Life Well Lived #4: Three Steps to Paradise
I took three steps and found myself in Paradise. The first step was a good thought, the second, a good word, and the third, a good deed. – Friedrich Nietzsche This week’s plant is Echinacea, also called purple cone flowers, known for boosting the immune system, especially in helping to heal the common cold, and other wellness benefits. Echinacea is a perennial. Once planted, it returns every year. Thinking of health, for the past twenty years, I’ve intended to improve mine by trimming and toning my body. Alas, perhaps you’ve heard the saying: Repeating the same behaviors and expecting different results is, ummm, unrealistic. In my journey to a life well lived and physical fitness, Nietzsche’s three steps would be a good start, especially the third which would involve turning off my television and getting off the chaise lounge [smile]. Join me! Continuing on last week’s love note about drive-in theaters, just found this list of the Parade’s top picks from each state. I hope you’re soon enjoying movies under the stars. NOTE: The videos offered with each post are chosen for visual interest, inspiration, ideas and brevity. This week’s pick will definitely make you smile Ice Cream This Sunday, July 19th is National Ice Cream Day. Even better, all of July is National Ice Cream Month. Here are eight easy, breezy recipes for making your own fabulous ice cream at home. One is a three-ingredients, chocolate delight [no ice cream freezer needed]. There’s also a dairy-free coconut caramel treat. Yum! This Week’s Special Offer: Rocket Echinacea Each week, a featured item is offered at 25% off [plus any discounts offered by my Galleries] which can save an additional 30% savings. Shop here. Thank you to everyone who visits the galleries and for your purchases. They support Succeed and Soar. NOTE The original was shot with a Nikon Coolpix camera. The jpg was “developed” in Microsoft Digital Suite. [I like this software and keep it on an older computer.]
Life Well Lived #3: Tough As Nails
If you ask me what I came into this life to do, I will tell you: I came to live out loud. -Emile Zola Might the one place on Earth with more human diversity than the United States – races, religions, ethnicities, etc. – be the planet itself? Because of all these differences, the U.S. has extraordinary potential. A personal goal for a Life Well Lived could be to ‘live out loud,’ vibrant and enthused as Zola said. Along the way, that individual energy could make the world great [in addition to America]. On Wednesday night, in the first episodes of the CBS TV show Tough As Nails, I saw two challenges which seem like metaphors for how wealth is achieved. One trial was of individuals seeking to win ahead of everyone else. The other test involved people working together to reach First Place as a team. Most heartwarming was how opponents encouraged other’s efforts best efforts. Thank you, Phil Keoghan [also the host], Louise Keoghan and Anthony Carbone for producing a program that reminds what makes human beings everywhere Great. Check out Tough As Nails. NOTE: The videos offered with each post are chosen for visual interest, inspiration, ideas and brevity. This week, enjoy an uplifting and lovely moment from the movie Akeelah and The Bee. Outdoor Movie Theaters A favorite summer memory from childhood was watching movies under the stars. Thank goodness, drive-in movies remain. During these social distancing times, here are ways to find them: 18 Best Drive-in Theaters 7 Drive-in’s [relatively] close to Pittsburgh Create your own theater under the stars An added, special feature: The first time I saw shooting stars was when they kept zoom-zoom-zooming over a drive-in movie screen. Each week, a featured item is offered at 25% off [plus any discounts offered by my Galleries]. This week, “Shasta Daisies” is on sale. Shop here. Thank you to everyone who visits the galleries and for your purchases. They support Succeed and Soar. NOTE The original image was shot with a Nikon Coolpix camera. The jpg was “developed” in Adobe Photoshop Elements 14. In addition to enriching the color saturation and vibrance, the image was processed through a filter that gives the Watercolor effect.