Believe the Best

💕I start my blog with this symbol, two hearts, every time for a reason. Life is better when we share and do it together. It helps when we are feeling down, even when we are feeling up. We can share in our down times when life throws garbage our way and we can help others, too, while we ourselves are having an up moment. 📝

💬If you haven't heard the saying, Life is Better when we do it Together, you have missed out. This is an idea people have played with for centuries but it has never been put into words until lately. Having community, another cliche we use today, keeps one happy, grounded, and accountable. When we are connected to something or part of something, studies have shown  that we are more likely to be honest, giving, and supportive of others. I specifically remember a speaker I heard last year who focused on Believe the Best: of others, yourself, and even strangers. To live in fear or hate, or even indifference, to those who are in our community is not a good thing. For example, when you see someone whisper and then stop when they notice you noticed, do you think the worst? Or perhaps you have "proof" of someone's wrong doing and then you think, hmm, I wonder what they're up to? Maybe they are planning a secret party, maybe they are just speaking to another person about a problem in their own life and want it kept confidential-having nothing to do with you. But when you notice these little things, why do we often think the worst and not the best? I think it is because people lose faith and trust in their community. But if we don't have faith and trust in those who are supposed to support us, then we have no one. Can we change and trust, Believe the Best? I decide to, how about you?

🍒Meal tip: For healing the soul, try some comfort food. Mine? Well, it's chicken noodle soup. Here's the recipe I used the other day. Pretty yummy! "Grandma's Chicken Soup with homemade noodles" (or you can find these noodles in the freezer section of your favorite grocer)

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/231666/grandmas-chicken-soup-with-homemade-noodles/?lnkid=usspnt

🏠Household tip: This is a more backyard patio tip...move all the furniture and rugs, hose off with a power washing setting on your garden hose. Also hose off the patio. Let it all dry over night and then put it all back, maybe rearrange it? Now it'll be all ready for any summer get-to-together ⛱.

🌼Parenting tip: Boundaries, create them and then stand up for them. Have certain consequences for different offenses. Also, think about intent, what you thought when you were that age, and then offer grace, understanding, and compassion. Don't rule out the consequence but do it with maturity and not emotionally. Be calm, be the adult, be kind.