Love One Another

Today is National Love People Day!

Sing Along ...

C'mon people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another right now

If you hear the song I sing
You will understand (listen)
You hold the key to love and fear
All in your trembling hand
Just one key unlocks them both
It's there at your command

C'mon people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another right now

C'mon people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another right now
Right now
Right now...

Ch-Angels!

No quotes today.

No cute stories.
No little quips.

This is me.

Acknowledging my Ch-Angels!

Those folks who are

consistent,

faithful,

uplifting,

selfless,

enveloping,

enlightening,

hopeful,

prayerful,

positive,

beautiful souls.

Those folks who are

kind, 

generous,

gracious,

blissful,

blessings to others.

The world needs more of you.

I thank you for being in my world.

A little Nelson for ya

I adore this quote by Nelson Mandela.
Such direct and powerful truth.

Our world is not divided

by race, color, gender or religion.

It is divided

into wise people and fools.

And fools divide themselves

by race, color, gender or religion.

E before I

This little quip has been around for a bit,
but I thought I'd share for anyone

who might need to see it again.

You either get bitter

or you get better.

You either take what has been dealt to you

and allow it to make you a better person,

or you allow it to tear you down.

The choice does not

belong to fate;

it belongs to you.

Technically Speaking

Saw the cutest shirt that truly defines
the way I try to live my life.

It was a photo of a glass.

Beside it, two arrows;

one denoted water,

one denoted air.

The quote said:

Technically,

your glass is always full.

It is entirely

how you choose to see

what is in front of you.

Choose wisely, friends.

Lean

Was doing a little reading
from a book gifted to me by my kids.

Found this nugget

and it really touched me.

Perhaps it will find someone else

that needs it, too.

When you walk a lonely path,

lean into and breathe deeply

of the presence of your Good Shepherd,

who is with you each step of the way

to bless you with His comfort and peace.

Be Someone

Found this quote
and it not the usual.

Sometimes,

just a few altered words

makes all the difference

in the world.

Be Someone

who makes

someone else

look forward

to tomorrow.

Time

Take time
to slow down;

to step out;

to see the beauty

in the small and simple things.

Notice

colors and smells

and smiles and laughter.

Embrace

windchimes in the distance;

the rhythm of raindrops;

hope in a smile;

and one another.

Time

is a gift

far too often

frittered away

toiling toward nothing

of real import.

A little food for thought

Absolutely ate up
this little quote that I found:

Failure 

is the condiment

that gives success

its flavor.

~ Truman Capote

Another Man

Another Man
by Lyn Marinello

Do not condemn my actions
Til you've stood within my shoes
Til your vision's through my hazel eyes
You shouldn't judge my views
My past has brought the words I speak
You cannot claim them wrong
My heart beats out a happy tune
You just can't deny its song
My ears have heard some drastic cries
You should not dismiss their pains
My tongue has choked on bitter words
Vocal chords have ached and strained
My hands have labored dutifully
Don't misinterpret their lack of wear
My arms may not be muscled much
But don't discount their strength of care
As you sit beside a stranger
Please do not rush to judge
You've no idea from where they've come
Nor through what troubles they did trudge
Accept with open, loving arms
Receive with a helping hand
Don't lead or follow, but walk beside
For, simply, he is just another man.

Don't

Don't

let 

the ugly,

the hurtful,

the spiteful,

the angry,

the bitter,

the selfish,

the liar,

the pity

of others

dull 

the

beauty,

helpful,

thoughtful,

happy,

contentment,

generosity,

honest,

hopeful

in you.

Be your own

beautiful self.

Walt Wisdom

Walt Whitman once said:

It is a beautiful truth

that all men

contain something

of the artist in them.

It was also said

(and not exactly)

...

The world needs more artists;

we've got enough critics!

Wise Shepard

This quote is from Margaret Shepard
and is ... just wow!

Sometimes,

your only available transportation

is a leap of faith.

Fantabulous!

Talking to Yourself

I'm pretty sure
that everyone talks to themselves ...
or maybe it's just me.

Sometimes,

I just need expert advise.

Sometimes,

I'm asking myself

for guidance.

Sometimes,

I need to remind myself

what's important.

Sometimes,

I need to scold myself

for taking the easy path.

Sometimes,

I need to praise myself,

for sticking to what I know

is my moral true north.

No matter what you're saying,

be careful ...

you're listening.

You Never Know

Quite simply
and very profoundly,
keep going.

You never know
where
the next miracle
is going

to come from.

You

Bring out today
the you of younger years,
the one without fears
or hesitations.
The one who splashes

in the puddles,

sings full on to the radio,

dances in the grocery store,

plays with toys in the kids section.

The one who speaks

without fear of which feeling

of which soul might possibly

be saddened or angered -

because that was never your intent.

Pray in the restaurant.

Laugh out loud.

Compliment strangers ...

in fact engage them in conversation.

That you,

of younger years,

is in there ~

waiting to shine and beam

and bring that happy soul

back out into the world.

This world needs you.

Art

This quote that I found
did not provide an author,
but it is powerful
and beautiful.

I make art

to show my soul

that I 

am listening.

Go ...

make art ...

in whatever form

or platform

moves you.

A favorite

I am saddened by the loss
and the absence of a great many people.
This always gets me through ...

Be the things

you loved most

about the people

who are gone.

Maya in the Morning

A little weekend workshop for ya:

If you must look back,

do so forgivingly.

If you must look forward,

do so prayerfully.

However,

the wisest thing you can do

is be present in the present ...

gratefully.

Could Have

You could have grown cold
but you grew courageous instead.

You could have given up

but you kept on going.

You could have seen obstacles

but you called them adventures.

You could have doubted yourself

but you kept trusting your knowing.

You could have called them weeds

but instead called them wildflowers.

You could have died a caterpillar

but fought on to be a butterfly.

You could have denied yourself goodness

but chose to show yourself self-love.

You could have defined yourself

by your dark days,

but instead, through them,

you realized your light. 

~S.C. Lourie

I love when I find things

that parallel my thoughts

and life.

Signs

As I age, and different things
move into the import frame of life,
I am embracing the signs I am given.

Some, in fact, are literal signs;

not of actual directions,

but for instance,

when I'm distraught and 

come upon Hope Drive.

I just smile.

There are other signs ...

like pennies and feathers and words

and phrases and songs and smells ...

that stop me dead in my tracks

and let me know I'm not alone.

I just smile.

Then there are people signs.

Folks that are either screaming

'do not come over here and interact'

which usually lets me know there's

nothing there for Lyn.

Or other folks that compliment,

assist, offer a friendly greeting,

or just sit and listen when I need it.

Those people who freely hug,

comfortably chat, touch base,

reach out and check in.

Those are my people.

Those are my signs.

And I smile.

Happy

Saw this fantastic tidbit
and just had to share.

I truly believe this ...

Be happy,

and a reason

will come

along.

Love This!

Found this and fell in love.

You are not separate from the whole.

You are one

with the sun, the earth, the air.

You don't have a life.

You are life.

A little BB

Just in time for the college football season,
I finished reading Bobby Bowden's Called to Coach.

Whether you like FSU or hate FSU,

this book is exemplary.

To read the integrity this man carried with him

throughout decades of work, fatherhood and coaching,

is extraordinary.

To see the multitude of lives he touched,

generations of players and families,

and read about the athletes he associated with,

befriended, learned from and taught,

is just incredible.

He instilled such a sense of self,

of faith and fortitude,

into everyone he came in contact with.

If you'd like a little pick-you-up,

a good read,

and a light and happy heart ...

have at it.

Dadgummit!

My People

I love the people
that have no idea
how wonderful they are
and just wander around
making the world
a better place.
Those are
my people.

Best Advice E.V.E.R.

Love this little snippet here:

If you don't like something,

just take away

its only power ...

your attention.