Evolve or Remain

Hi, it's Poppy here! 

You are being presented with a choice: evolve or remain. If you choose to remain unchanged, you will be presented with the same challenges, the same routine, the same storms, the same situations, until you learn from them, until you love yourself enough to say “no more,” until you choose to change. If you choose to evolve, you will connect with the strength

within you, explore what lies outside of your comfort zone, awaken to love, and become who you are supposed to be, according to you.  Remember, reinvention is your choice. You have everything you need; it's inside of you. Choose to evolve.  Choose LOVE.

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Choose Happiness

Hi, Poppy here.  

Welcome to Poppy's Blog.

Be happy on purpose.  Look for the rainbow when it's raining.  Find hope even when it's bleak.  Choose forgiveness even when bitterness is easier.  Choose love even when it feels impossible.  Make it a habit to choose joy as much as you possibly can because life isn't meant to be lived in disappointment or frustration.  It's not meant to be lived in hatred.  It's meant to be lived laughing so hard your belly hurts.  Its meant to be filled with soft moments of love.  It's meant to be filled with tight hugs that last a lifetime.  Life is meant to be lived happily.

    -    Walk the Earth

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Remember growing old is a privilege.

Welcome to Poppy's Blog!

It’s been a while since I have written in my blog. I have been editing page after page where my eyes are pretty much cross-sided. I am working on three books, entered a few short story contests, sent a few queries to literary agents. So this keeps me on my toes.

I always make time to swim and play a little woodoku, and word connect. These games help my brainpower. On the other end of the spectrum is my granddaughter. She is becoming quite the artist. She loves to sculpt in clay, sketch, and paint with watercolors, acrylic. I have many clay sculptures or figurines around my house, and I feel blessed.

Today I am writing about growing older.

As we start to think about retiring, make sure you have a plan.  Our bodies will begin to have health issues, and we find ourselves searching for a new sense of purpose.  Think of a hobby you would like to pursue and reinvent yourself.  Maybe donate your time to an organization.  You can do it.  Close your eyes and think of yourself as a child.  What did you like doing?  Then do it.  Remember growing old is a privilege, not all will experience.  

Our bodies, including our immune system, are not as resilient or hearty as when we were young.  It’s ok.  Try to keep yourself healthy as possible.  The poor lifestyle habits you had in your younger years begin manifesting in your late 50’s and especially in the later years. They show up in diabetes, heart disease, stroke, emphysema, and a host of other conditions.  Try not to let this get you down.  You can start today and reverse some of the damage you have done to your health and body by starting to eat healthy, exercising, etc. Truly make a commitment to yourself.  There are so many new health care trends and technology. 

You will also notice your taste buds disappearing.  Try different spices in your food. Maybe add a little thyme, rosemary, basil, parsley, etc.  Just make sure to stay away from salt. 

Women will notice hair growing in peculiar places but don't worry.  It’s pretty standard because of hormonal changes in our bodies.

Our sleeping pattern changes, and sometimes you will get 4 to 6 hours of sleep. Just remember, a nap around 2 pm is OK.  I take naps every day at the same time.   

Just remember to create a life you love.

Let me end with this quote.  

    In the end, only three things matter; how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things that were not meant for you.

Poppy feels blessed to have many visitors reading her blog.  Merci!

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The Flower Box

Welcome to Poppy's Blog!

I am happy to announce I have sent "The Flower Box" to a literary agent in New York.  

It is about a family that lives in a small town.  Their mother is a creative soul who is loving, caring, and compassionate, and on the other hand, their father has demons and carries a lot of anger and rage.

The two daughters watch their mother cater to their father as if he is a child.  The mother blames his anger on herself; if she could have done this or that better. She could never do enough to head off fathers demons.  The destruction of the family starts when he flies off the handle too many times.

The Flower Box holds the secrets that will free the oldest daughter's soul.

 

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.