Tag Uplift!

The bloom is off the rose

Michael 5 Comments

Since Sunday night my curtains have been closed.  I kept them drawn tight to prevent any heat leaking outside where each night, the low temperature found joy in dropping lower than the previous night’s, all of them starting with a “-“ sign. I don’t particularly mind the cold and snow of winter but this was getting ridiculous. I was ready to break into the vacation fund and hop a plane to Florida. But yeah, that wouldn’t have been much of an improvement this week!

Who thought it was a good idea to snow on Florida, or across Alabama, and deep into South Carolina. Has anyone checked on the Bahamas? Are we sure those white beaches are still sand? This year is not shaping up to be a good year. There have been better starts. 

We might as well face it, those record highs on January 1 were not a portend of a kinder, gentler year. It didn’t take long for this rose to lose its bloom. The honeymoon was over before it even started. 

Speaking of honeymoons, he said smoothly, have you had a chance to read this week’s Uplift.  It’s not that the honeymoon is over. Just that the best is yet to come. Go on. Check it out! 

While you’re there, consider joining the ROAMcare community and subscribe to have Uplift delivered to your email as soon as it hits the website. In addition to an Uplift release every Wednesday, you will also receive weekly our Monday Moment of Motivation and the email exclusive Flashback Friday repost of one of our most loved publications every Friday. All free and available now at ROAMcare.org.


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Dreamscape

Michael 8 Comments

If you read enough blogs over enough time, you will read at least one dream story from every blogger. Except me. I don’t recall once over the past 14 years and who knows how many posts, that I’ve ever written about my dreams. Or so it seems. Until now.

I’m not one to have recurring dreams. At least not that I know based on the ones I remember. I do have recurring dream themes and they seem to play out like a serial drama, or perhaps like a soap opera. Never really ending but different stories lines coming and going. But the same movie, night after night? Nope. No encore presentations.

But now, for the last few weeks – no, for the last few months, I seem to have hit upon a recurring dream, or else I am experiencing a dream-like occurrence. Every night, at nearly always at 3:15 in the morning, I wake up, check the time, and go back to sleep. There doesn’t seem to be an outside stimulus causing this. No odd noises from outside. Nothing consistent inside like the furnace kicking on at the same time every day. (Who designed furnaces, by the way? Did they specify manufacturers find the loudest switches known to man to activate their heating cycles?)

I thought this over and came up with this assumption. I typically am asleep by 11 and awake by 7, so 3am is my personal “middle of the night.” I may must have developed some cyclic response to my circadian rhythm whereby I wake myself once during the middle of the night to reset whatever needs reset in the sleeping body. It sounded good to me, and I continued along with my jaunty ‘4 hour sleep, short break, 4 hour sleep’ nightly pattern.

Then one day I happened to check the sleep chart on my phone. Although I had a few brief waking moments that I didn’t remember having, the three o’clock hour came and went with me never leaving a sleep state, when I did remember waking up. Did I dream that I was awake checking the clock, then rolling over and resuming my snooze. I checked other days, and found a disbursing pattern of sleep during the very time I knew I was awake? Or was that during the very time I was dreaming that I was awake?

Spooky. Weird. Michael-like. Whatever you call it, I guess I now have a dream story to put out there. If only I knew what it meant.

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Speaking of dreams, did you ever dream about how you connect with others? (Yes, I know that is stretching the bounds of segue-ism. Bear with me.) (Please.) We dream of a world where we all treat each other like members of the same club, players on the same team, kids from the same family. (I told you it was a stretch.) What kind of club would the Human Club look like. We talk about that and what the dues to belong might cost in this week’s Uplift! Check it out. While you’re there, consider joining the ROAMcare community and subscribe to have Uplift delivered to your email as soon as it hits the website. In addition to an Uplift release every Wednesday, you will also receive weekly our Monday Moment of Motivation and the email exclusive Flashback Friday repost of one of our most loved publications every Friday. All free and available now at ROAMcare.org.

Not just the words

Michael 6 Comments

A show of hands please. How many have ever utter the words, “Yes dear.” Now an honest answer here. who envisioned a snarky retort when thinking of the last time you uttered that phrase. And yes, I am making an assumption that every one of us has been on the giving end of those words, and the receiving end too. 

But again, being honest about it, who hasn’t also said those words endearingly. You may have to think about when a little longer, but we’ve also all most probably given and received such a sentiment.

Words themselves mean little. They should mean little and rarely taken at face value. They are only there to convey feelings anyway. Sometimes, the feelings are strengthened by images. Sometimes, the images far exceed the feelings behind the word.

I discovered something like that a couple weeks ago. As I was preparing the New Year’s Day ROAMcare post when we associated 1960s ballads with daily resolution prompts to this year’s message, Live, Love, Share, I took a side trip to YouTube to refresh my memory of some of the music and lyrics. I ran across this version of “God Only Knows” put together by BBC Music from October of 2014. Although the song is a good one and the lyrics catchy, (and really do make a good daily living prompt because we really do know that God only knows what we’d do without each other, it’s the image of 32 artists and groups mingling their distinctive styles into a single beautiful performance that keeps playing over in my head.

I suppose I found a daily prompt for probably the rest of the year to encourage me to be a part of life and share my love. If the magic of the music doesn’t last, yesterday we suggested perhaps checking the obituaries for inspiration. Do whatever it takes to make it a year of love. God only knows what we’d do without it.

Isn’t it time to consider joining the ROAMcare community and subscribe to have Uplift delivered to your email as soon as it hits the website? In addition to an Uplift release every Wednesday, you will also receive weekly our Monday Moment of Motivation and the email exclusive Flashback Friday repost of one of our most loved publications every Friday. All free and available now at ROAMcare.org.

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Happy? New? Year

Michael 7 Comments

I really want to wish everyone a Happy New Year but already this year is proving to be not too happy and unfortunately, that’s nothing new. On top of the terrible tragedy in New Orleans in the early morning hours of January 1, the FBI uncovered what they are calling the largest collection of explosive devices in one location when they raided a farm outside Norfolk, Virginia. Those events on the heels of the burning of a woman in the New York City subway, 10 mass shootings between Christmas and New Year’s Eve killing 47 victims, and of course the murder of an insurance company CEO by a fruitcake turned folk hero who people are still defending in social media.

Truly the same old same old. We have not only not learned to become more compassionate as we hit the winter holiday season, typically noted for peace and joy, we seem to be relishing in causing pain and suffering, emboldened by a bully atmosphere still hovering over the land from the recent political carnage.

I won’t say I have all the answers but I have all the answers. We addressed them in yesterday’s Uplift post, Resolve to Live, Love, Share. We opened with, “Resolutions. January 1 we make them. January 2 we break them. January 3 we forget about them. We have a tip for you. Live 2025 like it was the 1960s.” I know, you’re going to say the 60s was the poster child decade for social unrest. But we say nay nay. The 1960s I remember is a time of hope with people calling for peace and love, not like today’s unruly crowds purposely antagonizing others. We present a novel concept to get people together – love. Love is the root of all that is good. It doesn’t have to be elegant, it doesn’t have to be momentous. It merely has to be and it can be its best when it is shared.

I would be thrilled if you took 3 minutes to read all of Live, Love, Share and then you yourself joined us in resolving to lose hostility and to love more. Let’s bring life back to the party – let’s bring love back to life!

While you’re over there, consider joining the ROAMcare community and subscribe to have Uplift delivered to your email as soon as it hits the website. In addition to an Uplift release every Wednesday, you will also receive weekly our Monday Moment of Motivation and the email exclusive Flashback Friday repost of one of our most loved publications every Friday. All free and available now at ROAMcare.org.

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Happy Nearly New Year

Michael 4 Comments

It’s the last Monday of the year and it would be oh so easy to do a “year in review” type of post.  I wonder if that’s what this week’s daily prompts will be. The same prompt every day just worded a little different. Sort of like politics. Our politics this year were worded a little different. Mostly worded as lies. Turns out more people like lies more than truth, no matter how positive the truth might be. So yeah, but no, a year in review is off the list for today.

If not looking back, how about looking forward. I could make predictions of what 2025 will be like. But if you want to know how next year will be, you just have to visit your local shot and a beer bar and you’ll find more people than you can shake a stick at who will tell you just what’s going to happen next year. And they’ll be right because they all knew exactly how this year was going to be. I can hear them now. “Yep, I told you so” they will start. No, predictions aren’t for me.

How about I do a “best of” los of my posts from 2024? That’s perfect. Non-controversial. Non-political, non-critical of anything. Yep, we can do a best of from 2024, and um, that would be all of them. How can you pick the best? It’s like picking the best child or the best bacon. They’ll all yummy. Just like bacon.

I’m running out of ideas and if I don’t come up with something we’ll run out of Monday before I get anything typed onto the screen. What to do, what to do, what to do?

Aha! Why didn’t I think of this before? Resolutions! I’ll make my resolutions for 2025 and post them here and then you can check back with me later this year and together we’ll see how I did. And if you check back with me in March, I’ll tell you what they are. Didn’t you ever read that I don’t make resolutions in January. If New Year’s Day came later in the year, perhaps when the days are getting warmer and flowers are starting to bloom, then we can come up with some good resolutions.  Come see me when I’m not standing knee deep in used gift boxes trying to remember if they are recyclable, and when not I’m cleaning out the refrigerator of all the traditional holiday foods that everybody wanted but nobody ate.

Nope, the ideal time for New Year’s is late March, just about when spring is springing.  It’s far enough away from Valentine’s Day and Easter that we can use a holiday then. The long depressing nights are over so our resolutions can be positive and begin with “we resolve that we will do this” like the start of a real goal rather than “we will never again do that” like the opening for a bad excuse. So, resolutions are out too.

So just what should I write about? How about, I hope you all had a happy whatever holiday you celebrate. Whatever one that was I am certain it had traditions that leaned toward love and fellowship, peace and joy, happiness and more love. How about I write that I wish you the spirit of the holidays all year long until we can do this again next year.  I’ll bring the champagne.

And if you absolutely must have a New Years Resolution, try this on for size ⬇️

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Did you know there are 14 religious holidays in December and January? Do you even know 14 religions? I didn’t know any of that until curiosity got the better of me. Something they all have in common is that they when we remember something special shared with special people at a special time. Explore winter’s special times with us in our updated Winter Carol, last week’s Uplift post that we found, well,most uplifting.

A peek into the new year

Michael 2 Comments

I hope everyone is enjoying this holiday season. And a season it is indeed! Did you know between December and January, 19 religious and secular holidays are celebrated? Truly the middle of winter – or summer depending on which side of the equator you find yourself – is a magical time.

The next big holiday as far as the stores and restaurants are concerned pops up next week when we break out our new date books, calendars, and planners, and celebrate the beginning of 2025. Who had a quarter of a century in the “at least how long we make it through the 2000’s” pool?

The new year will bring a new focus to ROAMcare. Our theme for our 2026 activities is “Live, Love, Share,” and next Wednesday’s Uplift will introduce members and readers to exciting new opportunities to grow and share the ROAMcare community as we re-open the user forums.

The new year will bring other new changes to ROAMcare and I thought I’d share them, just in case you visit us next Wednesday and don’t recognize the place. It won’t be big, but the website will get a minor facelift, and we hopefully will have the bugs worked out of the blog comments routine, not to mention the automated emails that seem to have multiplied for no reason.

We’re also reviewing our presence on social media. Starting January 1, you will also find us on Blue Sky and shortly after that, Tic Tok. We’re also differentiating our social feeds and we are looking to revive our YouTube channel with at least YouTube Shorts. I would love to see us bring back the ROAMcare on Air podcast but until one or both of us can be successfully cloned that may have to wait until 2026.

There is still 2024 to close out and Uplift subscribers can expect a FLASHBACK FRIDAY offering tomorrow and a new Moment of Motivation on Monday. If you haven’t seen it yet, you should pop over and read yesterday’s Christmas post. Nope, Christmas Post is a misnomer. Remember those 19 winter holidays? We think it speaks to all of them.

Happy Holidays! God bless us, every one.

Give yourself a present by subscribing to Uplift today. Join the ROAMcare community and subscribe to have Uplift delivered to your email as soon as it hits the website. In addition to an Uplift release every Wednesday, you will also receive weekly our Monday Moment of Motivation and the email exclusive Flashback Friday repost of one of our most loved publications every Friday. All free and available now at ROAMcare.org.

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Sneak non-peek, ‘Tis the Season

Michael 3 Comments

Are you feeling holiday stress now Ethan we deep into the Winter Holiday Stress Zone? I bet is not the same stress I’m feeling.


Stress. We were reminded of that when we were talking about how quickly the year has gone, bringing us to the annual Winter Holiday Stress Zone. That is how we describe the days that begin at Halloween and end with January 2. And that’s not meant in a bad way.

Stress is a funny thing. Ask most people what they think of when they hear the word stress and you may hear things like stress management and stress relief, stress hives and stress headaches or maybe stress test or stress fracture.

The dictionary stresses a different side of stress.

I’m going to stop there. I don’t want to give away all of it!  It’s another sneak peek but that’s all you’re getting today. That’s part of a post we published to ROAMcare last November. ‘Tis the Season talked about the good stress of the holidays and every other day. We’re featuring it in tomorrow’s Flashback Friday.

You can read it all of tomorrow, by subscribing to Uplift today.Join the ROAMcare community and subscribe to have Uplift delivered to your email as soon as it hits the website. In addition to an Uplift release every Wednesday, you will also receive weekly our Monday Moment of Motivation and the email exclusive Flashback Friday repost of one of our most loved publications every Friday. All free and available now at ROAMcare.org.

I know. I’m getting mean in my old age.

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On Average

Michael 3 Comments

Not everyone can be exceptional but everyone can take pride in the exceptional qualities they possess. Even the most average of people have the most remarkable moments.

Being “average” is misunderstood, helped along by social media where curated perfection is prevalent. Embracing average allows us to recognize our strengths and weaknesses, celebrate our achievements, and find contentment in our everyday lives.

We took an above average swipe at those who feel being average is no better than having failed in the latest Uplift, Life on the Curve. You can read it on average in about 3 minutes.

After you finish that, consider joining the ROAMcare community and have Uplift delivered to your email as soon as it hits the website. In addition to an Uplift release every Wednesday, you will also receive weekly our Monday Moment of Motivation and the email exclusive Flashback Friday repost of one of our most loved publications every Friday. All free and available now at ROAMcare.org.

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Shhh…a real sneak peek

Michael 3 Comments

Here’s a treat for those who just can’t wait, like the people who open presents on Christmas Eve. Every Friday on the ROAMcare site we email a reintroduction to a previously published Uplift blog post or Moment of Motivation to our subscribers. I’m going to share with you today what we are re-releasing tomorrow.  Shhh. Okay, here it is: 

Tomorrow is December 7, a date most Americans associate with Hawaii, Pearl Harbor, and America’s entry into World War II. We noted last year in this blog that December 7 is also National Letter Writing Day, an event in the United States that dates to an earlier war, the American Civil War. Letter Writing Day is an unusual fun holiday in that it isn’t sponsored by a commercial interest …

Want to know what havens next? Okay, I’ll out a link in for you just this once. But don’t risk missing out in the future. consider joining the ROAMcare community and have Uplift delivered to your email as soon as it hits the website. In addition to an Uplift release every Wednesday, you will also receive weekly our Monday Moment of Motivation and the email exclusive Flashback Friday repost of one of our most loved publications every Friday. All free and available now at ROAMcare.org.

Now here’s the link to this week’s. I should make you wait a day but I’m just too nice for that. Click to read the rest of Every Letter is a Love Letter.

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A Thanksgiving Prayer and then some

Michael 1 Comment

Today is Thanksgiving in the United States. Others’ Thanksgivings was or will be likewise celebrated around the world. It doesn’t always seem that way, but really everybody is or at least should be thankful for something and most nations have managed to work in a holiday to legitimize the feeling.

I’m not sure when I first wrote the worlds in bold below. Something tells me 2011. That sounds right because pre-2013 I took more for granted that cause for gratitude.

At the time I said, “Sometime today while I think of all that I am thankful for I’ll manage to miss most of them. So will everyone else. Mostly we’re not bad people as much as clueless ones.” And then I offered this prayer that I since have found useful even on days that aren’t called Thanksgiving.

 

Heavenly Father, this is the day set aside to give thanks for Your surpassing goodness to human beings. Let me give proper thanks for my blessings  –  those I am aware of as well as those that I habitually take for granted. And let me use them according to Your will.

 

Happy Thanksgiving today and every day you think to be thankful.

Now I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention there’s another heartfelt Thanksgiving greeting on the Internet this week at the Uplift blog on ROAMcare. All you need to know to entice you to check it out is the title. Thanksgiving Love and Dysfunction.

That is all. Now go eat a turkey.

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