Friends

Good Karma

This is a nice reading, but short. Enjoy! This is what The
Dalai Lama has to say for 2006. All it takes is a few seconds
to read and think over. This is true for all or of whatever
religious belief… Faith…

I N S T R U C T I O N S F O R L I F E
1. Take into account that great love and great achievements
involve great risk.
2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.
3. Follow the three R’s:
Respect for self,
Respect for others and
Responsibility for all your actions.
4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a
wonderful stroke of luck.
5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great relationship.
7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate
steps to correct it.
8. Spend some time alone every day.
9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.
10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and
think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.
12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for
your life.
13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the
current situation. Don’t bring up the past.
14. Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.
15. Be gentle with the earth.
16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.
17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your
love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order
to get it.
19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

Choose your path

We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a little of each other everywhere. - Tim McGraw

Fulfillment

Values have intrinsic worth and when we live life according to them we have a deep sense of purpose and fulfillment - life feels ""right."" They bring us alive and when we are true to them we feel good about ourselves.

Let Go

Let go of that nagging feeling that something could go wrong. For whatever may happen, you can always choose a way to move forward.

Let go of your resentment and anger over things that are beyond your control. Do the very best with where you are, with what you have, and that will be more than enough.

Let go of the pain you carry from things that happened long ago. Allow yourself to experience the glorious freedom of forgiveness.

Let go of the needs that you don't really need, that keep your life so anxious and complicated. Find real fulfillment not in getting, but in being.

Let go of the regrets, the disappointments and distress. Choose to follow the very best of the possibilities that beckon you forward.

Let go of all the excuses you have for not living fully. Give beauty and meaning to the life and the world that you're in right now.
-- Ralph Marston

5 Simple rules of Happiness

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:


1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.


No one can go back and make a brand new start. Anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears and light for the way.

Disappointments are like road bumps, they slow you down a bit but you enjoy the smooth road afterwards. Don't stay on the bumps too long. Move on! When you feel down because you didn't get what you want, just sit tight and be happy, because God has thought of something better to give you.

When something happens to you, good or bad, consider what it means. There's a purpose to life's events, to teach you how to laugh more or not to cry too hard. You can't make someone love you, all you can do is be someone who can be loved, the rest is up to the person to realize your worth. It's better to lose your pride to the one you love, than to lose the one you love because of pride.

We spend too much time looking for the right person to love or finding fault with those we already love, when instead we should be perfecting the love we give. Never abandon an old friend. You will never find one who can take his place.

Friendship is like wine, it gets better as it grows older.

Florida .. here we come

Florida is in our Future..... WooooHooooo. We are going July 8th -15th. I am so excited. We both deserve this. Ginger is doing it just before she gets married in August. So it will be good time her to relax just before the big day. I am so excited. We have 4 short months to get ready. I am buying tickets tomorrow so it will be even more real. The Sand, the Sea, are waiting for us. It will be grand I just know it.

For My Dear Friend Ginger ...

Nothing happens by chance, my friend... No such thing as luck.

A meaning behind every little thing, and such a meaning behind this.

Part for you, part for me, may not see it all real clear right now,

but we will, before long.

- from "Nothing By Chance"

Saturday - March 11, 2006

We're the bridge across forever, arching above the sea,
adventuring for our pleasure, living mysteries for the fun of it,
choosing disasters triumphs challenges impossible odds,
testing ourselves over and again, learning love and love and LOVE!

~ Richard Bach (from "The Bridge Across Forever") ~

KENNY KENNY KENNY .....

OMG.... I got tickets to the concert. I am so excited. I purchased them PreSale through the fan club. Same price as last year and these are floor seats. Last years were NOSE bleed seats as high up as we could be. So I am happy. About noon I was starting to doubt I would get anything. And them BAM I get through. It made my day. So I guess joining the Fan Club made it well worth it. We are going to be rockin' with Kenny.... It's so cool.

I AM SO EXCITED ...

Homesick

Ocean
Cool, Beautiful
Learning, refreshing, relaxing
A relaxing place to be
Ocean

Our Mutual Love .... KENNY

~ Happiness Is ~

~ Your Friendship ~

Somewhere

Somewhere

Oh, to be lying, On a beach, Somewhere,
With sand in my toes, And the wind, In my hair.
And only the sound, Of the seagulls, On high,
On a beach, Somewhere, Under sunny blue sky.
The gentle caress, Of the waves, On the shore,
And you close, Beside me, Could I ask for more?
A soft sandy beach, That goes on, Forever,
You, me, And a beach, So happy together. Linda Harnett

... Escape ...

If I could, I would share this place with you.
I would put you in my car, throw your cell phone
out the window, turn on some good tunes, and take you away.

we would go to this spot,
and for just a moment
you could be still
and free
and assured....

just for a moment.

sometimes that's all we need.

~ Another Time, Another Place ~

Another Time, Another Place

The sound of the pounding surf.
The beauty of the waves as the tide comes and goes.
Walking along the beach, the spray upon your face.
The smell of ocean air as a breeze whisks across your face
and blows your hair.
The sound of sea gulls from above.
How peaceful and beautiful this gift from God.
How I yearn to walk this beach.
To hear the gulls, to feel the spray on my face.
the sand between my toes.
To see the beautiful ocean, to watch the tides come and go.
The sun rising, the glitter of the rays upon the sea.
This beautiful gift from God.
How beautiful the peace upon your soul
The walk with God, the quiet moments to share,
I can almost hear the pounding surf, smell the salt sea air.
I almost feel the breeze as it brushes my cheek.
To be upon the beach, see the sun rise and set,
to feel the ocean spray upon my face again.
Oh how I miss this wondrous gift from God.

~ Marguerite Treon

Philosophy Of Life

Think freely
Practice patience
Smile often
Savor special moments

Make new friends
Rediscover old ones
Tell those that you love that you do

Feel deeply
Discard worry
Forget trouble
Forgive an enemy

Keep a promise
Take a chance
Try something new
Reach out

Have good ideas
Make some mistakes
Learn from them Be crazy
Count your blessings
Observe miracles -- make them happen
Pick some daisies
Share them

See a sunrise
Listen to the rain
Look for rainbows
Gaze at the stars
See beauty everywhere

Laugh heartily
Spread joy
Reminisce

Give
Trust
Give in

Slow down
Let someone in
Be soft sometimes

Hope
Grow
Work Hard
Be Wise
Try to understand
Cry when you need to

Trust life
Have Faith
Enjoy wonder
Comfort a friend

Believe in your self

Author Unknown

Reading is ever present on my mind. My favorite thing to do. My escape from the real world.

The seeds you nourish

Those seeds that receive water and nourishment are the seeds that will grow. What seeds in your life are you watering right now?

Life is constantly sprouting new possibilities. During each day, many and various influences will fall upon the fertile ground of your consciousness.

The quality of your life depends on which of those influences you allow to take hold and grow. It pays to select them wisely.

If you nourish the seeds of anger, violence, envy and resentment, then thorny, tangled stalks will soon spring up all around you. If instead you nurture the seeds of love, hope, kindness, creativity and joy, a lush and lovely garden will begin to flower in your life.

Choose in each moment to nourish those seeds that will in turn grow to nourish and support you. Hold on to and build those influences that will bring value, meaning, richness and fulfillment to your life.

Follow those possibilities that are the most positive and meaningful. And make the garden of your life a beautiful, peaceful and productive place.

-- Ralph Marston

Inside Out

How accurately does the person you are on the outside express the reality of the person you truly are on the inside? The more faithfully your outer life mirrors your inner dreams and values, the more fulfilling your whole life will be.

Success cannot be reached by pursuing someone else's concept of what it should be. Success is reached by living true to your own visions and dreams for life.

So what are those visions? What are those dreams?

Imagine that you could snap your fingers and make life into everything you would like it to be. Then challenge yourself to describe that ideal life in every beautiful, meaningful detail.
You have the opportunity, in this very moment, to begin expressing and fulfilling that ideal life. In some small yet meaningful way, you can start right now to make the outer world into a reflection of your most deeply held inner values.

Let the best of what is within you expand outward into the world around you. And your world will become a truly great place to be.

-- Ralph Marston

Quotes I have learned From .....

Sooner or later, you start taking yourself seriously. You know when you need a break. You know when you need a rest. You know what to get worked up about and what to get rid of. And you know when it's time to take care of yourself, for yourself. To do something that makes you stronger, faster, more complete. Because you know it's never too late to have a life. And never too late to change one.

What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.
-Pericles

Learn to get in touch with silence within yourself, and know that everything in this life has purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from.
-Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

"The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. To dig for treasures shows not only impatience and greed, but lack of faith. Patience, patience, patience is what the sea teaches. Patience and faith. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach-waiting for a gift from the sea."
-Anne Morrow Lindbergh's "Gift from the Sea"

Change has long been a fearful thing for human beings ... and at the same time, it is our most Divine opportunity. Clinging to the banks of the river may seem safe and more secure, but life's possibilities are truly engaged only when we trust, release and become part of The Flow of the Universe.
— Chelle Thompson

Happy New Year

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. ~Oprah Winfrey

Core Assessment

Core Assessment

You are not your personality, your judgments, your past choices, your beliefs, your perspective or your roles. The best and truest "you" lies behind all of these creations of your mind. Use these practices to access that core part of you in an instant.

1. Stop measuring and evaluating compulsively. We need to discern, evaluate and measure in some instances, but we judge on our good-bad-better-o-meter without end! This causes us to see a universe of scarcity, creating the illusion of the need for competition against others. Practice observing without measuring, by focusing on the sensory input of your senses, and keeping your mind quiet.

2. Be focused on the present moment, immersed deeply in what is going on right now. Surrender the past and future, for what occurs in the present creates the future. Focus on what you can hear, see and feel right now.

3. Relax, for you are guided when you are relaxed. When we are relaxed we are better able to see the big picture, and we are able to act thoughtfully instead of thoughtlessly reacting, because we are centered.

4. Heartbreaths. Softly inhale into your heartspace, imagining the breath nourishing you, and as you exhale imagine the air going out to nourish the world with your love, or if you prefer, the trees with your carbon dioxide. This connects you with the world.

5. Communicate fully, all that is there, especially what you don't want to say. This one is remarkably powerful at propelling our life. It is necessary to perceive, accept and act upon the truth. Avoiding consequences by hiding what is really on your mind stalls the flow of life.

6. Be authentic. You are unique. Get to know who you are, by thinking for yourself. Then be that person shamelessly. Live your own values, follow your own bliss.

7. Realize that emotions are a message from your spirit illuminating opportunities for growth. Quit wasting time and energy trying to rearrange the external world, and holding grudges. Anger, disappointment and fear are examples of resistance to "what is." To transform anger - forgive. To transform disappointment - see it as a future bad memory, and a learning opportunity. To transform fear - trust.

8. Make enjoying your life a top priority. The more joyful we are, the higher our energetic vibration is. Energetic vibrations attract like energetic vibrations to them. We are more attractive when we are joyful. We attract opportunities, money and love.

9. Appreciate life. Imagine you were diagnosed with a month to live, each day would look quite precious then wouldn't it? Life is a gift and appreciation is a rich rewarding feeling, its own reward. This big picture view is often overlooked when we are in the day to day stress, strain and details.

10. Give up being a position and be an opening instead. Be willing to listen to different opinions and views, trust yourself enough to be open-minded and know that you will not crumble under anyone's persuasion, and that you will easily come to the right choice for you in the end. This level of cooperation creates win-win possibilities and outcomes. Win-win outcomes create a positive sustainable future, and are good for all.

If You Have A Dream

If you have a dream ...

Don't wait for some distant day to come,
it may be too late before you've even begun.

Not everyone will agree with all you decide ...
Sometimes "the majority" only means that
all the fools are on the same side.

Be true to yourself first and foremost ...
The only important thing in life is what you do
with the time you spend here on earth.

Don't be afraid to follow your desires ...
They are neither silly nor selfish;
take the time and do what makes you feel alive.

Leave your fears and regrets in the past ...
Our eyes are placed in front because
it's more important to look ahead than to look back.

If you look back, your journey is ended ...
You have only today to begin anew and follow your dreams,
for in the end, all we have are our memories.

Do not quiet your dreams ...
When the twilight comes to us, let there be
no excuses, no explanations, no regrets!

~ Author Unknown ~

True Friends ... for my Friend Ginger

Like a needle in a haystack true friends are hard to find,

That's why I'm so thankful that I can call you mine.
Whenever I need a shoulder you're there to catch my tears,

You've kept my many secrets Throughout the many years.
You've been there through my afflictions

You've witnessed my defeats, I'll remember all the good times

And pray the bad ones don't repeat.
With you my heart is honest but there's one thing I never told you ...

Thank you for everything you've done!
There's no one else like you ...

No one that could ever be a true "best" friend like you!

~ Crystal Holtz ~

Reason Season Lifetime

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrong doing on your part or an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our Desire fulfilled; their work is done. The prayer you sent up Has been answered and it is now time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you never would have known, or help make you do something you would have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But...only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person/people (anyway); and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant. Thank you for being a part of my life.

May God hold You in the palm of His hand and Angels watch over you.

.. Everyday Joys

Find everyday joy

in the simple things in life...
The smell of hot coffee and pancakes in the morning,

Fireflies flickering in the clear night air,
The cool morning fog as the sun comes up

and warms the day;

The colors of a beautiful and peaceful sunset,

A bee buzzing in a patch of spring flowers,
The kindness in the smile of a stranger;
The warm feeling of a hug

from someone who loves you,

The quiet sound of the ocean on the shore,

The twinkling of the stars in the sky...
The reassuring thoughtfulness from

someone who calls you friend.

And, then relax, and be thankful...

for your everyday joys.

~Author Unknown

... Happy Halloween ...

... Don't Look Back ...

As you travel through life there are always those times

When decisions just have to be made,

When the choices are hard, and solutions seem scarce,

And the rain seems to soak your parade.
There are some situations where all you can do

Is simply let go and move on,

Gather your courage and choose a direction

That carries you toward a new dawn.
So pack up your troubles and take a step forward —

The process of change can be tough,

But think about all the excitement ahead

If YOU can be stalwart enough!
There might be adventures you never imagined

Just waiting around the next bend,

And wishes and dreams just about to come true

In ways you can't yet comprehend!
Perhaps you'll find friendships that spring from new things

As you challenge your status quo,

And learn there are so many options in life,

And so many ways you can grow!
Perhaps you'll go places you never expected

And see things that you've never seen,

Or travel to fabulous, faraway worlds

And wonderful spots in between!
Perhaps you'll find warmth and affection and caring

And somebody special who's there

To help you stay centered and listen with interest

To stories and feelings you share.
Perhaps you'll find comfort in knowing your friends

Are supportive of all that you do,

And believe that whatever decisions you make,

They'll be the right choices for you.
So keep putting one foot in front of the other,

And taking your life day by day ...

There's a brighter tomorrow that's just down the road —

Don't look back! You're not going that way!

~© Mary Engelbreit

It's In the Valleys I Grow

Sometimes life seems hard to bear,
Full of sorrow, trouble and woe
It's then I have to remember
That it's in the valleys I grow.

If I always stayed on the mountain top
And never experienced pain,
I would never appreciate Goodness
And would be living in vain.

I have so much to learn,
And my growth is very slow,
Sometimes I need the mountain tops,
But it's in the valleys I grow.

Please forgive me for complaining
When I'm feeling so very low.
Just give me a gentle reminder
That it's in the valleys I grow.

I give thanks for those valleys,
For there's one thing that I know
The mountain tops are glorious
But it's in the valleys I grow!

~ Jane Eggleston ~

Friends Make A Difference ... For My Friend Ginger

Some people come into our lives and quickly go;
Some people move our souls to dance; they awaken us to new understanding
With the passing whisper of their wisdom;
Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon.

Friends share simple, ordinary times in our lives,
Moments that become memories that stay in our hearts forever
... And we will never, ever be the same.

Friendship is a strange thing ...
It is by chance we met, by choice we became friends;
We find ourselves telling each other the deepest details of our lives,
things we don't even share with our families who raised us.

But what is a friend? A confidant? A lover? A fellow email junkie?
A shoulder to cry on? An ear to listen? A heart to feel?
A friend is ALL of these things and more;
No matter where we met, I call you "friend":
A word so small ... yet so large in feeling ... a word filled with emotion.

Once the package of friendship has been opened,
It can never be completely closed;
It is a constant book always waiting to be read ... and enjoyed.

We may have disagreements,
We may argue, we may concern one another ...
Friendship is a unique bond that lasts through it all.

A part of me is put into my friends: some is my humor, some is my listening ear,
Some is real life experience, some is my romanticism, but with all, it is FRIENDSHIP ...
Thanks for making a difference in my life!


~ Author Unknown ~

Life

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.

Life is beauty, admire it.

Life is bliss, taste it.

Life is a dream, realize it.

Life is a challenge, meet it.

Life is a duty, complete it.

Life is a game, play it.

Life is a promise, fulfill it.

Life is sorrow, overcome it.

Life is a song, sing it.

Life is a struggle, accept it.

Life is a tragedy, confront it.

Life is an adventure, dare it.

Life is luck, make it.

Life is too precious, do not destroy it.

Life is life, fight for it.

Mother Teresa

Procrastination

..life never calms down long enough for us to wait until tomorrow to start living the lives we deserve. Live is always movement, always change, always unforeseen circumstances. There will always be something to grab your attention...Let's just acknowledge that as far as real life is concerned, we are only one step away from dealing with dysfunction....Procrastination has robbed us of too many opportunities.
Author: Sarah Ban Breathnach

How to want what you have.

This is the precious present, regardless of what yesterday was like, regardless of what tomorrow may bring. When your inner eyes open, you can find immense beauty hidden within the inconsequential details of daily life. When your inner ears open, you can hear the subtle, lovely music of the universe everywhere you go. When the heart of your heart opens, you can take deep pleasure in the company of the people around you--family, friends, acquaintances, or strangers--including those whose characters are less than perfect, just as your character is less than perfect. When you are open to the beauty, mystery, and grandeur of ordinary existence, you "get it" that it always has been beautiful, mysterious, and grand and always will be.This is the precious present.
Author: Timothy Ray Miller

Wednesday

"I live by this credo: Have a little laugh at life and look around you for happiness instead of sadness. Laughter has always brought me out of unhappy situations. Even in your darkest moment, you usually can find something to laugh about if you try hard enough."

- Red Skelton

... Fear ...

I have not ceased being fearful, but I have ceased to let fear control me. I have accepted fear as a part of life — specifically the fear of change, the fear of the unknown; and I have gone ahead despite the pounding in my heart that says: turn back, turn back, you'll die if you venture too far.

— Erica Jong

... The Turtle ...

Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out.

— James Bryant Conant

Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself, and know that everything in this life has purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences. All events are blessings given to us to learn from."

- Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

"The Sea"

"The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. To dig for treasures shows not only impatience and greed, but lack of faith. Patience, patience, patience is what the sea teaches. Patience and faith. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach-waiting for a gift from the sea."

Anne Morrow Lindbergh's "Gift from the Sea"

Living in a state of overwhelm.....

Living in a state of overwhelm has grave costs. If you're too busy . . .

~*~ You're not seeing your life as clearly as you could (you know this is happening when you get to the end of the day and wonder where the time went).

~*~ You're not making choices from a place of power (you can't see all the options or, if you do, you don't have time to consider them).

~*~ You're out of touch with what really matters (hint: look for a relationship that's suffering).

~*~ You're tolerating something -- a boring job, a draining relationship,a messy home, etc.~*~ You're settling for good, or worse, okay, rather than requiring great(just think about the last major decision you made).

~*~ You're out of touch with how you *feel* -- the very faculty you needto truly live a meaningful life (when we recall a favorite memory, it'show we "feel" that makes it special, not what we did).

As you consider the points above, I encourage you to take advantage of alittle retreat wisdom this week. Make it a priority to complete the TakeAction Challenge below. As a matter of fact, I'd schedule a "LifeAssessment" date on your calendar every three months for the next year. That way you're sure to keep your eyes open, too!

~*~ Take Action Challenge ~*~
Take an hour or two this week and with journal or notebook in hand, answerthe following questions:

1. What am I tolerating?

2. What's working in my life? (It's important to build on what works!)

3. What's not working?

4. What keeps driving me crazy?

5. Is there an important relationship that's suffering?

6. What's the first step I need to take to improve things?

With clarity comes the power to change your life. Once you identify one small thing that needs to change, take action immediately. The relief and energy you feel as a result will fuel your next step.

DayDreams ...

DAYDREAMS

If thoughts could paint pictures that words dare not speak,
And daydreams built castles of that which we seek,

Then artists and architects all would we be,
Our hearts would be open, our minds would be free.

I'd build a castle as daydreams unfold,
Revealing the feelings I secretly hold.

I'd paint a picture of words left unsaid,
And feelings of closeness to which they have led.

But pictures are thoughts that so rarely are told,
For fear of appearing too forward and bold.

And castles are built in the daydreamer's heart,
A lifetime of wishes still lifetimes apart.

And yet we are richer for all that we feel,
No matter how abstract, no matter how real.

For joy is a picture we paint in our minds,
And love is the castle our hearts hope to find.

~Author Unknown~

Live ...

.. Our Past ..

Appreciating Our Past :

It is easy to be negative about past mistakes and unhappiness. But it is much more healing to look at ourselves and our past in the light of experience, acceptance, and growth.

Our past is a series of lessons that advance us to higher levels of living and loving. The relationships we entered, stayed in, or ended taught us necessary lessons.

Some of us have emerged from the most painful circumstances with strong insights about who we are and what we want. Our mistakes? Necessary. Our frustrations, failures, and sometimes stumbling attempts at growth and progress? Necessary too. Each step of the way, we learned. We went through exactly the experiences we need to, to become who we are today. Each step of the way, we progressed. Is our past a mistake? No. The only mistake we can make is mistaking that for the truth.

Today, God, help me let go of negative thoughts I may be harboring about my past circumstances or relationships. I can accept, with gratitude, all that has brought me to today.

Success ...

Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be

— George Sheehan

Just Listen ...

The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens and nature.

— Anne Frank

We rest here while we can, but we hear the ocean calling in our dreams, And we know by the morning, the wind will fill our sails to test the seams. The calm is on the water and part of us would linger by the shore. For ships are safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for.

— Song "Ships" by Tom Kimmel & Michael Lille

Tuesday

Most things that happen in life we can choose to call 'gifts' ... though it's often difficult to see the treasure in a tragedy. As time passes and extenuating circumstances reveal themselves, however, I believe we can always find the 'diamond that arrived... wrapped in a square of toilet paper.'

— Chelle Thompson

Attitude

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than success, than what other people think, say or do. It is more important than appearance, gift, or skill. It will make or break a company...a church...a home.
The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... The only thing we can do is play on the string we have, and that is our attitude.
I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes.
- Charles Swindoll

Change

The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers. ~M. Scott Peck

Sometimes in Life ....

Sometimes in life,
you find a special friend;
someone who changes your life
just by being part of it.
Someone who makes you laugh
until you can't stop;
someone who makes you believe
that there really is good in the world.
Someone who convinces you
that there really is an unlocked door
just waiting for you to open it.
This is forever friendship.
When you're down,
and the world seems dark and empty,
your forever friend lifts you up in spirit
and makes that dark and empty world
suddenly seem bright and full.
Your forever friend gets you through
the hard times, the sad times,
and the confused times.
If you turn and walk away,
your forever friend follows.
If you lose your way,
your forever friend guides you
and cheers you on.
Your forever friend holds your hand
and tells you that
everything is going to be okay.
And if you find such a friend,
you feel happy and complete,
because you need not worry.
You have a forever friend for life,
and forever has no end

Ginger is my Forever Friend
Love You ... Marianne

... A Difference ...

Amidst the morning mist of the swift returning tide I set out on my daily run, my Walkman on my side. Lost within my private world apart from cares and woes I ran along the moistened shore, the sand between my toes.
In the distance, I saw a boy, as busy as can be. He was running, stooping, picking up, and tossing in the sea. Just what he threw, I couldn't tell, I looked as I drew near. It seemed to be a rock or shell — as I approached him I could hear:
"Back you go, where you belong. You're safe now hurry home. Your family's waiting for you, little starfish, hurry on! "It seemed the evening tide had washed the starfish on the shore, And the swift receding water left a thousand there or more.
And this self-appointed savior, was trying one-by-one To toss them back into the sea, against the racing sun. I saw his plight was hopeless, that most of them would die. I called out from my private world, "Hey Kid, why even try?"
"Must be at least a thousand here, strewn along the beach, And even if you had the time, most you'll never reach. You really think it makes a difference, to waste your time this way? "And then I paused and waited, just to hear what he would say.
He stooped and took another, and looked me in the eye. "It makes a difference to this one sir, this starfish will not die! "With that, he tossed the little life, back where there was hope.He stooped to take another. I could tell this was no joke.
The words that he spoke to me cut like a surgeon's knife. Where I saw only numbers, he saw only life. He didn't see the multitude of starfish on the sand. He only saw the little life he held there in his hand.
He didn't stop to argue, to prove that he was right. He just kept tossing starfish in the sea with all his might. So I too stooped, and I picked up, and I tossed into the sea, And I thought, just what a difference, that this boy has made in me.

May You ....

May you find serenity and tranquility in a world you may not always understand. May the pain you have known and the conflict you have experienced give you the strength to walk through life facing each new situation with courage and optimism. Always know that there are those whose love and understanding will always be there, even when you feel most alone. May you discover enough goodness in others to believe in a world of peace. May a kind word, a reassuring touch, and a warm smile be yours every day of your life, and may you give these gifts as well as receive them. Remember the sunshine when the storm seems unending.

— Unknown

Trust

"Trust is a main ingredient to peace of mind. Trust is sacred. Honor your inner voice. Listen. Trust happens when you are true to yourself."


Why is trust such a hard thing to grasp once you have been hurt. If someone hits you, you don't expect everyone will...why when someone cheats on you...do you carry that with you to every relationship you have.

Try as I may...whenever my boyfriend tells me something...I immediately think about things past boyfriends have said and how they betrayed my trust. You carry that doubt with you and it sticks to everything the new relationships hands you.

Then there is the fine line between trust and being sucked in by lies. But what if it is the truth...time will tell.

We must Listen ....

There is always music amongst the trees in the garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it.

- Minnie Aumonier

Negative Thoughts ...

Crowd Them Out

Fighting against negative thoughts will not rid you of them. In fact, the energy you set against those negative thoughts will only make them more intense.

When you try to dismiss a negative thought directly, that only causes you to think more about it. Instead, turn your attention to something else. Rather than rejecting the negative thought, replace it. Override it with a positive, creative, constructive thought.

Crowd out the negative thoughts by keeping your mind busy with other, more uplifting endeavors. That works much better than trying to push the negative thoughts away.

Your mind is always filled with one thought or another. Keep a supply of positive thoughts on hand, ready and waiting for you to focus upon.

Keep yourself busy with positive, productive endeavors. And the negative thoughts won't find their way into your attitude.

~ Ralph Marston

Your many blessings How often do you stop to count your blessings? In your daily struggle for more, how often do you feel joyful and thankful for the many, many things you already have?
In your ambitious quest to better your life, be careful that you don't overlook the wealth that you already have. Wealth? Yes, wealth that is very real and very accessible to you.
Did you know that you already have abundant wealth? Perhaps you don't feel like it if you've just paid the bills. Yet each and every one of us has an abundance that is almost beyond comprehension. The secret is to tap into that abundance and use it to do whatever we want to do.
And the process starts with counting your blessings. Taking stock of the things you have, the things you know, the people in your life, your spirituality, your skills, your opinions, your special perspective on life, your family, your hobbies, your sense of humor, your appreciation for beauty, your caring for others, your concern for those less fortunate, your ability to see opportunity. The list of possibilities is endless, and these things all have value beyond anything you can imagine.
I challenge you to take a good hard look at yourself and to count your blessings. Think of as many of them as you can. Think of the beauty and richness of your life. These things don't require money or power or position. They all spring from your attitude, the way you react to situations, the way you value others, the way you value life itself.
Right now, within yourself, you have the ability to do anything you want with your life. You have complete control of your behavior, your actions from minute to minute. Look deep inside yourself and tap into the wealth that lies hidden within you. It is there if only you will look, and the best way to find it is with an attitude of thanksgiving and joy.
-- Ralph Marston

Finish Each Day

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Character

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved." --Helen Keller