What is the worst thing that can happen?
What are you afraid of?
Reply
What is the worst thing that can happen?
Who are you better than?
What do you think about this statement? Are you on a journey to be ever-growing, learning and changing? Your core beliefs might remain the same, but there is something to be said for building wisdom around them.
Your thoughts,
KK
Ladies, Pay Attention
Many of us have experienced having a teenager in the house and what that can mean to getting dressed to go somewhere. They camp out in the bathroom for what seems hours and then there is a thunderstorm of clothing whirling around their room. But when they are ready, they are ready!
For the appropriately dressed teenage young lady (#momofgirls), the outfit is well put together with hair and makeup complete. They leave the house looking sharp and feeling good about the way they present themselves.
Recently while having lunch at a fast food restaurant on a Sunday, I watched families come in. For some it was obvious they were coming from church. The daughters were well dressed with hair and make-up. Just behind them were their mothers dressed in what I can only guess were clothes they had tripped over when getting out of bed and hair haphazardly pulled back in a ponytail (#styleover40). Important note, these were not families with small children that needed tending to get everyone out the door on time. Sadly, it was same for several families I observed. Please understand my thought wasn’t about why the mothers weren’t dressed to the nines, it was more about taking a little pride in what they were wearing and how they presented themselves.
Middle-age moms take note. Now is NOT the time to let yourself go. I get it, you are either married and don’t think you need to impress anyone, or you are tired of trying to figure out what fits and what doesn’t. You are right, our bodies aren’t young and firm like the teenager or twenty-something sitting across from you at work. There are two reasons I can see for a middle-aged woman to decide to make a few changes.
First, we don’t feel as young and spry as we once did. Energy levels can droop as much as our [choose body part]. There are a few more lines around our eyes and our moisturizer is our best friend. These things don’t go away under frumpy over-sized clothing. In fact, they get worse. This is your opportunity to “fake it till you feel it”. Get yourself ready to leave the house feeling complete and ready to take on the day. If your clothing is looking aged or faded, take a few minutes and clean out your wardrobe. Consignment shopping can help with budgeting for new outfits.
Second, if you are married, consider this: are you being the best you can be for your husband? Think about it, in a few years when the kids are grown and gone, it’s going to be time for just the two of you. Time for holding on to each other and enjoying the life you have built and watching your children build their own lives. Why not continue to be the “beautiful bride” of years past?
You may be thinking, “have you seen my middle-aged husband?” That’s not the point. You can’t control him, but you have complete control over yourself and your choice to age gracefully.
If you aren’t married and have a husband to consider, you are probably living a life filled with friends, work, and adventures that you still want to look and feel your best at.
Ladies, we have the choice to let ourselves go and let the aging process take over. I’ve not even mentioned diet and exercise. You tell me. After 30 days of getting up and really taking time to put yourself together for the day is there more motivation for healthier eating?
Ponder this and let me know.
KK
P.S. — please use the teenage reference as an example of how much to care about our appearance not WHAT we should be wearing. It may be worse to go from frumpy middle-aged lady to “scary lady wearing her daughter’s clothing”. Age appropriate, please.
Do you do great work?
Work is important. Doing great work separates us from so many who settle for doing just enough to get a pay check. How important is it to love what you do? We spend a lot of our adult life at work so it’s important to like the work and be interested in it.
Too many times our identity is declared by the work that we do. This can happen with or without our permission. All that matters is that we know who we are when the work goes away.
If you met someone new and had to get to know them without knowing what they do for a living, could you? Could you tell someone else who you are without telling them what you do for work?
This challenges us to have something else in our life that is a priority and something we love — play music, on a sports team, a part of a church, have a hobby. Or some other way to demonstrate who we are without work.
Think about it,
KK
Purpose of Pride
A haughty spirit is said to mean “disdainfully prideful”. That’s a lot of pride. The first part of this verse in Proverbs is the one we hear the most, “pride goes before destruction”. But if destruction isn’t bad enough to make personal changes, the completion of the verse states that a “haughty spirit goes before a fall.” So if the destruction doesn’t get ya, look out because more pride just brings more trouble; right?
On the other hand, if striving for excellence, a little pride and making a strong effort goes a long way especially when things get hard. Pride and desire to be great, gives strength in the most challenging times of work, a ballgame or relationships. The human spirit and its refusal to give up and determination to succeed are by-products of pride. In the end, even if success isn’t reached, there are other successes realized; stronger character, more wisdom.
Is pride good or evil?
Think about it,
KK
A word from a founding father…
John Hancock
April 15, 1775
“In circumstances dark as these, it becomes us, as Men and Christians, to reflect that, whilst every prudent Measure should be taken to ward off the impending Judgements….All confidence must be withheld from the Means we use; and reposed only on that GOD who rules in the Armies of Heaven, and without whose Blessing the best human Counsels are but Foolishness–and all created Power Vanity;
“It is the Happiness of his Church that, when the Powers of Earth and Hell combine against it…that the Throne of Grace is of the easiest access–and its Appeal thither is graciously invited by the Father of Mercies, who has assured it, that when his Children ask Bread he will not give them a Stone….
“RESOLVED, That it be, and hereby is recommended to the good People of this Colony of all Denominations, that THURSDAY the Eleventh Day of May next be set apart as a Day of Public Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer…to confess the sins…to implore the Forgiveness of all our Transgression…and a blessing on the Husbandry, Manufactures, and other lawful Employments of this People; and especially that the union of the American Colonies in Defense of their Rights (for hitherto we desire to thank Almighty GOD) may be preserved and confirmed….And that AMERICA may soon behold a gracious Interposition of Heaven.”
By Order of the [Massachusetts] Provincial
Congress, John Hancock, President.
Working is good, but in perspective and within a health balance of life — God, Family, Work.
KK
56 Nights with Hippies, Businessmen and the Bard
Tonight was the opening night for the 54th season of the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival. The C. Douglas Ramey stage was set for a Midsummer’s Night Dream, but the atmosphere was a dream come true. Ten months ago Producing Artistic Director, Matt Wallace stepped in with a vision for a true festival and an expanded summer season. Matt has been in the wings directing elsewhere, waiting for his opportunity to direct back home in the park.
The benches were filled with an eclectic audience. There were business men straight from the office with a loosened tie relaxing with a Brown-Forman cocktail and over at the picnic tables a beautiful young earthy girl and a boyfriend who had plenty of piercings. A group of students gather on the back row ready to fulfill their extra credit requirements. The Louisville Food Truck Association is the star with a hot dog truck and a truck with desserts; or perhaps you bring your own picnic.
The spirit of William Shakespeare no doubt danced in perfect step to the pre-show roaming musicians. With the audience transported back 400 years, the actors took the stage and completed the journey to the mischief-filled night in the forest with Puck and his friends.
To celebrate Shakespeare’s 450th birthday there will be 55 more nights in Central Park through August 17th – A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Henry V, and Hamlet. The Globe Players (youth) will round out the festival with Love’s Labour’s Lost.
Come to the park this summer and see where you will end up. Don’t think you can understand what’s going on? Ah, this is the magic of the theater – you will understand the story if not all of the words. Just go, and let your self be drawn into the action and expressions on the stage. You will leave the evening a changed person; possibly looking at love and life a little differently.
See you in the park,
KK
Climate Controlled
So the other evening my husband walked in from work red-faced and sweating. It took me a minute to realize what was going on. While his work is sometimes physical and outside, and had been away from any of that activity for about 20 minutes, his car has no air conditioning and it was close to 90 degrees outside. Then like a splash of cold water it hit me, my world is very climate controlled.
If I get too cold, I make an adjustment to the thermostat. If I get too warm, another adjustment is made; never too cold, never too hot. When I leave to go somewhere, I get in the hot car and turn on the air conditioner. It’s like living in a season-neutral world – not too hot, not too cold, don’t get rained on etc.
I wouldn’t call us soft, but what would your first thought be if there is a power outage on a very hot evening? One guess would be, call a hotel! Can we not stand to be a little uncomfortable? Do we take the opportunity to have a little adventure and experience what the uncontrolled environment feels like?
Those of us who work in offices need to be intentional about getting outside, letting our bodies be a part of creation; feel the sunshine, let a rain drop or two land on your nose, get a little sweaty, freeze a little.
Your thoughts,
KK
P.S. – he’s getting his air conditioner fixed this month.
Spiritual Myth #3 – “God Loves You Unconditionally”
This article will make you think. From retired minister Bob Russell,
Spiritual Myth #3 – “God Loves You Unconditionallyâ€.
Would love your thoughts.
KK
There is a Difference
Recently I heard someone say there is a difference between being filled and being fulfilled. This was a statement I had to write down and think about. Later that day I treated myself to some McDonald’s French fries. I don’t do this often, but I took my son to get his lunch and the waft of deep fried potatoes made only the way McDonald’s makes them, overtook my judgment as soon as I opened the door.
They came out piping hot; a golden delight to behold. My fountain Coke bubbling wonderfully over ice with the straw at the ready. I chose the perfectly shaped fry and took that long awaited bite. As I chewed up this fantasy favorite, I quickly noted that there was no salt on them. My craving and thoughts of sinking my teeth into the perfectly deep fried, lightly salted McDonald’s fries were shattered by the reality of what I was served. It was if karma (if you believe in karma) swooped in with my doctor’s orders to watch my salt. I left the restaurant filled with carbs and completely unfulfilled otherwise.
In that moment I was seeking fulfillment from something very temporary. Even if the salt had been correct, I would have still been hungry an hour later. Had I chosen more wisely, perhaps a something in the protein family, or even chosen an entirely different restaurant, my fulfillment would have been of higher quality and would have lasted longer.
In a similar fashion, each day we choose what we fill our minds, hearts and souls and body with. Are we choosing high quality information? Are we looking for positive stories and information that grows us personally and professionally? Are we using our own judgment to determine what to believe and dwell on or are we just believing everything others tell us? Do we fill our minds with the junk food offered on television or in the media? Are we choosing that which is temporary or that which transcends earthly misperceptions of lasting peace and satisfaction?
By filling our hearts and minds with that which leads us to grow, learn and even change for the better, each day we become more of who we are meant to be. We will find ourselves more in tuned with that which produces longer lasting fulfillment.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9
Share with me your thoughts on the matter.
All the best,
KK
KK's Candor 