There’s just something satisfying about getting your hands dirty.  I mean, actually getting your hands in the dirt.  I had forgotten all about how that felt until today, when I was helping my sister-in-law pot plants.  I have never been into gardening and usually enjoy having clean hands.  But I couldn’t get over how good the dirt felt going between my fingers.

I was going to wear gloves, but that would have been a mistake.  It would have robbed me of the memories I began to recall of getting dirty when I was outside playing as a kid.  I also loved playing in the sand.  I have wonderful memories of sand boxes and playing in the sand at the beach.

There is an innate, natural feeling that draws one into the textures of dirt and sand.  And then there is clay.  I love playing with clay!  You can make stuff with clay and keep it.  Dirt and sand wash away, but clay stays!  

It must seem like I’m a little kid writing this.  But you know what?  That’s what is really terrific about getting your hands dirty.  When we are young, discovery is how we learn.  Touching is one of the basic ways we discover things.  We can literally get in touch with nature by getting our hands dirty.

Getting your hands dirty is really a great way to learn.  It is also a part of many occupations that are necessary in our daily lives.  If we were to take out the professions in which people get their hands dirty, our life as we know it would fall apart.  

Therefore, I intend to incorporate playing or working in the dirt, playing in the sand and making things with clay.  I think this will bring about a new awakening and appreciation for physical work and play in my life, all because I got my hands dirty today!

Our animals, whether they are pets, workers, support animals, farm animals or entertainers, are our treasures.  Some of them are companions, some provide services for different kinds of needs. They are special in countless ways.

We all benefit greatly with animals in our lives and we should love them and always treat them with respect.  They are here for us.  I believe that they are gifts from our Creator.  

When they are our pets, they enrich our lives immeasurably.  That’s why they are able to be good, or even best friends to us.  They comfort us and entertain us and provide us with constant companionship.  

My husband and I are addicted to television shows that feature veterinarians who work with animals of all kinds.  We especially enjoy “The Yorkshire Vet.”  And we also love shows that highlight the special talents of “Working Dogs.”  It is amazing what dogs can be trained to do, all in order to help humans.

Our animals nurture people.  They can enable those who are impoverished to provide for their families in ways that do not harm the animals.  Cows and chickens can produce protein with foods such as milk and eggs. Sheep can provide wool for sale or personal use by making clothes or blankets.  Animals should be treated with care and be given a safe, healthy environment.  Giving them love and respect should always be a top priority.  I agree that the ways animals are treated are of utmost importance.  But by providing food for families that are poor, the animal need not be harmed.  Being ethical in the treatment of animals should be a given.

We cannot pay animals for the many blessings they give us, but our job is to love them and care for the needs that they cannot provide for themselves.  I think we need them in too many ways to count.  Reciprocity is only fair.  They are deserving of our praise and gratitude, but most of all, our love.

Isn’t it amazing when one is struck with inspiration?   What a fabulous feeling one gets each time it happens.  It is a gift from God and needs to be appreciated.  And therefore, it is important to realize this and thank God for it each time it happens.  I write songs and have written most of them because I was inspired.  Regardless of the kind of song, or its style, whether it is for a purpose or not, I don’t feel like it comes directly from me, or by my own power.   It comes through me.  It is a gift.  Of course there is talent and skill involved, but that is God-given too.

There is one thing I have found out over the years for myself.  If I try too hard to create something on my own, it does not turn out as well.  Inspiration can be asked for, but it does not flow from a person on demand.  It either happens naturally, or it can be blocked.  Arrogance can thwart creativity.  It inhibits inspiration. And then, when a person creates, it can be technically good, but still lack something that could have made it more expressive and moving in some way.

Gratitude makes everything more rewarding for me.  Knowing that it is not all my doing when I have created something, makes me feel loved and cared for by my Creator.  One can accomplish many things without inspiration.  A person can achieve many goals and benefit from their actions.  But what comes from inspiration is enjoyed twice as much if one believes in the experience a person can have with one’s Creator.  In order to feel this blessing, we must take our ego out of the equation.  Then, when inspiration comes, one can truly feel contentment through the awesome gift of being led by the spirit of God.  That is the blessing and the grace of inspiration. 

Do people even talk about good manners these days?  I don’t think it is a frequent topic of conversation anymore.  Maybe it hasn’t been for quite a long time now.  I am getting old and can’t remember when people talked about it more often.

I think that we should revisit this concept in society today.  It has become more and more common to accept rude behavior and in doing so, make it more acceptable.  Maybe I am old-fashioned.  But treating other people with respect should not be optional.  It should be an important part of today’s mores, just like the golden rule.

Of course, therein lies the problem.   The golden rule isn’t taught and followed as much as it did when I was growing up either.  What went wrong?  I think that a lot of little things added up to big changes in the way we view behavior.  Rudeness has become more and more acceptable.  Our culture has become more mean-spirited.

But we can change this, can’t we?  It can’t be too late!  The media that we are inundated with has paved the way for acceptance of bad manners.   And being inconsiderate of others has become commonplace.  This needs to be talked about and we need to brainstorm about what can be done to improve this pervasive attitude.  I don’t think I can come up with any solution.  But we, as a society, can and should think about this.  Is this really the way we want to live?  

One thing I know for sure.  And that is, when people come together and talk about the things that matter to them, constructive actions can take place.  You and I are in this together whether we like it or not.  And that is enough reason to make a serious effort to make our communities  more considerate and caring.  What do you think?  Am I being too sensitive?  Or, do you think that we could bring back good manners?  Maybe things can improve by refusing to tolerate rudeness.  If we model this behavior and expect people to treat us with respect, maybe good manners could eventually become an active, positive force once again.  Isn’t it worth a try?

What are interrogatives?  What is an interrogative.  So too, are who, where, when, how and derivatives of these words along with a few others.  They are question words and I love them.  I love asking questions.  It’s how I learn.  And you see, they can answer questions too, like in my previous sentence.

Now as I am writing this, I am thinking about students I have encountered in the past, that did not know what they are by name.  I am sure most people do not use “interrogative” in a sentence very often either.  I am not saying they don’t know the term, it’s just not interesting to them, like it is to me.

And then we come to the topic of questions in general.  Asking questions, trying to find answers, are things we need to learn.  If one does not ask questions, a person will only know part of an answer.  That is a problem because there are questions people don’t ask, on purpose, because they don’t want to know.  This happens especially when one has a strong opinion about something and does not want any information that may prove contrary to that belief.  By not asking questions, we limit the consideration of possible facts that could challenge that belief.

That’s why I think we need interrogatives. (Notice the word “why” in that sentence?)  They are used to ask questions and find answers so that truths can be discovered.  They are the words that guide scientists when looking for answers in the never ending quest for knowledge about our world.

If people close their minds after hearing the answers they wish to hear, they often fall short of finding key factors in their beliefs.  Beliefs are not necessarily true.  That’s why there is so much conflict.  (Note: I am not saying beliefs are wrong in general, especially in regard to religion and faith.)  But in cases of being honest and telling the truth, answers can be found by asking  enough questions.  Science, providing equal rights for all citizens, the search for truth in the justice system, all require the finding of facts that guide important decision-making in society.  I think that those are enough reasons to ask questions, don’t you?