Author Archives: lifelessons

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About lifelessons

My blog, which started out to be about overcoming grief, quickly grew into a blog about celebrating life. I post daily: poems, photographs, essays or stories. I've lived in countries all around the globe but have finally come to rest in Mexico, where I've lived since 2001. My books may be found on Amazon in Kindle and print format, my art in local Ajijic galleries. Hope to see you at my blog.

Staining Black the Cold Floor

This is another of S. Thomas’s poems that I absolutely love. Hope you go to his blog to finish reading it!

Listed or Listless

The Prompt:  Have you ever made a New Year’s Resolution that you kept?

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Write it down!!!!


Listed or Listless?

Of course I have accomplished my New Year’s Resolutions.  A few times.  Once I did a project with a friend where we each wrote down what we wanted to accomplish.  I believe I had eight things.  Since we illustrated our resolutions, my quotes of what I wanted were scattered throughout my illustrations.  Shortly after we did this, she moved back to the states and in time I forgot my little artwork.

A few years later, I found it when I was cleaning and reorganizing my studio.  I looked at my page, turning it this way and that to read the resolutions that twisted around and through the colored sketches.  I was surprised to find I’d accomplished every one, including losing weight, getting a book published (actually by the time I found it, I’d self-published three books), and finding a partner (now a friend, but nonetheless, I managed to reenter the dating scene after years of still feeling married to my deceased husband.)

I don’t remember what the rest of my resolutions were and a new search of my studio didn’t result in finding it.  Perhaps it requires actually cleaning and reordering the studio to warrant this reward; but, this exercise taught me what I’d learned long before and forgot.  Writing resolutions down has a sort of magic.  I think it moves them to a different, more active part of our brain.  Even though that part of the brain might still be in the subconscious regions, somehow our written-down resolutions sit there as little telepathic cheerleaders, urging us onward to action.

Lest I grow too listless again, I think perhaps it is time to make another list!!!

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/resolved/

The Answer: Flower of the Day, Jan. 6, 2016

                                                          The Answer:

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This is the answer to the previous post entitled “What is It?” The answer is that the earlier pictures were of the inside of this Datura flower.  Hard to believe such a long bell-shaped flower would look so non-assuming and flat inside.  I expected a long exotic stamen and pistils similar to a hibiscus flower.

http://ceenphotography.com/2016/01/05/flower-of-the-day-january-6-2016-rhododendron-color-your-world/

What is It?–Flower of the Day Jan 6, 2016

What is It?

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This is, obviously, the inside of a flower.  I’ll give a hint.  I had to get down on my knees and shoot up into the flower.  Want to give a guess in comments?  I’ll give an answer and show a picture of the flower in my next post.

For more flowers, look here: http://ceenphotography.com/2016/01/05/flower-of-the-day-january-6-2016-rhododendron-color-your-world/

Color Your World: Asparagus

Color Your World: Asparagus

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http://jennifernicholewells.com/2016/01/05/color-your-world-asparagus/

Not a Baboon, but Sorta Like a Baboon!!! One Word Photo Challenge

Not a Baboon, but Sorta Like a Baboon!!!daily life color111 (1)We saw this mama and baby at the Monkey Palace in Ubud, Bali.  At first I didn’t even notice the baby, it was plastered so close to its mom’s protective body.
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IMG_1073Camera Shy!!!IMG_1094http://jennifernicholewells.com/2016/01/05/one-word-photo-challenge-baboon/

Succulent Potential: Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge, Jan. 5, 2016

Succulent Potential

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The beginnings of flowers are often even more spectacular than the finished product.  I love this starburst effect on one of my most prolific succulent plants.

For more flowers, check out Cee’s site: http://ceenphotography.com/2016/01/05/flower-of-the-day-january-5-2016-teddy-sunflower/

White: Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge

White

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http://ceenphotography.com/2016/01/05/cees-fun-foto-challenge-white-flowers/

To the Beggar Who Daily Claims the Primo Spot Outside “The” Favorite Grocery Store

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To the Beggar Who Daily Claims the Primo Spot Outside “The” Favorite Grocery Store

When it comes to giving charity,
some of us seek clarity
seeking out the verity
of claims of gross austerity
or limits of dexterity.
We notice the disparity
––the sad peculiarity
that sometimes true sincerity
and the gross severity
of ills does not win parity
with those whose regularity
and excessive temerity
win familiarity
and extreme prosperity.

It’s true that popularity
earns more than insularity.
And, indeed, the rarity
of those who in sincerity
beg just when they need charity,
seldom brings them parity.
Begging irregularity
breeds unfamiliarity.
I rue the gross polarity.
So, though I will never be
filling the cup there on your knee,
do not pass judgment upon me.
The coin I haven’t shared with thee
I might give to the next I see.

The Prompt––Unpopular: Tell us about a time when you had to choose between two options, and you picked the unpopular choice.
https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/unpopular/

Aquamarine: Color Your World

Aquamarine: Color Your World
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http://jennifernicholewells.com/2016/01/04/color-your-world-aquamarine/