Pay It Forward: Honoring Mr. Hugh Sutherland

Mr. Hugh Sutherland’s birthday is today, September 26; and, and I chose to dedicate this post to honor his memory.

Through blogging, I met his wife, Karen Sutherland, and found out that she was “encouraging family and dear friends to honor his memory with acts of kindness.”

So, I decided to join other bloggers in the first annual Pay It Forward Tribute

My Act of Kindness: Friday, September 26

When I moved to Orlando, almost five years ago, the first person to reach out to us was our next door neighbor. Not so long ago, I wrote a post about our unusual friendship.

It didn’t take long to find out that we had something in common – Breast Cancer. I was a two-year survivor, having been diagnosed in 2008. And she was a seven-year survivor, with a recent recurrence. Today, she is under 24-hour hospice care in her home.

She lost her mother, the only remaining member of her family, to breast cancer maybe a year-or-so before we met. But she has a strong support network in the neighborhood. In addition, her over 35 years of working with a worldwide christian organization has led to forming many long-term friendships throughout this country as well as others.

Today, I made the weekly delivery to my next door neighbor’s home — flowers and a card:

Last week, when I made my delivery of pastries from Paneras, she was feeling well enough for a short visit. But, I left with a heavy heart for her conditioned had worsened.

Two weeks ago, I sit with her for almost five hours laughing, talking and sharing photos of my summer vacation in Martha’s Vineyard. She is originally from Boston and now says she regrets never taking the time to visit this Island.

I will continue my weekly deliveries, always with a note, that Hubby and I are just a Hug Away.

Thank You, Karen Sutherland

I am grateful for the opportunity to honor your husband by sharing this Act of Kindness. Karen, I so look forward to your comments on my blog posts. I am always uplifted, enlightened, motivated and inspired when I hear from you. One day, I hope you will decide to create a blog that I could follow. I value your written words.

Exercise & Breast Cancer

Sharing Healthy Information thanks to Breast Cancer Yoga for posting this on her blog.

Breast Cancer Authority

By: Michael Gregor, MD

We’ve known that physical activity can reduce breast cancer risk, and appears to work especially well at preventing estrogen-receptor negative tumors, the hardest ones to treat. But only last year did we figure how much exercise was needed. We’ve known that light exercise doesn’t work, like a leisurely stroll. It appears useless for preventing breast cancer. And we’ve known that fewer than 10 minutes a day of even good exercise doesn’t work either.

How many minutes of moderately intense exercise — hiking, biking, swimming, aerobics, or even just fast walking — does one need, on average, every day to significantly decrease breast cancer risk?

Less than 10 minutes doesn’t work, but how about a full 10? 15? 30? 45?

Or a full hour a day?

Well, It’s not 10.

It’s not 45.

And it’s not 15.

We need an hour of exercise every day.

Darwin was…

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Poetry – September 22, 2014

Me and My Obstacles

I have Breast Cancer, but it doesn’t define ME.

Happiness, joy and peace guides ME.

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, but it doesn’t limit ME.

Exercise, prayer and meditation moves ME.

I have Fibromyalgia, but it doesn’t control ME.

Yoga, mindfulness and music distracts ME.

Living in the Present Moment empowers ME.

Grateful, my obstacles do not restrict ME.

And, believe it or not, this works for ME!!

–Poem by: SeasonedSistah2

Tenney Park: Sad and Happy Memories

The Photos

A long-time friend, sent me an e-mail with the attached photo:

She took the photo early one morning, on her long, long walk to her job at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Getting to work is not the only reason for her early morning walks. She also uses this time to meditate and felt this might be an option for me. Something to consider. But, for now, I plan to sit on the lanai at 5:00 a.m. with the fans swirling overhead, to meditate until the weather cools down in Florida.

Let me move from walking and meditating to the photo. Having lived in Madison for more than thirty-five years, I emailed and asked, “What Lake — Monona or Mendota?”

She didn’t answer, but sent the following photos. Then, I knew the answer – Lake Mendota.

Summers 1970 – 1973

I remember, the summer afternoons, spent with our three children, in this park and on that beach. It was many, many years ago; and, I have Sad and Happy Memories

Hubby and I were both full-time students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. We were living, I am certain, below the poverty level for a family of five (GI Bill, student loans/grants, and Hubby’s part-time jobs).

Sad Memories:

Mentally, I allowed worrisome and non-productive thoughts to enter my space; and this disengaged me from spending quality time with my family. Unanswerable questions controlled my thoughts. Like, WHAT IF —

We made a mistake by returning to college at our age?
We can’t find a job after graduation?
Hubby can’t find another part-time job when this one ends?
We can’t pay back the student loans?

Sadly, my WHAT IF questions were continuous and endless. And, regretfully, I was not able to enjoy and embrace what was happening in the present moment during this period of my life.

Happy Memories

Even though I was not always in the present moment during these summer days, I know our children enjoyed the time we spent at Tenney Park.

Regardless of the WHAT IFs, I have many Happy Memories of those sunny afternoons, sitting quietly, and watching our Happy children — wading in the lake, creating in the sand, and playing in the park.

Hubby joined us for dinner at the end of his work day. Tenney Park was our evening dining place during the summer. And, we had some of our best times and meals there. Most days, I cooked something on our portable grill. And, occasionally we had enough money to treat the kids with pizza or burgers from a fast food restaurant.

Happy, that today, I am learning to:

Let go of the past;
Live in the present moment; and
Accept what may happen in the future.

***********

Postscript – Thank You to Two Special Friends

The Librarian, for the photos in this post.

Cupcake, for the photos taken in an earlier post, “July Vacation Days: Happiness in the Presence of Children.” (Special Note: We share a beautiful granddaughter, Little Cupcake.)

Gratitude Sunday – September 20, 2014

I AM GRATEFUL TODAY for finding the courage in January 2013, not only to create this blog; but to write the first post, “My Final Season: How I Choose to Live It.” For the first time, I came “out-of-the-closet,” writing about “letting go” and finding ME.

On this journey of finding ME, I discovered:

SELF-LOVE – I now value and give priority to MY OWN HAPPINESS.

SELF-AWARENESS – I now look within and choose to be; and, I am confident in MY OWN CHOICES.

SELF-LOVE – I now love me enough to create MY OWN PEACE AND JOY.

MOST OF ALL, I AM GRATEFUL TODAY for the path I follow, daily, as I continue on this journey to find “ME.”

Thankful Thursday – September 18, 2014

Today, I Am Thankful for:

What Occurred on Wednesday:

My first-time visit to a dermatologist.
The diagnosis of Acne.
The newest side-effect of a medication prescribed in June to treat my Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Acne waiting until I reached the age of 72 to enter my life.
The topical treatment recommended, by the dermatologist, to correct this problem.

After leaving the dermatologist, I went to the local lawn and garden center to buy new plants.

What I Plan To Do Today:

Pot and add these beautiful plants to My Healing Container Garden.

“Be thankful for the morning light and the moonlight, for it reminds us that the beginning of everyday we are given the gift to shine bright but it is up to you to reflect from that gift and continue to shine through the darkness. Be the Sun and the Moon of your life. Please use it wisely.” (Unknown Quote)

Wordless Wednesday – September 17, 2014

Thought for Today: Tuesday, September 16, 2014

A Humongous Thank You to the People who have Liked, Commented and/or Followed this Blog

Poetry Day – Monday, September 15, 2014

(Graphic Design is also a new trail, I am venturing down. Please excuse typo (for), trying new graphics program. After saving, could not figure how to edit and correct. PicMonkey is still a work in process.

The uncertainty of writing this first poem was less stressful after reading a quote by William Wordsworth who defined, “poetry as the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.”

This poem is a strong expression of fear and anxiety for the safety of not only my grandsons; but, the grandsons and sons of all Black mothers and grandmothers in this country.

There were three reasons why I decided to write this poem:

I was Challenged by Imani a blogging friend who challenged me to try. Grateful to Imani who encouraged me to step up and give it a shot.

I was Prompted by this quote by Ella Baker, a Civil Rights Activists in the 1960s:

“Until the killing of black men, black mothers’ sons, becomes as important to the rest of the country as the killing of a white mother’s son, we who believe in freedom cannot rest until this happens.”

I was Provoked by the unusual circumstances surrounding the deaths of Trayvon Martin (Hoodie), Michael Brown (Jaywalking), Jordan Davis (Loud Music), John Crawford (BB Gun), and Eric Garner (Selling Untaxed Cigarettes).

After writing this poem, the next step is to try to remember what I learned about poetry as a high school student.

Okay, reality check; the likelihood of remembering what I learned more than fifty-five years ago is nil.

So, as a start, I will begin a Google search on poetry writing — starting with http://www.dummies.com.

Grateful to Karuna: As I Journey to Live, Learn and Let Go

Almost two years ago, I created this blog to voice my opinion and share my life experiences. And, this I have done.

However, in the course of following other blogs, over this two-year period, I read about their opinions and life experiences of other bloggers.

And, through the world of blogosphere, I have become wiser and more understanding of the people, places and things that exist outside of my limited environment.

One of the bloggers that I have connected with, in a special way, is Karuna over at Living, Learning and Letting Go. Our lives are different in so many ways:

She is white; and, I am Black.
She is divorced; and, I have been married for 55 years.
She lives in the northwest; and, I live in the southeast.
She follows Amma (one of India’s foremost spiritual leaders); and, I am a baptized Baptist and attend on-line church services at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.
She is a vegetarian, and, I eat meat.
She is a practicing psychotherapist, and, I am retired.

Despite these differences, Karuna’s blog resonated with me from the beginning. Her posts opened up my space to explore and receive the “new and different;” and; I am confident that going outside my comfort zone is a part of the journey, in this season of my life, to Live, Learn and Let Go.

Right, now I am reading Karuna’s book “Getting to Joy: A Western Householder’s Spiritual Journey Amritanandarmayi.” This book as well as Karuna’s blog:

Motivated me to go outside of my comfort zone;
Exposed me to a different spiritual practice;
Educated me on recycling and climate change issues;
Introduced me to Ashrams in India; and
Inspired me through her writings, musical lyrics, and beautiful photographs.

I am grateful to Karuna for bringing something “new and different” into my life.

When I Live, I Learn — and, even if, I Let Go — I believe what enters my space remains.