July 3 - Reflection on First Half of 2018

July 3rd starts the second half of this year.  My word of the year for 2018 is Strive.  Read about it here:  http://dickybirdsnest.blogspot.com/2018/01/2018-word-of-year-strive.html

How did I do with that word so far?

I would say, considering what was "sent" me - I have been "striving" to live through it....lol

No, not really.  But, life is full of ups and downs.  

Actually thinking about the fact that the year is half over or rather we have half a year left...that sounds better...I need to get busy.  

I hate to brag....but, I will....my little ideas for my business are finally catching on, the flea market that started here at our farm (and now takes over our little town) 22 years ago was featured in Flea Market Style magazine, a few of my posts were featured on other's blogs, I've helped several nice people with their estate needs, I fostered an old dog and happy to say he found a new wonderful home this week and other blessings that if I said it all, it would be bragging.  

The point is....I have been striving....it didn't even have to be my word of the year....as I was already striving...for years....

It is nice however to think about it and one can always strive to be better.  

How has your year been going?  Any plans for the 2nd half?  Did you pick a word of the year?  If so, how's it going?

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin  

Motivational Monday - Nest or Nest Egg?

Something I was thinking about recently and doing this sale this past week for Jim and Rosie brought it to light.  

Rosie, loves to decorate and had everything needed for every holiday to create not only a beautiful home, but beautiful memories with her family.  She talked about her angel food cakes made in her square pan, her big holiday meals around her harvest table, the swings they put up in the covered porch for their children and grands....a warm, loving, welcoming well made home.  Original wood cabinets, carpet, wall paper....all the same as the day they moved in to their nest.  They have listed this home for sale and are moving to an apartment for senior living.  Now, I know many people just like them, their age, who have a rather nice nest egg and the ability to move comfortably into retirement.  

How are they able to do that?  They invested in their nest egg not their nest.  Oh, don't get me wrong here...Rosie invested all she had; blood, sweat, tears into her chicks and made their nest welcoming.  What I'm getting at is....they and many like them, focused on that, rather than the latest trend in decorating their nest.  

It just seems to me, that with the popularity of shows like "Fixer Upper" and "Flip or Flop" too many people are focused on tearing apart their homes to make them look like one of those.  Before you know it, you've spent your nest egg or even worse, charged it, without even realizing you could have been happy with what you had.  Paint the cabinets white instead of new ones, refinish the hardwood instead of tile; I think you see what I'm trying to say here.  Then, take that money you didn't spend and put it toward your mortgage, savings or IRA for your nest egg.  

I had an aunt, who during my childhood had her husband change locations and remodel their kitchen at least 4 times.  I'm not talking just cabinets here, no!  She had him move it from one side of the house to the other and then back again.   Crazy amounts of money spent on this and my uncle was handy and did the work himself.  

The point I am trying to make is that too many times we focus on what is trending in decorating, how can I change this or that and not on being happy with what we have and just making it pretty.  It's fine when you can afford it, go for it!  However, I've seen too many fall into the trap of building a trendy nest and neglecting their nest egg.

I really admire this generation for their ability to make due, cash only, save it for a rainy day kind of mentality.  We all should get some of that back!  Instead we have a generation of, "can I debit this? (really, it's $1!)"  I could dig $1 of change on the floor of my van....why don't these people carry cash?  I don't get it!  But, that's another post.     

So for this Motivational Monday, let's focus on our nest being warm and inviting for our families.  Being happy to just make what we have pretty, keeping an eye on our nest egg so we can have a comfortable retirement too.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.