2014

Tips For A Positive New Year

1. Stay Positive. You can listen to the cynics and doubters and believe
 that success is impossible or you can trust that with faith and an optimistic attitude,
all things are possible.
2. Take a morning walk of gratitude. I call it a “Thank You Walk.”
It will create a fertile mind ready for success.

3. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and
dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

4. Zoom Focus. Each day when you wake up in the morning ask:
“What are the three most important things I need to do today that will
 help me create the success I desire?” Then tune out all the distractions
 and focus on these actions.

5. Instead of being disappointed about where you are, think
optimistically about where you are going.

6. Remember that adversity is not a dead-end but a detour to a better outcome.

7. Don’t chase success. Instead decide to make a difference and success will find you.

8. Get more sleep. You can’t replace sleep with a double latte.

9. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires,
issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control.
Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

10. Mentor someone and be mentored by someone.

11. Live with the 3 E’s. Energy, Enthusiasm, Empathy.

12. Remember there’s no substitute for hard work.

13. Believe that everything happens for a reason and expect good things to
come out of challenging experiences.

14. Implement the 'No Complaining Rule'.  Remember that complaining is like vomiting.
 Afterwards you feel better but everyone around you feels sick.


15. Read more books than you did in 2013.

16. Don’t seek happiness. Instead decide to live with passion and purpose
and happiness will find you.

17. Focus on “Get to” vs “Have to.” Each day focus on what you get to do,
 not what you have to do. Life is a gift not an obligation.

18. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements:
I am thankful for __________.
Today I accomplished____________.

19. Smile and laugh more. They are natural anti-depressants.

20. Enjoy the ride.

 You only have one ride through life
 so make the most and enjoy it.

Thought for Today

Thought for Today

“To me a lush carpet of pine needles
or spongy grass is more welcome
than the most luxurious Persian rug.”~ Helen Keller

REACH FOR YOUR STAR

Do not take anything as being forever
because forever
is only as long as today.

 Know that the people who are richest
are not those who have the most,
but those who need the least.

We are at our strongest
when life is at its worst,
and at our weakest
when life no longer offers a challenge.

It is wiser not to expect
but to hope,
for in expecting you ask for disappointment,
whereas in hoping you invite surprise.

Unhappiness doesn't come
from not having something that you want,
but from the lack of something inside that you need.

There are things to hold on too,
and things to let go,
and letting go doesn't mean you lose,
but that you acquire that which has been waiting
around the corner.

Most of all,
remember to use your dreams
as a way of knowing yourself better,
and as inspiration
to reach for your star.......

Thoughts...

God made the forests, the tiny stars, and the wild winds--and I think that he made them partly as a balance for that kind of civilization that would choke the spirit of joy out of our hearts. He made the great open places for the people who want to be alone with him and talk to him, away from the crowds that kill all reverence. And I think that he is glad at times to have us forget our cares and responsibilities that we may be nearer him--as Jesus was when he crept away into the wilderness to pray.

MARGARET ELIZABETH SANGSTER, "The Gypsy Spirit"
 

Love is...

Thought for Today

“When you begin to touch your heart
 or let your heart be touched,
you begin to discover that it's bottomless,
that it doesn't have any resolution,
that this heart is huge, vast, and limitless.
You begin to discover how much warmth
 and gentleness is there,
as well as how much space.”

Thought for Today

“The best remedy for those who are afraid,
lonely or unhappy is to go outside,
somewhere where they can be quiet,
alone with the heavens, nature and God.
Because only then does one feel
that all is as it should be.”

~ Anne Frank

 

 

Opportunities

To awaken each morning with a smile brightening my face;
to greet the day with reverence for the opportunities it contains;
to approach my work with a clean mind;
to hold ever before me, even in the doing of little things,
the ultimate purpose toward which I am working;
to meet men and women with laughter on my lips and love in my heart;
to be gentle, kind, and courteous through all the hours;
to approach the night with weariness that ever woos sleep
and the joy that comes from work well done -
this is how I desire to waste wisely my days.

Thomas Dekker

 

Thought for Today

Thought for Today

 

#thoughtfortoday

 

The Choice

THE CHOICE

 

It's quiet. It's early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming.

In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.

For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I’m free to choose. And so I choose.

I choose LOVE...
No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I choose JOY...
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical...the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I choose PEACE...
I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I choose PATIENCE...
I will look the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fists on new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I choose KINDNESS...
I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I choose GOODNESS...
I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.

I choose FAITHFULNESS...
Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And My children will never fear that their father will not come home.

I choose GENTLENESS...
Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I choose SELF-CONTROL...
I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.

LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, and SELF-CONTROL. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek his grace. And then, when the day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.

-- Max Lucado

 

Be Kind

“Three things in human life are important:

the first is to be kind;

the second is to be kind;

 and the third is to be kind.”

 

 

Thought for Today

Dare to be Different

"Dare to be different; life is so full
Of people who follow the same push-and-pull,
Poor, plodding people who, other than name,
Try to pretend they’re exactly the same.

God made us different; there never will be
A replica soul made of you or me.
The charm—the glory of all creation
rests on this very deviation.

Your charm—your own glory, too,
Lies in being uniquely you—
Lies in being true to your best,
That part of you different from all the rest."

Helen Lowrie Marshall

 

 

Thought for Today

Inner Peace

"As human beings we all want to be happy and free from misery... we have learned that the key to happiness is inner peace. The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as anger, attachment, fear and suspicion, while love and compassion and a sense of universal responsibility are the sources of peace and happiness." —Dalai Lama

Inspiration

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than success, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, gift, or skill. It will make or break a company...a church...a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes. 
Charles Swindoll   

Inspiration

"When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don't blame the lettuce. 
You look for reasons it is not doing well. 
It may need fertilizer, or more water, or less sun. 
You never blame the lettuce.
Yet if we have problems with our friends or family, we blame the other person.
But if we know how to take care of them, they will grow well, like the lettuce. 
Blaming has no positive effect at all, nor does trying to persuade using reason and argument. That is my experience. 
No blame, no reasoning, no argument, just understanding.
If you understand, and you show that you understand, you can love,
and the situation will change."
Thich Nhat Hanh

A WORLD OF DREAMS
Lean against a tree,
And dream your world of dreams.
Work hard at what you like to do,
And try to overcome all obstacles.
Laugh at your mistakes,
And praise yourself for learning from them.
Pick some flowers,
And appreciate the beauty of nature.
Say hello to strangers,
And enjoy the people you know.
Don't be afraid to show your emotions,
Laughing and crying makes you feel better.
Love your friends and family
with your entire being,
They are the most important part of your life.
Feel the calmness on a quiet sunny day,
Find a rainbow and live your world of dreams.
Always remember life is better than it seems.~Author Unknown~

Wisdom

If there's something special you want to do,

now is the time...

if you want to make a difference

in the world,

now is the time. 

Don't be fooled into thinking you should wait

until you are older or wiser or more 'secure' -

because it doesn't work that way.

The wisdom will come.

The security will come.

But first you must begin your adventure.

Ron Atchison

 

 

Inspiration

Live your life each day as you would climb a mountain.
An occasional glance towards the summit keeps
 the goal in mind, but many beautiful scenes
are to be observed from each new vintage point.- Harold B Melchart

Dreams

"There will always be dreams grander

 or humbler than your own,

but there will never be a dream exactly

like your own...

for you are unique and more

wondrous than you know!"

 

 

Friends

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.

                                                                                                                                        Henri Nouwen

 

 

Thought for Today

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch,

a smile, a kind word, a listening ear,

an honest compliment,

or the smallest act of caring,

all of which have the potential to turn a life around. 

 

 

Thought for Today

"The future belongs to those
who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
Eleanor Roosevelt

 

 

Be Happy

Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now.
Don't wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future.
Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it's at work or
with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savoured
Earl Nightingale (1921-1989)
Radio Announcer, Author and Speaker

Believe in Yourself

There may be days when you get up in the morning and things aren’t the way you had hoped they would be.
That’s when you have to tell yourself that things will get better. There are times when people disappoint you and let you down.
But those are the times when you must remind yourself to trust your own judgments and opinions, to keep your life focused on believing in yourself.
There will be challenges to face and changes to make in your life, and it is up to you to accept them.
Constantly keep yourself headed in the right direction for you. It may not be easy at times, but in those times of struggle you will find a stronger sense of who you are.
So when the days come that are filled with frustration and unexpected responsibilities, remember to believe in yourself and all you want your life to be.
Because the challenges and changes will only help you to find the goals that you know are meant to come true for you.

Keep Believing in Yourself!

 

 

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking
(author unknown)


When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator,
and I wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you feed a stray cat,
and I thought it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you make my favorite cake for me,
and I knew that little things are special things.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I heard you say a prayer,
and I believed there is a God I could always talk to.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I felt you kiss me good night,
and I felt loved.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw tears come from your eyes,
and I learned that sometimes things hurt,
but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I looked ... and wanted to say thanks
for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.

Winnie the Pooh

“You are Braver than you Believe,

 Smarter than you Seem,

Stronger than you Think.”

What He Valued Most

What He Valued Most

A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next door.
It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls,
career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across
the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy
life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to
spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing
could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The
funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old
newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.

"Jack, did you hear me?"
"Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of
him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said.

"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were
doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of
the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.

"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.

"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make
sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said.

"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this
business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me
things he thought were important...Mom, I'll be there for the funeral,"
Jack said.

As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his
hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no
children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to
see the old house next door one more time.

Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing
over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house
was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture,
every piece of furniture....Jack stopped suddenly.

"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.

"The box is gone," he said.

"What box? " Mom asked.

"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I
must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell
me was 'the thing I value most,'" Jack said.

It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered
it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had
taken it.

"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better
get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."

It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from
work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature required
on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within
the next three days," the note read.

Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and
looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was
difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention.

"Mr. Harold Belser" it read.

Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There
inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read
the note inside.

"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack
Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped
to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack
carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold
pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing,
he unlatched the cover.

Inside he found these words engraved: "Jack, Thanks for your time!
Harold Belser."

"The thing he valued most...was...my time."

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and
cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his
assistant asked.

"I need some time to spend with my son," he said.

"Oh, by the way, Janet...thanks for your time!"

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that frightens us. We ask ourselves 'who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?'
Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us; its in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Inspiration

Just because you can't see the air, doesn't mean you stop breathing.

Just because you can't see God, doesn't mean you stop believing...

Turtle

                                                                Try to be like the turtle - at ease in your own shell.

Poster

Be Glad

"Be glad of  life, because it gives you the chance

to love and to work and to play

and to look up at the stars."

 

I am Blessed

Inspiration

Most of us miss out on life's big prizes.
 The Pulitzer. The Nobel. Oscars. Tonys. Emmys. 
But we're all eligible for life's small pleasures.
A pat on the back. A kiss behind the ear. A four-pound bass.
A full moon. An empty parking space. A cracking fire.
A great meal. A glorious sunset. Hot soup. Cold beer.
 Don't fret about copping life's grand awards.
Enjoy its tiny delights.
There are plenty for all of us.

Thought....

Inspirational

Smile

A Little Boy At A Big Piano  Author Unknown Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her. Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually explored his way through a door marked "NO ADMITTANCE." When the house lights dimmed  and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that the child was missing. Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out     "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance,     quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear,     "Don't quit. Keep playing." Then leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm     reached around to the other side of the child and he added a running obbligato. Together, the old master and the young  novice transformed a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was mesmerized. That's the way it is in life. What we can accomplish on our  own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results  aren't exactly graceful flowing music. But when we trust in the hands of a Greater Power, our life's work truly can be beautiful. Next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You can hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing."

Clay Balls

A man was exploring caves by the seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled clay balls and left them out in the sun to bake. They didn't look like much, but they intrigued the man so he took the bag out of the cave with him. As he strolled along the beach, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could. He thought little about it until he dropped one of the balls and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful, precious stone. Excited the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure. He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left. Then it struck him. He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have taken home tens of thousands, but he just threw it away. It's like that with people. We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn't look like much from the outside. It isn't always beautiful or sparkling so we discount it. We see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy. But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person by God. There is a treasure in each and every one of us. If we take the time to get to know that person, and if we ask God to show us that person the way He sees them, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth. May we not come to the end of our lives and find out that we have thrown away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of clay. May we see the people in our world as God sees them.

Choose Kind

Our Amazing World

The Floating Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Life is Hard, But Not Impossible

Have a happy day my friends..

 

Think Outside the Box

It's never too late..

11 ways to make this your best year yet . . . it is never too late to start a fresh new year!

 

Today is a wonderful time to take stock and reflect on the year gone by, the triumphs you achieved, the time you shared with family and friends, the good choices you made in business. But in order to grow and develop both personally and professionally, you also have to look back at and acknowledge the things that challenged you, the things that did not go so well.

There is nothing wrong with setbacks, in fact, I believe that if we don't have obstacles to overcome along the way we won't learn and grow. Thomas Watson, the founder of IBM, once said, 'If you want to increase your rate of success, you better be prepared to increase your rate of failure.'

We all have hopes and dreams for the future. Today the slate is wiped clean for all of us as we start afresh. Why not take a few moments to think about your dreams and goals for the year that starts today? In what areas do you want to grow? What is truly important to you? What challenges do you want to take on? Most of us don't realise what we can accomplish when we unleash the hidden talents that we possess.

To help you make this year your best ever, take a few moments to ponder these 11 suggestions:

1. Challenge yourself

Have a clear vision and focus of what you want to achieve and set a time frame. Challenge yourself to be the best you can be at all times. Visualise what you want to accomplish. See it in your mind. Write down your goals, have a plan of action, and never doubt you will be successful.

2. Find the love factor

Surround yourself with loving, supportive people. Stay away from the dream stealers, the people who would bring you down. Cherish the special people in your life and let them know you cherish them.

3. Dedicate quality time

Life is so precious; make the most of each and every day. Rise early; spend some quality time by yourself as well as with those you care about. Go for a walk, workout, read a book. Value not only the time you spend with your loved ones, but also the time you spend by yourself.

4. Stretch your comfort zone

Do at least one thing a day, which makes you feel uncomfortable. Push yourself; you will be amazed how far you can go. Remember: on the other side of fear is freedom. To remain stagnant is not to grow. To reach your full potential, you must rise above the fray and soar like an eagle.

5. Be passionate

Show passion in everything you do. Let it show in your body language, in your smile, in your voice. Let your eyes sparkle. Let the world see and hear your enthusiasm and let it feel your passion.

6. Serve others

Be a role model and mentor for people. Volunteer in your community and help others achieve their goals. Your world will be enriched and a better place for sharing your talents and giving freely of your time. Leave a lasting legacy.

7. Don't sweat the small stuff

Let go of the little things you can't control. Don't take yourself so seriously. Recognise that perfection isn't always the only option. Don't let life's imperfections bother you. Lighten up and see the funny side of things when they go wrong, the learning in them. Be tolerant, smile...don't waste your energies on the small stuff, you have much bigger fish to fry.

8. Live with integrity

Always be true to yourself. Take pride in whatever you do. Be proud of who you are and what you represent. Accept others with all their flaws. Show compassion and goodwill to your fellow human beings. Be dignified. Lead a life of purpose and be proud of your values.

9. Show gratitude

Show gratitude and say thank-you to the people who have helped you along the way. Send a handwritten letter to someone who has touched you. Call up a friend or loved one and tell them how much they mean to you. Compliment a colleague or business associate on a job well done. Show people you appreciate and care about them. Acts of kindness cost nothing but mean everything.

10. Celebrate success

Be proud of your achievements. Take time to recognise yourself and others for even the small successes. But also be humble and dignified, sensitive to people who are not as fortunate as you.

11. Exude a positive attitude

I cannot express enough the importance of having a positive attitude and believing in yourself. Yes, you can be well intentioned, you can be determined, but without a positive attitude about yourself and about life, you will not succeed. Dreams will die, goals will fade, and gloom and darkness will replace clear blue skies and sunshine in your mind and heart.

Remember people will sometimes forget what you say to them or do for them, but they will never forget how you made them feel in their hearts.  Make yourself a commitment for this year not only to have the best year ever, but to help others that you care about accomplish this goal as well.

Written by Charles Marcus

 

 

This made me Laugh

                      Life's up and downs provide windows of opportunity to

                      determine your values and goals.
                      Think of using all obstacles as stepping stones to

                       build the life you want.