Welcome to Small Reflections


"Nothing is ever achieved without enthusiasm."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Duck photo source: Lisa's Chaos
I hope you enjoy your visit. If you're looking for something specific, check out the links to posts by category in my sidebar and down a ways. They'll assist with tracking down different types of posts found on each of my three blogs. You might also enjoy checking out the other sites: Sacred Ruminations, Blog Rolls, Bling & Blurbs, and Happily Retired Gal.

I hope you'll look around & leave comments
then visit me at my new blog ...

Giraffe Journal

and/or website ... Labyrinth Journal
both self-hosted at WordPress
where I publish as myself
rather than under a
pseudonym.

I've not had much time for posting or blog visits, but if you're interested I hope you'll find time to check out my new blog, Giraffe Journal or my Labyrinth Journal website ... both self hosted at WordPress.

Thanks for your visit and have a delightful day ;--)
Hugs and blessings,

Monday, April 28, 2008

HoT#4 - Special Memory and ToT#5 - Quirks

This week's theme/prompt is:

TAILS - Share a special memory

Today I'm opting for a 'flashback' to a previous post on my other blog where I 'reflected' on my experience last summer at a week-long Writer's Retreat in Taos, New Mexico. I hope you'll take time today to enjoy Remembrance and Change ... one of my earliest offerings when I started blogging late in October last year ... back when no one (save a few friends) even knew I was venturing into this 'virtual' world.


* * * * * * *

The prompt this week is
10 Superstitions, Traditions, and/or Personality Quirks

I don't think I have any superstitions, so in this list I'll focus attention on personal 'traditions' and 'personality quirks' today ... illustrating them with links to previous posts.

1. As for traditions, I rise EARLY most mornings ... (around 3:30 or 4:00) ...waking without an alarm clock as I have all of my life ... even though there's no 'need' for me to do so.

2. I love to watch the sunrise through the French Doors of my living room as I meditate, read, and/or write in my journal.

3. I wrote of my 'morning routines' in two of my earliest Haiku Friday posts ... Volumes 3 and Volume 5. Each reveals a bit about me and the way my day begins with Molly and Ms. Kitty.

4. I enjoy writing in rhythmic poetry that rhymes (in addition to Haiku) and clicking the link will take you to posts containing such poems written by me.

5. I'm a fan of major 'tennis' competitions and tend to blog about the matches periodically as I did when Roddick finally defeated Federer at long last in Miami recently.

6. Gratitude posts are some of my favorites to write and to read ... and listing 'really good things' is one way I like to 'structure' them. A couple of my favorites are here and here.

7. I've been an avid reader all of my life and my house resembles a 'library' with bookshelves filled with books in every room ... and 'marginal' notations in all of the books I've read.

8. I'm a 'recovering packrat' ... working a little bit each day to get rid of 'stuph' I've collected but no longer want or need ... in an attempt to 'simplify' my life.

9. I've been blogging for about 6 months ... I try to end each post with a 'thought for the day' ... and I love to read & respond to comments visitors leave after my posts!

10. THIS is my 199th post already. I'm trying to decide what, if anything, I want to do on my 200th post on Wednesday. If you want to know more ... check the About Me section of my sidebar where you'll find a link to 101 Things About Me and a variety of other options.


Thought for Today
"A memory is what is left when something happens and does not completely unhappen." Edward de Bono

24 comments:

Susan Demeter said...

Great idea for the HOT theme :) I'll go check it out now :) Happy HOT day and thanks for stopping by!

Chelsea + Shiloh said...

I loved this post... nice self reflection...ta

Tina said...

what nice memory for your heads and tails. It's nice when you get those first real readers and followers.

See you next week :)

ShannonW said...

Oh my gosh! How do you wake up so early? I feel so lazy and I get up at 5:30 or 6:00 each day.

I enjoyed your "virtual world"

bundle-o-contradictions said...

Wow. Maybe I can leave the Poor Hubby & puppy Seven behind while I'm camping this summer & find a little bit of what you found. It's so hard to explore & experience peace in my day-to-day world. Sounds like a fantastic experience. :)

storyteller said...

Sue – Thanks for your supportive comment here and for leaving another on my ‘flashback’ post. I always enjoy visiting your ‘Urban Zoo’ ;--)

Abbey – I found it intriguing to revisit these early writings myself … they seem ‘freer’ than my more recent posts. Perhaps I’ll be able to ‘refocus’ and redirect my energies in the days and weeks ahead.

Tina – It’s fun to bring these early post forward and share … so perhaps I’ll do this again sometime.

Shannon – I’ve always awakened early … used to drive my parents crazy until they gave me a flashlight and permission to ‘read under the covers’ as long as I didn’t wake my sister. Methinks it’s how I’m ‘wired’ internally. My friend Jackie calls me a ‘lark’ … and sees herself as an ‘owl’ … since she prefers nighttime.

Bundle of contradictions – There were 33 women at this retreat … many of whom were ‘moms’ … and I marvel that they managed to ‘get away’ for the whole week, but methinks each would say it was worth the effort to get there. Karen at Journey to Authenticity (see my Blogroll for the link) is one such mom.

I appreciate each of you validating my choice in sharing the ‘flashback’ today for my HoT memory and I hope you’re having a delightful day!
Hugs and blessings,

Tumblewords: said...

Great idea! I'm so envious of your writing retreat. I love that area!

Akelamalu said...

Gosh I get up at 6 a.m. and thought that was early! I thought you'd been blogging a lot longer than 6 months, yours is one of nicest blogs around.

Sandy M said...

I've also always been an early riser, and I love to sit by my living room window or on the patio when it's warm and write in my journal. Great post!

Eve said...

Lovely post about you and your quirks. I've read your blog long enough to be aware of most of them, but it's nice to read your thoughts about yourself.

Anonymous said...

It is exciting to see the people coming and visiting your blog.
I usually get up around 5am in summer but later in winter.

storyteller said...

Tumblewords – Thanks. At first it seemed like ‘cheating’ because the obsessive part of me felt I should come up with something NEW … then this morning while leaving a reply to a comment Karen made reminded me of Taos and led me back to my ‘beginnings’ in the Blogosphere so that when I got to the post I decided to use as a ‘flashblack’ today … it seemed right. I’d written the Ten on Tuesday yesterday afternoon but didn’t have a ‘memory’ to share when I turned off the computer. I was happy to add the link today. As for the retreat … it was WONDERFUL and Taos simply amazing to visit.

Akelamalu – What a lovely compliment! I’ve enjoyed learning how to do new things all the time … and have been blessed by many ‘virtual friends’ who pass along lovely awards and help me ‘figure out’ how to use a few simple HTML codes to ‘spiff’ things up. Of course, it helps to have lots of ‘discretionary’ time to spend playing around with possibilities.

SandyM – There’s nothing like watching the sunrise each morning is there. It’s such a special time of day.

Eve - Thanks. I don’t find it easy to write to a ‘prompt’ … no matter how non-specific … but I have enjoyed participating in activities like Heads or Tails, Ten on Tuesday, Fun Monday and the like because of all the interesting bloggers who participate. Thanks for stopping by today. I got a new perm this afternoon so I didn’t have as much time as usual to visit blogs, but hope I’ll catch up soon.

Vic – Yes! Having ‘readers’ and finding ‘comments’ is always a pleasure.

Thanks to everyone for stopping by today and sharing your thoughts. I hope you’re all having a wonderful week.
Hugs and blessings,

Annabel said...

good post! i like learning a little bit more about bloggers out there :) thanks for the birthday wishes yesterday! xx

NicciN said...

I like the quirks. They are very interesting, and I envy your morning time. I am such a morning person and miss having that time to myself like I used to. My journal misses me too.

Betty said...

I didn't play HoT today and have been slack in visiting. Ed and I are preparing to leave on another trip. This time for a week to New Orleans. I enjoyed your 10 meme.

Momisodes said...

You are so good. I just posted about how terrible I've been and missed my 200th post :(

I still can't get over how early you wake up! As I type this comment at 2:15am ;)

Karen said...

Another excellent one!

Have you always been such an early riser? I'm always curious about others sleep habits (having gone through periodic bouts of insomnia). Do you tend to nap during the day, or go to bed very early? Or are you the kind of person who is able to get by on just a few hours of sleep?

I get up early, too, but not naturally of late. I do it anyway, though--not because I have to, but because my day goes better when I have two hours of quiet time that is completely mine.

This was such an interesting list of quirks--another window into storyteller!

storyteller said...

Annie – You’re most welcome and thanks for visiting me here ;--)

Yertle – Thanks … and I know I’m blessed to have this ‘leisure’ so I try not to take it for granted. Taking time for YOU is essential for you and everyone you love!

Betty – Everyone needs a bit of ‘time off’ and ‘balance’ in their lives … and time with Ed is certainly a priority. I hope you enjoy the next trip as much as the last and I’ll look forward to photos when you return!

Sandy – Ohmygosh … I can’t remember the last time I visited Momisodes! (I’ve had ‘memory’ issues with my computer and my ‘reader’ freezes up … so I guess I’ve had ‘memory issues’ in my MIND as well. Sigh! I’ll drop by today to catch up for sure, but please don’t beat yourself up over any ‘bloggy’ thing because ‘real life’ should take priority over this ‘virtual’ one … seriously!!!

Karen – I’ve ALWAYS been an early riser … used to study for tests and write lesson plans in the mornings when my mind was freshest. I’ve never been able to ‘nap’ without getting headaches. I do ‘fade’ around 4pm … get a brief 2nd wind until 9:00 or so when I get ready for bed. I’m usually asleep shortly thereafter so I seem to function on less sleep than most. I don’t know if you took time to click over to my ‘flashback’ or not … but it’s definitely one you’d enjoy because it’s all about Taos last summer.

I appreciate all your comments and look forward to future interactions here … and on your blogs!
Hugs and blessings,

Unknown said...

What a marvellous memories.

Want to read about one of my memories:

http://www.laaneworld.com/2008/04/heads-or-tails-memory.html

Have a great day!

storyteller said...

Laane – Thanks for visiting Small Reflections and leaving the link back to your blog. I enjoyed YOUR ‘memories’ too ;--)
Hugs and blessings,

Karen said...

I did go to the flashback--and have tried to leave a comment, but for some reason, it's not working.

Oh, the memories...I remember that you got there early, because I got there early, too. I remember (having ignored Suzanne's and Jennifer's advice) lugging my heavy suitcase up those narrow steps and then dragging it across the gravel, leaving it at the door, and going in to find you in one of the wingback chairs, journal and pencil in hand.

I had no idea that we would become friends, still communicating over nine months later.

Thanks for your friendship, and thanks for taking me back to that wonderful time.

storyteller said...

Karen - Thanks for the 2nd response here. I’m chuckling as I remember doing the same thing with MY luggage. I brought way more ‘stuph’ than I needed. Yup … I loved that wingback chair in the lobby and spent lots of time there writing … trying to hold on to everything that happened so I could revisit it again and again. Sharon (WGASA woman) arrived early too. She was the 1st person I met, but I recall seeing everyone arrive and wondered about each person. Like you, I had no idea what to expect …but I’m delighted by what transpired there as well as by all that’s happened afterwards. I’m happy we’ve continued our relationship through the Blogosphere.
Hugs and blessings,

Tina Coruth said...

Great meme, Storyteller. I wish there "packrat's anonymous" for folks like us. But like you, I'm trying to get rid of "stuph" a little at a time. I love the way you end your posts with a quotation. I enjoy reading them very much! :-)
Hugs,
Tina

storyteller said...

Tina – I wish there was such an organization myself ... as I could use some support and encouragement from those who really understand the dilemma ‘recovering packrats’ face.

It amazes me how you ‘catch up’ with all my recent posts when you drop by … allowing me to ‘revisit’ them too … and that is always great fun for me as well. I’m delighted you enjoy what I share including the quotes and hope all’s well with you and yours ;--)

Hugs and blessings,

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