Man's greatest blessing

"Humor is mankind's greatest blessing."-Mark Twain
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mark_twain.html

I hope that everyone's life is always blessed with a lot of laughter in it. In that spirit here is a joke (and a cat just for the heck of it!):

Teacher: "If I gave you 2 cats and another 2 cats and another 2, how many would you have?"
Johnny: "Seven."
Teacher: "No, listen carefully... If I gave you two cats, and another two cats and another two, how many would you have?"
Johnny: "Seven."
Teacher: "Let me put it to you differently. If I gave you two apples, and another two apples and another two, how many would you have?"
Johnny: "Six."
Teacher: "Good. Now if I gave you two cats, and another two cats and another two, how many would you have?"
Johnny: "Seven!"
Teacher: "Johnny, where in the heck do you get seven from?!"
Johnny: "Because I've already got a freaking cat!" 

See more  jokes at: http://staging.laughfactory.com/jokes/clean-jokes#sthash.SHxhpYGU.dpuf

Sending you good thoughts for a good day

"With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts."-Eleanor Roosevelt
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/e/eleanorroo143006.html

I hope that each day brings you at least one happy thought and more strength than the day before. If you find you have to  face something difficult, here is a message of encouragement from me by way of this video below (at the very least I hope it will make you laugh a little which is always a good thing in my opinion!) In any case, as always, know that I'm rooting for you in spirit!

More than enough love

"You never know what is enough unless you know what is more than enough." William Blake
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/w/william_blake.html

I've been very lucky in that I've always had more than enough shelter, food, clothes and many other things besides. However, the one thing I'm happiest about is that I've always had more than enough love and as a result I feel like I have even more love to give to other people. The funny thing is, I feel like there's never enough love in the world and that's why I plan to keep giving more, for as long as possible. Just because love is something I can give freely, something I can give wholly, and something i can give because I know it's a great feeling to know you're loved. That idea has given me so much strength in times of need. So I resolve to love more than enough!

The best things about being home

I just got back from spending Thanksgiving with my family and it got me thinking about how nice it is to be home. The thing I like best about being home is just the fact that when I go home it feels like I never left. I just think it's nice to be some place where I've always felt I've belonged and where I'm with people I love. I like doing crossword puzzles with my parents and watching movies and taking walks with my family down the road by the house where I grew up.  (Not many cars go down that road because it's in the country so you can pretty much walk down the middle of it and no cars will come for a good 20 minutes.) I hope everyone has a place where they feel they always belong and they always are loved. There is no place like home.

How life is like an ice cream cone

"Life is like an ice-cream cone, you have to lick it one day at a time."- Charles M. Schulz
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/c/charlesms189862.html

Here's to getting the most out of life, especially ice cream!

As it's Black Friday...

Since it's "Black Friday," a day when people in the US go out to find good deals in stores, it got me thinking about things I'd get. I do not mean things I'd buy with money, just things that would be nice to have. It's nice to dream a little. So here's my list:

*Unlimited amounts of hugs, just because  they make me feel safe.

*A Minion- just because I love them.

*A lifetime supply of nice music, because my life is better with music in it.

*A magic wand so I can wave it and make nice things happen.

*Unlimited amounts of tea because everything is better with a cuppa!

Happy Black Friday everyone!

A message from Maggie and the Minions

Happy Thanksgiving/Indigenous People's Day from Maggie and the Minions!

Image from: https://cache.lovethispic.com/uploaded_images/thumbs/217273-Minion-Happy-Thanksgiving-Quote-For-Friends-And-Family.jpg

One thing I'm Thankful for!

Although I'm thankful for many things, I just thought I'd mention one thing because otherwise this post would be too long. So, one of the biggest things I'm thankful for is my family. I don't know where I'd be without them and I love them all.  I hope every day, people can find at least one thing to be thankful for. Life is nicer that way. :)

Maggie goes after the Minions!

 I love Minions. (They are these little yellow cartoon characters who make it their mission to find and do the bidding of the most evil person that they can find. They are in the Dispicable Me movies and most recently there is a movie that was specifically dedicated to them and their antics.) Anyway, I love minions because I think they're fun! As a result, I have taken to taking pictures of all things minion, whether it's a posters about minions or minion figurines or a cup with minions, or whatever. When I see them when I'm out and about, nowadays I take a picture just because it makes me feel happy! I was sort of inspired by the Pokémon Go Game thingy that people were going on about for a while. I never got into that but I like the idea of trying to find things in random places and so I chose to do that with minions.  I've decided my pictures of minions thing could be called  "Maggie Goes After the Minions!"

So far I've found something related to minions in Salem, MA, Melrose, MA, Prince Edward island in Canada, and in Michigan as well as Boston, MA. I'm really curious to see how many places I can go and still find a minion! Thus, The adventure begins! See my most recent finding of minions in Michigan, below!

Find joy through struggle!

"We have to embrace obstacles to reach the next stage of joy."-Goldie Hawn
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/g/goldiehawn386683.html

I really believe that getting through obstacles, even if they're hard to get through, is ultimately worth it in the end. I've found that even when I felt things were really hard in my life, once I'd gotten through that hard time I realized that I felt stronger for getting through things. I really did find joy at the end of it all. If you are going through something difficult, I feel strongly that you can get through it. People have so much strength, more than I think they know. So I say no matter what, keep fighting the good fight and don't let the bastards grind you down!

Happy World Children's Day!

Today is the United Nations' World Children's Day which is a day to celebrate the rights of children all over the world. I'm glad there's a day that celebrates the rights of children to be happy and to live a good life. One thing that I think is really cool that was done to celebrate World Children's Day is they had a Global Library Campaign where a group of authors have written very short stories of seven lines each to bring attention to injustices faced by children. I like this because I think the more attention is brought to injustice the closer we are to getting it resolved. To find out more information about World Children's Day click here.

I'm happiest when I'm getting to know people

I was listening to Pandora today and the song "Getting To Know You" from the musical "The King And I" came on the radio. Hearing it makes me think of how nice it can be to meet people and have the hope of making a friend. Plus the song is unfailingly cheery which is yet another reason why I like it. That aside, I find that the more people I meet the happier I am, even if I don't always agree with everyone, I do think my life is better because of all the people in it and all the people I meet who become part of it.  So, here's to getting to know people!

We're one

"I hope that people will finally come to realize that there is only one 'race' - the human race - and that we are all members of it."-Margaret Atwood
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/margaret_atwood.html

I really like this quote and it seems especially pertinent now more than ever. It also reminds me of a song called One by U2. I figure that all we really have in life is each other and so I send my love to everyone because it's something I can give freely and I think love is something strong enough to unite everyone!

All I wanna do is have some fun today!

Today all I wanted to do was have some fun and it made me think of this song. It really made me feel good today when I heard it on the radio. I hope wherever you are that you did something fun today!

Just the way you are

It's the singer Diana Krall's birthday and I heard her cover of Billy Joel's song "Just The Way You Are" today and really liked it. I like people the way they are. That's not to say I don't believe in growing as a person, just that I like people best when they're themselves, it's the best way to be!

Happy Tuesday

I want to wish everyone a very happy Tuesday because it's not Monday and we're one more day closer to a weekend!

Reminds me of spring

I always like spring. It's not too hot or too cold. Even if it's brief, I still like it.  So, naturally, I like the composition by Aaron Copland  called Appalachian Spring. I heard somewhere that the piece isn't really about Appalachia or spring but somehow listening to that music makes me think of spring and it makes me feel at peace. I hope everyone can find something that brings them a sense of peace. At the very least, I wish you peace now and always.

Love someone now...

I saw this video and it really made me feel good. Love to all!

Be happy despite everything

"The greatest happiness is to know the source of unhappiness." Fyodor Dostoevsky
Read more at: https://mobile.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/f/fyodordost154347.html

One thing that strikes me about the US election's aftermath was/ is the amount of sadness surrounding it. However, as with anything, at least for me, I know that if I'm not happy, as long as I can identify what's troubling me, then I can start figuring out what to do about it. It's the search for happiness that I like because it can be found in so many places no matter what.

A part of me will never grow up

"I'm happy to report that my inner child is still ageless. "-James Broughton
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/james_broughton.html

Here's the inner child in me that will never grow up!

My message for everyone

When in doubt ( or feeling down) give a hug! I send this message with a virtual hug to everyone!

Things to vote for that are fun

As it's election day, I was thinking about fun things I'd vote for, just for the heck of it. Here are a few:

• Trail mix-even if it's a food, it's just a yummy and that's good for something right?
• Minions-because they rock my world.
• My family-just because I don't know what I'd do without them
• Music because it's beautiful.
• Tea-a cup of tea makes everything better!

Vote!

As it is Election Day tomorrow in the US, I thought I'd run an extremely short campaign on behalf of Bob the Minion!

All silliness aside, if you are a US citizen, whether you vote fo Bob the Minion or any other candidate, please vote!!

Marching music that make me feel good inside

The composer John Phillip Sousa was born today in 1854. I've always liked his music because it made me feel motivated for some reason. It does  have a lot of energy and life in it. Plus, it makes me feel that it's good to keep marching on no matter what and always march to my own tune!

Disability Intersectionality Summit

I went to a conference in Boston today about how disability intersects with race, class, ethnicity, gender and many other aspects of our lives. It was really interesting to listen to all the speakers talk about their experiences with having disabilities and being activists in working to promote the rights of people with disabilities. I learned a great deal from the event. Particularly how the disability advocacy movement needs to be more diverse.  I think what I like best about the conference was how many different perspectives of disability were represented. It also reinforced to me how people with disabilities are a really diverse community and everyone's voice needs to be included as we build a stronger movement by working together!

Making it happen

I think it's amazing what people can do. For me, this sign is kind of like a recipe for how to do things that are good. I like making things happen and I really believe there's so much people can do for each other. I hope that whoever you are or wherever you are in life, you can find a way to stay positive and make things happen. There really is no telling to what you can do. 

Some peaceful music for a Thursday

The composer John Barry was born today in 1933.  I've always found that his music, for the most part gives me a sense of peace when I feel in need. The piece of music in the clip below is no exception. When I listen to it, something about it makes me feel calm. There's so much beauty in music and I hear that in the music that Barry composed.  I hope it gives a sense of peace to others, sometimes I feel like that sense of peace is all that's needed to make the day brighter!

Just keep dancing

I saw this clip today of this woman who dances to help herself get through chemotherapy which I thought was really cool. I find that especially if I'm feeling a bit tired or worn down, a bit of dancing really feels nice. Somehow when I dance I don't really mind what anyone thinks or how I might look, it just feels good! I really admire the woman who dances to get through cancer and how her message is that there is always life to be led no matter what life throws at you. If you're going through something difficult, whether it's sickness or something else, I hope you find a way to dance through it, even if you're just dancing in your head. When in doubt, boogie!

Happy Tuesday

I hope everyone has had a very happy Tuesday and I send a wish out to the world for many happy days to come.