12 Ways That Separate Good Friends From BFF’s

April 10, 2015April 12, 2015 / Donna George / 12 Comments

Best friends

“Friends listen to what you say. Best friends listen to what you don’t say”

If you are like me, you love all your friends and recognize how much each one adds to your life. Thinking about my own friends, I realize how many different kind of friends I am fortunate enough to have.. My friends are diverse, people from all walks of life. Some are from couple relationships, some are single, others are from past college days.Then there’s my beloved social media friends, very close friends, and the proverbial “best friend” commonly known as the “BFF”.

I can’t think of one friend I would trade :). All are different, all special. As life happens, we grow, age, change and our interests lead us to different paths.

Some of us are lucky enough to have a lifetime Best Friend who is usually there for us through most of our major life events. Events that build our permanent memories. Events like graduations, weddings, vacations, career changes and the whole gamut of wins and loses My best friend was with me in the delivery room, while I was in labor with my first son, who forgets that memory?

Others prefer to have frequent “newbie best friends” and that’s okay. This mostly happens due to promitity of your best friend. It’s hard to stay close when you are remote from each other, but it’s very possible. I often get asked the question, “How have you and your “best friend” remained together all these years”? This question alone prompted me to write this post.

This is the 12 Ways That Separate Good Friends From BFF’s…

No judgement, or over analyzing your words or actions, just be yourself.
Forgiveness is a given.
Truth always trumps everything.
Secrets are in the vault.
Trustworthiness matters. You trust them with your life.
Dependable and reliable, all the time, not occasionally.
Loyalty is next to “Lioness” protection at all cost.
Respects and treasures the investment time of the friendship.
#1 Fan, always cheering you on when others are absent.
A shoulder to cry on and open ears to listen.
No games, unless its cards. True transparency and honesty.
Love for each other is unconditional, like family.

I’m sure you have your own list of differentiators, but these are mine. We share profound experiences with our “Best friends” that shape and influence us forever.

Here’s a poem I found that does a nice job defining our “Best Friends”.

A good friend wants to talk to you about your problem.

A best friend wants to help you solve it.

A good friend hates it when you call late in the evening.

A best friend asks you why it took you so long to call them.

A good friend thinks the relationship is over after an argument.

A best friend calls you after you had the argument.

A good friend has never seen you cry.

A best friend has had soggy shoulders from your tears.

A good friend doesn’t know your parents name.

A best friend has them in their contacts.

A good friend will tell you what you want to hear.

A best friend will always tell you the truth.

A good friend expects you to be there for them.

A best friend expects to always be there for you.

A good friend is someone you enjoy hanging out with.

A best friend is someone you need.

Now that the differentiators are clear… Go out there and find a BFF:).… If you have one already call them, and let them know how important they are to you. Don’t be shy. Expose your heart and make sure they know their place in your life.

Happy trails, friend…
Donna George

Join me and let’s be friends on FB

Will Oceans Ever Rule The World?

February 24, 2015February 24, 2015 / Donna George / 12 Comments

The Ocean rules all her captives, submitting to her with an indescribable sense of smell, feel, and sound that intoxicates her lovers. Could it simply be the draw of the familiarity of her water, gently reminding us somehow of our “watery womb” beginning. Or maybe, it’s the stirring of strong emotions buried deep within us, hidden underneath all the clutter. Sometimes its awestruck, for others its fear, but the tranquility of her breath allows us all to float.

A place where your imagination is free to go deep, and deeper. And eventually swallows your reality and transcends to your dreams.

Mermaids are ruled by the ocean, shuffled by the surf and guided by the moonlight. Mistaken by sailors for manatees.

This is where I belong. How about you?

Happy trails
Donna George

6 Reasons To Celebrate Being A Night Owl

February 20, 2015February 21, 2015 / Donna George / 4 Comments

Sleep professionals tell us the average adult needs seven to nine hours sleep every single day in order to stay healthy. However, they don’t specify the preferred sleeping shifts, its just assumed the early bird gets the worm preference.

I am definitely a sleep advocate. I love to sleep, but not at night. I prefer bedtime around 3:00 am, but my current lifestyle allows a late wakeup time, usually around 11:00. It seems completely natural for my internal clock and seems productive for me, however everyone is wired differently.

Here are 6 benefits to burning the midnight oil

1. REM sleep is more accessible for night owls.
When night owls do submit to sleep, it’s much easier to get REM sleep faster.

2. Night Workers are more creative people.
Research reveals that night owls who stay up late are able to apply non-conventional alternatives to solve issues more efficiently than early risers.

3. Night Owls score higher on the basic intelligence test.
However, the early birds counterparts usually get better grades.

4. No one is usually up to distract you.
Concentration flows better with fewer interruptions, no delivery trucks or visitors. And usually social media messaging slows to a halt late at night, most of the world is sleeping.

5. Sweet Freedom of no obligation.
There are no doctors appointments scheduled after midnight and most social events are usually over before midnight.

6. The Internet.
In case you didn’t know, the internet slows drastically after 3:00 am making a fast connection readily available. You can zoom from site to site.

No need to feel strange or weird to be wide awake when most people are sleeping anymore. Embrace your difference and take full advantage of the extra time, open the blinds and enjoy the beautiful night sky.

Are you up all night, is it by choice or insomnia? There is a difference in people who are “insomniacs” and people who are “nocturnal”. How have you taken advantage of your body’s internal clock? Do you wish you were part of the early bird gang?

Happy Trails
Donna George

Amazing Revelation At The Chiropractor’s Office

February 17, 2015February 18, 2015 / Donna George / 6 Comments

Spine

One interesting detail I have discovered from life so far, Chiropractic doctors have a certain mystic, unknown connotation attached to their services. Its strange, but when you tell someone you have a Chiropractic appointment, the silence is deafening. Almost predictable. Not that I’ve been to very many, in fact, only two in my life. The fact remains people like to talk about their aches and pains and the choice of healthcare does arise in conversation.

Since I brought it up, let me tell you why I was visiting the Chiropractor. I have found writing torture on the lower back and neck, especially after a 30 year career of traveling, dragging around luggage, a few car accidents, and just life’s bumps and lumps. When I settled down to begin writing, my body started screaming in pain. I’m a lefty, so it started with tendonitis in my left elbow, and naturally, it traveled to other places in my body. Long story short, after inhaling much anti-inflammatory meds and several specialist, I find myself staring a skeleton model of a human spine at the Chiropractor’s office.

The good news is he can help with the pain by relieving pressure off the nerve being pinched. This comes by a series of adjustments to open the area where the nerve sits in that particular vertebra (please forgive my laymen terms). Looking at the spine model as he carefully explained the process and reviewed my x-rays, it all made perfect sense to me. I’m certain my back will continue to feel better and I can keep writing as usual.

The funny thing was while all the details and options were discussed, in a rather serious way, as it is serious, my mind decides to go on a rabbit trail. I hate when this happens, I try to reel it back, but I keep thinking, here I am, not employed – finally, and my back is hurting. As I stared at the bony form in front of me, I imagined a sort of humorous 3-D image emerging from the rib cage, aiming straight for me. A revelation began to take shape in my mind.

In life we need 3 bones:

Funny Bone
Wish Bone
Back bone

The funny bone to take everything with a sense of humor, not to be so serious. The wish bone to wish for all dreams to come true, (like the chicken bone),and the back bone to do another day.

My advice for writers or anyone with sitting jobs:

Stand up and move around often
Get regular exercise daily
Keep drinking lemon water to push out the toxins.

I’ll keep you posted on my progress. By the way, I prefer Chiropractic treatment over medicine any day. It won’t improve your pain overnight, but it’s a way to repair the damage without surgery and drugs.

What has your experience been with back pain, and methods to cope with the pain? Maybe you’re a longterm writer or you have an occupation requiring hours of sitting, with tips on how you escaped lower back pain? I’m sure others would be interested in your suggestions.

Happy Trails
Donna George

Imagine A World Where Loving Others Trumps Everything

February 14, 2015February 14, 2015 / Donna George / 2 Comments

! Corinthians 13

Love trumps everything, Is that possible? Ask anyone in love, and the answer will most likely be, YES.. Does sound like a tall order in todays world?

In my humble opinion, 1 Corinthians 13: 4-13 are powerful scriptures that begin with simple phrases, such as “love is kind”, elevating with contrasts like “it does not envy”. It’s hard stuff. If you think about the message it conveys, and the human strength it commands, you will see a completely opposite perspective of what lives in the heart of mankind.

I believe Paul, the author of Corinthians is revealing this message:

1. The Eminence of Love, verses 1-3 – love is the foundation of all spiritual gifts, and nothing is of value without love as the main motive or driving force for action.
2. The Explanation of Love, verses 4-8 – a description of love, what it looks like and how it operates in our lives, and he contrasts the verses with what love is not.
3. The Endurance of Love, verses 9-13 – emphasis on the permanency of love, the sustaining promise that trumps all other virtues, whether faith or hope, only love endures.

It makes perfect sense why 1 Corinthians 13 is recited at most weddings. It offers the perfect ingredients for strong marriages and teaches a thorough lesson on love, what it means and how to make it last forever.

Valentines Day is a day the entire world celebrates – Love. Imagine a world where love penetrated every relationship, not just family or romantic relationships, but the person who bags your groceries or brings your food to the table at restaurants.

Love

Love is not just a 4-letter word, its action in motion, an attitude toward others. Who doesn’t like to be around loving people? Everyone desires to be loved and accepted by others, it’s human nature.

It’s not by accident the first two commandments are all about love. If you look at the list of commandments, the ability to love others seems easy to do compared to some of the other commandments, but God knew we would struggle with love, leading me to think that’s why it’s listed first. Love lessons are sprinkled throughout the scriptures, here are a few of my favorites:

“Above all, love each other deeply,because love covers a multitude of sins”. – 1 Peter 4:8

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is (springs) from God, and he who loves is begotten (born) of God and is coming to know and understand God (to perceive and recognize and get a better and clearer knowledge of him)”. –1 John 4:7

“By this shall all know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (if you keep on showing love among yourselves)”. John 13:35

“But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”. Matthew 5:44

With these specific instructions written for guidance, we continue to struggle with loving each other. The ones close to our hearts are easy to love, but what about the ones we find unlikable or hard to love? And what about the people who hurt or abandoned us? Only through love can forgiveness heal and life move forward.

Hearts

A world united in love would have no need to be at war. Hate and fear would cease to exist. Friendship, relationships and communities would thrive.The greatness of this concept would be limitless, heavenly in fact. And one day, it shall be. I can only imagine.

How will your Valentine’s Day impact others? Do you have any advice on how to love more, how to add to the world around you?

Happy Valentine’s Day,
Donna George, xoxo

Happy Valentine’s Day

Versatile Blogger Award

February 11, 2015 / Donna George / 16 Comments

My appreciation to Helen Elizabeth, Good Woman for nominating me for the Versatile Blogger Award. I stumbled upon her blog from The Commons and quickly realized her writing gift would keep me coming back for more of the story. Her blog is honest, fresh and sprinkled with nuggets of wisdom. I can tell you the Good Woman enjoys inspiring life quotes, has 2 dogs, and likes basketball and football, especially the Green Bay Packers. Oh, and did I mention her first career was teaching for 11 years, that alone merits an award?

I’m happy to accept this nomination and excited to be a part of the Blogging University and the blogging community.

The rules are:

https://versatilebloggeraward.wordpress.com/

Thank the person who nominated you
Share 7 facts about yourself
Nominate 15 blogs
Link your nominees’ blogs, and let them know

My 7 facts:

I have 7 dogs who live in our home like family. Let me introduce you to Mercy & Grace, my 2 Yorkies, Cole, a black Pomeranian, and Rizzo, Lizzie, Layla and Noel, our family of miniature Aussies. They hate Fridays – bath day:{. There is a story behind each dog, believe me, I just didn’t get up one day and say, “let’s get 7 dogs”.
I am secretly a Mermaid. I feel most comfortable close to the sea.
I traveled as a retail executive for 30 years from Philly to Alabama every week for a Junior Retail Fashion store called Body Central based out of Jacksonville, FL. It was a life career that taught me life lessons Beyond Extraordinary Days. It’s a long story, but a good one I hope to write about one day.
My favorite writers are Stephen King, Dean Koontz and Nicholas Sparks. I live in Wilmywood, better known as Hollywood in the East, where many TV series are made like One Tree Hill, Under the Dome, Revolution, Dawson’s Creek, Sleepy Hollow and etc. Movies like The Conjuring, Hunger Games, Fire Starter, Cape Fear, Iron Man etc.
I launched a fashion blog 12/13 called True to you. It was a self-hosted fashion blog a web developer built for me, lots of work. It was cyber attacked by terrorists in Turkey and the server took it down. The developer cleaned it up, put it back up, 3 days later it was gone again, now I blog at WordPress and let them host.
I love bridges, especially the ones in Alabama.
I taught ballet for 5 years.

The 15 blogs I nominate are:

1. Another cup of coffee

2. Walk in the sunlight

3. Lightwalkers Blog

4. Qi Beauty Social

5. FloorDeBoor

6. The light inside of me

7. Brand New Day! Brand New Blog!

8. Stephieopolis

9. Living Intentionally Simple

10. It’s Dolly, Darling

11. Crazy in Catmint

12. Finding My Inner Zen

13. Finding Myself Through Writing

14. Live the life you love

15. Badfish Out of Water

I hope you will accept my nomination and continue to enrich the blogging community with your unique view of the world. I have enjoyed reading all your blogs, especially the About Pages. I look forward to reading more in the future.

Donna George

Winter White Out, Snow Day

February 4, 2015February 4, 2015 / Donna George / 10 Comments

Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things, but look at what they can do when they stick together.

White Out

Feels like a “White Wanderlust” ? The “snow angels” making doggy prints.

Layla

Rizzo

Cole

A fun, playful snow day in the Smoky Mountains.

Happy trails,
Donna George

Express Yourself

January 29, 2015January 29, 2015 / Donna George / 9 Comments

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Express Yourself.”

In response to the dailypost photo challenge to “express yourself” through a photo (without getting too personal), I decided to share three ways, I find inspiration, all in the same photo.

This was not an easy task! I love all things sparkly, shiny, and pretty, like sequins, bangles, and red shoes, but on this occasion, nature trumps.

Ocean Seagulls Flowers

Oh, did I mention why?

The Ocean and I go way back, all the way back, to the beginning. I’m secretly a mermaid, but don’t tell anyone.

The Seagulls are amazing, beautiful birds with a curious nature, who hang close to people.

And Flowers. Nothing brightens a space like flowers. They’re colorful, delicate and smell incredible. What’s not to love about flowers?

Donna George