My favorite time of year!

House decorated. Check.

Thanksgiving menu complete. Check.

Christmas shopping started. Check.

It's official....I've got Fall Fever! 

When asked what holiday is my favorite, my response usually surprises people. It's Thanksgiving. While I completely LOVE Christmas, I find myself the most excited each year when Thanksgiving is on the horizon. I love the smells, foods and gratitude of the season. I love leaves and gourds and candles decorating my entire home. I love the calmness of the day even with the chaos in the kitchen. I love the turkey dinner. I love the dining room table filled to the brim with family and friends. I simply love everything about it!

Thanksgiving has not been tainted by over-commercialism. The only ads we see seem to highlight happy families gathered around a large dining table, ready to carve into a bit-too-perfect-looking turkey. I can deal with that. My turkey may not arrive at the table as the centerpiece, but it tastes awesome!

With Thanksgiving also comes the excitement of Christmas shopping...the Day-After Sales and now even the Weeks-Before Sales. I like that too. I'm an organized person by nature and that helps me to manage through the shopping season with ease. I write a list, check the ads, and watch for sales. I love the thrill of the hunt for that perfect gift at just the right price. That is my fall sport. Guys have football, I have gift shopping. I find by starting before Thanksgiving I can get great buys, avoid sold-out dilemmas, and beat the crowds. What more can one ask for?!

Are you ready for Thanksgiving? Get out your notepad, make those lists, and get started. It will ignite the holiday spirit within you too!

enjoy the holiday preparations.
-dw.

Thanksgiving Reflection -

Sometimes life gets crazy and we get stressed out. Sometimes life throws so much at us, we wonder if we can possibly survive one more blow. I'm at that point. The point of wondering if I can take any more. I have had so many things hit me in the past couple weeks that I find myself physically in pain, sleepless, and crying at the drop of a hat. I know it is unhealthy and I want to rise above it all. One foot in front of the other; one day at a time. I survive with those thoughts carrying me along.

Then tonight I stumbled upon something I wrote last year following Christmas; a blog entry that was misfiled in a strange place on my computer. After a year, it suddenly popped up in front of me. It was like a message telling me to hang on longer, be stronger. A reminder that I'll make it through again this year just as I did last year as my Grandmother was placed in a memory care facility for her battle with Alzheimer's, while one of my children chose a dangerous path that worried me, and as I struggled to keep my head above the water financially and physically.

Here is what I wrote:If you believe..........sometimes magic happens!

"I had one of the most stressful pre-Christmas seasons ever this year. Between being sick for over a week and a half and having a lot of family things going on, I struggled to keep the holiday spirit alive in my house and had very little time to focus on holiday preparations. But through it all, my absolute LOVE of Christmas carried me through. One thing I held onto was the dream of a white Christmas. I haven't seen snow on Christmas since my girls were toddlers and I just felt I needed it this year. So I believed. I believed even thought the weatherman said it would rain. I believed even though everyone reminded me it hardly ever snows in Seattle on Christmas. I believed even when I woke up and it wasn't there. I believed and guess what....?! IT SNOWED!!!! We looked up as we were unwrapping gifts and saw that the rain was beginning to mix with snow. Then it turned all to snow. And it snowed for hours! And to me it was as though the Lord whispered into my ear, "Here you go. Thanks for believing and hanging in when the going got rough." In that second all the frustrations of the pre-holiday season washed away and my world was at total peace. My Christmas spirit bucket was once again overflowing with love, faith and joy. It was my favorite holiday gift and it didn't even require fancy wrapping or a bow!"

I had just been thinking about how much a white Christmas would mean to me this year the other day. I had completely forgotten that for a brief part of the day, we enjoyed one last year.

Funny how sometimes we forget in the midst of stress and frustration the simple joys that are bestowed upon us. Our gratitude slips away as we seek for help for new problems. So this Thanksgiving remember that even in times of adversity, there are many things to be thankful for. Moments that warmed our hearts. Small things that brought great joy. And people we are blessed to share our lives with.

I am thankful for many things, but mostly my family and friends who are there for me, supporting me and loving me unconditionally. And for a heart that can see goodness even during the storm, and for the faith that assures me I'll make it through one more time.

enjoy a holiday filled with reflections of all that you love and are thankful for.
God Bless.
-d.

The Election of a Lifetime!

Wow...To be even a small part of this momentous election was incredible. Never have I felt stronger about voting (all though I do every election) than this year. I was asked why I was so worried about getting my ballot dropped off in time when Obama was solidly in the lead. I realized it was because we were on the brink of making history and I wanted my vote to be a part of it.

All my life I was taught to respect people as people. To judge them by the character they displayed. Not by their heritage, skin tone, or accent. A simple ruled it seemed to me, but as I grew up, I was shocked to discover that others weren't taught that lesson. Even today, in the year 2008, there are undeserving prejudices that still exist. And that continues to baffle me.

So, as I watch the announcement that our next president of the United States will be Barack Obama...I was moved. Not because a democrat was back in the oval office, but because America voted on principle instead of prejudice.

We voted for hope. We voted for change. We voted for a man that we believe in and a man that believes in us and what we can do for our country.

And that, more than anything else has in a long time, makes me proud to be an American.

"I'm asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about real change...

I'm asking you to believe in yours."

-Barack Obama

Hope Won!

We Need One Another Right Now

"I want this song to be a vehicle to bring Americans together as a whole, so that we can truly understand how much we need each other," said BeBe Winans (who co-wrote the song with Tyler Haynes and Ross Koper).

I love this song! Great message...great voices...great timing.

enjoy the music that stirs your soul.
-d.

Quote of the Day...

This is what I saw when I opened Ali's newsletter today, and for those that don't get it, I wanted to share....

"Dream big, work harder. Have lots of fun, lift a finger,
do something for someone else. Cheer your friends on. Cheer yourself up. Celebrate as much as possible. Enjoy everything. Right now. It's OK to want more and do more but be present with where you are or who you are with. Don't rush the situation - even if it's bad. Move on when you can. Don't settle. Try everything you can and get over everything holding you back." -Alex Beauchamp


I LOVE this quote/life philosophy!!! Kudos to Alex!!

enjoy everything,
-d.

Here's to Good People...

...doing great things! I love it when people help each other out!

Let me start by sharing a story with you...Before Rog and I were married we took all three of our children on a pre-family vacation. Out first big adventure all together. We spent a week during Christmas down in Southern California visiting my Dad and, of course, a variety of theme parks. We went to Magic Mountain and Universal Studios and took tons of photos along the way. Unfortunately, toward the end of our trip, we lost our camera while at Universal Studios. We checked back repeatedly to see if whoever discovered our camera had turned it in. Nope. At the very minimum, couldn't they have at least turned in the SD card holding hundreds of our vacation photos? No such luck. Whoever they were, they were so excited about scoring a $400 camera that they gave little regard for the priceless photos they took along with it.

While reading the newspaper this weekend I learned about an incredible blog site aimed at helping people reconnect with their lost photos. It is called: http://www.ifoundyourcamera.net/ and it made me smile.

Even though my photos were not among those posted, I smiled for all those that were. I smiled at the slight chance that maybe, just maybe, the new owner of my Kodak camera would see this sight. Maybe, they would feel compelled to grab my un-erased SD card and post a couple photos. Maybe. Just maybe.

While scanning this feel-good site, I saw many pictures (but, no one I knew personally). One set of (local) pictures and their story intrigued me and made me want to help, so I posted their picture here.

Their Story: An SD card was found inside the box of a computer game purchased from a thrift store and three years later after learning of this fabulous site, the new owner posted a few pictures and what little info she had. If the original owner's life is anything like mine, it must have fallen off the desk and into the box without anyone being the wiser. After fruitless searching the photos were most likely assumed to be lost forever.

UPDATE: I am happy to report that these photos and their owners have been reunited! I didn't see the success story posted, but Shannon pointed it out. Last February, after someone Sharon knew called her and told her, she contacted http://www.ifoundyourcamera.net/ and got her photos sent back to her. YEA! I love a happy ending!

And to who ever it is out there that has our Kodak camera and SD card...We've long since replaced the camera, it's yours to keep! We just want our family pictures back!!!!!!!

enjoy the feeling of helping others!
-d.

Our State Flower in her Prime

I used to wonder why in the world the Rhododendron plant was Washington's state flower. I just didn't get it.

My Grandmother never wondered though. She has loved these plants for as far back as I can remember. After spending a day in her yard taking pictures before we sell the house, I too saw the reason.

They are incredible when they are fully grown, and in full bloom. The colors are amazing! Here are just a couple shots I captured last weekend.

enjoy the beauty found in your own back yard,

-d.

Jimmy on Late Night

While I'm not a huge Late Night with Letterman Show watcher, I am a huge Jimmy Buffet fan. Check out this after-the-show extra Jimmy stayed on to perform.

Jimmy Buffet on Letterman.

There is just something about Jimmy that I find soooo incredibly relaxing. It may be the sound of the steel drum playing while he sings, or the "spoken from the heart" words that encompass his songs. Maybe it's the fact that he has no pretense about who he is and how he lives. He travels his own path and his goal all along, I believe, was simply to be happy...and along the way he became incredibly rich just by doing what he loves and doing it in a way he believed in. To me, Jimmy is the true definition of success.

Nothing takes me back to the Caribbean faster than a Buffet song. And I (mentally) go back there a LOT! The sand, the sun, the music...What's NOT to LOVE?! I'm counting the days till I can dig my toes back into the white sands of the Caribbean and feel the warm, clear water literally wash away my stress.

enjoy the things that take you to your happy place!
-d.

Eight reasons to get away with the girls!

What Is the Value of an All-Girl Getaway?

Stephanie Oswald, editor in chief of Travelgirl
magazine and host of Fine Living Network's All-Girl Getaways

What's the value of an all-girl getaway anyway? Lifestyle travel guru Stephanie Oswald, host of the original new TV series All-Girl Getaways on Fine Living Network, says a trip away with your girlfriends is good for you for these reasons:

1. Offers a mental health break and a sanity check. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the stress of everyday life. Women wear many hats and often make taking care of themselves a low priority. Change that priority list.
   
2. Busts stress when work and family demands are too high. If you keep going at breakneck speed, something will eventually break. Going away with the girls allows you to recharge your batteries and stay in top form so you can keep doing it all.
   
3. Reunites friends who can do wonders for your life. A week at the beach with your best friends from high school might be just what you need to pull the pieces of your life together.
   
4. Reminds you of you. We all love our kids, but if you’re feeling trapped in the mom version of Groundhog Day, grab your girlfriends and go. You were a wonderful person before you were a mom; your girlfriends will help you remember this fact.
   
5. Pampers your mind, body and spirit. When is the last time you read a book without interruptions? Took a walk by yourself? Relaxed in a bubble bath? The time is now, girlfriend! Give yourself permission to go!
   
6. Solves life’s dilemmas. Comparing notes with your BFFs on everything from sex to finances can help you solve life’s dilemmas. Issues that cause marriages to fail are more easily discussed among girlfriends.
   
7. Boosts satisfaction in life. We often spend our time concerned with what isn’t done instead of focusing on what we've achieved. It’s important to review our past and appreciate what’s been accomplished instead of living life in fast-forward mode.
   
8. Benefits the entire family. Life is good – and will be even better after you’ve taken a break. Getting your break means you’ll come home refreshed and less bothered by the dirty dishes, loud TV or other irritations of daily life. Yes, a getaway is a gift to yourself, but the rest of the family will benefit too. A happy mom leads a happy family.

This article is courtesy of FineLiving.com
Watch All-Girl Getaways on Fine Living Network!

To schedule your Girls' Get Away check out:
Creative Outlet Retreat House

enjoy the time you have to get away from it all!
-dw.

It Did My Heart Good...

...to take part in this weekend's Crop for the Cure!

We held a one-day benefit crop and silent auction at our retreat house and raised over $900.00 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation!!!!

20 women came together to crop, mingle, and GIVE this past Saturday. We had great auction items donated to bid on, yummy food to eat, and lots of scrapbook pages completed!

I had so much fun, I have decided to make it a yearly tradition!
I will hold another benefit event next spring (if not sooner). If you have a cause you would like to have me consider, please e-mail me at: dwshain@comcast.net.
But please remember that you must be willing to dedicate your time to the event as well.

Thanks to everyone who helped make it our first annual benefit a huge success!
You Ladies ROCK!!!!

We did our best to help SAVE the COCONUTS!!!

enjoy the opportunities you have to give!
-d.

This is My Life...

Melody Ross challenges everyone to take pictures of the things that they encounter in their day. Things that represent the moments that make up a life. Well, here is one of mine.

It is a testiment to my life on the run.

I'm not a coffee drinker, so this cup is my only-once-in-a-while indulgence of Starbuck's hot cocoa...I love it!

My iPod, because I cannot drive without music (although I'm loving the XM radio too!). Both of these things relax me and calm my world.

And my new truck, which brings me so much joy. That tiny red light you see...yeah, that's my heated seat light. That little light means I feel good! And yesterday as I hopped into the truck, I noticed the "new car smell" was still evident and it made me smile. My very first brand new car. It makes life on the run sooooo much more enjoyable.

enjoy the comforts of your journey,
-dw

Review, Reaffirm, and Resolve...

New Year's is a time of reflection for many of us, myself included. While some struggle with where they are when they reach their milestone birthdays (30, 40, etc...), I never have. I tend to get that way with every holiday season and year's end. The same questions beg answering each year. Am I where I want to be? I am who I want to be? Some years I feel blessed to be exactly where I want to be and some years have been so earth-shattering that I want to be anywhere but here!

The other night Rog and I were looking at some old pictures left on an SD card and were trying to figure out when and where they were shot. I finally realized "Hey, these are from the wedding last year!" He responded with, "...whose wedding?!" After a quick toss with a sofa pillow aimed directly at his head, I said, "YOURS!" He quickly tried to save himself by explaining that it didn't seem possible that our wedding was only a little over a year ago. And I have to admit, I agree.

It seems like this year took the span of three years. We had a lot of family stuff going on. BIG stuff. Kid issues. The loss of Rog's dad. My dad's heart attack. Selecting a place and then moving my Grandmother into assisted living. Rog's mom staying with us for a couple weeks. His sister and bil here visiting. So many big events. Not to mention our cruise. 4 litters of puppies. Melissa's graduation. A major job change. Opening the Retreat House. The list just goes on and on. How ever did we fit ALL of that into one year?! No wonder we are exhausted!!!

But after all of that, when I ask myself that same ol' year-end question...Am I happy where I am at in life? My answer is, Yes, I am. Am I who I want to be? Well, like any ever-evolving project, I am not completely finished, but I am happy with who I am right this minute. I know there are things I need to still work on (my weight, my income, my patience level...), but overall I am content with the person I have become.

Like many of us that consider ourselves still "in work," I have things I resolve to try and improve on. So I will share that list another day. I need time to really think it through. Why make resolutions, some may be asking. Well, because I know, and Stephen Covey agrees, we are more likely to achieve the goal we write down and share out loud. So...I will make my list and get back to you.

Did you write a list? What is your greatest 2008 resolution? Did you write one last year that you achieved? Do tell.....

enjoy the accomplish of goals achieved!!!

-dw

When you really Believe...

...sometimes magic happens!
I had one of the most stressful pre-Christmas seasons ever this year. Between being sick for over a week and a half and having a lot of family things going on, I struggled to keep the holiday spirit alive in my house and had very little time to focus on holiday preparations. But through it all, my absolute LOVE of Christmas carried me through.

One thing I held onto was the dream of a white Christmas. I haven't seen snow on Christmas since my girls were toddlers and I just felt I needed it this year. So I believed. I believed even thought the weatherman said it would rain. I believed even though everyone reminded me it hardly ever snows in Seattle on Christmas. I believed even when I woke up and it wasn't there. I believed...and guess what?! IT SNOWED!!!! We looked up as we were unwrapping gifts and saw that the rain was beginning to mix with snow. Then it turned completely to snow. And it snowed for hours!

And to me it was as though the Lord whispered into my ear, "Here you go. Thanks for believing and hanging in when the going got rough." In that second all the frustrations of the pre-holiday season washed away and my world was at total peace. My Christmas spirit bucket was once again overflowing with love, faith and joy.

I hope you all had a truly blessed holiday and found moments that touched your heart and rekindled your spirit.

enjoy the reflections of your special holiday memories,
-dw

'Tis the Season...

I absolutely LOVE this time of year!!

So many activities going on...so much to see. Literally. For visual people like me, there is sooo much to take in during the holiday season. Lights and color everywhere. Movement in every direction. I just seem to absorb the energy from everything around me. The feel of fun just floats in the air.

Last night a group of friends and I headed to Bellevue Square for dinner at the Cheesecake Factory (one of my faves!), a quick dash into Macy's for Frangos (a holiday candy tradition), and to watch the outdoor performance of Snowflake_Lane.

Then we headed across the way to visit the Bellevue Botanical_Garden for their annual Garden D'Lights. It is amazing! Volunteers spend most of the previous year creating spectacular flowers and plants out of holiday lights and then begin "planting" them throughout the gardens in early October. The event is free, although donations are encouraged and parking is $5 in their lot. It is worth the visit! Even a little rain couldn't dampen the fun! Shannon and I took tons of pictures and both are thinking we need to return again before it ends on New Year's Eve. They even have a little Christmas shop that sells ornaments and decor (as well as a video of the garden lights!) and I found a few ornaments to add to the tree this year!

It was a fun night and I am glad we all decided not to let the bad weather conditions keep us from going. I really look forward to our Girls Night Out events. During the holiday frenzy we have to remember to take time out for ourselves...and our girlfriends.

Update: I added a couple more pics that Shannon got with her camera. My battery died half way through the light tour so I didn't get as many photos as I would've liked!

enjoy your holiday happenings!

-dw

Question of the Day...

Besides the obvious BIG things in life that we have to be thankful for, there are millions of little things that we sometimes do not stop often enough to appreciate. For example, I decided this morning to make a batch of Peanut Butter & Chocolate Rice Krispy Treats (my all-time favorite!) and realized that I never used to own a non-stick stock pot (dutch oven, soup pot, whatever you call 'em) before I married Rog. I used my good ol' Revere Ware pot and had to work harder at keeping anything from sticking. Now, I wonder how I ever got a long without these non-stick pots? So, I smiled and thought of one more small, often overlooked, reason why I am lucky to have him in my life. Not only does he fill my heart with joy and love, he filled my kitchen with some awesome cookware!!! ;)

So, the Question of the Day is:

What little things have you encountered in your day that made you thankful? What gave you reason to smile unexpectedly?

And to prove presentation is everything when it comes to food I have this to share...

We had some apples in the pantry and no one was eating them. So yesterday as I removed the last of the fall decor from the kitchen, I gathered a few apples and placed them on a little cake plate I scored on one of my Thrifty Thursday hunts and set it out on the counter. Melissa came home, sees the apples, and says, "These apples look really good!" I laughed and thought to myself what a difference a little design effort can make! She looked right past them in the pantry for days! And heck, they were fresher then! LOL! It's all about the presentation people!

enjoy looking at (and appreciating)

the little things!

-dw

Get Smart...Give Rice!

Mom forwarded me a link to this site because she knows

I love word games, vocabulary challenges, etc.

(I'm such a word nerd that as a kid, I would actually read the dictionary!)

It's a win-win kind of thing! We improve our vocabulary

while they donate food to the hungry!

http://www.freerice.com/

enjoy a way fun way to give back!

-dw

Seattle 3-Day Walk

Along with the Parrotheads of Puget Sound (PhoPS) club we belong to, we spent yesterday volunteering at the Seattle 3-Day Walk. It was very beautiful day and a wonderful cause to be a part of. We cheered on the walkers and handed out Gatoritas! Gatorade blended with ice...so refreshing! The walkers seemed to really appreciate both the cool drink and the accolades and encouragement! 60 miles is an incredible distance to cover by foot and these people are truly inspirational! The smiles on their faces and the limp in some of their steps served to remind us what can be accomplished when you set your mind to it. As they came by adorned with personal dedications and humorous tee shirts, it was almost overwhelming at some moments. Having lost many loved ones to colon cancer my heart was deeply touched by the walkers' dedication to carry on their loved one's memories and their determination to keep others from suffering the same heartache. It was moving. It was humbling. It was so awesome to be a part of! I have always wanted to walk myself, but after my foot accident years ago, it really isn't realistic for me. So it was a blessing for me to be able to be involved with such a great cause in another way. I will definitely be back again next year!!!! Way to go walkers, YOU ROCK!!!!!

enjoy the giving you can do!
-d.

70 years and counting...

Roger's grandparents celebrated their

70th wedding anniversary yesterday!

It is so incredible to see them together holding hands,

whispering to each other,

taking care of each other.

They are very special people and their love is so inspiring!

enjoy the love in your life!

-d.

Drumroll Please...........

No, I haven't been away on some luxurious vacation island nor am I returning to blogland with a fabulous tan from soaking up the sun around Seattle. I have been working on a TOP SECRET (until now) and very EXCITING new business venture!!!!!

..............................................................................................
We are opening a crafter's retreat house!!!!!
Right here in Lynnwood (12 miles north of Seattle)!! The house we've selected is within 4 miles of two scrapbook stores, one stamp store and of course the big chain stores are close by as well. We will be making the offer on the house today so please think positive thoughts, cross your fingers and say a prayer that it is well recieved! The house is currently vacant and almost completely ready to go, so it could be a very fast start-up time. I have been crazy lately running numbers, getting price quotes, planning policies, and selecting themes for each of the 8 bedrooms!!!!! I am so giddy with excitement that I have barely been able to sleep!

It will be aptly named, Our Creative Outlet,

as it will be a tranquil escape from everyday life to work on whatever mobile crafting projects you select to bring along with you (scrapbooking, rubber stamping, altered art, quilting, etc...). It will be decorated with samples galore to inspire you during your stay. It has a full kitchen, dining area, a sitting room with tv, dvd, and wet bar (for additional downstairs coffeemaker, frig and microwave), 3 bathrooms, and yes...you heard me right the first time...8 bedrooms!!!!
We will begin taking reservations as soon as we finalize the house sale and will have an Open House as soon as we get settled in!!! We have lots of exciting ideas to ensure your weekend away is fun and rejuvenating, as well as an opportunity for weekday classes and workshop time and special event rentals (holiday parties, corporate events, etc...)!

I don't have any photos yet...but stay tuned they will be coming!!!!!

enjoy the new possibilities that surround you!
-dw.

Breathe it all in....

In case there are still blog readers out there that don't read Melody Ross' Blog I have to share the wonderful thoughts of Anna Quindlen that she has posted. It is so worth repeating!

I have always felt this way, and often have been quoted in the past saying, "Yeah, and if you passed away tomorrow, who is really gonna care that the lawn never got mowed!" My ex-husband was by most definitions a workaholic and often needed reminding that life was not all about making sure the chores got done. We are reminded all to often that every day is a blessing and that we are not guaranteed any certain number of days.

So sometimes you just have to stop and play. Breathe it all in. Laugh. Go barefoot. Sing. Say I love you. Bake cookies. Dance. Get your feet wet. Take in the view. Simply give in to life.

I can look back on my life and say Yes, I took time to play! Granted sometimes maybe too much...but I dance when the music moves me, I bake cookies to enjoy the smell as it fills my kitchen, I jump in the water every chance I get, I laugh and go barefoot everyday, and I sing when I drive (when I'm alone!) I try to remember everyday not to waste the time I am given. I never let a day go by without an "I love you!" And I have learned through the years to stop and take in the view. To really see it. And it is beautiful.

Here are a couple of my favorite "views" from this weekend while we spent time with friends at Clear Lake.

enjoy the view from where you are right now...

-dw.

Commencement Speech made by Pulitzer Prize winning author Anna Quindlen at Villanova University

I'm a novelist. My work is human nature. Real life is all I know. Don't ever confuse the two, your life and your work.
You will walk out of here this afternoon with only one thing that no one else has. There will be hundreds of people out there with your same degree; there will be thousands of people doing what you want to do for a living. But you will be the only person alive who has sole custody of your life.
Your particular life. Your entire life. Not just your life at a desk, or your life on a bus, or in a car, or at the computer. Not just the life of your mind, but the life of your heart. Not just your bank account but your soul.
People don't talk about the soul very much anymore. It's so much easier to write a resume than to craft a spirit. But a resume is a cold comfort on a winter night, or when you're sad, or broke, or lonely, or when you've gotten back the test results and they're not so good.
Here is my resume: I am a good mother to three children. I have tried never to let my profession stand in the way of being a good parent. I no longer consider myself the center of the universe. I show up. I listen. I try to laugh. I am a good friend to my husband. I have tried to make marriage vows mean what they say.
I am a good friend to my friends, and they to me. Without them, there would be nothing to say to you today, because I would be a cardboard cutout. But I call them on the phone, and I meet them for lunch. I would be rotten, or at best mediocre at my job, if those other things were not true. You cannot be really first rate at your work if your work is all you are.
So here's what I wanted to tell you today: Get a life. A real life, not a manic pursuit of the next promotion, the bigger paycheck, the larger house.
Do you think you'd care so very much about those things if you blew an aneurysm one afternoon, or found a lump in your breast? Get a life in which you notice the smell of salt water pushing itself on a breeze over Seaside Heights, a life in which you stop and watch how a red tailed hawk circles over the water or the way a baby scowls with concentration when she tries to pick up a Cheerio with her thumb and first finger. Get a life in which you are not alone. Find people you love, and who love you. And remember that love is not leisure, it is work. Pick up the phone. Send an e-mail. Write a letter.
Get a life in which you are generous. And realize that life is the best thing ever, and that you have no business taking it for granted. Care so deeply about its goodness that you want to spread it around. Take money you would have spent on beers and give it to charity. Work in a soup kitchen. Be a big brother or sister.
All of you want to do well. But if you do not do good too, then doing well will never be enough.
It is so easy to waste our lives, our days, our hours, our minutes. It is so easy to take for granted the color of our kids' eyes, the way the melody in a symphony rises and falls and disappears and rises again.
It is so easy to exist instead of to live. I learned to live many years ago. I learned to love the journey, not the destination. I learned that it is not a dress rehearsal, and that today is the only guarantee you get.
I learned to look at all the good in the world and try to give some of it back because I believed in it, completely and utterly. And I tried to do that, in part, by telling others what I had learned.
By telling them this:
Consider the lilies of the field. Look at the fuzz on a baby's ear.
Read in the backyard with the sun on your face. Learn to be happy. And think of life as a terminal illness, because if you do, you will live it with joy and passion as it ought to be lived.
No man ever said on his deathbed I wish I had spent more time at the office. I found one of my best teachers on the boardwalk at Coney Island maybe 15 years ago. It was December, and I was doing a story about how the homeless survive in the winter months.
He and I sat on the edge of the wooden supports, dangling our feet over the side, and he told me about his schedule; panhandling the boulevard when the summer crowds were gone, sleeping in a church when the temperature went below freezing, hiding from the police amidst the Tilt a Whirl and the Cyclone and some of the other seasonal rides. But he told me that most of the time he stayed on the boardwalk, facing the water, just the way we were sitting now even when it got cold and he had to wear his newspapers after he read them.
And I asked him why. Why didn't he go to one of the shelters? Why didn't he check himself into the hospital for detox? And he just stared out at the ocean and said, "Look at the view, young lady. Look at the view."
And every day, in some little way, I try to do what he said. I try to look at the view. And that's the last thing I have to tell you today, words of wisdom from a man with not a dime in his pocket, no place to go, nowhere to be. Look at the view. You'll never be disappointed.

-- Anna Quindlen