I saved an azalea bush-tree-flower-thingy from the stranglehold of death beneath the vines in our backyard. It has been potted and continues to bloom these brilliant neon pink/reddishness flowers that are electric. The pot sits outside of my office window. It is the foreground of every image my brain scans of our backyard. It is happiness that I water everyday.
 
Everyday care is something that often becomes overshadowed by thoughts, feelings, to-do lists, emergencies, breaking news, family phone calls, work emails as well as major and minor maintenance of shelter, transportation and nutrition. Breathe. I am reminded by the blooms to breathe.
 
A daily dose of water for all of our flora each morning, my watering-can in one hand and coffee cup in the other is a welcome and worthy way to wake and i s wonderfully conducive to washing away worry. It is everyday care, a physical act providing mental relief. A conduit of continuity as the day begins. 
 
There is inspiration in roots that reach for the sun each day. No need to start with a list of waiting accomplishments to be checked off. Instead, reach for the sun. Gather warmth and energy taking action at every turn, each step, remembering 1stand foremost – hydrate. In other words, fill your head-heart-soul with only the needed fuel to reach for the sun.
 
Fill up and as you reach for the sun today, know that you are a signpost to every one around you, your blooms matter. Your blooms make a difference. Everyday care can release you from the vines that put a stranglehold on your potential. A cup of coffee and quiet time, a watering-can of action, the potential to reach for the sun everyday. 
 
The azalea needed my help as I need hers to remind me on a daily basis that our blooms matter!

​I recently removed myself from Linkedin and Facebook. Mostly because my activity on both sites is…uh…well I just don’t log on often enough to maintain any reason why I would keep a social media vacation destination. They are like an unused time-share…money well spent until you don’t want to spend the money to go to the same place and see the same thing.
 
Never mind the information overload and sharing to third parties and selling data and acquaintance accessibility and mindlessly scrolling and tricking myself into believing I will take advantage of the industry news.
 
All dead end reasoning for the opportunity to debate whether I need to update my photo, profile, resume, responses all the while flipping a coin as to what deserves a “like” or which emoji to post with purpose and positivity.
 
I denied a request by a friend, so named because we speak to one another face to face on a weekly basis as well as over the phone, via text that I download a video chat app. I can send video, audio, GIFs, links, likes and whatever else I would like person to person via a good ol’ fashioned smart phone.
 
The hope for the future is that the Apple and Android become better friends so that the digital domains don’t discount each others demands for attention. This would be great so that I don’t have to add an app every time I want to discuss a daily dose of dave. Platform M&A man, make it happen!
 
There are a number of other sites that I need to revisit and remove myself from if only to make room on the next site to take my time and attention. At the moment Twitter is by far a worthy cause. Be yourself or play God. Be you or bot it out.  Most importantly be mindful of mindless scrolling. A vacation from the day to day shouldn’t be spent in virtualville.
 
That being said the personal attacks are not fun and should be resisted. There are so many other significant ways to make a point or point out a problem or pointedly direct someone to a solution. If you would not say it to someone’s face do not say it at all. This principle is a guiding force in patience and virtue. But I mean – come on man! How can tongue and pen be restrained in this day and age! Get serious! 
 
If you do it. As Example. Others may follow.

I never got the recall notice from bucks about the metal straws being dangerous. They are metal. So. Maybe don’t give them to a baby.

Playing a part in our conservation of the environment and its resources I like the fact that morning coffee is dangerous. One sip of the six shots and I am wide awake to defend myself from the onslaught of the mobile order crowd.

​My glare of eye and cup letting them know their choice is not a sustainable way to go. True mettle.

Heat, hot, hype! No need to be a hero but don’t use the heat as an excuse to not do something that’s on your list be it a workout, a family visit, yard work or Church.

Getting to spend my morning taking folks through their personal workouts with a little inspiration is awesome - be the cause of your sweat, not the effect.

​More importantly make it your day, do your job and be awesome!