THE ITTY BITTY MIND

The itty bitty mind is afraid to leave its place

The itty bitty mind is afraid of the open space.

The itty bitty mind never a road to pave

The itty bitty mind lives on the mountaintop in a cave

Pensacola Helene

On my way to the Valley

Itty Bitty and his friends Chance and Opportunity lived in the Valley of No Dreams. They had decided to leave, but didn't know where to go yet. One day while walking along the road, outside the city, they were talking about the valley situation and wondering was there something different somewhere else in the world. Suddenly they came upon an old sage who gave them a toothless smile and gestured for them to come near. They all walked towards him, but Itty Bitty stayed back a little ways. "I heard your conversation" the old sage said, "I know how you can do something different with your lives." 

 "How?" Chance asked, always the one looking for different possibilities." 

"You must journey toward the mountaintop." The three young men looked at each other, then back at the old sage.

"Are you talking about going to Mount DCT (short for Dreams Come True)?" The old sage nodded.

"That's really risky!! There is no guarantee you'll make it." Itty Bitty yelled from the distance.

The sage turned from Itty Bitty and asked his friends. "Would you want to miss your chance or opportunity to be a writer and a movie producer?"

"Why should we believe you anyways? Who are you and why aren't you on Mount DCT?" Opportunity said as he broke into the conversation.

"I am the voice of your dreams. Some people call me Father Destiny. I'm on Mount DCT right now, even as we speak. Come pay me a visit. Do it quickly, this is your time. Remember, when you don't take chances and opportunities when they come along, it could alter your future forever." The old sage smiled one last time and disappeared. 

The three boys jumped up and down as they realized their dreams could become a reality. Quickly, they make a decision to go to Mount DCT. Along the way Itty Bitty stopped and told them he couldn't go. He had decided to go to the Valley of Dreams instead. He tried desperately to get his two friends to go with him, but they would not listen. Chance said to his childhood friend, "Sorry Itty Bitty, but I'm going with Opportunity." And Opportunity said, "Yea, man. Sorry, but I'm going with Chance." The three lifelong friends parted ways.

Itty Bitty got all kinds of reports and good news from his friends. He really thought it was going to be different in the Valley of Dreams than in the Valley of No Dreams, but it wasn't. It was almost the same. People with dreams and people without dreams end up in the same condition. The majority of people with dreams never take the chance or opportunity to do anything different. His friends invited him to Mount DCT many times and he saw the old sage a few more times as well, but he felt himself becoming more and more complacent.

Eventually, the Valley of Dreams became just as crowed as the Valley of No Dreams and Itty Bitty finally went to Mount DCT. But something had changed. Itty Bitty realized his thoughts had gotten small from living  with his own itty bitty mind and in small places. He had become like the company he'd kept. Somewhere along the way his dreams had become no dreams.  Itty Bitty bought a Cave on Mount DCT and that's where he lives to this day.

A dream is just a dream until you make it come true. You have to do something or like Itty Bitty your dream might as well be no dream. Dreams come alive in the doing and they are the wonderful dynamics of life no matter the level of success that is achieved. Too many people are living sad, mundane lives because they left their dreams in the valley. An itty bitty mind can keep you in itty bitty places. Go to the Mountain and do it today!!!

Pensacola Helene
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YOU DA BOMB DIGGITY!!

Did I say thank you yesterday as I walked along the way?

Did I stop and smile as I walked the next mile?

Did I sit somewhere, to revel in the care?

As I climb the hill, yes I will tell "Special" how I feel.

Pensacola Helene

Thank You Special Person

Bomb was the middle child in his family and the attention was usually divvied up between his older brother and younger sister. His esteem was so-so, but he often felt as if he didn't belong and was out of place in his own family. It wasn't that he wasn't loved, it was just different with him than with his siblings. His sister had his father and his brother had his mother, but he didn't have anybody really. Bomb was an artistic and talented writer and he showed signs of it in his elementary years. His writing abilities didn't really motivate him to believe he could do anything great and he just did what he needed to get through school and life. Since no one seemed to have any real interest in him, he never really bonded too much with anyone and had trouble establishing relationships because of his growing lack of interest. But before he completely sunk into that hole; something happened to change his life. 

His uncle, whom he was named after, but everyone called him by his last name, Diggity, came for a long visit. Uncle Diggity had been out of the country for years and he was moving back to town. Bomb felt a spark of interest just meeting him for some strange reason. He was a great uncle to them all, but he paid particular attention to Bomb. His uncle took him to the library, a children's book club, and they enrolled in a creative writing class together. His uncle did throw in football games, an amusement park, and other activities as well. His uncle's love and attention forced him to use his writing abilities in a new light and he learned to appreciate his creative side. He even began to feel a part of the family. Bomb came alive that summer and he found ways to express himself through his journal and short stories. He asked his uncle over and over why he seemed to favor him. He wasn't complaining, but his sister and brother were usually the center of attention. His uncle never answered him, but just smiled and over the years Uncle Diggity was the best uncle anybody could ask for.

Bomb was getting ready to graduate high school, when he saw a note his uncle had written in his journal years before. Why hadn't he ever noticed it before? It simply said, "Nephew, you da Bomb Diggity, man. Love Unk" His uncle said that to him numerous times and he thought it was another crazy saying he'd made up. His uncle made up words all the time. Bomb decided to look it up and was surprised to actually find a definition.  According to his urban dictionary, bomb diggity meant awesome.

Of course Bomb went on to be a famous author for children's books. His first book was about a middle child and his uncle. Guess what the title was? Yep, "You da Bomb Diggity."

Take a moment and thank the people who believed you, believed in your talent, and believed in your awesomeness... way before it was ever manifested. It really is good to have people who love and care about you...say "You da Bomb Diggity." Do you agree fellow bloggers? Me too! I thank all the people who have done that for me and are still showing me that kind of love! Yep,.... you too... are "Da Bomb Diggity!"

Pensacola Helene

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Gimme Gimme Gumdrops

Gimme Gimme Gumdrops I said to the little boy,

Gimme Gimme Gumdrops so I can have "your" joy.

Gimme Gimme Gumdrops, stepping over folks day by day

Gimme Gimme Gumdrops I have to get my pay

Gimme Gimme Gumdrops, my relationships are gruff

Gimme Gimme Gumdrops all I got is stuff

Pensacola Helene

Gimme Gimme Gumdrops

Gree Dee was friends with Am Bition when he was younger. Am Bition was friends with Bene Fit, Gree Dee never really liked Bene Fitt and thought he was soft. However, they all parted ways after high school. Am Bition went all to touch people's lives with the motivation to reach goals and make great strides in life. Bene Fitt went on to help people all over the world and give them opportunities to live more fuller and productive lives. Gree Dee went on to take all he could get for himself, without regard for others. He took other people's turns in line, their promotion, their money, their spouses, their homes, or their opportunities. Gree Dee always had his hand out, but only to receive. He took everything he could, from anybody he could and he didn't care how they felt about it. But one day Gree Dee, now a multi-millionaire, saw a little boy with some gumdrops and he said, "Gimme, Gimme Gumdrops" and the little boy handed him the bag of gumdrops. Gree Dee took all of them but one and scurried away. He could hear the boy crying in the distance. "Gree Dee took MY gumdrops! Gree Dee took MY gumdrops!" It was at that moment he knew he'd sunk to an all time low; now he had taken candy from a baby. And it wasn't easy as the old idiom claimed. His whole life flashed before his eyes. Gree Dee had gained immense wealth along with all the things and stuff he wanted in life, but he had lost his wife, children, family, many close friends, and most of all... love.

Many of us have gifts and talents and the motivation to go along with it. But too many people start out with honest ambition hoping to benefit others along the way and end up with greedy. We care more about gaining than we do about what's right and fair - not only ourselves, but others too. Thinking of self is very tempting in a culture that promotes individualism and autonomous behaviors. Such a culture encourages individuals to go after their dreams and goals in ways that often take priority over what's good for one's immediate family group, the extended family group, a friend group, or any other significant group. As the promises of fame and fortune overtake the mind and the heart it becomes harder and harder to sacrifice personal goals and dreams for the sake of others; even if it's the right thing to do. I'm not knocking going after your dreams, but be a good person on your journey. Don't let a greedy spirit blind your heart or corrupt your thinking. You can end up with a lot of stuff, or trinkets, or toys and still actually be broke.

Try to blend good character into your journey of personal ambition. If you are good to people along the way and for some reason you ever fall back, you'll be able to find someone to pick you up. Be willing to sacrifice your own personal ambitions sometimes, for the sake of those you love or simply for the common good of others. That good deed will return to you two-fold. When you stick your hand out, make sure it's with the intention of reciprocity either to that person giving to you or to another. 

Greed lives alone and never has enough. That's why greed sits on the corners of life in the hearts of over consumption whispering, "Gimme, Gimme, Gumdrops..."

Pensacola Helene

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FLIPPITY FLOPPITY FAITH

Steady, consistent faith will take you all the way, but if it flips and flops you'll keep ending up in the same old places over and over.
Pensacola Helene

One of D's jobs as a Snowman

There was this guy named D. Faith, the D was short for Double-Minded. Why his parents would name him that, nobody knows. Anyway, as a kid, D thought he wanted to be a writer one day and he had an endless intrigue with words. He would look them up, write them down, and try to use them at least three times during the day. For instance, on one occasion, D felt in love with the word succulent. He told his brother at breakfast, "This orange is really succulent and sweet" He said to one his class mate, "Boy, these grapes are really ripe and succulent." And later, he told his mother, "The food is good, Ma and this steak is really succulent." D's love for words followed him all through his elementary years, his junior high years and most of high school. He wrote wonderful essays and short stories to everybody's delight. D. received many compliments over the years and he was encouraged to become a famous writer one day.  

But in his senior year, one of his teacher said to him, "This paper is terrible. If this is the way you write, you need to think about doing something else with your life!" Words are so powerful that they can destroy much good.  The teacher spread his opinion all around the school and all around town. It was amazing how other people got on board with this teacher, even D's parents, his family, and his friends.  People started to suggest that maybe he should write as a hobby and choose a more reliable trade for his future. D tried very hard to fight this wind of change, but the words made heavy blows to his faith in his writing. D wrote paper after paper for this teacher and never got his approval and by the end of the year, D had decided to major in computer science.  In the years to come, D. flipped and flopped from one type of job to another. Thoughts of writing never went away. Some days he would look at the possibility of writing again, but would end up doing something else. D never believed in his writing the way he did years before and his faith in his talents and gifts turned flippity floppity. D. or Double-Minded Faith died at the ripe old age of 96 years old and he never became a writer.

Some of you reading this blog were called way back in childhood to do something great and unique, but somewhere along the way you lost hope in that dream. It could have been because of what someone said, or what you believed about what they said. But whatever the reason, the years have passed, and that dream seems a distance memory. And yet, it doesn't go away. The good news is that it's never too late and you still have time to change the rest of your story.

Whatever that gift is that's burning inside your heart, turn off the flippity floppity faith and pursue your dream today. I dare you!!!

Pensacola Helene

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Belly Laughs and Joy flips

It is good to laugh those belly laughs and there's nothing like joy flips of the heart. These are contagious behaviors and an excellent way to get through the up and downs of life on our dream journeys. Your gifts will eventually get you there, but have fun along the way.

Pensacola Helene

Try twice a day, for six weeks with sound!!!

It's good to take life serious and be responsible or accountable for ourselves and others, but this doesn't mean we have to do it with sour faces and sad-sack personas. When we are pursuing our writing careers and other gifts it could potentially increase the level of stress in your life. Most people don't realize how negative attitudes, long-lasting disappointments, and hopeless perceptions can affect their health by breaking down the immune systems and reducing the lifespan. 

A person's immune system could become clogged or stopped up allowing waste and fluids to get stuck in the tissues and organs and hinder its ability to clean the body naturally. That's how sickness and disease comes along to affect health and well-being. But a good laugh, like Drano, can actually unclog or unstop those blockages to assist your body's ability to keep things flowing and moving the way it should. 

Most people want to live a long, full life and are interested in all benefits to physical health that correlates with long life and well-being. Laughter is said to benefit  individuals by helping to prevent  hypertension, reduce pain, balance your hormones, exercise and relax your muscles and heart, increase oxygen levels thus enhancing energy, and jump starting your circulatory system. Boy, where can we get some of that from?

Everybody's humor is different. Only you know what makes you laugh and feel joyful. But if you need some help here's some suggestions: Read a comic book, watch comedies on television, go to a comedy show or funny movie, play fun games with friends, have a party, laugh at yourself or with family and friends or listen to some good jokes. Whatever it takes discover what makes you laugh and do it at least twice daily.

I promise you'll experience the healing effects right away and in six weeks you will be a totally different person. I want you to succeed in all your writing and gifted endeavors, but do it with  Belly laughs and joy flips. HA!! HA!!

Pensacola Helene

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