Gifts: Extraordinaries From an Ordinary Life

Specifically, they give others…. The closest thing to being cared for is to care for others. We are all in this together and we should treat each other as such. The very demons that torment each of us, torment others all over the world. It is our challenges and troubles that connect us at the deepest level. Be this person for those around you every chance you get. In your relationships and interactions with others, nothing you can give is more appreciated than your sincere, focused attention. Being with someone, listening without a clock and without anticipation of results is the ultimate compliment.

It is indeed the most valued gesture you can make to another human being. When we pay attention to each other we breathe new life into each other. With frequent attention and affection our relationships flourish, and we as individuals grow wiser and stronger. So give someone the gift of YOU — your time, undivided attention and kindness. You have to dare to be yourself, one hundred percent, however anxious or odd that self may prove to be.

The people who support you in doing so are extraordinary. Never bully someone into silence. Never victimize others for being different. Let people define themselves. You have the ability to show people how awesome they are , just the way they are.

Learn to recognize the beauty of different ideas and perspectives, even if it means overcoming your pride and opening your mind beyond what is comfortable. Healthy relationships and human interactions are not a power struggle. Be willing to be wrong, while simultaneously exploring your truth. Read The Four Agreements. If you attach to the negative behavior of others, it brings you and everyone close to you down to their level. Stay positive when negativity surrounds you.

Smile when others frown. Every time words are spoken, something is created. Be conscious of what you say and how you say it. Use words that build up, appreciate, encourage and inspire. Inspiration and positivity begets inspiration and positivity times infinity. A brave, extraordinary soul recognizes the strength of others.

Give genuine praise whenever possible.

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Doing so is a mighty act of service. Start noticing what you like about others and speak up. Having an appreciation for how amazing the people around you are is extremely rewarding. Also, be sure to follow this rule: What others say and do is often based entirely on their own self-reflection. When someone who is angry and upset speaks to you, and you nevertheless remain very present and continue to treat them with kindness and respect, you place yourself in a position of great power.

You become a means for the situation to be graciously diffused and healed. This is possible when we realize that people behave in such ways because they are in a place of great suffering. People react to their own thoughts and feelings and their behavior often has nothing directly to do with you. Be gentle and compassionate with those around you. Mother Nature opens millions of flowers every day without forcing the buds. Let this be a reminder not to be forceful with those around you, but to simply give them enough light and love, and an opportunity to grow naturally.

Ultimately, how far you go in life depends on your willingness to be helpful to the young, respectful to the aged, tender with the hurt, supportive of the striving, and tolerant of those who are weaker or stronger than the majority. Because we wear many hats throughout the course of our lives, and at some point in your life you will have been all of these people. In your mind, what makes a person extraordinary? What else do extraordinary people give to others?

Leave us a comment below and share your thoughts. Thank you for another excellent, uplifting read. It actually reminds me of one of my favorite quotes:. Since I just read it, I will quote page in the Relationships chapter of your book: I think this is what makes a person extraordinary — those who lead by example and help us be our best selves.

That pretty much sums it up for me. Act with compassion too. Understand that many are afraid or even hopeless.

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I think the courage to disagree when it really matters is also important. All the while overlooking the blessings of the common, ordinary happenings. Simple things like having all members of the family present for a meal. We take that for granted. As my own children are coming of age, learning to drive, first jobs, friends that want my child's attention - learning to let go with grace. This is what we are raising, tomorrow's future generation. Yet we need to reassure them that success truly is having the bond of family. Everyday happenings are the tradition of family.

The Gift of an Ordinary Day reads what most of us think internally. Yet externally we strive for society's complex living. Contentment can be found in the mundane.

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Katrina Kenison writes that the beauty of life can be appreciated in our "ordinary days". From the picture perfect cup on the cover to reading group guide at the end, this is a beautifully written, heart felt book. Katrina Kenison opens her heart, home, family and friends to us. It is not all brightness and light and warm and cozy.

Uprooting her family and everything they know to move to New England to find a new house even with nothing being really wrong with the location they had lived at for years verged on insanity in my mind. Reading Katrina's thoughts about this journey made me wonder - How many times does God give us a nudge to greater understanding and we just miss it.

Katrina listened and acted on hers. Join her on her journey of faith. See all reviews. Amazon Giveaway allows you to run promotional giveaways in order to create buzz, reward your audience, and attract new followers and customers. Learn more about Amazon Giveaway. Set up a giveaway. Customers who viewed this item also viewed.

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The Gift of an Ordinary Day: A Mother's Memoir by Katrina Kenison

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Amazon Inspire Digital Educational Resources. Amazon Rapids Fun stories for kids on the go. Amazon Restaurants Food delivery from local restaurants. I love everything about this book! It is well-written and a pleasure to read. There are little line drawings sprinkled throughout the story that made me smile with recognition.

The front cover art Sissy Spacek is Extraordinarily Ordinary! The front cover art has such a pretty picture of Sissy, and the back cover shows "tomboy" Sissy holding a pretty nice-sized fish, no doubt caught in Lake Quitman. I have to admit to being drawn first to the photo album at the center of the book, because I wanted to see the people I have heard so much about since I moved to Quitman, Texas in Her story provokes the reader to feel emotions that are often sweet but sometimes melancholy.

If you are fortunate to listen to the audio version, you can hear Sissy tell her story in her own soft Texas drawl. Aug 09, Beverly Zearley rated it it was amazing. I loved this biography of Sissy Spacek!! I didn't really know much about her before reading it, but am now a complete fan!! I love how down-to-earth she seems and would love to meet her some time. We are a lot alike too, especially in what we like to wear in summer I am known as "Chaco Mom"!

I can't wait to watch some of the movies that she has been in. The memoir was really written well and I highly recommend it!! Oct 01, Roxy rated it liked it. It is so refreshing to read about an entertainer who is grounded, down to earth, and who has been married for many years to one person while raising two delightful daughters. Jun 12, Sara rated it liked it. The word "decent" comes to mind when reading this book, in the sense that the writer and her world is one of strength of character, modesty, morality and the appreciation of the true essence of "success" being that of love of family, friends, nature, community and work.

Spacek seems to have lived a charmed life, not without its sorrows, no one can escape that entirely, but she has lived and is living a life of which she can truly be proud. Her professional accomplishments are impressive as The word "decent" comes to mind when reading this book, in the sense that the writer and her world is one of strength of character, modesty, morality and the appreciation of the true essence of "success" being that of love of family, friends, nature, community and work.

Her professional accomplishments are impressive as well as her personal ones: There is nothing to dislike about this book, it takes the reader through what can only be described as a bucolic childhood and youth during an era, while not so far in the past, is long gone. She was allowed a great deal of freedom at an early age, and her innate curiosity, talent and artistic drive led her to fame and fortune. I enjoyed reading the book, and I truly came to like and admire Ms. Spacek, but there was something missing; there seemed to be too much "reportage", a sense of being detached and simply chronicling the events of a life.

I wouldn't call it gripping, and there were times when the narrative seemed dry and almost clinical - it was decent. Feb 25, Florence rated it really liked it. Sissy Spacek is a long time resident of the central Virginia community where I also reside. We know her as a good neighbor and a person who cares about her community. Almost everyone I know has run into Sissy at some time or other around town and they all have nice things to say about her. For these reasons I was eager to read her book. I loved the descriptions of her childhood in small town Texas and the way she traced her roots back to Moravia.

She seems to be a very grounded, sensible person Sissy Spacek is a long time resident of the central Virginia community where I also reside. She seems to be a very grounded, sensible person in spite of being a movie actor for over 25 years. And she has a harmonious family life. This is not the way we usually think of the lives of movie stars. Knowing that Sissy was on the board of directors of the local SPCA, I was a bit disappointed to learn that some of her friends are fox-hunters.

Oh well, no one is perfect. Jun 18, Tamara rated it really liked it. I have never seen Carrie, Badlands, Coal Miner's Daughter, nor many of the films she references in this book, but I have always admired Sissy Spacek for her integrity and forthrightness.

I loved her in The Help, and in Missing which, if you haven't seen it, please do. I like this autobiography because it shows a loving family growing up in a small town and doing ordinary things. There is no recovering drug addict storyline, no sexual exploits, just a level head and a powerful love, for family, I have never seen Carrie, Badlands, Coal Miner's Daughter, nor many of the films she references in this book, but I have always admired Sissy Spacek for her integrity and forthrightness.

There is no recovering drug addict storyline, no sexual exploits, just a level head and a powerful love, for family, for pets, for life. It is wonderful to see that someone this grounded can have so much success. I even loved the little drawings that were inserted into the book.

Though a different time period, this almost reminded me of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Little House on the Prairie books, with some Hollywood names thrown in. May 30, Julz rated it did not like it. I started this book thinking Sissy was someone who came from simple roots in Texas to make it to the big time in Hollywood. Instead she had ample resources, spent years as a self-centered musician, had a family who paid her way to spend summers as a teenager in New York with her uncle, Rip Torn, and his wife, Geraldine Page, and sat at the knee of Page backstage on Broadway.

Hardly humble beginnings as folksy as she may have dictated the stories to her co-writer. I was left feeling less admiring I started this book thinking Sissy was someone who came from simple roots in Texas to make it to the big time in Hollywood. I was left feeling less admiring of her accomplishments. Nov 13, Spela Trefalt rated it really liked it. I was listening to this audio book and it felt like hanging out with a chatty friend with a lovely southern twang. Just an easy-going story of a life. Once I let go of expectations for drama, I truly enjoyed it.

Spacek has such a positive take on life and she lives it. I now want to watch several of her movies that I haven't seen before. Oct 11, Arlene rated it really liked it Shelves: I really enjoyed this book because Sissy shares with us her life. Not just her acting career but all the things that add up to make Sissy Spacek the woman she is!

I could relate to many of her stories of growing up in the late 50s and the 60s. I have always admired Sissy as an actress but it is gratifying to find an actress who is so grounded in her own ordinary extraordinary life. May 08, Michael rated it liked it.

This book was not entirely what I expected. They are interesting and wistful; but I wish she would have spent more time discussing her film career. I was a little disappointed. Mar 27, Marsmannix rated it liked it Shelves: Her performance in 'Night, Mother is life-altering. May 11, Anita rated it really liked it. I had no idea that she and her husband were so close to David Lynch! Jul 21, Gardiner rated it it was ok. I love Sissy Spacek, but I thought this book was a bit tedious.

May 31, Floyd Williams rated it it was amazing. This is a gem of a book. I actually bought it for my wife but then decided I wanted to read it myself. I had a personal interest in that Jack Fisk, Sissy's husband, was in my high school class as was his best friend David Lynch of Twin Peak's fame. I was hoping there would be a good bit about Jack and David in the book and there was. This was a delightful story about a girl growing up in a small southern town in the 50s and 60s, who went on to achieve great fame and success as a movie actress. I could relate to childhood in the small town south having spent part of my formative years in Arkansas.

What struck me most was that notwithstanding her fame and good fortune, Sissy has remained well grounded and has not forgotten her roots. The book is impressive in that her love of family and ordinary living comes through. As for her movie career, the parts I enjoyed most were about her roles in Badlands, Carrie, and Coal Miner's Daughter. All-in-all, I found this to be a quite refreshing and uplifting story.

Aug 15, Randy Auxier rated it liked it Shelves: This review originally appeared in the Carbondale Nightlife, Sept. The difference between an autobiography and a memoir is pretty vague. But I think an autobiography should try to give the causes of the life. A memoir presents just the life as it was lived. Sissy Spacek did the latter. This decision was well-considered, and perhaps even calculated. When you are finished, you will know many facts abo This review originally appeared in the Carbondale Nightlife, Sept.

She did that on purpose. This book is a kind of career move for her, and a very sensible one. Judicious selection of parts and directors, not to mention a good bit of proximate luck, enabled Spacek to cultivate artistic respect instead of celebrity for its own sake. Is she a serious artist? Sometimes she hits the bullseye as she did in The Help, or, my personal favorite, Crimes of the Heart.

In a way, Spacek seems like a kind of blank slate onto which we can project whatever we need her to be. You just never asked her out. The childhood anecdotes consume too much space, in my opinion.