All posts in category Be Content With Who You Are

Joy in Weathered Space


November 2011

“There comes a time when the world gets quiet and the only thing left is your own heart. So you’d better learn the sound of it. Otherwise you’ll never understand what it’s saying.” ― Sarah Dessen, Just Listen

When I started this blog in 2011 I had no idea what I was doing. But I had a lot of things going on in life. A lot of sadness. Not due to anything done to me personally. But a lot of circumstances affecting my dearest loved ones and, I guess you could say, the way I hurt for them and tried to help them resulted in my own deep, deep sadness. Hence, I started to write.

December 2011

Every year some new tragic circumstance hit. Numerous things. Fractured relationships, unusual illness, untimely deaths, even a destructive tornado I found myself right in the middle of.

May 2013

Loss, loss, loss. Each year I prayed for quiet and each year the tsunami’s came. And all this is just a fraction of everything.

January 2012

So I created SimplySage. I needed a “happy place”. A place to find joy in the midst of all the sadness surrounding me. Combined with faith and some good friends, I found an additional place of solace here. And I poured out myself to pull out joys in my everyday surroundings. Simple things, really.


February 2012

And as I looked around my eyes opened to ways that nature mirrors some of the sad times. Then, a long-buried hobby of photography revived. And suddenly I found solace in all the beauty that surrounded me. It was as if God opened my eyes to metaphors in nature. Like the one above. In the dead of winter, there bloomed brilliant orange. Wonders like these carried me to indescribable dimensions. Many of them I could not capture. A photo could never do them justice. All I could do was stand in awe.


March 2012

But I wrote and wrote and wrote. And the storms kept coming. And each year I’d wonder “what next?”


April 2012

Then 2017 hit. And guess what. It was a good year. Actually, an amazingly wonderful year. Yes, the bumps and nicks still came but it seemed to be nothing that absolutely cut you to the heart. And there was a lot of love and joy in 2017. Blessings beyond imagination! Laughter returned and filled every part of my life.

But something else happened.


May 2012

I kinda quit writing.

I guess in all the joy and laughter I was just soaking it all up, And I just kept doing that. Soaking it all in. It was, in a sense, a healing balm to me. Yes, there are some scars left from all the troubled years. Some sadness still trickles in as I ponder all the pain. But I guess I needed a break. To just rest in all of it.

It was wonderful.


June 2012

I could sit here and wish and hope for another year like 2017. But there may never be a year like that again. And if there’s not, a few big lessons stay with me as the storms blow in. Here are just a few:

  • There is no one like the Lord, God of heaven and earth, whom you can cry out to from your heart every minute of the day.
  • There is nothing like the comfort and truth in His Holy Word, the Bible.
  • There is nothing like His marvelous creation.
  • There is nothing like a few close, loving friends and family.
  • Deep down, people are fragile, and are fighting battles within and without. It’s important to understand why they act like they do; and still be kind.
  • There is nothing like the kisses and hugs and sounds of children.
  • There is nothing like gratitude for so many things we take for granted.
  • There is nothing like a nutritious healthy meal and a good, silent walk.
  • Joy can be found anywhere, anytime. All one needs to do is look; and be still enough to enjoy it.

As to writing and this blog? Of course, I will continue! Not making any promises, but I will be here. I thank you, my community of readers, for being here. I don’t take your visits lightly. I don’t equate you in terms of “traffic, stats, or bots”. You are friends. And a part of the joy in all the pain.  I welcome you always.


2017, Best Photo

And as for 2017, for now I say, farewell.  I will never forget you.

Peace,
Alexandria

Weekly Photo Challenges:

Weathered

2017 Favorites

 

10 Comments
by Alexandria Sage on January 12, 2018  •  Permalink
Posted in Be Content With Who You Are, Enjoy Life, In All Things Do What Is Right First, In All Things Do Your Very Best, Remember--You Are Loved--No Matter What, Stay Close with Those You Love, Take Care of Yourselves - Body and Spirit
Tagged , , , , ,

Posted by Alexandria Sage on January 12, 2018

https://simplysage.org/2018/01/12/2017/

Once, We Were Young

“Two golden hours somewhere between sunrise and sunset. Both are set with 60 diamond minutes.” ~ Horace Mann

As another autumn (and another birthday) are upon me, and as I face the daily blows of life, this is always a time of reflection of who I am, where I’ve been, and how I am to face my next year of life. 

I finish the year attending to important deadlines and mail that piled up over summer. I try to stuff the idea of the holidays for now, as I’m just not quite ready. 

When I feel particularly burdened about something, I remember how easy it was when I was a child. And I yearn to go back there.

And it’s dawns on me how little of life is spent during those wondrous years.

What is it about being a child that’s so wonderful? The laughter, the chatter, the sheer delight of everything! Think of it. Their smiles, great big hugs, and very wet kisses! Their unconditional love. Their close bonds with family; aunts and uncles, cousins, grandparents. The humor. Their innocence. Their nonsense! It’s all so magical and enchanting.

We were all children once. And then one day we woke up and began that rocky trip to adulthood called “adolescence”.

I remember that time. I was not ready at all and I didn’t want to let go. I distinctly remember the summer that spending untold hours in my best friend’s pool no longer captivated us. Instead, we started sitting around just “talking’ by the pool, rather than playing in the pool. I remember feeling so sad about that. My friend and I even discussed it because we didn’t understand why. It didn’t take long to figure it out. But still, we were very sad to see our carefree days slip away so fast.

And adulthood stayed; it never transitioned into another stage. For me, it swiftly outlived its welcome.

Plus, I discovered that we are adults for the majority of our life. And we are adults the rest of our lives. As we constantly deal with the blows and stressors of the adult years, how much do we look back and long for those days as children?

Yes, at times we thought they were dreadful; like when mom and dad said no to candy. (What could be worse!) Or how we couldn’t trudge through the house after building a snowman. And vegetables … ugh! Those vegetables! As adults we laugh at the perplexity of those “problems”, don’t we?

It’s so short … childhood. And adulthood … it’s so long … and so serious.

The thought struck me about those two golden hours—how the sun gets to beam and glow, even finger-paint and watercolor—the sun gets to play just like a child. Everyday. For two solid hours! Morning and night.

I wish during those two hours—sunrise and sunset, that we could become children again, for real.

Just two hours! But can you imagine, just imagine, what would happen in this serious world of adulthood?

Think about it. In some places it would be absolutely hilarious; others, a complete disaster! No, we couldn’t do that, of course!

But at sunrise and again, at sunset, could we not use those times as markers to get our attention, to cultivate an hour to release the cares and seriousness of adult life. And just glow! 

Maybe we can’t just abandon our post in life to utter nonsense and irresponsibility. But maybe we can let go of life’s burdens for a bit. Maybe stop and just enjoy that golden hour, even for a little while. Smile. Laugh. Release ourselves inside, for a moment, to utter nonsense!

Like a child.

Once, we were young. Can we not be again?

Photo Credits: The spectacular orange Indonesian sunset goes to my friend and guest author, Stephen Deal. Probably one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. Thank you, Steve!

Peace,
Alexandria

4 Comments
by Alexandria Sage on October 23, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in Be Content With Who You Are, Enjoy Life
Tagged , , ,

Posted by Alexandria Sage on October 23, 2017

https://simplysage.org/2017/10/23/once-we-were-young/

Lost in the Details

DSC_3496“Wherever you are, be all there.” ~ Jim Elliot

Life is made of a myriad of moments, a multitude of details. It’s so easy to be overwhelmed with all the big stuff of life that we overlook the fine-tuned details that surround us. I’m sharing a few little details I captured, most of which I walk past everyday.

The Observer“The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life.” ~ William Morris

I’m glad these things vie for my attention because they have a way of actually getting it, catching my eye, making me stop … and take a moment.

Autumn Hydrangea
“After all, it is those who have a deep and real inner life who are best able to deal with the irritating details of outer life.” ~ Evelyn Underhill

“All the details of life and the quirks and the friendships can be laid out for us, but the mystery of their writing remains.No amount of documentation, however fascinating, can take us there.” ~V.S. Naipaul

1-DSC_0100

Whatever moment you are in today, whether joy or pain—never dismiss the moment, the detail of your very place.  When you think about it, the only moment that truly exists is the one you are in right now.  So stop and hold onto it for a moment.

1-IMG_9914

Some moments are times to embrace and absorb joy. For the difficult moments we need to receive love from sane, safe friends and family. It’s okay to not always be the giver or to have all the answers or to have everything together.

Blink
Cherish the good moments, learn from the difficult. I found the following drawing and thought it details the true reality of life. May it bring a smile to your face as it did mine.
SuccessDrawing

 I hope it increases your joy as you trek your own crooked path. 🙂

1-DSC09943

“If we take care of the moments, the years will take care of themselves.” ~ Maria Edgeworth

Peace,
Alexandria

This is my contribution to the Photo Challenge theme,   “Details”.

7 Comments
by Alexandria Sage on July 20, 2016  •  Permalink
Posted in Be Content With Who You Are, Enjoy Life
Tagged , ,

Posted by Alexandria Sage on July 20, 2016

https://simplysage.org/2016/07/20/lost-in-the-details/

Best Buds |Weekly Photo Challenge: My Happy Place

1-IMG_1931

When I saw the photo challenge titled “Happy Place” the words that immediately came to  mind were “travel destinations”—places that invoke that glorious feeling of combined rest and joy, one definition known as “happiness”. I thought of places I’ve been (North Myrtle Beach).

20130720-180450.jpg

or places I’ve dreamed of going (Moorea).

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

When I went to Acadia National Park (above) I thought, “Oh, now this it. This is the ultimate, the place to unwind, to get away.” I was happy!

However, travel can bring its own stresses, as we all know. The planning, packing, and getting to-and-from can be tiring. You’ve heard people say, “I need a vacation from my vacation!” 🙂

a rainbow in the sky."

It can feel like chasing the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow,

Moon Shadows

or trying to truly capture the presence and majesty of another breathtaking moonrise,

image

or that ever elusive butterfly.

But when you’re in immediate and desperate need of joy, finding a happy place cannot always be found by thumbing through travel guides for yet another trip or even dreaming of those places.

It’s times like that I totally forget a happy place that lives right out my front porch. Most of the time I find I’m looking beyond it, rushing past it toward some goal, the “next thing”, that place called “when I finally get there, I will be happy!”

1-DSC09947

I forget the happy place staring straight at me. It’s a place where they’re straining their necks to grab me, to get my attention, to make me stop in my haste to happiness and see that they are what I really need;

that they live, they thrive, they exist to make me happy! (I’m convinced they serve no other purpose.) They are my never-ending friends, through every season, through every joy, through every sorrow. They are constant and oh, how I take them for granted!

1-DSC09959

They remind me that we both endure some thorny paths and sticky situations,

1-DSC09945

that I’m not the only one out there feeling so alone,

1-DSC00016

drowning in life’s demands,

1-DSC09943

and kind of hanging by a thread,

First Rose

or in need of a hug;

1-DSC09957

that while we pass each other everyday in the coming and going, we can still rise and hold our head high, together, and shine in the sun!

1-DSC00021

You see, when you have best buds you can find happiness no matter where, no matter what. 🙂

I write this in honor of my friends and family, my “best buds”. Thank you for being just a phone call away. I always miss you.

Peace, Alexandria

 

2 Comments
by Alexandria Sage on October 21, 2015  •  Permalink
Posted in Be Content With Who You Are, Enjoy Life, Remember--You Are Loved--No Matter What, Stay Close with Those You Love, Weekly Photo Challenge
Tagged , , , , ,

Posted by Alexandria Sage on October 21, 2015

https://simplysage.org/2015/10/21/best-bud-my-happy-place/

Dreams of Grandeur

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

“Surely there is grandeur in knowing that in the realm of thought, at least, you are without a chain;  

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAthat you have the right to explore all heights and depth;

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAthat there are no walls nor fences,

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAnor prohibited places,

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAnor sacred corners

olympus-digital-cameraoriginalin all the vast expanse of thought.”
~ Robert Green Ingersoll

avataralex-original“There is one spectacle grander than the sea. And that is the sky. There is one spectacle grander than the sky. And that is the interior of the soul.” ~ Victor Hugo

There is a vast landscape inside each of us. It is the place of hopes and dreams. It is the place of wonder and dignity.
It is a grandness that is known as you.
Peace, Alexandria
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Weekly Photo Challenge: Grand

Photo locations: Acadia National Park, Maine
Great Smoky Mountains in western North Carolina

21 Comments
by Alexandria Sage on December 7, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Be Content With Who You Are
Tagged , , , , , ,

Posted by Alexandria Sage on December 7, 2013

https://simplysage.org/2013/12/07/dreams-of-grandeur-weekly-photo-challenge-grand/

Thanksgiving Wish

DSC_1314Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;

DSC_1330
Where there is hatred, let me sow love; 

DSC_1323Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is error, truth; 

DSC_1280Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; And where there is sadness, joy.

DSC_1320O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek To be consoled as to console; To be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love.

DSC_1047-001For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
~ prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assissi

DSC_1352-001This is my grown-up Thanksgiving Wish. How about you?
Have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Peace, Alexandria

4 Comments
by Alexandria Sage on November 29, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Be Content With Who You Are, Devotionals, The Truth Shall Set You Free
Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by Alexandria Sage on November 29, 2013

https://simplysage.org/2013/11/29/thanksgiving-wish/

Inside the Thorns

DSC_0835

When life gives you thorns …
“Lift your hands toward the holy place, and praise the Lord.” Psalms 134:2

DSC_0842When life gives you thorns …
“One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today.” ~ Dale Carnegie

DSC_0836When life gives you thorns …
“A single rose can be my garden… a single friend, my world.” ~ Leo Buscaglia

DSC_0828When life gives you thorns …
Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses. ” ~ Alphonse Karr

Lo, How the Rose Enduring

Mystifying, life defying,
Wrapped inside the
deadly piercing.
Delicate, yet
Strong emerging.
Not weathered torn.

But …

Beauty dazzling,
Lightly rising,
Fragile petals,
buds reach praising,
Inside eye
of dreadful storm.

Shall we fare less
inside our thorn?

DSC_0857“When life gives you thorns, grow roses.” ~ Alexandria Sage
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another contribution for NaPoWriMo 2014.
Poem and photos by Alexandria Sage. Photos taken with Nikon D60 with AF-S Nikkor lens 18-55 mm. Photos have no post-processing, editing, or cropping.  It’s the same rose, different views.
Perspective matters, doesn’t it?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Weekly Photo Challenge: Inside

27 Comments
by Alexandria Sage on September 15, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Be Content With Who You Are, Enjoy Life, In All Things Do Your Very Best, Stay Close with Those You Love, Weekly Photo Challenge
Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by Alexandria Sage on September 15, 2013

https://simplysage.org/2013/09/15/inside-the-thorns-napowrimo2014/

Close, Closer | WPC One Shot, Two Ways

Close

“Life consists of a myriad of details that can cloud your vision. To gain a balanced perspective one must overlook some of the minutiae. Details, while very important, are not everything.

You can stand close and still see the big picture.” ~ Alexandria Sage

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is my contribution to the Weekly Photo Challenge: One Shot, Two Ways. I just returned from a trip to Antigua, Guatemala, a lovely city set in the volcanic mountains of that country. The elevation is around 5000 feet which, combined with the tropical climate, makes for an average everyday temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Close
Closer

Built in the early 1700’s, Antigua is filled with Spanish Baroque architecture. Though hit by mild earthquakes and a few large ones, the city retains almost all its original cobblestone streets and buildings. It is absolutely stunning. Many hotels, shops, and restaurants now line its streets. They have done a great work in modernizing this city while retaining the beauty of its originality.
Aside from cropping out cars and slight rotation of the first photo, these photos are unedited. I used iPhone 5.
EnJoy.
Peace, Alexandria
Weekly Photo Challenge: One Shot, Two Ways
Some Favorites:
One Shot, Two Ways by Sph3re
Finding Peace and Tranquility at Hotel Cirilo, Antigua, Quatemala
One Shot, Two Ways by ThirdEyeMom
One Shot, Two Ways by Tina Schell

9 Comments
by Alexandria Sage on August 14, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Be Content With Who You Are, In All Things Do Your Very Best
Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by Alexandria Sage on August 14, 2013

https://simplysage.org/2013/08/14/close-closer-weekly-photo-challenge-one-shot-two-ways/

Home Sweet Home Inside

Inside

Inside
the place of safety
Inside
the place of peace
Inside
the place of friendship
Inside
where I am me.

Inside
the place of comfort
Inside
the place of warmth
Inside
the place of shelter
Inside
where is no harm.

Inside
the place of rest
Inside
the place I’m known
Inside
the place I’m loved
Inside
where I call home.

~ by Alexandria Sage

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Daily Prompt: Home Sweet Home
P.S. There’s no place like home.

31 Comments
by Alexandria Sage on April 1, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Be Content With Who You Are, Enjoy Life, Remember--You Are Loved--No Matter What, Stay Close with Those You Love, Weekly Photo Challenge
Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by Alexandria Sage on April 1, 2013

https://simplysage.org/2013/04/01/weekly-photo-challenge-home/

Defining Moments | Weekly Photo Challenge: Lost in the Details

DSC_3496

“Wherever you are, be all there.” ~ Jim Elliot

The Weekly Photo Challenge theme is “Lost in the Details”. And what a challenge it is. Don’t we get utterly lost in the details of life? Opportunities missed, lost windows of time—to show kindness or listen, to be all there. What about those that consume, order, and demand, leaving us so distracted we miss the wonder and joy of other moments?

The Observer

“The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life.” ~ William Morris

And then there are those moments that shake us … or rather, shape us. We come to full attention. They are usually spun by a variety of events—some good, some not so good. Whatever their source, I find they can be a birthplace of goodness or newness. They are, in essence, whatever I choose them to be.

Autumn Hydrangea
“After all, it is those who have a deep and real inner life who are best able to deal with the irritating details of outer life.” ~ Evelyn Underhill

These moments serve to keep us in check or bring a new awareness of vulnerability or strength, moments to discover what we are made of. Are we flexible to receive honest criticism and ready to change? Or if we have done right can we have peace within and stand firm, even when we are misunderstood? Either way, are we ready to forgive—to let go—to forget, to move on, knowing we can’t fix everything?

“All the details of life and the quirks and the friendships can be laid out for us, but the mystery of their writing remains.No amount of documentation, however fascinating, can take us there.” ~V.S. Naipaul

Whatever moment you are in today, whether joy or pain—never dismiss that moment, for the only moment that truly exists is the one you are in right now. Some moments are times to embrace and absorb joy. For the difficult moments we need to receive love from sane, safe friends and family. It’s okay to not always be the giver or to have all the answers or to have everything together. Cherish the good moments, learn from the difficult. I found the following drawing and thought it details the true reality of life. May it bring a smile to your face as it did mine. I hope it increases your joy as you trek your own crooked path.
Peace,
Alexandria
SuccessDrawing
“If we take care of the moments, the years will take care of themselves.” ~ Maria Edgeworth
See the Weekly Photo Challenge for other interpretations.

Drawing credit: Unknown
All photography by Alexandria Sage, except the first one, which is by S. Michael
(aka—my dear son)

10 Comments
by Alexandria Sage on March 7, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Be Content With Who You Are, Enjoy Life, In All Things Do Your Very Best, Take Credit for Your Mistakes
Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by Alexandria Sage on March 7, 2013

https://simplysage.org/2013/03/07/defining-moments-weekly-photo-challenge-lost-in-the-details/

Thanksgiving Reflections


“Before you go out into the world, wash your face in the clear crystal of praise. Bury each yesterday in the fine linen and spices of thankfulness.” ~ Charles Spurgeon

“The man who has forgotten to be thankful has fallen asleep in life.” ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

“Every breath is a battle between grudgery and gratitude. Give thanks…and you win joy.” ~ Ann Voskamp

“O God, when I have food, help me to remember the hungry. When I have work, help me to remember the jobless. When I have a home, help me to remember those who have no home at all.

When I am without pain, help me to remember those who suffer. And remembering, help me to destroy my complacency, bestir my compassion,

And be concerned enough to help—by word and deed, those who cry out for what we take for granted. Amen.” ~ Samuel F. Pugh

Happy Thanksgiving everybody.

Peace,

Alexandria

Related articles

26 Comments
by Alexandria Sage on November 23, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Be Content With Who You Are, Enjoy Life, Stay Close with Those You Love, Weekly Photo Challenge
Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by Alexandria Sage on November 23, 2012

https://simplysage.org/2012/11/23/thanksgiving-reflections/

My Thoughts on Aging, from the Guest Author

The other day I was talking with a 75-year-old woman about the frustrations of aging. The aches and pains, the limited mobility, the failing memory, the sagging skin—how it all created significant frustration.

We joked about the 98-year-old woman who told me the best thing about wrinkles is that they don’t hurt. Then, in a tone more serious, she admitted she just didn’t understand the value of all this “getting old” business. She posed a valid question. The question prompted some thinking,
Might there be a valid reason?

My Dad always told me he wanted as many birthdays as he could have as long as he knew he was having them.
Over the years, he collected more than his share of serious ailments. No one loves his family or wants to be with them more than Dad. So far, he is still hanging in there. But I wonder if he is beginning to question that statement.

Like me, my Dad is a Christian. We believe in the place the Bible calls Heaven, and life will be better there than here. It is a beautiful place filled with reunion, the pain and suffering will go away, and the tears will be wiped away from our eyes. Life will be better!

So there, in the midst of that conversation, it struck me. Maybe this horrific thing called aging has a purpose.
By allowing us to change our sights from the here and now to the eternal, it reminds us that we are visitors here, waiting for our trip home.

And most of all, it reassures us that the best is yet to come.
The few glimpses of Heaven in the Bible show it to be an extraordinary place, a place so wondrous the Apostle Paul could find no earthly words to describe it. For our families it takes away a bit of the sting of death. When they compare their loss to the gain of the loved one passing, only the selfish can wish for the situation to be different.

So what should we do in the meantime?
 Remember the answer to the riddle attributed to King Solomon? The riddle inquires—What four words will make a happy man sad and a sad man happy? The answer was inscribed on the inside of a ring—“This too shall pass.” And in either case, isn’t this the truth? Life is indeed fragile and every moment is a gift from God. Because of Heaven, we can have peace in the midst of all circumstances and hope in a future that bears no suffering.

This life does not end here. It is just the beginning.
So for now, love the life you are given, accept the ailments as a badge of honor, and remember—your Heavenly Father has a better life ahead.

Thoughtfully,
Steve

 

Daily Prompt: Young at Heart

16 Comments
by Alexandria Sage on September 1, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in "My Thoughts" The Guest Author's View, Be Content With Who You Are, Devotionals, Enjoy Life, Stay Close with Those You Love, Take Care of Yourselves - Body and Spirit, The Truth Shall Set You Free, Twilight
Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by Alexandria Sage on September 1, 2012

https://simplysage.org/2012/09/01/my-thoughts-on-aging-from-the-guest-author/

CenterPeace

“Worry is a cycle of inefficient thoughts whirling around a center of fear.” ~ Corrie ten Boom

“Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? … Look at the lilies of
the field and how they grow. … And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you.” Jesus Christ Matthew 6:27, 28

7 Comments
by Alexandria Sage on March 25, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Be Content With Who You Are, Enjoy Life, In All Things Do Your Very Best, Remember--You Are Loved--No Matter What
Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by Alexandria Sage on March 25, 2012

https://simplysage.org/2012/03/25/centerpeace-daffodils/

“Do It Again”


“…it might be true that the sun rises regularly because God never gets tired of rising. His routine might be due, not to a lifelessness, but to a rush of life.

The thing I mean can be seen, for instance, in children—when they find some game or joke they especially enjoy. A child kicks his legs rhythmically through excess, not absence, of life. Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, “Do it again!” And the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony.

It is possible that God says every morning “Do it again” to the sun, and every evening “Do it again” to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike—it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy—but we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.”

~ G.K. Chesterton

4 Comments
by Alexandria Sage on February 19, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Be Content With Who You Are, Enjoy Life, In All Things Do Your Very Best, Just For Fun
Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by Alexandria Sage on February 19, 2012

https://simplysage.org/2012/02/19/do-it-again/

Beauty Secret

“Do you love me because I’m beautiful or am I beautiful because you love me?” ~ Cinderalla

1 Comment
by Alexandria Sage on February 7, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Be Content With Who You Are, In All Things Do What Is Right First, In All Things Do Your Very Best, Remember--You Are Loved--No Matter What, Take Care of Yourselves - Body and Spirit
Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by Alexandria Sage on February 7, 2012

https://simplysage.org/2012/02/07/the-beauty-secret/

Weekly Photo Challenge: Fleeting Moments | Onward!

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens.
But often we look so long at the closed door
that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”

~ Helen Keller

This is a contribution to the Weekly Photo Challenge: Fleeting. It is a redo of a previous one titled Fleeting Moments. My cats are the hardest creatures to photograph. Just when you think you have the perfect shot they move. So here is an opportunity to showcase this one’s fleeting movements one fleeting moment. 🙂

For other contributions to the Challenge, visit the following link:http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/06/07/weekly-photo-challenge-fleeting/

2 Comments
by Alexandria Sage on February 5, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Be Content With Who You Are, Enjoy Life, Take Credit for Your Mistakes, Weekly Photo Challenge
Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by Alexandria Sage on February 5, 2012

https://simplysage.org/2012/02/05/onward/

Home Sweet Home

“There’s only one address anyone lives at and it’s always a duplex called Joy and Pain.
They co-habit every season of life. Accept them both and keep company with the joy
while the pain does it’s necessary renovations.”

~ Ann VosKamp

20131030-173804.jpg

Dusk … is just an illusion, because the sun is either above the horizon or below it. And that means that day and night are linked in a way that few things are; there cannot be one without the other, yet they cannot exist at the same time. How would it feel … to be always together, yet forever apart? ~ Nicholas Sparks

Isn’t this so true about life? Burly storm billows amid glimmers of sunray. Keep company with both. Learn the lesson of the storm and savor the comfort of joy.

Then all becomes joy.

Peace,
Alexandria

3 Comments
by Alexandria Sage on January 6, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Be Content With Who You Are, Enjoy Life, Remember--You Are Loved--No Matter What, Weekly Photo Challenge
Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by Alexandria Sage on January 6, 2012

https://simplysage.org/2012/01/06/home-sweet-home/

Asleep in the Light

“The man who has forgotten to be thankful has fallen asleep in life.”

~ Robert Louis Stevenson

2 Comments
by Alexandria Sage on December 17, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Be Content With Who You Are, Enjoy Life, Remember--You Are Loved--No Matter What
Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by Alexandria Sage on December 17, 2011

https://simplysage.org/2011/12/17/asleep-in-the-light/

Story Challenge: Letter “M” | A Beautiful Mind

“Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity.” ~ Aristotle

“Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.” ~ George Washington Carver

As one who always encourages further education I would have to say my “M” Word Challenge is to emphasize the “mind”.

I know there are a lot of ways to be educated. Some require attendance to a school of learning, some require online learning, and some require “hands-on” to possibly learn a new skill. Abraham Lincoln was completely self-educated before he attended college.

“He who opens a school door, closes a prison.” ~ Victor Hugo

Education to work with your hands or your mind is honorable. And striving to always learn and develop your mind should be a goal of
every human being. If the mind becomes dull and stagnant it is because a person has ceased to learn. And if a person ceases to learn, they cease to grow. And if there is no personal growth, there is no joy in living.

Along that thread I thought I’d share some of the quotes I ran across with this theme. There are many more but I hope you gain something from the few I’ve shared.

“In the face of any disaster you will need three things: a faith life to support you in the midst of the storm, money in the bank (hay in your barn) to keep your family alive in the immediate aftermath, and an education to help you rebuild.” ~ Stephen Deal

“Education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army.”~ Edward Everett

Ultimately, I hope you never cease to educate yourself, whether through formal education, hands-on learning of a new skill, or self-education through reading. In doing so you will never cease to grow, as the last quote says. And there is the joy of learning something
new. You will have pride in your accomplishment.

“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.” ~ Albert Einstein

“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow. ” ~ Anthony J. D’Angelo

Never cease to develop who you are. Always strive to learn, to stretch, to grow.

Peace, Alexandria

You might enjoy:
https://simplysage.org/2012/08/04/my-thoughts-remember-make-hay-when-the-sun-shines/
https://simplysage.org/2012/08/15/weekly-photo-challenge-growth/

1 Comment
by Alexandria Sage on November 6, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Be Content With Who You Are, In All Things Do Your Very Best, The Truth Shall Set You Free
Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by Alexandria Sage on November 6, 2011

https://simplysage.org/2011/11/06/story-challenge-letter-m-is-for-mind/

Weekly Photo Challenge: Fleeting Moments | Slowing to Really See

“I, who cannot see, find hundreds of things to interest me through mere touch.
I feel the delicate symmetry of a leaf.
I pass my hands lovingly about the smooth skin of a silver birch, or the rough shaggy bark of a pine….
I feel the delightful, velvety texture of a flower, and discover its remarkable convolutions; and something of the miracle… is revealed to me.
Occasionally, if I am very fortunate, I place my hand gently on a small tree and feel the happy quiver of a bird in full song….
At times my heart cries out with longing to see these things. If I can get so much pleasure from mere touch, how much more beauty must be revealed by sight.
Yet, those who have eyes apparently see little. The panorama of color and action which fills the world is taken for granted….

It is a great pity that, in the world of light, the gift of sight is used only as a mere convenience rather than as a means of adding fullness to life.”

~Helen Keller

1 Comment
by Alexandria Sage on October 15, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Be Content With Who You Are, Enjoy Life, Time
Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by Alexandria Sage on October 15, 2011

https://simplysage.org/2011/10/15/helen-keller-on-slowing-to-really-see/

%d bloggers like this: