Friendship … A Great Elixir for Happiness!

April 9, 2016 / Penny L Howe / 18 Comments

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“The thing about shared friendships is the absolute love that flows from within and without one’s own heart. No exceptions. It just is.” ~ Plh

*Friendship, the ties that bind us ~ one to another ~ cannot be overstated. Every single one of us needs friends. Every single one of us needs to be a friend – to as many as is feasible. At a distance or close up, it makes not a difference. A friend is a friend is a friend.

Being a true friend is caring, encouraging, making a difference – as you can – where it counts. And there is always room in our hearts for another friend, always.

“But I have no friends“, you say. Then go help someone in need. Step out of your own, self imposed but lonely, comfort zone. Help several someones, but help because you want to. Set no conditions, no requirements and you’ll discover friendship along the way.

And as friends come along, nurture these relationships. Share, care and be there! Some will become true friendships.

Know there are those who will use your friendship by taking advantage of your good will. Do not be discouraged for they do not really understand.

Help others as you can with good intent. They will be the ones who decide the direction your friendship will take.

Always remember … “a friend in need is a friend indeed” – Be there!

*Also an additional bonus: It greatly increases the potential for giving and receiving caring hugs! And today hugs are needed more than ever!

♡

I had written this post a year ago and decided to share it once again (with a few changes). Thanks for stopping by, hoping your weekend is going well for you.

With affection,
~ Penny

When All Is Said and Done

June 7, 2015 / Penny L Howe / 14 Comments

Why do you do what you do each day?

Why is it important to you? Your hopes, your dreams, your aspirations, your goals.

When all is said and done, are you happy? Have a feeling of fulfillment? Satisfied?

The thing is we don’t know what tomorrow or even the next few minutes may bring, speaking from personal experience.

So my point – It’s important to live your life fully. And its important to reach outward, extend your knowledge and experience … but regarding your goals it is equally important to reflect and determine why you have the goals you have and your expectations.

Being financially secure is definitely important, however there’s a diminishing return on personal value if earning more money for the sake of having more “things” takes over.

At the end of their life nobody wants to hug their money or their accumulated stuff. What they all want & need is human connection.

And at the end of the day, most of us want to be able to share our day’s happenings with another person(s).

Dont forget whats really important in your life. For optimum happiness – a sense of fulfillment, being needed, and worthy with a purpose in your life – relationships with people (of all ages) should be the main thing, not a side item … when all is said and done!

Thank you for stopping by, have a great week and … as always, take care of you.

With affection,
Penny

A Rose – for the heartstrings you’ve attached to my heart!

January 11, 2015 / Penny L Howe / 16 Comments

Heartstrings. We all have them. They attach themselves to more things than we realize. Affection, compassion and love develop from heartstrings and the nice thing about them is that while they are not visible to the eye, they are strong and occasionally tug on your heart to let you know they are there and firmly attached. My heartstrings for bloggers began shortly after I began blogging and have grown with the passage of time.

Since I’ve been in the blogging world (a few years) I have interacted with absolutely wonderful people. In general I’ve found most bloggers to be pretty amazing, creative and kind. I have made many friends from around the world. Friends that I cherish. A few aren’t blogging right now, involved with other life pursuits (and I miss you) and for those who are still blogging, well … you know who you are.

I feel as if we’ve known each other our entire life not just a period of time. And I feel love for you and I know it’s returned. Remarkable really when one thinks about us. Some of you live in different countries with different customs and life experiences and yet we are still drawn to one another and I so cherish our friendship.

This Rose is for you! I thank you with all my heart, for being you, for being my friend and for making my life fuller, richer and so much better for knowing you.

Thank you,

~ Penny

The Year of Caring – even more!

January 6, 2015 / Penny L Howe / 28 Comments

Okay, I’ll admit to having a rep. of always looking on the positive side of things (mostly). At least when I’m not angry about something and or very concerned. And then again I can get a day of moodiness, too. Which tends to pass rather quickly, I’m happy to say. But for the most part it’s true. I do my best to see things in a positive light and this year will be no different, if anything I’ll do my best to be even more uplifting and encouraging.

I do care about you, my friends. Those I’ve become close to, in these past few blogging years, those I’m just now meeting, and those I hope to meet soon.

My nature to care, as it is for many of us. We just simply do.

May the year 2015 become known as the “Year of Caring Even More”! At least we can try to make it so.

~ With much affection,

Penny

Thank YOU – 100,000 visitors, I thank you all!

November 11, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 27 Comments

By the time you read this. I will have reached a milestone of sorts. I’ve had one hundred thousand visits from people from around our wonderful planet. Actually stopping by to visit from 155 different countries. I’m most happy and honored to have achieved this much, and am so very grateful for your friendships. I don’t have words to properly convey this as well as I would like so I’ll just repeat, with great sincerity from my heart:

Thank You!

Penny

Throwback Thursday: A reminder of what we forget – Everyday!

October 23, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 14 Comments

This was first posted over two years ago. I find it’s still an excellent reminder of some of the most important things we forget, that we shouldn’t!

I FORGOT…

…to water the special plant that was given to me by someone I love.

But I think it’s too late now anyway.

I forgot to feed the animals this morning.

Oh that’s right I forgot to buy food for them when I was at the store

yesterday picking up the food I ran out of for the family.

I forgot to visit my grandparents yesterday,

they had called and asked me to drop by. I guess they needed

Some help with something, but it was a hectic day with

all sorts of interruptions.

I forgot to go to my child’s class rehearsal last night

darn, it was important too, he has a big role in the school play.

I forgot to wish my best friend a happy birthday today. It was a special one too.

But between work, and kids and worry about bills,

The day just got away with me.

I forgot to remember – when I woke up this morning –

to give thanks for what I increasingly take for granted, and I forgot to make a

Positive difference for anyone besides myself.

I have a to-do list but it’s gotten pretty long so I’ll make

A new one tomorrow – unless I forget!

Penny L. Howe

Our lives are so busy today, with schedules and routines and structured types of “to-do’s”, that what is frequently forgotten – is taking the time to love, to share, to care and to be there, for others.

With affection,

~ Penny

The Blessings of a Monday

October 20, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 20 Comments

For so many of us, Monday seems filled with too much to do, too many things to worry about and the beginning of a long week ahead. Here’s another perspective to consider:

The Blessing of Your Life

The blessing we are given, begin with each new day

wondrous things can happen brightening the way.

The laughter of our children, the greeting of old friends,

this day is ours for molding, from beginnings to the ends.

With the start of each week, a gift has been received,

labor hard, laugh and love but mostly be well pleased.

“Life is a joy, your choice to make the best of each day you are given –

which is a blessing, in and of itself, to be cherished.”

Penny L Howe, 2014

My wish is for you to have a wonderful week ahead. Take time to be grateful for that which you do have.

~ Penny

This is my 1000th post!

October 11, 2014October 11, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 32 Comments

I really had to think about what I wanted to say in this one and naturally I spent no little amount of time reliving the last few (mostly) active years here at WordPress.

I have made so many friends, a handful of you guys right here on the Northwest coast of America and then so many more across the country. Then in nearby Canada and Mexico and down into South America with special mentions for Ecuador and Argentina. Many more in various countries around the world …

… England, Scotland, Ireland, Greece, France, Ghana, Spain, Japan, China, Australia,The Philippines, South Africa, Croatia, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iraq, Dubai, Pakistan, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Egypt, India, and on and on. There are those (you know who you are) who have touched my heart and have found a special place there, even though most of us have never met in person, I feel as if we have.

The more I sat here thinking about all of you, your individual specialness, the creative good times as well as the times of sadness we’ve shared – it all boiled down to one thing to say from my heart. Thank you.