The Kids Are Alright

I don't have any kids, but I really do like them. Kids are awesome in so many ways. I just felt compelled today to pay tribute to these great people.

Most of my favorite memories are from my childhood. It was a wonderful journey. Being around kids now always takes me back to that time in my life when I had no idea what stress was or what fatigue was. One of the things that makes me happiest is talking to my little nephew Jadon (the blondie on the bottom left in the picture) about his day.

Jadon makes everything in his life sound so great. He speaks with such excitement in his voice about school, the weather, riding his bike, finding bugs outside. Oh my gosh, the kid is a ball of boundless energy! He's always cheerful and upbeat, and he never fails to make me laugh.

On my list of why kids are awesome, their positive attitude is number one. Here's the whole list:

• They have a positive attitude. Kids don't just look on the bright side - they own it. To a kid, anything is possible.
  



• Kids are encouraging. Without even knowing that they're doing it, kids can lift adults' spirits with a story or joke, an impromptu smile or hug, or just any little thing they do that brings a smile to a grownup's face.



• Kids are very resilient. They bounce back easily from disappointment. Look at how a little kid falls down and starts to cry. Then, five minutes later he's up and running around again like nothing ever happened. Wish I could be that tough!



• Kids can make you see things in a whole new way. It's pretty cool looking at things with kids. Their observations can give you a fresh take on an item or a place, or help you appreciate it that much more. And of course, it's most fun watching them see things for the first time, like the lake or an elephant at the zoo!



• They offer lots of free entertainment, and they get adults talking. For example, I got to hear some great music recently when Jadon was playing his own rendition of soft rock on my electric keyboard. Then there was the baby in the shopping cart at the store that had all of us ladies in the checkout line talking about how adorable he was.
  


• They can touch your heart with their sweetness. With just small gestures, too. I was bowled over last spring when Jadon offered me a bouquet of dandelions he'd picked.



• They can help you get in touch with your inner child, or bring back memories of your childhood experiences. It's always fun to pull out the crayons and get creative, or build something with blocks. I guess there are some things from childhood that never really get left behind completely. My older nephew Nick (center in the picture) got to spend time with me before I had MS, so he got the piggy back rides and got me to climb hills and chase him and all that good stuff. But no matter what you do together, you can get so much out of spending time with kids.

The kids are definitely alright.

Remembering My Grandma

Tomorrow is the twenty-sixth anniversary of my Grandma's passing. I have been thinking of her a lot lately, as I have been struggling with so many things in my life. I know if she were here she would help me, and I would feel so much better.

My Grandma was a very special person in my life.

She was, to me, the very essence of family. As devoted to her family as the day is long, Grandma always seemed to put all of us ahead of herself.

Grandma had a hard life in a lot of ways. She grew up in the Great Depression and later lost two of her children. But I remember she always had a positive attitude, and she was the most giving person I have ever known. She always helped my mother and I whenever we needed anything. I remember she used to babysit me when I was little. She'd carry me around over her shoulder singing "Sack of potatoes". I remember she always used to sing funny old songs.

As a child I liked to play with paper dolls, make up stories and draw pictures. Grandma always encouraged my imagination and creativity and said she liked my pictures (even though they were probably awful.) I used to love spending the night at Grandma's house. We'd watch TV, and I'd fall asleep on the couch. Then in the morning she'd make me Cream of Wheat. Later we'd laugh at my grandfather as he danced the polka around the living room.

My Grandma and I were very close. I felt like I could talk to her about anything. I remember when I got into that awkward puberty stage where you start to like boys and you want them to like you, and you start to worry about your looks. I remember Grandma told me to always keep a little smile on my face. I've had people comment about my smile and say they wonder what's behind it. It's more like who - Grandma.

I learned from my Grandma that family is the most important thing. I was a teenager when she died, and I remember the last time I saw her she was in the hospital, and I remember I just started crying, and I hugged her and said, "I love you so much." She said, "I know." I am so glad we had that special last moment together.

When we are children we have no concept of time moving forward. We are blissfully ignorant of the future and the inevitable adulthood that brings with it greater responsibilities and challenges that we have to deal with on our own.

Sometimes I wish I could go back and be in that time once again when I was just enjoying my childhood. When things were simpler and worries were few. When I had all of my family there for me and could not even imagine them not being there.

I'll always treasure my memories of my Grandma.

Simple Pleasures

Too often we seek out the most exciting activities and surroundings and forget about the simple things in life.


Or we get so bogged down with the stress and the mundane details of our jobs and daily lives, we sometimes forget about the little things that make us happy.

It seems that as adults we lose some of our ability to enjoy the simple pleasures. Think back to when you were a kid. You were easily entertained. You were happy just licking an ice cream cone that was dripping down your arm or lying in the grass looking up at the clouds.

Now, it seems that if it doesn't involve a high definition television or a plane trip, we act like it's not worth doing.


There is certainly a monetary aspect to seeking out fun and entertainment. When we have money to burn, we want to spend it on nice things and good times, and why not? We work hard, and we deserve it. We feel we need to do something big to compensate for the dull and often challenging daily grind.



We need to spend more time focusing on life's simple pleasures. We need to stop and smell the flowers once in a while. Or walk on the beach and enjoy the feel of our toes squishing into the wet sand. Or hold a purring kitten.


Ditch the dinner plans at the fancy restaurant and just grab a couple of burgers and dine under the stars.


The really great thing about simple pleasures is that they are all around us. You don't have to go far or work hard to find them. And they usually cost nothing.

Some of my favorite simple pleasures are picking lilacs in the spring, going barefoot in summer, rubbing my cat's soft belly, staying up late to finish a crossword, rock hunting in the creek at the park near my home and going for a drive to look at houses.

Taking the time to savor simple pleasures is important to our well-being. It can give us much needed relaxation and stress relief. It can give us warm feelings and help us to maintain a positive outlook on life.

If you don't know where to start, here are a few ideas:

Go for a walk. Getting outside into the fresh air and just walking with no particular destination is a great stress reliever. It gives you time to think (and you'll burn off some calories).


Go to the park. Lots to do and no charge for admission, parks are an awesome source of simple pleasures. Bring a bag lunch and sit in the grass. Soak in the relaxed atmosphere and the nature. Bring some nuts so you can feed the squirrels. Take a walk and look at the trees and listen to the birds. Toss a ball or frisbee with the kids or dog.

Connect with your inner child. Visit a place you used to go to when you were a kid that was special to you. Go to a playground and swing on a swing. Let that awesome feeling of soaring through the air free your mind and take you back to when life was simpler and you didn't have all the stress.


Doodle and daydream. Draw silly pictures or make lists of all your favorite things - songs, movies, memories. Write down all the little things that make you happy - a baby's smile, a light rainfall - whatever you can think of. Make a list of your hopes and dreams.



Follow your nose. Get some aromatherapy into your life to enhance your mood. Certain fragrances are known to relieve stress and have a calming effect. Fill your home with your favorites.

Do something nice for someone. One of the greatest simple pleasures is giving someone a gift or doing something for them. It makes them happy, and it makes us feel good.

Life's little pleasures are easy to find and enjoy. They help us slow the pace, feel better, connect with our past and make new memories. They remind us just how wonderful life is.