Author: ktmiklos

Categories
Good People

Giving

It’s Giving Tuesday Now day.

Today’s cuppa is a reminder that social distancing doesn’t have to mean emotional distancing.

If you have the means, there are thousands of organizations you can choose from to offer financial support.

If you’d rather donate time or other resources and are looking for an organization that needs your help, the lists and details may be useful in getting you started.

The main website link is https://now.givingtuesday.org

There’s also a website specifically dedicated to North Texas giving: https://www.northtexasgivingday.org

Here’s to generosity – of kindness, of compassion, of spirit, and hope, and grace, and love.

Categories
Adventures Life

Curiosity

I like this quote by Diane Sawyer: “Sometimes, I’m on a plane and I’m going from Afghanistan to Haiti or whatever I’m doing, and I think, ‘I can’t do this. This is the day that I just can’t do it anymore.’ Then I look down and I open a folder. I go, ‘Well, that’s kind of interesting, actually.’ The next thing you know, I’ve got 14 questions, and I’m refueled. I so believe in curiosity.”

Categories
Life People

Numbers

There are a lot of numbers in the news today. Most of them are attached to negative circumstances.

With so many numbers, it’s tempting to distance ourselves from the details. In fact, we as human beings have evolved to protect ourselves, emotionally, in this way.

But there’s also danger in the distancing. Too much of it, and we risk losing the empathy that connects us to each other.

When I find myself going numb about the numbers, I allow it, just a bit, so that I can take in the news. And then, when the data-driven, fact-loving, processing side of me has finished its work, I allow myself to think of what the numbers truly represent.

And then, I’m reminded of the speech that Mr. Rogers made in 1997, when he accepted the Lifetime Achievement award at the Emmys. There are transcripts of it out there, but I find that watching him give the speech creates a greater emotional impact.

https://youtu.be/Upm9LnuCBUM

If I lose sight of what the numbers mean, I remind myself: each one, a person. Maybe not a person I know, but a person known and loved by others. A person in somebody’s heart, who comes to mind when Mr. Rogers asks us to take ten seconds of silence.

Categories
Nature

Hot

The forecast temperature for the next few days is high 80s/low 90s, so of course I’ve chosen the Snowman cuppa today.

A little cuppa weather rebellion.

Categories
Life Nature

Achoo

This is the time of year when I have a 20-30 minute post-waking-up window to take the allergy medicine…or else I’ll spend the rest of the day in sniffling, sneezing misery. Occasionally, it gets bad enough that a dose before bed is also necessary.

Like most everybody, I enjoy Spring with all the blooming flowers and trees, the fresh wind blowing, the green grass covering what used to be dead patches of ground. But sometimes, it’s wisest to enjoy it from behind a window.

Here’s a cuppa for those of us who live with allergies. If you need to find us, just follow the trail of Kleenex.

Categories
Animals Nature

Possum

A possum has taken up residence in our backyard.

Husband and son discovered Mr. Possum yesterday. He was asleep under some broken wood.

Today’s cuppa reflects our human reaction, not Mr. Possum’s. Mr. P simply blinked, shifted to a more comfortable position, and then resumed his nap. He might also have rolled his eyes a bit at these crazy humans who were so amazed that nature was doing its thing right in our own backyard, but that’s not confirmed.

Possums eat rodents, snakes, and bugs, including roaches. Now that the initial freak-out is over, I’m ok with the arrangement. Welcome to your new home, neighbor.

Categories
Nature

Yikes

Wednesday’s cuppa recognizes that Texas weather, especially in the Spring, can be a crazy ride.

I vaguely remember my husband saying something about 60 mph winds and hearing the sound of heavy rain last night, but I slept through most of the storm (not sure if that’s a good or bad thing?). We are fine, but I’m now seeing reports of power outages and downed trees across the metroplex. Hope all of you are ok.

Once again, Mother Nature reminds us that being predictable does not necessarily equate to being controllable.

Categories
Life

Learning

I’ve chosen to fill the past few weeks with learning experiences – webinars, online courses, books, articles, podcasts, discussions. This cuppa, with its dots and connected pattern, makes me think of these experiences.

It’s a luxury, this opportunity to be purposefully curious, this available time to indulge my curiosity.

So often, my desire to learn conflicts with being busy, or tired, or distracted. “Learning” equates to figuring stuff out as quickly and as easily as possible in order to get something done.

But right now, I have time to go beyond the key takeaways and consider the broader implications. I can reflect and evaluate, ask what if? and why not?. I can choose to learn new things just because I want to, just because I am interested.

Here’s to the privilege of being able to learn and the gifts that come from the learning journey.

Categories
Animals Nature

Hibernation

Today’s cuppa is a nod to my current feelings of kinship with the Hibernators.

As we all likely remember from science class, hibernation typically occurs during winter and is a means of conserving energy and resources. The most common example of hibernating animals is bears, who bulk up during the autumn months and then hunker down in their dens to sleep through the cold.

What isn’t as well known is that forms of hibernation can also occur throughout other times of the year and in a wide variety of animal species. Hibernation instincts may be triggered anytime resources are scarce. For example, there are some species of fish that hibernate if their lakes dry up.

When the circumstances improve, and it’s safe and wise to emerge, hibernation ends…until triggered again by the instinctive recognition that hibernating is the best option for self – and species – preservation.

Here’s to the animals that adapt to the environment by chilling out and hunkering down. I’m doing my best to respect the lesson that nature is offering me.



Categories
Family Life

Pokemon

Most days, there’s an intentional choice behind my cuppa selection, actively connected to specific thoughts or feelings.

This is not one of those days.

I woke up this morning with the Pokémon theme song in my head. This cuppa once had a picture of Charmeleon on it. So, here we are.

This cuppa does remind me of when my sons were younger and how much fun they had with all things Pokémon. While those memories weren’t the reason for my cuppa choice this morning, I will enjoy them while I sip. And, I’ll be grateful for health, and happiness, and loved ones.

Here’s hoping you have good memories of your own to enjoy today.