How Do You Want to be Remembered?

Mavis Balvin 1929-2011
Remembered fondly, missed a bunch!

Have you thought about how you want to be remembered? If you're under 50, this probably hasn't even crossed your mind. But if you're anywhere in the second half, even if you've just barely hit the 50-year mark, you need to start considering the types of memories you're creating for the people around you each and every day. And the further you are on the plus side of 50, the more serious you need to be. Unless, of course, you don't care how you're remembered. If that's truly the case, you can quit reading now.

I've been giving this a lot of thought lately. After all, the older I get, the older others get, as well - so I now have numerous examples to follow (or not) just one generation up. Yikes! Does that mean I'm nearly old? Hmm.

Well, anyway...

One woman particularly sticks out in my mind as someone to emulate. Although she is no longer with us, Mavis lives on in the memories of friends and family as a woman who loved life and brought joy to those who knew her. A ready smile and kind words were Mavis' hallmark. What a way to be remembered! Where do I sign up for that? Oh yeah - with my actions.

Experiences Create Memories

Always remember that memories are generated from experiences, not words. Don't expect to be remembered for what you say, expect to be remembered for your actions and how they affect others. If you want folks to remember nice things about you, give them something nice to remember! And this isn't just for after you're gone from this life - it applies every day that you're still here, as well.

So...

What memories are you creating today?

Serious Reading and Time Management

Exclude novels from serious reading? Ok - I guess I can go with that as long as I don't have to exclude novels all together! Arnold Bennett makes a couple valid points in the first paragraph of chapter 11 of How to Live on 24 Hours a Day:

1. Bad novels ought not to be read (I couldn't agree more!)
2. The best novels involve the least strain (He's right again!)

He goes on to say that in cultivating the mind, one of the most important factors is strain - so novels are out for this purpose! And what does cultivating the mind have to do with time management? Back in chapter seven, Mr. Bennett explains that developing your ability to concentrate is the key to getting things done and living a full life. So some serious reading - and thinking - is in order.

For all posted chapters from How to Live on 24 Hours a Day, click on the label (below).

Batman and May Christmas Prep Report

Cool Batman blankie

A picture is worth a thousand words, right? Need I say more?

Well, maybe I don't need to, but I will anyway...

We've got a budding superhero with a particular love of Batman. So it was a Batman-themed birthday this month, which gave me the opportunity to pair this oh-so-cool Batman panel with flannel from an orphaned top sheet (the bottom finally wore beyond repair but the top was fine) to create a blankie that is cool on at least two levels:

• First, it's Batman - hello! You can't get much cooler than that.
• Second, our little man sleeps hot and told me months ago (that's right - in the middle of winter) that he needed a "cold" blanket. So I didn't put anything between the layers.

Good job on the Batman cake, mama!

I was so pleased the easiness and results that I posted directions for this super simple lightweight blankie over at Quilting and Sewing with Kids.

And you certainly can't have a birthday without a cake...

Didn't his mama do a great job?

So...what does this have to do with Christmas Prep? Well, remember that Christmas Prep for me includes all gift-giving occasions throughout the year and a birthday for a five-year-old is most certainly a gift-giving occasion!

Cause and Effect in Time Management

I'm not sure I get what Mr. Bennett is trying to say in chapter 10 of How to Live on 24 Hours a Day. I get how cause and effect relates to time management and I even agree (for the most part) that nothing in life is humdrum - I just don't see what this chapter has to do with the title and subject matter of this book. But I'm including it so that the book is complete. Read on, if you like, and if you get it, please let me know what I missed!

All the posted chapters of How to Live on 24 Hours a Day are available by clicking the label, below.

How Do You Use Your Idle Time?

What idle time? Does anyone actually have any idle time? Yes, most folks do - even the busiest usually have at least a few moments that aren't scheduled each day. Do you watch television? Ok - there's your idle time.

Arnold Bennett seems to be particularly interested in promoting valuable use of idle time. And I think he's on to something! If you use your idle time to cultivate your mind by studying something you're actually interested in, it won't be so painful. Chapter nine of How to Live on 24 Hours a Day addresses cultivating an interest in the arts. And how does this help with time management? Well, it enhances your ability to focus, right?

All posts featuring this time-management classic can be seen by clicking the How to Live on 24 Hours a Day label, below.

Know Thyself

In chapter eight of How to Live on 24 Hours a Day, Arnold Bennett questions how much time you spend in "deliberate consideration of your reason, principles and conduct." Say what? Who has the time or inclination? Well, read on and see if he makes a believer out of you.

Other chapters from How to Live on 24 Hours a Day can be found by clicking the label, below.

A Bit of Mother's Day History

Photo courtesy of Karen Balvin, Sunlitway Photography

Mother’s Day dates back to ancient Greece where spring celebrations and religious festivals were held in honor of Rhea, the Mother of the Gods. In Rome, people held a festival as a tribute to goddess Magna Mater (Great Mother) in as early as 250 B.C. Both Greek and Roman cultures worshipped mother goddesses in various festivals.

In England, 17th century Christians held a feast to honor Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. Eventually, a religious order expanded the scope of this holiday to include all mothers in England. Since then, the holiday named Mothering Sunday has been held every fourth Sunday of Lent.

In the United States, Anna Jarvis is credited for starting the celebration of Mother’s Day. Her inspiration for passionately promoting the holiday came from her mother, who raised 11 children. During the second week of May two years after her mother’s death, Jarvis asked her mother’s parish to celebrate Mother’s Day. She also started a campaign that sought to establish a holiday to honor both living and dead mothers, hoping that it would reinforce family ties and increase respect for mothers. Her dream became a reality on May 8, 1914 when U.S. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed a national holiday for honoring mothers to be held every second Sunday of May.

Have YOU called your mom today?

How to Cultivate Your Mind

Ok, I'll spoil this chapter for you and just say it:

Developing your ability to concentrate is the key to getting things done and living a full life.

Sounds simple, right? Well, it's a simple concept but not so easy to do. But fear not! In chapter seven of How to Live on 24 Hours a Day, Arnold Bennett lays out how anyone can gain control over their own mind. All you need is perseverance.

To read all the posted chapters from Arnold Bennett's classic time-management book, click on the How to Live on 24 Hours a Day label (below).

Enjoy Craftsy Mini-Courses FREE!

It's no secret that I am now a total Craftsy junkie and the next 2 free Craftsy mini-courses I'm going to take are:

1. QuiltCon Lecture Series 2013 - Beings I wasn't in Austin for the Modern Quilt Guild's inaugural QuiltCon, I can watch some of the lectures from the event FREE! Can't wait to see what Heather Jones, Angela Walters, David and Amy Butler, Jacquie Gering, and Mary Fons have to say...
2. The Hand Painted Cake - Not sure I'll ever want to paint a cake but I'd sure like to see Erin Schaefgen's freehand painting techniques to create beautiful and edible works of art!

Check out all of the other free Craftsy mini-courses by clicking here. And if the links in this post don't take you straight to the free classes, just type 'free' into the search box. Enjoy!

Idleness and Effective Time Management

Everyone needs time off. Yes, even time off from improving your life - especially as we get older. The sixth chapter of How to Live on 24 Hours a Day by Arnold Bennett highlights the necessity of idleness for effective time management.

As always, click on the How to Live on 24 Hours a Day label link (below) to see other posts in this series.