Dear Reader:

It has taken me a lifetime to realize that the time period we live in on earth has its own unique clock. The pace is set by the life styles of people living within different cultures at the same time…some are slower-paced than other cultures…but the overall global pace of time changes… based on the latest inventions that promise more time for people…but somehow end up taking more time away from self-discovery and the meaning of life. It is an age-old dilemma for man-kind.

It really comes down to choices. If you feel your life is spent, these days, sending and receiving messages and/or reading Facebook entries leaving little down time for yourself…perhaps it is time to choose to put electronic devices down and pick up time better spent in nature, a good book, an adventure, meditation, or building a cozy cocoon around your home…inviting to all within and all who visit.

One of my favorite whimsical artists and founder of the Possibilitarian Movement, Kelly rae Roberts, decided to make a change in her busy professional life. (The title page art work is a sample of Roberts’ unique talents.)

In her latest newsletter Roberts shared these thoughts with her readers.

“I recently went old school and subscribed to a few of my favorite decor magazines. Pinterest will always be a better source of inspiration and ideas, but there is something about the ritual of sitting down with a cup of tea and an actual magazine of the non-digital variety. If I see something I love or an idea I want to try, I’ll take a photo of the magazine page and place it in an album on my phone. This feels like a nice compromise of slow living mixed in with a bit of tech. Love it.

I am slowly working to un-digitize my life outside of my work/offerings. I want to live a bit more slowly, less tech. More porch reading sessions with an actual book or magazine. More reading in bed vs surfing the net on my phone. More phone calls vs texting. More people watching in all of those brief moments throughout the day vs picking up my phone for entertainment. You know, old school. “

I think there is a part of all of us who are ready for a sabbatical away from ‘tech stress.’ Some mornings when I turn on my mail page…and see more entries than can fit on one page…I feel myself getting stressed just trying to figure out time to respond…and even if I have the time…is this how I really want to spend the precious hours of my day?

It takes me so long to text…can email faster because of the keyboard but Iphone textings drive me batty…I keep hitting those teeny tiny numbers and letters incorrectly…and then being a teacher…I won’t send it until I correct it….so much easier to pick up the phone or email.

These past three weeks I have been setting aside time to correspond  (snail-mail) with friends who are sick or going through tough times in their lives…it is so much more meaningful than a one-line text.

I feel like too many people today use technology as a barrier not to have to deal with writing cards or having a meaningful conversation between yourself and someone you know…someone who needs your presence and encouragement…not a text… you.

So until tomorrow…Let’s all start practicing laying our tech communications down…let them take a long well-deserved nap…and then face the world with nothing between you and the new day dawning…full of endless possibilities.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

Now that the scare of Hurricane Irma has subsided…I am turning my attention back to the Race for the Cure. I am a walking miracle example of the importance of new research and its affect on millions of patients world-wide. Two times during my time spent with breast cancer…it has been a new drug that just came on the market that has rescued me from the pivotal “going south” movement. I know the importance of money spent on research and how it is keeping so many of us alive and living with cancer at the same time….living with cancer.

Thank you in advance for helping our little team (Legally Pink) out again this year. Don’t want to annoy anyone but I know if you are like me…you want to have the information handy when you are ready to send a donation so once a week I will add this info at the bottom of the blog…so you know the information is there to help you when you are ready.

***Link: http://www.info-komen.org/site/TR/RacefortheCure/CHS_SouthCarolinaAffiliate?pg=entry&fr_id=6930

Susan G. Komen South Carolina – Komen Lowcountry Race for the Cure http://www.info-komen.org I am supporting Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Come join me!

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I heard from Honey yesterday… some of you readers already know the connection between Honey and praying mantises…but not all… so let me summarize it for you.

Years ago when Honey went to buy her first kiln, far out in the ‘wilds of the mountains’ (from an ad in a paper with a man’s name and address on the ad)… she discovered the wife, a potter like herself, had just recently died. Her husband wanted to sell the kiln to someone, like his wife, who passionately loved clay and all its endless possibilities. At the end of the conversation he mentioned that pray mantises seemed to be attracted to his wife while she worked on the kiln…she saw them as her guardian angels.

Later that day when Honey got home she discovered a praying mantis had hitched a ride with her. She let it loose only to discover it at her kitchen window where it stayed for days on end. Yesterday she sent this update:

Good morning!
As I was filling my bird feeder this morning I looked and to my surprise there was a Praying Mantis. I haven’t seen one this year so I am elated. I told the story to a group visiting on Wed. So, I believe Kathy Skye’s spirit is here. Strangely enough this is the anniversary of when I went to Kathy’s house and learned about her connection with the Praying Mantis. Had to share this with you😄