I travelled in a bus with a neighbor. We were both heading for work. At that hour it should have been light already, but this morning the black clouds were rolling in the sky, and it looked like rain.
- What an awful weather, my neighbor said.
I was about to agree, but stopped just in time. Now what could be good about this? Then I got it.
- Oh yes, isn´t it wonderful that we have indoor jobs? I asked.
Neighbor looked a bit baffled.
- I mean we are nice and comfortable, in a warm office, with bright lights and all! Outside it can rain cats and dogs but we are cozy and comfy.
She thought for a while.
- I never thought of it that way! That´s actually a good thought!
Well, I think so too. One more good thing in our everyday life.
12/1/08
11/25/08
Cats in first snow
First snow came - and much to our surprise it also stayed - for a few days at least.
We opened the door to our balcony to see what our cats would think of the snow. They had not been out in winter before, but this summer we had our balcony renovated so that the cats cannot jump out from it. Opening the door was thus safe.
One of the cats did what was expected: shook every paw after every step and looked at us with an unbelieving expression on her face. "What have you put on the floor? Take it off!"
The long-haired one sat like a king, safe in the warmth of the fur coat given by nature.
And the third one… He made one huge leap to the balcony and stopped with utter surprise on his face. Looked down. And all of a sudden he hugged the snow with his front paws, bum high up in the air, scooping the snow with his paws. Then he made a few joy leaps in place and - yes, this is true - with elegant wrist movements started throwing tiny pits of snow at the other cats. The he ran inside and out again. But going out was a whole new show: he lay flat on the floor, then he started to shake his behing like he was ready to bounce on a mouse and again made the huuuuge leap to the snow. Repeat the scooping of snow and throwing it at the other cats.
And this has now continued for a few days. What joy our funny cat has brought to us! That child-like enjoyment of fresh white snow. Our pets sure can teach us how to approach the little joys in life!
We opened the door to our balcony to see what our cats would think of the snow. They had not been out in winter before, but this summer we had our balcony renovated so that the cats cannot jump out from it. Opening the door was thus safe.
One of the cats did what was expected: shook every paw after every step and looked at us with an unbelieving expression on her face. "What have you put on the floor? Take it off!"
The long-haired one sat like a king, safe in the warmth of the fur coat given by nature.
And the third one… He made one huge leap to the balcony and stopped with utter surprise on his face. Looked down. And all of a sudden he hugged the snow with his front paws, bum high up in the air, scooping the snow with his paws. Then he made a few joy leaps in place and - yes, this is true - with elegant wrist movements started throwing tiny pits of snow at the other cats. The he ran inside and out again. But going out was a whole new show: he lay flat on the floor, then he started to shake his behing like he was ready to bounce on a mouse and again made the huuuuge leap to the snow. Repeat the scooping of snow and throwing it at the other cats.
And this has now continued for a few days. What joy our funny cat has brought to us! That child-like enjoyment of fresh white snow. Our pets sure can teach us how to approach the little joys in life!
11/7/08
The Purr
Yesterday evening I was in a hurry. No real reason - just one of those days when you cannot stop running. You have a busy day at work, and then you get stuck to that busy feeling.
Well, I took a book I "had to" read and lay down on the bed to do the reading.
Immediately our Somali cat jumped to the bed. I squeezed the book and put it so I would not make eye contact. No use. He marched straight to my chest and settled himself. I could feel his little claws through my shirt. I thought that maybe if I just kept the book in front of my face, and paid no attention, he would go away. Now that was the plan at least.
Only it did not work. Suddenly a small nose and some whiskers appeared from under the book. I tried to push the book down, but he had made up his mind. He simply pushed the book aside, crawled quickly up so that his nose was on my cheek - and started purring. Oh what a purr that was. It rumbled so loudly it was quite amazing it came from such a small creature. I felt the purr all through my chest.
Eyes half closed and (I swear:) a smile on his face he made it clear that this was no time to be in a hurry.
I felt annoyed at first, but then I just had to laugh. The cat was in such obvious bliss. And so I put down my book, closed my eyes, rested my hands on the cat´s warm back and let him purr. After a while I felt the tense feeling leaving my chest and mind. What a perfect little stress-doctor a cat can be!
Well, I took a book I "had to" read and lay down on the bed to do the reading.
Immediately our Somali cat jumped to the bed. I squeezed the book and put it so I would not make eye contact. No use. He marched straight to my chest and settled himself. I could feel his little claws through my shirt. I thought that maybe if I just kept the book in front of my face, and paid no attention, he would go away. Now that was the plan at least.
Only it did not work. Suddenly a small nose and some whiskers appeared from under the book. I tried to push the book down, but he had made up his mind. He simply pushed the book aside, crawled quickly up so that his nose was on my cheek - and started purring. Oh what a purr that was. It rumbled so loudly it was quite amazing it came from such a small creature. I felt the purr all through my chest.
Eyes half closed and (I swear:) a smile on his face he made it clear that this was no time to be in a hurry.
I felt annoyed at first, but then I just had to laugh. The cat was in such obvious bliss. And so I put down my book, closed my eyes, rested my hands on the cat´s warm back and let him purr. After a while I felt the tense feeling leaving my chest and mind. What a perfect little stress-doctor a cat can be!
11/6/08
The Happy Greyhound
I always thought greyhound was a bit of an "aloof" dog breed. Looking at the world with a slightly worried expression, never really joyful. At least I had never seen a joyful greyhound before. (Well I don´t mingle in the greyhound circles so I cannot say I have much experience of them.)
And now I saw this young woman with her greyhound. It was the first frosty morning and she had put a pretty jacket on the dog. The walked right in front of me. And it was a joy to watch them interact with each other.
The greyhound circled his human with bouncy steps, looking at her face with an expression of total joy and adoration. She patted him on the head and back and talked to him and the dog was positively smiling at her. Wagging his tail, just radiating happiness. They lived in a world of their own, a world of happy companionship.
The dog continued his funny, light-stepped ballet around the girl when they turned from the corner, but they had already given me the gift of smile for today.
Aren´t our animal companions just the most wonderful thing? They are so connected to the pure bliss of just being alive, they sure can teach us a lesson or two on how to approach life!
And now I saw this young woman with her greyhound. It was the first frosty morning and she had put a pretty jacket on the dog. The walked right in front of me. And it was a joy to watch them interact with each other.
The greyhound circled his human with bouncy steps, looking at her face with an expression of total joy and adoration. She patted him on the head and back and talked to him and the dog was positively smiling at her. Wagging his tail, just radiating happiness. They lived in a world of their own, a world of happy companionship.
The dog continued his funny, light-stepped ballet around the girl when they turned from the corner, but they had already given me the gift of smile for today.
Aren´t our animal companions just the most wonderful thing? They are so connected to the pure bliss of just being alive, they sure can teach us a lesson or two on how to approach life!
11/5/08
Bathtub-sofa
A second-hand store opened and I stopped to look at its window. There was an object that made me smile.
It was a red sofa, but not an ordinary one. No, this one was made by a man who specializes in recycling old things. What he had done was to take an old-fashioned bath tub and cut it into half. Then he had painted the half bright red, installed legs, padded the edges and sewn a sof big cushion to sit on. And there it was. A bright red sofa that used to be a bathtub.
It looked so modern and cheerful. What imagination the man had! To use something abandoned and unwanted and turn it into a fashionable piece of furniture.
It never ceases to amaze me what the human mind can come up with!
It was a red sofa, but not an ordinary one. No, this one was made by a man who specializes in recycling old things. What he had done was to take an old-fashioned bath tub and cut it into half. Then he had painted the half bright red, installed legs, padded the edges and sewn a sof big cushion to sit on. And there it was. A bright red sofa that used to be a bathtub.
It looked so modern and cheerful. What imagination the man had! To use something abandoned and unwanted and turn it into a fashionable piece of furniture.
It never ceases to amaze me what the human mind can come up with!
11/4/08
Sunrise
I was walking to work this morning. At this time of the year it is beginning to be pretty dark in the mornings already. Daylight saving time gives a short respite before midwinter, when it is totally dark when going to work - and coming from work.
This morning the clouds above were still dark inky blue and the sun was below the horizon. And then, suddenly, the sun´s first rays met the underside of the clouds. It was like someone had taken a brush and with short, delicate strokes painted the horizon in brilliant pink and illuminating orange colors. Amazing soft light spread everywhere.
You could almost hear the nature sigh. What abundance to start the day with such beauty!
This morning the clouds above were still dark inky blue and the sun was below the horizon. And then, suddenly, the sun´s first rays met the underside of the clouds. It was like someone had taken a brush and with short, delicate strokes painted the horizon in brilliant pink and illuminating orange colors. Amazing soft light spread everywhere.
You could almost hear the nature sigh. What abundance to start the day with such beauty!
11/3/08
The Idea
This morning I was very tired when I got out of bed. But in a good way - my husband and I had gone for a long Nordic walking exercise on Sunday and now my body felt relaxed and good.
Still - it was a Monday morning, which traditionally isn´t the most loved of the week mornings. But I had made a decision and was eager to start. I´d pay special attention to joyful things in my life and write them down. This way, when I would feel down, I could return to all the good things I had written - to see that life is full of blessings. Because lets face it: we do pay more attention to the negative issues in our lives.
Yet positive thinking is just something we need to learn to do. Replace the negative thinking habit with a positive one. I believe that what ever we concentrate on, expands in our lives. And I want to concentrate more on the positive, joyful things.
For this purpose this blog has been created. I hope you will enjoy these writings too.
I have another site that concentrates on positive short stories. I add stories once in a while, and I have written them all myself. If you wish to check, go to
http://www.inspirational-short-stories.com/
Still - it was a Monday morning, which traditionally isn´t the most loved of the week mornings. But I had made a decision and was eager to start. I´d pay special attention to joyful things in my life and write them down. This way, when I would feel down, I could return to all the good things I had written - to see that life is full of blessings. Because lets face it: we do pay more attention to the negative issues in our lives.
Yet positive thinking is just something we need to learn to do. Replace the negative thinking habit with a positive one. I believe that what ever we concentrate on, expands in our lives. And I want to concentrate more on the positive, joyful things.
For this purpose this blog has been created. I hope you will enjoy these writings too.
I have another site that concentrates on positive short stories. I add stories once in a while, and I have written them all myself. If you wish to check, go to
http://www.inspirational-short-stories.com/
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