This Sunshine Award Warmed My Heart

Posted on June 5, 2012 by russtowne

GinaV of http://professionsforpeace.wordpress.com/ recently honored my blog with the Sunshine Award, and included the following:

“Hello Russ, your heart-warming blog has become a favorite place for me to visit for uplifting and thought-provoking material. You are an everyday hero to me! I have included you in my list for The Sunshine Award, but as you may know… I’m all about ‘do what you love’ so join in the fun if you want to and of course whenever the time is right. Blessings, Gina http://professionsforpeace.com/2012/05/26/the-sunshine-award/

“Answer these 10 questions, below, for fun if you want to and nominate blogs you enjoy.”

I really enjoy reading Gina’s blog and am honored and humbled by her kindness. I’m glad that she finds value in what I write. So, per her request, here are some of the blogs I most enjoy:

The Nominees (I recommend that you check them out. My list of nominees is short because I’m fairly new to blogging and I learned about some of my favorite blogs from Gina who had already nominated them for this award. Those with an asterisk have already been nominated by Gina for the award, but I wanted readers and followers of my blog to have the opprtunity to see these blogs too):

http://professionsforpeace.wordpress.com/ (I wouldn’t be surprised if this blog already earned this and other awards.)

http://aleafinspringtime.worpress.com/ *

http://callowlea.com/ *

http://janbeek.wordpress.com/ *

http://pawstotalk.wordpress.com/

The Questions:

What is your favorite color? Green.

What is your favorite animal? Dogs. Especially a big brown furry one named Duke.

What is your favorite non-alcoholic drink? (Ice-cold) Milk.

Do you prefer Facebook or Twitter? I’ve only been on FB, so I guess it gets my vote.

What’s your passion? Several: Family and friends (especially recently becoming a first-time grandfather!), investing and managing investments for others, blogging/writing and songwriting, and tending to and enjoying my small redwood grove and fern garden.

What’s your favorite pattern? So many of the patterns found in nature and in the inter-connectness of life.

Do you prefer giving or getting presents? Yes.

Favorite day of the week? I do what I love in my profession and hobbies, and follow my passions, so whatever day it is is my favorite for that day.

Favorite flower? I love them all.

Posted in Abundance, Awards: Sharing The Love, Dogs & Other Wonderful Creatures, Gratitude, Nature, Praise | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Small Things Done With Great Love

Posted on June 5, 2012 by russtowne

Most of you have probably heard the famous quote from Mother Teresa that “Small things done with great love will change the world.”

I like that saying but believe it leaves out a key point: Small things done with great love will not not only change the world, they will change the person doing them in great ways too. And that’s no small thing! ;-D!

Posted in Generosity, Growth/Learning, Inspiring, LIfe Lessons, Making the World a Better Place, Observations, Optimism, Quotes I Love, Random Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Commentator Award: THANK YOU!

Posted on June 4, 2012 by russtowne

Sorry, everyone. I’m still figuring out to do some things on this site, so I’m changing the last post I sent so much that I’m treating it as a new post and including a bunch more nominees for the Commentator Appreciation Award that I’d intended to include in my earlier muddled post.

Russ

Thank you Jolyn for this award. I’m humbled and honored to recieve it. Thank you for being a growing part of my life. I love your blog The Jolyn Project at TheJolynProject.com and highly recommend it!

—

A heart-felt thank you to all who follow or read my blog. Here are some of the folks who have taken the time to comment, support, and cheer me on in a big way. I truly appreciate everyone who takes the time to write a comment on my blog so I am going to try to include as many commentators as possible.

The Commentator Award is a great way to show and share the love to those that consistently comment on your blog. And now, in the spirit of sharing the love, listed below are some of the blogs whose bloggers I nominate for the Commmentator Award:

1. http://shianwrites.wordpress.com/

2. http://professionsforpeace.com/

3. http://mathequality.wordpress.com/

4. http://janbeek.wordpress.com/

5. http://professionsforpeace.wordpress.com/

6. http://aleafinspringtime.wordpress.com/

7. http://pawstotalk.wordpress.com/

8. http://areyoumyfather.wordpress.com/

I know that I’m forgetting many people and I apologize and hope to make it up to them/you in the future:

Posted in Abundance, Awards: Sharing The Love, Gratitude, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Commentator Award

Posted on June 4, 2012 by russtowne

Thank you Jolyn for this award. I’m humbled and honored to recieve it. Thank you for being a growing part of my life. I love your blog The Jolyn Project and highly recommend it!

—

A heart-felt thank you to all who follow or read my blog. Here are some of the folks who have taken the time to comment, support, and cheer me on in a a big way. I truly appreciate everyone who takes the time to write a comment on my blog so I am going to try to include as many commentators as possible.

The Commentator Award is a great way to show and share the love to those that consistently comment on your blog. And now, in the spirit of sharing the love, listed below are some of the blogs whose bloggers I nominate for the Commmentator Award. I know that I’m forgetting many people and I apologize and hope to make it up to them in the future.

1. http://shianwrites.wordpress.com/

2. http://professionsforpeace.com/

A bunch more will be added as soon as I look up their URL’s, but I don’t want to lose what I’ve already typed.

Posted in Generosity, Gratitude | Leave a comment

Sometimes Even When I Aim For The Moon I Still Manage to Shoot Myself In The Foot!

Posted on June 4, 2012 by russtowne

A friend whom I’ve known since about the 4th grade shared this quote:

“The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it” -Michelangelo

I agree. And, I believe that “aiming too low” isn’t just refering to one’s profession or creative talents. To me it encompasses far more, and the danger can be far greater when aiming too low involves closing one’s mind and heart, looking for the worst in people and finding it, being negative, cynical, divisive, unkind, unthoughtful, unumpathetic, uncaring, impatient, etc.

Sadly, I have been all these things and more at various times in mmy life, and I have learned the cost to myself and others can indeed be huge. I have come some distance in aiming higher in such things, but have a long way to go.

The above quote from Michelangelo reminds me about the saying that goes something along the lines of, “Aim for the moon! Even if you miss it you’ll be among the stars!”

This blog is one of my moon-shots. I don’t always have the best aim. Sometimes when I aim high I even end up shooting myself in the foot–and then putting my foot in my mouth! So, I ask for your patience and indulgence at such times. I’m merely a slow-learning student of life with the hope that something I share may be of value to you.

Posted in Courage, Creativity, Generosity, Growth/Learning, Humor, LIfe Lessons, Making the World a Better Place, Observations, Optimism, Quotes I Love, Relationship Lessons Learned | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

To Live In The Presence of Great Truths

Posted on June 4, 2012 by russtowne

“To live in the presence of great truths, to be dealing with eternal laws, to be led by permanent ideals, that is what keeps a man patient when the world ignores him, and calm and unspoiled when the world praises him.”
–Francis Peabody

I love the phrase: “To live in the presence of great truths”. I’d add “combined with living in the presence of great love.” It is in that combination of presence on which I attempt to keep focused. While I too often forget the power in doing so, when I remember, I’m able to fully appreciate the blessings, gifts, and miracles that I’m given every day.

Posted in Abundance, Gratitude, Growth/Learning, LIfe Lessons, Observations, Quotes I Love, Random Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Returning the Favor

Posted on June 3, 2012 by russtowne

My dog Duke has many positive attributes, and a few that might be viewed as somewhat less than positive when I’m in a Stinking Thinking type of mood. I was about to mention a couple of the latter when it occurred to me that he is the type of friend that never, ever breaks a confidence. No matter how silly I get or how tempting that gossipping about me might be, he stays my loyal friend and keeps my foibles to himself, and has never once told a tail-wagging tale at my expense.

I figured the least I could do is return the favor. So there won’t be any funny stories about Duke that he wouldn’t approve of–at least today. You see, while he is a nearly perfect friend, I still have much to learn from him about friendship and so many other things in life.

I’m a slow learner so I’m grateful that Duke is an extraordinarily patient and forgiving teacher.

Posted in Dogs & Other Wonderful Creatures, Forgiveness, Friendship, Gratitude, Growth/Learning, Humor, LIfe Lessons, Observations, Random Thoughts, Relationship Lessons Learned | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Lessons From Trees and Leaves

Posted on June 3, 2012 by russtowne

A recent blog post from GinaV at Profession for P.E.A.C.E. called “Letting Go and Turning It Over, reminded me that leaves, like our feelings, often go through many changes. They can turn to brilliant colors as temperatures change and passions flare. And if the feelings turn sad, like leaves, they eventually fade or fall away, giving to the tree and to ourselves the chance to survive the hard times, the space for new leaves or relationships, and the nourishment, growth, and understanding from what came before.

I believe it is wise to trust the lessons that the trees and their leaves offer to us every day.

Posted in Gratitude, Growth/Learning, LIfe Lessons, Nature, Observations, Optimism, Random Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bliss In A Great Big Bundle Of Brown Fur

Posted on June 3, 2012 by russtowne

I experienced sheer bliss again last night. As is often the case, I was with Duke, a six-year old Chocolate Lab and constant companion.

It started out as a simple trip to the grocery store to buy my wife a couple bottles of Cranberry juice. It was fairly late and I could take roads that would have little or no traffic, so I let Duke sit in his favorite “seat”. He is so big that he can lay on the center console between our two front seats and with our sunroof open his head sticks out about 6 inches above the roof of the car.

Driving down the road with the look of absolute joy on his face means a lot to me. I probably have the same look on my face. I live for such moments. He and I have a bond that is indescribable and wonderful. It is great to be able to so easily do something together that brings so much joy.

It is also wonderful to see all the smiles of people who watch as we drive down the street with Duke’s big ears flapping wildly in the wind.

At such moments I feel an even greater connection to Duke and all those people whom I’ve never even ment, and all feels right with the world. I feel very blessed. Blissful even.

Posted in Abundance, Dogs & Other Wonderful Creatures, Gratitude, Humor, Random Thoughts, True Stories I've Written | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

In Great Souls, Emulation

Posted on June 3, 2012 by russtowne

“Worth begets in base minds, envy; in great souls, emulation.” –Henry Fielding

I prefer to focus on the first two words and the positive latter half of the sentence. It has been my experience that everyone–even those with base minds–have worth if I look for it with an open mind and heart.

Posted in Creativity, Envy, Growth/Learning, LIfe Lessons, Observations, Quotes I Love, Random Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments