by pattyptakkogutek | Mar 22, 2016 | inspiration
As we have pedal to the metal cycling through life, the commercial world is preparing for the upcoming holiday, stacking the boxes of chocolate bunnies, arranging the colorful bags of jelly beans, and displaying the sweet smelling Easter lilies permeating the...
by pattyptakkogutek | Mar 15, 2016 | inspiration
Pull out the green, today is St. Patricks’ Day! It’s the perfect time to eat corned beef and cabbage as we reflect on luck, good fortune, blessings, and abundance! Do you ever look at people whispering, “Gee, that was a great promotion for him …how lucky”? “Wish I...
by pattyptakkogutek | Mar 7, 2016 | inspiration
When you hear the word “religion” do the Ten Commandments, a list of dos and don’ts, and an image of an old bearded God, sitting behind His ledger, come to mind? Well the good news is here! We can break away from the “practice of religion” and enjoy the freedom and...
by pattyptakkogutek | Mar 1, 2016 | inspiration
Did you feel the adjustment on Feb. 29th? 2016, being a leap year adds an extra day at the end of Feb. Every four years it is necessary to rearrange our calendars to slow down to reflect the solar system’s disparity with the Gregorian calendar. A complete orbit of the...
by pattyptakkogutek | Feb 23, 2016 | inspiration
Sunsets captivate us, holding us flatfooted staring off into space waiting for God’s light show. People drop whatever they are doing turning their attention to the colorful display bringing daytime to an end. God’s paintbrush brings many lessons with it. Why are...
by pattyptakkogutek | Feb 14, 2016 | inspiration
What a waste of time and energy we expend! Most of our stamina during the day is spent on things/activities that don’t really matter. We are bombarded with pressures to accomplish this, acquire that, and measure up to someone else’s standard. We go to bed a night with...
by pattyptakkogutek | Feb 8, 2016 | inspiration
February is the month dedicated to love with Valentine’s Day, the traditional day set aside to show someone how much we care for them. For the youngsters, little lacey “love-you” notes and sugary colored candy hearts with lovey messages reach out to others. For us...
by pattyptakkogutek | Feb 1, 2016 | inspiration
Last week I celebrated my birthday! Amid the thoughtful celebratory cards, special meals, desserts, and remembrances, I managed to carve out some special reflection time re-reading the words from Oscar Wilde: The two most important days in your life: the day you were...
by pattyptakkogutek | Jan 26, 2016 | inspiration
We all want to be “happy”, but what does that mean to you? Being happy is kind of a general nebulous term. Is happiness different for each person? We’ve all heard that money can’t buy happiness but where do we get it? Being happy is a life long endeavor. Happiness is...
by pattyptakkogutek | Jan 19, 2016 | inspiration
Everyone seeks perfection. The score of the perfect 10, the perfect attendance award, and the perfect football season act as carrots in front of our noses motivating us to be our best. After an almost perfect unbeaten season, the Carolina Panthers finally lost…their...
by pattyptakkogutek | Jan 11, 2016 | inspiration
All time favorite song by Simon and Garfunkel tells us how to enjoy life and “feel groovy”. Slow down, you’re moving too fast…You gotta make the moment last! One of Gandhi’s observations is in total agreement with this great advice: “There is more to life...
by pattyptakkogutek | Jan 5, 2016 | inspiration
“He just needs a little patience”, the television football analyst chimed in as the sideline coach pulled his new inexperienced quarterback out of the game for throwing an interception. Who could guess that we could learn one of life’s most important lessons from one...
by pattyptakkogutek | Dec 29, 2015 | inspiration
As the year winds down, we usually take a quick inventory reflecting on our lives to see where there is room for improvement. With pen in hand we quickly make resolutions to reach some “ideal” in the New Year. Society, also dumps a burden on us to “better ourselves”...
by pattyptakkogutek | Dec 22, 2015 | inspiration
During this season, I think we need a double shot…a double shot of reflection time centering on peace…peace within…and peace “without”…. My gift and prayer for each of you today is two fold: Vince Gill singing “Let There Be Peace on Earth” and St. Francis’s Prayer for...
by pattyptakkogutek | Dec 15, 2015 | inspiration
‘Tis the Season for WOW! The magical season, not only for children, but for all those pure of heart. It’s a religious celebration that is skewed with commercial demands, pulling us sometimes “apart at the seams.” Last year I shared a book that my dear friend,...
