We are so lucky!  Most of us here in the U.S. have been blessed with the mildest winter in years. I know my kids have loved playing outside most days.  I'm afraid we have forgotten how truly lucky we are and have started to take it for granted.  With that being said, can you say you have gotten outdoors and spent enough time with nature (is that even possible)? Have you taken advantage of this unseasonably mild winter?  If I am to be honest (and I absolutely love being in nature), the answer is no.  Not as much as I should be.

Here's a reminder to all of us:  This is truly a gift.  Let's enjoy it!  Sit outside.  Go hiking.  Sit under a tree, take a walk, or have your morning tea or coffee outside. It's out there calling you, waiting for you to notice it's splendor.  Don't let this gift go unnoticed!

Thought of the Day:  Nature has been gifting you, just waiting to be noticed. Spending time in nature is very therapeutic.  Nature comforts us, provides us with clarity, and calms our spirit. It helps us to see the bigger picture of this great, big world.  Make sure to receive it's healing benefits today.

Have a beautiful day!

A friend of mine recently mentioned that it's "Random Acts of Kindness Week."  I have heard so many stories from friends of mine who have been touched by random acts of kindness, that I just can not stress how impacting it can be to a Random Act of Kindness recipient or giver.  

We all know how good it feels to give.  If we have forgotten, this is the perfect day for a reminder.  Consider performing a random act of kindness on a stranger, or someone you know. I would be remiss if I didn't warn you though -- the side-effects may include getting a rush, feeling good for the rest of the day, and just downright giddiness!

It doesn't have to be complicated to perform.  One of my friends treated the family in the car behind her at Taco Bell.  I have done this at Starbucks.  I have one friend who was having a very upsetting morning where nothing was going right.  She also was in the drive-thru at Starbucks when she found out the car ahead of her paid for her coffee.  She was so touched she pulled over and cried.  She had a whole new perspective and a completely different day.  She was compelled to do something for someone at lunch.  And so it was passed on.

Thought of the Day:  What can you do to brighten someone's day?  Can you identify someone in need or perhaps someone who is underappreciated?  Is there a stranger that could use help?  Or a hard worker at a place you frequent?  Sharing kindness produces love. Love makes the world a safer and a more beautiful place to live in.

Have a beautiful weekend!

Finish every day and be done with it.

You have done what you could.

Some blunders and absurdities no doubt have 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 cumbered with your old nonsense.

This day is all that is good and fair.

It is too dear, with its hopes and invitations,

to waste a moment on yesterdays.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thought of the Day:  How often have we turned in for the night, only to replay the same scenes from the day over and over again in our minds, analyzing the wrong things we may have said or did?  Slow down.  Be more mindful during the day. Think before you speak or act.  At night, rest assured that you have done everything you could to be present in your actions throughout the day.  Put the day to bed.  Rest assured that by living this way, you won't have to replay the scenes at day's end.  It all begins with slowing down and becoming more present.

Have a beautiful day!

I recently worked with someone who needed to change her life.  She had all her priorities in order, however, she still felt stuck.  Although her situation was indeed challenging, she wasn't stuck, she just wasn't seeing the opportunities before her that would help enable her to improve her situation.

It can be difficult for us when we are so close and involved in our situations.  Sometimes people tell us things that can be difficult to hear -- or implement.  We know we want change, but well... change is hard.  What's worse, sometimes there are others close to us that do not understand or even support our need for change and improvement.

This is what we need to know:  we need to be surrounded by those who do support us.  We can not implement the change we are seeking when others are threatened or even trying to sabotage our improvements.  Who we spend our time with has a tremendous impact on the type of person we will become.  If our goal is to become a more positive person, we can not be associating with negative people all day long.  This will simply wear away at our energy to become anything greater.  Nor can we sit and watch the 24-hour news all day long or other violent or fear-inducing media.  We need to cut some of those ties that stand in our way towards progress.  I could not live a positive and peaceful life if I were to engage in violent shows, 24-hour news, or toxic relationships.  I know this. 

Thought of the Day:  Take a look to make sure your actions and the people you spend time with align with your goals.  Make sure you are being supported, not thwarted.  Others can sometimes find your progress as a direct threat to them, but this has to do with their own insecurities and issues, not yours.  Continue on your path to becoming what you wish to become.  Just make sure to pull the weeds along the way.

Have a beautiful day!

I will greet this day with love in my heart.

And how will I do this?

Henceforth will I look on all things with love and be born again.

I will love the sun for it warms my bones;

yet I will love the rain for it cleanses my spirit.

I will love the light for it shows me the way;

yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars.

I will welcome happiness as it enlarges my heart;

yet I will endure sadness for it opens my soul.

I will acknowledge rewards for they are my due;

yet I will welcome obstacles for they are my challenge.
Og Mandino

Happy Valentines Day!

My 9-year old daugther wanted to hand out Valentines Day cards at school.  She seemed really tired of the commercialization of Valentines Day and the standard character cards that the stores were selling.  She announced she wanted to do something different this year, more aligned with the true spirit of the holiday.  So she came up with the idea that she was going to hand-make each card, and write one thing that she likes about each person in her class on the back of their card.

Knowing that many of the kids might not appreciate a hand-made sentiment made my husband and I consider disuading her to protect her from getting her feelings hurt.  But we didn't.  Even if she touched one person, then it was well worth it.  So we enthusiastically helped her cut out 46 hearts, while letting her know that some kids may not initally appreciate them amongst all the candy and commercialism -- until they were home and had the time to really take a look at what she had made.

This was a really neat exercise to see what she had to say to her classmates.  There was one boy who she picked several things she liked about the most -- which was not a surprise as we've heard his name quite a bit lately.  ;-)  On the opposite end of the spectrum, she was able to find something nice to say about even the most challenging boy in her class.  The truth is, while there are many undesirable habits in some individuals, there is always some redeeming quality or something nice we can appreciate. 

This Valentines, let this be a lesson to all of us.  Let us spend less, but give more from the heart.  Valentines Day doesn't just have to be for lovers -- it can be a day to thank or appreciate anyone in your life that you care about.  Valentines Day is a perfect day to spread love -- or let others know you care.  There is no doubt we could use more love in the world.  

Thought of the Day:  Spread the love!  Let your children, parents, family members, friends, coworkers, etc. know you care about them.  Do something nice for someone or for a group of people.  Little gestures -- while they may seem small to you, often carry a bigger impact for the recipient than you might think.

Have a beautiful day!

Have a fabulous weekend!  :-)

"Don't let the swirling energies of the
world overwhelm your Spirit.
Step back, detach, find your center,
and go within.
What you seek will always be found there."
Sonia Choquette

I can certainly relate to swirling energies.  We all have moments/days/lives like this.  Sometimes, it is not difficult to get overwhelmed.  When it gets like this, we just need to stop for a moment. Take a step back.  Retreat.  Find our center.

There is always some place we can go to do this while in the midst of chaos -- whether it be a quick step outside, retreating to a quiet room, or even the bathroom to accomplish this goal.  It takes only a few minutes.  Just a few deep breaths can often be enough to redirect our energy and the course of our day.  

Thought of the Day:  Don't continue to allow yourself to get overwhelmed.  Swirling Energies are a part of life, but drowning in them doesn't have to be.  We can find peace and serenity within.  Take a few minutes.  Remove yourself.  Find your center.  You will find peace there.

Have a great day!

Thought of the Day:  You have everything you need to become everything you desire to become.  Your success depends on you and if you will persevere.  You are as strong as you make your mind up to be and almost anything is within your reach.  You hold the key to your success, your future, and your destiny.

Have a great day!

Mornings are not always easy.  Sometimes our "to-do" list hits our mind before we even get out of bed.  Or perhaps we are still tired from the night before.  Whatever the reason, it is easy to wake up grumpy.  However, we've got to stop ourselves and fix our thoughts before we even put our two feet on the floor.  Because attitude is everything and how we start the day will affect our entire day.

We need to stop and realize what a gift our waking is -- not just to ourselves, but to our loved ones.  We need to find the good things we can have to look forward to in the day ahead -- and if we can't find any, we need to create some.  Even if it's as simple as a favorite lunch, or something to look forward to at the end of the day.  We have to appreciate the gift before us.

Before bed, we should offer gratitude for that day.  We should offer thanks and reflect on all the beautiful things that occured so we do not take them for granted.  To be alive is such a gift -- to be alive and grateful and aware of this gift is the greatest gift.

Thought of the Day:  These days are a gift and they are special -- even if they don't always feel like it.  Each day is "24-brand new hours" before you.  Use them wisely.  At days end, remember to offer gratitude for this gift.  Each day is a new blessing!

Have a beautiful day!

If you are going through or have gone through hard times, take comfort.  The knowledge and life experiences you are gaining or have gained are responsible for some beautiful things you possess -- compassion, appreciation, and a deeper understanding of life, to name a few.

Our hard times, however dark, allow the light to shine in.  Without them, we just wouldn't be the person we are today.   Looking back at my dark times, I see they have allowed my light to shine.  I am at peace with that.

Thought of the Day:  Take comfort in knowing that without the dark, we would not see the light.  Only those who have walked in the darkness can truly appreciate how beautiful the light is.  Know that the darkness has made you stronger -- but also more beautiful.  Compassion, gentleness, appreciation -- those things you possess because you have walked in the dark.

Have a beautiful day!

Have a beautiful weekend!

Imagine if you were granted a surprise.  One day, someone sat you down and told you they had been following you around for quite some time with hidden cameras.  Then proceeded to show you video of you going about your days and your life -- interacting with your family, coworkers, etc.  What would your initial reaction be?  Would you be proud of what these videos contained?  Or ashamed?

It's never too late to change how you conduct yourself and how you interact with others.  One day, your life may flash before your eyes -- on that day, it will be too late to change.  On this day, it is not too late to change.  We are in control of what we will see and how we will feel when that day does arrive.   How we choose to live our life is a choice.

Thought of the Day:  Although we may sometimes forget, we ARE in control of how we act and react.  It is our choice on how we interact with others.  We are writing our own life script.  How we choose to live our life is OUR choice.  Choose carefully and lovingly.

Have a beautiful day!

We are unique and one of a kind.  Each of us can contribute to the world in a beautiful way -- just the way we are.  We do not need to change in order to be like others, or liked or accepted by others, we just need to be ourselves.  To live true to ourselves.  To be genuine.

Thought of the Day:  Be YOURself.  Don't imitate.  Don't try to fit in to be like everyone else. Save the imitation for others to want to be like you.  We each have special gifts to give to the world.

Have a beautiful day!

A great reminder of the way we should choose to live our lives.  

How we live our life today determines how our future days will be.  The days we are currently living are part consequence of choices we have made in the past and our past actions.  It is fluid, a constant wave of actions and consequences.

To secure the best future possible, we need to be making the best choices now.  We need to make sure our actions are aligning with what we want our future days to be like.  We need to be preparing and working towards our future goals and visions.

Thought of the Day:  Like a student prepares for an exam, we also should be planning ahead. Let's make certain the habits and actions we are choosing today will provide us with the best possible future for our days to come.  

Have a wonderful day!

Have a beautiful weekend!

There's a lot to be said for comfort.  Comfort symbolizes stability.  Routine.  It's cozy and safe. But at times, it can also hold us back from achieving and doing many great things.

We need to take risks so we can better ourselves, try new things and enhance the quality of our life. Doing so will require us to leave the security of our comfort zone behind every now and then.  If we risk nothing, we gain nothing.  If we step out of our comfort zone occasionally, we just might find new activities we enjoy, make new friends, advance ourselves in some new way, and achieve things we didn't even think possible.

Thought of the Day:  Step out!  Take a risk.  Try new things.  Meet new people.  There's a lot of things waiting for you -- experiences and life improvements -- just outside your comfort zone!

“It is never too late to turn on the light. Your ability to break an unhealthy habit or turn off an old tape doesn't depend on how long it has been running; a shift in perspective doesn't depend on how long you've held on to the old view.

When you flip the switch in that attic, it doesn't matter whether its been dark for ten minutes, ten years or ten decades.

The light still illuminates the room and banishes the murkiness, letting you see the things you couldn't see before.

Its never too late to take a moment to look.”
Sharon Salzberg

Have a beautiful day!

I came across this and thought it was a beautiful piece to share.  Enjoy!

Decide To Be Healthy
By:  Dr. Robert Muller

Decide to be healthy.

Pray to God every day for good health.

Take health as your sacred, God given duty.

Make no room whatsoever for the slightest thought of sickness.

Encourage your trillions of faithful little cells through joy, happiness and confidence.

Thank them, talk to them, sing to them.

Let no foul air, food or liquid poison you.

Let no anger, anxiety or bitterness enter you.

Wake up every morning with gratitude for your resurrection and repeat ten times:

"I am the happiest and healthiest person on earth."

Repeat it again before you sleep.

Close your eyes and think of God, good health and happiness.

And thank your Father in heaven who has given us a body never to be sick, a mind never to be dull, a consciousness never to be empty, and a spirit full of the heavens and of the Earth.

Thought of the Day:  Our thoughts are vital to our health.  Being healthy starts with thinking healthy thoughts and making healthy choices.  Being healthy is not something we put off until tomorrow.   We can all start making small changes today that will enhance the quality of our life.

Have a wonderful day!