The Red Blanket

Welcome to Poppy's Blog!

Poppy is proud to announce she has entered "The Red Blanket" in the Annual Writer's Digest Competition - Memoirs/Personal Essay.

The Red Blanket is about a young family living in the country that shares their love with a boxcar hobo before he meets his untimely death.

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The Embossed Invitation

Welcome to Poppy's Blog!

Today Poppy is sharing a writing prompt she completed.  

"Write a story about a character who's nervous about attending a party - their first in a long time."

As she finished her morning meeting, she stopped in the break room to pour a cup of coffee.  She then headed down the hall to her office.  She was balancing her files, portfolio along with the coffee cup.  She dropped the files on her chair as she pushed the office door open.  She then noticed a tiny envelope on her desk that read "Invitation." She grabbed her files from the chair, set them on the desk, and reached for the tiny envelope.  She flipped it over, and it was embossed with a golden seal.  It was so beautiful; she hated opening it.  Carefully she opened it, and it was a party invitation.  She had not attended a party since her office promotion about 4 years ago.  She was determined to move forward in her professional life, which meant "nose to the grind." She looked at the invitation one more time before she dropped it into her satchel.

When she returned home that night, she pulled the invitation out of her satchel while sipping on her wine and set it on the kitchen counter.  She ate dinner, watched a little TV, and went to bed.

The following day, she saw the pretty party invitation on the kitchen counter and smiled.  She then left for work.  Today was the big day for the presentation she worked on, and she was confident she would nail it.  The presentation went well, and she was elated.  Her manager was very pleased.  As she walked down the hall, she was smiling.

She returned to her office and sat looking out of the office window.  There was a knock at the door.  It was Tim from next door.  He asked if she had received the invitation to the party.  She said yes, but she would not attend. Tim said, only certain people from the firm were invited.  She said, nice, but she would have to decline.  Tim said, too bad it will be an interesting party.  She smiled as Tim walked out of her office.

It was party night.  She arrived home and slipped her pajamas on, and decided to watch a little TV.  As she sat watching TV, she kept looking at the invitation on the kitchen counter.  She then got up, walked over, and picked it up.  She said what the heck and made a beeline to her closet.  What to wear. 

She found her little black dress and slipped it on.  She then pulled a black silk scarf with embroidered flowers that would add a splash of color.  She then grabbed her black open-toe shoes, along with a black clutch purse.   On her way out of the door, she looked in the mirror.  She was perfect.

On her way to the party, she was very nervous.  She had not attended a party in a while.  She thought to herself, it's like riding a bicycle. Right?  She then laughed. 

She arrived at the party to find plenty of attendees.  She pulled her dress down, straightened her hair, and walked towards the front entrance.  She knew if she allowed herself to be nervous, her knees would knock together.

She walked into the party and headed for the bar to grab a glass of wine.  As she reached the bar, there was a tap on her shoulder.  She turned around, and it was an old friend Janice.  They struck up a conversation.  As Janice talked, she noticed her manager watching. Janice was a well-known author.  Her manager came over to join the conversation.  She asked right away, how do you know each other?  Janice was excited to say we grew up in the same neighborhood.   She said, interesting.  Tim walked over, and I introduced him to Janice, and he too joined the conversation. We both shared a few stories as the wine flowed.  Our circle started to grow, and most of the attendees had joined us and added to the conversation.  We laughed and had a great time.  

As the evening winded down, Janice gave me a big hug and said she had to go.  Janice then whispered in my ear, "you were the "belle of the ball." She then let out a chuckle.  While driving home, she was pleased that she had attended the party.

How to Cope with Changes in your Life

Welcome to Poppy's Blog!

I am happy to be back.  Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog.  Its been a while since I have blogged.  I had surgery.  I am feeling much better and my energy level is climbing.  Which is wonderful.  This week I had my check-up and the doctor gave me the okay to start walking and working in the garden.

While I rested I started a new hobby.  I took up sketching and watercolor painting flowers. I did have the mafia woodpeckers visiting me in the early mornings and the fox who came by and looked into my glass doorway to check on me.  I have been called "Mother Nature."  Haha!

Today I am writing about "How to Cope with Changes in your Life."

We will always have many life events that we cannot control. How to manage the ebb and flow around us is important.

I have learned to accept that change is a part of life and a process that cannot be avoided. Some changes are easier to accept than others, but the decisions about how to cope with those changes are mine.

Remember the most resilient people see change as an opportunity rather than a monster to fear. Transitions in life allow you to consider where your priorities lie. How do you really want to spend your time on earth? What’s really important to you? Where do you see yourself wasting your time and energy? With a clear sense of your goals and values, you will find your mind and body can be much more resilient when it comes to the stressors of change.

To change is to transform, alter, modify or shift; these are behaviors that I’ve integrated into my life in order to survive emotionally.  I think as we grow older most of us realize that its better to go with the flow than control every situation.  I myself have relinquished my control and power and feel so light and happy.

Finally, give yourself a break. In a time of change, you may feel a little out of control. You may feel like you are not living up to your expectations for yourself. Remember that you are allowed to do less than what is humanly possible. Nothing says you have to function at 100 percent all the time. People make mistakes—it's one of the great things about being human. It's learning from the mistakes that really counts. Make a point to laugh and have fun.   

Let me end with this quote.

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”– Socrates

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The Colors of Spring

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Its that time again, where flowers and birds sing to our soul.  Here is a little quote Poppy would like to share.  Prendre Plaisir! (Enoy!)

The Colors of Spring emerge with sweet sounds of songbirds to fill our winter weary souls; bringing hope, new beginnings and inspiration.

The best time for new beginnings is now.

The Mafia Woodpeckers

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I wake up every morning wondering with amazement what bird will visit today.  I find my loafers and slip them on as I walk towards the deck and check the bird feeder to make sure there is ample food. I return to the living room chair, where I have positioned it to see the deck fairly clearly.  As I sip on my coffee, the Mafia Woodpeckers arrive and set up shop.  They spread out around the bird feeder, and they talk to each other, verifying who will eat today. The flock of sparrows, finch, and songbirds arrives, and the Mafia Woodpeckers allow them to eat.  They are allowed to eat only because one morning, the sparrows, finch and, songbirds got together and pecked at the Mafia Woodpeckers and scared them. Nowadays, the Mafia woodpeckers watch as they eat.  They will return later in the day.  

The blue jays arrive and swoop down in twos and spar with the Mafia woodpeckers.  They give the Mafia Woodpeckers a run for their money, but the Blue jays realize they have been beaten, so off they go.  

In the meantime, I can hear the two doves vying for a perch on the power pole.  Once they stop fighting, they wait for the coast to clear, so they can eat.  Today I had a few band-tail pigeons who came by to visit.

The Mafia Woodpeckers (Acorn Woodpeckers) are busy with the dead trees, snags around the property.  These trees give value to the birds which I have learned just by watching.  Here is something fascinating.  The abandoned nest sites of woodpeckers are inherited by songbirds that are less adapted (or not at all) for excavation. 

Bird watching is an awesome hobby that is beneficial to your health and happiness.  Here are a few of the top health benefits of bird watching.

• Appreciation for Nature - Bird watching inspires a harmonious union with nature.
• Patience - Bird watching requires plenty of studies to get familiarized with types of birds and where they are found, then time to travel to that location, then hours of waiting to catch a glimpse of a bird.
• Quick Reflexes - Bird watchers have to be ready to seize the moment after long stretches of inactivity.
• Mental Alertness - A bird can be here and gone in the blink of an eye.
• Cardiovascular health - Bird watchers sometimes walk many miles in search of a certain species of bird.
• Upper Arm Strength  - Bird watching in forests or other low-light locations requires birders to use larger and heavier binoculars to let in more light.

In this fast-moving world, bird watching comes as a gentle breeze of relief. It is a hobby that can really transform your life. It enhances the positive energy within you and makes you appreciate nature. Your heart will be filled with joy.  Nothing can be more ecstatic than watching the beautiful creation of nature that is Birds.

Let me leave you with this quote - No matter what yesterday was like, birds always start the new day with a song.

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Our Self-Esteem

At one point in time in our lives, we will deal with our self-esteem. A catastrophic life event will happen, and it will set us back.  We must learn to pick ourselves up, dust our knees off and take baby steps.  Do not worry about what other people think.  Worry about yourself.

Maybe our self-esteem was hurt by our dad, mom, brother, sister, or friend, and it probably still resonates in our head. But wait, what do you think about yourself?  Remember, self-esteem is not what other people think of us.  Self-esteem encompasses what we think of ourselves. 

Here is something I had to work through.  I always had high self-esteem until my husband died.  Then it fizzled away.  After putting much focus on my husband because he was ill, I forgot about myself.  I do not regret it, but somewhere down the line, I lost myself.  I had to reconstruct my self-esteem a little at a time.  I was learning to love myself again.  Going for walks, reading, and writing affirmations on stickies.  I wrote one affirmation a day. I then put them on my mirror, kitchen cupboards, refrigerator, and in my apron pockets.  Seeing these daily affirmations assisted me in my self-esteem and thinking positive. I found a jelly jar and started to

fill it daily with positive affirmations.  At the end of the year, I pulled each one out and read them.  Though I cried as I read them, I realized I had become a stronger person and really did not care what other people thought of me.  I am changing the world by being myself.

Here are a few affirmations I use: 

            I am beautifully made

            I am proud of me

            My well being is my top priority

            I add something special to this world

            With each breath, I become calmer, stronger, and confident

Try writing a few of these affirmations and sticking them around your house.  Every day as you pass a sticky with an affirmation, stop, and read it out loud to yourself.  This will make a difference in how you perceive yourself and the day. 

It would be wonderful to let me know how you are doing.  Please leave a comment below.  Poppy thanks you for coming to visit her on this beautiful day.

Let me leave you with this affirmation - I focus on what I can control, and I let go of what I cannot.

 

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Love is in the Air

Welcome to Poppy’s Blog!

Love is in the air...Your heart flutters: you smile a lot and think about your loved one all the time, when you are with them you have lots of eye contact, and you genuinely want them to be happy. 

I think love should be something that comes easily, and we should show it all the time. A small daily gesture goes a long way. Maybe a touch on the shoulder or a kiss on the forehead. Growing to love the real person and accepting who they are, with both strengths and weaknesses, can make a wonderful difference in your relationship. It helps it to become a lasting source of comfort, emotional safety, and joy. I don’t think we should wait for Valentine’s Day to show our appreciation.  Sure, a box of candy and flowers are great but let them know you are there for them physically, mentally, and spiritually daily.

Let me share one of my silly dilemmas while being in love. I become forgetful.  I sometimes forget I washed my hair, so I will rewash it. However, the funny and entertaining moments you share will make you crave each other’s presence even more. Did you know people who are in love report they spend, on average, more than 85% of their waking hours musing over their love? Wow! Love is often associated with warm and fuzzy feelings; it can also be a huge source of stress. Being in love often causes the brain to release the stress hormone cortisol. So, if you notice you are freaking out, you may be just in love. 

For the ones who have lost their loved ones.

Valentine’s day will be difficult. Though they may be gone, we keep their memories near and dear to our

hearts. Maybe do something to honor them. Have a piece of cake or a piece of candy they enjoyed. Go to a place where you both loved and sit and think of all the wonderful memories you made with your loved one. Give them thanks.

Let me leave you with this poem.

"The rose is red, the violet's blue,
The honey's sweet, and so are you.
Thou art my love and I am thine;
I drew thee to my Valentine:
The lot was cast and then I drew,
And Fortune said it shou'd be you."

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