Progress Report

Ideas for Loving Words are Swirling Around in My Head

Words for everyday. Words for special occasions. Words for children, for the elderly and for friends (some of whom are elderly)!
     I love birthdays because they’re not “made up” like “Love Your Wart Hog Day” and other stuff. I also like "just because" greetings.
     My interest is turning toward creating ways for us to easily send warm wishes to one another. Over the last few weeks, I have developed some small cards — about the size of a business card — using images plus simple words. 
     The cards combine my love of nature and my love of words.
Very simple, very small.
     I will share one of these here and in coming blogs.
Feel free to share these with friends and family.
Also, I welcome your comments!

 'Til next time,
Gladney

Everything Happens For You

Words Can Be Life Changing. 

A person from my past was fond of saying, "Life is just one hassel after another!" These words went into my brain at an early age and stuck there. 

 About a year ago, I came across the following idea:

"Everything happens for us, not to us."

I sat with these words for a long time – feeling as though a lightning bolt had struck me! This was such a radical departure from my belief system, I was in shock! It was like being in a car wreck only instead of being a physical wreck, it was a mental wreck in which two radically different concepts had had a collision in my brain.

I put this quote on my bathroom mirror. I put it up in my studio. I put it in my car, in my Day Timer and on the refrigerator. 

Now when something blocks my path, I look around to see how the block might lead to a better path with more possibilities. This is a huge shift for me.

I go from being blocked to being wide open!

The old phrase from my past is still in there. But this new phrase/concept/gift is gaining strength every day.

The Loving Words Project

This blog is a watering hole. 
A place for drinking and thinking.
A place for people to pick things up — words, images, ideas and drop things off  — ideas, comments, images and requests.
I am currently working on Loving Words, an exploration into how we communicate warm regard to business colleagues, family, friends and the world. My intention is to create a space for Peace and Happiness, in our hearts, our homes and our planet.
When we ask people what they need more of, they often say, "Love, Time and Money." What’s on your list? Let me know below.
Join the discussion.
And invite your friends to join in:
http://uuyou.blogspot.com

I am collecting stories about how affection was expressed in your family of origin and which words have meant the most to you over the years. What were the words and who spoke them? Who created a space for Peace and Happiness in your life?
Loving Words on Cards
To make it easy to express our warm regard in words and pictures, I am developing a series of ‘business card sized’ notes that can be tucked on someone’s desk or computer screen, into children’s lunch boxes or book bags, on the bathroom mirror, taped onto our teenager’s door or given to a friend.

This first series will be generic.
Other plans include
Words for the work place
Words for young children 3-6
Words for grammar school children
Middleschool and
Highschool
Words for spouses
Words for men
Words for women
Words for lovers
Words for teachers
Healthcare professionals
I invite you to contribute pictures and words for this project!


All images are from our U.S. National Park Service.
Design copyright, Gladney Flatt,  2010.

The Loving Words Project

This blog is a watering hole.
A place for drinking and thinking.
A place for people to pick things up — words, images, ideas and drop things off  — ideas, images, comments, requests.

I am currently working on Loving Words, an exploration into how we communicate warm regard to business colleagues, family, friends and the world. My intention is to create a space for Peace and Happiness, in our hearts, our homes and our planet.

When we ask people what they need more of, they often say, "Love, Time and Money." What’s on your list? Let me know.

Join the discussion here.
And invite your friends to join in:
http://uuyou.blogspot.com

I am collecting stories about how affection was expressed in your family of origin and which words have meant the most to you over the years. What were the words and who spoke them? Who created a space for Peace and Happiness in your life?

Loving Words on Cards

To make it easy to express our warm regard in words and pictures, I am developing a series of ‘business card sized’ notes that can be tucked on someone’s desk or computer screen, into children’s lunch boxes or book bags, on the bathroom mirror, taped onto our teenager’s door or given to a friend.

I invite you to contribute pictures and words for this project!

The first series will be generic.

Other plans include
Words for the work place
Words for young children 3-6
Words for grammar school children
Middle school and
High school

Words for spouses
Words for men
Words for women
Words for lovers
Words for teachers
Healthcare professionals
etc.

Loving Words and Simple Pleasures

JIM'S STORY

At one point in my life I wondered why people played games. I was not interested in games and thought them a Waste of Time.

However, some of the smartest people I knew played games.

One of these was a friend from West Texas. He loved playing all kinds of games and was good at it. One day, I asked Jim why he liked to play games, and he gave me an answer that has amazed and delighted me to this day.

"Well," he said, "I am a child of youngest children in a large family. This means that I grew up  with lot of aunts and uncles who were older than my parents. They all loved to play cards, dominos, bridge, etc. We used to sit around 'til late at night playing and laughing and kidding around. As a child growing up in this large, extended family was wonderful."

Then he looked off into the distance with his crinkly, West Texas eyes and said, "You know, the thing about playing games is that it gives everyone lots of time and opportunity to express affection."

Suddenly my mouth — and my mind — flew open! I Got It!

West Texas men generally don't go around saying mushy stuff like "Oh, I love you so much." No! They tease the 'bejeebers' out of each other, sparing and poking fun anyway they can. And the women can be just as crusty!  Only when you are walking out the door do you get a hug or a slug and "Better Luck Next Time, Buddy!" in the event you lost the game but 'played well with others'.

This man grew up playing games, being the object of unlimited loving attention and affection from elderly relatives. And I can see it on his weathered face and in the twinkle in his eyes.

Loving Words come in all shapes and sizes and at odd moments when we're not looking.

Comments? I would love to hear Loving Words Stories from my readers.

• I am also very interested in hearing Loving Words that people have said to you that you remember from your childhood or from your past. 
• Who was loving to you and what did they say? 
• How old were you then? 
• How did those words of love affect your life? 
• What words do you most love to hear from your spouse, your children, your friends?
• What words do you use to express love, affection, respect, trust, warm regard, etc.

I eagerly await your story.