A Patchwork of Life

By Debi Vietri

This book is a journal from the heart to let people know that life is a challenge even
on the best of days but attitude will determine how we cope with each challenge and
opportunity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Oct 9, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504955058

Debi Vietri

I have always been told I have an "old" soul and see beyond the obvious. Growing up I was taught to never take life for granted and to embrace each moment as a memory to last a lifetime. Choosing to have a 'blended' family has offered me insight into a variety of personalities and their views on life. I reside in Birdsboro PA and have been blessed with an extended family of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

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© 2015 Debi Vietri. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 10/08/2015

ISBN: 978-1-5049-5506-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-5505-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015916748

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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This is an ongoing commentary of life and all it means to me……

By Debi Vietri

On Nov 1, 2011 I decided that I didn’t like myself or the life I had. Don’t get me wrong I know what I have lived is a direct result of the choices I have made throughout my lifetime. I decided that I needed to make better choices and do what I needed for me instead of letting myself be a casualty of life. I adopted a new life style and was determined to improve my future and also give myself back the gift of self-worth. A month after the life style change I decided I needed to express my inner most feelings. Writing has always been a comfort so what better way to search for inner balance than to write from the heart. This journal is from the heart and is dedicated to the angel in my heart and my forevers who have taught me that life should be experienced and not just lived.

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12-12-11

Happiness is a state of mind. You are only as happy as you allow yourself to be. Accept what is and try to make a rainbow to guide you out of the facets of your life. You can never go back but you can learn and grow from the experiences of the past. You are rich in knowledge and wisdom but must choose wisely to make a future for yourself. Patience and time are wonderful allies. Accept what you do not understand as it may be the best thing for you at the time to take you on the next leg of you journey in life.

12-13-11

Another quote from my heart:

Each person, place, and experience in your life is just a piece of who you were, who you are and who you will become. They are sewn together with love and emotion to make a patchwork quilt that covers you. This quilt will comfort you when you are down and in despair, it will keep all the joy and happiness surrounding you close to your heart to warm it. So do not ever forget even the smallest memory as it will become a part of you forever to guide you through life.

12-15-11

Ramblings from the heart:

Time has a way of slipping away. Make the most of each moment as you can never have a do over. Once that moment is gone you can never change the outcome. Tell someone you love them because you may never get the chance to do it again. There is so much uncertainty in the world but there is always one thing you can count on…..be happy in your heart and this will guide you through life with a positive attitude and all around you will also benefit from your inner strength. Learn from the past but do not dwell in it. You cannot go back to that time but you can create new memories even stronger and happier.

12-16-11

Morning Muses:

Believe in yourself and you will find inner strength you did not know you had. At times you may doubt your worth but someone will show you that you are the center of their universe. Do not handle this responsibility lightly share your love and you will be able to make it through even the darkest hours. Be true to your convictions and do not falter. Do not take situations at face value-all may not be what it seems. Things happen for a reason but it may not be the reason you want. Being strong takes much more effort and desire but at the end of the day you can say you did your best. Take one step at a time and the journey will not seem so long.

12-21-11

Morning Muse:

Do not fill your life with regrets and what ifs. They tend to put you in a holding pattern and life passes you by. Focus on the good and wonderful things and people in your life. They are your future and help you get through the rough patches along the way. Learn from the past experiences and believe in yourself and the powers you have to be happy. No one can take that away. If you close your heart and build an ice castle around it no one benefits from what you have to offer. Hold memories close but hold those near and dear closer; they are truly the year round Christmas gift.

12-22-11

From the Heart:

Do not take for granted that you will have a chance to make things right and resolve issues with someone in your life. The chance may slip away before your very eyes. They may be gone before you can mend that bridge. You miss the opportunity to make new sweeter memories and share your life with that person because you refuse to let go of what was and get on with life. Try to build on today to make tomorrow the world you want it to be. You should learn from yesterday to make you a stronger person but also let the future guide you. This is for the loved ones in my life who feel they have been wronged. The past cannot be changed, the mistakes were made, the regrets and sorrow will always be tangent in our lives but there is so much more we can share and experience together if you open your heart and let the healing begin.

12-23-11

Something to ponder:

Today I stopped and asked myself So what?

And here is the answer I got:

listen,

look,

smell,

touch, feel,

reflect,

and do nothing more

until the question

no longer seems important

12-27-11

Morning Thoughts:

Christmas comes but once a year. The love and goodwill toward others should be the theme throughout the year not just contained to a few weeks of the year. Your New Year’s resolution should be to make one person smile a day. To do this you must touch 365 lives before next Christmas. Say hello to someone, hold the door open, pick up something that dropped. There are a thousand ways to do a random act of kindness that cost nothing of you but effort on your part. That freely given thing may make the world of difference to someone hurting, depressed, or down. It will show them that people truly are kind and modern lifestyles have not taken away the basic courtesies of compassion and caring.

12-28-11

Morning Muse:

There are only so many minutes in a day. Once the time has passed you can’t go back and change it or even save it for another day. Make the most of each minute and enjoy to the ordinary things of life. The quiet right before your household wakes to start the day, the smell of coffee, the laughter of a child, a flower growing in a crack on the sidewalk. Remember to make time for yourself. If you do for others and forget about yourself you endanger the very core of your heart. It becomes hard and icy as you do the things expected as you set such a high bar in being the strong one, the care giver and nurturer. The ice castle you build around your heart stops you from experiencing amazing things. You have to truly be happy on the inside to show it on the outside and pass it on to others. Don’t give all of yourself, save a small portion to fall back on when it gets tough. Believe in yourself and you will see wonderful things unfold before your very eyes. I have recently discovered that it’s OK to have me time thanks to a wonderful friend. The world will not fall apart and spin off its axis. Things will go on and no one will think less of me.

12-29-11

Thoughts for the New Year:

Take the time to enjoy your family and friends. We only have so much time on earth and we must use it wisely. Don’t sweat the small stuff. To be angry and hate is to waste energy and emotion better channel toward living life. Don’t let yourself hold a grudge and miss all another has to offer. Share your love and it will come back for an eternity, share your anger and hatred and it will come back tenfold hurting no one but you. Do your best at whatever you take on. You will know and feel pride in your achievements. Take chances and think outside the box. There is a wonderful world waiting to be explored if you dare to step inside. Be there to pick up the pieces or be a shoulder to cry on for those who need it. Life in general is tough. It is worse when you try to stand alone. Wake in the morning looking for a miracle and you will find one. It could be a smile from a child, holding hands with a loved one, relief in the eyes of someone in distress.

12-31-11

As you start the New Year a few reminders to make it a good one: Always be true to yourself (if you are truly happy within the world respond accordingly). Reach for the stars (you have nothing to lose but things that might have been) Love with all of your heart (to give less would be to short change the ones you love) Pick your battles (sometimes what you see as a battle is just a hiccup in life)… Be strong (but accept that you are also vulnerable and need someone to be strong for you) Be amazed at the world around you (you only have one chance to experience a moment before it is lost) Accept people for who they are (you can’t change them but accept them for what they can bring or have brought into your life) Hold onto your dreams (no one can take them away from you but you) Always say Sweet Dreams to the one you love (they will fall asleep with pleasant thoughts) Always look for the positive in life (even in the negatives we learn and grow from the experiences) Always be ready with a compliment or kind deed (people in general have become so self-absorbed in their own lives to acknowledge anyone else) Truly listen to older people (they offer a wealth of experience and pass history on that could never be recorded or related except by word of mouth) See the world through the eyes of a child (you will better understand that things are never as bad as you think they are) Appreciate your health and the life you have (there is always someone else who has it worse) Celebrate life and death (it is the completing of the circle and there is much to remember and hold dear to your heart when a loved one is gone) This is for my truly amazing family and friends who have taught me so much and will continue to as long as I listen with my heart and not my mind. I LOVE YOU

1-2-12

Morning Muse:

Do not ever giving up on your hopes and dreams. Life may have a way of making sure that they are out of reach, or so it seems. You just have to see through the maze that presents itself and look for the goal. It is there hidden right before your very eyes. No one can take away these hopes and dreams but you. They are a part of who you are and if you let them slip away you are losing a part of yourself. Do not think you can attain these hopes and dreams by yourself. You need the support of those you love the most to make sure you do not lose sight of the prize. They truly are your strength. You may falter and give up but they push you to understand things that make no sense and that you should still try. Thank you to truly amazing friends and family for making me understand this every day. Everyone one of you offers a different type of support and love in my journey to make my dreams come true. I LOVE YOU.

1-4-12

Just for today, I will try to live this day only, not tackle my whole life problems at once. I can do things for 12 hours that would a pall me if I had to keep them up for a lifetime. Just for today, I will be happy. This assumes what Abraham Lincoln said is true most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be. Happiness is from within; it is not a matter of externals. Just for today, I will try to adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my family, my business, and my licks as they come and fit myself to them. Just for today, I will take care of my body. I will exercise it, care for it, nourish it, not abuse it or neglect it so that it will be a perfect machine for my bidding. Just for today, I will try to strengthen my mind. I will learn something useful; I will not be a mental loafer. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration. Just for today, I will exercise my soul in two ways: I will do somebody a good turn without being found out and do at least 2 things I do not want to do - just for the exercise. Just for today, I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I can, dress as becoming as possible, talk low, act courteously, be liberal with praise, criticize not at all and not find fault with anything and not try to regulate or improve anyone. Just for today I will eliminate 2 pests - hurry and indecision. Just for today, I will find a quiet half hour for myself and relax. In this half hour I will thank God, so as to put a little more perspective in my life. Just for today, I will unafraid to be happy, to enjoy what is beautiful, to love and to believe that those I love will love me.

1-5-12

I have suddenly become aware that the years are flying by. Time somehow seems more precious. My parents suddenly seem old. My aunts and uncles are sick, and I fear they do not have many years left. I have not seen some of my cousins for several years. I really love my family but we have grown apart. I am thinking of friends, some I have known since childhood. Those friendships become more…precious as the years pass. Nothing warms the heart like sharing a laugh with someone you have known for years. Then my thoughts turn to the dark side. I remember the feelings I have hurt, and recall my own hurt feelings - the misunderstandings and unmended fences that separate us and set up barriers. Wouldn’t it be terrific if a special day could be set aside to reach out and make amends? Everyone would vow to write a letter or make a phone call and mend a strained relationship. It could also be the day on which we would agree to accept the olive branch extended by a former friend. This day could be a starting place. We could go from there to heal wounds in our hearts and rejoice in a new beginning.

1-6-12

Someone asked me the other day, if I had my life to live over, would I change anything? No, I answered, but then I began to think…..

If I had to live my life over, I would have talked less and listened more. I would have invited friends over for dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded. I would have taken time to listen to my grandparents and parents ramble about their youth…. They are the window to our past. I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains. I would have listened to my children and grandchildren more. They are the window to our future. I would have cried and laughed less while watching TV - and more while watching life. I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for one day. I would have leaned on anther’s shoulder instead of pretending to be the strong one all the time. I never would have bought something because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil or was guaranteed to last a life time. I’d have spent more time with my friends as they help make me who I am. I would have taken back all the angry words and gestures. I would have forgiven those who hurt me. There would have been more I love you’s…more I’m sorry’s… But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute…look at it REALLY see it…live it…and never give it back.

1-8-12

This year is the year to take on the new and leave behind the past. Look at each day as a gift of love and hope. The past reminds us that in history there is a lot to be learned that pertains to our future. Remember the past for what it is…. a vehicle of experience that has guided you to this time in your life. Do not hold the grudges and hate close to your heart as it will disable your true… happiness. Instead learn from the hurts and disappointments and grown as a person. Walk each day with your head held high and greet each person you meet with a smile on your face. Do not try to tackle the world yourself. You will lose a great deal of yourself trying to self-preserve. Instead learn to cry and share with family and friends. They have so much to offer - understanding, compassion and most of all love. Make time for yourself and your needs. If you are not truly happy within - it shows on the outside. This is for my truly amazing family and friends that have been teaching me that I am a precious gift that needs to be pampered once in a while.

1-9-12

Love

this is the most powerful word there is. Love has so many meanings and definitions. There is love of living things. You can love a pet and nature. You can love the beauty of the things around you. There is love of material things. You can love money and all the things it can buy. But what it doesn’t buy is happiness, health and love of self. Love defines you as a friend. One who is there with a shoulder to cry on. One who is willing to go the extra mile even when you are at your worst. One sees through you when you say everything is alright and the world is really crumbling around you. One who will step up and defend you and stand in your corner when the world is against you. One who shares all the joy and happiness with you.

Love as a parent means you have a core existence that revolves around your children. That you devote yourself to raising them and teach the right from wrong and self-worth. That you love them enough to stand back and let them spread their wings even if you don’t agree with the decisions they make. You love them enough to let them fall and are there to pick up the pieces and dry their tears. Love as family means they have the same roots and history and understand you and what makes you tick. They have the same blood coursing through them and have the same traditions and values.

Love as a lover means you share the same passion and heat. You are willing to walk into hell and back for another. You see the worst and the best of someone and still dedicate and devote yourself to their happiness and well-being. You know your lover better than they know themselves. You are willing to let go if it means their happiness. But love of self is the most important of all. If you do not truly love who you are and believe in yourself no other love matters. You can’t pass the happiness and hope on if you truly do not have it in your soul.

1-12-12

Live today as if there were no tomorrow. Take time to listen, really listen with your heart. If you do you might find that most people have a common thread that binds them. We may act differently or project different images but the core of our existence is the same. We all just approach life with different armor to defend our wellbeing. Some are dreamers, some are realists, some are pessimists, and other are optimists. All offer a slant on life in their own way. Look through the eyes of a child or elder. A child sees innocence and hope in the world around them and the elder see the world with wisdom and knowledge from experience. Both have much to offer if we reach out to them. Sense the beauty in a single flower or raindrops on a window pane. Be in awe that you have the freedom to express yourself without repercussions. Appreciate the support group you have. They can walk you through the happiest of times and the darkest of times. They can teach you things about yourself that you really did not want to know. They push you to set goals and reach them. Make your life one to be remembered. Do not just let it pass you by. Make an impact on everyone you come in contact with and this will be your legacy. It might be a simple as just be a smile or as involved as being a shoulder to lean on both might mean the world to someone.

1-15-12

My wish for you this New Year is happiness, and love. You need to be happy from the core of your soul out. If you are not, you will not find true happiness. Happiness starts with accepting yourself with all your flaws and realizing no one else has a right to tell you what you need to do to be happy. If you are not truly happy you are of no good to those around you. You go through the motions but it is not felt within the heart. You need to make time to do for yourself and only then will your true happiness guide the way. Find love. There are many types of love as I stated before. Love of family, parental love, love of nature and life itself. But you must find your true love, a forever love and hold on tightly. Explore and grow that love until it envelopes your soul and you are one. Accept that this true love will know more about you and see you as no one else ever can. They will help you to grow and sometimes protect you from yourself. They will let you vent and lend a shoulder but they will also cajole and take command when necessary for you to understand. They offer themselves freely and ask nothing in return. Thanks to me listening to a very wise person I started to listen with my heart instead of my ears and tearing down the ice castles around my heart. I am finally starting to understand. Thanks to my amazing friends and family who take me one more step in this journey called life. May all of you experience core happiness from within your soul and share it with your true love.

1-19-12

Your senses

SEE the people around you through the eyes of a child and see the innocence and hope within. See them through the eyes of the elderly and see the potential and future. Look past the outward appearances and see the beauty each person has within. It is surprising what others have to offer if we allow them to be themselves and not what we want them to be.

HEAR with your heart and you truly listen to what people are trying to say. Close your mouth and let the heart of another speak volumes. Sometimes letting others have a say is the hardest thing to do.

FEEL the hand of a child in yours, safe and secure. The caress of a lover for comfort and love. Feel the hardness and cold of polished wood and the softness and warmth of a blanket to cuddle in.

SMELL what the world is truly like. Close your eyes and experience an array of smells that define what truly it makes up. Smell the freshness of laundry hung in the sunshine to dry, the sweat after a hard day of work.

TASTE warm cocoa on a cold winter day, a spicy taco during a football game. Your love’s lips as you kiss them goodnight.

Use all of your senses to their full potential each day to collect and make memories to last a lifetime. When your senses are fully used you experience life and don’t miss anything it has to offer. When you lose a sense you still have the memories of what a person, place or thing is based on what your senses collected and stored.

1-21-12

Over thinking a situation or feeling is not good. When you do this you have a tendency to read others opinions and reaction into your own. You have a good possibility of being someone you don’t want to be. Listen with your heart and believe that there is a positive spin to any situation. Even when the days are the darkest and you feel like you can handle no more you are learning important life… skills-strength, perseverance and character. A wise person tries to tell me this every day and I am truly grateful that I have their support and love. No matter what the future brings I know that faith and love will get me through and I will emerge at the end of the tunnel looking back amazed at what I have been through.

1-23-12

Every morning you are credited with 86,400 seconds. You can carry none over to the next day. The clock is running so make the most of today. To realize the value of ONE year ask a student who has failed a grade. To realize the value of ONE month ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby. To realize the value of ONE week ask the editor of a newspaper. To realize the value of ONE hour ask the couple waiting to be reunited after a lengthy absence. To realize the value of ONE minute ask the person who missed the train. To realize the value of ONE second ask a person who just avoided an accident. Treasure each moment you have. Share it with someone special and make the most of the time together. Remember the time waits for no one. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.

1-24-12

You are UNIQUE

Think about what a remarkable, unpredictable, and miraculous thing it is to be YOU. No one has ever lived or to come has your combination of abilities, talents, appearance, friends, acquaintances, burdens, sorrows, joys, and opportunities. Enjoy that uniqueness. You do not have to pretend in order to seem more like someone else. You weren’t meant to be like someone else. You do not have to lie to conceal the parts of you that are not like what you see in anyone else. You were meant to be different.