I'm hungry for life.

“Honesty has a power not everyone is ready for ....

Be honest anyway.”

~ unknown

There has been so much of sadness in the world of late.

Atrocities are becoming the new norm.

Terror attacks dominate the headlines.

The airwaves are saturated with them.

How confusing and hate-filled our world has become.

The eternal optimist within me struggles with this hate.

I’m a lover not a fighter

and evil is attempting to divide the world..

Divide and conquer?

It’s not a myth.

What to do in a world gone haywire??

I have to believe in the power of the human spirit.

The insatiable yearning within each of us that good will conquer evil.

It doesn’t take away from the magnitude of the evil

but it gives me hope.

Hope is a positive energy.

And I have that in droves!

Hope is what drives me out of a warm bed in the early morning.

That.

And the hound.

There’s always a sunrise to see.

Reflections to be amazed by.

People to make smile!

They’re moments in my day, frozen in time.

A necessary interlude in the chaos that is life.

They should be mandatory.

For everyone

What you feed your mind affects your life in a very real way.

If you’re not nurturing the part of you that sees the good in the world,

then the evil is likely to overwhelm you.

Rambles are my soul food.

What's yours?

.“Surround yourself with people who make you hungry for life,

who touch your heart and nourish your soul.”

~ unknown

It's a win-win situation ...

Tonight's sunset

“The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of the child into old age, which means never losing your enthusiasm.”

Early morning views

 .... a quotation by Aldous Huxley ... an English writer most famous for having written ‘A Brave new World’ ... a novel about a futuristic society based on pleasure without moral repercussions, everyone’s happy, everyone has what they think they want. Considering that it was published in 1931 and was considered science fiction, it’s incredible how insightful Huxley was about what’s happening in our world. 

Happiness is a complex thing ... maybe as I get older my idea of happiness changes ... maybe that’s why I find  ‘A Brave new World’ a bit disturbing now, even though I read it years ago as a younger woman. I do like some of Huxley’s quotes though, especially the one I’ve quoted.

Heading down towards Ladies Bay

Would that I could be as enthusiastic as my hound about everything I undertake ... she never answers back, she never sulks ... everything I ask of her is done with boundless enthusiasm and energy. She’s a Duracell battery on 4-legs that seldom exhausts itself!

Her enthusiasm is contagious ..... it’s hard not to be affected by this bouncing bundle of chocolate energy that can’t wait to hit the waves. She brings so much happiness to my world!

Happiness is always a choice .... it can’t be manufactured or made to fit like Huxley’s novel suggests. I’ve often wondered why I still feel so happy even though so much in my world is upside down and topsy turvy, and I think I’ve found the answer!!

The cloud formations are beautiful ...

It’s all those little endorphins that my body releases when I ramble .... the longer I ramble, the more endorphins my body releases. The more endorphins my body releases, the less stressed I feel, the less pain I feel ... but wait ... there’s more!  Higher endorphin levels lead to an increased feeling of euphoria, they stimulate the release of sex hormones and they boost my immune system ... I’m less likely to get sick!  It’s a win-win situation ... there’s NOTHING not to like about increased endorphin levels! Rambling is good for me, but I think I already knew that!

Certain foods, like Chocolate and Chilli Peppers, also contribute to increased levels of endorphins. I knew there had to be a reason why I called my hound Chocolat ... and it’s not just because she’s a Chocolate Labrador ... it’s also because I LOVE eating chocolate and the feeling it engenders.

Finn ... he's allergic to protein and loves chewing wood!

Carol will be pleased to know that acupuncture and massage ALSO trigger a release in endorphins. She might be dubious about that claim though as she’s been having acupuncture this last week for her knee injury and has found it incredibly painful. Haha ... the men in our lives might like this little gem ... sex is a potent trigger for endorphin release too!

Gorgeous Abi!

Phew ... I’m quite carried away by the benefits of increased endorphin levels ... it reinforces my belief that the hours I spend rambling with my hound are just so beneficial. I’ve met some of the most gorgeous of hounds ..... I get to explore this beautiful part of the world ... and the best bonus of all ... I’ve made some really special friends who each contribute, in their own unique way, to making my every day magical!