learning

Wisdom’s Inspiration – Quotes

/ Penny L Howe / 2 Comments

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Many of us never tire of reading and repeating famous quotes.

Quotes are inspirational, regardless of subject matter, but bottom line, the main reason we love famous quotes is because of nuggets of wisdom buried within the quoter’s words.

We absorb these quotes because at subliminal levels we feel a sense of purpose or well-being, perhaps love, happiness, hope, awareness, understanding, determination, sacrifice, illumination and yes maybe even the feeling that we’re in touch with – wisdom of the ages.

A wisdom we believe to be true and frequently are determined to incorporate into our own mindset…

Therefore there will always be room in our minds or our hearts for quotes:

“He wrapped himself in quotation as a beggar would enfold himself in the purple of Emperiors.” ~ Rudyard Kipling

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I hope you’re having a happy and fulfilling weekend. I wish you well.

With affection,
Penny

I Had Planned on Writing Something Different Here, but …

/ Penny L Howe / 24 Comments

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… I read something that made me change my mind.

Funny how that can happen. You’re all prepared to go ahead with plans and then something untoward will occur and there you are frozen where you stand or onto a new and different pathway of being or direction of heading. Serendipity is a great word when things occur that change your life in a happy way. Fate seems to be the word we use when sudden change brings about things that are less than cheerful … or worse.

And yet, having said all that and having lived through a few both serendipitous and fate oriented experiences I must say that I believe there is an undercurrent or relationship to those things that mold and shape us – our life experiences – that is still a rather large unknown.

We, humans, will analyze the heck out of a thing to figure it out and when we are still unsure it becomes a magical unknown. Speaking for myself, I rather like the magical unknowns. It is wearisome to try to determine the how and why when we are so easily influenced by our emotions that insist on getting involved too. Then you find yourself dealing not only with the circumstances of an event but also your own feelings. Guilt, Anger, Depression, Hurt and so on.

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Now that I have your undivided attention …

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We are easily influenced. I believe I already mentioned that … Still it’s worth mentioning again … and the words I read earlier now make me want to write the following to pass on to you:

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“Yesterday is there for a reason. It’s over with. The past. Record the events in your mind, file them in the proper place and move on. Really move on. Let go your susceptible emotions still hanging in there. Recognize them for what they are, then let go and move on.

You are now living in the today of things. This is where you should be too. Not yesterday. Yesterday is for memories and reminders, but not negative emotions clogging up your today. Let go so that when tomorrow comes, you’ll be ready, or as ready as the magical unknown allows you to be – lol.”

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Have a great week ahead everyone.

With much affection,

~ Penny

Emergence/Change … I come for you!

/ Penny L Howe / 12 Comments

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Emergence/Change

 If you believe tomorrow comes

Then, this be a perfect time,

For me to open up your heart

And claim what must be mine.

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But I fear I’m now not certain

I don’t know where to be,

There is too much, there is so much

And there is only me.

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You are but one of many

Still l know just what to do,

My certainty it overflows

For every one of you.

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If one believes in miracles

I can perform my deed,

Spread out my will and enter in

You’ll listen – you will heed.

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If only you were wiser

I could do what I must dare,

The way would go more swiftly

And I would take you there.

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If all the If’s were certainties

And all your dreams came true,

The rest would come so easily

To bring this time to you.

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It’s you who I must care for

You and only you,

Open your mind and let me in

It’s time – I come for you!

My name is Change

Please let me in!

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~ Penny

Am I an Expert in Life?

/ Penny L Howe / 24 Comments
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My parents “40th” Anniversary. I’m the smirky looking blond in front. The others are my two wonderful sisters, my brother and next to me my tiny little mom 4’10” (she’s standing on a taller stair) behind her my tall dad and my grandmother just barely looking over! Sorry about the blur!

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I grew up in your typical loving and pretty average family and learned the typical things one learns from this environment. Did I become an expert on family matters? Well hardly, I was 19 when I left home, Duh!

I have read a hundred thousand miles worth of books, and many, millions of words. Am I an expert? Perhaps of reading, and maybe word power.

I have written countless personal journals filled with many thousands of words, over the years, documenting thoughts and feelings happening in the moment. Am I an expert? Perhaps when it comes to journal writing (my own). And maybe a knack with writing!

I have owned, operated and/or managed several small marketing businesses. I was almost successful with an Internet company in the year 2000 – just before the .com crash! Am I an expert? Perhaps in the art of acquiring knowledge in what not to do in business and who not to do it with.

I have experienced in my lifetime – extreme pain (times too numerous to count) both physical and emotional. I have dealt with loss, betrayal (I can count that number), success and failure. Am I an expert on how to live one’s life?  No, but I learn a little more, with each passing day.

I have felt the exquisite passion one can find in love, the extreme happiness of falling in love, and in the birthing of my children and raising them to fine loving adults.

I have also felt the heartbreak of personal betrayal and the pain of abuse. Am I an expert at understanding why people are cruel to others, no! Am I stronger – YES, AMAZINGLY SO! In other words while not an expert in life, I’m not a person one should mess with, nor any of my family or friends, just sayin’.

If there were a category in the Guinness Book of Records for ‘most mistakes made in every given situation’ I’d be in that book! And since one learns from one’s mistakes (assumingly) I must be very wise indeed. However since I don’t feel especially wise on some days, I’m not entirely convinced of the complete accuracy of that statement.

I have been blessed with ample amounts of imagination and creative energy. Am I an expert? No, but one does not need to be with those things. The beauty of life is that whether we become experts or not, with free will, we can learn and grow, create and achieve – in spite of our mistakes and errors in judgement.

Am I an expert when it comes to being grateful and thankful for my many blessings in life? Yes – yes I am.

Penny, son and daughter! And yes a few years ago!

 

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Your POV – The Lens From Which You View – and why it matters!

/ Penny L Howe / 19 Comments

The Lens we view from

Did you know that the “HOW” you think about a thing can make a huge difference in your life and to those around you. No, seriously this is true.

I’m referring, not so much, about WHAT you’re actually thinking or doing, but the process behind the WHY you’re thinking or acting in a certain way. How you’re “seeing“ things happen to and around you.

And, It affects your health, big time. It affects your ability to make wise choices for yourself and those you care about too. Let’s see how this happens.

It all has to do with the nature of your focus, the actually starting point! Depending on your education and personal experience, you have a certain way of focusing/viewing  a variety of things (assimilating new information) . That’s where your POV begins, for even as you take in new information, your preformed ideas and thoughts (achieved from already existing memories of experiences and life’s learning lessons) will be the true lens from which you will view new and different things.

With me so far? So even before you really understand some new change occurring, your mind is calling up what you think you already know and deciding how you are going to feel about it. The true beginning of your focus and personal Point of View.

If there is a negative experience associated with what you are viewing or experiencing, then your current POV is going to incorporate this negative feeling, coloring your perception of current events, (the happening in the now of things) based on your very emotional memory from the past. Likewise the reverse is true with positive learning lessons. In other words you’ve already decided, to a degree, how you may feel about something new before you have a complete understanding of what it’s all about. So in effect you will not be truly viewing things as they actually are.

The key to having a healthy point of view is by expanding your focus slightly to see through known experiences (your personal lens), making this only a place to begin – for moving beyond. A “lens” that can be adjusted. Innovation occurs at this level of view. Increased comfort level begins here too.

What all this means is that the more comfortable you are within yourself and how (the manner in which) you view a thing ultimately gives your POV a healthier balance, a better sense of being in control of yourself and events unfolding around you, and of course this affects your overall health along with those you connect with.

Think about it!  As always the view from your eyes stays unique to you, how healthy it will be therefore also rests with you.

View wisely my friend, and have an excellent week ahead!

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With sincere affection to all my world wide friends, those I know and those I’ve yet to meet,

~ Penny

One more time – International Woman’s Day!

/ Penny L Howe / 9 Comments

I wrote a post yesterday about celebrating this day, but decided to visit the importance of Women’s Issues one more time – with a song! Helen Reddy wrote and sang a song called “I am Woman” several generations ago that continues to be the song many women world-wide look to for inspiration. And I agree. We still do “…have a long way to go – but look how far we’ve come” (lyrics from her song)!

Just know that each and every woman on this planet is important. We continue to make a positive difference with each passing day! Why? Because we can!

Thank you and thank you Helen!

Penny

Penny

Destiny’s Man-child

/ Penny L Howe / 20 Comments

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Man’s Destiny

“Have you ever noticed –

rather than admitting and correcting shortcomings,

we (humans) willfully decide our own *selfish destinies.

And then, woefully ill-equipped,

not only seal our individual fates

but inhibit our growth as humanity!”

~ PennyQuote, 2013

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*and of course to Mother Nature, this is, indeed, “recourse debt”, one she will collect – in full!)

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Why do we write Poetry?

/ Penny L Howe / 36 Comments

What is it about the particular nature of a poem? Whether penning or reading. A poem sets itself apart from all other written words. Various sized packages of contained messages of our thoughts, our feelings, our expressions. We the author and presenter of chosen word and format.

Do we write for ourselves when we write a poem? Do we write for others? Yes and yes.

With poetry we tap directly into our feelings about things, bringing forth those emotions, thoughts and ideas inside of us to be viewed through our written words. We are reorganizing our insides when we do this. And when others read our poems they frequently will do the same thing.

Should you write a poem? Yes?

Why?

Because:

It’s therapeutic. Not only letting out what’s inside, but presenting a microcosm of your heart and soul you can view and share with others.

It’s wonderfully creative. Your journey through your own nature with the poetic word while you find yourself exploring all sorts of creative avenues of expression.

It is encouraging, helping you and others to “Open Up” inside. Writing poetry and sharing your words, creates a stronger environment for learning and growing yourself. Online today there are many *websites and forums – groups actively in pursuit of knowledge and understanding from poets of the past and present.

The Poem

“Such beauty you bless in the form of a rhyme
Such feeling, such rhythm your words so divine
I am lost in your glory, sensation sublime
Sharing forever, time after time.”

Penny L Howe, 2013

So today, write a poem and share with others, read a poem and enjoy someone else’s creation. Both will be uplifting and illuminating … I promise.

Have a great weekend,

~ Penny

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All Poetry.com
WritersCafe.org
Poetry.com
Ligo Haibun Challenge
ThePoet Sanctuary.net

Survival, Love, Purpose ~ I gotta get me some of that!

/ Penny L Howe / 22 Comments

Credit line (HTML Code): © Valentina Razumova | Dreamstime.com

Depending on where you are in life, those three words express your “motivators”! That which is most likely to “call you to action!”

  1. Survival
  2. Love
  3. Purpose

Really! It’s what it comes down to!

If someone bangs on the door of your house and says “your house is on fire” I guarantee you you’re going to move fast to remove yourself from the danger.

Once you’ve got the survival thing down pat (breathing, eating, shelter, safe from harm) in general terms, love is the next greatest motivator. Same scenario someone banging on your door, your first thoughts survival, your second thoughts if you do not live alone, save those you love!

And finally, the third motivator – Purpose. This is actually, for most of us humans the big boy of the three. The reason we (each day) get out of bed and want to live our lives. Our own special purpose (“I have a special purpose?” a quote by Steve Martin from the movie The Jerk, if you haven’t watched it, you should, it’s very funny).

Credit line (HTML Code): © Svetlanka809 | Dreamstime.comThe waters get muddied here. Life is hard and confusing and scary and hurtful (See items 1 and 2). So how on earth can we keep our purpose constant and thriving and alive – So (regardless of what comes) we are centered and balanced – so we want to keep achieving over and above survival – so we can truly live – looking forward to the next day?

Survival instincts keep us physically alive! Loving others and all things living, keeps us emotionally aware and creates a purpose to improve our ability to not just survive but to thrive. This means taking some risks, loving unconditionally and accepting that change and hardships will occur. You just keep on loving.

Watch children, they start out loving all things (except green vegetables) until life experiences begin to slow them down – that’s the muddying I was speaking about!

But that same original energy and vitality is still available, inside you, right now! Reassess how you feel about things. Look for passion (In your creativity, Rearrange how you view things. Pick something you “love” doing. Renew yourself by reaching out.  You are so needed!

“Survival + Unconditional Love = Your Purpose! A key mathematical equation!

Consider this post PURPOSE, banging on your door! You have so much to live for, far beyond just survival and it’s waiting just outside your door!

Have a great day,

~ Penny

penny