For your viewing pleasure . . . .

Beauty comes from within,

but sometimes,

well, you just have to enjoy the view.

Happy Friday!

Wishing you a lovely weekend!

Photo by Cameron McDonald

It can turn a life around . . . .

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which has the potential to turn a life around."

- Leo Buscalgia

Photo by Guildford Grace

With love . . . .

There's a little bit of everyone inside of you, and there's a little bit of you inside of all others. Humanity's greatest and most vile potentials lie within each of us. By understanding what motivates us to act kindly or with malice, we can begin asking questions about the behavior of others. And with understanding, we can begin loving - not their behavior, but their potential; not their decisions, but their journey. And with love, we can begin healing by example, showing kindness, compassion, and another way.

-From the book Choose Them Wisely by Mike Dooley

-Photo via One League Artists

Pure pleasures . . . .

Hugging.

Fresh, clean clothes.

An evening in front of the fire.

Getting lost in the music.

Not needing an alarm clock.

Candles.

A cleansing laugh.

Photo credits:

Hugging - Photo by Jenywin via flickr

Fresh, clean clothes - Photo via One League Artists

An evening in front of the fire - Photo by europa70 via flickr

Getting lost in the music - Getty Images

Not needing an alarm clock - Photo by Mark Williams via One League Artists

Candles - Photo by moemoechi via flickr

A cleansing laugh - Google Images

No complaints . . . .

"You wanna know what living life to the fullest actually is? It's waking up on a Monday morning with no complaints. It's knowing you always deserve to laugh. It's doing what feels right no matter what. It's doing what you want to no matter how stupid you look. It's about being yourself, because no one can tell you you're doing it wrong."

-Unknown

You get to choose . . . .

What if we woke up in the morning and got to decide how we were going to feel for the day? Let's just say it's our decision. You get to pick ..... Excited? Happy? Sad? Motivated? Grumpy? Jealous? Angry? Ok, now let's just say that someone you knew had the power to rearrange all the people and circumstances of your life to make it happen. You'd like that, right? You'd choose happy, right?

Well, that someone who can make it happen for you, is YOU. You get to choose! I have found that what you give, is returned to you many times over. Make sure that what you are giving is good, if you want good back. If you emit anger, rage, jealousy and envy, you will receive suffering of some kind. If you emit gratitude, love, kind thoughts, words, and actions, you will bring joy into your life, and you'll begin to see the misery subside.

Three steps that will bring more to you

than you can ever imagine:

Think good thoughts.

Speak good words.

Take good actions.

Happy Friday!

Partial text content via Mike Dooley

Notes From The Universe

No expectations . . . .

"I decided, very early on, just to accept life unconditionally. I never expected it to do anything special for me, yet I seemed to accomplish far more than I had ever hoped. Most of the time it just happened to me without my ever seeking it."

-Audrey Hepburn

It comes from within . . . .

"A feeling that greater possessions will, of themselves, bring contentment or happiness, is a misunderstanding. No person, place, or thing can give you happiness. They may give you cause for happiness and a feeling of contentment, but the Joy of Living comes from within."

-Genevieve Behrend (1881-1960)

Your Invisible Power

Say I Am Wonderful! . . . .

Today, I am so inspired by this song by singer songwriter London-born Gary Go, and wanted to share it with you. It truly is a "Wonderful" (click to watch) song . . very inspirational.

The person that you were has died

You've lost the sparkle in your eyes

You fell for life - into it's traps

Now you wanna bridge the gaps

Now you wanna bridge the gaps

Now you want that person back

And all your ammunition's gone

Run out of fuel to carry on

You don't know what you wanna do

Cause what you want does not want you

If what you want does not want you

And you've got no pull to pull you through

Say "I am"

Say "I am"

Say "I am wonderful"

Oh you are

Say "I am"

Say "I am"

Say "I am wonderful"

If what you've lost cannot be found

And the weight of the world weighs you down

No longer with the will to fly

You stop to let it pass you by

Don't stop to let it pass you by

You've gotta look yourself in the eye

Say "I am"

Say "I am"

Say "I am wonderful"

Oh you are

Say "I am"

Say "I am"

Say "I am wonderful"

You're wonderful, oh

Cause we are all miracles

wrapped up in chemicals

We are incredible, oh we are

Don't take it for granted, no

We are all miracles

Oh we are

Say "I am"

Say "I am"

Say "I am wonderful"

Oh you are

Say "I am"

Say "I am"

Say "I am wonderful"

You're wonderful, oh

Cause we are all miracles

wrapped up in chemicals

We are incredible, oh we are

Don't take it for granted, no

We are all miracles wrapped up,

yeah we're wrapped up

Oh we are wonderful.

What are your habits? . . . .

I am using this space today to remind those of you who have been saying......."I'll start my exercise program on Monday."

Today is Monday!

"We are what we repeatedly do.

Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit."

-Aristotle

Who inspires you? . . . .

I could list so many people who inspire me for a number of reasons. There are the obvious ones who create music and art. The ones who take my breath away with design. The ones who speak so eloquently in front of a crowd. Writers who form words in such a compelling way that it causes me to close the book just so I can sit with the beauty of the words. I could go on and on. But today's post is on more of a personal level of appreciation in regards to those who inspire me.

I have made it a priority in my life to surround myself with people who have chosen to live their life with passion, lift others up. . . are encouraging, and who speak well of others. The people who truly inspire me have an inner beauty. They are people who motivate me. People who make me want to be a better person. People who make me laugh. People who are true to themselves. I love people who live their life with grace. Oh my goodness, I'm surrounded by these people, and I'm so grateful!

To those of you who live with passion...you inspire me. You make me want to listen.

To those of you who motivate me...I can't get enough of you!

To those of you who encourage...you will be rewarded many times over.

To those of you who have grace...I will always have room in my heart for you.

To those of you with inner beauty...never change.

To those of you who make me laugh...never leave!

To those of you who make a difference in the lives of others...you make me think about how I will be remembered, and what I can do to enhance that.

To those of you who have faced major obstacles...you have made a significant difference in my life as I watch you accomplish meaningful change.

Thank you.

I am so grateful for all the people in my life.

I love you!

Create a more positive you . . . .

Unfortunately, many people have a continuous reel of negative words, thoughts and statements running through their minds. It is no wonder that they live their lives unenthusiastically. Words and statements can build you up or destroy you, but you have the power to make them work to your advantage. It is up to you how you use them. When you repeat positive statements, they become your convictions, and in turn, become your reality. Even a lifetime of negative programming can be changed when you hold on to, and repeat affirmations enough. If you are putting yourself down, you are your own worst enemy. Clean your 'mental' house by making the decision to stop the whining, playing the victim, and begin to respect yourself. At this point you will begin to gain control over your actions. You'll create a stronger, more positive version of yourself, and it will automatically create more success in your life.

You have to refuse to think negative thoughts,

if you wish to attain positive results.

Your inner voice . . . .

There is something in every one of you that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself. It is the only true guide you will ever have. And if you cannot hear it, you will, all your life, spend your days on the ends of strings that somebody else pulls."

-Howard Thurman

Let your mind lead . . . .

My yoga instructor said something this morning that I know is very powerful. She said, "Let your mind lead, and your body will follow." I've known for quite some time how powerful the mind is, and I have even used mental techniques that have helped me go further than I ever could have imagined. For many of us, it is so easy to convince ourselves that something is too difficult, and give up much too soon. If we allow ourselves to use the power of the brain, it is astonishing at what we can achieve.

Kurt Lee Hurley

The Whole Body, Whole Mind, Whole Health Solution

writes:

The body can only achieve what the mind can conceive. The mind is designed to perform as a command center and the body serves as the production department. When the mind is strong and integral, the body will obey. If the mind is convinced otherwise, inability sets in, and the body begins to command the mind. Consequently, at the slightest hint of difficulty and pain, the body wants to give up and so it communicates to the mind that it can do no more, and indeed gives up.

Once the mind decides the body is unwilling to do something, a tug-of-war starts. It is in such conflict that the body must be disciplined to succumb to the mind. If this is accomplished, the mind is strengthened and given authority over the body, which is trained to respond positively. As this goes on, the mind is promoted to heights never before imagined, and is encouraged to go beyond its limits. The body does what it is told to do. So the body begins to outdo itself. It is at this point where limitless potentials break out of hiding and release the champion in all of us.

It is wonderful what the body can do,

if you've got the mind to let it.

Shifting seasonal gears . . . .

Last week I allowed myself to shift gears seasonally, spent time reading my favorite blogs, gathered new music for my ipod, and freshened my mind with new inspiration. I found some great ideas online for holiday decorations. I took the time to immerse myself in projects around my house that needed attention, and in turn, ignored my own blog after I had just mentioned in my last post that I was so excited to be back! Well, I'm always excited to return home after vacation, but I did exactly what I needed to do. I love the 'essence of knowing' when I need to do something. . . . . getting it done, and moving on. Seasonal change does it to me every time.

What's your story? . . . .

All humans are storytellers with their own unique point of view. When we understand this, we no longer feel the need to impose our story on others or to defend what we believe. Instead, we see all of us as artists with the right to create our own art.

-Don Miguel Ruiz

So good to be back . . . .

Going away on vacation is always so great, but coming home is heaven! I am so happy to be back, return to my daily routine, (the above photo is my motivation to get back at it, girl), and of course, to be blogging again! I've missed it all.

I'm hoping this short motivational video 
will get your week off to a great start!

Happy Monday!