Life and Random Thinking

Unexpected, welcome, and appreciated

Posted on June 6, 2017 by dfolstad58

I have discovered that people are surprised by compliments or expressions of appreciation.

I don’t mean with family, or your closest friends – they aren’t surprised. I mean the people you see regularly, but you don’t know their birthday, but you aren’t a stranger neither.

The cost is free, the time it takes is negligible to give a sincere compliment but the effect is long lasting.

I worked in an office in Vancouver decades ago, and this event is still remembered. One of my coworkers took the time one day to mention she noticed I took the time to dress well for work (ironed shirts, ties) everyday. She complimented me on my appearance. It struck me because the compliment was unexpected but appreciated. I don’t remember her name but I recall how I felt because she took the time to say a few kind words. Unexpected, welcome and appreciated.

After finishing my consultation with my doctor a few years ago, I advised him I had one more thing to talk to him about. He waited, expecting another medical question. Instead I thanked him sincerely for being my family doctor since 1992, and that I noticed and appreciated how he periodically called me in to review my health situation and proactively took an interest. My doctor was at a loss for words. To my surprise, he wasn’t used to being thanked for his caring and professional services. Unexpected, welcome and appreciated.

A few days ago, I received a compliment from a man who became a friend in recent years., an encouraging supportive friend. The generous compliment resonated to me because it was unexpected, welcome and appreciated.

I can live for two months on a good compliment. – Mark Twain

Kindness starts with how we speak and talk to our fellow humanity – try an experiment. Give a verbal box of chocolates to someone you know but not someone you know really well, someone who gives you good service, but not someone you know as a close friend- observe how it refreshes their day. Unexpected, welcome and appreciated – but it won’t be forgotten. I guarantee it.

Thank you sincerely to the followers, and visitors of this blog, I enjoy your comments, and visiting your blogs. I appreciate your interest, feedback and encouragement, I really do.

Posted in Thinking Out loud | Tagged appreciated, compliments, encouragement, feedback, Mark twain, unexpected, welcome | 33 Comments

Watching the People Go By

Posted on June 4, 2017 by dfolstad58

In the sunny burg where I live, Penticton, on Saturday mornings there is a big farmer’s market every week from May to October. All together it is about 4 blocks of market chaos. {click farmer’s market or Penticton to learn more}

One block is dedicated to farmers, and there is all types of produce, and plants for sale at this time of the year. There is also fish, sausage, wine tasting, and everything of that ilk.

Another block is foods from thai food, samosas to artisan baking.

Another block is all types of things, from vinaigrettes to home made soaps, popcorn, perogies to amazing wood carvings.

Organized chaos, sort of organized but only sort of.

Yesterday I sat down on a bench to watch the parade of humanity stroll by.

Families with parents trying to keep track of energetic children,
Mommies pushing strollers,
Tourists,
People in shorts,
People without shirts,
Tall people,
Short People
Serious and joyful people

But what really struck me was how I was drawn to the body language of those people who held hands. Men and women, sisters, fathers and sons, best friends and young and seasoned alike.

The ones who were holding hands were most connected, most relaxed and obviously this is my opinion also, they looked the happiest.

Some locked arms at the elbow, some tucked one arm in the elbow of their companion and as they did you could actually see their steps start to sync as together they journeyed the noisy bustle of the bumping crowds.

But now people parted for the two of them, and the couples stopped together to admire loaves of bread or tomatoes ready to plant. In my mind I imagined their breathing syncing and their heart rate and blood pressure relaxing. The struggle to stay connected was gone.

Life seems often to be often to be about resolving conflicts and differences, but these couples were communicating, sharing and moving together as one. Such a simple thing, holding hands to talk, to walk together – planting unity and harmony with intertwined fingers and arms.

Go for walk with someone you care about soon, and when you do, get a little closer, and see what I mean.

Thank you for taking the time, and sharing your day! If you liked this post, I would love to hear what you liked, thanks.

Posted in health, South Okanagan Restaurants and Other Jewels, Thinking Out loud | Tagged crowds, enjoyment, farmer market, hands, health, holding hands, Penticton, smiling, solving conflict, togetherness | 14 Comments

One Way to Prepare for the UK

Posted on June 1, 2017 by dfolstad58

Today I share a blog of a lass who makes me smile, she has wit and light writing style!
BONUS- the video has a great soundtrack and visuals for someone on a treadmill! I triple heart it!

Susie Lindau's Wild Ride

I will travel far and wide in Europe this summer and will drive during part of the trip.

No big deal, right? I drive all the time. But I’ve never driven in the UK where they drive on the wrong side of the road. Whoa.

Why am I freaking out?

It always takes me a while to get used to doing something new. Okay, I’ll admit it. I’m a spazz. My tennis coach used to take my arm and move it through the motion of every new stroke. When I tried Zumba, I was shamed by the elderly ladies dancing the Samba for the first time.

Don’t get me started about my left hand. I never know what it’s doing. Just last night, I held a key in my hot little left hand and forgot about it.

“Where’s the key?” asked my husband, Danny.

“I don’t know, ” I said…

View original post 418 more words

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Killing Me Softly and Sweetly

Posted on May 23, 2017 by dfolstad58

American Pie – Don McLean’s ballad certainly is a catchy tune and just the title may have started you singing the chorus.

Bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
And them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singin’ this’ll be the day that I die
This’ll be the day that I die

But this post is only indirectly about Don McLean. A blog writer friend, Terry, writes about his love of 70’s music and he often includes trivia about the song. This post was inspired by Terry’s research about Killing Me Softly.

The main reason for this post is a recent post is a lovely song, Killing Me Softly, by Roberta Flack shared by Terry. The inspiration for Killing Me Softly was Don McLean. I have my suspicions that it was his song ” Starry Starry Night as it is a wonderful song. Click to See and hear Starry Starry Night here.

Starry, starry night
Paint your palette blue and grey
Look out on a summer’s day
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul
Shadows on the hills
Sketch the trees and daffodils
Catch the breeze and the winter chills
In colours on the snowy linen land

Now I understand
What you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free
They would not listen
They did not know how
Perhaps they’ll listen now

I have listened to that Killing Me Softly about 20 times now in the last few days. What a wonderful talent and voice Roberta Flack has. Her voice is mesmerizing to me.

Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly with his song

I heard he sang a good song, I heard he had a style
And so I came to see him to listen for a while
And there he was this young boy, a stranger to my eyes

If you enjoy a wonderful voice, and are not afraid of getting a tune in your head, then enjoy the link here for Killing Me Softly , and thanks Don McLean for inspiring these song writers, whichever song it was.

cute

Thanks for reading, listening, following and especially your comments. Thank you Terry for the interesting post and trivia.

I appreciate you fellow bloggers 🍷

Posted in music related | Tagged 70's music, american pie, Don Mclean, Killing me softly, roberta flack | 1 Comment

Scottish Mysteries to tickle your heart

Posted on May 23, 2017 by dfolstad58

A New York best selling author, M.C. Beaton, continues to create light hearted mysteries that cause me to chuckle out loud.

Hamish Macbeth, is a Scottish policeman, content in his small village with his animals and easy lifestyle. He solves the homicides and ducks the credit and promotion so he continue to live in his small home with the stuck front door.

Hamish, a old fashioned romantic cop with flaming red hair, also continues in each story to attempt to solve his ongoing bachelorhood but alas he just can’ t get over his true love, Priscilla. No luck there, but he has his dogs, and his freedom.

Cover of Death of a Ghost If you want a light read, with warm characters, humour and a touch of whimsy, enjoy the Hamish Macbeth series – I just finished “Death of A Ghost” but there are many in the series and they are all wonderful.