Window Seat

Honoring Time

Sep 5

Written By Ashley Dodge

It's those changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes

Nothing remains quite the same

With all of our running and all of our cunning

If we couldn't laugh, we would all go insane.

- Jimmy Buffett

Happy Tuesday after Labor Day!

With Labor Day 2023 in the review mirror here we fully go into the month of September. With it we are about to see what journey our life will take us on as we touch the lives of others and they hopefully touch our lives in significant ways as well. The journey of course will look different for each of us.

Sadly, four days ago we lost a bright light on the planet with passing of Jimmy Buffett. An extremely talented musician, caring human being, and businessman whose work was all around making people smile. Glowing tributes and accolades over the last couple of days affirm how he touched the lives of so many with his music and humanitarian efforts. The common theme I heard was how he made people smile.

As I write to you this morning, I am in the final two days of a week-long visit with my daughter Bailey and her husband Steve, and my adorable grand puppies Coco and Pina. I have had the opportunity to have so many smiles as I enjoy the sunshine and beautiful place my daughter calls home.

I even got to visit with a couple of dear friends. Nancy who stayed with us a couple of days and kept me laughing consistently and Gloria who unexpectedly happened to be in town at the same time. We were able to squeeze in a breakfast together that was truly lovely.

On my plane ride getting me here to San Diego, I opted for my usual the window seat. As we cruised over Colorado and into Arizona I was struck by the beauty outside my window. Which is why I always chose the window seat.

While the plane ride itself was a bit uncomfortable the scenery outside my window (and ear buds) kept me focused on the beauty versus the discomfort of a multitude of crying babies.

There were so many on the plane that seemed uninterested in this phenomenon I was experiencing of flying over our beautiful earth. I however, as I usually am, was enthralled. And this is what makes each of us different and unique in what makes us smile.

Today I thought I would share a few of the pictures I took along the way just in case you are not a window seat person or have not had the opportunity of flying over these beautiful places.

On this week’s video I share a lovely little tour of my niece Katie’s garden as we talk about the idea and results of giving someone the gift of a garden.

To wrap up this week’s letter I suppose the best thing to remember is that we are all different in our thoughts and beliefs, and our preferences in what makes us happy.

You may prefer the aisle seat in an airplane versus the window. That does not make you wrong from my way of thinking, just different. If we can all find a reason to smile and even better, have the deep joy from the laughter we share with those we love and care about, life really does get a whole lot richer.

As the song Changes in Latitudes continues on to share, "Oh, yesterday's over my shoulder, so I can't look back for too long, There's just too much to see waiting in front of me and I know that I just can't go wrong." Take a listen to the whole song to bring a smile.

Next week, which will be here in a flash, I will be sharing something I have been working on that is about to see the light of day. Until then remember you always have a choice that is uniquely yours.