January 7--Fun Ahead!

This would be a good day to choose to bring our divine vitality wherever we go. We leave our mark, however slight it may appear. Will we bring wholeness, vigor and inspiration?  --Margaret Stortz

    So there is this nasty "help" provided by AI when I'm writing the blog. I just typed "Margaret" and it changed it to "Mary aren't." What?!!? I can't find any way to turn off this "feature." I will be the first in line to say that I don't want anything to do with AI. Why don't we do something about grossly wide-spread human stupidity before we tear off into artificial "intelligence"?

    Back to divine vitality... my chances to spread mine around today will be in pickleball and assorted errands, including paint shopping for my newest creation. Pickleball play is with random partners who tend to say "sorry" when they screw up. My reply is, "It's a game!" Most of us who play at this time and place are older, and I'd bet that once we are out the door, none of us can remember how many games we played or whether we won or lost. Simply stated, the purpose is FUN. After pickleball I will have the great joy of playing with the paint sample strips at Lowe's. I'm like a kid in a candy shop with all those colors in front of me. 

    Playing and painting--I'm happy to share my divine vitality! 

        Leta

January 6--Really, Nothing Should Surprise Us

Five years ago today was the most shameful day in American history. 
--Robert Reich

    Geez!!! I should have saved yesterday's "venom" post for today, the 5th anniversary of the Capitol attack instigated by DJT. 

    I saw this phrase somewhere in my reading: "critical ignoring." We need that skill now more than ever. I'm trying to do this more often: read the headline and ask myself, "Will I feel better after reading this?" Generally the answer is "NO!" so I move on. I do have a couple of writers I especially like, including Reich and Heather Cox Richardson. I have never been a history buff, but Richardson delivers history in interesting and comfortable ways.    

    Slowly climbing out of the negativity pit, 

            Leta

January 5--Preferring Expiration over Inspiration, in this Case

Lord, Lord, how subject we old men are to this vice of lying! 
--William Shakespeare

    I want to give credit where credit is due, noting that our current President is extremely skilled in at least one area. His super-power is inspiring hate. I received a SPAM text yesterday that said, "Your social security went to pay an illegal immigrant's college tuition." I kid you not!!! I am fully aware that hating is not good for anyone or anything, but I would be lying (like our POTUS) if I said that I felt no hate. I hate that there are people stupid or ignorant or greedy enough to believe his lies and continue to support him. I hate that our Kansas Republican Congressmen have no balls whatsoever to stand up to him and do what is right. I despise all the threats that have been issued and the unlimited desire for vengeance. Everyone who supports DJT is a traitor to our country, and don't even think there is any connection between being a DJT supporter and being Christian--those are on totally opposite ends of the spectrum. I hate that DJT is even still breathing. I will be one of the first to start singing the Munchkins' tune, "Ding, dong, the witch is dead!" on the glorious day that he moves on from his mission of destroying the United States. I am embarrassed to be a U.S. citizen. 

    I generally try to hang on the side of love and hope, but now and then I need to vent.

        Leta

January 4--The "Newly Resolute"

New Year's resolutions work like this: you think of something you enjoy doing and then resolve to stop doing it.  --Charlie Brooker

    So true! LOL! I have been a YMCA member for nearly 50 years, first in Green Bay, Wisconsin, then here in Wichita. Every new year we see an influx of the "newly resolute." They are ready to go with their exercise regimen and plan to transform their health and lives. We politely welcome them and share our swim lanes with them, knowing that we will likely see them only a few times. While the intentions may be good, the necessary discipline is not there. 

    I've been in that place. That's why I've resolved to give up on resolutions! I simply plan and hope to continue those daily/weekly/monthly practices that have been supporting me for many years. We remember that it is always easier to continue a practice than it is to restart it. 

    Moving forward, one day at a time,

        Leta

January 3--Giving Back

Willingly I bring my gifts to life: kindness, generosity, joy, compassion and love.  
--Margaret Stortz

    I'm adding creativity to the list above. 

    I have heard folks say "I'm not creative." Well, if you are alive, you are creating your life. That's why we choose to come here. 

    I am extremely dependent on nudges from Spirit for my paintings. They have come consistently ever since I took up the hobby. (Fortunately, Spirit knows I love bright colors, glitter, Green Frog Tape and straight lines!!) I am going on a Florida vacation in a week, so we'll see what "lands" on me; it may be after I get back home. I love waking up knowing there is a painting project about six feet away from me. 

    Which of the gifts will you focus on today? Multiples are allowed!!!

        Leta

The other grandson's name painting

January 2--We Can Do Better!

Critical thinking and curiosity are the key to creativity.  --Amala Akkineni

    I offer the wisdom below, seen at a recent stop at one of Wichita's finest stores, The Spice Merchant. Let's do a better job in 2026 with critical thinking. It is required to get us out of this mess and create a sustainable future.

        Leta

January 1--An End-of-Year Kindness

Performing miracles isn’t a matter of doing the impossible, it’s a matter of re-imagining the possible.  --Mike Dooley, "Notes from the Universe," 1/1/2026

    From the Dec 28 post:

    Just as I'm floating along this smooth, easy river of life, I look up at the woman cave ceiling at a brand new wet spot underneath where the kitchen sink and dishwasher reside. This will rearrange my husband's already lengthy project list, oh joy. I have offered my prayer to the Universe that this is a simple, easy repair.

    My husband went in search of the leak, starting with pulling out the dishwasher. There was no leak there, and he was able to reinstall the dishwasher more level and securely, so it was an OK effort. Ultimately he discovered the leak within our Culligan reverse osmosis (RO) system, in a uniquely shaped part that he could find NOwhere, despite online and hardware store shopping. So he arranged for a Culligan repair this past Tuesday. The dispatcher said there would be a minimum $200 trip charge. 

    A young man arrived late in the designated service time window and, with my husband's direction, saw the problem right away. Side note: different dates of home construction, plumbing, and materials make each RO installation unique. The repairman just happened to have one of the needed parts in his truck, and he had no idea when he might have an application for it. It had our name on it! And he fixed another issue that we didn't know about. And, drum roll, he did not charge us!!! An impressive end-of-year kindness! 

    Prayer was answered (as always) and the woman cave ceiling is drying 😀

        Leta