Best Life NOW! Blog

I hate to admit this.   For the past six months, I have had a to-do on my list that I kept passing over.   I passed it over because I thought it would take too long.  I passed it over because it had been a long time since I had done it last time and I wasn't sure I remembered how. What was it?   Cleaning my dryer vent hose. Kind of important - and I kept putting it off. Have you ever skipped over a task because you weren't sure how to do it - or that it would take too long? Let me tell you - this task took me all of 30 minutes.  Done. What passed over task will you cross off of your list today?  You will feel so accomplished once it's done! In Joy, Wendy

Truly sad.  I agree. The joy in this quote - you still have the power to turn those "might's" into "did".   How amazing is that ? It's almost never too late to follow through on what might have been. Changing a relationship for the better, for example.  Looking at a problem in a different light.  Did you say way back when that you "might" go to Hawaii?  Go.  Do.  The time is now. What "might" are you going to change into "did"? In Joy, Wendy

My husband and I recently took a trip to Wisconsin.  We stopped at the SC Johnson Wax Headquarters in Racine, Wisconsin and got to watch the video that I have shared here. To Be Alive! was first shown at the New York World's Fair in 1964/1965.   I have posted the original film shown in 1964/1965.  It is still relevant today - maybe even more so.  We are all so busy rushing here and there and doing this and that.    We never stop and just look around and appreciate the wonder all around us. One line in the film went something like -  We need never lose our sense of life's wonder or its joy. So take a minute - actually take about 19 minutes - and enjoy the video.  Then look around at the wonder and joy in your life.

I should not have smelled roses this time of year.  It is the middle of April in Indiana.  But I did.   Roses are nowhere near to blooming here this time of year.  Yet a t the exact moment that I was reflecting and remembering Father John Strebig there was the very strong fragrance of roses. Father Strebig passed away last week.  I attended his prayer service and afterward I went for a walk in the park.  I've walked this path many times over the years.  However, this time was different.  As I was thinking of Father Strebig I smelled roses.   In Northwest Indiana, in the middle of April - I am smelling roses.   Then I remembered Father Strebig's devotion to Mary.  Part of that devotion is the association to Mary of roses.   What joy!  What an incredible gift from Father Strebig. Father Strebig played a very big role in my life.  As a convert, he taught me the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  He joined...

My dad's handwriting I have always been self conscious about my handwriting.  My mother's handwriting is perfect.  I mean, just lovely.  Then there's mine.  No matter how I tried - I just could not measure up to hers. If someone said, "my handwriting is the worst," I would challenge them to look at mine.  I always won. Recently, my perspective has changed.  A sample of my dad's handwriting can be seen above.  I was floored when I saw this.  It is identical to my - what I thought - was awful handwriting.  Now, admittedly, it is not the best.  What changed my perspective is that it is my dad's handwriting and even though I grew up without him - my handwriting matches.   How cool is that?  Answer - very . Finding this, I feel like somehow my dad is still influencing me.  I am also taking a part of him into the future. So - sloppy handwriting is now my mark of honor. What's your joy on the other side of grief...

I found this photo recently.  My dad is on the ladder and my grandpa is below. My joy on the other side of grief today is finding photos like this that I had never seen before. What joy can you find from your grief today? In Joy, Wendy

I have been sorting and scanning paper, mementos and memories lately like it's nobody's business.  After all, this is the best time to do it.  It's cold outside so I thought I would catch up on projects inside. As many of you know, my dad passed away many years ago in 1981.  I was only 6. I came across the card that they passed out at the funeral home.  I've always only looked at the right side of this two sided card.  The side that lists the name, date of birth, date of death.  I've also only looked briefly.  After all of these years it is still painful to see. The other day I finally noticed the left side.  It was a poem by Tennyson.   Sunset and evening star    And one clear call for me! And may there be no moaning of the bar,    When I put out to sea, But such a tide as moving seems asleep,    Too full for sound and foam, When that which drew from out the boundless deep ...