6. Have Fun With Your Loved Ones
Whatever you do make time and enjoy it with the people you love. The picture below I took during LaRue's 50th Anniversary on Shuswap Lake. Family members had taken the opportunity to have potato sack races and then came the aunt's turn. They created their own race. They do that often, change the rules and have fun together. You are lucky if you get to watch and even luckier if you get to participate.
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| Arta, Wyona and Moiya |
7. Read
Read extensively.
Read often.
Read widely.
Read the same thing twice and even three times.
Underline and highlight the important bits.
Share what you read with others.
Listen to others when they share what they have read.
Read more.
8. Enjoy Being An Aunt
No matter the age of the niece or nephew, get to know them, talk with them, share your wisdom with them. After a time you will have built relationships with some of the most interesting people in your life. Just ask Arta, I am one of those interesting nieces. :)
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| On Shady Beach having fun. |
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| Parents (Wyona and Greg) and Aunt Arta spending time with us. |
9. Send People Emails That Build Them Up
I thought I was the only niece she sent emails to telling me how great I am. In conversation with my sisters, I found that Arta was cheating on me! She sends loving emails to multiple family members. Lucky us! Here is one she sent me after I posted several pictures on Facebook about my mother. She shared love with both of us:
"I tried to post a comment on facebook. I don't think I got it there. I did have it copies and pasted. Maybe i will use your pics and put it on the family blog.
Tonia, you have captured your mother in 4 photos. I would have tried to write a whole essay and not caught for us what you have presented. Smashing! Few will ever know this amazing woman's talents -- extra-ordinaire school teacher of the disabled, water-color painter, jewelllery designer, seamstress (who has altered more clothing than I have ever purchased), quilter, cheese-cake cook, and oh, what about the 5 star zuchinni cakes, master bridge player, and now on-line bridge with her family, dancer, a woman who is longing for the cruise ships to open up again."
10. Look For Beauty Everywhere
Look for wonderful things everywhere you look. Whether a small mushroom in a forest, a stunning piece of art in a gallery, a delicious cookie, a game of bridge. Enjoy the wonderful parts of everything. Most importantly enjoy the view in your life, even if it is a tough moment, find the beauty.
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| The best view of Shuswap Lake |
70 more to go!
