As many of you know, I’ve just “retired….”
so I’m shifting from the very busy world of “work”
to the world of…..
ummm,
…I’m not quite sure what….
but I’ve noticed
it’s kind of quiet at home.
I’d sure like to be around
some happy, cheerful, positive people
~
So…here’s the story…
it really is true…
of my “quest” so far…
only 6 weeks into shifting
an occasionally humorous look at “a quest….”
searching for a few happy, cheerful, positive people
~
(reading left to right…top to bottom)
~
Of course, few people are positive all the time
we all have our stumbles and bumbles
sometimes stalling or falling
maybe for a few days
perhaps a few weeks
sometimes even a few months
occasionally a few years
but hopefully regaining our footing
standing again
maybe even rediscovering that spot within ourselves
that spot enriched by a warm, positive outlook
~
so….
hoping to be around people
with a smiles in their hearts and twinkles in their eyes
people who are….still standing
~
~
well…that was a good start…
but there were some complications
it seems that “it” may not just be “out there” where that needs to be found
it seems to need to be within me, too
Maybe I can be a source of that too?
to wander within
to recognize that happy, positive person within “myself”
to take in the sense of goodness within myself, in my life and in others
to pause, notice, take in and appreciate that sense of goodness
to source that sense of “goodness” from within
~
~
I can do that…
I can recognize, nurture, develop and be a source of that goodness…
in fact, I need to be a source of that
others can help, but I need to wander within
to pause…notice…appreciate…be grateful
to develop that awareness of goodness within
~
And…a reminder for myself….
during those times
that we might be fortunate enough
to connect with this positive feeling of happiness
to be sure to share it, to pass it along…
offering a smile,
sharing a kind word,
extending a helping hand
to realize the importance
of sharing with and supporting others
~
Well….
I was nurturing that sense of
happiness, cheerfulness and positiveness
…but….
I still didn’t seem to be finding others
okay…
so….a new tactic…
the theory of attraction
maybe I could “attract” a few
happy, cheerful, positive people
~
~
…the theory of “attraction….”
well, I’ve never tried it before, but I figured a lot of people seem to talk about it
so….
…..maybe it’s true….
???…..maybe I can give it a try…..???
well, I was up for that…
trying out that theory of attraction
for a few weeks…maybe even a month
(patience isn’t a strength of mine)
~
~
??? ummmm???
….hmmm….
attracting, attracting attracting
where is everyone???
maybe there’s more to this idea than I’m realizing???
~
~
“hmmmm….. I wonder what’s going on?”
~
~
uh oh…
~
~
well… “they” aren’t arriving…
now what?
time for shifting perspectives?
trying out some new strategies?
shifting gears?
~
~
so…out I went…
out of the house
out into the world
without expectation
quietly
with sincerity and curiosity
participating…taking in…giving…wondering…contributing…participating
And guess what?
~
Now…
how about that?
???….isn’t that something…???
I’m finding
some happy, cheerful, positive people
People who are living their lives
riding those ups and downs
…still standing…
living with a twinkle in their eyes
and a smile in their hearts…
Now…isn’t that remarkable???
😀
~
~
~
So…how about a happy, cheerful positive reminder…
during those times that we are fortunate enough to feel these positive ways,
may we enjoy and appreciate our good fortune.
But, may we also be aware
that some others might not be as fortunate right now,
others might be coping with more challenging circumstances
and may we help them out and support them
in whatever ways we can
~
Pocket Perspectives 
Fun presentation of your learning experiences! Happy, cheerful, positive people ARE attractive!! 🙂
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So true, Healthy A-Z!
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😀 ….tuesday2 knows…among other activities, she teaches kindergarten…kindergarten teachers could lead us all along… 😀
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I had so much fun making this… it’s a “lighthearted,” but important reminder for myself too…. to get out into the world, participate, contribute and be part of things… happy you enjoyed it…it was fun to make!
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truth with a smile! love it.
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yes…I like that ideas… “truth with a smile”…
I revised and added to the text of the post this morning…and a few revised images too…I added more ideas in several spots…to include the awareness that we all really do have our stumbles and bumbles etc…but to go back (or within) and recognize and appreciate the goodness in ourselves and others…to more fully develop what might go into enriching this “quest”…. 😀
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excellent!
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I am finding in my own “retirement” (ha!) the BEING a happy, peaceful, positive person myself attracts like souls!
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I guess maybe that’s it?…. it’s being the source that leads to finding or attracting others like that …I love your addition of the word “peaceful”… ahhh…peaceful…. and it sounds like others are finding you! 😀
(I’m finding transitioning to not working at a “regular” job to be similar to trying to figure out a new “job”…it’s a bit of a shift!…but wonderful… )
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This made me smile, Kathy . . . the way that happy cheerful positive people always make me smile. 😀
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I find it kind of “funny,” as I read through the story, that it really is true…I really tried those tactics!…one never knows….I’m open to anything and everything…well, obviously…it worked!!! 😀 Don’t you just love being around happy, cheerful, positive people?….me too!
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Of course it’s a rewarding experience to be around happy smiling people. I especially love being with kids I do artwork with as they are filled with a sense of wonder. But I have learned a lot about myself and other from negatively focused and “difficult” people throughout the course of my life.
In “The Secret” video, the claim is made that how the Law of Attraction works is all due to the operation of quantum physics. The claim is that all molecules vibrating in your body at a certain resonance attract like things. That’s certainly no secret but it’s not quantum physics. It’s neuroplasticity. http://www.refocuser.com/2009/05/neuroplasticity-your-brains-amazing-ability-to-form-new-habits/ The more you think about something the more your reticular cortex notices similar things. Have you not noticed that if you buy a new car then all of a sudden you see that same car in the same color all over the place? That is your reticular cortex at work. The same principal causes the law of attraction to operate and assists the LOA gurus to make a bundle on mass marketing age old wisdom that was previously shared free of charge.
I’m a gardener and not one of the anal variety. I choose to allow some volunteer weeds to grow in my container garden. In parallel fashion I don’t chose to shun unhappy people. I value my powers of critical thought and I value negative people and circumstances too, because they test my ability to stay in touch with inner self and become a happier, healthier person day by day.
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I think I’m probably missing my daily dose of smiles, laughter and happiness from kids…that’s probably part of this quest.
A friend of mine had similar comments and ideas for me about the value of being around people who might be unhappy or have more challenges…that they provide lots of learning experience and that they also benefit deeply from being supported by and/or around more positive people. I seem to have “poor filters” and tend to catch moods of other people that I’m with, so I try to be careful about that.
That’s very interesting about the ideas of “attraction”… “reticular cortex”…very interesting…I’ll go back to it later. (I love reading about the brain and behavior etc)
Thanks for your ideas….
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Delightful … I totally understand … wondering why they don’t just knock on the door … LOL … way to go …. getting out in the world so they can find YOU!! 😀
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It was kind of funny to watch my train of thought through the past weeks….and starting to realize more initiative was going to be needed on my part. I grew up in a small, friendly town where all you had to do was walk down the street and pass by and talk with everyone one saw…not like that where we live now, so still missing that easy contact and interactions… so out into the world we go!
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Did you ever notice that, often, when you smile at an unhappy person, it changes them? Their posture changes, they may smile back. (Sometimes, not–but it seems to me, it usually works!) Then I get the satisfaction of feeling like I’ve made some kind of positive difference…. sort of a pay it forward sort of thing can happen, and you’ll never know how many smiles you’ve helped to create, just from the one smile you gave to someone who seemed unhappy! Thanks, Kathy!!
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I think it’s amazing how quickly people can pick up on positive energy. And I think passing a smile along to others is such a special gift. I used to create a multiple arrows “diagram” on the board for the kids I taught…of how one smile or kind word could end up affecting so many other people, because it gets passed along to more… and then to more… and multiplies. Isn’t that amazing? I enjoyed making these pages…I’m happy you enjoyed them.
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cuhome, Yes! I know that there have been occasions when I’m having a rough day and suddenly it’s turned around by some random stranger that simply smiles at me or says hello. Those happenings encourage me to make it a point to smile at others, even when I’m preoccupied or not quite feeling like I’m in a good place. I’d like to call it spreading good Karma.
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Hi tuesday2 , oh, yes…the gift of a smile… it sure does get passed along…good Karma is as simple as that…the flow of positives being passed along…whether through a smile, a kind or encouraging word or actions…
and noted above: tuesday2 teaches kindergarten…she has a depth of understanding that the rest of us may have forgotten…heads up! thanks tuesday2 (she is also PP’s very first subscriber one year ago…another “form” of a smile…..thank you tuesday2 )
And for actions…check out Eric…comment below…an action a day in his Oregon community. His blog is “Give our time”… I recommend reading it…lots of “put-into-daily-action” ideas/inspirations http://giveourtime.com/
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It can go on and on and on and . . .
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yes….on and on and on….
kind of like “watching the river run”…one of my very favorite things to do and a song that continues to inspire me, every time I hear it or sing it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ula4AHBqLMg (a 1973 recording session) And a wonderful Bill Staines song…River Take Me Along, the soundtrack added to a river video taken by my daughter, Julie …it’s really nice! awww..mama pride here …. : ) https://pocketperspectives.wordpress.com/2011/08/22/river-take-me-along/ )
Ah, Janet…on and on and on…just like a smile 😀
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Thank you for those links, Kathy! Wonderful! I’m smiling 🙂
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This made me smile too :-). It just radiates happiness and sunshine and positivity. Much love to you ♥
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thanks Megan…a warm and loving mother of a delightful little boy…from faraway Australia…keeping warm in the rainy winter, we hope? sunshine, indeed! 😀
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I smiled and chuckled reading of your journey looking for positive people, and finally finding them. You provided lessons with wisdom and wit. 🙂
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I’m so happy that you and others are enjoying the reports of the journey… and can see the bits of lessons in it too.
ummm, Marie…..I think there may be a new lesson emerging too..I was telling my husband, I’m kind of sitting and waiting for some insight for/about the next stage in my life…I’ve been calling it “letting the dust settle”…(the busy-ness of finishing up teaching etc) …oh, Marie, I hope it isn’t like the “attracting” thing… the possibility of the dust settling so much that I can’t see through it??? uh oh…I’m hoping for clarity, but might get dusty windows or a great big pile of …dirt??? …uh oh!….well, I’ll let the mind/spirit “settle” awhile longer…maybe the beginning of September…??? : )
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Good thing you have an outlet to document your daily experiences in retirement. Are you planning any trips? Volunteer efforts?
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Well… blog writing, reading, comments and sharing of ideas is another very special way of connecting… I’ve found so many wonderful people here! : ) As I wrote to Marie, in the comment just above, I’m maintaining a bit of “space”…seeing what emerges…but…????…I might change that tactic. I’m sure I’ll be volunteering…I love teaching kids and plan to do so in some way. And travel…nothing planned yet. I find that just traveling out of curiosity doesn’t seem as appealing as it used to. Maybe some type of travel with a “useful” purpose?…not sure about this. Any readers with ideas about “useful” travel ideas…please share or attach links to ideas??? thanks… : )
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Several universities on the East coast offer learning trips. You travel with an expert to some part of the world and delve deeply into the subject on site and tour other related sites… Academic but fun and mentally stimulating. I can only think of Columbia University and NYU right now because I get news from them, but I know others offer it too. 😉
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Thanks for that ideas! I actually love learning and studying so would probably enjoy those types of trips/travels. We’ve gotten information about interesting trips from Cal Berkeley…And elderhostel (road warriors, now, I think) seems to have interesting trips, too. The university trips look terrific, but are really expensive….I wonder where people get that kind of $$$ for trips? I bet there are more reasonably priced ones around too…I’ll start sleuthing around. thanks for the ideas : )
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Best wishes… yes, they are pricey for sure. It would nice to get something in-between. I have traveled with Gate1Travel and they are quite good. http://www.gate1travel.com/
Eliz 🙂
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thanks, I’ve bookmarked it and will check it out…. 😀
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🙂
I’ve often wondered if the power of attraction is at least partly based on what we’re looking for in people. And if engaging with others in uplifting activities and giving back helps us unlock that ability to see the positive in everyone. …. Just thoughts.
Kudos to you, Kathy! (And keep up the inspiration!)
Eric
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Eric, I think you’re onto something there… isn’t it interesting that we have very powerful and natural and intuitive tendencies, and yet, sometimes, don’t really have the “words” to know what they are? I think you expressed a big part of that in your comment.
I linked to your blog above, in a comment to tuesday2, but will link it again. http://giveourtime.com/
(an explanation about how I love to add links to other people’s helpful sites and posts…. I was an elementary school “resource specialist” for 22 years…my job was teaching, but also creating materials for learning and linking teachers/kids/parents etc with helpful ideas, curriculum, materials, people and resources….seems I still feel the need to do that…)….so, readers might want to hop/link over to Eric’s blog…. “Give our time”…to see inspiration and intention transformed into action. Eric, you continue be an inspiration for me! http://giveourtime.com/ (and thank you, Eric, for your encouraging words… : ) )
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Thanks, Kathy. 🙂 Have a very happy Monday!
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I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoyed every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post.
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