Judith Iris Quate's Blog, page 2

WHEN A DREAM IS SILENT

I know it has been a long time since my last post and for that I am sorry.  Maybe you are a follower who prefers less posts, but more quality posts.  I can do that too.  I hope you find this one a good quality post.

Catchy title?  It was meant to be.  I have something to share I just learned about myself.  I believe it is profound and I hope it relates to some of you.  

Let me remind you all I devoted 28 years to caring and advocating for my boys, especially Jason who was inflicted with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy.  I gave birth to my boys in 1979, eight years into my marriage.  I just turned 21 when I got married.  Yes- way too young in today’s standards.  I didn’t know who I was as a woman before becoming a wife.  That was a lot to ask of me now that I can see it in hindsight.  

When my boys were born prematurely, unfortunately I was not emotionally ready; but my deep yearning to be the best mother for my boys took me out of my comfort zone into the woman I am today.  

With that being said, it leads me to my point of this post.  Because I never gave myself a chance as a young woman to learn what my passions were, my years of emotional growth helped lead me to my passion.  This is why I named this  post, “When a Dream is Silent.”

My silent dream is now becoming un-silent.  I found my passions in life that were hidden for many years.  The challenges of one’s life can change your inner soul in ways that will open doors for you no matter your age.

I will be 67 next month and I am just beginning to live my silent dream.  I have one book publishedand working on my second book (more about that later).  I just received my certification as a Zentangle trainer and will begin my second certification as a therapeutic art specialist in August.  I am creating Zentangle inspired art and will soon be posting them here and my Etsy shop.  My new dream is to inspire others to follow my trail through public speaking, telling my story how I found my silent dream.

Life is good for this young senior citizen.  I hope to inspire you and help you find your silent dream.

 

Virtual hugs friends,

Jude

 

Zentangle inspired art

 

 

 

I DIDN’T HEAR THEIR CRIES

I DIDN’T HEAR THEIR CRIES

I hoped and prayed to give birth to a baby

with labor pains and precise breathing, this was my dream.

What happened was science intervention

an emergency C-section, no pain or quick breathing;

I find this to be very sad.

They were lifted out of my being, one at a time

and handed off to the waiting teams to care for their needs.

I laid their on the bed listening to the words being spoken,

praying I would hear the sounds, I was so anxiously hoping.

I laid in silence waiting to be moved

and asked my doctor, “how are my boys?”

In a very compassionate tone he responded, “they are in good hands.”

But doctor, “how could that be, I didn’t hear their cries.”

He looked at me with very sad eyes

and said, “dear we are fighting very hard to save their lives.”

I wrote this poem one day when I was feeling sorry for myself. I try not. I try not to dwell on the past but there are times I am reminded, hearing a song or watching a movie related to my sorrows.

It is okay to remember the bad times as long as they are tucked back into your heart and soul where they will be safe.

Much hugs,

Jude

VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME AND SKILLS

With major budget cuts threatening many very important domestic programs in the United States that will severely cause vital services to end for the intellectually and mentally challenged individuals, we must step forward and volunteer.

Our children will lose free meals in schools that will effect millions of low income families. Children need a nutritional meal plan in order to give them the ability to achieve in their studies. Our food industry needs to step forward and help these children.

Meals on Wheels program is on the list of possible defunding. Who will help our sick and elderly community? We need organizations to step forward and volunteer their expertise and help.

Our younger generation at high school age should volunteer their time. It just takes a few hours a week. I believe it should be mandatory in all high schools as part of their curriculum to donate a few hours to volunteer and fill in the gap left by the impending budget cuts.

I grew up in the 60s. During the summer breaks I volunteered four days a week. I worked two days as a “candy stripper” at a local hospital delivering flowers and helping out on the maternity floor. The other two days I travelled to center city Philadelphia and volunteered for the Jewish Foundation doing simple clerical duties. It never occurred to me not to do this; I wanted to.

After I graduated from high school in 1968, the Vietnam War was in full action. I joined the USO and every Friday my friends and I took the bus and train to center city Philadelphia to meet the bus to take us to Fort Dix Army Base. I loved this. The young men were so grateful to take their minds off their pending travels to Vietnam Nam and spend an evening dancing or talking to us. This experience was essential for me; helping me to be more outgoing and trusting. I will never forget those dances and the many men I met. I always wonder what came of their fate. It sometimes haunts me. I visited the Vietnam Nam wall in Washington DC several years later and placed my hands along the many names of our fallen soldiers and cried silent tears.

Dear parents – please encourage your high school children to donate time to volunteer.

Newly retired men and women- if you are lonely and need a change in your life- volunteer a few hours at a hospital or your local senior citizen center helping those who may be less fortunate than you. I know you will feel rewarded in your heart.

Hugs

Jude

JOHN LENNON'S WORDS

When John Lennon wrote these beautifully potent words for this classic song, little did he know the affect they would have in today’s world. This version of John’s song by Pentatonic’s, touched me emotionally and reminded me of what I long for.

Each day we are subjected to our president’s misguided, outrageous twitter feeds. This man is suppose to be the most powerful man in the world. The only power he respects is his own and what he needs to do to continue to feed his own ego.

I still believe in what our country means to me. I am a peaceful person and I will try to continue to inspire you all through music and art with the hope of better days to come. I am a dreamer…..

Peace and hugs

Jude

JOHN LENNON’S WORDS

When John Lennon wrote these beautifully potent words for this classic song, little did he know the affect they would have in today’s world. This version of John’s song by Pentatonic’s, touched me emotionally and reminded me of what I long for.

Each day we are subjected to our president’s misguided, outrageous twitter feeds. This man is suppose to be the most powerful man in the world. The only power he respects is his own and what he needs to do to continue to feed his own ego.

I still believe in what our country means to me. I am a peaceful person and I will try to continue to inspire you all through music and art with the hope of better days to come. I am a dreamer…..

Peace and hugs

Jude

A MANDALA RETREAT

I participated in a very relaxing and “zen-like” experience yesterday with an online retreat presented by

Sherita Sparrow, ADC, CDP

Therapeutic Art Specialist

The Feather’s Touch

A holistic therapeutic art company that

enhances the quality of life for seniors in

nursing homes, assisted living communities

and adult daycares as well as individuals with

special needs and/ or intellectual disabilities.

I love the idea of being part of a retreat in the comfort of my own home. Technology is amazing.

I am proud to call Sherita a friend and Andrea Horowitz as well. She participated with me in the retreat. We all have common interests and seem to connect in a spiritual way.

THE CIRCLE OF LIFE

We were instructed in the process of creating our own mandala after a meditation moment to clear our mind and help in the relaxation process. We were given specific instructions. I allowed my inner soul to create the above mandala.

Sherrita shared interpretations of each color we chose and the shapes we used.

I finished my mandala and it occurred to me I used several circles within my design. I had no predetermined thoughts of what I was going to create. It reminded me of the song, The Circle of Life” from The Lion King. Interestingly, my inner soul guided me to this design which was my son Jason’s favorite song. He would smile and react positively every time he heard it.

In conclusion, I found the entire experience to be very powerful. I allowed my inner soul to create and not my mind. I interpreted this to mean I finally let go of him emotionally, no longer in the mourning process and now he is in my heart and soul guiding me to succeed in my life goals.

Hugs to you all… friends

Jude

THE DESCRIPTION OF DISABILITY IS "ABILITY"

The well written and very inspiring segment of today’s CBS Sunday Morning News caught my attention and made me cry. If only my son lived in today’s world, he would have the ability to express his thoughts, needs and quirky personality. Jason used his facial expressions to express himself and I was able to read them. His eyes were the mirror of his soul and if he was able to use his eyes to express himself with a computer, he would have loved the opportunity to finally communicate.

If only…….. the day he was rushed to the hospital after an unfounded abuse he experienced; I looked into his eyes and they showed me unbelievable sadness. I never knew what “really” happened to him.

A special thank you to #CBS Sunday Morning News for showing this segment. I am so grateful. I am also grateful that the severely physically impaired individual in today’s world can now communicate.

Hugs

Jude

THE DESCRIPTION OF DISABILITY IS “ABILITY”

The well written and very inspiring segment of today’s CBS Sunday Morning News caught my attention and made me cry. If only my son lived in today’s world, he would have the ability to express his thoughts, needs and quirky personality. Jason used his facial expressions to express himself and I was able to read them. His eyes were the mirror of his soul and if he was able to use his eyes to express himself with a computer, he would have loved the opportunity to finally communicate.

If only…….. the day he was rushed to the hospital after an unfounded abuse he experienced; I looked into his eyes and they showed me unbelievable sadness. I never knew what “really” happened to him.

A special thank you to #CBS Sunday Morning News for showing this segment. I am so grateful. I am also grateful that the severely physically impaired individual in today’s world can now communicate.

Hugs

Jude

A Reveal of me…..

For the past few years I shared my thoughts, my life, my opinions and hopefully inspired you, my friends on WordPress and beyond.  Now I am being very brave and sharing myself with you in an image form.

I have an inner critic that lived with me for many years.  Hopefully by revealing me, this very evil inner critic will vanish for good.  I suppose age helps me to reveal myself and get rid of the insecurities along with that nasty inner critic.

 

This is me….Jude of Jude’s Inspirational Wisdom.  Not bad for a “young senior citizen?”

I must admit I am now feeling a little vulnerable.  Get over it Jude!!!

 

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http://themomentphoto.com

I asked Terree to capture the inner me as only a very talented photographer could do.  She found my inner soul and captured it well!!   Kudos to Terree from The Moment Photographer.

Let me end by giving you my inspiration.  Always believe in yourself, never doubt yourself and always see You as beautiful person inside and out.

Hugs,

Jude

 

 

 

AMERICA WAS BUILT WITH IMMIGRANTS

In 1902 my grandfather left Lithuania to American shores looking for a better life for his wife and son. He found a home in upstate New York and worked as a rag salesman riding his horse and buggy through the streets.

My grandmother and uncle, who was a small child, crossed the ocean to join him. She was a very brave woman traveling alone with her small child.

Together they managed to raise five more children enduring two miscarriages. They were proud to be Americans.

Immigrants formed our country along with the native Indians. I believe in liberty for all people.

I am very proud of my family heritage. I am the third generation of American immigrants. #President Trump – Please do not take away the rights of immigrants to enter our country legally who want to be Americans. These people are coming here after several years of vetting. They are fleeing from persecution. This is what my grandfather did many years ago. He was also fleeing from war he didn’t believe in due to his religious beliefs. LET THEM BE AMERICANS!!

Hugs

Jude