Cup of Coffee

Thought you might enjoy this today.  Life is like a cup of coffee!  What?  How?  The video explains!

Have a beautiful day!

Remembering

We will all be remembered.  One day we will leave this world, but our legacy will remain here.

When I think of my loved ones that have gone, I remember certain things.  My grandmother was the sweetest person I knew.  My grandfather was a hard worker who sacrificed for and served his country in World War II.  My other grandfather -- also a World War II veteran who was at Iwo Jima, was an amazing cook who hardly ever took a sip of wine, but when he did, he'd act quite silly.  While these are things I remember with fondness, what impacts me the most is the gift of unconditional love I received from them.  This is their legacy to me.

When you hear of Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Theresa or Neil Armstrong, what comes to mind is their legacy.  Whether we realize it or not, we are currently creating ours now by the way we live our lives and what we are displaying to others.

Thought of the Day:  If we are creating our legacy now, what will you be remembered for?

Have a great day!

Cherish...Dream...Live!

Cherish Yesterday - Hold your memories close to your heart.  Display photos and mementos of special people and special moments gone by.  Enjoy looking back at the good times, but keep things in perspective by remembering them as they were  -- don't put the past on a pedestal.  Enjoy your memories, but realize today and tomorrow hold great promise as well!

Dream Tomorrow - What are your hopes and dreams?  What do you inspire to do?  To be?  Think about these things and plan ahead with goals and milestones along the way to help you get to where you dream to go, and dream to become.

Live Today - Live today!  All is well when there is balance.  Do not become so obsessed with the past, and so involved in planning your future, that you forget to live in the moment each and every day.  John Lennon once said "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." -- I couldn't agree more!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Your Greatest Power

"Your greatest power is the power to be.

To be more loving. 

To be more courageous.

To be more joyous.

To be more friendly.

To be more sensitive.

To be more aware.

To be more forgiving.

To be more tolerant.

To be more humble.

To be more patient.

To be more helpful.

To be a greater human being."

(Wilfred A. Peterson)

Have a wonderful day!

Dare Mighty Things!

Far better is it to dare mighty things, 

to win glorious triumphs, 

even though checkered by failure... 

than to rank with those poor spirits who 

neither enjoy nor suffer much, 

because they live in a gray twilight 

that knows not victory nor defeat. 
Theodore Roosevelt

Failure -- it gets a bad rap.  What is your definition of failure?  If you tried something and did not succeed, would you consider that having failed?  

If you are trying new things and taking risks, then there will occasionally be results that do not meet the expected outcome.  There will be times you do fall short.  If you are learning from these experiences, it is not a failure.  It is a life-lesson, designed to make you more prepared for the next time you try.

I would have to agree with Theodore Roosevelt on this one that failure then is the absence of trying anything new or taking risks.  To grow as an individual will always require some change, some risk, some venturing into the unknown.  We should always be evolving.  To not be doing so results in stagnant living -- which in my definition, is not truly living!

Thought of the Day:  Is it time to reset your definition of failure?  Is there something you've been meaning to do that you've been putting off out of fear of not succeeding?  It's time to put yourself out there.  Failure is the absence of trying!

Have an amazing day!

Today is the Beginning...

I came across this beautiful and uplifting video and thought it was too powerful not to share.  Here's wishing you a beautiful day for the beginning of your new life!



Have a WONDERFUL day!

Wash Your Spirit Clean!

"Keep close to Nature's heart...

and break clear away, once in awhile, 

and climb a mountain 
or spend a week in the woods. 

Wash your spirit clean."

John Muir

Nature.  One of the most unrealized resources for wholeness and well-being.  I can not possibly emphasize just how important it is.  Connecting to nature is instrumental to recharging, rejuvenating, and washing your spirit clean.

Today's society is nature "deficient."  When we are stuck indoors, we miss out on the therapeutic effects that the outside world can provide.  Get outside and experience all that it has to offer:  calmness... serenity... healing, and love!

It doesn't have to take rearranging your schedule; it can be as simple as having your morning coffee on the back porch, taking the kids for a walk around a neighborhood pond, or enjoying lunch at a park.  Perhaps it's a good day to skip the gym and instead go for a nice walk outside.  No matter how you fit it into your day, you can be sure that nature has a gift of serenity -- that's just there for the taking.

Thought of the Day:  Does your spirit need to be "washed clean"?  Are you taking advantage of all that nature has to offer?  Just as we need to eat properly and exercise, we also need to be out in nature so that we may receive it's calming and rejuvenating benefits.  Make sure you take time to rejuvenate your spirit today.

Have a wonderful day!

Go!

Go After Your  Dreams

Collin McCarty 

You're good, but you're going to be great.

You're the best, but you're going to get better.

Sometimes the paths we take are long and hard, but remember:  those are always the ones that lead to the most beautiful views.

Challenges come along inevitably: how you respond to them determines who you are - deep down inside - and everything you're going to be.

Increase the chances of reaching your goals by working at them gradually. The very best you can do is all that is asked of you.

Realize that you are capable of working miracles of your own making.  Remember that opportunities have a reason for knocking on your door, and the right ones are there for the taking.

You don't always have to win, but you do need to know what it takes to be a winner.

It's up to you to find the key that unlocks the door to a more fulfilling life.

Understand that increased difficulty brings you nearer to the truth of how to survive it - and get beyond it.

Cross your bridges.

Meet your challenges.

Reach out for your dreams, and bring them closer and closer to your heart.

Get rid of the "if only's" and get on with whatever you need to do to get things right.

Go after what you want in life, with all the blessings of all the people who care about you.  And find out what making your wishes come true really feels like.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sweet Moments

My daughter just recently returned from the trip of a lifetime -- she got to travel to Yellowstone National Park for ten days with her grandparents and her cousin. I've never been to Yellowstone.  My husband's never been to Yellowstone.  Not to mention that at the time of their departure, we'd been stuck in triple digits for over five weeks.  If you don't know about Yellowstone's weather this time of year, the lows are in the 30's, and the highs are barely touching 70.  A welcome relief!

My daughter got to see many beautiful states along the way and many different terrains, from deserts to mountains.  She experienced many different temperatures from summer to winter, and saw animals that she typically doesn't get to see -- elk, deer, bison, eagles, and lizards.  She saw hotsprings, geysers, mudpots and the biggest mountains she's ever seen in her lifetime.

However, the thing she was most excited to tell us about when she arrived home had nothing to do with any of those things.  In fact, the highlight of her trip could have even happened in her own neighborhood.  What impressed her so much was a small conversation.  A few words.  That were actually larger and more impressionable than any of the amazing sights she saw on her trip.

While in Silverton, CO visiting an ice cream shop, she thanked the lady working behind the counter and told her to have a nice day.  A normal, every day occurence for my daughter, nothing out of the ordinary.  However, after my daughter exited the store, the lady ran out of the building to tell her that she had worked in that shop for four years, and that was the nicest comment she had ever gotten from anyone!

It is often easy to lose sight of just how much weight our words can have.  For bad or good, our words can be bigger than mountains, warmer than hot springs, and sweeter than ice cream.  A small good deed or kind word can go more than a long way -- it can shape a person's entire existence.  I can still remember a kind anonymous note that I got at a softball banquet when I was 10 years old (it said "always stay as sweet as you are.") That note impacted me for life -- the same way this lady's interaction impacted my daughter.

Thought of the Day:  Words can heal, uplift, inspire, and spread love.  Words not chosen carefully can break someone down.  Choose carefully.  Always make time to sweeten someones day.  You never know just how much it may impact someone!

Have a great day!

Prayers of Gratitude

Continue to let gratitude be the pillow upon which 

you kneel to say your nightly prayer.

Maya Angelou

Gratitude -- it's the secret to happiness.  When gratitude is a part of your life, all things are possible.  

The key to becoming a positive person is recognizing things to be thankful for in your life.  It's ok if life isn't perfect and you don't instantly recognize many things to be grateful for,  just find what you can and give thanks.  As you start to do this, you will identify more and more things you have to be grateful for. You'll begin to feel more happy -- and positive.

The more we express thanks, the more we have in our life to be thankful for. Begin each day with a prayer of gratitude.  End each day with a prayer of gratitude...and see what happens!

Have a great day!

Looking Ahead

Life is wonderful.  Each day is a gift.  Hopefully we are living in the present, having accepted and made peace with our past.  We should be enjoying today fully -- while also looking forward to the possibility of joyful times ahead.

It occurred to me recently that if we are not looking forward, then we are not living life to the fullest.  We need to have hopes, dreams, goals and upcoming plans that we are excited about.  Looking forward to these upcoming moments helps us to avoid monotony in life.  It helps to prepare us and fill us with joyous anticipation.  This excitement for life can also be what keeps us going on the tough days.

Thought of the Day:  Do you have "upcoming moments" that you're looking forward to?  Is it time to dream?  Is it time to make some goals and plans?  It is wonderful to live in the present, but you also need to be looking ahead with excitement towards the future!

Have a great day!

Climb 'Til Your Dream Comes True

Climb 'Til Your Dream Comes True

Helen Steiner Rice

Often your tasks will be many,

And more than you think you can do.

Often the road will be rugged

And the hills insurmountable, too.

But always remember the hills ahead

Are never as steep as they seem,

And with Faith in your heart start upward

and climb 'til you reach your dream.

For nothing in life that is worthy

is ever too hard to achieve

If you have the courage to try it,

And you have the faith to believe.

For faith is a force that is greater

than knowledge or power or skill

And many defeats turn to triumph

If you trust in God's wisdom and will.

For faith is a mover of mountains,

There's nothing that God cannot do.

So, start out today with faith in your heart,

And climb 'til your dream comes true!

Have a great day!

Double Rainbow!

I just love this video!  So in the spirit of Fridays and fun, I felt it to be a festive piece to share with you today.  May we all love and enjoy life as much as this gentleman does.  May we never overlook the beautiful things that are before us. May we get excited about the big things and the little things -- and fully appreciate life's gifts.    

I hope this puts a smile on your face and warms your heart!

 

Have a beautiful weekend!

Restarting your day

We all have challenging days.  We had one recently at our house where nothing was going as planned.  It seemed as though the morning was spent fighting problems.  When this happens, you just need to take a step back and reevaluate things.  That's exactly what we did.

I gathered all three kids and we sat in stillness for a few minutes.  We talked about how things weren't going the way we wanted them to.  We pondered what we could do to fix the direction our day was going in.  Then my 6-year old suggested something I have often said.  He said, "Let's just re-start our day" and so we did.

We agreed to all go to our rooms for 10 minutes and when it was time to come out, we would pretend it was the morning of a new day.  We each took our ten minutes to realign.  When our ten minutes was up, we all exited our rooms one-by-one acting as ridiculously sleepy as possible -- as if we'd just awoke.  We all asked each other (while trying to fight back smiles) if we had a good nights sleep.  I suggested they put on a cartoon just like they do every morning, and started my "morning" tea.  We had eggs and toast afterwards for "breakfast" (lunch) afterwards.  It made everyone laugh profusely.  The day was renewed.

We don't always have to go to these extremes, but each and every one of us has a chance to restart our day at any time if it's not going right for us.  Sometimes retreating for a few minutes of alone time is enough to restart with a fresh perspective.

Thought of the Day:  Next time you are having a bad day, you don't have to wait until tomorrow for a new one -- just try to salvage the one you've been gifted with!  Start where you are and find a few minutes to slip away and realign.  Oftentimes that is enough to get you back on track.

Have a great day!

Be Thankful

Be Thankful 

Author Unknown

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.  If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something, for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.  During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations, because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge, because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.  They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary, because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.  A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.  Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.  Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings.

Have a wonderful day!

Establishing Boundaries

Boundaries are an essential part of life -- we all need them.  Think of them as a healthy barrier of "mental protection."  We can't live a healthy and positive lifestyle without putting some boundaries in place.

There are many types of boundaries.  The kind we need to implement will depend on our own sensitivities or vulnerabilities.  Determining what type we need to set requires some introspection and identification of any areas of our life that are not running smoothly.

Establishing a boundary can be as simple as keeping phone calls to a minimum, downsizing Facebook friends to immediate friends and family only, or responding to emails only when it is convenient.  Or it can be more developed such as avoiding people who drain you of your positive energy, saying no to events that clutter up your calendar, or not letting people take advantage of your time, energy or talents.

A person without boundaries often feels stressed, frustrated, and overworked -- or even taken advantage of.  This does not make for a positive person, but one that is on his or her way to resentment and negativity.  Don't let that be you!  Just applying small boundaries (i.e. time management, energy management, or people management) can produce drastic results!

Thought of the Day:  Has your life gotten too complex?  Could establishing some healthy boundaries help?  Perhaps it's time to evaluate where you may need to set them and proceed accordingly.  We are not being selfish by setting  boundaries -- rather, we are managing our time and energies more effectively.  By doing so, we are able to be more productive which will allow us to do more good in the world!

Have a great day!

Sunshine Givers

Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others 

cannot keep it from themselves.

James M. Barrie

I love this quote.  Have you ever tried to help someone who was needing help? If you have, you know it doesn't matter if it was planned or spontaneous -- nor exactly what you did to help.  All that matters is that you were able to bring sunshine into the life of someone who needed it.  Can anyone walk away after helping another and not feel uplifted for doing so?

Helping others is rewarding and can also be an effective prescription for many things that ail you.  There is no better way to help put things into perspective. Helping others helps us realize that our problems aren't as big as they seem.   If you are spreading sunshine into the universe, you can't help but to receive sunshine from the universe in return.  

Thought of the Day:  Are you a "sunshine giver" or are you needing more "sunshine?"  The best way to receive sunshine is to give some.  By giving to others and spreading cheer, we can't help but to be receiving sunshine in the process.  What will you do today to spread some cheer?

Have a wonderful day!

Allow Yourself

Allow your self to dream

and when you do dream big.

Allow yourself to learn

and when you do learn all you can.

Allow yourself to laugh

and when you do share your laughter.

Allow yourself to set goals

and when you do reward yourself as you move forward.

Allow yourself to be determined

and when you do you will find you will succeed.

Allow yourself to believe in yourself

and when you do you will find self confidence.

Allow yourself to lend a helping hand

and when you do a helping hand will help you.

Allow yourself relaxation

and when you do you will find new ideas.

Allow yourself love

And when you do you will find love in return.

Allow yourself to be happy

and when you do you will influence others around you.

Allow yourself to be positive

and when you do life will get easier!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Taking Risks

Taking risks is a part of life -- we all need to take risks occasionally in order to improve our life.  One can not continue to grow without reaching or branching out into the unknown.  To improve a situation or to become what you want to be, sometimes there are risks.

To live a life without taking risks is stagnant.  We must be improving ourselves and trying new things.  So often the rewards of taking those risks that can surprise us.  Sometimes, it can truly alter our lives.

We can not wait until we are 100% certain of everything falling into place.  We have to have faith.  We must know that the time is never perfect, but to be aware of and take the opportunity when it presents itself.  Life is never perfect.  The timing sometimes never becomes perfect.  Those who are successful know this and seize moments when they appear before us.  Those who are successful know that taking risks is imperative!

Andre Malraux once said "Often the difference between a successful person and a failure is not one has better abilities or ideas, but the courage that one has to bet on one's ideas, to take a calculated risk - and to act."  I couldn't agree more!

Thought of the Day:  Make sure you do not let opportunities pass you by.  Life is never perfect.  You can't always wait for everything to align.  Take your chances and make things happen!

 Have a wonderful day!

Take Time to Enjoy the Little Things...

Sometimes we can be so "on the go," that we spend our days rushing from here to there.  We rush through our day without thoroughly enjoying it.  Without stopping to examine if the rushing is even necessary.  Without realizing all the things we are missing along the way.

This is not the way life is meant to be experienced.  You can't truly enjoy that kind of day.   You're not fully experiencing life's full gift to you. 

I am fully convinced that we need to slow down.  I truly believe that the impact of "the little things" is just as valuable as the impact of life's bigger gifts.  I believe that if you're missing out on the little things each day, then you are truly missing out.  

Thought of the Day:  Do you need to slow down and be more present?  Are you noticing all the little things that life is gifting you with daily?  If not, slow down and begin to notice:  the sound of a bird in the morning...the smile of a child...a butterflies flight.  The fact that you are alive.  The fact that you are here.  These things are not so little, after all...

May you have a beautiful day!  May you revel in the "little" things...

My Wish For You

This post is dedicated to each and every one of you - thanks for being here!

These may very well be the most beautiful song lyrics ever written.  If that wasn't enough, someone put together an amazing video montage to this song.  If you are able to, please enjoy it!


My Wish
By:  Rascal Flatts

I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow
and each road leads you where you wanna go
and if you're faced with a choice and you have to choose -
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window.
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile.
But more than anything, more than anything –

(Chorus) 
My wish for you is that this life becomes all that you want it to. 
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,
you never need to carry more than you can hold.
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you and wants the same things too.
Yeah this - is my wish.

I hope you never look back but ya never forget
all the ones who love you in the place you left.
I hope you always forgive and you never regret
and you help somebody every chance you get.
Oh, you find God's grace in every mistake
and always give more than you take.
But more than anything, yeah, more than anything –

(Chorus)
My wish for you is that this life becomes all that you want it to
your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,
you never need to carry more than you can hold.
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you and wants the same things too.
Yeah, this - is my wish.  Yeahhhhhh.

My wish for you is that this life becomes all that you want it to.
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small.
You never need to carry more than you can hold.
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to
I hope you know somebody loves you and wants the same things too.
Yeah this - is my wish!

(My wish for you)
This is my wish
My wish for you
I hope you know somebody loves you
(My wish for you)
May all your dreams stay big!
(My wish for you)

Have a WONDERFUL day!

Happiness

"Happiness depends more 

on the inward disposition of mind

than on outward circumstances."

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was an amazing individual.  Inventor, author, activist, politician, founding father and scientist, were just a few of the titles he was awarded.  He had an interesting way of looking at things and possessed an incredible wealth of knowledge.

His stance on happiness is so true -- Happiness does depend more on the inward disposition of mind than on outward circumstances.  We can not be happy if we have a negative way of looking at and perceiving things.  We must be mentally fit.

It is often not the actual event, but the way we perceive it that determines our reaction.  If we can change the way we look at things using a more healthier outlook, then we can be closer to happiness.

Thought of the Day:  How do YOU perceive things?  Do you have a tendency to over react or under react?  Is your "inward disposition of mind" a positive one?

Have a wonderful week!