Mothers Have a Way of Being Empowered by Curiosity and Observation

Image Source: From Behind the Pen (Adapted from “Did Curiosity Really Kill The Cat? 2017″)

Curiosity is a quality related to inquisitive thinking, such as exploration, investigation, and learning, which is evident by observation in humans and other animals. Curiosity had nothing to do with killing the cat, it simply empowered her.

Oh Mighty Lioness

Like a haute couture runway model on the catwalk
her prowl, deliberate, poised, and with purpose
she doesn’t simply exist in the wild, she flourishes
running towards danger that makes her want to run away

her feistiness is cool, cautious, and uninhibited
a warrior and hunter, swift, leaping, and powerful
compassionate and protective den mother for her cubs
to ensnare her, your efforts may be futile and deadly

she is the one animal most feared by the lion
to pique her curiosity it didn’t kill the cat
it taught her how to live and survive
molding her into a mighty Lioness in the jungle!

©Kym Gordon Moore

💐Wishing mothers everywhere, a HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY weekend!💐

A Stronger Number from Many Ones

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Some say, go big or go home.

While this saying may be true, depending on what it is referenced to, bigger may not always be better. I say, never dismiss the power of one. In order to reach the big, you must start with the small. I believe that in order to take many steps, you first have to start with one. In order to reach a large sum, you must begin with a single amount.

We weren’t born an adult; we began life as a babe. We can’t reach a summit in a single leap, but we can work on getting there by focusing on the strength of individual steps of determination. Unity is a collection of many ones. Stronger numbers are exhibited in the power of one in many.

The Healing and Intimate Power of Touch

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Touch is a powerful connection of communication.

I was reminded of this message about the power of touch when I watched a show on TV last week, where the character, a well-renowned surgeon, had already self-diagnosed himself when he came into the emergency room. He requested a specific doctor who was one of his former med students. One of the things this surgeon taught his students was to be aware of when patients are nearing the end of their life or when many have received a weighty diagnosis and never forget to administer compassion and the human touch. During times like these, people are afraid and feel alone. He told them to hold the patient’s hand in order to comfort them and assure them that they were not alone.

Image Credit: RODNAE Productions

While I understand that doctors have many patients to see, it’s always a good practice to be sensitive and have good bedside manners, by not speaking too clinically but relaying the patient’s condition to them and their families with an ounce of empathy and compassion. I remember having to remind my mother’s doctor of her frosty attitude when mom was having her leg amputated. I took her aside and asked that she up her ante on her compassion quotient and lessen her brash, no-nonsense, hands-off clinical approach when discussing mom’s surgery in front of her because that was my mother, not an animal. I didn’t get into analyzing this doctor’s attitude with her, I simply asked her to be mindful of the way she spoke about my mother’s condition in front of her and us. Maybe that was this doctor’s approach to avoid getting too close to her patients. But, during the rest of my mother’s stay in the hospital, I didn’t have to worry about her doctor’s rigidity after that.

The power of touch, that compassionate and empathetic physical gesture, is something we yearn for when we feel broken and dismayed. Hospitals aren’t the only places to administer such sensitivity and humanness.

Never underestimate the healing power of a gentle touch or a soothing, reassuring tone in your voice. Whether giving someone a hug or holding their hand as they deal with a difficult situation, approach your nonverbal gesticulation with heartfelt kindness. You never know when you will need an empathetic, loving, and caring touch.

Don’t Count Me Out

Image Credit: kai Stachowiak

        The other night I watched the movie “Burlesque” starring Cher and Christina Aguilera. The song Cher sang, “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me,” is one of my battle cry songs. To all of you who feel like you’ve been brought down to your knees, to the point of breaking (I am included), I employ you to stand up, straighten your back, and fight for self-preservation of your mind, body, and spirit. When they count you out, no matter who “they” may be, count yourself in. It may not happen overnight, but vow to strengthen your warrior spirit, be victorious, and do it for you. No time to give up now!

Winning the battle

Adamant

Rising to the occasion

Resolute

Introspection and examination

Overcoming obstacles

Running with determination

YouTube

The Courageous Leap

Image Credit: Circe Denyer

          This morning I watched a squirrel scale through the trunk and limbs of the various trees in our backyard. It approached the end of an oak tree and stopped. I observed to see what it would do next. Would it go back in the direction it came from, or would it try to find another way to get to the nearby pine tree? Well, being the squirrel that it was, it leaped over to the closest branch of the pine tree and began dangling. I gasped because at first, I thought it would fall down to the ground, but I watched it hold on for dear life. “What amazing upper body strength it had,” I thought.

          It seemed that it would have been so much easier to go back, descend down the oak tree’s trunk, hit the ground, and then go its merry way. It would have been faster and easier, so I thought. But that is not how nature operates. She teaches us that perseverance might not find the easiest way, but it is a surefire way of determination and courage that strengthens our will to keep moving, and exploring. So often we find the easiest way to accomplish something, but it might not always be the best and most productive or lucrative way to get a return on your investment. So whatever you set out to do today, do it courageously, and take a leap of faith.

Stop being afraid of what could go wrong, and start being excited about what could go right. -Tony Robbins

Image Credit: Jean Beaufort (a sprout growing through asphalt)

Survive > Strive > Thrive

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“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”  – Maya Angelou

         There are times when we find ourselves trapped in a bubble, unable to pop it to allow air to circulate through and let the sunshine in. Sometimes, we need a big hefty serving of “Popeye the Sailorman spinach” to chew, digest, and renew our strength. 😜 Do you see yourself as capable and worthy? What do you have to offer to the world? Do you see yourself as a valuable asset?

            Survive as you learn to strive and then thrive to stay alive. Don’t allow others to determine your value, you show them what your value is worth, and what you are capable of.

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The Chambers of Change

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Change. We talk about it all the time, but we fizzle out at some point, and then ask, “What’s the point?” Do we abandon change when it doesn’t come at the exact time when we want it? The point is, that each of us is here for a purpose, not to just suck up oxygen and plop down to exist in the same spot on a different day.

There are many variables that create change, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Yet what we do in spite of those variables depends on our mindset and our actions. You can’t expect to get into a vehicle and have it get you to a different destination if you don’t have gas in it and crank the darn thing up. Explore something new and different today. If you do, then you’ve made a change today, no matter how small.

The chambers of change
always with constant newness
are never the same.

© Kym Gordon Moore

Image Credit: Samantha Young

Flashback Friday Feline Fact

Image Meme by Kym Gordon Moore

        I decided to bring a snippet from a 2017 post I wrote after a brief exchange – conversation – debate with someone regarding the difference between nosiness and curiosity. This individual said the two are basically the same, except curiosity is a fancier way of saying a person is nosy. Oh, but you know I had to beg to differ.

     “Being nosy is prying into other people’s business, meddling, being intrusive, and snooping, oftentimes gossiping about what they find out,” I said. To me, curiosity is more of a desire to learn something new that enhances one’s intellect and not about poking your nose in other people’s business for annoying reasons.

        So honey, just so you’ll know, curiosity didn’t kill the cat, it merely educated her to be the badass that she is today! The next time someone calls you nosy when you are merely being curious, tell them don’t start nothin’, it won’t be nothin’. Just sayin’. So for all of you purrrrfect felines out there, this one is for you! 😻

Oh Mighty Lioness

Like a haute couture runway model on the catwalk
her prowl, deliberate, poised, and with purpose
she doesn’t simply exist in the wild, she flourishes
running towards danger that makes her want to run away

her feistiness is cool, cautious, and uninhibited
a warrior and hunter, swift, leaping, and powerful
compassionate and protective den mother for her cubs
to ensnare her, your efforts may be futile and deadly

she is the one animal most feared by the lion
to pique her curiosity it didn’t kill the cat
it taught her how to live and survive
molding her into a mighty Lioness in the jungle!

©Kym Gordon Moore 2017

Image Credit: Justin Heap

The Warm Wings of Wonder

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Your wings already exist. All you have to do is fly. – Anonymous

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The man who has no imagination has no wings. -Muhammad Ali

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May the wind under your wings bear you where the sun sails and the moon walks. -J. R. R. Tolkien

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You were born with wings, why prefer to crawl through life? -Rumi

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Jump, and you will find out how to unfold your wings as you fall. -Ray Bradbury

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Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings. -Salvador Dali

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You’re not going to see your dreams come true if you don’t put wings, legs, arms, hands, and feet on ’em. -Dolly Parton

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Those who fly solo have the strongest wings. -Unknown

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The Poetry of Perseverance

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“A river cuts through rock not because of its power, but because of its persistence.” – Unknown

Perseverance isn’t something you say, it’s something that you do. Poetry isn’t merely a slew of words, it’s what the words mean, how they make you feel, and what they make you do.

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