#5 Wednesday Words: Living

Greetings from Central Florida, readers. Today’s Wednesday Words is about being alive, a post I set up weeks ago. But I’m adding this first part this morning at 6:30 a.m., the day another climate catastrophe named Hurricane Milton is headed to Florida from the Gulf Coast.

Our hearts are with the folks impacted, which means most all of us in this “sunshine” state. I’ve lived through many a hurricane, but there are always surprises. The main thing for me is: Prepare, focus, and don’t take anything for granted. Not a bad lesson for living, regardless of the weather.

Anyway, thanks for your good wishes, which I’ve received from some of you via email already. I’m not on most social media sites (yup, I’m sort of a hermit) but I can receive messages through the Contact page on my website.

Now, here’s what we have for today …

1. From “Stress-Less Tips”

These items are from a list that was on my refrigerator for years and now sits on my desk. It’s author: Richard Carlson PhD.

- Laughter is the best medicine. Enjoy breaks during your day with upbeat coworkers & friends.
- Take brief stretch breaks throughout your day.
- Allow yourself at least one hour of quiet time at work [or home] without phones and interruptions.

2. From Arthur Ashe and me at Lather Up Your Life (and writing) with S.U.D.S. | Charlene L. Edge (charleneedge.com)

S = Start where you are. Acknowledge how you feel and what the problem or challenge actually is that you face.

U = Use what you have. Consider also how to reuse, repair, recycle relevant resources.

D = Do what you can. Take action regarding what you discovered with “S” and “U” to move toward your goal.

S = Stay in your lane, Charlene says. Focus on your task and mind your own business. This includes saying “No” to things beyond your control. (“S” comes from my experience of swimming laps in the pool.)

3. From the book, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

This quote from the book’s main character, Francie Nolan, was sent to me by my friend, Peggy Lantz, whose Caring for Mother Earth articles I recently published here.

“Dear God, let me be something every minute of every hour of my life. Let me be gay; let me be sad. Let me be cold; let me be warm. Let me be hungry … have too much to eat. Let me be ragged or well dressed. Let me be sincere — be deceitful. Let me be truthful; let me be a liar. Let me be honorable and let me sin. Only let me be something every blessed minute. And when I sleep, let me dream all the time so that not one little piece of living is ever lost.”