(Crazy Cat Man’s photo)
With Love and Big Grin,
Russ
I love rain drops and rainstorms, reveling in the many sounds they make, the feel of raindrops on my skin, the sight of each drop as it splash-dances onto whatever it touches, the way they freshen the air, and the gift of life bestowed by their very presence.
Sunny days are the norm where I live in California. Rainy days are often few and far between. So, I often water my small redwood grove and fern garden. I do it by hand with a watering hose and it is truly a labor of love.
Today as I watered, I noticed the sound of the water hitting some ancient plants—their predecessors date back to the age of the dinosaurs—and closed my eyes to focus on the musical way the sounds changed as the spray shifted onto various parts of the long, slender plants, much as wind and chimes make their own melody as a gift for all who take the time to experience and appreciate.
I kept my eyes closed, soaking in the rainy melody, feeling the refreshing mist on my sun-warmed body, grateful for the moment, making the moment last, and creating another beautiful memory.
My eyes stayed shut as I sprayed other plants, changing the melody that nature so generously provided to me.
I imagined myself in a wondrous rainstorm while out in nature, and felt at home in its welcoming arms.
I felt warm, safe, fully alive and present, serenity, and inner peace in that embrace.
Feelings of joy and gratitude swept over me.
I was hesitant to break the spell, but there were other things that must be done, so I knew I would soon need to open my eyes and move on with my day.
But before I did, I adjusted the spray once more.
When I opened my eyes, a glorious rainbow appeared. I knew it would be there; a beloved friend who appears when water and sun come together in just the right ways to co-create yet another stunning and truly inspiring miracle.
With Love,
Russ
(Source: Tige and Daniel) A fast food employee uses an umbrella from an outside table to walk an elderly person to his car in the rain. Love in action.
(Source: Let’s Be Positive Together)
With Love,
Russ
“”Keep what is worth keeping and with the breath of kindness blow the rest away.” (Source: Ute Lark shared Precious World’s post).
(Photo: Cheryl Bond)
(Source: Ute Lark shared Ware’s of Gratitude’s share of Today I Will’s photo.)
(Source: Hannah Fraser shared Single Dad Laughing’s photo)
(Source: My DIL Kristi shared Oss Damer I Mellon’s photo.)
With Love,
Russ
Have you ever had Flamin’ Hot Cheetos? This is the guy who invented them and his story is fascinating. His name is Richard Montanez and he was the janitor at a Frito-Lay plant in Southern California when he came up with the idea. It all started when he was eating a cup of corn. “I see the corn man adding butter, cheese and chile to the corn and thought what if I add chile to a Cheeto?” So Richard went home to his mom’s kitchen and did a test using some of her spices. His friends and co-workers thought it tasted good. Richard then got up enough nerve and actually called the president of the company and said he had an idea for a new product. “I had two weeks to prepare a presentation for the company executives.” Remember this was a guy who didn’t speak English very well. He didn’t have a high school diploma. He didn’t even own a tie. But what he did have was what he called his PHD. He was poor, hungry and determined. Richard went to the library and checked out a book on marketing. “I’m a little bit of an artist so I even designed the bags and put the Cheetos in it.” After seeing his presentation, the president of the company loved the idea and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos were born. “Many times, greatness will come in ridiculous forms. A ridiculous idea might be a billion dollar idea.” But Richard says all of this might never have happened if not for what the president told employees in a video message. “He told us to act like an owner, I looked around and didn’t see a lot of reaction from my co-workers, but for me it was the opportunity to do something different. There’s no such thing as ‘just a janitor’…if you act like an owner.” Richard Montanez is now a top company executive. “My greatness is courage. I’m willing to take a chance.” And he’s very passionate about spreading the word that anyone can do what he did. “The antidote to fear is hunger. When you have hunger for a job position, knowledge or a new house, you go and get it and fear will never get a hold of you.” I like how he thinks. I just wish i didn’t like those darn Cheetos so much!
Source: KTVU Story courtesy Tania Luviano Latina Mom TV and Diane Stafford The Kansas City Star
“Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.” ~Nido Qubein
Source: (I don’t recall where I saw it.)
—
“Love flows best when it flows freely.”
“May every wound bring wisdom.”
–Kate Nowack
Source of the last two quotes by Kate Nowack: Misifusa at Misifusa’s Blog The Presents of Presence
With Love,
Russ
I spent nearly all day in the hospital yesterday with a dear friend who needed urgent back surgery shortly after his wife’s pelvis got broken in seven places, so the note in this post from the Kindness Blog resonated especially well with me as it hit home in my heart.
With Love,
Russ
“Of all earthly music, that which reaches the farthest into heaven is the beating of a loving heart.” –Henry Ward Beecher (Source: Ute Lark shared it from Precious World)
Since love grows within you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul.” –St. Augustine (Source: Smile at me)
With Love,
Russ
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Russ Towne's A Grateful Man 