CODA

 I finally saw the movie CODA which is a movie about a young woman named Ruby who can hear but whose parents and brother are all Deaf. The movie tells the story of how Ruby interprets for her family members and also how she has a beautiful voice and wants to pursue singing in college. I really liked the movie especially because its cast members were actually Deaf in real life. This is a big deal because for to long,  actors without disabilities have played people with disabilities in movies and on TV. So I was even happier to learn that CODA had won 3 Oscars at this year's Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor awards. I really liked the speech given by Troy Kotsur for Best Supporting Actor. It was the first time that a Deaf actor has won an Academy Award and I trust there will be more to come. If you haven't seen CODA, it's well worth watching. I send everyone best wishes and much love now and always. 

A favorite song

 It's the singer Norah Jones's birthday and that reminded me of a song she sings called Everybody Needs a Best Friend. It always makes me happy to hear it so I thought I'd share it here. I hope that wherever you are reading this that you always have a good friend. I send everyone best wishes and much love now and always.

A place to belong

I heard the song "Right Where I Belong" and I like it because I've always had a soft spot for Kermit and the Muppets. I also like it because it speaks to finding one's place in the world. I know that as long as I am with my family or have and/or can make friends and be with them, I know I am where I belong.  I hope wherever you're reading this, I hope that you are with people who love you and that you love and that you feel you belong. I send everyone best wishes and much love now and always. 

The running of the puppies!

 I saw this video today and it made me smile  so I thought I'd share it here. I send everyone best wishes and much love now and always. 

Singin' in the rain

 The movie musical Singin' in the Rain premiered at Radio City Music Hall. I always liked that particular movie because seeing people singing and dancing always makes me happy. I share a clip here from the movie where the actor Gene Kelly is dancing to the movie's title song "Singin' In The Rain." It always lifts my spirits when I watch it. I send everyone best wishes and much love now and always. 

The height of happiness

 "Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length"-Robert Frost

While I realize that it's best not to be constantly happy (because if we were all constantly happy, perhaps being happy wouldn't feel as nice), I still hope that wherever you are reading this, you have many reasons to feel happy and many things and people in your life that help you feel happier. I send everyone best wishes and much love now and always.

The rough side of the mountain

 “It’s the rough side of the mountain that’s the easiest to climb; the smooth side doesn’t have anything for you to hang on to.” – Aretha Franklin

 If you're reading this and you feel like you are climbing a mountain (whether a physical mountain or a figurative mountain) I hope you can always find a safe hold on your way up and when you get to the top and reach whatever goal you set for yourself, I hope you feel proud of all that you accomplished. I send everyone best wishes and much love now and always.

Cats and baby chickens

 I saw this video of a kitten and some baby chickens playing together and it made me smile so I thought I'd share it here in the hope it brings some cheer to others. I send everyone (including kittens and chickens) best wishes and much love now and always.

Endurance

 "Passion is momentary; love is enduring." -John Wooden

I like the idea that love endures despite everything. I find that as long as I have love and can love other people I have hope and I can face what comes in life. Wherever you are reading this,  I hope that you can find the love that is in you and in your life and I hope that love helps you endure. I send everyone best wishes and much love now and always.

A place for everyone

 The composer Stephen Sondheim was born today in 1930 and when I think of his music, I think of the song he composed  "Somewhere" from the musical West Side Story. It's all about finding a place to belong and to  be loved. I think it speaks to what many people really want. Anyway, I like the song because it's really beautiful and has a great message. Wherever you're reading this I hope that you can find at least one place in your life where you really belong.  I send everyone best wishes and much love now and always. 

What I'd like to give

What I'd like to give

If I had the ability 

What I'd like to do

Is send all the smiles I have

And loads of hugs I can give

To everyone so they'd feel all those things too

I'd love to give people 

The best things life has to offer

It would be so nice to bottle up some happiness

And send it to people so whenever they felt down

They could open the bottle feel the goodness in it

Although I know I may not  reach everyone 

It's comforting to know that I can spread a smile

Wherever I go and those smiles might help someone feel better

Even if I never  know who a smile might help,  it's still a nice feeling

And I figure nice feelings are made better when shared

The nice thing about giving, especially giving love

Is that it often comes back to you in many ways

And it's nice knowing this cycle of loving and giving

Is something that everyone can give 

For love is best when it's shared 

So in the spirit of spreading love

Because I think love is nicest thing to give

I send much love and best wishes to everyone

No matter who you are or where you live 

Because love is the best thing there is

 

Sunday song

 As it's Sunday, I thought I'd write about a song that makes me happy because it reminds me of nice times I had on Sundays when I was growing up. The song is called "Sunday Morning" by the band Maroon 5 and when I listen to it, it reminds me of having brunch with friends or my family or just being with people I love generally. In short, it makes me think of times when I was very happy. Wherever you are reading this, I hope you have many times in your life that brought you much happiness and that you can think of those times often. I send everyone best wishes and much love now and always. 

My favorite funny quotes

 I was thinking today of quotes that make me laugh and because I find that laughter is more fun when it's shared, I thought I'd share a few funny quotes here to bring some laughter to others. I send everyone best wishes and much love now and always.

"I went window shopping today! I bought four windows." -Tommy Cooper

 

"I used to be Snow White but I drifted." -Mae West

 

"Never go to bed mad. Stay up and fight." -Phyllis Diller

 

"Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow just as well."-Mark Twain

 

"Weather forecast for tonight: Dark!"  -George Carlin

" Never wear anything that panics the cat." P. J. O'Rourke

 

"Do unto others, then run!" -Benny Hill

 

"I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives."- Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

"Never put a sock in a toaster" -Eddie Izzard

 

Be your true self

 "Be bold, be brave enough to be your true self." -Queen Latifah,

Sometimes it does take some courage to be oneself because to me, that involves accepting and loving every part of your true self. When I think of that it gets me thinking of how I'm the only self I've got and if I want to love people more, I have to love myself for who and what I am. Loving just feels good. In that spirit, wherever you are reading this, I send you best wishes and much love now and always.

Some beautiful Irish music

 As it's St. Patrick's Day I thought I'd post about some beautiful Irish song I heard called "The Last Rose of Summer". It makes me feel peaceful to hear it. I wish a very happy St. Patrick's Day to all who celebrate it. 

Sending love

 I'm just writing to send everyone best wishes and much love now and always.

Something to do

 "The secret to happiness is something to do." -John Burroughs 

I hope wherever you're reading this that you always have things to do that make you feel happy and/or fulfilled. I send everyone best wishes and much love now and always.

Be like a duck

 "Be like a duck. Calm on the surface, but always paddling like the dickens underneath." -Michael Caine 

Wherever you are reading this, I hope you always keep on swimming and remember  that no matter what life throws at you, there's always an opportunity for good things to happen. I send everyone best wishes and much love now and always. 

Time change

 Daylight Savings Time began today where I live. I like this change because it means 1 more hour of light in my day which to me, has always been refreshing. There's something nice about having more light, more day to do and enjoy more things in. Don't get me wrong, night can be just as nice,  but for me, being able to see the sun more is helpful. It gives me hope for each day to come. Wherever you are reading this, I hope that each day brings you much hope and light. I send everyone best wishes now and always.

Too cute

 I saw this video of a puppy falling asleep with a baby chick and it just was really sweet so I had to share it here, just because it made me smile. I hope wherever you're reading this, each day brings you many reasons to smile. I send everyone best wishes and much love now and always.

Some words of advice

 "Always wear cute pyjamas to bed, you'll never know who u will meet in your dreams."-Joel Madden

I always like the idea of looking my best when going places, even in dreams. Wherever you are reading this, I hope you go places (even to bed) in style. I send everyone best wishes and much love now and always.

The gift of surprise

 "Surprise is the greatest gift which life can grant us."-Boris Pasternak

I've always felt that although there can be happy and sometimes negative surprises, I still like surprises. I like them because the unexpected can be fun. Even if it's not a pleasant surprise it still brings with it the opportunity for something better to happen and when that better thing happens I can appreciate it more. I hope that wherever you are reading this, that there are many happy surprises in your life. I send everyone best wishes and much love now and always.

The ultimate adventure!

 "What I love most about this crazy life is the adventure of it."-Juliette Binoche

There's something nice about thinking of life as an adventure. No one really knows what each day will bring and although each day might bring something difficult, each day also brings a chance for good things to happen. Wherever you are reading this, I hope you can find the good things in each day and see each day as a new adventure to pursue. I send everyone best wishes and much love now and always.

Just for laughs

 I needed a laugh today and I saw this funny video and it made me smile so I thought I'd share it here. Wherever you are reading this, I hope you can find reasons to laugh in your day. I send everyone much love and best wishes now and always. 

Some fun music

 The composer Maurice Ravel was born today in 1837. One of the pieces of music he's most famous for composing is called Bolero and when I listen to it, I somehow find it to be very encouraging. It reminds me to be brave and that as long as I'm willing to work towards something, so many things are achievable. I post the piece of music here in the hope that it encourages other as well. I send everyone best wishes and much love now and always.

Dancing around the world

 I saw this lovely video and wanted to write about it here because it did my heart good to see it. I like it particularly because I feel like dancing can unite many people and it helps make people feel happy. I hope wherever you are reading this, that you can find many reasons to dance. I send everyone best wishes and much love now and always.

Three good things for today

 In keeping with my goal of finding at least three good things in each day, here are some good things that happened in my day. 

• I made cookies from scratch, somehow doing that always makes me happy.
• I made plans to have lunch tomorrow with a good friend. It's always nice to have something to look forward to.
• I made a point of relaxing, which was something I really needed to do today.

Wherever you are reading this, I hope that you had many good things happen in your day. I send everyone best wishes and much love now and always. 

 

Put what you love in what you do

 "Let the beauty of what you love be what you do."-Rumi

I find that as long as I can put love into things I do, the things I do seem better as a result. Wherever you are reading this, I hope you always put love into things you do. I send everyone best wishes and much love now and always.

Something that conquors all difficulties

"Love conquers all difficulties, surmounts all obstacles, and effects what to any other power would be impossible". -William Godwin

If there's any force that's strong, I'm really glad love is one of the strongest forces there is. There's something so nice to know that love can withstand so many things and come out stronger.  I find that no matter what I'm facing, if I can find some aspect of love to focus on, I feel like I can get through a lot of things. I hope wherever you're reading this, if you're going through something hard, find something or someone you love to focus on and you won't go wrong. I send everyone best wishes and much love now and always.

On Sunflowers

 I was thinking of sunflowers today and in thinking of sunflowers, I was reminded of this quote from a movie I saw called Calendar Girls. The quote goes like this: "....I don't think there's anything on this planet that more trumpets life that the sunflower. For me that's because of the reason behind its name. Not because it looks like the sun but because it follows the sun. During the course of the day, the head tracks the journey of the sun across the sky. A satellite dish for sunshine. Wherever light is, no matter how weak, these flowers will find it. And that's such an admirable thing. And such a lesson in life." I post this quote here as a virtual way to send light and love to everyone.

In the Mood

 The musician Glenn Miller was born today in 1904 and one of the songs he's famous for playing is called In The Mood. It always makes me happy to hear it because it makes me feel like dancing. I post it here to spread some cheer to others. I send everyone best wishes and much love now and always.