UPBEAT TIMES, INC. • March 2020 • Pg 27 Living the Upbeat Life


Sonoma County, CA. ~ Even with the sun shin- ing, it’s a chilly day today. Yet spring is clearly in the air, and the birds and I are singing out about it. There’s some- thing brand new- able, renewing, fresh and inspir- ing about this time of year. It’s as though any- thing my heart most desires can come up like a tough, young, green shoot, even through the hard concrete that may present itself. Springtime is time to ex- pect unexpected good things to be arriving. When you’re all about coming back to life in all your glory, you can adopt a word I made up years ago: “HumANimation.” As you might be able to see right off, it’s really a combo of two words, “hu- man” and “animation.” Human can refer to one human being, several or all humanoids on the planet. I thought it would be fun and spirit raising, with the Spring Equinox due March 19th, to do a word meditation on what it might mean to re-ani- mate, to come to life, to water our souls or those of other humans, to de- velop strong roots in the ground of our being, and let our stems, stalks and branches reach for the warmth of the sun. My dictionary says


that animation means to “impart zest or interest,” to “enliven” or “enthuse.” I add renew, rejuvenate, restore. So I ask, what animates you? Who


by Marcia Singer ~ lovearts@att.net HumANimation (hue-man-ĭ-may-shun)


the room? Who is en- livened by your hopeful shared conversation? Who have you recently touched with your voice, your loving hands, your acts of gener- osity? In ac- tual physical time? Or in vir- tual reality? Via photographs, text messages, emails or hearts scrawled on a drawing tacked on the refrigera- tor for the whole family to enjoy? HumANimation includes every which way our love and inten- tions to care for ourselves and other humans make the world a


better


or what perks you up, brightens your day? Is there an activity that you especially enjoy? What do you look at or watch that brings your smile out? Whose humor or laughing eyes make you feel immediate relief? Whose voice is music to your ears? What songs do you especially love to sing along to, that give you pep and en- ergy, or that otherwise put you in a really good frame of mind ? Who’s got the touch that melts you, brings you back to your senses, restores your faith, or quiets and brings you peace? Now, reverse that: Who


do you animate through your contributions? Who smiles when you walk in


place


for everybody. And of course, the joy and hap- piness, the healing and


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Life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you wish, but you only spend it once. ~ Lillian Dickson UPBEAT TIMES, INC. • March 2020 • Pg 27


togetherness created as we bring ourselves more fully to life benefits all the other life-forms we share our earth with. Ev- erything thrives through kindness and care. Here’s a few spring-


time ideas about how we can practice hum- ANimation, be a hum- ANimator for our world. LIGHTEN UP --Find more humor in being alive. Clean house (your own, someone else’s), de-clutter, make space for something new. Adopt a lighter, cleans- ing eating regime for a while, drink lots of pure water with fresh lemon


...continued on page 31 JOKES & Humor # 7


“How would you describe yourself?” Asked the interviewer. “Usually with words” I said, “but I’ve also been working on my mime skills if you’d pre- fer.” ~


“This is your great- grandma and great grandpa,” I told my grandson as I handed him a photo of my parents. “Do you think I look like them?”


He shook his head. “Not yet.” ~


Our manager kept reminding us waitresses to encourage customers to order dessert. At the end of an especially exhaust- ing day, I walked over to a couple who had just sat down, gave them each a menu and a glass of water, and asked, “Would you care for anything else?”


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