Inside Out Cafe

No Comfort Zone: Week 22!

MargeKatherine — Sat, 26 May 2012 08:19:21 +0000

I did something really out of my comfort zone this week … I didn’t blog. There were a few times I sat at my computer and put my fingers to the keyboard but then pulled back and walked away. It was strange. I wanted to share and yet I also wanted a bit of silence.

I didn’t want my happiness tied up in the amount of posts I did or did not do. While I wasn’t posting I was taking pictures, fly-fishing, hiking, playing, walking, reading and living in every sense of the word.

The one thing I wasn’t doing this week was blogging. It really was hard. Blogging is something I enjoy – I love the ideas, the flow, the sharing and the engagement. It is fun for me. When it stops making me happy and turns into a job – then I close up the Inside Out Café, put the CLOSED on the door and turn out the lights.

That’s not going to happen today.

Instead, I’m going to continue to do things to take me out of my comfort zone because that’s where growth occurs. I’ll keep you posted on my out of comfort zone progress.

As for staying happy - you know that’s a big plus in my book! Below are some people who keep happiness high on their priority list. Talk to you soon!

Happiness:

Weekly Photo Challenge: Hands and Happiness
What Makes You Happy

No Comfort Zone Weekly Challenge Updates (Week 17!) (margekatherine.com)
Comfort Zone (positivethoughtequalspositiveresults.wordpress.com)
Day 15 – Get out of your Comfort Zone (csafotography.wordpress.com)
Blogging Outside Your Comfort Zone: 7 Tips (stevenwwatkins.wordpress.com)
Get out of your comfort zone! (motivatingdaily.com)
How to Step Out of Your Comfort Zone (lamystiquesmind.com)
why I blog (littlethingsbigstuff.com)
Get Out Of That Box! (beunltd.com)
Week 9! No Comfort Zone Update (margekatherine.com)

I hope you dance…

MargeKatherine — Sun, 20 May 2012 08:05:20 +0000

Sometimes a song jumps out with such sweetness and clarity that it has to be shared time and time and time again. I hope you enjoy this lovely reminder!

Song by LeeAnn Womack: I hope you dance

—–

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat, but always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leaves you empty handed

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope that one more opens
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance
and when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance*

I hope you dance…

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin might mean takin chances, but they’re worth takin
Lovin might be a mistake but it’s worth makin
Don’t let some hell bent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out, reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance,
I hope you dance (time is a wheel in constant motion always)
I hope you dance (rolling us along)
I hope you dance (tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder)
I hope you dance (where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance,

dance…., I hope you dance,
I hope you dance (time is wheel in constant motion always)
I hope you dance (rolling us along)
I hope you dance (tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder)
I hope you dance (where those years have gone)
(tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder)
(where those years have gone)

Dance*

I Hope You Dance (adaddyblog.com)
We Are The Dreamers of Dreams – Mamahood, Part 4 (orangespicedrop.wordpress.com)
Lee Ann Womack To Premiere New Songs (1037litefm.radio.com)

Weekly Photo Challenge: Shades of Blue…

MargeKatherine — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:24:50 +0000

Barrel of monkeys feeling sort of blue …

Weekly Photo Challenge: Blue (spiritualworldtraveler.wordpress.com)
Weekly photo challenge: blue (everypicturetellsone.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Blue (kristy209.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: BLUE CROW (picturesinlivingcolor.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Blue (dailypost.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Blue (mdcphotographs.wordpress.com)
Dreamy Blue: Weekly Photo Challenge (Blue) (suvesabun.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge – Blue (katharinetrauger.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Blue (beijingcityphoto.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge – Blue (thisthatandwhateverelseicanthinkof.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge (Blue): Aquarium in Singapore (benwilliamsworld.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Blue (rutheh.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Blue (smkelly8.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Blue (justmyecho.wordpress.com)
Weekly photo challenge: Blue (jmsimpson.wordpress.com)

Happiness Tingle

MargeKatherine — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:42:24 +0000

Yup, another post about happiness. In a blog post last week, I invited you to write about happiness and link back to my blog. When I am focused on a topic, I see it everywhere – in my flower garden, books, quotes and on the back of cereal boxes! If you have a tip, secret or awareness about happiness and care to share, leave a comment below!

Here are a list of words that immediately take me to a good zone. Ready? (Feel free to add your own to this list!)

Click photo: Lace up your boots and let’s hike!

Bask
Bliss
Dance
Engage
Dream
Move
Laugh
Learn
Travel
Read
Sing
Share
Thank
Listen
Appreciate
Blog (of course)

For each of these I can write a full post about how this word brings me a sense of happiness …but that would take the mystery out of it.

What words give you a happiness tingle?

Life’s too short not to be happy! (patticlark.wordpress.com)
Happiness: Care to Share? (margekatherine.com)
Key to Happiness #1 (margekatherine.com)
Do you take happiness for granted? (theglobeandmail.com)
Want happiness? Change your attitude! (patticlark.wordpress.com)
Happiness (boykanto.wordpress.com)

Weekly Photo Challenge: Reflections

MargeKatherine — Sun, 13 May 2012 14:19:43 +0000

Using Photoshop, I’ve added fillers to this lovely photo of the Tetons.

Hope you enjoy!

Click to view slideshow.

Ailsapm invited me to this Weekly Photo Challenge — Great idea!

Hya MargeKatherine – seeing as there hasn’t been an official weekly photo challenge this week, I’m stepping up and throwing down a challenge for anyone who’s interested. http://wheresmybackpack.wordpress.com/2012/05/12/reflections/

I’d love you to join in – the more the merrier. Pass it on. xxx Ailsa

Weekly Photo Challenge : Unfocused… Reflections (mystiic.wordpress.com)
Time to Reflect (thegingerbreadcafe.wordpress.com)
Reflection (ahecticlife.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Together (alexandraroman.com)
Unfocused (Weekly Photo Challenge) (cardinalguzman.wordpress.com)

Call me Mom or don’t call me at all!

MargeKatherine — Sat, 12 May 2012 19:58:58 +0000

Happy Mother’s Day to you and you and you!

At any given moment my mother was called Mom, Mommy or Ma. She didn’t like being called Mother. She chastised me when I called her by her first name. She told me that anyone can call her Katie but only very special people can call her mom. I understand that now and cherish that title as well.

I grew up in a large family and there was always one kid on my hip that needed to be diapered or fed or cared for – so motherhood was not something foreign to me. What was strange was the doubt I had when I was in the mist of it.

It would be great if we could all be grandparents first. Grandparents understand that our children just need us to be with them. Focused and in the moment. A simple thing but so often undervalued in this day of iPods, cell phones, televisions, computers and other electronics. The act of playing a card game, hiding and seek or singing during a car ride …is all about making memories for tomorrow. It’s really so simple, so very simple to do.

M others and Healing (crowingcrone.wordpress.com)
I Am Mom Enough (jackielrobinson.com)
Um, “Happy” Mother’s Day (doyoumeanwhatiknow.wordpress.com)
Today I’m Grateful for … (diabeticredemption.com)
Happy Mother’s Day (bounceandslidetexas.wordpress.com)
3.it’s Mother’s Day, Yesterday. (chiiaguinaldo.wordpress.com)
Happy Mother’s Day! (aprilheatherart.com)
Mother’s Day (rubylane.com)
Let me introduce you to…my mother (lilhariet.wordpress.com)
To All The Moms-Happy Mother’s Day! (paradisepartyrentals.wordpress.com)

Dublin/Words (Weekend Jokes)

MargeKatherine — Sat, 12 May 2012 18:01:35 +0000

Reblogged from Magsx2's Blog:

Dublin Bar

Patrick walks into a bar in Dublin,

Orders three pints of Guinness & sits in the corner of the room,

Drinking a sip out of each pint in turn.

When he had finished all three, He went back to the bar & ordered three more.

The barman says, “You know a pint goes flat soon after I pull it ……….

Happiness is…

MargeKatherine — Fri, 11 May 2012 08:42:57 +0000

A very clear way to define happiness is to look at where I spend my time. I can honestly say that I am physically in a a library at least once a week. I love getting audio books, reading magazines, checking the selection of music cds, reviewing the “New” book shelf and just relishing the feeling of being surrounded by so many ideas.

In addition to visiting my local libraries (yes, I have several favorites), I also check the online books and download them to my pc or other device. So, for many of the books I acquire, I don’t need to walk in a door – I just sit here and click, choose and checkout!

I think we all have places we go that make us happy. Some people visit churches, stadiums, mom’s house, stables, shopping malls, sailboats, beaches… know what I mean? For me it’s libraries.

Happiness: Care to Share? (margekatherine.com)
Mars Hill (colderweather.net)
Happy Scarecrow Nonsense (lucidgypsy.wordpress.com)
New Chapter in Audio Books Opens with Launch of Innovative Weread4you.com (prweb.com)
Audio books on tape etc. (thehomeschoolroadtrip.com)
Self-Help Audio Books (allaboutcounseling.com)
ENT books: Ge tinspired by audiobooks (thesudburystar.com)
Fall Audio Books for Kids (lets-explore.net)

Key to Happiness #1

MargeKatherine — Thu, 10 May 2012 09:48:25 +0000

Three-year old singing with his heart and soul!

My number one source of happiness comes when I am with my grandson. We see each other at least once a week and I am enthralled when we are together. He is funny, smart and engaging. I am funny, encouraging and willing to teach as well as learn.

This young person makes me laugh, makes me question “why I do things that way”, offers insight from 36 inches off the floor and remembers everything I say.

In the course of 30 minutes, you can find us playing hide and seek, wearing bandanas and cowboy boots, playing with cars and making towers that we can knock down with pillows.

We have our favorite libraries and playgrounds and we are always open and ready to try one more.

His presence allows me to have a ‘Do Over’ where I can get it right this time. Even though I was from a large family, I still had to learn the art of motherhood as I went along. There are some things I wished I had done differently and with my grandson in my life, I get to apply the wisdom I’ve acquired!

In this photo (umm, yes, I always have my camera ready!) he is singing me some wonderful song as he stands atop the stage (he’s on the picnic table) for the whole world to see. I have a huge grin every time I see this picture. Click the photo to see a larger image.

So many more things to share with you – Hope you liked this one!

Check out the photography that brings Reb happiness at colderweather.com

Happiness: Care to Share? (margekatherine.com)
Mars Hill (colderweather.net)
Day 31-Happiness is … building a sandwich without a recipe (365waystobehappy.wordpress.com)

Happiness: Care to Share?

MargeKatherine — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:40:23 +0000

Do you ever need a kick start to write a post? You want to write something profound but days go by and you’re in a funk.
I’ve been there and it’s a weird place to be. I usually have SO much to say and the longer it takes, the harder it is to find that perfect topic.

How about this?

I invite you to write a post on something that makes you happy.
Whether it’s a person, place, animal, music, book, song, experience, food … You name it. Add photos if you want or make a video or just use your words.

After you write and publish your “Happy” post, let me know and we can link to each other.

Now that I’ve made your day a bit easier, let’s get started.
Oh – and feel free to post about this all week long if the spirit moves you!

After you write your Happiness post- why not send the link to 5 people in your circle who don’t know about your blog? I know that might be a bit out of your comfort zone but it could be your gift to them. That link might make them really happy!

I have tons of things I can write about so keep checking back, ok?

Shall we?

————————
Related articles

Good mood fuel – flow part 3 (marianne365days.wordpress.com)
Keys to the Imagination of Building (mskarenminor.wordpress.com)
The Art of Writing by an Amateur Blogger! (raynasybelle.wordpress.com)

Inside Out Cafe

No Comfort Zone: Week 22!

Related articles

I hope you dance…

Related articles

Weekly Photo Challenge: Shades of Blue…

Related articles

Happiness Tingle

Related articles

Weekly Photo Challenge: Reflections

Related articles

Call me Mom or don’t call me at all!

Related articles

Dublin/Words (Weekend Jokes)

Happiness is…

Related articles

Key to Happiness #1

Related articles:

Happiness: Care to Share?