Thank You

It is an important life lesson
to be thankful for everything.
Yes . . . Everything!

I am thankful
for those that hurt me,
lied to me,
betrayed me,
injured me,
bullied me.
You made me strong and resilient.

I am thankful
for those that love me,
support me,
encourage me,
enlighten me,
teach me.
You made me wise and eager.

I am thankful
for those I laugh with,
play with,
am deviant with,
sing with,
share with,
debate with,
talk with,
hug.
You've taught me to
keep an open heart, an open mind,
and open arms.

Thank You!

Contentment

In acknowledging all of my blessings yesterday,
I realized I cannot count that high.
And, in finding ways to be a blessing to others,
I have realized how very content I really am.

I hope you find the same contentment.

They Are Everywhere

Miracles and Angels!
Angels and Miracles!

They are behind you at the grocery store.
A coworker.
A guest.
A patient.
A passerby.
A student.
A teacher.
A friend.
A stranger.

That moment when someone reaches into your heart
with a simple word,
a kind gesture,
a piece of advice,
and truly touches you.

THAT is a Miracle,
brought by an Angel!

Be richly blessed today.
And thanks for being my
Miracles and Angels.

Let the Glory Out!

Edwin Markham said:

"Defeat may serve as well as victory
to shake the soul and let the glory out."

Whatever your defeat may be,
let it serve its purpose.
Shake your soul and let the glory out!

Dive in

If you're not happy
with your current situation,
change it.
If you don't like
your current appearance,
change it.
If you'd care to experience
different things,
change what you do.

Be bold.
Be daring.
Cast off the worries.
Dive in.

Who knows what you can do?!

They await you.

There are days
when you simply have to
kick the peons off your red carpet,
reupholster your throne,
shine up your cape bling,
straighten your crown,
and move on.

The folks and negative issues
that hold you back
and hold you down
are not worthy of your worry.

You are destined for great things.
Go and get them.
They await you.

M.A.D.

Today is National Make A Difference Day.

Do I really need to elaborate?
Do I need to explain your obligations?
Do I need to give opportunities?
Do I need to provide options?

Get out there.

Make A Difference!

Grab your opportunity

Not sure who said it.
Don't really care.
It is undeniably and beautifully true.

Wherever this is a human being,
there is an opportunity for kindness.

Go grab your opportunity.

Pickin' Time

Since it's harvest time,
here's a little something special
from Mother Teresa:

Love is a fruit
in season at all times,
and within reach
of every hand.

Be Nice

So this morning, a friend of mine
who was feeling a little overwhelmed with life
was bold and brave enough
to ask folks to tell her happy and nice things.

Imagine if that were the case
every day
for no apparent reason
other than to improve someone's day.

Today,
I challenge you
to randomly,
and without reason or expectation,
simply compliment someone else.

You might amaze yourself
with what a difference
a few simple words can make.

Go . . . be nice.

Happy Heart

Start each day
with a Happy Heart.

Be thankful to see a new sunrise.
Be excited about the opportunities before you.
Be helpful to those around you.
Bring joy and cheer wherever you go.
Believe you have a purpose.
Know that you are loved.

A Happy Heart
is a Healthy Heart.

Help.

Teddy Roosevelt once said,

"Far and away the best prize that life has to offer
is the chance to work hard and work worth doing."

Do something you are passionate about.
Help veterans.
Help critters.
Help kids.
Help.

Where do you live?

I'm not asking about the kind of house,
or the state . . .
but more your state of mind.

There are those that live in a dark house,
decorated in sadness,
that have let life dilapidate and destroy
the foundation it should be built on.
They close the curtains.
They plant pity-me flowers.
They choose to live on lonely street,
at Heartbreak Hotel.
(for my musical friends).

I choose to live
on the sunny side of the street.
Life has tried to beat me up.
It has thrown me all kinds of storms,
but my foundation is solid.
I choose to throw open my curtains
and let the sunlight pour in.
I may not have the greenest thumb,
but I keep on planting beautiful flowers.
I live in positivity,
in love,
in joy.

You're welcome to visit any time.
I'd really rather prefer you move in next door! 

Faith

Faith is that step

on ice too thin,
a branch too slight,
down a path unknown,
into the dark.

Knowing that

the ice will hold,
the branch is strong,
the path leads to positive,
there is light.

Have Faith!

Change your seat

I share from my eyes.
I cannot make you see.
I share from my ears.
I cannot make you hear.
I share from my heart.
I cannot make you feel.

My perspective is of
honesty,
blessings,
positivity,
grace.
Your perspective is your own.

Change your seat
if you don't like your viewpoint.

Help!

When life gets a little hectic,
when you feel totally overwhelmed,
when you can't seem to untie the knots,
stop what you are doing.

In these times of trials,
it is often our squirming
and our twisting
that makes things worse.

Look around you.
Does someone need help?
Can you offer a hand,
a hug,
an ear,
a shoulder,
an open heart?

It is in helping others
that we usually find
a little help for ourselves.

Go . . . help!

Joy comes in the morning

It is such a comfort to know
that so many folks love and support me.
After a rough few days
and a rougher sort of evening,
joy comes in the morning.

It does.

Whatever you're facing . . .
whatever challenges
hardships
issues
complications . . .
joy comes in the morning.

Go greet your morning.

Persist

I have chosen to make use of only part of a quote today,
because I believe it's the most important part . . .

"We are made to persist."

We can get beat up,
beat down,
harassed,
harangued,
abused,
hurt,
saddened,
pummeled,
labeled,
laughed at,
dismissed,
demeaned,
belittled,
and more.

But . . .

We are made to persist.

Go . . . persist!

Focus on the fabulous!

Sometimes,
we focus too much on the stress,
the worry,
the negative,
the bad things going on in our lives.

Yesterday was filled
with weddings,
with babies,
with the beauty
and bliss of nature.

Focus on the fabulous!

Go . . . be

I am partially off-grid for the weekend.
Before I run away, though,
I want to make sure you know that I'm headed out
to go . . . be.

I will be out on the water.
I will be playing.
I will be laughing.
I will be relaxing.
I will be removing stress.
I will go . . . be.

It is incredibly important
that you find time to do the same.

Go . . . be.

Your own self

Your own self.
You are a beautiful self.
You are an incredible self.
Your beliefs and your actions and your thoughts
are what shape your amazing self.

One must be careful though
not to impede on
my beliefs and my actions and my thoughts
because those are what shape
my amazing self.
My incredible self.
My beautiful self.
My own self.

And this is true
from every way you read this.

Good Morning

Breakfast, it is said,
is the most important meal of the day.
It fuels your body and provides you
with the energy you'll need to take care of business.

But what is better than breakfast?

Attitude!

If you've been blessed
with another morning,
you're already doing better than some.
You've got another chance;
another opportunity;
another day to do the right thing,
make the right choices,
be a better person.

Today is a gift!
If greeted with the sun . . .
rise and shine!

It's gonna be a great day!!!

Comfort

I believe my physical appearance will always be
a 'work in progress'.
I don't believe I'll ever be comfortable with
my weight,
my hair,
my nails,
my clothes,
etc.
But . . .
what I believe to be FAR more important
is that I'm finally comfortable in my skin.
I have no issues being me.
I speak my mind.
I bare my soul.
I stand firm in my beliefs.
I voice my opinion.
I stand up for what I believe is right.
And I truly believe, with all I am,
that being comfortable in my own self
far outweighs any physical attributes.
What do you think?

YOU!

This is slightly paraphrased and altered
to reach a few select folks and hopefully make a difference.

"I have been trying to make the best of grief and strife,
and am just beginning to learn to allow it
to make the best of me."

No matter what you're facing,
no matter how difficult
or seemingly insurmountable,
there is a lesson,
a bridge,
a building block in there
to a better, stronger, more brilliant
YOU!

Make Good Choices

Ask my children about this statement.
They heard, "Make Good Choices!" nearly every day
for most of their lives.
They still do.

Life may throw you curve balls.
Life may punch you in the gut.
Life may irritate you.
Life may infuriate you.
How you respond
makes all the difference in the world.

Make Good Choices.

Life Lessons

It may have taken me quite a while,
but I've learned a few important life lessons:

1. I am worthy. I matter. I make a difference.
2. I am loved. There will be haters, but they are of no consequence.
     Those that love me are far more important.
3. I am imperfect. I am full of flaws. I am cracked and worn and weathered.
     That is where wisdom and resilience is allowed to enter my life.
4. It is ok to speak your mind. You do not need to offend, but you can share.
5. I am you and you are me.

These lessons are for every person every where.

Go make the day fantastic!

Condiments

"Failure is the condiment
that gives success its flavor."
Truman Capote

Don't ever be afraid to
get your condiment on.