Tag: life

50 Ways to Be More Whimsical

The Wild Gems2 Comments
  1. Wear perfume just for yourself.
  2. Collect pretty rocks, shells, or leaves.
  3. Drink tea from your fanciest mug on ordinary days.
  4. Dance in the kitchen while cooking.
  5. Watch sunsets like it’s an event.
  6. Add ribbons or bows to everyday things.
  7. Write tiny love notes to your future self.
  8. Read poetry under a blanket with candles lit.
  9. Buy flowers simply because they made you smile.
  10. Name your plants.
  11. Leave room in your schedule for wandering.
  12. Wear linen, flowing skirts, or cozy oversized sweaters.
  13. Make homemade lemonade in glass jars.
  14. Start a pressed flower journal.
  15. Listen to instrumental music while cleaning.
  16. Create little rituals around your mornings.
  17. Dry orange slices or lavender for decoration.
  18. Keep fairy lights on after dark.
  19. Take the scenic route home sometimes.
  20. Use handwritten recipes and notes.
  21. Bake bread just because the house smells magical after.
  22. Wear sunscreen that smells like summer.
  23. Read outside under a tree.
  24. Decorate your bathroom like a tiny spa.
  25. Watch the moon phases.
  26. Romanticize grocery shopping with a cute basket and playlist.
  27. Keep a jar filled with happy memories.
  28. Buy children’s books for the illustrations.
  29. Paint even if you’re “bad” at it.
  30. Make your bed feel like a cloud sanctuary.
  31. Learn the names of birds and flowers around you.
  32. Make playlists for different moods and seasons.
  33. Light candles during rainy days.
  34. Wear matching pajamas.
  35. Make homemade soup on cloudy afternoons.
  36. Create themed movie nights.
  37. Put cinnamon in your coffee.
  38. Journal with colored pens and stickers.
  39. Pick one slow hobby and protect time for it.
  40. Open the windows in the morning.
  41. Take photos of tiny beautiful moments.
  42. Use cloth napkins and real plates more often.
  43. Sing softly while folding laundry.
  44. Keep fresh herbs in the kitchen.
  45. Visit bookstores and wander without rushing.
  46. Create a “cozy corner” in your home.
  47. Wear outfits that feel like your inner child would adore.
  48. Make ordinary meals look beautiful.
  49. Let yourself be fascinated by simple things again.
  50. Treat life like something sacred instead of something to survive.

Weekend Lake Trip Checklist (RV + Boat)

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Important Documents & Reservations

  • RV reservation confirmation
  • Boat registration & insurance
  • RV insurance/info
  • Driver’s license
  • Fishing licenses (if needed)
  • Campsite check-in details
  • Emergency contacts
  • Cash/small bills

RV Essentials

RV Hookup Supplies

  • Fresh water hose
  • Water pressure regulator
  • Sewer hose
  • Sewer hose support
  • RV toilet paper
  • Electrical cord/adapters
  • Extension cords
  • Leveling blocks
  • Wheel chocks

Kitchen

  • Paper towels
  • Trash bags
  • Dish soap & sponge
  • Aluminum foil
  • Ziplock bags
  • Plates/bowls/cups
  • Utensils
  • Cooking utensils
  • Coffee maker + coffee
  • Water bottles
  • Ice

Food

Breakfast

  • Eggs
  • Bacon/sausage
  • Pancake mix
  • Fruit
  • Yogurt
  • Cereal

Lunch

  • Sandwich supplies
  • Chips
  • Veggies/snacks

Dinner

  • Burgers/hot dogs
  • Grill items
  • Pasta/tacos/easy meals

Snacks

  • Granola bars
  • Trail mix
  • Marshmallows
  • S’mores supplies

Clothing

Lake Clothes

  • Swimsuits
  • Coverups
  • Flip flops
  • Sunglasses
  • Hats

Evening Clothes

  • Hoodies/sweatshirts
  • Pajamas
  • Extra socks
  • Light jacket

Extras

  • Towels
  • Beach towels
  • Laundry bag

Boat Essentials

Safety

  • Life jackets for everyone
  • Kids’ properly fitted life jackets
  • Throwable flotation device
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Whistle/horn

Boat Gear

  • Boat keys
  • Anchor
  • Dock lines
  • Fenders/bumpers
  • Fuel
  • Tube/skis/wakeboard
  • Tow rope
  • Dry bags
  • Waterproof phone pouch

Lake Fun

  • Floaties
  • Goggles
  • Water toys
  • Fishing gear
  • Bluetooth speaker
  • Card games

Toiletries & Health

  • Toothbrushes
  • Toothpaste
  • Shampoo/body wash
  • Deodorant
  • Hairbrush
  • Sunscreen
  • Aloe vera
  • Bug spray
  • Medications
  • Pain reliever
  • Motion sickness meds
  • Baby wipes

Outdoor Setup

  • Camping chairs
  • Outdoor rug
  • Canopy/shade tent
  • Lanterns/flashlights
  • Batteries
  • Grill
  • Lighter
  • Firewood/fire starters

Tech & Charging

  • Phone chargers
  • Portable chargers
  • Boat GPS/charger
  • Headphones
  • Camera

Before Leaving Home

  • Empty RV trash
  • Fill fresh water tank
  • Check propane
  • Charge batteries
  • Check tire pressure
  • Pack fridge
  • Secure loose items
  • Lock house/windows
  • Set thermostat
  • Feed pets/arrange care

Modern Distractions and the Quiet Return to Yourself

The Wild Gems2 Comments

We live in a world that is constantly asking for our attention.

Not always loudly. Sometimes it’s subtle. A quick glance at the phone. A habit of filling silence. A pull to stay mentally “on” even when nothing is actually happening.

And slowly, without noticing, we can start living more reactively than presently.

Same world, deeper view… but only when we pause long enough to actually see it.

The nature of modern distraction

Most distractions today don’t feel like distractions in the moment. They feel normal. Even necessary.

But if you begin to observe them closely, you start to notice a pattern—they pull us out of direct experience and into constant stimulation.

Not to label them as bad, but to simply become aware.

Digital noise

Our phones are often the first and last thing we touch in a day.

  • Scrolling without intention
  • Checking notifications out of habit
  • Moving from app to app without realizing how much time has passed
  • Short-form videos that keep the mind in constant motion

None of this is unusual anymore. But it does something quietly—it fragments attention.

The mind that never stops

Even when we’re not on our phones, the mind continues the movement.

  • Replaying conversations
  • Imagining future outcomes
  • Comparing our lives to others
  • Trying to solve problems that are not happening in the present moment

It’s not wrong. It’s just busy.

And sometimes, busyness can become a way of avoiding stillness.

The pace of life

We’ve learned to equate movement with productivity.

  • Always rushing, even when there’s no urgency
  • Filling every quiet moment with sound or content
  • Overbooking our time so there’s no space left to just be

But depth doesn’t grow in rush. It grows in space.

Subtle forms of escape

Not all distractions look like technology.

Sometimes it’s:

  • Shopping to shift a feeling
  • Seeking validation through responses or attention
  • Constantly trying to improve or fix ourselves
  • Mistaking information for transformation

Even “growth” can become a distraction if it keeps us from actually being here.

What begins to change when you notice

You don’t have to remove everything.

You just start noticing.

And in that noticing, something quiet happens—you begin to return.

Return to:

  • the moment you are actually in
  • the experience happening right in front of you
  • the simplicity of being aware

This is where perception starts to deepen.

Not because the world changes…
but because you are no longer moving through it on autopilot.

Same world.
Deeper view.

A softer way of living

Maybe the goal isn’t to escape distraction completely.

Maybe it’s just to notice when you’ve been pulled away… and gently come back.

Over and over again.

Not perfectly.
Not forcefully.
Just consistently.

Because life is not happening in the next scroll, the next thought, or the next moment of stimulation.

It’s happening here.

Always here.

A Flys Purpose – Learning To Appreciate

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Flies are easy to dislike, but they’re actually doing a lot of quiet, essential work in the background of life. If you shift the lens just a little, they start to look less like annoyances and more like tiny recyclers keeping the world moving.

First, they’re nature’s cleanup crew. Many flies, especially species like the housefly, feed on decaying organic matter. That means they help break down dead plants, food waste, and even animal remains. Without them (and organisms like them), the world would literally start piling up with decay.

They’re also surprisingly important for pollination. We always think of bees, but flies visit flowers too, transferring pollen as they go. Some plants actually rely heavily on flies to reproduce.

Then there’s their role in the food chain. Flies are a major food source for birds, frogs, spiders, and other insects. So even if they feel small and insignificant, they’re supporting entire ecosystems.

And here’s one people don’t think about much: flies help with nutrient recycling. By breaking things down, they return nutrients to the soil, which helps plants grow. It’s like they’re part of this invisible loop—nothing wasted, everything transformed.

If you want a more metaphorical way to see them:

flies are reminders that even the parts of life we resist have a role. They move toward what we avoid—decay, mess, endings—and turn it into something that feeds new life. There’s something almost poetic in that.

You don’t have to love them hovering around your food—but maybe you can see them as little workers in a much bigger system, doing a job most of us wouldn’t want to do.

Here are some ways to keep flies out without harming them:

1. Open the “exit door” strategy
When a fly gets in, open a window or door and turn off indoor lights if it’s daytime. Flies naturally move toward light, so they’ll often find their way out on their own.

2. Use a simple catch-and-release
Grab a cup and a piece of paper. Gently place the cup over the fly, slide the paper underneath, and carry it outside. It’s quick, and once you get the hang of it, surprisingly easy.

3. Make your home less inviting
Flies, like the housefly, are drawn to food smells and moisture.

  • Keep fruit in the fridge or covered
  • Take trash out regularly
  • Wipe down counters after meals
    You’re not fighting them—you’re just removing the invitation.

4. Natural scent deterrents
Flies dislike certain smells. Things like basil, mint, lavender, or eucalyptus near windows can help discourage them from coming in.

5. Gentle airflow
A fan near entry points can help—flies aren’t strong fliers, so moving air makes it harder for them to settle inside.

Walking Away to Come Back

The Wild Gems2 Comments

“How can you walk away from something and still come back to it?”
— Coraline

I used to think this meant returning to a person or a place.

But I think it’s about life itself.

We spend so much of our time believing happiness is waiting somewhere else. Somewhere bigger, louder, more exciting. A different house. A different body. A different stage of life. We quietly assume this ordinary day cannot possibly be “it.”

So we mentally walk away.

We chase improvement. We chase identity. We chase the feeling that something is missing.

And maybe we even reach some of it — the goals, the recognition, the change.

But then something unexpected happens.

It doesn’t fill what we thought it would.

Because stimulation is not the same thing as peace.

Slowly we begin to notice the small things we once overlooked — morning light in the kitchen, a familiar laugh from another room, simple meals, quiet routines, the people who were beside us the entire time.

You only understand the value of water when you’ve been thirsty.

And sometimes we only understand the value of our lives after we’ve tried to outgrow them.

We come back.

Not because life became smaller,
but because our sight became clearer.

We didn’t actually return to the same life.
We returned with understanding.

Sometimes the journey away is necessary, because it teaches us how to finally see what was already enough.

We didn’t come back to less.

We came back to what was real.

The Collapse Before The Finish Line

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The collapse before the finish line……

do you know what I’m talking about?

Those runners who begin a strenuous marathon….at first the momentum is strong. The adrenaline is pumped, they are excited, they are waving to people!

Then, towards the middle the smile turns into a smirk, the pace has become slowed, they are focusing on their breathing, one step at a time….

Towards the end, they see the actual finish line.

That’s when the tears come, all of sudden they become so weak though they are so close! So close! The finish line is right there!

And then they either finish strong through the grace of God or who knows ..or they collapse…….

…

……

….

……..

…

……

…

……

But what happens then…….

Support comes. Family, friends, even strangers carry that runner to the finish line. They cross together. Celebrating strength, growth, perseverance, determination, courage, bravery……

There are people who are collapsing right now. They need your help. They are so close to that finish line but they cannot do it without your help.

There are so many ways we can encourage, support, and lift others. And the smallest ways believe it or not are the most powerful.

Be that person. And let others CARRY YOU TOO.

You have to let others carry you too!

Love and light my friends. We got this!

Why Don’t We All Want to Heal?

The Wild Gems2 Comments

Lately, I’ve been sitting with a question that keeps returning to me:

Why don’t more people want to do the work of inner healing and change?

Not in a judgmental way.

More in a quiet, wondering way.

Because once you begin that work, once you start peeling back the layers, tending to old wounds, and inviting God into the hidden places — something shifts. Life doesn’t become perfect, but it becomes lighter. Clearer. More honest.

And from that place, it can be hard to understand why someone wouldn’t want that too.

I think part of it is this: healing asks for truth. And truth can feel terrifying when you’ve spent years surviving by avoiding it.

The Bible says, “The light exposes everything” — and exposure requires courage. Not everyone is ready to look at themselves without armor.

There’s also comfort in what’s familiar.

Even pain can feel safe when it’s all you’ve known. Change asks us to release identities we’ve built around wounds, stories we’ve repeated so often they’ve started to feel like home.

Scripture reminds us that people sometimes “love darkness rather than light,” not because they are bad, but because light asks something of them.

And then there’s humility. Inner healing isn’t about self-improvement alone — it’s about surrender. Admitting we don’t have it all figured out. Letting God lead us somewhere new. “God gives grace to the humble,” but humility is a doorway many are afraid to walk through.

Jesus once asked a man who had been suffering for years,

“Do you want to be healed?”

It seems like an obvious question, until you realize it isn’t.

Healing changes everything.

What I’ve learned is this: the work is deeply personal. You can’t drag someone into transformation. You can’t convince soil to be ready for seed. The same seed is offered, but each heart receives it differently.

So instead of trying to wake anyone up, I try to live awake.

I try to embody the peace that comes from inner work.

The softness that comes from forgiveness.

The strength that comes from renewal.

“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind,” Scripture says — not by forcing others to change, but by allowing yourself to be changed.

Maybe that’s how healing spreads.

Quietly.

Gently.

By example.

And maybe those who are meant to begin their own journey will recognize something familiar in the light …..

and follow it when they’re ready.

Things CAN Get Worse

The Wild Gems2 Comments

You know something I never say, “it can’t get worse than this.”

Call me superstitious or what but I’ve watched enough movies and read enough books that prove the point that it can and possibly will be worse when you test the theory.

Last year towards the end of 2024 my mom had an incredibly rough year.

She lost both of her parents. It happened very fast. My Grandma was in her early 80s and my Grandpa was in his 90s. My grandma passed and then 80 days later my grandpa.

During that ordeal my mom broke her ankle and was healing and plus she had been dealing with all sorts of family drama from her side. It was a nightmare for her. That’s actually an understatement.

Anyways one day we were talking on the phone and she was expressing how she was ready for the new year and that it can only go up from here not get any worse.

I said, “mom don’t say that.”

And she was like, “what..”

and I said, “saying things can’t get worse. They always can. You’ve watched movies! You just don’t say that!”

And then she was like, “wow marie, I didn’t realize how superstitious you were.”

And I was like, “‘mom that’s just truth. Same with if you want to make God laugh you tell him your plans.”

Well guess what you guys…….

My moms foot is still healing by the way but she calls me yesterday and says,

“Marie, I still want you to come up and visit….but umm….”

Me – “mom what is it?”

Her – “I slipped on some ice and broke my back ribs.”

*silence*

Me – “mom!! Are you serious!!! Mom!! This is what i told you! You said it can only go up from here and not get worse and you just broke your ribs!”

Her – “Marie don’t make me laugh, it hurts. I am never saying that again.”

lol oh my gosh. Thank goodness my mom has a great sense of humor and was in good spirits and we had a really good laugh about it.

But let this be a lesson folks!

Don’t test the unknown.

Soften The Heart #33 : Children Are a Gift — Even When Our Childhood Didn’t Feel Like One

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“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him.”

Psalm 127:3

Children are one of the clearest pictures of God’s heart. Their curiosity, honesty, wonder, and purity remind us of what truly matters. Scripture tells us that children are a gift — not because of what they do, but because of who they are: reflections of God’s creativity and love.

As parents, this verse reminds us to slow down and cherish our kids, to remember that they’re not burdens or interruptions but blessings entrusted to us. They bring joy, purpose, and a fresh view of the world.

But for many adults, this verse can stir something deeper.

Not everyone grew up feeling protected, valued, or cherished. Some people carry wounds from a childhood where they were mistreated, overlooked, or harmed. And hearing “children are a gift” can feel confusing — even painful.

So if that’s you, here’s something important to know:

**God’s intention for children was always good.

Your pain was never His plan.**

When the Bible calls children a gift, it is describing how God sees them — not how every human treats them. Some adults act out of their own brokenness, and their choices leave deep marks on innocent hearts. But your mistreatment was never a reflection of your worth. You were always precious. You were always a gift. Someone else simply failed to honor what God created.

And God grieves with you.

He is “close to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18) and fiercely protective of the vulnerable. Jesus Himself said it would be better for a person to be thrown into the sea than to harm a child (Matthew 18:6). That means He saw you. He cared. He never agreed with what was done to you.

The good news?

God restores what was wounded.

He heals the childhood parts of us that were hurt, silenced, or forgotten. And He gently rebuilds what was broken — identity, trust, safety, and hope.

So whether you grew up cherished or neglected, this verse has a message for you:

Cherish the children in your life today — including the child you once were.

Let today be a reminder to love your kids with intention and tenderness…

but also to let God love and restore the parts of you that didn’t receive that same tenderness growing up.

Children are a gift.

And that includes you — the child you used to be, and the person you are becoming.

A Hidden World: What Uncontacted Tribes Teach Us About Ourselves

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Every once in a while, something crosses your path that stops you in your tracks — something that makes you question everything you thought you knew about the world.

That was me the other day, reading an article about a drone capturing footage of a group of people living deep in a remote region… completely cut off from modern society.

Not unaware.

Not forgotten.

Just choosing to live outside of our world.

There are still entire villages — real people, real families, real lives — who have never stepped foot into our “modern” world. They have no electricity, no phones, no clocks, no social media, no government systems, no advertisements telling them what they need, no pressure to become anything other than who they already are.

They live in a world that feels like a parallel reality.

And it fascinates me.

But more than that… it teaches us something.

1. A Full Life Doesn’t Require Our Definition of “Full”

We’re conditioned to believe that fulfillment comes from:

achievements productivity growth comfort convenience

Yet these tribes live full, meaningful, deep lives without any of the things we chase every day.

No noise.

No chaos.

No comparison.

Just existence — pure, present, human.

It makes you pause and wonder:

Are we actually thriving… or are we just endlessly busy?

2. “Progress” Isn’t Universal

From the outside, we might assume they’re “behind” — that our world is somehow superior or more advanced.

But the truth is striking:

They do not want our world.

They choose theirs, proudly and intentionally.

To them, our world isn’t an upgrade — it’s a disruption.

Their world is home, identity, freedom, rhythm.

And they guard it fiercely.

It makes you rethink what “better” even means.

3. They Are Living Echoes of Human Origins

Watching footage of them feels like looking through a window into how humanity once lived:

connected to the land bonded through community surviving through wisdom passed down for generations living according to the earth’s rhythms, not man-made ones

They are a reminder of who we used to be before modern life overstimulated our minds and fragmented our attention.

4. There Are Still Mysteries in the World

We love to think we’ve discovered everything.

Mapped every corner.

Documented every culture.

But then—

a drone flies overhead and reveals an entire village hidden beneath the trees.

It’s humbling.

It reminds us that Earth is still wild, sacred, and full of secrets.

The world is bigger and more mysterious than our little bubbles allow us to imagine.

5. They Teach Us Holy Boundaries

These villages avoid contact not out of fear, but out of wisdom:

outsiders bring disease outsiders bring exploitation outsiders bring change that erases culture

They protect their world the way we should protect our inner peace — fiercely, intentionally, unapologetically.

Not everything is meant to be shared.

Not everything is meant to be exposed.

Some things are sacred, and sacred things require boundaries.

6. They Make Us Rethink “Civilization”

We assume we’re more civilized because we have technology and systems.

But what if civilization is also:

emotional closeness communal purpose spiritual grounding simplicity harmony with the land

Who’s actually more aligned with life —

them, or us?

7. They Wake Us Up Spiritually

Seeing people who live untouched by noise or comparison shakes something loose in your soul.

It makes you ask:

What would my life look like without distraction?

Without pressure?

Without the constant hum of stress and expectation?

It makes you wonder who you would be if you never had to perform for the world.

Sometimes I think:

Maybe they aren’t the ones missing out.

Maybe we are.

A Final Thought

These tribes remind us that there is no single way to be human.

No universal path.

No timeline we must follow.

They are living proof that a meaningful life can look wildly different from what we’re taught to chase.

And maybe —

just maybe —

they’re here to remind us to slow down, reconnect, simplify, and remember that the world, at its core, is still full of wonder.