I spent a day recently with a woman I haven’t been able to forget. She’s a distant relative. I had never seen her before and I may never see her again. The first thing she said when we met was, “You are stunning!” Wow, I liked her right off the bat. We spent the day driving around, looking at some old family landmarks. She thought the trees were stunning. The buildings were stunning. I swear, if I’d picked up a rock, she would have said it was stunning. It was almost as if she’d been dropped down from Mars and had never seen Earth before. Everything was absolutely stunning. (So much for me.)
Through the course of the day, I went from thinking she was a little odd to thinking she was one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met and wishing I could be more like her. I also found out through the course of the day that she didn’t have an easy or perfect life that had created this sunshiny attitude. She had experienced a serious medical event–a brain aneurysm. She had lost her career. She’d had a failed marriage. She had a number of other problems, large and small, just like anyone else, and yet she was unrelentingly positive. Her lingering medical condition had resulted in some concentration problems, she explained, which finally made sense of the way she only mentioned any of the downsides of her life in passing on her way to noticing the next stunning structure, stick, or person. She didn’t have the ability to dwell on negatives. She was in the moment, completely, utterly, blissfully.
By the end of the day, I was thinking, I want a brain aneurysm!
That seems a little drastic, though.
But, you know, this ridiculously messy “farm shih tsu” (as I call him to explain his embarrassing state when I take him to the groomer) is stunning.
The trees reflecting on the pond outside my cousin’s mother’s house are stunning.
The view of cows grazing in the meadow on the next farm over is stunning.
The sun breaking through morning fog over our farm is stunning.
And this girl who likes to climb onto the roof outside her unfinished new room just to drive me crazy is especially stunning.
What’s stunning in your world today?
Gracie says:
:woof: Thanks for the blog today, Isn’t it amazing how some people just see the positive in life and don’t let it get them down. The “farm shi tzu” got me laughing so hard.That is the same excuse I use with ours!!! He actually backs our bird dog in the field too. I enjoy your posts very much Thanks
On January 13, 2008 at 7:25 am
Bayou Woman says:
Absolutely stunning, S!! I haven’t been outside yet today, but the view of the bayou from my kitchen window is stunning. The sound of the birds discovering I left them seeds is stunning The sun and the sky are stunning! And now, I’m off to have a stunning day! So, thanks!
BW
On January 13, 2008 at 9:05 am
Becky says:
Hehehe! I’m really glad (for once) to be living in a 1960s rancher without upstairs windows. My kids would probably have broken several bones by now. 😀
What’s stunning in my world today?
* an especially stunning batch of old-fashioned oatmeal. (Kicks instant oatmeal’s butt.)
* a stunningly clean closet. Makes me happy. It’s a rarity.
* a stunning, unasked-for smooch from my two-year-old. Again, it’s a rarity. He’s not a cuddler.
On January 13, 2008 at 9:59 am
Claudia W. says:
This post is stunning, because you are making me think about what it is that would make me happy. Maybe I need to take a drive. Thank you for sharing your life. I just wonder if I can find the courage to do what you have been doing. But just thanks for showing me there is an alternative and it can be achieved.
On January 13, 2008 at 10:15 am
Mental Pause Mama says:
We all too often overlook our blessings. Thanks for the reminder of all that is stunning. And now I’m off to enjoy my stunning family.
On January 13, 2008 at 11:01 am
Cherlyn says:
I agree that this post is stunning. What a way to start the day to make me count my blessings. Sad that probably would take a brain anuerisym for a lot of us to look at the positives. :yes:
On January 13, 2008 at 11:42 am
Alice Audrey says:
Your morning fog picture is stunning.
On January 13, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Martha says:
I look forward each day to reading your posts. You bring “stunning” rays of light into my days! This post’s message: Count Your Blessings! (no matter how small)
On January 13, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Jane says:
I am simply stunned!
By my 10 hedgehogs, by my Cocker Spaniel, by my Arabian mare, by my Christmas decorations that are still up, by the fact that I woke up healthy this morning and by the fact that I am going to my nephew’s 16th birthday party right now! :bananadance:
On January 13, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Melanie says:
Sleeping in this morning & making pancakes for my kids was pretty stunning.
On January 13, 2008 at 1:51 pm
heidi says:
I am finding the ability to communicate what lies deep in the heart one of the most stunning things in my life. The fact that others care and are eager to share in that act of communication is also stunning. And the book of Psalms is just packed full of stunning.
On January 13, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Jenn says:
I think this is the first time I’ve commented on your blog – I think it is stunning and so was my Sunday School class this morning!
On January 13, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Hope says:
What a wonderful post today! How blessed you are to have met this wonderful lady with such a positive outlook in the midst of having such a big negative in her life. What a different world it would be if we all could have this attitude and always look for the positive!
Thank you so much for sharing that. For lack of a better word I’ll use one here that has sure had a work out today….This post is so STUNNING, your words are so STUNNING and YOU are so STUNNING!! I find myself coming here each and every day for my STUNNING fix of Chickens in the Road!!
….and suddenly I am seeing so many things in my life and all around me that are too STUNNINGLY numerous to mention!!
Hugs,
Hope
On January 13, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Suzanne McMinn says:
I think you all are stunning! Thank you for being here. :hug:
On January 13, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Tori Lennox says:
What a beautiful post, Suzanne! And stunning pictures!!! 🙂
On January 13, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Estella says:
The sun that is shining today is just stunning!
Thanks for the stunning pics.
On January 13, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Jill says:
Loved today’s pics and especially the STUNNING post. Reminds me to enjoy everything as it comes . . .
On January 13, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Vonda says:
I had a beautiful sunny day today…stunning. But what is really stunning is that chocolate pudding cake sitting in my kitchen. Yum! Thank you for the stunning recipe.
On January 13, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Summer says:
I agree, this post is stunning! And, thank goodness. I need a reminder–pretty much everyday–to stay in this moment, to enjoy my life, and to be grateful for everything.
Also, thanks for the pictures–I love to see your farm.
On January 15, 2008 at 11:31 am
lintys says:
i just found your blog, and i think it’s stunning.
On February 2, 2008 at 9:01 am
Sharon says:
I’m glad that the Times Record did the story on you. I’m a lifetime country girl, and thank God for everyday I am alive to enjoy my family and surroundings. I think you’ve brought to light for many people, what a blessings the small things of life are.
I’ve already informed my sister of this site, and will tell many more so they can also share.
Thoroughly enjoyable. The photo’s are very impressive, as well as your writing. Keep up the good work, and positive attitude. Country life can be hard, but I’m sure you are the type of person who will enjoy every moment, as well as your children. They will thank you when they grow up for bringing them to the Slanted Little House.
As a child, we also had a cellar with a chain on the door, and in the winter, it was filled with lots of apples from our own orchard, pears that came from our farm, and all the canned goods that my mother prepared, the aroma was breath taking when you opened the door. Oh What Memories.
Speaking of small towns, and country living, just from your writing, I know the family you speak of. I hope you will always be AT HOME IN ROANE COUNTY.
Sharon
On February 21, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Donna says:
You hit the nail on the head…notice the simple things..and today, I did just that, as I noticed “Rocky” the neighborhood squirrel, hiding a nut in our backyard, marking his spot, near the Crepe Myrtle tree and then looking like a little jack hammer as he hammered it into the ground…and I noticed he came back later with another nut, but climed the fence to plant it in another yard…and I noticed my darling Petey bird parakeet, loving the outdoors, sitting on the porch, as he talked in complete sentences to the world and nature with “momma loves that big boy”..”high darlin!”…”it’s daddy’s birthday” and on and on and kissing sounds to all his buds…I sat at the dining room table, thanking God for such a gorgeous day that HE has made and for allowing me these simple delights and spending quiet time in His word (the Bible) and in his Presence.
On April 23, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Farmlady says:
This is a wonderful post because it invites you to really see the world around you.STUNNING in my world is:
…..Waking up and looking out the window at four baby goats; jumping and running up and down their enclosure waiting to be fed.
…..The summer sun rising over the mountains to the east of us. Knowing it will be a hot day, I can still feel the coolness of the early morning.
…..Watching our chickens free range in the yard, each so beautiful and different…., and so much more.
It doesn’t take an aneurisym to see the “STUNNING” in your life, just looking and listening and paying attention to where you are. Thanks for the reminder.
On May 18, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Shoshannah T. says:
So profoundly grateful for the opportunity to read this post. What an amazing story! To create our own bliss and acknowledge the wonder around us is our greatest blessing and our best gift to the world. I read in a book a few years ago, “we live in a gilded world of our own making,” and I love that! We choose what we see, how we will respond, how we “process” everything around us. Thank you so much for that!
On August 21, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Sandra says:
We all wish you, Suzanne, a very happy birthday and many more stunning birthdays to come. Your writing and pictures create stunning moments for us every day.
On April 11, 2009 at 7:24 am
Box Call says:
A re-look at an old post and thank you for reminding us how precious today is.
On October 30, 2009 at 4:53 am
thunja says:
re-reading this post only made me realize just how long I have been following. stunning.
On October 30, 2009 at 5:00 am
Janie says:
What a great one. Today is the best day of your life…make it happen. I love to read your blog everyday!!
On October 30, 2009 at 11:05 am
Kate says:
I don’t think I’ve ever been here before. But am glad I stopped by today. No, you definitely don’t want the brain thing going on! But the post truly is stunning. Nicely done.
On November 1, 2009 at 11:08 am