Sunday Post: People: Who Are the Most Important People in Your Life?

Posted on by

Jake at Time after Time has a Sunday Post Challenge and every week he provides a theme…this week’s theme is PEOPLE.

When I saw the theme, I immediately began thinking of the most important people in my life.  First, I thought of my husband.  We’ve been married over 45 years and still enjoy sitting on the couch, watching a good movie and walking down a country lane, hand in hand, talking about anything and everything under the sun.  Yes, I know, we are so very fortunate.

A WORD TO THE WISE:  Every relationship has its ups and downs and no one is perfect.  We all make mistakes…don’t be ashamed to say, “I’m sorry!”  Be consistent, be compassionate and think before you speak.

Then I thought about my children and grandchildren.  I love spending time with them…and count myself fortunate that they enjoy spending time with me as well.

WORD TO THE WISE:  Parenting young children is a difficult task…you need patience and energy and lots of love.  We all make mistakes…don’t be ashamed to say “I’m sorry!”  Be consistent, be compassionate and think before you speak.

Then I thought about my friends…some I’ve known for many years.  Jane and I met each other when we were only two years old…we played house and Superman and colored in coloring books and had picnics together in the park.  When we each got married, we continued that friendship and now, after sixty-three years, although we live thousands of miles apart, we are close in heart and soul.

WORD TO THE WISE: Friendship is a skill we need to teach our kids…how to care for and respect one another.  We all make mistakes…don’t be ashamed to say, “I’m sorry!”  Be consistent, be compassionate and think before you speak.

Then I thought about the friends I have made this past year in the blogging community…especially those who blog about writing and illustrating for children.  There are dozens of them…authors, illustrators, librarians, teachers, moms…and they inspire and encourage me to pursue my dream of seeing my own children’s picture books on the bookshelves of libraries and homes around the world.

Does this dream sound familiar?  Would you like to pursue your writing in an unbelievable setting?  Have you always wanted to go to Italy, but hesitated because you didn’t want to go alone or with a group of travelers with whom you have nothing in common?  Here is your golden opportunity to spend a week in Italy, learning and writing with a fantastic group of like-minded women.

A writer friend of mine has organized an amazing retreat for women writers in Florence, Italy.  It will take place from April 7-13, 2013. I cannot attend, but you might like to go. Julie has an overview of the retreat on her website, plus specific information about the Program, Faculty, Accommodation and Rates. If you do register, please let Julie know I sent you!

 

We have ten more days for nominations to give a dozen free copies of Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cookingto schools or other childcare facilities.  Nominate your child’s school, or your own school if you are a teacher, in the Show Me How School Initiative by leaving a comment and telling us why you’d like that school or classroom to have this book.  If you don’t have young children, but know people who do, please tell them about the free book their child’s school can receive!  Please tweet this or spread the word across any of your social media networks.  At the beginning of October we will use Random.org to choose 12 lucky schools.

Author and educator Susan Case just did a fantastic review of Show Me How! on her Kindergarten Basics blog.  Click on the link if you’d like to see what she thinks about this award-winning resource that makes planning activities and spending quality time with your kids a SNAP!

Want to scoop up a copy of Show Me How! while you can still get FREE SHIPPING and a BONUS GIFT?  Please visit my book’s website.

Want more information about Jake’s Sunday Post?

http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/

Related articles

47 thoughts on “Sunday Post: People: Who Are the Most Important People in Your Life?”

  1. Lovely post, Vivian. So true that the basics of all relationships are the same. “We all make mistakes…don’t be ashamed to say, “I’m sorry!” Be consistent, be compassionate and think before you speak.” Thank you for this. And great shout-out for Julie’s Renaissance Retreat!

    Like

    Reply ↓

  2. It is a lovely post Vivian and like Beth I agree the true basics with any relationship, loved one, or friends is the same “we all make mistakes… don’t be ashamed to say sorry, be consistant and compassionate….” It is something to live by. Lovely shout out for Julie’s Retreat. I so wish I was going…. sigh! Maybe next time, and we both go…lol!

    Like

    Reply ↓

    • Thank you, Jake! Family ties are so important…but also difficult sometimes…after all, we chose our friends, not our family members. Perhaps if we encourage kids to learn to resolve famiy conflicts when they are young, they will be better at long-term relationships later on. 🙂

      Like

      Reply ↓

  4. What a lovely post, Vivian, and so very true. It’s the people in our lives, the relationships we have, that matter more than anything. Thanks for sharing. And I wish I could go to Italy, but it’s not in the cards for me just now. I’ll have to hear all about it when they get back 🙂

    Like

    Reply ↓

    • Family is so very important! And good friends as well! Glad you liked the post, Susanna…and regarding the Renaissance Retreat, perhaps 2014 for us…if Julie does it again. It really sounds like an amazing opportunity and experience. 🙂

      Like

      Reply ↓

  6. Vivian, you always tie Jake’s prompt in so beautifully about children, and today you covered all relationships.
    My hubby always asks, (referring to marriage), “Do you want to right, or do you want to be happy?” 🙂

    Like

    Reply ↓

    • Oh, that makes me smile, Tracy…I’ve heard that before. 🙂 Is he the one that wants to be right…or are you? 🙂 As long as one of the people in a relationship wants to be happy, instead of being right, you are good to go. 🙂 🙂 Although I guess I,personally, don’t ever HAVE to be right…because I KNOW I am. 🙂 🙂 🙂 So I guess you could say I am the one that wants to be happy. 🙂
      Hope that brought a smile to your face. 🙂

      Like

      Reply ↓

        • I think that is all we can do…own our own stuff. 😉 Unless we are willing to give up a ‘normal’ life and become a full-time activist and either lobby or legislate. Perhaps we if we do our best to be loving and caring and nurturing and limit-setting and consequence-expecting and self-esteem building with our little circle of those we can influence, we will have done a good thing. 😉 I really appreciate your insightful comment…history is not encouraging. 🙂

          Like

          Reply ↓

  11. Pingback: SUNDAY POST : People | Simply Charming

    • We always have fun when we go fishing…and we never keep the fish…it’s just lovely to be in that type of pastoral setting.  For me, it’s a challenge to see if I can get the fish to take the fly…I’m thrilled when they get off the hook…then I don’t have to pick them up and unhook them. 🙂  Thanks for following me!   

      Like

      Reply ↓

  13. Sensational Christmas photo Vivian! I definitely know where I’m going wrong though- I almost never think before I open my mouth. Constantly averting disaster!
    I’ve always wanted to see Florence and some day hope to persuade the better half, but will take a look at your friend’s visit plans, just in case.

    Like

    Reply ↓

    • Hahaha…well, speaking before one thinks is at least a little better than writing and posting before one thinks! Once you click the send button on the computer, your words will live on…forever! 🙂
      The retreat is quite inviting, Jo…thanks for giving Julie’s plans a look-see!

      Like

      Reply ↓

    • It’s amazing, isn’t it, Lisa!  I wish I could make it happen…but it’s just not in the cards for me.  However, I wanted to let others know about it because there are still a couple of places left…and it is a super opportunity for any woman writer who wants to go to Europe!   

      Like

      Reply ↓

  16. Very giving post Vivian.
    Italy will be a blast, I’m sure!

    As for the book, I am associated with Friends for Mental Health – an organization that supports people who support their family members who are plagued with mental illness.
    Within this area are of course – the children of people who are battling mental illness.
    Friends for Mental Health run an art therapy/activity group for small groups of children to share and gain a good sense of themselves against difficult odds.
    I think, Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking, would be a wonderful tool for the animator. (It is in the Montreal area)

    thanks for the wisdom here 🙂

    Like

    Reply ↓

    • Lesley…I so appreciate your thoughtful comment! I will be happy to enter the Friends for Mental Health in Montreal in the nominations to win a free copy of Show Me How! I’d also be grateful if you would pass the information along to their directors…the book is available for shipment to Canada through my website and also on Amazon. 🙂
      The Renaissance Writer’s Retreat sounds amazing, I know. 😉

      Like

      Reply ↓

    • Thank you, Laura! Coke and all the big companies think it is worthwhile to spend billions of dollars on saying the same thing over and over in order to get people to buy their product. Perhaps if I continue to post about building self-esteem, helping kids gain confidence in themselves, using compassion and respect in all of our relationships…that message will be embraced by many. 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed the post!

      Like

      Reply ↓

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.