Anytime is a good time to do good . . . .

"Live" is a verb . . .

Life is waiting for you to live it--your way. There is no "life" without you--only an inert potential that needs you to give it meaning, shape, and purpose. "Live" is a verb; it means to take action, and that's the point. Life is waiting for you to take action, to exercise your free will, to choose your path by using its principles to invoke the magic behind creation in order to live the life you've always dreamed you could live. This is why you're here!

Our actions are our beliefs in motion,

linking the present we know

to the future we expect.

From the book Infinite Possibilities

by Mike Dooley

Photo via Getty Images

Where the Hell is Matt? . . . .

14 months in the making, 42 countries,

and a cast of thousands....

I cannot get enough of this video.

It just makes me smile.

EnJOY!

I Have A Dream . . . .

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

1.18.10

Martin Luther King Jr. day

A toast to change . . . .

While checking my email this morning, I was inspired, once again, by the messages that the philosophy company continues to present to us. Their "start fresh for the new year" message is described as:

"Change is reflection wrapped in hope. As changes occur in my life and the world, I celebrate the past with gratitude and purity, reflecting on it as the groundwork for a promising future. I keep my heart and mind open to grace, with my arms extended to embrace change. I welcome new beginnings and endless possibilities. Hope is the life force I use to dance in the moment and anticipate miracles to come."

May you choose to look at change in this inspiring way, and accept it with grace. Wishing you a year full of hope, gratitude, promise and joy.

Happy New Year!!

There are times . . . .

I am admiring TIFFANY & CO. for stepping away from the norm, and using their resources to place this type of message in the newspaper. Even though this was originally printed in 2005, I think it is a perfect time to have this one resurface. Enjoy.

THERE ARE TIMES

To hold open a door.

To surrender your seat.

To thank someone in writing.

To let bygones be gone.

To remember your parents.

To listen with care.

To surprise with a gift.

To mind your table manners.

To honor tradition.

To give voice to your heart.

Amazing GRACE . . . .

It feels good to just say the word. It is described as an "elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion or action; a pleasing or attractive quality or endowment." I think of someone who has grace as having integrity as their foundation. It is someone who commands respect in a way that no others do. You can count on them! They give you their word and you know they will follow through. They will never let you down. And they honor the people around them. Now that's grace!

They are people who are successful on their own terms and never compromise, use or abuse their femininity or masculinity. Grace is a state of being when you open up to all wonders of the world. It is when you feel at peace with yourself, so much so, that you don't need to react to what is going on around you. The band U2 says it's a thought that changed the world, and that it finds goodness in everything. Grace makes people thoughtful in every way. Who wouldn't want to be thought of in this manner? When you are not needy or pushy, you will notice that people respond to you differently. You become their calm reference point. It is an atmosphere in which people want to be in.....a much more relaxed atmosphere. And when you have grace, everything is possible.

If you want to see how much more is possible in your life when you are graceful, here are four areas of your life to start with.

1. Manners:
Don’t just be polite for the sake of it. Please, say it with a genuine smile. Listen with your full attention to what the other person is saying, without putting your own story into the picture. The benchmark is "did I just make today more wonderful for that person?"

2. Morals:
Adapt the codes of conduct which give a moral backdrop to our lives. It is not a question of can I do this and not get caught, or how far can I push the boundary. The moral code is within you. The benchmark is "can I sleep peacefully tonight?"

3. Standards:
What do you stand for? What do you represent to the outside world? Standards create the structure of your life and standards are built on what you are committed to. Integrity is the foundation. The benchmark is: "how much can I be trusted?"

4. Style:
We each have our own way to express our identity in this world. Our style is a discreet language which impacts our surroundings subliminally. The beauty of your own style reflects how comfortable you are within yourself. How do you describe your style? Is your style noisy, untidy, trashy or crude? Straighten this up and start being graceful. Do you dress to display your sexuality and sensuality, or to radiate your grace? A quick test is ask yourself "what do people remember about me: what I was wearing or who I am?" The benchmark is "how much does my life flow with ease?"

“Grace is to the body, what good manners are to the mind”

-Francois de la Rochefoucauld

Partial text by Guru Kaur

Sweet prints . . . .

Taking the positive approach will always be irresistible to me. These sweet prints from Studio Mela drew me in faster than I could say 'support a worthy cause'.

How much can the heart hold? . . . .

The love of partnerships

Photo via Google Images

The love of a child

Photo by Brooke Fasani

The love of friendships

Photo via Getty Images

The love of life

Photo via Google Images

The love of a pet

Photo by Antonio Cangiano via flickr

The love of God

Photo via Google Images

......and there's STILL room for more!