About Pat

Here is a place where you can come to get a lift for the day, perhaps, a little insight to carry you through onto the next adventure of your life. A place where I’ll share a story, perhaps a thought and some reflections and we’ll meet somewhere in the middle. I like to think of it as a gathering around the kitchen table late at night when everything is still and the world has quieted down to rest. Occupation: Writer, blogger, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter and one learning and sharing stories in my life. Location: Bailey, CO Introduction: 2007 Plain Talk and Ordinary Wisdom came out of Wisdom for the Ages, which was born in the corporate world where I gave workshops and facilitated talking-stick discussion groups. When my employer closed their site in 2002 and relocated back East, I took it outside corporate giving presentations as a speaker at Kiwanis, Mile High Sales Professionals, CWEE (Center for Work, Education and Employment) and Business Honoring Spirituality meetings. I also led weekly discussion groups at Morningstar Assisted Living Center. I am passionate about creating a safe environment where people can put aside their differences, share their experiences and wisdom without being right or wrong and benefit from truly listening to one another. It all started with inspiration from a quote from Ram Dass in his book, "Still Here": ….”when there is true surrender and service between people, the roles of helper and helped and the boundaries between those in power and those who are powerless begin to dissolve.”

Guest Post on Finding Our Way Now

Grandpop and Grandmom

Personal Photo – Grandpop and Grandmom © Pat Ruppel

Hi everyone — sending a quick note letting you know I’m honored to be Susan Cooper’s guest over on “Finding Our Way Now” with contributing the following story.

Happy Happy Happy: #Story

I hope you’ll drop by Susan’s site, leave a comment and share the love.

Thank You!

Pat at the ol’ kitchen table

Shine Little Glow Worm

Fireflies

Fireflies by Rex Sorgatz — Courtesy PhotoDropper

Shine little glow worm, glimmer . . . glimmer.” How many of you remember that old tune and seeing lightening bugs (or more commonly fireflies) growing up back east? I do. We knew we were deep in the middle of summer with the first signs of lightening bugs blinking off and on in the night sky. Off we’d go giggling and laughing as we chased them around our backyard.  Continue reading

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Thank You ― My Last . . . Butterfly Light Award!

Butterfly Light Award

Butterfly Light Award

Oh, such a beautiful award to end with for awards on my site. How it lights up and shimmers.

It’s a great tribute to Don Charisma, when he was originally given this award, as a thank you, from Belinda (the idiot writer) when he helped fix her computer. Its glowing essence reflects love and the gift of giving.

I don’t think I’ve ever quite seen one like this and I’m deeply honored to receive it from Sherri Matthews at “A View from my Summerhouse”. It’s not only the beauty of the award but what it represents that gives it a whole new meaning of respect in making a difference and spreading light in our world.  Continue reading

What If — Virtual Kitchen Table Talks?

My Kitchen Table

Around My Kitchen Table — Photo © 2012 by Jim Ruppel

It’s interesting how things show up at the perfect time.

I awoke this morning with some thoughts on connecting with my internet friends around the world. I thought wouldn’t it be nice to sit down, have a cup of coffee and chat with them around my virtual kitchen table?

It would be fun to hang out and see what’s going on in their world. I wondered if it was even possible with so many different time zones. How could this work — Skype?  Continue reading

Today’s Kids — I Love Them!

It’s that time of the year, when you hear of graduations, see the excitement of young faces and read of their stories in the media. A new chapter is beginning in their young lives and they’re being launched out in the world.

Some have plans and others will figure it out as they go. For my eldest daughter, it was to be a Registered Nurse and, for my youngest, it was to be an author and self-employed entrepreneur building keepsake trunks.

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Times have dramatically changed now growing up as a teenager, when for me it was the ’60’s and then much later for our daughters. I can still relate to the spontaneous fun and hanging out with friends. There’s no other time like it.  Continue reading

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