For chivalry.

But is it dead? Well, nowadays it seems to have been placed back on that medieval shelf from where it once came, along with politeness and manners.

While it is a matter of courtesy, in general, and not an issue solely between men and women, I’ve heard it said that chivalry reinforces the idea that women need to be helped or saved by a man. And, therefore, some men are more likely to not exhibit this behavior in order to not offend. What?? What a shame. Our lovely millennials are missing out on a wonderful tradition, is all I know.

Call me old fashioned, but I love that after thirty-one years of marriage my husband still holds open doors for me, carries my bags, writes me notes, and brings me flowers. And I’ve never felt disempowered by it, or any less independent. Same when a man lets me in and out of the elevator first or holds open a door. I don’t need or expect them to do it, but I do like and appreciate when it happens.

The noticeable decline in good manners, politeness, and chivalry didn’t just happen, though. It’s been inching along for quite some time. A fruit of society’s “sálvese quien pueda” (every man for himself) mentality, I think. And I don’t know, I won’t elaborate, but could it be also that it’s harder to practice this behavior while living between 140 character tweets? Hmm….

Moms and dads, teach your sons to be chivalrous and your daughters to embrace it. I must say I feel hopeful when I see my son (thankfully) employ the same chivalrous practices as his father. So, is it dead? I say no, but it could sure use some taking down from the shelf and dusting off.

For chivalry, today and always, I am thankful.

What are you thankful for today?

Until next Thursday’s post…si Dios quiere.

“If you want to be held in high esteem, hold yourself to higher standards.”
-Anonymous

“Whatever happened to chivalry? Does it only exist in 80’s movies? I want John Cusack holding a boombox outside my window. I wanna ride off on a lawnmower with Patrick Dempsey. I want Jake from Sixteen Candles waiting outside the church for me. I want Judd Nelson thrusting his fist into the air because he knows he got me. Just once I want my life to be like an 80’s movie, preferably one with a really awesome musical number for no apparent reason. But no, no, John Hughes did not direct my life.”
-Emma Stone

“It’s one thing, holding open the door for someone at a grocery store, or the library, or just about anyplace else. But the doughnut shop is a different thing altogether. This is a get-in-and-out-as-fast-as-you-can operation. There’s no room for courtesy or chivalry here.”
-L. Barclay

“As we are, so we do; and as we do, so is it done to us; we are the builders of our fortunes.”
-R.W. Emerson

For 20,454 sunrises.

My first thought when I open my eyes every morning is “Thank You, God, for letting me wake up.” Today, it was “…for letting me wake up to yet another birthday.”

As I reflect on my time here so far, I am amazed at the journey. I am amazed at how things come full circle. I am amazed at how every human connection in my life has a purpose. And I am amazed at how my faith carries me through it all. But then again, what else other than amazing would this be when God’s at the helm?

Although the lows have been rough, the highs have been many. At times even feeling that nothing I have done makes me deserve all the good that God has given me. But, hey, I’ll take it.  I’ll take each day and everything that comes with it – the wrinkles, the joints that now ache, the middle-aged worries that invade my thoughts – all of it. Because weighed against not getting older, the downsides all seem like a small price to pay.

And so on this day, recognizing that life is not made up of time but of breaths, I am especially grateful to be alive. To be surrounded by those I love and those who love me. Hopeful to awake to more sunrises and live out more days.

What are you thankful for today?

Until next Thursday’s post…si Dios quiere.

“You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man’s life is but a breath.”
-Psalm 39:4–5

“Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most, live the longest.”
-Larry Lorenzoni

“They’re not gray hairs. They’re wisdom highlights.”
-Author Unknown

Thankful for 2018.

Challenging year? You bet! But as this year comes to an end and a new one soon begins, let’s raise our glasses and make a toast to every blessing we’ve been showered with in 2018.

Being able to share another 52 Thankful Thursdays with you has been among mine. Thank you for your e-mails, texts, and post comments.

Family and friends, in 2019, let’s remember to cherish each second and, most of all, to spend lots and lots of time with those we love.

And here’s a New Year’s resolution for all of us: GET GRATEFUL!

Wishing all of you a wonderful, safe, and happy New Year’s Eve, and a blessings-filled 2019.

What are you thankful for today?

Until next year’s post…si Dios quiere.

Lord, as the New Year dawns today,
      Help me to put my faults away.
      Let me be big in little things;
      Grant me the joy which friendship brings;
      Keep me from selfishness and spite,
      Let me be wise to what is right.
A Happy New Year! grant that I
      May cause no tear to any eye.
      When this new year in time shall end,
      Let it be said: “I’ve played the friend,
      Have lived and loved and labored here
      And made of it a happy year.”
-Edgar Guest

For better thoughts. Worthwhile thoughts.

What is definitely not worthwhile is to worry. Worrisome thoughts consume precious minutes of our lives. For me, most times it’s about our kids’ future, other times about health issues I’m not even having symptoms of and, lately, often about retirement (but at this rate of worrying, I may not even get there).

We tend to also overload our brains with that which we have no control over. When instead, we should concern ourselves with that which we have the ability to change; to make the bad good and the good better.

Don’t know about you, but this thought re-programming is not easy for me. Used to be when I was younger (not that I’m old, just older). So whenever I can, I grab hold of words that remind me and encourage me to shelve that worrying; that whatever is going to happen will happen:

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” –Matthew 6:34

I want this backwards-tattooed to my forehead so I can read it three minutes after I get out of bed. Alternatively, since the more we pray the less we panic or worry (and because the tattoo is not going to happen), I suppose I can pray and leave things in God’s hands a lot more than I do.

For better thoughts, worthwhile thoughts, let’s be thankful.

What are you thankful for today?

Until next Thursday’s post…si Dios quiere.

“Worrying is carrying tomorrow’s load with today’s strength- carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worrying doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.”
-Corrie Ten Boom

“I am reminded of the advice of my neighbor. “Never worry about your heart till it stops beating. ”
-E.B. White

For tolerance. It’s our only hope.

And so I ask you, what good is it to let others know what we stand against, if our attitude contradicts what we stand for?

Dig down, dig deep. Let’s stop drinking the haterade, people. We can do this!

For every ounce of tolerance I see out there today (including that which I can squeeze out of me), I am grateful.

 What are you thankful for?

 Until next Thursday’s post…si Dios quiere.

“Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.”
-Abraham Lincoln

“Laws alone cannot secure freedom of expression; in order that every man present his views without penalty there must be spirit of tolerance in the entire population.”
–Albert Einstein