Dear Reader:

When you read how strangely my mind works making connections today …you might wonder what is scarier… me or the purple people eater!

It started out innocently enough as I was listening to Rachel Ray talk to humorous self-help author, Glennon Doyle, who was talking about the dangers of becoming a life- long people pleaser and losing oneself in the process. Letting fear of originality and free thinking in society stymie our imagination and God-given creativity in order to fit into society’s interpretation of a successful life.

I only heard ” Danger” ” People” ” Pleaser” ” imagination ” and bingo… I was a child laughing and dancing to the lyrics of a purple people eater who wants to join a rock and roll band! The image of a purple people eater instantly materialized! My crazy crazy connective neurons!

As I looked up quotes from the author’s latest book I got the distinct feeling I was suppose to go down this path -especially when I read ” Perhaps imagination is not where we go to escape reality, but where we go to remember it.”

I am a ” people pleaser” by either nature or early training but I have had to learn to avoid the now obvious pitfalls that go along with trading one’s uniqueness for acceptance. I tried to avoid conflict at all cost growing up mainly to make mother’s life easier.

I have to agree with the boy’s ” best discovery” when he tells the mole-it is realizing ” I am enough as I am.” ( The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse)

My favorite quote that brings me much comfort is ” When life gets hard it is because you’re doing it right.” ( not wrong) If we do nothing for ourselves or others life could be easier BUT for what? Just existing but never living? What a waste of oxygen!

So until tomorrow… one bit of advice from this ole’ retired teacher is ” You must keep learning to keep becoming.”

Today is my favorite day-Winnie the Pooh

Talking about never giving up… brutal winds, then a hard freeze and look what I saw yesterday afternoon! Miraculous! I burst out laughing! Those amazing morning glories!