I will never again publish my What I Kept posts so early in the month because there was so much more that happened in the last 11 days that I wanted to share with all of you.
This is what I saved on my phone for the end of March 2023.
And please read this blog post.
Even though we didn’t have a name for it at the time, this was a “selfie.” I thought I looked cute, so I took this and a few other photos of myself.
When one of my friends saw the photo after it was developed, he teased me about it. He thought it was silly that I was photographing myself.
That was something I never forgot. That could explain why I didn’t start taking selfies until this year.
Sometimes humans say stupid things.
Last week, Anna and I were discussing tattoos and what we would get if we ever decided to get one. For years, I’ve considered getting a tattoo, but no symbol, flower, or bird has ever felt right to have permanently etched on my skin.
But then, while on the phone with Anna, an idea struck me. Maybe I’d get a peace sign. My old friend and I were hippies way ahead of our time. In pictures, we’d always make the peace sign with our fingers. I clearly believe in world peace, and I’m re-emerging as a hippie in my early fifties.
My youngest daughter and I were driving to her school the next day when she noticed a cool bumper sticker on a Jeep in the other lane. It was a two-finger peace sign.
A week later, I was cleaning my office, which used to be Anna’s room, when I noticed something on a shelf:
I completely forgot she had this. We bought it at Forever 21 when she was in high school.
I sent it to her right away, and we both laughed.
I think the Universe wants me to get a tattoo.
Or it wants world peace.
Probably the latter.
A Grace Full Life 
This is a gold mine of essential resources.The videos, quotes, pages, images, experiences with links. Extraordinary what you’ve accomplished in a month. I’ve never tried this. Might be interesting? It’s amazing the connections you makes when you lay out the treasures of an entire month. I love the essence of peace throughout. Thanks for linking my post. I’m enormously grateful and humbled! Hope it reaches just the right person. Hugs, C
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You should definitely give it a try! It’s similar to a virtual scrapbook.
Thank you for writing it. I’m still thinking about your post. I love that you say “I hope it reaches the right person.” That is perfect. 💕
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It did, thank you 🙂
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Aww, I love this. ❤️
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I’m glad you included the Talk song. “Run Away to Mars” is so good! Just added it to one of my Spotify playlists.
I had no idea you were such a trendsetter, by the way.
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SO good. I’ve been listening to it on auto-repeat.
I didn’t realize it either. 😂
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Those dogs cuddling together in the sun!! So cute!!
We just had a discussion about what we would get if we were to get a tattoo and I have had the same idea for about a decade and my husband just laughs at me because I’m too squeamish to get a tattoo, but I do sort of desperately want one. Ha. I hope you do get one and you’re braver than me!
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I know. ❤️
I’m concerned about the pain. Last April, I had my nose pierced, and it hurt a lot more than I expected. I think my pain tolerance has decreased as I’ve gotten older. I should definitely drink some vodka before getting a tattoo. 😂
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Love the pooches in the sun photo. And you can do it, but you probably won’t? That’s the story of my life!
👍
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SAME. 🤣
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Love that first photo of the dogs soaking up the sun on the first day of spring! I also really like that humankind bumper sticker.
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I love it too because it speaks SPRING.
I love that bumper sticker as well. ❤️
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REM!!!! I see your Nightswimming and I offer in return Gardening At Night. Never understood a word he says other than the title… and yet? I feel *everything* when I hear this song. Music ❤️
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How have I never heard of Gardening at Night??? I am listening to it now. 💕
“Never understood a word he says other than the title… and yet? I feel *everything* when I hear this song. Music”
YES. ❤️
Also, I feel this way about every The Smiths song. 🤣
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Yes!!!! The Smiths!!! ❤️ My internal soundtrack since elementary school! So many memories and feelings when I listen to their songs.
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Me too.
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So so so so much good stuff you’re adding!! Thank you so much for sharing a second post.
The human kind, be both sticker is AMAZING and made me cry.
Yes, the universe is want peace AND for you to get the tattoo.
And oh how the laundry never ever ends.
AND if I hadn’t just bought a roll of zinnia seed tape, girl, I’d be emailing you my address!! Hopefully someone else takes you up on the offer because zinnias are amazing.
Thank you for always sharing this with us, Kari!
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Thank you so much for appreciating this! That makes me so happy.
It also made me cry! I saw it just before Ella saw the two peace sign bumper stickers, so it was a good morning.
That is something I think the Universe wants as well!
It never ends. I feel bad when I complain, but I also want to throw it out so I don’t have to do it. 🤣
I’m giving some to my mom, Melanie, and anyone else who wants it. I always get extra seed packets for this reason as well.
Thank you for reading and commenting, Katie. 😘💕
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I took selfies in my 30’s before they became a “thing”, I have no regrets
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I love this! 💕
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So many good nuggets!
Love seeing the older photos of you, especially with your babies.
Zinnia seeds…do you just sow them directly into the ground or in pots? I would love some seeds, next time we see each other.
xoxo
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I’ll bring you some! Zinnias are SO simple to grow! I grew some in pots and in the garden. My mom literally scattered hers throughout the front garden, and they grew beautifully! 😘
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I love all the retro pics. I would NEVER urge Lad to get ANOTHER dog- at least not while he lives with us, but I do love how pets become buddies. That bumper sticker is awesome. I have not seen that one. I think that early selfie of you is super cute. Is it me, or were we expected to take ourselves way too seriously decades ago? Why would a friend scold you for taking that? Sheesh. I guess selfies is a sign of progress then.
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They’ve definitely become buddies, that’s for sure.
RIGHT??
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That’s a lot. I love the laundry one – I’m feeling that these days. And I adore “Run Away to Mars.”
I like tattoos – I have eight. No peace signs, however, and now I’m thinking maybe the one in the circle. Food for thought. Thanks for the great photo essay.
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I’d like to buy a print of the laundry one and hang it in my laundry hallway.
I absolutely love Run Away to Mars. I’ve been playing it over and over.
I hope you write about your tattoos one day. I find them fascinating and enjoy hearing the stories behind them.
Thank you for reading and commenting. 🖤
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Kari, the quote you shared by Jane Goodall really hit home because I was having coffee with a close friend of mine on Wednesday, and that is exactly what we were talking about! We are responsible for what kind of difference we choose to make in the world. And that we are on this planet to be of service to others. And I truly believe that.
FABULOUS capture of the rainbow. And well as the one of the sunlight in Ella’s riding barn. WOW!
The quote by Trudy Goodman is something I discovered many years ago (2001), when my life fell completely (and I mean COMPLETELY) apart. When it seems as though something is dying in your life, it’s a sign that something is being birth. That’s REAL life. It’s a constant cycle of dying and being reborn.
By the way, I adore Elizabeth Gilbert! I’ve read her books and saw the movie, “Eat. Pray. Love.”
Great selfies of yourself! When I was a kid, selfies were those black and white strip photos you would take in one of those photo booths. Remember those? So much fun!
I got a tattoo way back in the mid-80s. I went to a tattoo parlor with two guys I worked with at that time. I ended up getting a tattoo of a little devil with horns and a pitch fork on my upper right shoulder. So me! Little devil that I am. LOL!
Terrific read, my friend. Hope you’re enjoying a stellar weekend! X
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You’re going to enjoy the TikTok I’m sharing in today’s post. Jane Goodall is one of my favorite people. She is a true treasure.
I am obsessed with rainbows. ❤️
YES to the cycle of death and rebirth.
I read the book Eat, Pray, Love but never saw the film. 😶
I remember those selfies! Those photo booths were a lot of fun!
Now, THAT is a great tattoo, my friend.
I hope your weekend was wonderful. 😘
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A great collection of thoughtful thoughts, I say uncleverly. I, of course, adore Disappointing Affirmations but also applaud you for your Nighttime soul homework. It looks like you had a great month. Thanks for sharing these insights into who you are.
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Thank you for reading them, my friend. 😘
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I have been loving that Talk song when I hear it on the radio. It is haunting, but beautiful. The grocery store artist is amazing. Another great DisappointingAffirmation. That looks like Capital Reef National Park, where we just drove around and got out of the car a few times. Lol!
Holy cow, you were a Supermodel in 1994! How sad that the negative comment stuck with you for so long, but that happens to me, too. I often think about how the person who said what I interpret as ‘mean’ probably said it without thinking and it left their mind immediately while sticking in mine for eternity. GAH!
What a sweet photo of you and your daughter at the RR tracks. Who were you waiting for?
Have a fantastic upcoming week.
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That song is so good. I can’t stop listening to it.
I love that you’ve visited that specific National Park!
I think the person who said it probably had a confidence issue and projected it onto me; I just didn’t realize it at the time. 😒
We were waiting for the Metra train to take us into Chicago for a fun day of Christmas shopping. ❤️
Have a wonderful week as well!
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Kari, I love the photos of you. I want to smack that guy who made young Kari feel anything other than fabulous for her photo of herself. Seriously, even though I know such sentiments are contrary to the general themes of peace and love running through this post. 🙂
I so appreciated the video of the older woman talking about women, and then the post you linked to below it. I think empathy is the key to world peace. As soon as you stop seeing someone as “other,” you can’t wage war on them. I think that’s part of why I love books (and made them the center of my life). They helped a regular girl stuck up in the far corner of the country get out of her neighborhood. Still do, even though the girl is turning into an old woman. Still need to.
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I want to smack him too. I am able to resolve that with peace and love. Sometimes people are assholes. It’s good with my soul. 😂
YESSSS. Empathy. That is a lesson I am still learning.
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The world craves world peace and it wants you to have a peace tattoo 🙂
I love your old and new selfies. yes, some people are stupid; sadly we remember the unpleasant remarks more than the good ones. Right?
So many gems in this post Kari. I’m crying happy tears over a few of them. A couple I saved for myself because they really touched me. But not in that dirty way.
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GIRL. I AM GETTING ONE. I will share it in an upcoming post…
I am so glad they touched you. And if they touched you in a dirty way, it’s okay. 🤣
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