Category Choices

Mama Catches Happiness

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Mama Catches Happiness

Mamas Catch.jpg

After I caught this crappie at Truman Lake, my husband told my kids, “Now Mama is happy.”

I made them take my picture. I was proud of my catch and I wanted my kids to see my pride.

Heavy storms with lots of thunder and lightening blew through two of the three nights we were at the lake. The storm fronts seemed to have scared off the fish because we only caught about 15 fish the entire trip. My contributions to the fishing came in the form of this and one other fish caught, keeping the boys from falling in the water, and having minnows ready to bait my daughter’s hook. I just happened to catch this guy during one of the quieter moments of our excursion. I fished with my youngest son on my lap so he could “catch” one too, but he couldn’t stand the wait so we never snagged one for him.

Fishing with my kids is stressful and scary for me. I am afraid of water.

Water has frightened me since I was a teenager. As a camp counselor, I had to rescue two girls after they tipped over their canoe in a deep and restricted part of the camp lake. A year later I had to provide first aid to a man who sustained a head injury at a local water slide when he flipped off the mat (on which he was supposed to remain seated). People who are not afraid of water get hurt. I am afraid of water.

On our fishing trip, safety precautions were my number one concern. Appropriately fitting life jackets, secured seats, swimming lesson reminders, and safety whistles were all in place.  The waters were calm and my always zen husband sat confidently as he drove the boat. I clutched my youngest son for dear life. Continue reading “Mama Catches Happiness” →

Tune into Peace – Wise Words Wednesday

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Tune into Peace – Wise Words Wednesday

A Channel of Peace.png

Most people only think of television or the radio when it comes to channels. Way before tv took over our mindscape, channels meant a way to guide or divert things like water or attention.

“Prayer of St. Francis” has long been one of my favorite church hymns but lately it has had a much more powerful meaning. There seems to be so much hurt and hatred in our world caused by the sensitivity we have created amongst ourselves. We need to redirect our emotions and energy toward creating peace.

No two people were made the same. (Thank goodness!) We need to embrace the things that make us different and let go of the things that we believe divide us. This isn’t about race, gender, or religion. It’s about love.

Too many believe that they cannot love or be loved by certain groups. Those kinds of ideas must be derailed and their love and thoughts must be channeled by means of peace.

Please continue to direct your energy and intents to ending unrest and hurt. Bring unity and coexistence to daily routines. Tune out the ideas that only violence and revenge can end the disparities. Let peace be the channel by which we find love for everyone and let injuries find healing through our actions and words.

By: Melanie A. Peters

Farewell to Non-Fiction (for a while)

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Farewell to Non-Fiction (for a while)

Farewell NonFiction.png

Reading non-fiction has always made me feel smarter. I have not always liked reading non-fiction because I found it to be dry and uninteresting, but for the last six months I have been drawn to biographies, self-help, and historical books. These books definitely educated me on the lives, events, and ideas they captured, but something was missing.

On a recent get-away with my best friend, I read an autobiography and a blogging guide. She read one and a half romance novels. I liked my autobiography and made some great notes on how to improve my blog from the manual. When we discussed what we were reading, it was clear that her reading was much more stimulating for relaxation and imagination. As we discussed her books, I brought up books that I had read in the past I thought she would enjoy, and she recommended a few to me. I realized I missed fiction.

It is time for me to take a break from non-fiction. My brain needs an escape from reality. In the last week I have already plowed through one Nora Roberts novel and a Linda Lael Miller book. My aunt recommended titles from Jodi Piccoult and Sandra Brown. This break from the stark realities of history and technical advice should do my synapses some good.

Consider doing the same for yourself. Turn off CNN or the talk shows. Turn on to something fun and imaginative. Pick up a book, tell ghost stories around a camp fire, color pictures with your kids, paint a painting, play with play-do. Give yourself a vacation from the cold facts of the evening news and soften your heart with creative words and comfortable interactions.

I know I will find my way back to the world of biographies and history soon, but for now I am excited to unravel unreal mysteries and build relationships with the fictional friends only found in books.

Give yourself some time to unwind from the world and release energy from the works and writings of those who know how to tell a great story. It is healthy to let your mind wander every once-in-a-while. You can always reel it back in when you need to. Say, “farewell, non-fiction, if only for a little while.”

By: Melanie A. Peters

 

 

Hit and Run – Wise Words Wednesday

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Hit and Run – Wise Words Wednesday

Hit and Run

No sane person I know likes to get hit. Most people I know run away when they get hit. Life throws a lot of punches our way but we have to keep moving.

 

The Slide Less Slid

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The Slide Less Slid

Slides.jpg

At our local MacDonald’s there is a play place. This play place has two slides. The red one is really curvy. The blue one is taller and snakes around the red one.

Recently my three-year old climbed up the top of the blue slide and slid down it all by himself.

Big deal. Right? Well it was a humongous, ginormous deal. I cannot tell you how many times my two older kids, a McDonald’s employee, or I had to climb up the squishy steps, through the big plastic tunnel, over the netted bridge (that I know I am too heavy for), and bring him down kicking and crying because he was scared. It was a big deal, I tell ya.

When he arrived at the bottom of the blue slide (by himself = big deal), the smile on his face was priceless and the speed that he climbed back up for another slide was record-breaking. It was an inspiring moment.

There are so many things I remember about childhood that terrified me, but when I finally dove in, I couldn’t stop reliving the accomplishment. It was the same for my little guy. He still loves to remind me of how he slid down the blue slide, when we drive by McDonald’s. (any McDonald’s) 🙂

When we were kids, we lived on a dairy farm. At two spots in our driveway, there were cattle guards that you had to cross to get to our home. I was terrified to ride my bike over them because I kept picturing my bike and I falling into one of the spaces between the rails. My younger sister Olivia would ride her bike fast and glide right over them, but I was too afraid. I would always stop before getting to each cattle guard and walk my bike over it. Probably an act that was much more likely to end up with me between the rails, but it was my method. Eventually, I gave into Olivia’s matter-of-fact explanation for why I should just-ride-over-the-stupid-thing and made it across without incident. I found that speeding up was fun and the faster I went the smoother my crossing. Similar to my son, I hurried up to cross the cattle guard the next time.

I know speeding up isn’t the solution for most problems, but allowing yourself to jump into a solution could be what you need. If there is a problem or situation in your life that you know what you have to do to get past it, do it. Slide, ride, jump, or speak your way past whatever is holding you back. Need a little encouragement? Check out the July Positivity Challenge. It might help you build up the speed you need to slide past your problems.

What are you going to slide through today?

By: Melanie A. Peters

 

Burst Your Own Bubble – July Positivity Challenge

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Burst Your Own Bubble – July Positivity Challenge

 

Burst Your Own Bubble.png

“Do one thing everyday that scares you.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

Intentergy’s July Positivity Challenge is to burst your own bubbles of insecurity or fear. Send those inhibitions flying. Burst the barriers that hold you back from being happy with yourself or your life.

Here are a few things to try:

png 1 Get your bubbles in a row

  • Make a list of the things that hold you back from participating in social or professional functions or that leave you frustrated with yourself
  • Identify what events or things cause the greatest anxiety for you
  • Create a picture or chart of the stressors that rule your thoughts or constantly hang in the back of your mind

png 1 Be a Bubble Brain

  • Have a willingness to change your mind. When you are ready to stop dedicating your brain power to those fears, your brain will become too slippery for those thoughts to hold on; they will wash themselves away.
  • Address the things you listed or drew when you were getting your bubbles in a row. Short of death, what can you do to get past those big, bad bubbles?
  • Devise a plan that will help you get past those insecurities. Start with the little worries or hang ups and work your way to dispelling the bigger hindrances harbored in your heart. For example, start with your fear of trying new foods before your fear of flying. Order something new from the menu of your favorite restaurant before you tackle your fear of air planes by sky diving.
  • Ask for help. There are many resources out there. Friends, family, counselors, good books, websites (like http://www.intentergy.com), and health care professionals are ready and waiting to blow away those bubbly barriers with you.

png 1 Let the wind carry it all away

  • Once you have turned away an inhibition, let it go. Forgive yourself for the fear or reservations. You are always a work in progress. You will never forget the growth you experienced getting past that problem, but you can forget to let it have power over you again.
  • When those bubbly burdens pop back up, breeze right on past them. Remember you popped that bubble. It can’t trap you anymore.

png 1 Be a Bubble-Busting Bad Ass

  • Keep that list of fears and inhibitions handy. After the first problem is popped, move on to the next. Only you can stop yourself. They are just bubbles after all.
  • Facing your fears makes you tougher. Once you have busted that first bubble, go for the second. The sky is the limit.
  • Yes, some bubbles are going to be harder to wreak havoc on than others, but you’ve got this. You are a Bubble-Busting Bad Ass.

After you have kissed any bubble of doubt good-bye, you can expect to feel or see:

png 1 A Victory Dance

  • After breaking past those bad feelings, bust a move! Give yourself time and energy to feel good about what you have accomplished. My favorite victory dance takes form in the eating a Hershey’s chocolate bar. 🙂

png 1 Bubbles can come back

  • The bubbles will be back. Remember, you busted past that bad boy. It isn’t your barrier anymore. You are a Bubble-Busting Bad Ass.

png 1 New bubbles may pop up

  • When a new fear or insecurity flies at you, take aim at what you need to do to get past it. You have conquered other fears and doubts, the new ones are no different. Do not let them hold you back or cage you in. Forgive yourself when you feel like your fears have won. You are always a work in progress. Just keep poppin’ away.

Put your energy into blowing away the insecurities that float your direction. When it comes to shooting down those shortcomings, put positivity into your intent and your nervousness and worries can’t help but to simply dissolve away.

By: Melanie A. Peters

 

Summit’s System for Success – Wise Words Wednesday

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Summit’s System for Success – Wise Words Wednesday

Summits Success System

Pat Summit changed lives. Her headstrong, no non-sense way of facing life on and off the basketball court impacted more people than she could ever imagine.

Aside from being the winningest coach in NCAA Division I basketball history, Coach Summit brought attention to a sport that had long been overlooked and demonstrated what it was to be a strong female leader.

People respected Pat Summit and her methods. She brought about progress. That progress will continue beyond her time with us because of the lessons she taught. There was so much more to her than the competitiveness and dedication that she demonstrated. There was an understanding that anything worth doing is worth working for.

Take Pat’s advice today and make your goals something measurable. They can only become tangible, if we dedicate ourselves to the successes and failures we encounter. Work past simply writing them down. Make your words your actions. Make things happen.

Rest in peace, Coach Summit. Thank you for all you taught us.

By: Melanie A. Peters

Don’t Go Anywhere

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Don’t Go Anywhere

Don't go anywhere.JPG

My kids really like stay-at-home days. I LOVE stay-at-home days! It is so nice to be able to enjoy the comfort of our home and not rush to go anywhere.

There is something so healthy about lazy days. Relaxing on your couch or porch. Eating straight out of the pantry. Being surrounded by the familiar sounds of the air conditioner running or the creaks of floor boards or the hum of the fridge running stimulates your inner peace. When you can be completely at ease, your body can rebuild and replenish itself from the grind of constantly being on the run.

It isn’t always easy to find a full day to stay in, but find a morning or an afternoon where you can just be at home. Make time to soak up the simplicity of just being in your space and be grateful for all you have. Keep your car in park and station yourself in a seat or space that allows complete stillness.

The benefits of making quiet time resound in all you do. Allowing your mind and body some down time will make your busy time much more effective.

Not a quiet time kind of person? Play a board game with your family or work in your flower beds. Organize some drawers or rearrange your furniture. Freshen up your space with creativity or movement. You might find a new layout for your living room or a simpler way to sort your socks. All of these are ways to make your life better.

Keep your energy at home and your intents on gratitude and relaxation. Positive things will come from keeping yourself in park and will make revving up your engine a little easier next time.

By: Melanie A. Peters

 

 

 

Soup in Summertime

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Soup in Summertime

Summertime soup.JPG

I don’t make soup very often in the summer. I don’t know why.

Yes, it is hot outside, but thanks to the miracle of air conditioning, it is plenty cool inside.

Summer is when the perfect ingredients are fresh from the garden and it is so easy to have a bowl of soup with a salad and be on our way.

We eat meals every day at home. I believe firmly in cooking and eating together, so soup is perfect. My kiddos can help prepare and add the ingredients and then we can enjoy the fruits of our labor together. Plus left overs can be a life saver on a busy day, and soup is often better the second time around.

The message of today’s post is this: Take time to consider options that are available to you which you wouldn’t normally take advantage. If there is a free service or program, check it out. Enjoy the things your community has to offer like park programs, nature talks, free concerts, art shows, car shows, or patronize a farmers’ market.

If fresh fruits and veggies make themselves available to you, be grateful for the source and share in the wealth. My father-in-law brought us a bucket of zucchini and potatoes from his garden. I prepped and froze some zucchini for us, grilled some, and shared the rest with our neighbors. Continue reading “Soup in Summertime” →

I Made It Myself!

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I Made It Myself!

I made it myself watercolor

Recently my amazing friend Sonya hosted a painting party for a group of our friends from school. She created a simple, landscape watercolor scene and then guided us through the steps of painting our own landscape.

Because the painting was a watercolor the lines were not finite and bled into one another. For some of us the lack of clear delineation between background and foreground and water and land was disturbing. Sonya assured us that the watercolor was really a “loose landscape,” to which we came up with some interesting interpretations.

It was a very cool experience.

We ate and drank and talked and painted. We took photos and shared our thoughts on the process. We celebrated the differences in each artist’s work and surprisingly the emotions we each felt were as diverse as the results of our work.

Some found the experience to be fun and relaxing, while others found it nerve-racking and stressful, they were just there for conversation and painted to be a part of the experience. I am pretty sure a few came just to see if they could test Sonya’s patience. ( Seriously, who puts orange in a cool toned sky line?) 😉 In the end we were all excited to be finished with our paintings because it meant, while we worked together, Continue reading “I Made It Myself!” →