Do you remember when the peacock on NBC went from black and white to color in 1957? I still recall how exciting it was to see color on TV. I especially remember watching Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color. The announcer would say, “Live and in Living Color.”
Then you’d hear the ding ding ding…and up popped the peacock!
We are surrounded by beautiful colors every day. In an effort to truly smell the roses and appreciate what Mother Nature brings to us this time of year, I thought I’d share some of my living colors with you today.
Let’s start with a couple of my favorites. Can you smell them?
I wish I took more time to just go outside. When I do, I take in the colors…like a few of these that are in my yard.
It doesn’t take too long before you realize that we do live our lives in living color and taking the time to appreciate it requires paying attention to what is around us.
But like everyone else, we do have things to do as well. I have errands, my clothes don’t wash themselves and I have obligations just like you.
In an effort to reach a balance with Mother Nature by respecting the beauty before us and being water wise, it can present some complications. I’ve pulled out my lawn in the back. That’s somewhat of a concession. I rarely run my dishwasher, okay so I don’t cook, that makes it a little easier.
But speaking of balance, I added an entire new dimension to my life when I began my latest adventure as a radio talk show host. This weekly show has provided me the opportunity to make those conversations plus connections equaling community come alive and it too, is in living color.
My guests have been so varied and so interesting. Each week I prepare more for the one hour show, then any preparation I’ve ever done in my life. Sometimes it’s complicated for me technologically. I have had a learning curve but the good news is that I am learning and I am improving. I do however, need to remind myself about staying in balance.
Back in the “old days” when I was very active in PTA and other community activities, I was often times the membership person. We all have our niches; some were perfectly suited to always be the treasurer and would hold that volunteer job in every organization.
Currently I am the Vice President of Membership (VPM) for my Speakers By The Sea, Toastmasters Club. I am also the Membership person in the Y Service Club at my local Westchester Y.
Connecting with people has always come easy to me, just like numbers and finances always come easy to the treasurers.
Many years ago there was a bumper sticker campaign. I had forgotten just how it got started, until Goggle and I met Wikipedia.
A random act of kindness is a selfless act performed by a person or people wishing either to assist or to cheer up an individual person or people. The phrase may have been coined by Anne Herbert, who says that she wrote “Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty” on a place mat at a Sausalito restaurant in 1982 or 1983.
Those words and actions are just as important today as they were over 30 years ago, maybe more so, with the advanced instant technology surrounding us.
I had breakfast today with my friend Deb and she is introducing through Facebook and also with my cooperation and support another form of being nice.
It’s called Just Do One Thing. The goal is simple, the words say it all. It’s a reminder that when you are out and about, to be aware. Be aware of your surroundings, be aware of the people you know and don’t know in your life.
Each day, Just Do One Thing.
Here are Deb’s words:
This is a request/challenge/whatever you want to call it…I am challenging each one of us to be better. To be better human beings – by being/doing something kind today. It might be a smile, it might be a hello to someone you don’t know…It might even be paying some of your success in life forward to another – and by that I mean, sharing your knowledge as a mentor, or encouraging a young person to reach for the stars and helping them navigate the world, as only you could. It could be opening a door for someone who can’t quite reach it, carrying some groceries to an elderly neighbor’s house. It could be giving up that latte today so someone else has something to eat today..Whatever it is – I just say do it. Just do one thing today to be better, to show compassion and kindness. #Compassion #Kindness #JustDoOneThing
Thank you Deb. As we navigate through our daily routines, keep it in mind. We do live and breathe in living color, make it a bright day for someone else and in return your day will be brighter too!
See you next time!