Hello Summer!

June 22, 2014June 22, 2014 / Donna George / Leave a comment

Summer 2014 is here! There is something about summertime that stirs up the nostalgic, awakens the spirit, and sparks the desire to head outdoors. For some of us, it’s a trip to a lake, or a walk by the river, but for most of us it’s the beach. And this is where the fun begins and memories are made. Summer days at the beach are like silent tongues in my head, reminding me of the nostalgic smell of the air and the feel of liquid velvet as the ocean falls over me.

My most vivid memories have always included the beach as a backdrop, simple things like floating on the waves, spending hours in a beach chair with my buddies, even the Coppertone suntan lotion in the brown bottle that reaps of coconuts and oils. Being surrounded by surf boards, huge blankets, coolers and radios blasting sounds from the past like Journey, The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac. Oh, and the competition of who would catch the most rays that day.

The seagulls. The pretty compact white and gray sea lovers that continue to mesmerize me with their song and beauty. I never tire of watching them or feeding them snacks from my hand. BTW, they love Cheetos.

Summer is about getting outside in the sun, experimenting and creating new interest. Unplug from social media and get outside with a camera. I take a camera everywhere I go, there’s so much I want to remember and journal. If you don’t like to explore with photography, use your phone. There are great apps available to add creativity and depth to your pictures.

Here are 3 of my favorite ones.

overgram – this application allows you to add text on your photo. (Color and font options).

Pixar Express – filter, overlays, borders, images with a professional touch.

diptic – build amazing collages, jumbo, fancy, classic, fun shapes and designs.

Still not interested in taking photographs, that’s okay, save it for a later day.

It’s all about “hot fun in the summertime”. Here are some fun things to do in the summer.

Ride a bike on a new trail. Explore.
If you have the room and a dog, set up a doggie spa area to pamper your pet.
Go to an outdoor movie under the stars.
Eating outdoors with friends
Swimming, skiing, paddle boarding, motor boating and boating – anything on the water.
Amusement parks and roller coasters.
Read a book in the park.
Go somewhere and people watch.
Try belly laughing.

The list is endless! Try something new and have some fun. Do you have any summer favorites?

Summertime has a way of firing up the taste buds for sweet treats. Some of my personal favorites, cotton candy and funnel cakes with white sugar on top, candy apples, watermelon, hot dogs and many more. I bet you have some too. What’s your summer treat favorite?

Hello Summer! So glad you are finally here. Enjoy your summer and make every day count!

Here’s to the Extraordinary Days Of Summer

Donna George

Blooming Azaleas Make Greenfield Lake Beautiful

May 2, 2014May 7, 2015 / Donna George / 6 Comments

Every year blooming azaleas make Greenfield Lake, a beautiful place to visit in Wilmington NC.

Gorgeous cypress trees, draping in lilac wisteria, loaded with wiry moss, set the background for explosive, colorful blooming azaleas, in reds, whites, purples and pinks. A perfect backdrop to enjoy a serene day in the park.

Visit the Hugh Morton Amphitheater for a full schedule of concerts and outdoor events for the spring and summer headliners.

If you aren’t interested in one of the events, the 5 mile running path in the scenic view might interest you. The bridges are lovely and the views are spectacular. Or why not try out a paddle boat and cruise around the lake for some old fashion fun.

The Park is conveniently located just minutes from Downtown Wilmington – A must see destination. Take an afternoon stroll, plan a picnic or head out for one of the events. And don’t forget your camera! It’s worth it. You will meet plenty of nature friends, ducks, geese, and friendly squirrels.

Happy trails

Donna George

7 Best Selling Books On Happiness: To Recharge Yourself

March 22, 2014April 24, 2015 / Donna George / Leave a comment

With Springtime here and Summer close on the radar, I gathered a list of the best selling books on Happiness for your consideration. Everyone desires to be happier, and to seek personal improvement in one way or another, so maybe a tittle on this list might interest you.

Whether your reading preference is hardback, paperback, downloading to Kindle, Nook, or audible – here a few options.

1. Transforming Negative Self-Talk: Practical, Effective Exercises. July 2012, by Steve Andreas.

2. Better Than Normal: How What Makes You Different Can Make You Exceptional. March 2012, by Dale Archer.

3. Awakening Joys: 10 steps That Will Put You On The Road To Real Happiness, 2010, by James Baraz & Shoshana Alexander.

4. The Creativity Cure: A Do It-Yourself Prescription For Happiness. May 2012, by Carrie Barron & Alton Barron.

5. I Can Make You Happy. 2011, by Paul McKenna.

6. The Happiness Project: Or Why I Spent A Year Trying To Sing In The Morning, Clean My Closets,Fight Right, Read Aristotle, And Generally Have More Fun. 2009, by Gretchen Rubin.

7. Flourish. 2011, by Martin Seligman.

My personal favorite is The Happiness Project. I stumbled upon this book in the airport one day and since then, I have recommended it to many friends. The author, Gretchen Rubin does a great job sharing her personal pursuit of happiness while engaging humor on her process. The book is packed with tips and offers a manifesto to follow.

Of course we have our own way of pursuing joy, but occasionally a good read can help shed a light on ways to enhance our thinking and behavior patterns into habits and nudge us along our merry way.

Have an extraordinary day

Donna George

What Are 5 Great Gifts To Receive Or Give For Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2014 / Donna George / Leave a comment

Love it or hate it… V-Day is here. A day commercialized around pinks, reds, hearts and chocolate, with high hopes of expressing love. It’s the relationship status that passionately influences opinions about Valentine’s Day, but there is no denying, that February 14 comes tagged with high expectations.

flowers

There is plenty of pressure to be romantic and passionate, bubbly and light-hearted, even willing to set aside differences for the all famous cupid day. After all, it is the day, every relationship is put on a pedestal for measurement and close inspection.

What really sparks the magic of Valentine’s Day varies big from one couple to another. There is no “made to order” perfection in creating a perfect V-day, no matter how much time you invest. What I have found to be true in my happiest Valentine’s celebrations were not at all about the sparkle, glamour or the candy. The extra fluff is exciting and fun, but very temporal and short-lived. Superficial.

My husband and I have been married for a long time, practically my whole life, since high school, try 37 years of Valentine days. We have shared many great Valentine’s Days – this story will be a best seller one day :)). I will leave it at that for now, to give you some time to anticipate my book. It will be the one in the store window that says “the everlasting love story” with no dirty words. If you know me, you know I hate ugly language. I see it as a lack of skills to express yourself, laziness to find the right container to cradle your thoughts. My friend calls me a “Wordsmith”- a lover of words. I say, she knows me well. Words are everything, yet simply nothing, without action.

love story

So what are the 5 best V-day gifts? This is my list:

1. Acceptance and respect for each other as an individual, as a partner, and in all things touching our lives.

2. Trust and forgiveness, it’s a rock foundation that must exist. We all need Grace & Mercy.

3. Recognition and support of knowing whats important to each other, making what to buy for each other as gifts easy, because you really know each other, you’re engaged in each others life.

4. Writing long cards and notes that are meaningful, not just words. Sharing sentiments that are real, raw and exposed. Just sitting down and listening to each other, really listening and not criticizing. Keeping your heart out there, open to keep filling up with more.

5. Keeping holidays, birthdays, important events highlighted with sentiments of celebration. Making dinner reservations every week and sharing turns at favorite spots. Making it all about the other person’s contentment.

A few things I learned a long time ago, no one can buy you happiness or support your happiness, no matter how magnificent, they are as a person. Set the backdrop for what makes you happy and notice what excites others. Identify in your mind what keeps you content.

I keep fresh flowers in my house all the time because flowers are special to me, so there is no pressure for V-Day flowers, My husband walks around and gathers fresh flowers from the roadside when we;re spending time in our mountain cabin, that’s 20 minutes from town. I like that, it makes me happy. So on Valentine’s day, a single bouquet of flowers would not make me excited, but a bouquet in several rooms could work.

And here we are

You see the picture, I believe it’s the consistent gestures and engagement process that enables us to really know others, that keeps everyday special, not just Valentine’s day. Being a wife or a participate in a relationship is not just a label, it’s a responsibility to be involved in the details of that relationship from day-to-day.

I hope my list helped with your quest for the perfect and best gift. What are your Valentine plans?

Happy Valentine’s Day

Happy Valentine’s Day,

Donna George

Simple Random Wisdom

February 6, 2014February 13, 2014 / Donna George / 1 Comment

Did you ever wonder how some people seem so much wiser than others? There is a reason, its called LIFE.

Examine Your Life, extract the best parts, and share it with others. There will be all sorts of dynamics in the best parts that will help others, like:

happiness & joy
storytelling
belly laughs
secrets
difficulties & trials
awkwardness & hard talks
honesty
tears
fears
victories & success
failures & loses
choices & decisions

Someone out there needs to hear your story. Share.

That Was Then And This Is Now

January 18, 2014February 6, 2014 / Donna George / 5 Comments

With all the New Year’s planning, goal setting, and hoopla finished – how is it all working out for you? Hopefully, you are well on your way to developing some new habits or at least courageously moving in a positive direction towards them.

2014 Resolutions

Whether your resolutions were major or minor, January remains the month with a hopeful forecast for most people. It’s a time when renewed commitment meets good intentions and rides the wave of determination. So hold on a second, and read further.

A few things to consider about your resolutions before you beat yourself up:

Resolutions are usually overrated and even the smartest among us get it wrong every year – so there some encouragement to keep your hope afloat.
Most of us pressure ourselves for goals without careful thought, consideration and preparation which sets us up for failure.
And – most of us look back instead of looking forward to measure our progress. Hmm, did I really say that?
No ones knows what’s in the future when you are setting your goals for a brand new year. Resolutions are more like prophesying to ourselves that we are going to do something, and that is the motivation that helps us follow through with the plan. But let’s face it, we don’t have a crystal ball and stuff happens, it’s called ‘life’.

So knowing this about our natural human behavior patterns, I put my own spin on evaluating change and decided its best to keep my eyes on the goal, not the means of how I get there.

Another important point to keep in mind is that we often make decisions based on what we have experienced in the past. Our past is like a safety net that we know is there, and it has a proven track record. It’s a beautiful thing that helps to shape who we are, and gives of life lessons. One of my favorite quotes –

“you can look back, just don’t stare”. (keep moving forward)

First things first, its healthier to make plans instead of predictions. We get distracted and bored with long-term commitments and then we lose sight of the quest. Think baby steps, know that you will fall down, but plan to get back up.

And then we rush to get our list together – because everyone is talking about resolutions and we get swept up in the excitement. Hey, it’s fun, why not…

Just remember, we are still in january so don’t give up yet! Everybody gets off track, distracted, and bored. At the end of the day, the resolve is in the day-to-day journey.

January

How are you doing with your resolutions? Press on…and Happy New year.

Donna George

Christmas Cheer

December 5, 2013 / Donna George / Leave a comment

The very word “Christmas” brings joy. That is why everyone says, Merry Christmas! Christmas brings forth a spirit of peace, the gladness of hope and the warmth of love to the world.

Some “Christmas Cheer” to pocket as you run here, there and everywhere over the next couple of busy weeks. I call it a pocket full of sunshine.

“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all year”. Charles Dickens
“Christmas is the day that holds all time together”. Alexander Smith
“This is the message of Christmas: We are never alone”. Taylor Caldwell
“As long as we know in our hearts what Christmas ought to be, Christmas is”. Eric Sevareid
“The world has grown old with its burden of care, but at Christmas time, its alway young”. Phillip Brooks
“Christmas is a day of meaning and traditions, a special day spent in the warm circle of friends and family”. Margaret Thatcher
“Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect. To all, charity.” Oren Arnold
“Christmas in Bethlehem. The ancient dream: a cold, clear night made brilliant by a glorious star, the smell of incense, shepherds and wise men falling to their knees in adoration of the sweet baby, the incarnation of perfect love”. Lucinda Franks
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince Of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end”. Isaiah 9:6

One of my personal favorites –Thomas Kincaid:

“The flow of blessings in our life is directly related to our passing blessings along to others”.

Christmas is a celebration, make it count! It’s counting down now, hurry.

Looking for some ways to spread the cheer?

Write a letter to a soldier away from home and share your gratitude.
Go Christmas caroling with a group.
Seek out a forgotten friend and renew the friendship.
Make a decision to “let something go”.
Encourage someone with kind words.
Take joy and pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth around you.
Be kind: Be gentle.
Share something you treasure and ask your friends to join you, make it a party.
Have a 5 course meal shared by 5 different friends at their homes. Start with friend at the salad house, then to the soup house, then over the main course and finally the desert host and closing the night with the coffee-house.

Hope Peace Joy

What are you doing to spread Christmas Cheer? And remember, Jesus is the reason for the Christmas Season, – God’s gift to mankind.

Merry Christmas

Thanksgiving

November 28, 2013November 28, 2013 / Donna George / 2 Comments

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

Kure fishing pier

Beach piers are very popular destinations on the Carolina coast. Growing up in a fishing port town, piers are a natural part of the scenery, a gathering place. They are typically built where one coastal town ends and another town begins adding revenues for that particular townships. I remember building sand castles under the pier as a kid while keeping a watchful eye on the fisherman’s above me.

Finally, I became a fisherman on the pier. The moon was full and in perfect place casting a blue velvet hue on the ocean, making it hard to keep my hands on the fishing pole and not on my camera. The view was spectacular, almost magical. The moon created a misty glow across the ocean and the mist hovered around the shoreline.

over the top

Pier

sunset

waves

misty

Fog & Mist

flocks

Flocks of birds circle the shore and then fly back and forth the length of the pier. I think they were showing off and playing with everyone, trying to divert all the attention to them. They stayed close by all evening, performing formations and dancing along the horizon. And then I would see them flocked together almost completely still in midair like an audience watching a show.

fish cleaning station

finally a fish

The one thing I know about fishing is that it brings out the quirkiness in people. The group fishing next to us sang songs to the fish the whole time (here fishy fishy fish). Another guy whistled the whole time, as if the fish understood he was calling them to their defeat. Some of the fisherman were dead silent while others enjoyed fellowship with friends and conversation. Many people were there just to people watch and stare at the ocean.

My take away on pier fishing, the fish have us figured out. They know how to run the length of the pier and grab the bait and run, kind of like fish (drive-bys). Every time I reeled my rod up, my bait was gone and there was no fish. All in all, we caught one fish each. Great fun, but patience is a must.

Bottom line, I am happy just to be near the sea, as I am a fish out of sea….