Tag : Positivity

How Do You Define Home?

Posted by Dr. Judy at 3:00 am

What’s it like to be back “home?”
This got me thinking (Yes, I know…a dangerous proposition!).
Where IS home?

After living in our condo home in Puerto Vallarta for the winter,
then immediately flying to DE to see Mom for 10 days,
I’m now back in still-frigid-no-spring home for 33 years, Wisconsin.

My original heart-home is still with Mom in Delaware.
My extended life heart-home is in Wisconsin with Ken and
the rest of my 3 kids and 4 grand kids Midwest family.
Our grand dog, Fido, birds, deer, fox, hawks, and a mystery lynx-like cat
(who keeps the gophers on our Lake MI hillside at bay), round out our critter family.

The bustling birds woke me up this a.m. saluting my return, squawking,
“Get your butt into gear, Judy! Where the heck is our feed?
Where are the bird houses? Where are our stained-glass perches?
You’ve been home a few hours. Where are we in your unpacking pecking order?”

You know what I did, don’t you? I left my organizing, surveyed the garage, and
I immediately began unpacking gigantic storage containers searching for bird supplies.
Eureka! They were in the top bin. I need to make a plan for next year, too.

Before I got out the door with the first feeder, I spied him!
A hummingbird hovering close to the ground hitting up the daffodils and hyacinths
for a nectar nosh. I put up four birdhouses, and I kid you not, within 5 minutes,
four birdies had swooped in to stake their claim

What and where IS your home?

Bet you don’t even need to flap your wings to get there!
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P.S. Judy loves to hear your comments.
Feel free to send her questions you may have!
You can also connect with Judy on facebook, LinkedIn, or follow her on twitter.
http://www.facebook.com/drjudykrings

Visit: coachingpositivity.com
Score a copy of her new book soon:
“Photo Adventures in Cuba ~ Unlock Your Power of Positivity”

Mom’s Mother’s Day Delights

Posted by Dr. Judy at 3:00 am

Is Mother’s Day still fresh in your memory?
I hope it wove sunbeams of warmth. If your Mom has passed, or your Mom
never received the “Mother of the Year” award, knowing upbeat positivity you,
I bet you stopped to observe other happy people. Good for empathetic you.

What frivolous flow fun did Mom and I share? Each other!
Cathy and Bill, Mom’s caregivers, offered an upbeat chaser of their own special
sunshine. Mom loves the color purple (move over Oprah!), so Cathy’s two pairs
of hot, new PJ’s hit the purple bull’s eye. Mom laughed at the gaudy ceramic
rooster I hauled back from Mexico. Ironic, as she has chickens next door.
“Clucks of luck,” she cackled.
(See those chicks in a previous blog).

Mom also savored pots of colorful hanging plants, lawn whirly-gigs, and
bird feeders Bill masterfully installed outside her window.
Food, fun, laughs, and love. Those were the best gifts of all.

Her biggest surprise? My new book dedicated to her.
A year’s worth of work and worth ever minute.
To see her smile when she read the dedication, well, a tear came to my eye.
Understated Mom said exactly what I told Cathy she would say, “Oh, that’s nice!”
Gentle, kind, authentic Mom. Sigh.

Wheelchair-bound at 92, BEING supersedes the DOING Mom used to do.
Her wish for you? I asked her. She smiled and wisely and said,
“Always know you are lucky! Always be grateful for what you can do.
Accept everyday. Keep kickin’ even if it’s not so high.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

P.S. Judy loves to hear your comments.
Feel free to send her questions you may have!
You can also connect with Judy on facebook, LinkedIn, or follow her on twitter.
http://www.facebook.com/drjudykrings

Visit: coachingpositivity.com
Score a copy of her new book soon:
“Photo Adventures in Cuba ~ Unlock Your Power of Positivity”

Elevation, Elation, and Positive Emotion Enlightenment

Posted by Dr. Judy at 3:00 am

How has a dear friend motivated you to reach greater personal heights?

Do you remember the phrase, “You cannot give what you do not have and
acknowledge within yourself?” Mea culpa! I admit some days I am so busy DOING
I ignore the wonderful awareness of my BEING.
How about you?

My dear friend, Coach Gayle Scroggs, wrote a post for one of our positive psychology
professional groups. It hoisted my sail of awareness. Wise Gayle, discussed how
positive emotion unfolds for you when you journal it.
Ever creative, she began a journal, “Me at My Best.”

Research shows when you observe and stop to note your positive experiences,
especially acts of kindness, your happiness and joy expand.
An accordion of awesome!

When is the last time an “elevating experience” has come to sit on your shoulder?
Did you savor it?

This photo shows you one of mine. Mom is holding on for dear life, but her bravery
strength was backed by motivation. She made the decision to re-visit her home of 50
years one last time. She will treasure that experience forever.

What was positive emotion elevating?
I knew Bill had only one day off the week before he resigned his job.
He spent his free time building this ramp so Mom could visit his home
to see her new home. He is the epitome of empathy.
So is his dear wife, Cathy, gleefully wheeling Mom.

Is that you I see running off to get a new “Me at My Best” colorfully uplifting,
mood elevating journal?  Will you grab one for me, too?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

P.S. Judy loves to hear your comments.
Feel free to send her questions you may have!

You can also connect with Judy on facebook, LinkedIn, or follow her on twitter.
Visit: coachingpositivity.com
Score a copy of her new book soon:
“Photo Adventures in Cuba ~ Unlock Your Power of Positivity”

Positive Emotion Trumps Grammy Exhaustion

Posted by Dr. Judy at 3:00 am

Did you get up to watch the royal wedding?
Was it your curiosity, appreciation of beauty, or hope
strengths driving you to be up early for the madness?

We were heading back to our WI life that day.
It would mean I would be up 22 hours. I didn’t analyze why,
but I knew I wanted to watch and accepted the airport exhaustion.
Our generous, kind, and ever-helpful son, Jason, picked us up
in Milwaukee for the 1.5 hour drive home. Other than leaving my
treasured wild, psychedelic rainbow striped socks on the plane,
the flights were easy. I allowed one sentimental, “Oh crap” thought
enter my positive reminiscing brain. I had bought those the first day after
my first nationally syndicated radio show performance in Chicago.
My signature, stretchy, comfy socks were now a happy memory.

After a few hours of sleep, dizzy with lingering travel depletion,
I was on the phone all Saturday morning handling Mom’s move from
assisted living to my friend’s home. Though still mentally sharp, Mom’s
body is not cooperating. I’ll tell you more about happy Mom when
I’m there for Mother’s Day.

The real treat awaited Ken and me. At 4:00, our kooky cool 7-year old
granddaughter, Faye Judith, (Faye J. to me) had her first dance recital.
I was the one crawling around the floor like an inch-worm capturing her
dance debut. I have no pride when it comes to scoring a photo memory.

Don’t you love a surprise? Here’s the fun part. She had no idea we would
be there. I snapped a few photos. With her tutu twirling, she inadvertently
looked down and spied me. Elated, she burst into a toothy grin, eyes
flashing joy. She stopped dancing and waved! It was too cute for words.
I had tears in my eyes. Till my dying day, I will never forget the look on her face.
Never. My dancer-princess memory. Priceless!

And the next day, Sunday, was Faye J’s First Communion.
Talk about a grand slam weekend!

So what have you accomplished with no sleep?
What priceless memory saved in your positivity memory bank
do you retrieve and savor? Good for you!
I see you pausing to remember.

******************************************************
P.S. Judy loves to hear your comments.
Feel free to send her questions you may have!
You can also connect with Judy on facebook, LinkedIn, or follow her on twitter.
Visit: coachingpositivity.com
Score a copy of her new book soon:
“Photo Adventures in Cuba ~ Unlock Your Power of Positivity”

Havana Cuba’s Antique Cars Rock!

Posted by Dr. Judy at 3:00 am

Have you ever wondered if it’s true?
Are most of the taxis in Havana really decades old American cars?

Hope these photos bring a smile to your face and answer the question, too.
Do they bring to mind your old family photos? Are you a memory junkie as am I?

Yes! It was incredible fun to tool around the city in these blasts from the past
hot colored sweet taxis. Eat your heart out cool car connoisseurs!
It was convertible heaven – artistry in motion.
Vintage, classic cars dominate the sparsely driven highways.
And get this…for your driving pleasure, no billboards!
No advertising. No kidding. Talk about pristine.

Imagine the masterfully creative, loving dedicated tenacity it takes
to keep these cars running and so well-maintained.

I loved every minute in curious, captivating Cuba!

Honk, honk … Get in!
I have many more stories for you.
Sharing is caring. I keep telling you that!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
P.S. Judy loves to hear your comments.

Feel free to send her questions you may have!

You can also connect with Judy on facebook, LinkedIn, or follow her on twitter.

Visit: coachingpositivity.com

You can score a copy of the book there, too…Soon!
“Photo Adventures in Cuba ~ Unlock Your Power of Positivity.”

Cheers!