by pattyptakkogutek | Aug 24, 2015 | inspiration
Life is a school. Sylvia Bowne compares it to high school with classes that we take, learning life’s lessons. Sylvia reassures us that we don’t have to “ace” these various classes; we merely need to get through them. The experience is where our growth lies. In this...
by pattyptakkogutek | Aug 18, 2015 | inspiration
As I learned in my Hospice training, there are two miracles in life: birth and death. We all celebrate birth and seem to approach death with fear. After the many responses to my posts concerning death, I realized that many of us struggle with the unknown. A gentleman...
by pattyptakkogutek | Aug 11, 2015 | inspiration
I read fear in my 92-year old mom’s eyes. Never knowing my mother of German descent to be fearful of anything, I asked, “Are you afraid of dying?” She admitted yes, identifying that the fear of the unknown gripped her mind. I pushed, “Aren’t you excited to get to...
by pattyptakkogutek | Aug 5, 2015 | inspiration
“Ice cream is proof that God wants us to be happy,” read the sign as I drove down highway 93. I do believe that happiness works as a paramount factor in our lives, not just a good feeling or smiley face, but true joy springing up within. I do believe that true...
by pattyptakkogutek | Jul 29, 2015 | inspiration
Headed back to MT from a wonderful 10 day vacation in Idaho and Wyoming, Joe motored the car to Interstate 15 bound northward home to Whitefish. Before we even neared the onramp we were pulled over by one of Idaho’s finest highway patrol. Joe had been clocked for...
by pattyptakkogutek | Jul 21, 2015 | inspiration
We all need returns on our investments. Return on Investment (ROI) isn’t just a term for financial purposes any longer. Betty Liu, Bloomberg Television anchor gives it a little twist, in her recent article, “4 Weird Time Saving Habits of Highly Successful People”....
by pattyptakkogutek | Jul 13, 2015 | inspiration
Reflecting our culture’s obsession for the pretty and the attractive, the interviewing host quizzed the strikingly beautiful news anchorwomen, “What do you do to maintain your well-toned shape?” Without missing a beat she replied, “I do something that makes me sweat...
by pattyptakkogutek | Jul 7, 2015 | inspiration
My visiting parents, securely fastened in their seat belts, remained silent as our Land Cruiser climbed the steep incline of the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier Park. When we first moved to Montana, I was eager to show off this spectacular sight to mom and dad....
by pattyptakkogutek | Jun 29, 2015 | inspiration
Have you ever been so frazzled that you felt like a rag doll pulled in a million directions? Driving to my first of two appointments last Monday, (on opposite sides of town) I tired to enjoy the silence and beauty of the drive. I never have the radio on, and very...
by pattyptakkogutek | Jun 23, 2015 | inspiration
For most of my life I have made decisions from a fear-based approach. They say that you move through life motivated by either love or fear. During the past weekend celebrating Father’s Day I realized that my decisions were primarily based on fear – pleasing my...
by pattyptakkogutek | Jun 17, 2015 | inspiration
A couple of weeks ago I urged us all to use Anne Lamott’s short one word prayers, “Help, Thanks, Wow”. But I stand corrected! I received this comment and I think “Grandma’s interpretation” is spot on giving us an ever better, BEST PRACTICE IN PRAYER. “I mix...
by pattyptakkogutek | Jun 8, 2015 | inspiration
With the celebration of Memorial Day still vivid in my mind, I recalled visiting the World War II museum last year. The interactive museum sparked many new feelings, thoughts, and raised my appreciation of what our whole world endured. This informative day in the...
by pattyptakkogutek | Jun 1, 2015 | inspiration
Yes to both, on my behalf last week. I returned from my 50th high school reunion exhausted and finally caved in, calling “uncle” to the cold bug that had been nagging at my health for days. Now both sick and tired. I can’t even remember that last time I was sick. I’m...
by pattyptakkogutek | May 26, 2015 | inspiration
Do you look over the fence of your life in envy of your neighbor’s happiness? There is a joke: When you’re young, you want to be old. When you’re old, you want to me young. When you’re single, you want to be married, and when you’re married, you want to be...
by pattyptakkogutek | May 19, 2015 | inspiration
Does your head swim thinking how much there is to do and so little time to do it? I remember reading about “time warps” and now I think I live in one. I just returned from my 50th high school reunion from Marian High in Omaha, NE. I so looked forward to our get...
