Life Is a Picture

Life is a picture

People paint for themselves;

To put on display

Or to stick on a shelf

They may hide it from others,

Let it gather some dust,

Or they may show it off proudly,

Accepting praise if they must.

As the picture is formed

With each stroke of the brush,

One can tell if a person

Took it slowly or rushed.

I say to not stress about

Profit or gain

But appreciate life

And enjoy each new day.

Take a walk in the country

Or swim in a lake,

And trust in the Lord

From the moment you awake.

It is He who decides

How long we shall live,

So let's enjoy each new day

As we live it with Him.

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© Cari Kissel (first written as a teenager in 1978...edited 2013)

No Longer the Victim

I don't need to be a victim.

I don't want to confess my pain.

I don't need to share my heartaches -

I want my dignity back again!!

I will no longer place blame with others

For the things they "should not have" done -

I'm responsible for the present.

I will leave the past alone.

I can't blame my loving family,

Nor my friends, nor someone else,

For the problems in my life - 

I am responsible for myself!!

"Woe is me" is gone forever

From my mouth, where once was home

To a host of negativity,

And where self-pity was free to roam.

I cannot change my history,

Nor undo the wrongs done unto me.

But I can make my future brighter,

By being the best that I can be.

For life's too precious to waste it fretting

Over events of yesterday.

I will live for every moment

And judge my life for just today!!

© Cari Kissel (first written in 1994...edited in 2013)

The Colors of Christmas: Red, Green...and Blue?

Photo: all-free-download.com

When people think of Christmas, what are the images that come to mind? The smell of cinnamon & pine, & of cookies right out of the oven? How about presents underneath a decorated tree? 

For me, I think of my childhood & young adult years, & Christmases spent at my parents' home. I recall how my parents never spoiled their six children, except on Christmas. We usually had a fresh 6-foot Douglas Fir, decked out with tinsel garland & ball ornaments, some of which were over 40 years old. 

The presents under the tree would stretch out several feet beyond the tree because with six kids, & multiple grandkids & great-grandkids, plus with each of us putting presents for others under that same tree, it was quite the sight on Christmas morning.

Things That Go Bump in the Night

I am an insomniac. According to a sleep study I once had, my "awake brain" likes to stay active when my body is asleep. That makes for a restless enough night's sleep as it is. But when after staying up till 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning, & having turned off all the lights & finally being able to crawl into bed, trying carefully not to wake my husband, things start to go bump in the night.

Being Cold, California Style

I am a cold woosie. I admit it. I don't like the cold. I don't like being cold. I don't like being out in the cold. I can't look at snow without feeling cold. I don't want to look at a snowy scene on a Christmas card - it's that bad....really. I don't even like to consume cold things unless I'm warm at the time I'm consuming them. I don't mind a cold ice pack on my neck when I have a headache, but I need to be warmly dressed. Me & cold weather do not mix. Heck, I'm sitting here late at night shivering, because the outside temperature is 42 degrees with 81% humidity, & it feels like the Arctic tundra inside my home! Put me in the middle of the desert on a warm day though, & I'll be fanning myself to get cool, but at least I won't be cold! Bah humbug, I guess, when it comes to cold weather & snow.

Jilted Would-Be Bride Sues Her Ex & Wins

I just finished reading a news story about a woman in Georgia who successfully won a judgment against her former "fiance" because he broke off the engagement. Apparently he committed a breach of promise to marry, & he has to pay her $50,000. When I first read that, I was appalled that a court would hand down such a judgment. But then I read on....

She Talks Too Much!!!

To the men out there, did the title of this post grab your attention? Can you identify with the sentiment? When it comes to men & women, it's a well-known fact that women tend to talk more than men do. Of course there are exceptions, but on average, women speak about 20,000 words per day, compared to men, who speak an average of about 7,000 words per day. I think my family members would say I top the charts at over 100,000 words per day. That's just a guess, but I'm likely not far off the mark! I try & I try to use less words, but it's just so difficult.

Remember Paul Walker, but Others Too

The death of every human being is a loss. Sometimes it may seem that one person's death is more important than another's. Why just this morning, I heard the traffic reporter on the radio say that a huge section of the freeway had been closed because someone jumped to their death off a freeway overpass. How tragic & very sad for that person's family who has to cope with their loved one's suicide, especially during the holidays at this time of year. This person's death will not make national headlines. Only those who knew this person, & those who heard the traffic report, will be aware of this individual's death.