Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Listening is a magnetic and strange thing; a creative force. Think how friends that really listen to us are the ones we move toward, and we want to sit in their radius as though it did us good, like ultraviolet rays.
-Brenda Ueland

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Do it today . . . .

You don't need endless time and perfect conditions. Do it now. Do it today. Do it for twenty minutes and watch your heart start beating.
-Barbara Sher
Press here to begin.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Friday, June 25, 2010

Pick a color, any color . . . .


Be free, live now.
Give hope, show how.
Share love, take care.
Stand tall, play fair.
Know right from wrong,
Be happy, live long.

Some very simple rules for a very simple game: the game of life. And whether you realize it or not, you're already a winner. You were born a winner.

No matter where you find yourself today, no matter how you may have tripped and stumbled in the past, you're still a winner. You've always done your best, and though you may now wish you had done a few things differently, at least your course has brought you to today. And the best thing about today is that now you're free to paint the present, and tomorrow, any color you like.

You're free to think the thoughts that will next become the things and events of your life. And you stand before the rest of your life with the greatest of allies: a loving, caring, invisible Universe that is now conspiring tirelessly in your favor; a living Universe that gets out of bed when you do, drives to work with you, and even now sits beside you.

If it's not already clear, it will be before long. The reason you are where you are today with the wisdom, love, and understandings that your life has instilled in you is so that you can fully enjoy and appreciate the splendors that are now being laid out before you.
You go!

From the book Choose Them Wisely
by Mike Dooley

Thursday, June 24, 2010


Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.
-Denis Waitley

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

You're enough as is . . . .

How is it that you see least what those closest to you see most --- that you're rare and beautiful, strong and able, accomplished and successful? It shouldn't be like this. It's time you saw what the rest of us see, that you're already enough as is, that you deserve to see your dreams manifest, and that you've already bloomed into the kind of person you dreamed you'd one day become.

Ok?
 Beginning to see?
(It just takes a little practice.)

If every flower
tried to look like another,
they'd forget that they're special
and unlike any other.

From the book Choose Them Wisely
by
Mike Dooley


Photo via Faces

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

We get to be here! . . . .



I love what Neil of 1,000 Awesome Things has to say about living life! He says....


"We get to live! We get to be here! We're in the 80% of the world who can read, the 20% of the world with Internet access, and the some-other-percent of the world who as time to stop and think about things like happiness and small pleasures and awesome moments.

I guess I like to stop and remember sometimes that we'll never be as young as we are right now. We only get a hundred years to enjoy everything in this world. Every single person we know will be gone in a hundred years - from grocery store cashiers, to telemarketers who call us at dinner, to the people behind us at movies. We've only got a hundred years to enjoy interior design, horoscope signs, books, buffets, and radio waves, clean sheets and good movie seats, bakery air, rain hair, bubble wrap, and illegal naps.

So I think my personal highlight has been that - remembering and reminding myself how much joy and happiness there really is in the simple things in life. And how important they are to so many of us every day."

Thank you Neil.

Monday, June 21, 2010

The Dash . . . .

I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
from the beginning to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth,
and spoke the following date with tears.
But he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
that she spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved her
know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own;
the cars, the house, the cash,
what matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard.
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
to consider what's true and real,
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
and show appreciation more.
And love the people in our lives
like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
and more often wear a smile,
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read
with your life's actions to rehash,
would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent your dash?

by Linda Ellis

Friday, June 18, 2010

No prescription needed . . . .


Laughter really is the best medicine. It has been proven that laughing lowers blood pressure, boosts your immune system, and helps you relax, indicating better sleep habits. Some studies even suggest that it may prevent heart disease. CNN recently reported that the positive effects of laughter lasts for up to 45 minutes! Want to burn more calories? Laugh more!  It turns out that 10-15 minutes of laughter can burn 50 calories! It is certainly not reason enough to ditch the treadmill, but every little bit helps, and I can't think of a more fun way to fuel your system. But seriously, who really needs any of these reasons to laugh? It's just downright good for your soul, it feels good, and it's fun!.....(and personally, I secretly believe that a big belly laugh gets rid of all cooties! That's why they call it 'cleansing'..... right?)


I've always thought that a big laugh was a loud noise from the soul saying, "Ain't that the truth!" 
- Quincy Jones

Photo taken myself


Happy Friday!
May you have a weekend full of laughter!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

They want to be just like you . . . .




Top graphic from the book Believe
by Dan Zadra & Kobi Yamada

Photo via Getty Images

Text from the book I Believe In You
by Dan Zadra

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

It's not too late . . . .


One of my favorite authors, Dan Zadra, writes....When you reach the end of your life do you want to be one of the people who are glad they did, or one of the people who wish they had?

Start doing the things today that will matter tomorrow. Don't leave this world without giving it your all. The best inheritance you can leave your kids is an example of how to live a full and meaningful life.

Live your life so that your children can tell their children that you not only stood for something wonderful - you acted on it!



"I don't want to get to the end of my life 
and find that I lived just the length of it. 
I want to have lived the width of it as well."
-Diane Ackerman


Photo via Getty Images

Friday, June 11, 2010

Embrace Life . . . .

I couldn't help but share this beautiful ad. It's called 'Embrace Life' and it  has exploded around the world with its positive message encouraging people to wear their seat belts. Happy Friday! I hope you have a lovely weekend, and please buckle up.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Inner beauty is what lasts . . . .


I am a huge fan of the Dove ads and their Campaign for Real Beauty. Their website states: "We see beauty all around us. At Dove we want to free ourselves and the next generation from the beauty stereotypes.......and it's why we continue to create thought-provoking ads, confidence-building programs and messages that embrace all definitions of beauty."
In the following article you will see the importance of offering practical advice on how to help young girls foster healthy self-esteem and avoid body dissatisfaction.

Ideas for Moms & Mentors
Whether you're a parent, guardian, sports coach or mentor, you can make a positive difference to the young people in your life. The following are some ideas and suggestions you can use in fostering healthy self-esteem in young girls. Teach children that their self-worth is not related to how they look. Emphasize their talents and qualities. Don't focus on their physical appearance. Talk to your children about self-esteem, body image and what it means to be beautiful.

Be a healthy role model for your children.
  • Don't make comments about anyone's size or weight, especially as a "joke".
  • Make sure that your child knows that you love them regardless of their size or weight.
  • Treat fat and thin, tall and short, dark and fair (etc.) children the same.
  • Build self-confidence and self-esteem through a range of activities, both physical and non-physical.
  • Build good self-esteem in all children for who they are and what they do, not how they look.
  • Feel proud of your child, regardless of their size or weight.
  • Be creative and assertive in finding the right clothing and equipment for your child.
  • Encourage healthy eating and physical activity for the entire family.
  • Don't feel guilty or ashamed if you or your child is fat.
Work toward identifying and resisting all forms of discrimination. Remember that prejudice against size and body relates to prejudice based on sex, race, sexuality, class and physical ability.

"Outer beauty is constantly changing, 
and no matter who you are, 
you won't have it forever. 
Inner beauty is what lasts." 
 -Elle S., Colorado

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Make no mistake . . . .


Finding the positives about your self can be difficult, even when you consciously focus on the task. But make no mistake: At the core of every human being is a uniqueness, individuality, and distinctness that demand to be expressed. You are no exception. However deeply your individuality may be buried...no matter how lost or non-unique you may feel, you are in there. Once you have found your way back to the you that has been buried under a mound of world experiences and self-pounding, hang on. Hang on, because you aren't going to believe what is about to happen in your life as you claim the power of refining your personal truth, knowledge, and personal power.
-Unknown

Photo via Google Images

Friday, June 4, 2010

Be true to you . . . .

What do you want? Have you made it a priority? You can't give all that you have to give, to yourself and the world, unless you are first true to yourself. Sound selfish? Good! Selfishness doesn't mean you don't care for others, and it doesn't mean you don't lend a hand where needed. It does mean that you understand that your fulfillment, happiness, and laughter count.....big time! It means realizing that your greatest responsibility as a human is not to save the world but to save yourself, because no one else can or will. And it means honoring your own passions, instincts, and desires so that you can always hear the call of your dreams and respond.

Then, as your dreams begin coming true, others will benefit, even people you don't know. Your life begins getting easier. Your vibrations are raised. You begin living with a newfound lightness, projecting an aura that shines onto the darkened paths of others. And the world does, in the end, become a much better place, thanks to the example you've become.

Be true to yourself
in the games that you play,
or it could be your dreams
that you one day betray.

From the book Choose Them Wisely
by Mike Dooley

Photo via Imgfave

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Reach out, it's all there . . . .


Top photo via Google Images
Bottom photo via Imgfave

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams . . .

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams . . .
Follow your heart

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