Category Archives: parents

SOAPBOX of the week: a wish for tireless thankfulness

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A special feast from the book “Pure Soapbox”…  SOAPBOX vignette #57

thanks•giv•ing – n. an act of giving thanks; an expression of gratitude

Hope you’re hungry, because this timely concoction of culinary soapboxing doles out not one, but two servings of epicurean delight to drive home a notion that so very many of us have overlooked, and continue to pass over.

In black and white, the operative word here is giving. Needless to say, the actual form of the thanks takes on as much importance as the act itself. Some slaps on the back are best soft-served with a smile. Still, this world-renowned date for thanks-giving has been anchored in time by our forefathers in an unyielding attempt to showcase its kinetic nature. And so, I ask that you humor me with this two-for-one homage to the aromatic brilliance of a few of connoisseurs of the Canon.

1st Course
“Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart
 as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds.”   – Theodore Roosevelt, U.S. President

You are the main ingredient and you’re alive and kicking! You may even have all your fingers and toes, as well as a college education, and the luxury of pushing pause to digest this meal of literary morsels. Burrow in and bear- hugbearhug the irrefutable fact that you are truly blessed, and, in turn, equally limitless in opportunities to show appreciation for the gifts you’ve received.

2nd Course
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation  is not to utter words, but to live by them.”     – John Fitzgerald Kennedy, U.S. president

Go ahead and dish ‘em out however you choose, stuffed between hors d’oeuvres or piled high atop Mom’s fabulous pecan pie. Fifty bucks says your belly-full sensation of satisfaction comes not from the feast of fruitcake, but from your dynamic expression of thanks for the boundless bounties before you. Fill your Tupperware with these leftovers…and season the rest of your days with provisions that’ll never spoil…regardless of the cook!

 

Copyright 2000-2008 by Kimberlie Dykeman.  Excerpt from Pure Soapbox… a cleansing jolt of perspective, motivation, and humor, published July 2008.
Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold.
A portion of the proceeds of all book sales is donated to LIVESTRONG.

SOAPBOX of the week: freedom in forgiveness

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“To carry a grudge is like being stung to death by a bee.”    – Anon.

So the story goes: somebody did you wrong and you’re ticked and keeping score.  To err may be human, you think, but this one’s inexcusable.  Revenge is in order…or at least the silent treatment!  And in one fell swoop, spite invades your body and distracts your mind with anger, resentment and ego and an unyielding agenda for self-preservation.  Your choice to neither forgive nor forget fills your spirit with funk and erases years from your very lifeline.  When you aim to crucify another for wrongdoing, ironically, the bigger wrong is done by you.  Folks, drop the grudge and wipe the scoreboard, ‘cause it’s only time until the show is on the other foot.  Lessons learned in absolution now will save both face and friendship.

Copyright 2008 by Kimberlie Dykeman 

Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold.

A portion of the proceeds of all book sales is donated to LIVESTRONG.

SOAPBOX of the week: the beauty of painted bewilderment

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“The world doesn’t make sense, so why should I paint pictures that do.”      – Pablo Picasso

Left brain vs. right.  The creatives vs. the techies.  Realists vs. dreamers.  Subjectivity allows for ambiguity and confuses both sides when it comes to art.  And isn’t it funny how we magnify our opinions of painting and performance –spouting judgment, dismissing importance and demanding explanation.  As if we expect mathematical equation to give us a “why”.  Yet, without rhyme or reason we accept reality TV, love at first sight, dogs wearing clothing, people driving the speed limit, and Hostess Twinkies as “normal” and without question.  Point being, art reflects life, folks.  So embrace the confusion…each of us helps create it!

Copyright 2008 by Kimberlie Dykeman 

Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold.

A portion of the proceeds of all book sales is donated to LIVESTRONG.

SOAPBOX of the week: the sounding grace of almighty truth

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    “Truth is not a soundbite.  You have to stick around for the whole conversation.”     – Mary Anne Williamson, Author

Truth is innately simple. Almost naively so.  It presents itself without airs, fanfare, or candy-coated shell.  It is what it is and yearns to be hung out there as bare as possible.  When it becomes the center of attention in this divine, pure state, lives are changed immensely and tremendous things happen.  But when manipulated by the hands of society, the reduced, remixed version never reveals the whole story.  Beware but be open to researching the context and the real face-value of the words truth has been buried in…or omitted from entirely.  Stop, look and listen and the truth will come in loud and clear.

Copyright 2008 by Kimberlie Dykeman 

Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold.  Fabulous news updates at Pure Soapbox Newsroom.   A portion of the proceeds from all book sales is donated to LIVESTRONG.

SOAPBOX of the week: The future of our past-tense

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“History gets thicker as it approaches recent times.”     – A. J. P. Taylor, historian and journalist

Alas, history invariably repeats itself, proving the scholars and cynics right, time and time again.  Pun intended.  It’s as if the mirroring years were plucked from the past and layered right over the present; a heavy cloak, bringing with it economic struggles, familial strife, environmental trauma, global conflict, and basic issues of human evolution.  Indeed, it doesn’t take a genius to acknowledge the pattern.  But…purposefully paying mind to this replication might just prompt you to see its place in your own independent life.  Meaning, your own history repeating itself.  Meaning, witnessing the funk you’ve caused, experienced, or dodged…show up again!  Are there some lessons you would-could-should learned by now?  Conversely, have you forgotten all the glorious things that also happened along the way…and how you woulda-coulda-should helped them reproduce?  Perhaps, those fearsome forecasters wouldn’t lay on the guilt that we’re unavoidably doomed for burnt toast if we just worked smarter at getting the recipe right the first time around.

Copyright 2008 by Kimberlie Dykeman 

Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold.

A portion of the proceeds of all book sales is donated to LIVESTRONG.

SOAPBOX of the week: Tapping the little trooper within

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“What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight -it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”     – Dwight D. Eisenhower, president & general

I love a good underdog story, yes, pun intended.  Who doesn’t?  Where the ill-equipped, underdeveloped candidate steals the show with a surprising victory over the giant.  Be it in sports, politics, education or the corporate world, we tune in to hear the details with our emotions on our sleeves and pom-poms in hand.  Media and moviemakers have a field day delivering these tear-jerkers tales…for down deep we invariably identify with both conflict and hopeful contender.  There’s a “scrapper” in all of us, willing to throw down and champion a cause.  But regardless of the magnitude of the challenge, always trust that you’re armed with more than enough endurance, ammunition and chutzpah to match wits… and your triumphant stories will shield you beyond the ring.

Copyright 2008 by Kimberlie Dykeman 

Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold