Chapter 4, Page 25, Book 19

Life is difficult.  This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths.  It is a great truth because once we truly see the truth, we transcend it.  Once we truly know that life is difficult - once we truly understand and accept it - then life is no longer difficult.  Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult to longer matters.

M. Scott Peck

April 25th - acceptance

Life is never fair, and perhaps it is good thing for most of us that it’s not.

Oscar Wilde

Many people are in the habit of saying that Life is not Fair.  It never is.  Life is unpredictable at best.  When life hurts, you can be angry with your circumstances or you can be accepting.  You cannot improve anything that you can not accept.

On a daily basis we are consumed with regrets, failures and insecurities that plaque our minds.

How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.

Annie Dillard

Accepting what we don’t like may be one of the most difficult aspects of life, but I’m all for taking action and changing what we can and letting go and letting God, when we can’t.

We are all a bit stereotype when it comes to accepting the truth.  Nothing hurts more than the truth and the truth is life is not fair.

The truth is that in life, we’re all carrying the same load, but what differentiates us how we choose to carry it. We can change how we feel about them.

Accept your situation and change your outlook, Life is too short not be making the best out of situations and fretting over things.  What ever happens, happens. We don’t have control over our circumstances, but we can change how we look at them.

Be not afraid of life.  Believe that life is worth living and your belief will create the fact.

William James

Chapter 4, Page 24, Book 19

Ability is what you're capable of doing.  Motivation determines what you do.  Attitude determines how well you do it.

Lou Holtz

April 24th- I can do it!

Every man is born with the ability to do something well.  This is what the Lord intended him to do.  Using that ability - what life is all about.

Gracie Allen

I’ve always tried to do whatever I’ve done to the best of my abilities.  If I have a task ahead, I’ll find out as much as I can about it, and then dive in.  

I’ve read a lot of how to books.  How to be a mom, how to be a good wife, How to work efficiently, How to live a life worth living, but I’ve found that experience is often the best teacher.

As far as motivation goes… my family are my best motivators.  Most everything I do or have done for many years involves them.  When you have people that depend on you, you do the best you can, with what you’ve got to the best of your abilities.

I do have an attitude of gratitude and am thankful I can do what I do.  I don’t give up easily and know that eventually what I need to do will get done.  If something is not done yet, then I have a reason to keep on keeping on.

My best may not be what it used to be, but none the less I keep on trying and doing, to the best of my abilities.

You are the only one who can use your ability.  It is an awesome responsibility.

Zig Ziglar

Chapter 4, Page 23, Book 19

Some old fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat.

Laura Ingalls Wilder

April 23rd - I call it yard work

When the sun is shining I can do anything; no mountain is too high, no trouble too difficult to overcome.

Wilma Randolph

This time of year, I get more exercise and fresh air than probably most any other time.  I really don’t exercise, I do yard work.  I love the feeling of being outdoors and working.  It’s invigorating. 

I spend too much time indoors during the winter and love it when it 

gets warmer outside.  I’m also thankful that for right now, anyway, I do have a yard to care for.  It’s not big at all, but the perfect size for me.  I have both sunshine and shade.  It’s not all one or the other.  The sun feels great this time of year, but in the summer I’ll also appreciate the shade.

They say that a big breath of fresh air and feeling the warm glow of the sun on your skin is rejuvenating, and I agree.  Exposure to sunlight and fresh air actually offers your body health benefits that can last a lifetime. Spending about 30 minutes in the sun can provide you with nearly a days’s supply of Vitamin D.  Having enough Vitamin D helps our bones by reducing the risk of of diseases like osteoporosis.  

Many view yard work as a chore, but not me.  It’s a great cardio workout.  It increases oxygen flow to our heart and reduces blood pressure and stress. And being outside and hearing the birds chirping is relaxing. For me, there  is no need to go to the gym.  I breathe in the fresh air and get my exercise doing yard. work.

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy.

John Denver

Chapter 4, Page 22, Book 19

Yesterday ended last night, today is a brand new day.  And it’s yours.

Zig Zigler

April 22 - Easter Monday

With the new day come new strength and new thoughts.

Eleanor Roosevelt

It’s the Monday after Easter and all is silent, peaceful and quiet here at my house.   I’m thinking about what a wonderful weekend I had.  Time spent with family was wonderful.   The Easter services at church were very inspiring too.  Pews were filled with families that come home for Easter .  

It’s a new day and with that comes new things and new thoughts..  In many ways it will feel like the same old, same old here for me, but the truth is every day is new and new things will happen.  It’s another day to celebrate.  

They say we become what we celebrate and I’m all about giving thanks for and celebrating each new day!  What you celebrate has the power to change who you are into who you will become.

And what better way to celebrate a new day than to remind ourselves of all that we have to be grateful for. It doesn’t cost a thing.  It’s ours for the taking.

Today is a brand new day.  Forget about yesterday.  I does not matter.  Forget about tomorrow, it will take care of itself. Concentrate on this day.  Make it the best ever.

Mary Frances Winters

Chapter 4, Page 21, Book 19

An Easter Prayer

God give us eyes to see

the beauty of the Spring

And to behold Your majesty

in every living thing.

And may we see in lacy leaves

and every budding flower

The Hand that rules the universe

with gentleness and power.

And may this Easter grandeur

that Spring lavishly imparts

Awaken faded flowers of faith 

lying dormant in our hearts.

And give us ears to hear, dear God,

the Springtime song of birds

With messages more meaningful

than man’s often empty words.

Telling harried human beings

who are lost in dark despair

‘Be like us and do not worry

for God has you in His care’.

Helen Steiner Rice

April 21st - Easter Sunday

It’s Easter Day and I hoping you all have a wonderful day.  It is such a beautiful time of year. I found a cute little piece of advice years ago and am sharing it again today.  It really is wise for those that have eyes to see and ears to hear.

All I Need to Know about Life I learned from the Easter Bunny. 

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

Walk softly and carry a big carrot

Everyone needs a friend who is all ears

There is no such thing as too much candy

All work and no play can make you a basket case.

Everyone is entitled to a bad hare day

Let happy thoughts multiply like rabbits

Keep your paws off other people’s jellybeans

Good things come in small sugarcoated packages

The grass is greener in someone else’s basket

An Easter bonnet can tame even the wildest hare.

To show your true colors you have to come out of the shell.

The best things in life a still sweet and gooey.

Author Unknown

Have a very Happy Easter.  It is a day to REJOICE and be glad.!

Chapter 4, Page 20, Book 19

One has to choose in life.

Grace Kelly

April 20th - The joy of life comes in the choices you are given

How good is life,  the mere living!

Robert Browning

Living a good life depends on what matters to you.  For me the good life means less focus on money and status and more on a simpler balanced life.   

It is a series of never ending satisfaction that only grows as time goes on.  It has nothing to do with material things, because the best things in life are free.  

Living the good life is all about appreciating all your time and not just the fun times.Time after all is the single greatest element of life.

To live is so startling it leaves time for little else.

Emily Dickenson

Chapter 4, Page 19, Book 19

Miracles occur naturally as expressions of love.  The real miracle is the love that inspires them.  In this sense everything that comes from love is a miracle.

Marianne Williamson

April 19th - believe in the power of love

Love was meant to also be a sign, a symbol, a messenger, a telltale of the Divine.

Fulton Sheen

In the heart of everyone dwells a miracle, waiting to reveal itself to the world each day.  The miracle, the power is love.

Loving God, loving yourself, and loving your neighbor are the keys to life’s happiness.  When you help another with love, you are helped too.

Where there is great love, there are always miracles.

Willa Cather

Bring love into any situation and watch the miracles grow.  Follow your heart and believe in the power of love.

Remember you are a miracle and you are also a miracle worker. We all have the power to love.

There are only two ways to live your life.  One is as though nothing is a miracle.  The other is though everything is a miracle.

Albert Einstein