April 29, 2012
Reflection: What I've Learned (I think) so Far...
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To have realistic expectations. The notion of telling our children that they can be anything that they want is ridiculous. They can't but there are things that are within reach. Same goes for us, the adults. If I keep missing a goal, I lower the bar. Really, no one cares and you'll gain enough confidence to get back in the ring...so to speak.
Remember all those who have helped me along the way and to reach out to others in need. In a way...paying it backward. The psychologists say that the person aiding (or even just giving someone a compliment) gets as much of an endorphine release as the recipient.
To be patient. Okay ... again, to be more patient (ha...this is often a hard one...breathing and counting to ten helps).
To do two nice things for my husband every day and not call attention to the fact. Or even, expect him to notice.
To be grateful and thankful for good health! And to do everything I can to keep myself healthy.
Yesterday is over. Maybe I made a mistake and I can't fix it. Move on. Forgetaboutit. Resolve to do better.
Laughter is always the best medicine. Take a few doses daily. People like to be around those who make them laugh, or who laugh at their jokes.
All these years and this is what I've come away with. Oh boy. But I may have some time left...it's never too late to teach an old dog new tricks!
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Posted by Nancy Rossman
on April 29, 2012 at 5:16 PM
in Aging |
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April 25, 2012
You Should Write a Book!
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Maybe you have had this thought. Maybe others have listened to your tales and told you, "Write that down. It would make a great book."
This is what I have learned...everyone, everyone has one great story to tell. Book length. Look at all the popularity of reality (ha...) TV. I think the world is tired of celebrities, the staged real life...we want to talk, to share, to hear from each other. Real people.
So, how to start. I know you'll laugh...one word at a time. But really that is just about the way it goes. I started by reading books on writing and memoirs (Bird by Bird and On Writing Memoir as well as Writing Down the Bones, would be good books to get you going). Read books on the subject of your memoir to see how others have done it. If you don't know where to start, I suggest doing a journal for a month with two pages a day and no peeking during the period until the month is up and then look back at your notes. It will give you a cllue as to where to start.
I hope that I can inspire you to begin. I have had such a journey, and if I can do it so can you.. It doesn't matter what your reason is for wanting to tell your story, there is no wrong answer. It only takes starting with that first word.
Think about it, dream a little, and start tomorrow!
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Posted by Nancy Rossman
on April 25, 2012 at 11:27 PM
in Life |
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April 14, 2012
In Memoriam, Patti Bowlin
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Perhaps you can tell from the picture, Patti was one of those women who loved life. She had a big laugh, she loved to tease, and she could tell a good story. I can't believe that she is gone...having lost her battle with leukemia. Only diagnosed six months ago, she remained optimistic, still laughing about losing her hair and wondering ... with her new hair growing in white... if she let it go, would she be a young looking little old lady?! She is pictured with her husband of almost 40 years, Dick, and both of them were big fans of the book and quick to be in my corner. I hope she is laughing again, now the pain is over. We will all miss her terribly. God speed, Patti!
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Posted by Nancy Rossman
on April 14, 2012 at 7:19 PM
in Life |
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April 8, 2012
What to do about the hair...............
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I have been dying my hair brown for almost 15 years. It started with a little grey...here and there. Then more of it, at the crown. Some years later someone pointed out that it was, okay, everywhere.
"It's just the roots," I said. "It can't be grey everywhere."
My daughter, so diplomatic and patient, explained that if I had been doing it for so long.......there couldn't be any real brown left. Anywhere. I had never thought of it in that light. How depressing.
A few more years passed and I noticed I was spending more and more time at the salon or with Clairol and it took longer for the dye to do its job. How frustrating. I finally had the nerve to ask my hairdresser, Joseph, what my options were.
"It isn't grey, anyhow," he started. "It's white underneath it all. And it's everywhere. You should embrace who you really are." Yeah, easy for him to say ... he's 45 and doesn't have a grey hair in his head.
But being the cool guy he his, he thought of a way to sell me on embracing this drastic change. "Once you let it be all white, people will say you look young for your hair!"
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Posted by Nancy Rossman
on April 8, 2012 at 12:24 PM
in Aging |
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April 1, 2012
Taking a break.........spring training
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My husband says that I really don't understand baseball because I find the game slow. Boring, even. Here we are at one of the last spring training games in Scottsdale watching the Colorado Rockies play the Texas rangers. The park is brand new and holds only 15,000 so you are really close to the action. I imagine I can see the players sweat, it keeps me interested for a while. This past Friday night we managed to stay through six innings, which was almost a record. I don't even know who won.
I did get some good ideas of how to put together various casual outfits by looking at the women who were there. It seemed like the older ones get more dressed up than the younger women. But then, I was distracted by the occasional ball that sailed close to my head!
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Posted by Nancy Rossman
on April 1, 2012 at 11:40 AM
in Life |
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