Thankful, Naturally

Being a positive person doesn't come naturally to me. I tend to automatically focus on the things in life that don't measure up. Here's how Merriam Webster defines automatic -

largely or wholly involuntary; especially : reflex 5 b: acting or done spontaneously or unconsciously c: done or produced as if by machine : mechanical

That's me...spontaneously, unconsciously, involuntarily focusing on the most minute of imperfections - like a dang machine. While this might be my natural inclination, I don't have to settle for this characteristic.

I have control over my mind and I can make the choice to change my focus. For now it requires concentration and conscious effort. It may even take a quiet internal conversation with myself to get the right perspective, but it can be done. I can choose to accentuate the positive and appreciate the beauty, blessings and bounty of my life.

And someday maybe my automatic response will be celebrating the good, the right, the positive in life...automatically, naturally!

What r u thankful 4?

A Pretty Quilt...

...and it's mine. Well actually, it's my daughter's now. It is a Quilt in a Day pattern by Eleanor Burns called Garden Lattice. It took slightly longer than a day to complete...more like a year, give or take. I tried my hand at free motion quilting. There is a flower in each of the squares. The stitching doesn't show in this picture, which is a bummer. But it turned out pretty nicely.

I'm thankful for time (and money) to quilt.

What r u thankful 4?

Finished

Not only did I make some new pals at the quilt retreat, but I finished a quilt top that I've had around in pieces since 2000. Phew - that was nice to go done.

I also complete this little project (from start to finish) on that retreat -



It was so nice to have long uninterupted times to just sew, sew, sew. The location - Cambria Pines Lodge - was beautiful as well.




There were beautiful gardens on the property, separated by cute little gates. The flora and fauna was unique and glorious. It was a wonderful spot.

Friends

If it weren't for friends life would be pretty boring. There are different types of friends. There is the best friend. This is the friend that you can spill your heart to and she'll listen for hours if that's what you need. She's insightful and patient. She'll be there tomorrow and ten years from now. She's rock-solid. She's your best friend and you're hers.

There are buddies. These are the friends that you connect with regularly. Being one of the girls is what this group is about. Chit-chat and catching up are what you do when you get together. The commitment level is minimal and there's an understanding that sometimes life just gets in the way. Grace is extended for those times and then you carry on.

Groupies are those people who have a common interest. These friends aren't necessarily close, but they like to do the same things and they are fun to be around because they are passionate about the same things you're passionate about. A close bond may or may not form...and that's okay.

Casual acquaintances. These are the people who come in and out of your life, but who don't have a connection of any depth. The neighbor that you talk to occasionally, the man at the dry cleaners, the people at church that you see every week and greet with a hello.

It's nice to have all kinds of friends. This week I'm at a quilt retreat making new friends. I'm having a blast - sewing, eating, laughing and getting to know each other. It's not a bad way to spend a week.

What r u thankful 4?

Questions to Consider

I receive Mark Sanborn's email newsletter called Leadership Lessons. The most recent issue was especially insightful. It was titled Live Like Your Life Depends On It. There were many good points, but the checklist below stood out to me.

Checklist for a Successful Day

Did I tell or show someone that I loved them?
Did I compliment or praise someone I live or work with today?
Did I read a book or listen to a tape that stimulated my thinking?
Did I increase my skill in my profession?
Did I do something for good health?
Am I closer to my goals than when I woke up this morning?
Did I do anything tough or challenging to build discipline?
Did I do something just for the pure joy of it?
Have I taken time to reflect on the lessons of the day?
Have I planned for another successful day tomorrow?

If you can answer yes to most of these questions, you have created a day of uncommon success.

I agree.

What r u thankful 4?

Quilt Show

I enjoyed a wonderful day with my mother-in-law at the International Quilt Festival in Long Beach.

It was fun to see all the different ways people define quilting. There were some quilts that were on display that weren't even quilted, much less pieced. Traditional style quilts were in the minority, but the ones that were there were spectactular with their fine hand quilting and wonderful use of color.

Shopping...oh yes, lots of shopping! I showed much restraint and didn't buy a stitch of fabric. I made only two purchases. One was an open-toe foot for my sewing machine so I can do machine applique and the other was a video and toothbrush needle from Aunt Philly's. What does one do with a toothbrush needle, you ask. She makes rag rugs, of course. They look like this...

I'm thankful for this day of fun and shopping and for the opportunity to appreciate the talents and perspectives of others.

What r u thankful 4?

The Internet

Don't you just love the Internet? Where else can you find the price of a TV, a recipe for dinner, book a flight, find a quilt pattern and check out the weather? I'm amazed on a daily basis that we have all these resources at our fingertips.

I'm even more amazed when I learn that family members and friends don't spend nearly as much time as I do surfing it's glorious pages. What's wrong with them?! I guess that they don't they realize that they too could escape and lose hours to its magnetic pull. Or perhaps they do and they just have more discipline. More likely the case.

I'm still thankful for this wonderful tool. A few days ago I had a computer death scare. My computer wouldn't start up. I tried 6 or 7 times and Windows just wouldn't start. I almost went into shock at the thought of not having access to the Internet until the new computer was purchased, unpacked and booted up. It was enough to give a girl palpitations.

But...wait...it was just a scare - a false alarm. My computer wouldn't boot up because I had left a thumb drive in the usb port and it was confused about where to get it's start up information. Once I removed the thumb drive, it started up just fine. Visions of a new computer fled from my brain. I was flooded with relief. I can't afford a new computer. What was I thinking?

Not only was I relieved about not buying a new computer I didn't have to waited an unnecessarily long time to get back to the Internet. Whew! That was a close call. I knew I could make it, but it wouldn't have been pretty.

Am I thankful for the Internet? You bet I am.

What r u thankful 4?