When the Soul Speaks – Listen

When the Soul Speaks – listen. Our souls speak to us everyday, but most of us don’t hear it. We dismiss all the information we receive, even if it’s screaming at us.

The photo above is three of us ‘girls’ at the 50th high school reunion check-in table. Certainly, it is common to wear black to any function. It is instantly elegant, most people look good in it, and it makes us appear thinner, right?

Usually, I opt for bright colors, but this time I chose black and white. Although the pattern is certainly flame-like. This is a hint of my Sagittarius self, one of the fire signs. Did my soul know this perfect picture was coming later when I plucked this blouse from the hanger? I think, “Yes!”

Likewise, my soul was adamant that I stay out with the name tags until there were no more arrivals.  This time, when the soul speaks – listen was heeded. Eventually, I had to go into the crowded, noisy room full of people I thought I needed to see.

All the energy of the room felt like I was walking through a curtain of kelp on the ocean floor, intent on finding a safe spot where I could observe rather than feel boxed in.

You can see in this picture, I found that safe spot at the back of the room. Furthermore, two people I didn’t know were at the table. Perfect!

Now, step back, squint your eyes a little. What do you notice?

Yes, it’s the perfect yin yang symbol setup behind me with my blouse a sort of portable yin  yang statement, anchoring the photo.  Here’s a funny ‘behind-the-scenes’ fact. I had just finished eating a fabulous healthy green salad, southern green beans, and the best tenderloin steak ever from The Catering Company of Central Florida . As my friend, Larry, snapped the photo, I could just imagine all the green stuff in my teeth and gums. Therefore, my smile is very much subdued… for me.

A Week in the Life

A week in the life of..someone who graduated high school 50 years ago. I remember my mother’s 50th high school reunion and thought at the time, “Wow! Fifty years? Mom sure is old.” Oops! Now it’s my 50th reunion year, but I’m not as old is she was… right?

A Week in the Life of

Listening and Trusting

This week I listened to my inner voice, my intuition often. When a feeling was strong, I trusted the likelihood it might be important. One synchronicity stands out. Some background first…

50 Years or a Half Century

This year marks the 50th year since I graduated from high school. My older sister, Lila, graduated the year before me. Over the years, I was kind of envious that she graduated on a decade year. She would celebrate her class reunion at the turn of the century and her 50th in 2020. Furthermore, they’ve planned multi-year reunions since their 10th. Although I could have attended her class reunions, I never did until I signed up in January of 2020, expecting to attend my sister’s 50th reunion in June. Then plans went awry.

In the wake of COVID, the Class of 1970 rescheduled their 50th reunion numerous times. When it became apparent it would fall on the anniversary year of the juniors in their high school yearbook, they magnanimously formally invited my class to join in. That was convenient!

Now the Synchronicity

My letter with the ticket to the Class of 1970 50th reunion arrived late in June. The first thing I noticed was my last name was wrong on the envelope. Since Facebook has been the primary information hub, I used Messenger to let Janet, the organizer, know about the faux pas, mentioning that I wanted to insure my name was correct on the name tag.

She replied that my classmate, Vondie, was working on the reunion name tags for my class. Yet, the host class was planning to use handwritten ‘Hello’ name tags. Since I loved this type of work and I knew Vondie since elementary school I volunteered to make sure all the attendees had the same cool name tags.

The research frenzy began. I located two yearbooks of my own, picked up two more from Janet, and contacted another friend who had scanned yet another year book. As a perfectionist, I was in my element!

By July 4th, I finally took a close look at the calendar.. there were exactly twenty days before the big event. Yikes!

It Takes a Village…

Two days ago, I posted the current list of reunion attendees on the private Facebook account for the reunion and asked for corrections in spelling, class year or missing names. The village chipped in and the list both improved and grew. Of course, seeing who else is attending upped the excitement of all. And now the list is so much better!

This weekend, I have my part of the name tag project clear in my mind. I’ve left the best for last… scanning the class of 1970’s year book. Oh, and of course clipping over 100 photos. Today marks one week I’ve been working on the name tag project. It’s been fun and rewarding. By the time I see my classmates, I’ll know their names and faces by heart… of course they may have changed in fifty years!

A week in the life of a retired and somewhat homebound caregiver has grown even busier, and I love it! What an opportunity to contribute to the success of the Class of 1970’s 50th Reunion.

Go Hornets!

Love,
Dawn

Where IS that Newsletter?

Where is that newsletter? I know I signed up with my Gmail account!

Where is that Newsletter?

Gmail – Most Popular Choice

Gmail is often on the top of the list of free email recommendations. After all the Google Suite includes the ability to store contacts, chat, video-conference and share files. But is Gmail the best choice to receive newsletters?

My answer is an emphatic NO.

How many times do you look beyond the Inbox tab on your Gmail? It is a rare occurrence for me, unless I’m hunting for a ‘lost’ email, especially a newsletter. The photo above illustrates that my test emails from my newsletter app, MailerLite, end up in Promotions. That astounds me. Albeit, it’s a different email, but it’s from a name that is my name.

Also, you can see that I haven’t opened all those other emails that DO have a promotional ‘feel’. You know, companies letting you know about their latest deals, things you simply must buy. Indeed, sometimes I could have used the information. What is the solution for always finding my newsletters?

Another Free Email?

I really try to keep up with my inbox. But I have too many different email accounts. I’ve tried to reduce them and have made some progress. At this point I have five active emails compared to eight a year ago. Nevertheless, there is one additional email I value highly. It’s my newsletter email, Yahoo!

Why do I love Yahoo? There is ONE Inbox. Yahoo doesn’t decide where my incoming emails belong. Rather, they are all right there on the left column, waiting for me.

A Specific Email for Newsletters

Yahoo and one inboxI can’t take credit for my decision to create an email just for newsletters. Dan Blank suggested this in one of his social media marketing classes. And as usual, he was right.

Advantages for multiple emails:

  • Compartmentalize my time
  • Avoid wasting time on trivial emails
  • Focus my attention
  • Easily unsubscribe when needed

Other Email Suggestions

Perhaps you wonder why I have kept five different emails. In agreement, I’d like to rid myself of an older one, but it’s like old phone numbers. They are tied to important areas of my life that aren’t easy to extract. Still, I work toward organizing my electronic world thus:

  • Email associated with my website for business
  • Mail.com for my Mom’s needs
  • Gmail for personal (2 for now)
  • Yahoo strictly for newsletters

If only I had hard and fast rules for Gmail and Mail.com… someday.

Have a stressless day!
Dawn