From "A Return to Love" an enlightening quotation

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” ----from A Return to Love, by Marianne Williamson.

As a child, next to youngest of seven, I never felt I had a light to shine. Or if I did, it was such a pitifully small glow no one could see it. They'd be blinded by the brightness of the lights of my older siblings. Many years passed before I had the courage to let my own light shine. How many of you had trouble liberating yourself from fear of letting your own light shine?

At one point in my thirties and forties, I became a painter - oils on canvas - but even when I secretly felt good about my work, I never had the courage to say my paintings are good enough to sell or show. I finally quit painting. I had too many paintings and didn't need any more on my walls. The only painting that was ever sold was one I donated to a charity. They sold it quickly. I felt good that someone bought my painting, but there was no way I had the audacity to try to sell my own work.

I have been a writer since I was a child, but felt my work was unworthy of submitting to a publication. I enumerated in my mind, the various reasons my work could not be good enough. In high school, Ms. Feagan, my English teacher urged me to send a poem to a magazine. I never did.

Each time I took out my work to submit, I read it and found it lacking. For the hundredth time, I'd re-write it, but never send it out. Never stamp the envelope or write the cover letter.

A few years ago, I came to the place where I knew that I could shine my little flashlight into the darkness and it would become a beacon for others. My eyes opened and like a miracle, everywhere I looked I saw replicas of the person I had been, frightened and insecure with much to offer the world, but lacking the courage to hold up their light for all to see.

I learned that if we constantly compare our abilities to others, somewhere we will find someone who outshines us. But that doesn't mean we have to turn off our light. I wasted all those years I let myself believe that my accomplishments would never matter because of the brightness of my brothers' and sisters' achievements.

"As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Do you let your light shine? If so, write about your experience.

On my drive home today, I passed this meadow in front of a single cabin sitting in the glow of setting sun. Although fall is all around us, the grass is green and as fresh as spring time.

Pretty colors near my house, along my road I travel every day.

Late afternoon on my street. Fall is fading in western North Carolina. We've already had our first snow. I cherish each day I can see these mountains where I live. From my deck, from my yard littered with gold, and from the road into town, I drink in the beauty I see as though each day were my last.

"Yes, I have no bananas"

Picnic in Roswell, GA park. Photo by Barry Beall


Did you receive an email extolling the virtues of eating bananas? It said bananas were the perfect food, loaded with potassium, and every other vitamin and mineral our bodies need. Almost every day I eat a banana. I encourage my husband and other loved ones to eat bananas. I put them in smoothies with pineapple and coconut and pretend I'm drinking a pina' colada on the beach in Hawaii. Bananas make the perfect snack, coming in its on packaging. Banana sandwiches sustain us throughout the year.
But today, Shana, my allergist said, "Glenda, your allergy tests showed a positive response to banana."
I said, "What do you mean? Are you saying I'm allergic to bananas?"
"Yes, I'm sorry to say, you are allergic to bananas and to citrus fruit."

For over a year I've accepted that I'm allergic to tomatoes which I dearly love. There is nothing better than a tomato sandwich in the summer -- fresh ripened on the vine tomatoes with mayo on white bread. I grew up eating tomatoes every day they were in season, which meant most of the summer in south Georgia. But a couple of years ago, after my mouth broke out with ulcers that would not go away, and hurt so badly I had to seek medical help, I was told to stay away from tomatoes and all tomato products. Also, no spicy foods, which means no jalapenos with my Mexican food. No salsa either.





I'm not sure I want to know what other foods are on my allergy list. What if I can no longer have bread, or eggs, or ice cream?


The worst part of this is, in order to be treated for the food allergies, I'd have to pay extra above the $150 dollars for my three months supply of allergy drops. Insurance does not pay for this type of treatment, I'm told.

This is what makes us turn to alternative treatments. Modern Western Medicine is great for saving us from major diseases that have been researched, but is sadly lacking when it comes to the nuisance illnesses that keep us from enjoying our lives.

Acupuncture, massage, Reiki, and EFT, are some of the healing energy practices I know of and I will be calling my sister for her help. I just can't give up my bananas.

Let me show you Fall from the balcony of Whispering Pines Cabin at Fish Pond Cabins in Cherokee County, NC. Today while visiting with Ann Donovan, owner of Fish Pond rental cabins, I photographed a number of scenes that caught my eye.

Memories of Resilient Women

While straightening out the mess in my basement from the upheaval of a renovation we're doing, I came upon letters and cards I'd kept for many years. Part of my problem with clutter is that I can't throw out anything with any sentimental value. Therefore I have the letters my father wrote to my mother in 1922. I have cards and notes written to my mother from dear family members like my cousins Omie, Vivian, and Aunt Josephine Council. I came across photos of family members taken years ago at the Council family reunion and at the 90th birthday party of my Aunt Hortense (Aunt Judy) Tinsley.



That was such a special day. Although Mother had suffered the stroke that left her damaged for the rest of her life, she was there and enjoyed the party. The aunts, uncles and cousins came from long distances and gathered at our new house for bar-b-que and birthday cake. Aunt Annie, her daughter, Vivian, and her granddaughter Pam sat together. Uncle Charlie's children, Paul, Walter and Monteen along with their spouses, came to honor our dear aunt who had no children. I'll scan those photos and post them soon.



Reading a letter from Vivian, who is gone now, brought images of her mother, Annie, and the deep love those two had for each other. Annie was unfortunate in marriage, and after her last husband was killed in an accident, she moved next door to Vivian and in time became more dependant on her daughter. Vivian cared for her until she died. Pam followed in her mother's footsteps and cared for Vivian in her home until she passed away. This family of strong, devoted women never failed in their loyalty to each other. Aunt Judy lived within their circle in her later years. Vivian took care of her just as if she had been Judy's daughter.

Council women, even in the toughest times, never gave up or gave in.

Sarah Brock Council, wife of Tom, was left a widow at an early age. But she had been head of the household in the home in Pelham, Georgia for a number of years because Tom, her husband, continued to live in Florida on the farm. Sarah, mother of grown children as well as a young son, Coy, age 10, rented rooms in her home to help make ends meet. She taught her children to be resourceful, and, while the girls, when single, earned money and bought pretty clothes, they grew up with a strong woman as a role model.

Sometimes we don't know we are resilient, but we do what we have to do, what is expected of us, and others surprise us by saying, "You are so strong." We may wonder, "what choice do I have?"

Music Makes Memories

I found a treasure on You Tube tonight. Peter, Paul and Mary, that wonderful threesome of the sixties who sang harmony so beautifully they could bring us to tears, were there for me to download to this site, free for the taking. I'm sorry my blog isn't big enough to hold them all.


But click on the arrow in the top right corner and you can still hear them as we did on our stereos and Television sets back then.


When I think of music I most enjoyed in my life, I think the folk era was my favorite time. The Kingston Trio started it all, but thanks to Barry, my husband, who worked in a music and gift shop, we had albums by all the top groups and some who were not so well-known.


We lived in a mobile home on our family farm when we were first married, having been driven from our apartment by a lovely little pup's insatiable chewing habit. We cleared a patch of land to build our house. Those were happy times, filled with fun, laughter and music -- always music.


I married a music major, a musician who loved everything from jazz to classical to country. He had lived in California where the folk music scene began in the late fifties and early sixties. I was impressed when he told me he had been to the Hungry Eye and had seen the Kingston Trio live.





The sound of Peter, Paul and Mary takes me immediately to our little home back in the woods in south Georgia, surrounded by tall pines and massive oaks. Living a short distance from my parents and siblings, I was as sheltered as I had been as a child. My four older brothers continued to think of me as a "little sister" and Barry became a "younger brother" in many ways.


Weekends meant parties with friends in town, on the lake or at our house in the country. Barry played guitar and we all sang along when he played Leaving on a Jet Plane or Michael Row the Boat Ashore, or the one we all knew the words to, This Land is Your Land.


After awhile, Barry grimaced when someone requested Michael Row the Boat Ashore. He had played and sung it so often he was sick of it.


Harry Belafonte had made popular his calypso music and Barry and my brothers often sang his songs.


Music is a wonderful way to bring back memories. If you get stuck and can't think of anything in your life to write about, think of your favorite songs or performers. Try to remember how music played a part in your family or in your life as a teenager. Make a list of song titles and sing or hum each one. I'll bet you a memory will flash into your mind. Let me know if this happens to you. Leave me a comment or email me at writerlady21@yahoo.com