How do you want to be remembered?

 

 My closet is full of t-shirts related to our town's mascot. Almost everyone of them has a catch phrase or slogan that holds meaning to the team that particular year. As I was looking through a large stack, I found one that read, "How do you want to be remembered?" I sat the shirt aside, but for the rest of the day, I kept thinking about the slogan and wondered how I would be remembered one day.

   To get an idea of what others might think about me, I began thinking about friends and family and how I would remember each one of them if they were not here. I'll have to admit, I teared up a bit when I realized how they have been such a huge part of my life. 

   Thinking of friends and family, some of the following thoughts crossed my mind:

1. She is the most talented person I've ever known.
2. He never fails to be there when someone needs him.
3. She has the best sense of humor...she always makes me laugh!
4. She is the kindest person I know.
5. He is a success because he's worked so hard for it his whole life. 
6. She is a strong Christian woman who influences everyone she meets

   Now it was time to think of how others would remember me, but most importantly, how I want to be remembered. It is my hope I will first be remembered as a kind soul who loved God, her family and friends. I only have one shot at this life and I think it's important to leave a good impression on others. I realize not everyone is going to like me and I'm okay with that. Those who do, I want them to remember me with good thoughts. So, here is my list....a few ways I hope others remember me when God calls me home.

1. She had a great sense of humor and making people laugh. 
2. She loved kids.
3. She loved her high school football team...a lot!
4. She had a passion for life.
5. She worked hard to be successful and make her dreams come true.
6. She made a difference in someone's life.

   If you start each morning with the thought, "How do you want to be remembered?" I think it will completely change how you interact with others. I think we will learn to let the small things go, not to overreact, to show kindness when we really want to be anything but kind and to be more conscious of our daily interactions with others. A seven word question.....pretty powerful!

   Think about it....how do you want to be remembered? 

   

The Playlist of my Life

   I have several friends who are really big on making playlists for every occasion in life. I'm always quite impressed with the end result and appreciate the time that goes into creating a one of a kind creation to commemorate the event.
   While listening to online radio at work, I began thinking about the music that was playing and what songs I would select for a playlist of my life. After much thought, I came up with the following list. So....what songs would make it on the playlist of your life?

The Playlist of Ginger's Life
  1. Groovy Kind of Love - Phil Collins
  2. Feels So Good - Chuck Manigone
  3. Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
  4. Gentle On My Mind - Glen Campbell
  5. Welcome to the Jungle - Guns 'n Roses
  6. Friday I'm In Love - The Cure
  7. I Melt With You - Modern English
  8. And We Danced - The Hooters
  9. Take The Money and Run - Steve Miller Band
10. Keep On Rockin' Me Baby - Steve Miller Band
11. Blank Space - Taylor Swift
12. Your Song - Elton John
13. What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
14. Common People - Pulp
15. Jump - Van Halen
16. Cough Syrup - Young the Giant
17. Born In The U.S.A - Bruce Springsteen
18. Raspberry Beret - Prince
19. I Think We're Alone Now - Tiffany
20. Hey Ya - Outkast

Chasing the elusive white ball…

   In an attempt to share my husband's love of golf, I've tried numerous times to play the sport. I think I've only made it through eighteen holes a handful of times before I got completely frustrated and traded the clubs in for driving the golf cart. That, I'm good at!
   Golf appears to be the easiest sport on the planet…until you step into the tee box.
   There is so much that goes into hitting that little white ball. I usually spend five minutes trying to remember how to line up, how to grip the club (should I lace my fingers or not?), how to stand and how far to put the tee in the ground. I'm mentally exhausted before I ever tee off!
   I'm not much of a practice swing golfer, which drives my husband crazy. He'll always ask, "Don't you want to take a practice swing?" The tone in his voice is always more of a statement than a question, but after 26 years of marriage he knows what my answer is going to be.
   One of the last times we played, I was prepared to play the best golf game of my life. On the first hole, I stood in the tee box and mentally pictured myself smacking the ball straight down the fairway within feet of the green. This was it…I was pumped and ready for the next LPGA tour.
   I pulled the club back, my chin touched my left shoulder and I swung through with all my might. I looked into the air to spot the ball, but knew I must have hit it farther because I still couldn't see it. As I stood there with my hand shading my eyes looking for my ball in the distance, my husband quietly said, "It's still on the tee."
   The look on my face must have been a good one, so my quick thinking husband said, "It's okay, it's just a practice swing."
   After another attempt, we were finally able to begin playing. I hit it straight down the fairway, just not quite as far as I envisioned. You see, this is where the game of golf tricks you into believing you are good. On one hole, you'll hit it straight to the green and sink the putt of a lifetime for a birdie. On the next hole, you spend five minutes in the rough looking for your ball and then miss a two foot putt by a mile for a double bogey.
   Out of all the golf lingo (eagle, birdie, par, bogey) the one I'm most familiar with is mulligan and trust me, if you play golf the way I do, a mulligan is your best friend.
   I admire those who play the game and have come to realize it's more than who can shoot the lowest score. It's about challenging yourself and enjoying another day we have not been promised.
   As of late, I've taken to just riding along in the cart with my husband, camera in hand, taking in the scenery.  My hometown is fortunate to have a beautiful course, which provides for some amazing shots for the photography lover.
   As I look out over the breathtaking course and watch golfers chase that elusive white ball, I'm reminded of a quote by the legendary Bobby Jones. He said, "Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots — but you have to play the ball where it lies."

Sweet Summertime

   My heart belongs to Fall, but Summer ranks a close second. Summer always brings back memories of being a kid and having the time of your life for three whole months!
 

I love the sounds and the smells of the season. Fresh cut grass, flowers and tanning oil. Wouldn't that make a great Scentsy?! Although I'm not a fan of the scorching heat (A fair-skinned redhead and the blistering sun just don't get along!) I do enjoy the longer days, star-filled nights with fireflies and sno-cones!
  I spent a lot of time at the swimming pool. Some of you may remember an earlier post about my brush with death on high dive. If you have not read it, look back in the archives and you will get a good laugh! I can remember being so tired from being in the pool, I thought I would drown a time or two. There was always that one boy who thought it was cool to dunk the girls and hold their head under water. At the time, it made me mad and I wanted to punch their lights out. Looking back, it's just a boys way of flirting! Nothing says love like trying to drown the girl your heart yearns for!
   Riding bicycles was also on the list during those three months of freedom. My friends and I would ride all over town without a care in the world. We told our parents we were going riding and that was it. No cellphones to contact us, they just trusted we would be back before sunset and we always were. One summer my friend and I noticed a white van with black windows going through the park. Of course we had to concoct an elaborate conspiracy theory about who was in the van and what they were doing. I'm pretty sure we thought they were kidnapping kids and throwing them in the back of their van and taking them to Mexico!
   When we didn't make it to the swimming pool, there was always the sprinkler or slip-n-slide. Who didn't love the slip-n-slide? When you did happen to catch it on just the right part, you could zoom across the yard. However, land on a part without water and you would get a burn on your knee like no other! For the most bang for your slip-n-slide buck, a bottle of dish washing detergent would really make things interesting! It was always hard to get rid of the huge hole of mud and dead grass on your lawn, but hey, all in the name of fun!
  On the weekends, we would spend time camping at the lake. I'm not sure how my Dad kept his sanity all those years taking us to the lake. Tangled fishing lines, sleeping in a tent and kids fussing in the heat of the day were enough to drive someone berserk.  I guess you just don't notice those things when you are making memories.
   Parades, cookouts, homemade ice cream and the sound of locusts. Please tell me I was not the only kid who would see how many locust shells would cling to my shirt......
   Summer memories that won't soon be forgotten. What are yours?
  

What are you doing tomorrow?

   Tomorrow is full of promises. A new day. A new chance to right the wrongs of today. It's fresh, it's clean and a new start. No wonder the phrase "I'll do it tomorrow" exists. Sometimes, tomorrow looks so much better than today

   I'm a doer of the things that have to be done today. As far as those things that do not require my immediate attention, yep...I'll do it tomorrow. I decided to take a look at the things I put off until tomorrow and make a list of just a few of the things I avoid doing today.  Once I looked at the list, I was a bit ashamed of some of the things I'm putting off until that magical day of tomorrow. 

 1. Text the friend(s) I haven't talked to in a while to see how they are doing. 

 2. Begin a Bible study.  

 3. Stop by and visit a relative. No calling them on the phone. A real sit down visit!

 4. Begin exercising. 

 5. Catch up in my journal.

 6. Begin typing the book I have written in a spiral. 

 7. Update my computer's software.

 8. Volunteer to do something for someone.

 9. Cut my hair, color my hair, do something with my hair!

10. Make a photo book from Madie's senior year and print the pictures. 

   What is it that makes us so secure in thinking we will be able to do these things tomorrow? Recently, I read the tragic story of a family of three who had left a graduation ceremony and all three were killed in a plane crash. Just for a moment, think about their tomorrow. I bet they had it all planned and their tomorrow was full of excitement. The young lady had just graduated high school. Her life was right in front of her, but she never saw her tomorrow. 

   We get so wrapped up in the "business" of today, we take tomorrow for granted. Why is today so busy? Why do we feel we have to pack so much into 24 hours? Maybe if we paused for a bit and prioritized the list of things we had to do today, we'd have room for the things we put off until tomorrow.

   So, what are you doing tomorrow? Why not do it today? 

To the class of 2015

 

When I walked a cute, brown-eyed, redheaded little girl into kindergarten on her first day of school, it seemed like the year 2015 was light years away. Little did I realize how quickly time would pass.
In just four short days, that not-so-little anymore redheaded girl will walk across the stage and receive her diploma. Her and the rest of her classmates will close a chapter of their lives and begin a new one. A chapter full of firsts, excitement, fear, and anticipation. A chapter they are completely in charge of and one that will be full of memories for a lifetime.
   I've thought about what I would say if I could stand before her class and tell them what I've learned in the "24ish" years since I was their age. This, is my advice to the Class of 2015....

   Dear Class of 2015,

   The moment you've been thinking about since the day you entered high school as a nervous freshman is finally upon you. You've spent four years preparing for this day and I have no doubt you are ready. As you don your cap and gown, soak in every single moment. This day is all about you. As you get older, you will see not many days are "all about you" so enjoy it!
   Some of you will head off to college, some will go to work and some have made the decision to defend our country. As you venture out into the world, here is some food for thought:

   1. The decisions you make about your future are not set in stone. Don't be afraid to change your mind or your plans. After all, it is your future and you are in charge!
   2. After you graduate, take time to write (not type) a letter to that one teacher who shaped your life when you were in school. It could be your kindergarten teacher or that coach who pushed you beyond what you believed you could do.A simple "thank you" will mean the world to them.
   3. Hold strong to your beliefs. College is full of professors who will try and convince you God does not exist. Their job is to educate you on the subject they teach. Your job is to learn. Don't allow them to sway you or question your beliefs.
   4. Embrace new friends, but never lose touch with old friends.Sometimes talking to an old friend when you are away from home is the best cure for being homesick.
   5. Call your parents. Write your parents. Let them know you are okay! Even a random text during the day will make them smile.
   6. If you don't write in a journal, now is a great time to begin! Write something in it every single day. Even if it's just one sentence. Look back through your entries and you will see how much you've grown over a year.
   7. Listen to the blues...classical...country...classic rock...you name it! Except rap...well, maybe just 80's rap. :) Music is food for the soul. Listening to as many different genres as possible will expand your horizons.
   8. Make a bucket list. Put it somewhere you will see it from time to time. Pledge to mark something off the list before the end of your first year out on your own.
   9. Volunteer your time helping others. Giving your time is something that doesn't cost you a single penny, but the rewards you reap from serving others are priceless.
 10. Learn something new. Learn how to play the piano, guitar, banjo, sing, tap, juggle...you are never too old to learn!

And finally, always remember your hometown and all the people who helped you become who you are today. Some of you will come back home to raise your family. Some of you will only come back for a visit. Remember your roots and where your story began and enjoy the journey ahead of you.

What are you doing with your 1440?

   A song came on the radio the other day that I've heard many times. As I sang along, one of the lyrics really stood out to me. It was from the song "Suds in the Bucket" by Sara Evans.  The line that really grabbed my attention was, "And no you can't fence time...."
   Wouldn't it be great to be able to fence time? When life seems like it is going to fast, you could just make it slow down...just a bit. The more I thought about it, the more I realized if we had more time, we would just find something else to fill that time. Pretty crazy thought, but for myself, I know it would be true.
   Having a child who is about to graduate, I really like the concept of fencing time. However, I know the time I've been allotted with my kids at home is just about done and with each passing day, I'm learning to be okay with that. It's part of the plan.
   Time is a gift. We have 1,440 minutes in a day and we get to choose how to spend those minutes. We are in control of every single one of them. Think about your 1440. Are you happy with how you spend it? Do you wish you had more? When the final grain of sand falls in your 1440 and you get a new 1440, do you look back and say...wow...that was a great 1440?
   What are you doing with your 1440?