If you are a cat owner or if you know a cat owner…either way, you would more likely agree the cat is the true owner. I have been lucky to have 6 cats as members of our family. Our cats are companions and part of our everyday life.  They are not as doting as dogs and show their affection on their terms, but once you love a cat, you understand the warm-hearted, caring nature of cats. It has been interesting to see and experience the distinct personalities of each of our cats.

Coates (2017) summarizes the work of Fink, post-doctoral study of cats.  Fink’s research suggest that genetics, lived experiences and learning influence personality development.  The 5 personalities of cats are:

• The Human Cat is generally happy to share your home, your life and often your personal space.
• The Hunter Cat is the most feral of the personalities, regularly interacting with realistic cat toys and showing signs of an expert hunter.
• You can identify a Cat’s Cat through its willingness to play with and groom its furry siblings, touching noses and rubbing up against each other.
• The Cantankerous Cat is more easily frustrated than his four counterparts and can be less tolerant to being handled, due to being quite sensitive to touch, their environment and being on high alert.
• The Inquisitive Cat can be a keen investigator, sniffing around anything and anyone unfamiliar.

Based on my experience, I would add a sixth category…the solitary cat.  A cat that would be more introverted and likes more “personal” space.

Our cats fit these categories:

Einstein…..the human cat

Reggie……the cantankerous cat

Percy……..the solitary cat

Chester…..the cat’s cat

DJ…………the inquisitive cat

Buddy…….the hunter cat

Buddy will probably be our last cat….but I have one more cat name (Gertie) so you never know!!!

Recently I listened to a podcast about how reading can positively affect your life. It was nice hear the commentator support ideas similar to those mentioned in my blog Reading: A Path to Wellness.  The discussion took an unexpected path, one that I had not considered: how short stories and novels differ.  A short story is a moment in time (a snapshot).   A novel is the big picture (developing over time).

Both a story and a novel capture moments that include settings, people, events, and themes.
A novel promises the reader an extended experience—several hours of getting to know the characters, their hopes, dreams, and flaws.
A short story is more like a plunge into a cold river—in and out, but exhilarating and memorable.   Ide 2015

I primarily read novels. After listening to the podcast and doing a bit of “reading” on the topic “short stories vs novels” I am going to mix the two styles based on time and interest.

**A short story ends and the characters, places, and situations of the next short story creates an opportunity to enter a new experience.

**A novel provides the complexity and detail to build a relationship with the characters and the plot.

A room without books is like a body without a soul.  Cicero

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. Sir Richard Steels

My mom says my first words were “Mama” but my husband has always thought my first words were “I wonder”, “What if”, “Just curious…”, and “Why”.  I would like to think I combined the two and my first sentence might have been, “Mama, I wonder….”  I suspect my mom is correct, but my husband is on the right path…I have always asked a lot of questions and been curious.

I believe that curiosity is the heart and soul of lifelong learning.  Callahan (2016), Hawkes (2019), Robin (2017), Sanford (2015) write about characteristics of a lifelong learner.  Common to all are the characteristics of curiosity and creativity.  Curiosity shows the gap between what we know and what we want to know.  Creativity supplies inspiration to bridge the gap.

Learning is the eternal gift.
Every single day provides us all with so many opportunities to learn and grow.
Life is one big adventure in so many ways and
when we adopt a curious and open mindset,
it’s amazing what we can discover.  Webb

**Be open to new experiences, opinions, and perspectives that differ from your own.

**It is ok to not know something

**Embrace the idea that you do not know everything…keep an open mind (beyond preconceived notions)

**Ask questions of yourself and others then research/explore answers to fill in gaps

In addition to being curious and creative, lifelong learners are:

**Fearless: open to trying something new

**Persistent: willing to “stick with it” through trial and error

**Problem solvers: identify a task, determine a solution, and act

**Critical Thinkers: research, analyze and test options

**Communicators and Collaborators: seeks input from others and work toward common goals

**Reflective: insightful of strengths and areas to improve

Don’t let your learning lead to knowledge.
Let your learning lead to action.

Jim Rohn

The Education amendment, Title IX, was signed June 23,1972. The law says, “students cannot be denied participation in any school program solely based on their sex.”  Title IX is not without controversy, but I feel lucky to have been attending high school at the time.  As I reflect on the past 45+ years Title IX has been more than a game; it has been an opportunity.

I took part in competitive sports for over 25 years.  For three years in high school I played basketball and volleyball. I earned all-conference basketball designation my senior year.  BUT…during my senior year the school added track and field as a spring sport and my life changed.  I competed in several track events (relays, hurdles, 800 meters).  My favorite event was the 800 meters (because it was the longest race offered at the time).  I was fortunate to qualify for the state championships…quite the experience for a young athlete!!  My confidence continued to build over the year.  My confidence and taking a risk lead me to the office of the track coach my freshman year in college.  I told her I wanted to run and asked if she had any scholarships available.  I will never forget her response after finding out my race results from the past year and my interest in distance running. She said if I would run cross-country in the fall term, I could have a scholarship.  I said “YES!!”  I did not know what cross-country was, but it meant I could run all year with a coach and teammates AND I would earn tuition aid.

Far beyond the physical aspects of playing sports, the opportunity to be in a competitive sport setting contributed to my personal development and my career path.  Ghildiyal’s (2015) research on the role of sports in the development of an individual discusses sport as a learning experience.  He says sports “builds character, teaches and develops strategic thinking, analytical thinking, leadership skills, goal setting and risk taking.”

My sketch outlines the timeline of my sports and career paths…see my blog, to be published on Monday (June 22, 2020), titled Title IX: More than a Game; An Opportunity for the rest of the story.

The personal nature of music forms identity.

The social nature of music is community building.

“Music does more than soothe the soul, it brings balance to the mind, body, and spirit.”

— Bertice Berry

Components of Wellness

Physical Wellness:  Body and mind work together to play an instrument. Playing an instrument provides hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.

Intellectual Wellness:  Engaging in a class setting allows an opportunity to focus on the learning about music, engaging in innovative and contemporary ideas on style and structure of playing. Interpretation of music’s meaning to the individual and society.

Social Wellness:  The interactive nature of music builds relationships. Music is a form of connection and communication with self and others.

Emotional Wellness:  Positive self-esteem, awareness, and acceptance of thoughts & feelings through the interpretation of music.  Confidence and perseverance result through practice.

Spiritual Wellness:  The internal meaning of the music beyond the playing of notes.  Music playing and listening can establish peace and harmony in your life. Finding meaning in life events.

Buchanan (2018), Compton-Dickinson (2020), Davies (2020), Heshmat (2019), Krout (2007), and Ze (2017) summarize the above:

Music is the integration of harmony, melody, and rhythm. Listening to and/or playing music influences wellness – integration and balance of body, mind, and spirit.

I recently watched Dan Crenshaw’s 2020 commencement speech.  Dan Crenshaw is a retired (2016) Navy Seal and current member of the U.S. House of Representatives.  Regardless of your political affiliation his speech tells a story of perspective and fortitude that can be meaningful to all of us.

Perspective is a point of view and attitude about how to consider and perceive life. It is a frame of reference (criteria and values) guiding judgements and decisions.

Fortitude is emotional power and ability to withstand and overcome misfortune. To have fortitude is to know what you believe in. It is understanding the importance to stay the course while courageous enough to consider the impact on others.

Crenshaw shares 6 lessons that connect directly to the 17 Words That Will Never Fail You.

Lessons

Choose your heroes wisely….everyone you meet has something to offer

Shame is good….hold yourself accountable

Forget about Plan B….do not quit…changing direction is not quitting

Live with a sense of duty…even when there is no reward…duty to self and others

Be still…confront challenges with grace

Embrace hardship…challenge yourself (seek out ways to test yourself)

Consider how these 17 words apply to Crenshaw’s lessons.

Prepare, Listen, Smile, Care,
Choose, Focus, Believe, Relax,
Act, Forgive, Pray, Trust,
Change, Persist, Accept, Risk, Wait

NOTE: This list developed years ago that has spanned the world for years.

Be rational, stay calm, focus on the big picture, learn from experience and others, have courage, and be self-aware…then plan, prioritize, and act.

Kelly McGonigal’s book (2019) Joy of Movement is a “love letter to movement” and I agree. The body-mind connection is undeniable…the connection between body and mind is a two-way street. Research shows that exercise may stimulate the production of brain chemicals norepinephrine and dopamine, which energize and elevate mood (Berns, n.d.; Chaouloff, 1989; Cobb, 2018; Pillay, 2016).

The book outlines the benefit of movement in a broader scope than you may have considered. McGonigal expands our understanding that physical benefits of movement is only one aspect of how exercise (movement in any manner) can affect well-being.

Exercise Helps Us Find Happiness, Hope, Connection, and Courage

Movement is a contributor to the integration of wellness, lifelong learning, and personal development.

Happiness IS Fulfillment

Bliss, contentment, delight, elation, euphoria, exhilaration, optimism,

Hope IS Dream

Anticipation, aspiration, belief, desire, expectation, goal, wish,

Connection IS Belonging

Affiliation, Network, relation, association, friend, kinship, partnership

Courage IS Self-Expression

Daring, determination, fortitude, spirit, spunk, tenacity

When I move…I find joy!!

O’Neill (2020) describes the Joy of Movement as a “science-based book that doesn’t tell us why we should exercise but instead shows us how to fall in love with movement.”

“Movement will give you access to joy that will dramatically improve the quality of your life, help support mental health, and create more meaning and belonging”

-McGonigal-

Blooms and Blossoms evolved from a wish to connect with others in a format that allows for extended/ongoing communication and drop-in/informal interaction. Since starting my blog last year, I also created Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts.   Through my social media posts, as a supplement to Blooms to Blossoms blog, my intent is to complement my blog work and to reach out to more people.

I continue to hope that we can debate, discuss, and challenge each other to promote lifelong learning and personal development.  I am excited about the future of Blooms to Blossoms and the opportunity we have to work and live together so our community will thrive. A virtual community can have an impact!!

My current readers and followers are my greatest asset.  It would mean a lot to me if you shared my blog and social media account information to your friends, family, and colleagues who might be interested the integration of wellness, lifelong learning, and personal development.

Thanks for your decision to read Blooms to Blossoms and to follow me on social media.  Thanks to those who have responded to blogs and social media posts and those who have reached out to me privately.   I appreciate the time you spend with me.

Spread the word to others by…
**forwarding this Visual Blossoms (see links below) or
**sending them a link to my blog.