From the Desk of Pennwell Gray
Daily thoughts. Points to ponder. Soulful reflections. The Musings of E.M. Murphy.
As far back as I can remember, music has filled the air that I breathe. Music of all genres from vastly diverse decades and eras.
My family would sing along with the lyrics or hum to the beat, sometimes in tune but more often than not, way off key. Our fingers would be snapping, toes a tapping and dancing about could, and usually would, inevitably ensue.
Continue reading “Music to my ears.”As you navigate your morning, contemplate what you want to achieve today. Focus on a goal – one goal – and work to make it happen all day.
It doesn’t have to big, but it does have to be important to you.
Was it setting your alarm clock and not hitting snooze? Will it be not snacking in between meals? Will it be limited social media time? Fitting a workout in?
Or will it be spiritual in nature, like finding opportunities to share a smile, genuinely asking how a person is or spreading kindness? Staying present and not distracted? Listening more, speaking less? Trying to understand others rather than always wanting others to understand you?
Contemplate it. Name it. Then write it down and make it happen today.
This weekend I’m enjoying visits with old friends.
This is accompanied by visits with my youth, dreams and goals.
Continue reading “Old friends.”As I wrap up today and plan for tomorrow, I want to make the time to say – thank you!
One year ago on July 13, 2020, I made the decision to start writing again. I threw away the map, tossed aside the plans and blindly made my way – destination unknown. Continue reading “Let’s Celebrate!”
The mind is a fascinating set of faculties made up of sensation, imagination, will, memory and thought. Even more intriguing is our psyche, the totality of the human mind, the conscious and the unconscious. Both involve the three pound organ known as our brain, the most complex part of the human body that serves as the epicenter of our intelligence, interpreter of the senses, initiator of body movement and controller of behavior.
But this isn’t a scientific musing filled with anatomy and physiology. It is a simple reflection on heartache and the dynamics of our psyche – the ways we get stuck and how we can reclaim our sanity when we find ourselves lost in our minds. Continue reading “A mental roadmap: From heartache to healing.”
We tend to feel terrible when those we care about are sad. We want to comfort and soothe them, yet simultaneously fix their problems and take away their pain.
We seem to be rather uncomfortable with sadness, whether it is our own personal suffering or the suffering of others. Continue reading “Hello sadness, my dear friend.”
Everywhere we turn these days, people are fighting. From minor disagreements online to full blow separations, cutting others out of our lives because we don’t see eye to eye.
There are definitely times when this is warranted. When we are repeatedly disrespected, disregarded and walked on like a doormat. When it is a matter of neglect, abuse or being taken advantage of, we know that parting ways is what’s needed for our mental health and peace of mind. Sometimes ties need to be cut and bridges burned to break toxic cycles and move on.
Continue reading “Is the need to control negatively impacting your life? Three simple tips to help you let go.”Life never ceases to fascinate me.
We are constantly reminded that man plans, God laughs, and it takes just the blink of an eye for even the most well structured day to go to hell in a handbasket.
Even if we harbor the illusion that we are in control, life shows us differently time and time again. It’s a mystery that we will never fully solve or understand, no matter how hard we try. Continue reading “Uplifting conversations, unlikely friends and other random wonders.”
When most Americans think of Memorial Day, they conjure up images of beach destinations, barbecues and the first official weekend of flip-flop season. It’s a carefree few days filled with fun, laughs and when the weather permits, lots of outdoor activities.
They plan what time the traffic will be at a minimum, load the cooler and pack the sunscreen. Jimmy Buffet sings a tune and everyone looks forward to wasting away in Margaritaville.
Continue reading “Respect. Honor. Sacrifice.”Despite the fact that most people crave sunshine on a cloudy day, I must admit that a bit of rain does wonders for my soul.
The sound of water hitting the roof and pummeling the windows while the wind howls is somehow soothing. The smell of rain when it falls upon freshly cut grass is aromatic and oddly tantalizing. People vacate the streets, making it a perfect day for a walk with plenty of room to wander.
The mind quiets. The body relaxes. The heart is fulfilled. And the soul – just pure magic, what else can I say.
How do you feel about the rain?
