z Cottage by the Sea : challenges
Showing posts with label challenges. Show all posts
Showing posts with label challenges. Show all posts

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Exercising the Mind

How lazy are we humans?
We exercise the body... maybe.. if we get time.. if we think of it.. if we can get ourselves moving and motivated.
We procrastinate in so much. "Oh, I will do it later," rather than getting it done when it needs doing and then we sit on our fat behinds doing.. what?
What do we do instead of what needs to be done?
What we do is promote stagnation in mind and body.
 We use the tired excuse that we aren't capable of doing things. And that excuse is pure, unadulterated, 100% organic, smelly Horse Hockey.

Listen, the mind needs exercise as well as the body.
Now Toni was putting up a good brain exercise every week. She posted a small number of questions in story form and challended us to fill in the blanks and create something.


"Oh, I am just not creative!"
No, of course not if you never try to create.  Sheesh! Cause-Effect!

A while back,  Marva Collins knew that children could learn far more than they did.
In impoverished Westside Park in Chicago, Mrs. Collins was troubled at children labeled "learning disabled".      Oh, no they were not!
Mirs. Collins started her own school teaching Shakespeare and Latin to students who every one thought could not learn.
Stupid you say? No. Both expand the mind just as Mozart will increase your IQ.
Did the kids learn? You bet they did. She taught them to move, stretch themselves and get going.
"I could never learn Latin or Shakespeare."    Nope, not with that "I
have already failed before I even bother" attitude you can't.

Let  me ask you: has your education ceased? Why?
This isn't really off topic but speaks to a problem people have.  A woman on the radio was talking about "back in 'my' generation, etc..."
Wait a minute, lady. YOUR generation? Does that mean you are dead now and speaking from the grave? Because if you are alive this is still YOUR generation and will be until you kick the bucket.  Your are already finished before you finish. That is pathetic isn't it?

I mention this because it is a mind set that is downright evil. You limit yourself to the past and that is always a great mistake. You are never too old to learn, to grow, to exercise the mind and the character. Yes, character, like muscles, needs to be used to grow.
When you say you have no imagination and can't write a story you are limiting yourself willfully and limiting your growth. You can do it. You can do whatever you put your mind to do.
Your generation is NOW. Your generation is the one you are living in right now. This is your time.
Stop warehousing yourself and get back to shaking the earth, changing, teaching, learning and growing in knowledge and wisdom.
No one says that your story must win a Pulitzer prize. No one expects it to be earth-shattering in scope or even grammatically perfect!  What they do expect is to see a bit more of you and your ideas.  It is what blogging is all about.

Worry that no one will like what you blog is ego gone wild. Drop it. Just drop it and move on.  You have a huge amount to give and share and I don't care who you are or what lame excuse you come up with. You are amazing!

You say you have nothing to blog about? Toni gave you something. Use it, darn it.
You don't have ideas?  You really come right out and admit that? Whoa....
 
Where does your mind go? How does it get there? What is your process of thinking?
And the benefit to you? Growth my friend.
Think outside the box. Use your past experiences, your friends, your dreams and hopes to fill in blanks., but use your mind.Stretch yourself to be more than you are. Don't sit back and we satisfied with who and what you are. Grow!
We are in the image of God. Well, are you? Are you smart? Are you composed of stellar character and high morals? Is your understanding of world events correct or even real?
How do you know?
Learn! Do things. Get outside of your comfort zone and learn to do more than you do.
Never stop learning or growing, giving and sharing who and what you are with others.
We need one another.

You want ideas for blogging?
Tell us how you clean your home. What products do you use? Why?
What books are read? Why?
What hobbies do you enjoy?
Got a problem? Ask the community to help sort it out.
Tell us about breakfast. Do you  realize we run out of ideas and need your help on dinners, lunches and breakfast ideas?
What do you wear. What makeup is best? Let us know. We need you. We just really do.
Give advice. Give support. Give your time in blogging. You have things to give whether you realize it or not.
Stop finding excuses to do nothing. As I said, you really are amazing. Stop hiding your light beneath a bushel and give yourself a chance.
 I can be very blunt, I know, but I love people and want to see them succeed and reach their hightest potential.
Now I don't want to have to get tough here.. so shape up.
No animals were harmed in the making of this rant.
Love and kisses,
Annie


Monday, October 23, 2017

A Monday Afternoon

Just a photo of the ocean.
Photo:Beach near me.

I had a CTA scan of my heart today at Jersey Shore University Medical Center so the
CTA scan of heart
surgeons can see where to repair when I have the procedure done on the 30th.
It is NJ's premier trauma hospital and it's very large. I had quite a hike to get to my destination.
Its so large they have carts to drive you from wing to wing.
The heart surgeon 's office messed up my appointment and didn't send my blood work to radiology so  there was a problem but it was finally straightened out and I was in and out in under an hour.
I was happy I was able to have it done without changing out of my clothing. I hate that.
I was happier still when we stopped for a take out coffee and roll. I had to fast for the test.

They injected a contrast dye through a catheter in my arm and I feel  kind of yukky now. You aren't supposed to feel bad but,  since it is a foreign substances inside your veins you do feel something. Some people feel things more acutely I think as well. I seem to be one of them.
I've had it injected before for contrast in MRI's. You can taste it, feel the heat from it and it makes you think you have to 'go' but you don't.  After you have it you must drink tons of water to flush it from you.
Results go to the doctor on Wednesday. He will use it as a road map for the procedure.
Sonogram a few weeks ago showed my arteries are clear which is very good 💗

 The drive home was lovely as all the trees are turning red and gold now.

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Tueday..

Well, leave it to me to be behind in my September Challenge of Back Where I Come From at McClendon Villa blog.
Here are day 29 and 30's questions and answers.

29.  Does your hometown have a newspaper?  Does it come out daily, bi-weekly, weekly, or some other frequency? Does your hometown have its own radio station?
It used to share a paper with our sister neighboring town and I think maybe a few other tiny towns. It was called the Spectator and it is gone now.

No, our town did not have a radio station but my high school did and I was managing editor.

30.  Reflection post: What did you think of this challenge? Did you enjoy it? Do you have any suggestions for 2018’s challenge song?
I did enjoy it.
Nope can't think of a song but will continue to think about it.

I found this new photo challenge called 14 Days of Fall for October 1-14th.
It says hosted by, but then there is absolutely nothing by them for this challenge at all.
So not sure what that's all about and can't find anyone doing it at all.
But it's good ideas for blogging so I will just go ahead and do it. 


  Day 1   Selfie taken  today:



 Day 2. I love...

My Pond

The pond filter got cleaned and it is crystal clear right down to the bottom. Fish hate it but it looks nice.


Day 3: Picture Perfect