Tomorrow’s Mysteries and Our Dance of Life

July 25, 2017 / Penny L Howe / 1 Comment

♡

In a poetic manner one might say we dance our way through life, in spite of our concern for tomorrow’s unknown and the burden of those heavy laden pieces of our yesterdays creating missteps within the flow our momentum.

Yet our momentum will still carry us forward. It cannot be halted. It is the unknown that continues to propels us – the hidden mystery of our purpose. Truly. It is this same mystery that inspires. The creative/imaginative power inside our heart and soul incessantly resisting negative tides, overcoming, moving beyond a myriad of unanticipated obstacles in our way – along our way.

Never doubt your individual power and ability to overcome and move onward. It’s always there, just waiting for you to activate. Know that your unique dance of life is singular in it’s purpose, stronger than you can imagine, blending as need be with others revealing diverse and exciting discoveries which lay at the universal heart of life’s mysteries.

“Sing me to the moon

then love me far beyond,

all of this and more

Life’s universal song.” ~Plh

♡

“Believe in yourself, your individual self worth, understand that your uniqueness is the special gift of life. You are far more than you can imagine, making your worth priceless.”

♡

Thank you for being you, thank you for stopping by,

I wish you well,

~ Penny

The Magical Wonderful You That You Are!

September 20, 2016 / Penny L Howe / 4 Comments

Have you ever thought of yourself as magical? Go ahead, take a few minutes to do so. You don’t know how? That’s okay, no worries. I’ll show you. Right now take a little time and consider the possibilities, potentials and maybe’s in your life. Or go all out here, in the now of things, and dream. Dream big dreams. Use your imagination. It’s there for a purpose. Just imagine what might be.

I’m perfectly serious because I know locked inside each of us is the desire to make a difference for personal self fulfillment. We may not know exactly how to make this happen but we all feel this way.

You see, here’s the thing: As it turns out imagination is the first step in making something seemingly unbelievable (to you) or impossible happen. Yes, it is true. First something will occur within your immediate environment and/or you come up with this original idea or desire about doing something and before you know it you’re dreaming about the maybe of things. Of course, you’ve only to read about the myriad of people who went on to become famous by first thinking a thought or idea and then imagining what it could do or what they could be if they pursued it. Which they did, because they became motivated to do so.

“So if dreamer’s dream and doer’s do

There’s nothing to stop the magic of you.” ~Plh

But why do I refer to your capabilities as magical? Well, it’s because in the normal course of things most of us spend too much time quantifying our limitations. Determining what we can’t do and internally listing all those reasons why. And then we go further and sometimes hard wire our belief in self (or lack thereof) to our psychi – the center of thought, feeling and motivation – at which point we find ourselves in a perpetual state of uncertainty. Our motivation is frozen from self induced doubt.

Meanwhile, if we think in terms of magic or the mystical power of influencing the course of events by some unknown method, and believe it to be so, why then, the magic existing inside of you (an untapped power of capability) can and will bypass the negativity you’ve amassed. And just so you know, you have unlimited resources when it comes to dreaming, imagining and then cleverly figuring out a way to make your dreams come true. And … when all is said and done I, for one, consider that pretty amazingly magical.

Have you used your magic capabilities today? Make it so. Dismiss the doubts. After all, the wonderful you that you are – is magical.

Hope you’re having a great week, thanks for stopping by and remember – always take care of you.

With sincere affection,

~ Penny

The Little Child Inside Of Me

August 12, 2016 / Penny L Howe / 13 Comments

The little child inside me believes in fairies and dragons

and all manner of wondrous things that fly through the sky.

The little child inside me believes I am as brave as a warrior

and can stand up to the mightiest beast and win.

The little child inside me believes that all my tomorrows

will be filled with goodness and happiness.

The little child inside me smiles most frequently

And loves most deeply!

The little child inside me believes that all the people she meets

will be enchanted with love in their hearts.

The little child inside me believes rainbows are the true colors of our being –

radiant with all shades for all people and living things.

The little child inside me believes in magic.

The grown-up me occasionally thinks about magic, fairies and dragons

but forgets how real they can be, consigning them to an imaginary place.

The grown-up me wants to keep believing and being brave,

but has found life sometimes so scary she forgets how to be brave.

The grown-up me worries about tomorrow

and forgets to remember it can be filled with happiness.

The grown-up me has met many people

and sometimes forgets to remind herself that there is love in their hearts too.

The grown-up me still sees rainbows and stars shining in the skies above, but lately sometimes doesn’t see that all the colors are still beautiful and all the stars still shine as brightly as ever.

The little child inside of me reminds the grown-up me of what she believes in her heart.

The grown-up me hopes she will not forget and will continue to believe

… in the little child inside me.

Penny L Howe, 2016

The Five Golden Orbs – My Gift to You!

December 22, 2015 / Penny L Howe / 26 Comments

“Always remember the brightest light of all shines from a loving heart. ~ Plh”

And now I present to you a short inspirational holiday story I wrote several years ago and happily share with you. It can be read to children as it reminds us of the importance of giving. Please enjoy:

five glowing orbs

The Five Golden Orbs

The children found them hidden inside the bushes in the back yard just as the sun was setting. They noticed the glow of lights coming from within the small holly bush. Mystified, they walked slowly up to the shining bush and peered in through the holly leaves.

Five shining orbs of gold lay nestled, hidden in the crooks of the branches inside the bush.

“What are they?” The girl child asked.

“I don’t know!” The boy child answered.

They were curious and the glow coming from the shiny orbs was not scary. The emitting light was golden and soft.

one golden orb The boy reached in and grabbed one of the orbs. It was warm to the touch. But not too warm, just pleasantly so. The girl seeing that the orb rested comfortably in the boy’s hand reached in and grabbed another orb. She held it close and stared at the swirling light shining from within.

“They are pretty, aren’t they?” She said.

“Yes, yes they are.” He replied. “Lets take the rest of them and go inside.” He didn’t wait for her answer, just reached inside the bush and pulled out two more. “You get the last one, but come on let’s hurry before anyone sees them.”

She followed his directions, first grabbing the last golden orb in her free hand and then hurrying after him orbs on floor as he ran into the house, carefully cradling the glowing orbs in his arms.

They walked through the hallway into the tiny living room and laid the golden balls on the wooden floor. The orbs were shining even brighter than before.

To the small boy and girl, sitting on the floor of the poorly lit living room, this glorious glow was a thrilling one. Their father was working late again but they knew he’d be home soon and would expect his meal laid out for him. The Christmas tree they had convinced him to bring home the day before stood dark and lonely in one corner of the room, on the other side was the table where they had laid out his bowl, cup and spoon. His soup was in the cooking pot waiting to be served.

The children looked from the orbs to the tree and got the same idea at the same time. Excitedly they the golden Christmas tree grabbed up the glowing orbs and placed them in different places throughout the tree. Each ball settled into it’s spot as if it belonged there. When they were done, they stood back and looked at the Christmas tree. It was now lit up with a golden glow that cast away the shadows in the room and illuminated everything, making them feel like they were rich and not so very poor.

They stood there viewing the beautiful lit up tree and then the girl had a sudden thought. With a worried look on her face she turned to her brother and said, “What about Hanna?”

“What about her?” He answered.

“Well, it’s just that her cottage is so very dark, if we took one of these shiny orbs to her, she could place it somewhere in her room and be able to see better at night!”

“That’s true,” He said. “And you know that Bertha and Henry’s cottages, a little further away, have the same orbs on the floor problem with not having much light in their homes.” And as the children talked they thought of two more neighbors who they could share the shiny light of their orbs with.

Hurrying quickly they removed the five orbs out of their Christmas tree and carried them down the lane to each of their needy neighbors who, with great pleasure and astonishment, accepted the gift of a brightly lit orb.

The children raced back to the house feeling good inside as they thought of the pleasure they had brought to their friends and neighbors.

They were silent and a little disappointed as they walked inside their hut, realizing they wouldn’t have a brightly lit tree to show their father. Still they did feel good about the gifts they had given. As they walked into the living area of their hut they stopped suddenly staring at the sight in front of them. Where they had expected a darkened tree was a magnificently glowing Christmas tree shining from top to bottom with a most wonderful golden radiance.

“But how can this be?” The little girl asked with wonder. “We gave the orbs away!”

The little boy shook his head, gazing in amazement at the beautiful sight in front of him. They both heard the front door open and their weary dad trudge into the house. Looking once more at their shiny golden tree, they then ran to greet their father and share this wonderful gift with him.

The tree shone brightly, the light following in the footsteps of two little children who, without realizing, had given and received the most perfect gift of all.

Merry Christmas

“When you give with love in your heart ~ your gift will return to you!” ~ Penny L Howe

Happy holidays to all,

Penny

Courage ~ Never be just a reflection!

May 31, 2015May 31, 2015 / Penny L Howe / 18 Comments

“Never be just a reflection, be the one from which the reflection shines” ~ Plh

Do you think you’re brave? Most of us don’t think we are and yet courage is the type of feeling that induces a strength and power within us to emerge. A bravery we didn’t know we had.

What is courage, exactly? Courage is an internal feeling that often sneaks in when you step out of your comfort zone. When you determine to overcome a fear, doubt or concern, when YOU decide to accomplish something you believe to be important or necessary.

There are no dimensions to courage. You can be courageous doing a small thing or a big thing.

What matters is that you occasionally release and exercise your courage muscle. Because – proportionally speaking – the more you encourage yourself in an endeavor, the more secure you’ll feel about yourself, emerging not as a reflection – but the real deal. The real you.

Have a great week ahead, thanks for stopping by … and remember, always take care of you!

With affection,
Penny

“New” and what it does for you!

January 10, 2015 / Penny L Howe / 14 Comments

Nothing new under the sun or

… is there?

When you’re a child everything is new. Everything. And sparkling eyes look out at the world with wonder. It’s a new place filled with mystery and adventure and magic. Especially magic. All new and wonderful!

And then we grow up and life gets more serious; for some, sooner than for others, wonderment begins to fade until it does seem like there’s nothing new under the sun. But this isn’t true, not really.

Each day you awaken to a NEW day and a new you. And each thought you have (while others may have had it also) it’s a new thought for you. In this new year, how about bringing back some of the magic and wonder into your life? Throw out cynicism and lack of faith. Begin by believing in yourself and what you can do to improve things.

It is a new year and a new day. How about this new you waiting inside? How about a new attitude ~ One filled with gratitude, joy, laughter, lots of love and lots and lots of creativity and magic (those two go together)! Come on, you can do it.

Lets make it happen,

~ Penny

Never Stop Wishing Upon a Star

October 17, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 11 Comments

As a child my favorite song was from the Walt Disney Movie, Pinocchio. The song is “When You Wish Upon A Star” sung by Jiminy Cricket.

When I first heard the words I just knew wishes could come true.

I still do.

~ Enjoy your weekend and may your dreams all come true.

Penny

Do you believe in the mystery in life?

September 14, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 13 Comments

Life Force

What does life mean to you …

… and are you a reflection of how you view life?

I’m not referring to the quality of your life or how your feel on any particular day but your overall understanding of what you think and feel of as “Life”!

The word “Life” – as defined using the following words and meanings from Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

The quality that distinguishes a vital and functional being from something not living.
The sequence of physical and mental experiences that make up the existence of an individual.
The period from birth to death.
A specific phase of earthly existence.
A way of living.
A vital or living being (life form).
A period of existence.
(And my own thought – Something More that we don’t understand but know to exist.)

Which of those reflect your own understanding? Are you a little bit of several of those meanings, or do you have your own idea of what “life” means to you?

Life to me is expansive – An unknown but very real and existing essence of a “force” existing in the Universe, the underlying glue in the Universe. Therefore all are imbibed with this “something” that is currently beyond our understanding or rationale. Everything connected to everything else. Always without exception.

I think that perhaps when we define and reflect who we are based solely on life experiences we can forget that sometimes we are more than the sum of all the parts we know of. That, in fact, there is always the potential for … something more waiting to happen to us … or for us to pass on to others.

Keep your life force vital and growing,

All my love to you,

~Penny

Where Carcass Lay … Vultures Gather!

August 21, 2014August 21, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 11 Comments

Often … following failure … illumination arrives! An enlightening expanded awareness, emotionalized by the pity of self.

Yes, self pity, frequently seen to be in attendance along with illumination, uncomfortably sharing space with one’s emerging realization of having messed up, lost the game, or the prize … and one does feel quite the fool, perhaps likening onto fallen prey just prior to expiration.

Although, retrospectively, we must assume the last thing on the dying prey’s mind would be illumination, perhaps rather just a single final thought, such as ” …Oh Crap”! That might do, but generally speaking however, those thoughts and feelings are left for those of us who live on after the fall, continuing to skirt the precipice between success and failure.

I will waste only a few words in the contemplation of mundane humans, and there are many, whose walk through life is an unmitigated bore because they come and go determined to make no waves, go with the flow, be among the passive, receptive only of “group mentality” and not interested (perhaps fearful or envious) of the original idea or thought, but with no goal in mind except to blend in, which they do until …

But enough about those, although they number greatly and are oft seen among the vultures sitting in the wait, which is usually viewed as a “safe” place to be, for all except the arriving carrion.

Ah yes, the encroaching vultures, for they do encroach while waiting in the sidelines, certainly not cheering one on, unless it be towards failure. So they wait …

It would certainly be much easier to get up, dust oneself off and get on with things, if not for awareness of the waiting vultures. Their jeering and calling out with scathingly searing voices continually reminding of failures, shortcomings, errors and misfortunes. And they are never far away, are they? Their echoes repeat in memory’s shadowed losses.

And if true, where and when does “positive” illumination break through into the light to lift us up, make us whole again, prepare us to do battle, shore up the weakened places, make us stronger, more determined, if needs be, to achieve our ends. When does inspiration come? How does it come, through the darkness of known failures and ever expanding fears?

Does it peak around corners, wondering if it’s safe to come out, or does it consider alternatives and make carefully planned and strategic moves?

I think not!

“Know this, all you free thinking creative ones – INSPIRATION is born from within where there be no rationale for the negative or wrong, only the mightiest sensation and manifestation of possibilities, the very essence and nature of inspiration is such that it springs into being within a single seed of potential found at the core of our soul’s universe – needing nothing more to come forth but … THE BELIEF THAT IT CAN!”

~ Penny L Howe, 2014