thefouramigosblog

So many things to be passionate about when you are into living your life fully. But living life fully means there is chaos and confusion. How do you deal with that?

That is my passion now. I love the peace where when I was younger I thrived on the chaos. I have learned when the chaos is fast approaching I no longer put on my armor and prepare for war. I gently sit back, still my mind, reflect on positivity and the storm will pass.

I’ve learned that life is always filled with ups and downs and ins and outs weaving through the fabric of my being. It is not that this stops happening but that I learned to change my perception of things.

Instead of looking at it as bad, awful, life altering I look at it as life altering in a positive way. I learn to sit and be still. Such a hard concept in the younger me.

So passion, many passions but maintaining my peace is the most important for balance in my life.

I live in Florida so for those who know Florida, especially South Florida, its summer all year long.

We may get a peak at spring or a touch of autumn, but mostly it’s summer.

So I travel to places to see the four seasons but I live in only one. And maybe that’s why I love them all.

I love the changing of the leaves and the smells of sweet apple cider and pumpkin pie.

Then we have winter. I do miss a fireplace and curling up cozy and reading a book. Or playing outside in the snow. What I don’t miss is shoveling or driving in it or watching it turn black on the side of the road. This was a glacier in South America in the Chilean Fjords.

Of course, spring is beautiful with all the plants in bloom. Tulips are my favorite and this photo was taken. In Holland at the Keukenhof Gardens.

And summer fun which is my year-round season. However, this was Biondi Beach in Australia.

So yes I love all the seasons if I can visit them!

I start my day in quiet contemplation sipping my coffee reflecting on gratitude. Yes gratitude for the many luxuries I have beginning with freedom. Many women in many countries do not have this freedom. I say a prayer for them. I say a prayer for the women in my country who lost the freedom of choice. But I won’t dwell on that. That’s a discussion for another time.

When sipping my coffee I am grateful for electricity for without it I would have to build a fire and coffee would take so much longer. But then again have I be one jaded by instant gratification.

It is hotter than Hades outside but it’s just the right temperature inside because of air conditioning. Some people do not have protection from the heat or from the cold and die because of overwhelming temperatures.

I have light to read by before the light of first dawn. And I have this iPhone to write this all down.

How could I not be grateful for all? But can I not live without them? I don’t want to live without them but I hope I could survive if they no longer exist.

That’s my tagline today in the twilight of my years. I have had enough money, enough love, enough fun, enough good health to span a lifetime.

Mind you that wasn’t always the case. There was a time when my tagline could have been, “I could have been a contender.” For those of you too young to remember, that was Marlon Brandon’s infamous line in On the Waterfront. I understood that feeling. Nothing was working out. But with hard work, a change in my overall being my life went from that to Life is Grand.

We were told by all the financial analysts that you can’t retire unless you have a million dollars. That’s hogwash. We had less than half of that and we have been able to travel the world 6 months of the year. I learned how to maximize points and miles through 10X travel on Facebook and we have stayed in some awesome places and slept on lay down beds on planes for less than $100.

The man I married is easy and loving and willing to do some of the crazy things his wife likes to do.

We have friends. Not a million but friends with profound meaning in our lives.

Our health has had setbacks but we continue to move forward because another tagline I have is I don’t want to die before I’m dead.

And there’s another tagline I like that sort of pertains and it’s from a Warren Zevon song, I will sleep when I’m dead.

I think many people believe that if they had enough money all would be well with the world. However money doesn’t buy happiness.

For example, you have a job. You love the work and you really like your coworkers. You are offered a position, maybe becoming a manager. Now you have to be your coworker’s boss. That’s not fun. Now you are making more money but you hate your job.

Sometimes loving what you have instead of wanting more and more is what makes life worthwhile.

Spending time with family and friends. Enjoying simple things like sharing a meal. Helping someone who needs help.

So being kind, loving, supportive helps a person live a good life.

I spend the most time with my husband, my friend, my travel companion and life partner.

From the US to Europe to Africa, Asia and South America, we have embarked on a life of travel and exploration together.

Luckily after spending so much time together and being married for over 30 years with a blended family, we not only love each other but like each other!

Life is grand!

I started out life with the name Alyce who was born on December 12th. When I was school age the cutoff date was December 1st so my parents had a new birth certificate made up with the name Lisa born Novembet 12th.

So I basically started life with an identity change. I’ve been married for over 30 years and I keep telling my husband I will change my name to his but I never do. I think the early identity change makes me want to never change anything.

So there you have it! I’m keeping mine!

Chocolate and nuts – with or without caramel.

Coconut and almond covered in rich chocolate.

It’s a toss-up between the two! I really love coconut. Whether its in candy, cake or right off the tree. I’m addicted to it. The other day the question was what brings you joy? Well sometimes just some coconut will make me spin in reverie.

And chocolate with nuts. Nuts in anything make me joyful. It doesn’t take much to make me happy!

I see some people don’t like chocolate candy. Maybe they haven’t tried the right one. Milk chocolate vs dark chocolate. One is creamy and sweet the other is slightly bitter. It depends on your tastebuds.

When I finally started to like to read, I went from like to love.

One of my favorite series was Nancy Drew. My husband liked the Hardy Boys. And you know what? We still love to read mysteries and thrillers.

I remember reading the Exorcist in high school and I stayed up all night reading that book. I finally finished it as the sun came up.

I also loved books by Daphne du Maurier. Rebecca, Jamaica Inn, Frenchman’s Creek.

I also loved to read romance books. At least teen romance. I don’t read many of those today.

So yep, I would have to say mysteries were my thing and still are!