Saturday, January 1, 2022

“Through Difficulties, We Find Ourselves”

Seeking, choosing and finding gratitude. That was one of my 2021 New Year’s Resolutions. Were there times when seeking, choosing and finding gratitude felt difficult? Yes. Were there times when I broke that New Year’s Resolution? Yes. Were there times when seeking, choosing and finding gratitude became like ‘ammunition’ against big feelings pertaining to my learning challenges? Yes. Right now, uttering ‘I’m smart’ or ‘I’m brilliant’ feels like words that Fonzie from Happy Days cannot say. I am finally slowly, but surely, working on believing this truth. Why is saying ‘I’m stupid’ and ‘I’m dumb’ so much easier? You know what? Henry Winkler is one wise man, because gratitude truly doesn’t allow you to be angry on the journey!! Peace and Love, Mary Lou

P.S. This is my THIRD Henry Winkler poem!! Yeah, he’s a keeper!!

Note…. Happy 2022!! I feel optimistic about this new year, because in a month or so, {Lord willing}, I’ll have some exciting news to share with y’all!! Cheers!!

“Through Difficulties, We Find Ourselves”

Edited by Kara Kent!!

He lives, lives by tenacity and gratitude;

This, this is his motivational attitude;

He says gratitude doesn’t let you be angry;

During this adventure called Life, on the journey;

My brain sucks, it, it can be very frustrating;

This, this is obviously anger-creating;

I feel ‘old’, I have short-term memory loss;

Oh, it makes me angry that I bear this cross;

I can’t recall…. I forget everything;

Yes, it can make me angry, be embarrassing;

I’m ‘stupid’ and ‘dumb’, this is just how I feel;

But I will remember his mission revealed;

Do I have greatness within me, gifts, ambition?

For ‘kids’ such as I, his Life-changing mission;

I will dig my gifts out, give them to the world;

I know I have talents, am I a smart girl?

I learn with both my left and right hands, by doing;

But am I brilliant in what I’m pursuing?

My challenges make me very unique, special;

Can I believe his mission, that I’m powerful?

I, I can’t say it, ‘cause this challenge makes me cringe;

I will be grateful…. For my learning challenge;

On this self-acceptance journey, deep down I delve;

Because through difficulties, we find ourselves;

He lives, lives by tenacity and gratitude;

This, this is his motivational attitude;

He says gratitude doesn’t let you be angry;

During this adventure called Life, on the journey.

Saturday, December 4, 2021

“Fearfully, Wonderfully Made”

Replace a negative thought with a positive thought. This feels like an internal emotional battle whenever I’m sick, which I currently am. As I complained aloud that my throat was throbbing, I tried to say…. ‘I’m grateful that I don’t have a headache!!’ As I lost my voice, {for three plus days}, as resulted to the throbbing throat, I tried to whisper…. ‘Good thing my youngest brother, {who has Down syndrome}, can read my mind, and we know a little bit of sign language!!’ As I suffered from an ear infection, {which is currently plugged up}, and I have complained aloud of being partly deaf, I’ve tried to say…. ‘I’m grateful that it’s not my good ear…. I could be completely deaf!!’ Replace a negative thought with a positive thought. Just give it time. That is what Fonzie from Happy Days once said. Just give it time. I will be healthy someday. Peace and Love, Mary Lou

Note…. Speaking of Henry Winkler, {well, he did play Fonzie}, is Henry Winkler a keeper when the author/actor/producer/director got not one, but THREE deeply personal poems out of me? Whoa!! Now, that is a broken record right there!! I’ve NEVER composed more than TWO poems inspired by a celebrity who I love!! Yeah, I would say that Henry Winkler is a keeper!! Especially…. Especially because he is helping me through my Lifelong self-acceptance journey as a learning challenged individual!! More to come….

P.S. This untitled poem reflects on a ‘lesson’ that I have learned by memorizing one-hundred Henry Winkler quotations!!

Edited by Kara Kent!!

Replace negative thoughts with positive;

This, this is advice that he freely gives;

I’m ‘dumb’, I have short-term memory loss;

I, I bear this emotional cross;

Replace negative thoughts with positive;

This, this is advice that he freely gives;

No, no, I am Beautifully Unique;

I should really stop, stop this self-critique;

I’m ‘stupid’, I have a learning challenge;

My brain sucks, it totally makes me cringe;

Replace negative thoughts with positive;

This, this is advice that he freely gives;

I must always remember his mission;

I have greatness in me, gifts, ambition;

I can…. Dig my gifts out, give the world;

I have talents, I am a smart girl;

Although I learn with both hands, by doing;

I’m brilliant in what I’m pursuing;

I, I am very, very powerful;

My challenges make me unique, special;

I am not normal…. I can’t fix my brain;

Such a huge pill to swallow, it’s insane;

Replace negative thoughts with positive;

This, this is advice that he freely gives;

I have tenacity, it’s my birthright;

I was born a ‘soldier’, ready to fight;

My challenges can be embarrassing;

Like when I…. I cannot remember things;

Replace negative thoughts with positive;

This, this is advice that he freely gives;

I’m fearfully, wonderfully made;

And I’m developmentally delayed;

You know what, sometimes, I, I hate my brain;

For reasons that I cannot explain;

I want the smart brain of an elephant;

They don’t forget a thing, seem brilliant;

Replace negative thoughts with positive;

This, this is advice that he freely gives.

Sunday, October 31, 2021

“We Are All The Same”

I have always been drawn to things that are difficult, if not impossible, for me. -- Henry Winkler

What is ‘difficult, if not impossible for me’? This was a question that I literally woke up with very early in the morning ten months ago on Sunday, January 31st. Writing, {for the most part}, comes easy for me. Writing is my gift, my ability, and the greatness inside me. It’s my calling. Writing is the only thing that I, a learning challenged individual, can do, and do well. I discovered something about myself this year…. I cannot spell. So writing is definitely a God-given gift!! How else can it be explained?! So what, exactly, comes ‘difficult, if not impossible, for me’? The answer, without a doubt, is memorization. When I was growing up, as young as four years old, I had to learn Bible verses by heart for church. It was ‘difficult, if not impossible for me’ then, {because I suffer from Lifelong short-term memory loss issues}, it is ‘difficult, if not impossible for me’ today at age thirty-seven. So, why don’t I memorize Henry Winkler quotes? It was just something that I was going to try. I would memorize maybe one or five Henry Winkler quotes, and then I’d be finished. Less than ten months later, {on Wednesday, October 6th}, I memorized one-hundred Henry Winkler quotes, plus eleven Fonzie lines!! Whoa. And, somewhere along the way, from one learning challenged individual, {Henry Winkler has dyslexia}, to another learning challenged individual, {me}, Henry Winkler began profoundly helping me through my self-acceptance journey all thanks to a message that he repeatedly gives children who struggle with learning challenges…. ‘You have greatness inside you’…. ‘You are powerful’…. ‘How you learn has nothing to do with how brilliant you are’. Thanks, Henry Winkler. This learning challenged adult is listening. Now I just need to believe in Henry Winkler’s words, that ‘I’m a smart girl’ after two decades of telling myself I am ‘stupid’ and ‘dumb’. I will try…. Peace and Love, Mary Lou

Note…. Every single celebrity guy who I love gets a poem out of me that I’ve composed. I have been keeping up this tradition for several years now!! Bruce Springsteen got two songs out of me. What am I, NUTSO?! I’m not a songwriter!! Henry Winkler’s poem is the most personal one that I have ever composed. I think. I guess that is what happens when I compose a poem pertaining to my learning challenge, and my Lifelong self-acceptance journey….

“We Are All The Same”

Edited by Kara Kent!!

‘I will try, I will try, I will try’;

This is his mantra, I can live by;

I will give it, give it my best shot;

Even when self-doubt says I cannot;

I will memorize his quotations;

Despite some anger and frustration;

I will embrace my learning challenge;

Though being different hurts, makes me cringe;

Memorizing takes tenacity;

I can do this, I have it in me;

I am so thankful for his mission;

That I’ve greatness in me, ambition;

I will dig it out, give the world;

I have talents, I’m a smart girl;

I will believe I am powerful;

That my challenges make me special;

I will learn with both hands, by doing;

And no matter what I’m pursuing;

I will believe I am brilliant;

My brain sucks, but I’m resilient;

‘I will try, I will try, I will try’;

This is his mantra, I can live by.

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Texas Is Calling And I Must Go

I promise you this: the anticipatory fear that is coursing through your body as you sit there, wondering about this new journey you are about to take tomorrow, or in the middle of the Summer, or next September, is worse than the exciting journey you’re about to go on. -- Henry Winkler

2021. I officially declare this a year of GROWTH for me!! Yes, that very much describes it in more ways than one. After 37 years of my ENTIRE Life residing in the Pacific Northwest, a little over one month ago, on June 1st, my family and I relocated to Texas!! I’m not going to disclose WHERE, exactly, in The Lone Star state I call home. Texas is obviously BIG, you know? In the year, months, weeks, and days leading up to our Life-changing move, this above Henry Winkler quote, {which is taken from part of a speech for graduates}, SPOKE to my heart and soul!! All of a sudden, I would recite this quote, {I have it memorized}, and, of course, I would give EVERYTHING to God!! Change is HARD, while simultaneously, it’s an ‘exciting journey’. Peace and Love, y’all, Mary Lou

P.S. Relocating from the Pacific Northwest to Texas is just ONE reason why I disappeared for FIVE months. More to come….

‘Texas is calling and I must go’;

Babe…. This, this is my phrase, my motto;

Will I sense you in the Lone Star State….

Amongst new memories I create?

Rose, will you still send me God Winks, signs….

Straight from The Rainbow Bridge so divine?

Will I see God Winks in butterflies?

What about a red-colored sunrise?

Will I sense you in the Lone Star State….

Amongst new memories I create?

Rose, will you still send me God Winks, signs….

Straight from The Rainbow Bridge so divine?

Will I see God Winks in nature’s wind?

What about trees tall and disciplined?

Will I sense you in the Lone Star State….

Amongst new memories I create?

Rose, will you still send me God Winks, signs….

Straight from The Rainbow Bridge so divine?

Will I see God Winks in Bluebonnets?

What about skies that are starlit?

Will I sense you in the Lone Star State….

Amongst new memories I create?

Rose, will you still send me God Winks, signs….

Straight from The Rainbow Bridge so divine?

Will I see God Winks in calm deer?

What about those snakes, your fear?

Will I sense you in the Lone Star State….

Amongst new memories I create?

Rose, will you still send me God Winks, signs….

Straight from The Rainbow Bridge so divine?

Will I see God Winks in Cardinals?

Yes!! ‘Cause you are in my heart, my soul!!

‘Texas is calling and I must go’;

Babe…. This, this is my phrase, my motto.

Sunday, July 4, 2021

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

Happy Independence Day!! Peace and Love, y’all, Mary Lou

They say: ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’;

I write, so I find this phrase kind of absurd;

Ah, but do you remember your last hike?

We strolled amongst other dog walkers alike;

I went at your pace, ‘cause you were old;

Yes…. You limped, sniffed everything, and waddled;

It was on July 4th, 2019;

Rose, the mountains looked beautiful and serene!!

Like always, I wore patriotic clothes;

From my head, Babe, all the way down to my toes;

It was an easy, miles-long hike uphill;

Yet, I underestimated your skills;

No, I didn’t think you’d make it to the top;

But, your will, Baby, I so could not stop;

You were like ‘The Little Engine That Could’;

And, oh yes, your unsteady legs withstood;

Because, wow, we absolutely reached the top!!

It was lovely, there were no raindrops;

They say: ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’;

So I have been told, and many times I’ve heard;

But…. I have a picture from your last hike;

When fireworks boomed in sounds that seemed bomb-like;

They say: ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’….


Thursday, February 4, 2021

I Am Grateful

 Gratitude is like a food group. It is essential for being alive. -- Henry Winkler

I just wanted to ‘meet’ Fonzie from Happy Days. I already knew that I LOVED Henry Winkler…. I’ve liked him for SEVERAL years now. But WHY did it take me at least over one DECADE to FINALLY ‘meet’ Fonzie?! I do not think that I’ll EVER know the ANSWER to that question. I already KNEW who Fonzie was, because…. Well…. The Fonz is a LEGENDARY character. Agreed? I just had not ‘met’ Fonzie. So, it was one of my 2021 New Year’s Resolutions, {I am not kidding}, to ‘meet’ Fonzie. What do I think about him? Whoa. Fonzie CHARMED me from episode one WITHOUT EVEN SAYING A SINGLE WORD. I have FALLEN in LOVE with him, with his HEART of GOLD, with his VALUES, with his MORALS. Now, THAT was to be expected. Why? Because I AM, after all, CURSED to be FEMALE. Amen, women? What I absolutely did NOT expect was, as I eventually ‘got to know’ Henry Winkler through interviews, articles, and YouTube videos, {from very recent years}, Henry Winkler would somehow CHALLENGE me to seek, find, and choose GRATITUDE. Aaaaayyyyy…. All I wanted to do was ‘meet’ Fonzie!! Is THAT too much to ASK?! Huh?! Well, IS it?! So now, one of my 2021 New Year’s Resolutions, apparently, is to seek, find, and choose GRATITUDE…. Yes, during an ongoing global Coronavirus pandemic, appropriately enough. Thank-you, Henry Winkler…. Well, I must admit, THAT New Year’s Resolution is MUCH more PROFOUND than finally ‘meeting’ Fonzie…. Peace and Love, Mary Lou

P.S. One of the many blessings that I am grateful for is Rose. Ah, my Beagle/German Shepherd mix, my second dog, my Baby Girl. Since Rose is dead and now resides at The Rainbow Bridge, I am ETERNALLY grateful for her….

Edited by Kara Kent!!

I am grateful for years of memories;

‘Cause I became your Mama when you chose me;

I am grateful for the happy memories;

As you sat on my bed, keeping me company;

I am grateful, Rose, for several memories;

That I captured by taking pictures and selfies;

I am grateful, Babe, for our memories;

And baking literally countless dog cookies;

I am grateful for years of memories;

‘Cause I became your Mama when you chose me.

Friday, January 1, 2021

God Winks And Signs

2020. As a writer, if I can come up with ONE WORD to describe that unprecedented year, it would be ‘inconceivable’. I remember looking at pictures Online of images that seemed like they were straight from some Hollywood disaster movie. For, like, twain weeks into the deadly Coronavirus global pandemic, I felt nothing but utter shock. I was unproductive as an artist, and I did not write ANYTHING. Question…. Can you, Blogging Friends, Readers, and Followers think of something POSITIVE that happened during 2020? For me? During a seemingly NEVER-ENDING year when I had to euthanize my Beautifully Unique Beagle/German Shepherd mix, Rose, on June 15th, {and then obviously walk through grief’s journey}, something POSITIVE that happened to me during 2020 was the birth of my baby niece, ‘Ruby’!! Now it is your turn. Please leave your something POSITIVE that happened during 2020 in the comments. After I got over my initial shock from COVID-19, {for the most part}, I wrote what would end up being SEVERAL poems about Rose!! One of my New Year’s Resolutions is to ‘publish’ Blog posts more frequently, while also allowing myself some grace for disappearing whenever I feel like it. Happy 2021!! Peace and Love, Mary Lou

Edited by Kara Kent!!

I frequently say: ‘2020 sucks’;

So you, Baby, sent downy-feathered ducks;

Was this a God Wink from Doggy Heaven….

How many signs have you sent, eleven?

I frequently say: ‘2020 sucks’;

So you sent a bat, and ‘she’ wished me luck;

Was this your God Wink from The Beyond….

With me, Babe, is it how we correspond?

I frequently say: ‘2020 sucks’;

So you sent a heron, and I’m awestruck;

Was this your sign from The Afterlife….

A Place, Rose, where there is no strife?

I frequently say: ‘2020 sucks’;

So you sent geese flying, honking amok;

Was this a God Wink from The Rainbow Bridge….

Which is just my, {this Mutt Mom’s}, privilege?