Walkabout – Mentally Speaking!

November 26, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 41 Comments

It’s been 7 days since I’ve posted or read a blog. Not very long in everyday terms, but in online social connection terms (Blogs, Tweets, Google+, Facebook, About.me, Linked in, etc.) it does seems as if it’s been much longer, doesn’t it? Time passes differently while online and so while only 7 days, I’ve missed my connections with you all so very, very much.

Here, where I live, in Northwest America it snowed briefly and gently this morning. A quiet, crisp and clear beginning to start one’s day! A place you’d want your thoughts to dwell as much as possible with today’s hectic lifestyle. Change being the only constant in all of our lives.

In the past week I’ve been doing a mental “Walkabout” as Australians might refer to it. I’ve had much dwelling on my mind. Questing my “role” in things you could even say.

In ‘personal life’ adventures, nothing has been handed to me easily. I’ve worked my way through various stages of life while not necessarily emerging as a victor, none-the-less I also did not come away as a victim and instead am wiser in spite of cherished things that have been lost.

All my life I have tried to avoid direct confrontation and yet even through fears, stood as brave and strong as I could when it was needed. I’m ‘tempered’ as a metal might become by a clever blacksmith of yesteryear. I know my shortcomings and my strengths, but more to the point, this means – I know yours too.

We (all of us) live in a period of time where negative thinking about yesterdays, today and tomorrows must not be allowed to win over us. We are a strong people with strong wills – when we put our minds to it! I know this about you. All of you. It is a truth. You are more capable than you can possibly know. In fact it’s only necessary for you to “know” and believe a thing for it to become a thing.

There is an astonishingly true “might and capability” that lies within each of you. Never forget that!

We, of humanity are on a glorious quest for life – but the quest is not an easy one. Yet, it’s the best game in town and I’m happy to be a part – in whatever role I play, and wherever it leads me to be.

Thursday is a Thanksgiving Holiday in America and as William Faulkner (an American writer and Nobel Prize laureate from Oxford, Mississippi) once said about the giving of thanks and gratitude:

“Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity;

it must be produced and discharged

and used up in order to exist at all.”

– William Faulkner

I agree with him. Love to you all. Stand tall. Be brave, live life, give thanks and always remember you’re never alone! I (for one) am here, thinking of you with “very fond affection and good wishes” for a wonderful day and better tomorrow.

– Penny

Leave No Doubt – Women and Men are more alike than you think!

November 6, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 7 Comments

In my last post, clearly it was one that women relate to quicker than men. Not because of the “girly” heart shaped illustration (although that’s a part of it) but because the message was written gently about the importance of unconditional love. For most women it’s how we view things.

Men love and bond just as deeply and passionately as women but their perspective on how they view a thing (as with women) has much to do with their own natures (let’s be honest here, a lot of it is physical), the environment they grow up in and of course their subsequent experiences.

But underneath all of these obvious differences there is a “sameness“! One that gets overlooked – a lot! I mention in yesterday’s blog post that with unconditional love you should “Leave No Doubt”. Too many women can forget they have the same capability as men with their own “strength (of character)” within their hearts . A strong ability to make their point and leave no doubt.

I am showing the following video clip from a movie to remind EVERY SINGLE WOMAN ON THE PLANET that we are as strong and capable (equal to) as any human when we set out to accomplish something, be it loving and nurturing, pursuing our own goals or freedoms, we DO have the strength (of character) – built right inside of us, just waiting for us to call on it.

No, not the physical strength (presented here in the video) but the other strength that is also shown here. The one of character and will – perseverance and determination! We all (humans) have that in abundance (just waiting to be tapped into). For women, it is past due time for us to cash in on this!

While the video is aimed at and about a male sport – the lesson to learn here is for both men and women – in life’s pursuit, and don’t forget it!

Leave No Doubt!

~ Penny

Life’s Reality – or another crazy night? Ligo Haibun Challenge

October 27, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 31 Comments

This week the Ligo Haibun Challenge presents two quotes as prompts! I have chosen the George Carlin quote:

“And then there are the times when the wolves are silent and the moon is howling.” ― George Carlin

A full moon out tonight, as I walked alone. A clear sky too. Very cool, the air crisp this late in the season. I didn’t notice the full moon right away, my mind turning out to be every bit as full as the moon shining down on me. My thoughts confusing, taken up with the insanity of life’s struggles! The moon seemed to have it’s own agenda anyway, up there so high, aloft from everything happening down here.

I remember shivering, pulling my jacket tightly against my body, I don’t know what possessed me to walk down to the river in the first place. It’s even chillier there, but I could hear the water lapping against the shore and it seems soothing – does that sound crazy – and I’m tempted, indeed drawn to the dark liquid. The need to touch, so strong. It won’t change my existence, still I scoop up the water in my hands, feeling velvety ice water threading through my fingers.

Damn, everything feels so futile tonight, an emptiness. The moon mocking my solo sojourn to the river, as if to echo those meaningless feelings. I see my kneeling silhouette illuminated against the rippling water, proving my reality, at least. My fingers are frozen numb now, doesn’t matter. I could hear the moon, you see. It was howling and I recognized the tune. I’d heard it before.

And with that recognition I could walk back home, even with the moon still mocking in it’s solitary mode. I’m impervious now, entirely focused on rubbing my hands together to get some warmth back into them.

just another night

no winners, no losers – just life

and the howling moon

For more information about The Ligo Haibun Challenge and to give your writing talents a try click here! A great activity for writers to take part in!

~ Penny