Change The World
This speech by US Navy Admiral, William H. McRaven is beautiful, moving, and inspiring. I hope you will watch it.
Be Inspired
“You are the books you read, the films you watch, the music you listen to, the people you meet, the dreams you have, the conversations you engage in. You are what you take from these. You are the sound of the ocean, the breath of fresh air, the brightest light and the darkest corner. You are a collective of every experience you have had in your life. So drown yourself in a sea of knowledge and existence. Let the words run through your veins and let the colours fill your mind.” ~Jac Vanek
Tuesday Tunes: Optimistic Defiance
My good friend, Rhonda and I are going to see Tom Petty in concert this weekend. So, I thought I’d share a couple of my favorite Tom Petty tunes as well as the answer to a question that was part of an award from a fellow blogger. A while ago, the joyful and effervescent Ritu of the blog, But I Smile Anyway, nominated me for the STARLIGHT Blogger Award. She asked, “Which song would you use as the soundtrack to your life?” Here’s my answer. I don’t know if I could narrow it down to just one song. I’d probably choose a couple from the Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers album called, Anthology: Through the Years, namely: “Runnin’ Down a Dream” and “Learning to Fly.” I chose these songs, because they speak to me about the journey of life. I like how the metaphors of driving down a road, weather, and flying are used regarding life’s ups and downs as well as encompassing the lessons of faith and perseverance. I also really LOVE the note of optimistic defiance in the lyrics. I think most of us can identify with the metaphor of life as a road in the song, “Runnin’ Down a Dream.” We start out on a sunny day, believing in our goals and dreams and that “anything is possible.” And, as we’re heading down the road of life, we run into those people or circumstances that are stumbling blocks rather […]
Tuesday Tunes: Hold On….
Farmgirl sharing a moment of joy with Sweet Sadie Circa 2006 “It was a very ordinary day, the day I realised that my becoming is my life and my home and that I don’t have to do anything but trust the process, trust my story and enjoy the journey. It doesn’t really matter who I’ve become by the finish […]
Faithful
Farmgirl Circa 1976 “BE FAITHFUL TO THAT WHICH EXISTS… WITHIN YOURSELF.” ~André Gide
Tuesday Tunes: This Little Light of Mine….
* So much better if you turn up the volume. 😉 “As we work to create light for others, we naturally light our own way.” ~Mary Anne Radmacher *** “Your greatest test is when you are able to bless someone else while you are going through your own storm.” ~Unknown “No one is useless […]
Green Hill Farm: A Retrospective #2 — Perseverance
I’ve shared the Green Hill Farm Retrospective Posts a number of times: A Retrospective, Retrospective #2, and Retrospective #3. So, if you’ve followed Fourth Generation Farmgirl for a while, you may have already read them. But, for my newer readers, this may be your first time seeing them. I like to re-visit these posts every year, because they give me an opportunity to remember and feel grateful. These posts are beloved to me for a number of reasons. They’re an expression of my thoughts and feelings about something important to me as well as my first attempts at creative writing since I was an undergraduate. Most of my writing in recent years consisted of speech and language evaluation reports and IEPs (Individual Education Plans). These Green Hill Farm Retrospectives reminded me of how much I enjoyed writing and were the catalyst for starting this blog. Finally, these posts define my priorities and my path. But, mainly, they sum up who I am as a person. Whether you’ve already read the Green Hill Farm Retrospectives or if they’re new to you, I hope you’ll take the time to read them and enjoy the lessons in love, patience, perseverance, faith, hope….and a whole lot of tenacity. Thank you. 🙂 There’s a sign that hangs in our vestibule or small covered porch that says “PERSEVERANCE,” and it’s been our mantra since moving to Green Hill Farm. My husband and I […]
Tuesday Tunes: Patience….At least It’s a Virtue
Blue Ridge Parkway–Meadows of Dan, Virginia “Faith is not simply a patience that passively suffers until the storm is past. Rather, it is a spirit that bears things–with resignations, yes, but above all, with blazing, serene hope.” ~Corazon Aquino Last week, Farmguy forgot the laptop he uses for work, and since we live 45 minutes away from his […]
Life’s a Bowl of Cherries…..Not Really, but That’s Okay
Life isn’t perfect. It’s not supposed to be. It’s supposed to be REAL: a messy “learning lab” of experiences, mistakes, and practicing our ability to reflect on all of it—hopefully cultivating a positive outlook. An outlook that creates a meaningful, beautiful, and one-of-a-kind life. A life we can share by loving and uplifting others…..and, ultimately, ourselves. So, here’s the thing: […]
Learning To Fly…
View from Cortona Tuscany, Italy May 2017 “Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live.” ~Dorothy Thompson “Heroes take journeys, confront dragons, and discover the treasure of their true selves.” ~Carol Pearson “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” ~Lao-tzu
fourth generation farmgirl 