Tag Archive | Friends

Benefits of Interacting With Like-Minded People

Have you ever felt that pull or draw to a person but couldn’t really figure out why? The answer may be as simple as…

You Are Like-Minded

People who share the same opinions, ideas, interests, hobbies, passions, or side hustles are most often described as being like-minded. Yep… and the more you get to know them you often find you are like-minded in more than one area.

People who are like minded often are:

Agreeable
Harmonious
Concurring
Simular
United
Compatible
Unanimous

Wow…Those are some really positive words to describe a relationship!!!

Nowhere in that list did you see words like:

Argumentative
Frustrating
Fragmented
Incompatable
Divided
Disagreeable

Yes, you got it…those are some really negative words to describe relationships with people who are not like-minded.

I don’t know about you but I personally crave relationships with like-minded people. Having been brought up in a home where there was constant discord, I prefer peace and harmony. Is that always possible?

No…Emphatically NO!!!

Everyone is unique and has their own individual likes and dislikes, opinions, and mannerisms. Besides, if everyone were like-minded it would be like the movie “The Stepford Wives”. While being around people who are not like-minded often challenges us to see life through a different lens and have to struggle to be patient, kind, and even tolerant at times. All of that is a lot of work though!

I don’t know about you but for me, life is hard enough as it is…I need:

Encouragement when I’m down
Someone cheering me on
Someone to celebrate my wins
Someone to see me
To feel relevant

Like-minded people do all that and more!!!

If you haven’t found your tribe of Like-Minded people, here are some ideas to help!

Get social. Not scrolling through Facebook, Instagram or TikTok but by joining a group. Search for groups within those platforms that have commonalities with you. I personally have joined many!
- Keto Groups
- LeJune Healthy Living
- Bustling Booth
- French Farmhouse Style
- Bwood Class of 79
- Chabby Chic and Pretty Things
- Chalk Painting Tips and Tricks
- Elegant Decor, Fashion, and Scenery
- Romantic Homes and Gardens
- How to Paint Amazing Furniture
- Angleton High School Friends
- Dream Homes and Gardens
- English Cottages/ Country Gardens & Home Ideas
- Tablescaping- The Art of Dressing A Table
Start a group. If you can’t find a group that you jive with then start one!
- I Did: A Love Lee Design
- Debbie Egg Did: LaJune Healthy Living
- Sarah Booth Did: Bustling Booth

You will know immediately if you are connected with Like-Minded people because:

The relationship will be easy, not forced
You will feel peace; not turmoil
You will have fun
You will feel motivated

Seek people you connect with and keep an open mind because you never know where you might find them!!!

How ‘Bout A Cup of Coffee?

Feb13

fullsizeoutput_252c

Richard and I have always enjoyed coffee in the morning but it was in 2005 I learned to appreciate afternoon coffee. I even remember the exact moment our afternoon coffee ritual began…

We were living in Jones Creek, Richard was swinging on the porch swing and I was sweeping the patio when he said, “Baby, come sit with me and have a cup of coffee”. It was in that very moment I realized my husband didn’t care if the patio was swept…He desired my company and wanted my undivided attention. We sat in that swing for the longest time talking, laughing, and just loving each other.

The next day, I was working in the flowerbeds when I looked up and there was my precious husband holding two cups of coffee and he says, “How ’bout a cup of coffee”. I took off my gloves, set the rake aside, and made my way to the swing where we sat and once again shared memories of the girls, talked of the joys of being grandparents, and planned our future projects. Each day we would sit and have afternoon coffee and before I realized it, we had established a routine. Then, on the days he had to work I found myself craving a cup of coffee and our “together time”.

While that patio was one of my most favorite places to sit together, we have since found many places we love to have our afternoon coffee…floating in the pool, sitting by a camp fire, riding on a golf cart, sitting in the park, or our most recent…Sitting on a pier overlooking the lake at our daughter and son-in-laws home.

For Richard and me, coffee has become the code word for quality time. He recognized his “worker bee/ results oriented” wife did not know how or was ever allowed to just sit and relax. Not only did he teach me the art of relaxing, he also showed me the value of quality time, the importance of communication, how to dream and plan for the future. Richard believed in me and invested in me and while drinking coffee we have become closer friends.

Is there someone in your life worth investing your time in…someone you want to be closer to? A sister, brother, parent, friend, classmate, or co-worker?

Perhaps all you need to do is ask them…

“How ‘Bout A Cup of Coffee?”

Be ready…Some may not be willing to allow you to get close to them while others may try to suck the life right out of you. You will never know if your investment of time will be worth it unless you are willing to test the waters while visiting over that first cup of coffee…

13912342_10204986796549643_3844331040066393600_n

Do You Feel Lonely or Forgotten

Feb7

Most of My Entire Married Life, I Have Been…ALONE and At Times Felt LONELY

Being Alone is not an easy place to be for many. In-fact the divorce rate jumps from an average of 11% to 57% among shift workers because the shift workers spouses are so lonely.

As the spouse of a shift worker, I often find myself “alone”. Though I have a fabulous marriage and adore Richard with every fiber of my being and I know he adores me…I am often alone and at times find myself lonely (There is a difference in being alone and being lonely). In our earlier years it was less obvious because we had children and they filled my void. As I have gotten older and our children have left the nest…I have filled my lonely days with Work, Projects, Facebook, Blogging, and of course…Retail Therapy.

However, as I have gotten older, I have also come to realize there is something far worse than being lonely…

Being Forgotten!

In my current role as Director of Nursing in a Skilled Nursing Facility I have become keenly aware that being forgotten is far worse than being lonely. Loneliness can be remedied through touch, conversation, laughter, and activities. There is however only one remedy for Forgotten and it is being Remembered by those the love!!!

Forgotten Can be a Subtle Transition or Blatant and Purposeful

Forgotten can gradually evolve when your children learn a new level of independence…When they learn to toilet alone, dress themselves, cut up their own meat, cook their own meals, drive themselves, leave home, get married, have children and develop adult friendships and hobbies. While this is a natural and essential process of maturing…One feels Forgotten!

Forgotten can occur when a friend moves away or you able to witness them develop and nurture new friendships via social media and all the while calls and contacts are farther and fewer between…One Feels Forgotten!

Forgotten can also occur when families grow apart or together without you…One Feels Forgotten!

Here are Some ways I have found to cope with being Lonely or Forgotten…

Be realistic: Everyone gets left out
Look honestly at the situation: Seek like-minded people
Make a choice to be better not bitter: Don’t wallow in self-pity
Smile: Makes people wonder what you’re up to
Try not to read too much into being left out: Look for the simplest explanation first
Find something to do: This will distract you
Talk to your spouse or a trusted friend about your feelings: It helps to have someone to keep you grounded
Listen openly to their responses: Feedback provides an opportunity for growth
Be proactive: Take the initiative to reach out to those who want to be a part of your life
Heed the message: Remove yourself from those who drag you down and make you feel alone and forgotten

Always Remember…

A Season of Loneliness and Isolation is When the Caterpillar Gets its Wings

How Juicy Do We Want to Be

Dec30

So, You Work Hard to Be the Best You Can Be…

What Happened???

You brush your teeth, wear a smile, comb your hair, and put on clean clothes

You read your Bible on a regular basis, pray, and walk in love

What on Earth is Wrong With Me…Why Don’t They Like Me?

We have all wanted to be liked or accepted…To “Fit In”. Waiting for that friend or family member to accept us, desire our presence, call us, send us an email, or post on our wall on Face Book, or include us in gatherings. Then we discover we were the one eliminated from that “Get Together” that was “thrown together at the last moment”…I’m sure we all remember a time we felt ostracized.

Well, my friend, it just may not be us…We just may be the ripest, juiciest peaches in the world but if someone doesn’t like peaches…It is not going to matter how perfect we are!!!

So, step back and evaluate the following about those you desire to associate yourself with…

How do they make me feel?
How do I act when I am with them?
What do we talk about when we are together? Are the Love Lee Thoughts?
Do they pursue you or do they come around because you pursue them?

By answering the questions above honestly we may discover, the relationships with friends and family we want so badly may not be the healthiest relationships for our lives. Perhaps God altered their taste to protect us from the negative effects these people have on our lives. Does it hurt…Yes!!! and this is because we think we “Need” these people in our lives. But in-fact, we would be much juicier and sweeter peaches if we place ourselves in the company of those who desire us, esteem us, and love us.

So, as the New Year approaches perhaps we might want to consider is…

“How Juicy Do We Want to Be”

Treat Them Like Royalty

Jul27

Oh my, company is coming!!!

So the ritual begins…

You clean the house…Fresh towels in the bathroom, clean linens on the bed, scrub the commodes, spray a few squirts of room freshener and light a candle.
Then you begin meal preparation…Plan the menu, buy the food, bake a dessert, and pull out your best dishes…

Whoah…Wait!!!

While you want your company to feel at home, comfortable, and be impressed, I ask what about the ones you love and live with; those who are your world? Routinely we should do the very things for our family we typically do for company because after all aren’t they the most important people in your world and don’t you want them to know it?

Here are a few ideas to make your family feel special:

Put out fresh towels in the bathroom for your children
Routinely change their linens
Place a vase of fresh-cut flowers next to their bed with a love note on their pillow
Burn a candle
Turn off the TV and turn on some music
Served a sit down meal on your best dishes
Bake some cookies
Put a roast, chicken, or ham in the oven so the house if filled with the aroma of a home cooked meal

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 1Peter 4:10

Do for your family what you would do for company…

Treat Them Like Royalty!!!

Love Lee ♥

Let There Be Light

Jun5

For all who have visited our home in Jones Creek know all too well the importance of light in my life. In-fact, anyone who passed our home could see the lights from the street as the electric candles burned in every window to illuminate our home.

These electric candles burn 24/7 as a symbol of life to all who pass by. Life, love, and hope that filles our home served as a beacon for all to join us in our celebration. In-fact, prior to moving, I received a card from a neighbor thanking me for keeping the candles burning throughout the night. She suffered from a chronic illness and spent many sleepless nights gazing out her window across the street at our lights stating they served as a symbol of hope for her. One of the saddest moments I experienced when we moved was unplugging my lights and packing them away.

As I unpacked boxes in our new home, I came across the lights. I debated about putting them in the windows but got side tracked and put the box aside and totally forgot about them. After dinner last night, Richard said, “Hey Babe, can you come here for a minute?”. I followed him outside to the front of the house and Oh My Gosh…The entire front of the house was glowing! He had unpacked my lights…

Let There Be Light…We are Home Now!

Love Lee ♥

You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light. 2 Samuel 22:29

Living a Cookie Cutter Life

Sep21

Lately our lives have been consumed with looking at house plans. This is it… our shot to get what we want. As I look through the plans I have discovered often the exterior of the home is different but the floor plan is the same or the floor plan is different but the exterior has been changed. Then I think to myself “didn’t I just look at that one?”

Looking at house plans reminds me of people. We often times look for what is popular, in-style, or what other’s think and incorporate those looks, characteristics, or whatever into our lives. So much so we lose track of who we are. I call this…

Living a Cookie Cutter Life

Cookie cutter lives is a life where we do, say, and live just like the next person. There is nothing to set us apart from the rest of the world. We do not live life to its fullest because we are so busy trying to be like the next person or fitting in.

What a tragedy…

Over the past six years I have learned to embrace my uniqueness. I don’t want to be like everyone else. I want to live a life set apart; one that is my own, led by my Father, unique, and distinctive.

My Father created me to be me…Not you, my mother, my sister, or my best friend…ME!!!

I celebrate the “me”, He created me to be and NO more…

Living a Cookie Cutter Life

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…” Jeremiah 1:5

God is not a respecter of persons…He set you apart too!

Love Lee ♥

Just for Today

Aug30

Close your eyes, take a deep breath and imagine with me…

What would the world be like if everyone walked in love…Just for today
What would the world be like if everyone spoke with kindness…Just for today
What would the world be like if everyone helped their neighbor…Just for today
What would the world be like if everyone allowed someone to go to the head of the line…Just for today
What would the world be like if everyone offered a meal to the hungry…Just for today
What would the world be like if everyone was non-judgemental…Just for Today
What would the world be like if everyone put others first…Just for Today
What would the world be like if everyone omitted the words “me” and “I”…Just for Today
What would the world be like if everyone cared…Just for Today

We are only promised this moment in time. To chose to make an impact on the world… Just for Today allows us to breaks down lifetime goals into manageable components of time. We remove so much stress and pressure when we wake up and say…

Just for Today

For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. Deuteronomy 30:16

Love Lee ♥

Ask for Help Before You Melt

Aug20

In life we teach our children life skills with hopes they grow up as law-abiding, moral, responsible and self-sufficient adults. However, what we often fail to teach them or what we may have failed to learn ourselves is…sometimes we need help! In this perfectionist model the need for assistance is often translated as failure.

Because we learn this as we grow-up often it becomes a blow to our egos when we realize we can’t do it alone or even we are not the right person to do it at all…As an ICU nurse I learned it takes teamwork and it is ok to ask for help. Without help we can become fragile and vulnerable.

Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things, but just look at what they can do when they stick together~Unknown

I love this saying!!!

Snowflakes, while fragile they are also unique and it is the intricate shapes that make them unique. As the single snowflake begins to melt all the snow looses its uniqueness it also looses its magnitude. It is no longer remains beautiful fluffy white snow but instead becomes water or ice.

To summarize…

We are fragile beings
We are unique beings
When we stick together with other fragile and unique beings we can accomplish so much more
When we keep our uniqueness we are easily identified
When our uniqueness dissolves we become just like everyone else and are not as effective to the team

Most importantly…

Ask for Help Before You Melt…

Love Lee ♥

Take a Good Look in The Mirror

Jul27

Have you found yourself…

Laughing at a joke you didn’t find funny?
In a place you have no desire to be?
Engaging in a conversation you don’t want to have?
Wearing clothes you don’t enjoy wearing?
Doing things you don’t enjoy doing?

Have you asked yourself why…I believe human beings are so hard on themselves and seek the affirmation of others to validate their existence. They often say and do things in order to “fit in” or “be liked” and lose their unique identity in doing so.

I love this quote by Susan Jeffers…