Sometimes when you've had a difficult day, met difficult people, been let down, disappointed, or heartbroken, it's easy to completely forget the most important thing of all.....you're alive.

You're alive, and you will be really happy again, (just in case you're wondering).

Who loves ya?

Have a great day, my friends.

Via Notes from The Universe

Consider the obstacles . . . .

Why is it that we find it all too easy to immediately come to conclusions about another person before we understand their story? Everyone has a story, and until we are compassionate enough to take a moment to listen, to understand their obstacles, and to empathize, how can we ever appreciate what that person has had to overcome? We've all faced struggles that have shaped us into the person that we are today. We've learned lessons in ways that we would not choose. If we would just allow ourselves a moment of compassion, we can empathize in a way that will soften our hearts. We may even learn a lesson or two that will help US grow. Listen.....we are all human beings, and we are all seeking the same thing in life. We need food, shelter, and love, right? We crave attention, and recognition, and affection, and above all, happiness. So stop judging for one second, and remind yourself of these simple rules......Just like you, this person is seeking happiness in his/her life. Just like you, this person is trying to avoid suffering in his/her life. Just like you, this person has known sadness, loneliness and despair. Just like you, this person is seeking to fill his/her needs. And just like you, this person is learning about life. 

"Compassion is sometimes the fatal capacity for feeling what it is like to live inside somebody else's skin. It is the knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy finally for you too."

-Frederick Buechner

Compassion . . . .

.......is described as "a deep awareness of the suffering of another, coupled with the wish to relieve it." We all grew up being told to treat others as you would want to be treated. It's simple, right? Don't do to others what you would not want them to do to you. It's not so difficult. So, if we practice daily compassion with these thoughts in mind, we would know  and understand that this person is seeking happiness,  just like me. We would know and understand that this person wants to avoid suffering,  just like me. We would know and understand that this person has known  sadness, loneliness and despair,  just like me. And we would know and understand that this person is simply learning about life,  just like me. 

"If you want others to be happy, 

practice compassion.

If you want to be happy, practice compassion."

-The Dalai Lama

Photo via Google Images

If you were in their shoes . . . .

Are you able to emotionally put yourself in the place of another? When you hear someone speak of a certain difficulty, or even a joy in their life, do you empathize with them, or do you find yourself just waiting for them to finish so you can move on to another topic? We all know that to empathize with someone, you emotionally put yourself in their place, you listen, and you simply recognize their emotions. How many of us allow ourselves to do that? 

Can you temporarily stop insisting on your own viewpoint and look for a moment from the other person's perspective; truly imagining what it would feel like if you were in their shoes? Try it next time.  You will develop a clearer picture of another person's feelings, gain respect for them, and most certainly have an opportunity to develop a deeper connection. Listen up, and go for the connection!

"Suffering and joy teach us, if we allow them, how to make the leap of empathy, which transports us into the heart and soul of another person."

-Fritz Williams

Photo via Doswell & McLean

Happy Monday!

Make it a great day!

Photo via Everyday Health

Just watch . . . .

Happy Friday!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Via Notes from the Universe

Photo via Melanie Acevedo

What will matter . . . .

Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end.

There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, 

hours or days.

All things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten

will pass to someone else.

Your wealth, fame and temporal power 

will shrivel to irrelevance.

It will not matter what you owned 

or what you were owed.

Your grudges, resentments, frustrations

and jealousies will finally disappear.

So too, your hopes, ambitions, plans 

and to-do lists will expire.

The wins and losses that once seemed so important 

will fade away.

It won't matter where you came from

or what side of the tracks you lived on at the end.

It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant.

Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.

So what will matter?

How will the value of your days be measured?

What will matter is not your success

but your significance.

What will matter is not what you learned

but what you taught.

What will matter is every act of integrity,

compassion, courage, or sacrifice

that enriched, empowered or encouraged others

to emulate your example.

What will matter is not your competence

but your character.

What will matter is not how many people you knew,

but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone.

What will matter is not your memories,

but the memories that live in those who loved you.

What will matter is how long you will be remembered,

by whom and for what.

Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident.

It's not a matter of circumstance, but of choice.

-Unknown

Photo via Google Images

Friendships and growth . . . .

Being honest with a friend about a problem between the two of you, and having your thoughts embraced, is probably the most cleansing, wonderful feeling that can take place between two people who love each other. It's never an easy thing to do. As a matter of fact, it's pretty hard. But I've realized that there is nothing more necessary than doing so. Do you have a friend with whom you've been forthright with? Have you felt that once you've gotten to the other side of the conversation, it truly is purifying? Not only that, but at this stage you are allowed to begin again! How great is that? You are allowed a new starting point! It would be wise to remember how precious friendships are, and to remember how few opportunities we have to develop depth with another person. If you've had that chance, cherish it. Nurture it. Value it. Look after it.  Protect it, and realize that those kind of friendships are rare, will never come easy, and should be honored.

Photo via Google Images

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

Photo via Getty Images

Give good . . . .

Happy Friday!

Have an incredible weekend!

Photo via Google Images 

You will know when you've been touched by a beautiful soul. . . .

I recently read someone's description of a beautiful soul.  I loved it, and wanted to share. . . . "A beautiful soul comes with a beautiful mind. It is someone that is selfless, compassionate, genuine and pure. Their inner beauty shines, and you feel comfort and warmth in their presence. When you have been touched by a beautiful soul, you will know....they will be the one that you will always remember, with much fondness, love and admiration." Isn't that beautiful? I have a friend with a beautiful soul, and that, to me, is an absolutely perfect description. It is my hope that you too, are blessed to have someone who's soul touches yours.

"Your own soul is nourished

when you are kind;

it is destroyed 
when you are cruel."

-King Soloman

Photo by Alexa Singer 

Make it genuine . . . .

Via Quote Book

Believe the best about others . . . .

"You can work miracles by having faith in others. By choosing to think and believe the best about people, you are able to bring out the best in them."

-Bob Moawad

Photo via Getty Images

Here's To You . . . .

From the book Here's To You

Photo via .la douleur exquise.

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