

I want to go dancing and wear a dress that swirls and floats around me, and laugh. I want to feel the shimmer of silk as it glides over my arms and down my body, the joy of fingering its whispery softness. I want to sleep in my own bed and luxuriate in the cool crispness of clean sheets, and rest my head on my own pillow. And go to sleep when I want to, with all the lights out, and wake up when I'm ready. I want to stretch out on my couch under my blue-plaid afghan and listen as my favorite music seeps from the speakers and into my being, watering the parched landscape of my soul. I want to sit on my porch and sip hot coffee from my stoneware mug, and read the newspaper, and hear the dog bark at blowing leaves and trespassing squirrels. I want to answer the phone and call my friends and family and talk until we catch up on all the words we've saved for each other, and laugh. I want to hear the train hoot through Loveland, the gravel crunch in the driveway, and car doors slam as friends come to visit. And the tinkle and clink of silverware on china, the hiss and gurgle of the coffee maker. I want to feel my bare feet on the cool whiteness of my kitchen floor, and the soft blueness of my bedroom carpet. I want to see the colors, all of them, every color ever spun into existence. And white, true white, pristine and unblemished. And acres of green trees, and miles of yellow-ribbon highways, and yards of Christmas lights. And the moon. I want to smell bacon sizzling, a steak broiling, Thanksgiving dinner and my father's tomato vines. And fresh laundry. And the ocean. But more than all of this, I want to stand in the doorway of my son's room and watch him sleep. And hear him get up in the morning and see him come home at night. And touch his face and comb my fingers through his hair, and ride in his truck and eat his grilled cheese sandwiches. And watch him grow and laugh and play and eat and drive and live. Mostly, mostly, live. And put my arms around him and hold him until he laughs and says, "Mom, that's enough!" And then be free to do it again.                    

-Deborah E. Hill

The above article was written by a woman in prison. Can you imagine having all the beauty of what life has to offer taken away? 

Don't take life, 
and all it has to offer
 for granted.

From the book Highlighted in Yellow

by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

and

Rochelle Pennington


Photo via Google Images

Enjoy what you've earned . . . .

A lot of time I wasted

wishing I could be

the opposite of everything

my mirror showed to me.

But then one day I realized

the only thing to do

was try to be a better me

and not another you.

Life is a "package deal." If today you were a bit wealthier, skinnier, smarter, or cuter than you already are, there might have been prices to pay in other areas of your life. Maybe you wouldn't be as insightful, spiritual, or compassionate as you are today. Or maybe you wouldn't laugh as much, help as much, or roll exactly the way you do now.

Get the picture? The events and circumstances, challenges and accomplishments that have shaped your life, that have left you wanting more of this and less of that, have also honed your finer senses and polished your character as nothing else could have. You are the package! Enjoy what you've earned. Bask in your radiance. And understand that your differences from others are also your advantages. It's what you're made of! But realize they helped form the magnificence that you are today. 

From the book Choose Them Wisely

by Mike Dooley

Photo via Getty Images

Thank you so much to the staff over at Fab Over Fifty for naming me as one of their (FAB FAVES) favorite blogs. I am truly flattered! How nice is that?

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words,

but to live by them."

-John F. Kennedy

Perception. . . .

The place: Washington DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007.

The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:

The violinist received his first dollar; the woman threw the money in the hat and without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes later:

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes: A 3-year-old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:

The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money, but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100. This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.

The questions raised: In a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made, how many other things are we missing?

Would you recognize beauty incognito?

Virtuoso & Grammy Winner - Joshua Bell

Images via Google Images

Have I told you? . . . .

you Do!

...... I'm just sayin'!

Tell someone . . . .

We all want and need praise, recognition, and acceptance. Actually, we can never get enough of it! We all have a psychological need to be respected and appreciated. We need affection to satisfy the need to belong. We want praise so we can feel admired, and we want recognition to satisfy our need for personal worth. We should make it a habit to give genuine praise to someone every day. I believe we should tell people how we feel about them while they are alive! . . . not wait until they have died, and then have to deliver a beautiful eulogy. Why wait? A compliment truly is a gift, and offering one with sincerity will always be a welcome boost to someone's day. The right words at the right time can motivate, comfort, validate & inspire. Let someone know how much you appreciate them!

Have I told you today how awesome you are?

Focus on the good . . . .

To change our lives, at some point we have to decide that, rather than suffer anymore, we are going to live in happiness. And the only way we can do that is to make the decision to look for things to appreciate, no matter what. As we begin to focus on the good and the brighter side of things, the law of attraction responds by sending back to us the exact photocopy of our new thoughts. And good things begin to appear. And then more good things, and then more . . . . . . .

The Secret Daily Teachings

-Rhonda Byrne