Chapter 6, Page 30, Book 20

We learn the rope of life by untying its knots’ 

Jean Toomer

June 29th -  untie the knots

Men tighten the knot of confusion into perfect misunderstanding.

T.S. Eliot

Life as we all know can be unpredictable and uncertain at times.  The last few months of Covoid 19 pandomenic have reminded us so much of this.  We’ve had to adapt and adjust our lifestyles Life has been described as a shoe lace or a piece of string that can get twisted  in knots.

I came across this  knot prayer that seemed to fit the subject

Dear God, please untie the knots that are in my mind, my heart, my life.  Remove the have not, the cannot and the do nots that I have in my mind.my heart, and my life. Erase the will not, may not and should not that may find a place in my heart  Release  me  from the could not, would not and should nots that obstruct my life and most of all dear God, I ask that you remove from my mind, my life and my life all of the will nots that I have allowed to hold me back, especiolly the thought that I am not enough.  Help me to be the beautiful person you have created. Amen

When a knot gets too tight, you can always cut the rope 

Dean Koontz

Chapter 6, Page 29, Book 20

It’s better to offer no excuse than a bad one

George Washington

June 29th - NO excuses

You can make excuses or you can make progress.  You choose.

Brian Tracy

The toughest thing about excuses is that tend to be based on some semblance of truth.   I don’t make excuses for who I am or what I do.  I take responsibility for what I am and do.  If excuses are made, they are a sign of what we fell short of doing.  If people make excuses it’s because they don’t like a particular result in life.

It could be about finances, career, or health.  When faced with a question of why life is not what you want it to be, you can make an excuse,or accept responsibility. the mistake most people make is that they blame their shortcomings on outside circumstances.  We say we are too tired, or too busy. 

If we want to stop making excuses we need to focus on why we want to improve our life.  Accept the fact that you will not always get it right the first time. When you take accountability for the results in your life amazing things will happen and you will start to think of ways to change it.  Don’t make excuses, make progress. 

You can makes excuses or you can get the job done, but you can’t do both..

Hap Holmstead

Chapter 6, Page 28, Book 20

Did you know that when you wonder, you are learning

Fred Rogers

June 28th - I wonder when I wonder.

Mystery creates wonder and wonder is the basis of man’s desire to understand.

Neil Armstrong

There is wonder all around us.  When we live in awe, it ha a positive effect on us and whole way of being.  When I look around  , outside the window at all the people and things, I try to soak up and pay attention to where I am and what’s going on.  It’s important to be aware of your surroundings.  

We live in a state of wonder, making us all explorers in life.  It’s how we experience joy, a joy that builds curiosity, wisdom and humility.  Wonder is a natural state of the present moment.  The state of here and now, whatever you are doing is the only time we truly have.  You maintain your wonder only when you are totally in to something and when you are in to something, you wonder.

Wonder has a purpose that plays a real role in the quality of our lives and mental state of well being .  It’s been proven that patients heal faster when they have a view of beautiful surroundings in and out of the room.  We are drawn to spaces that feel more natural and that inspire us.  Our level of  happiness is based on how we choose to view and live our lives.

When we reclaim wonder in our everyday lives, we can transform the mundane and the routine in to amazing experiences. The ordinary becomes the extraordinary and the good news is that we don’t need to go anywhere, you can experience it right here where you are. 

Simply stop and pay attention.  Noice what is around you.

So we embark wondering what lies over the horizon, what’s around the next bend.  And isn’t hat, in the end, what drives us?

Blake Crouch

Chapter 6, Page 27, Book 20

This is my hope: that at the recognition of shared fate might cause us to act as if shared fate is the reality that in fact it is .

Jane Hirshfield

June 27th - We’re all in this together

Kindness is realizing the we’re all in this together.

The choices we make always effect someone  It’s impossible to avoid.  Because of this decisions should not be handled with indifference towards the influence they could have in the lives of others.  This does t mean that choices should be made without giving thought to oneself.  

Choices matter, people matter and when we become aware of the outcomes, there are better coucomes.

Just as safe distancing and wearing masks is supposed to help keep you safe from the corona virus, Some are choosing not to do so.  They are endangering others around them.It’s one of the best examples I can think of right now.  We are seeing increases of the virus as things open up and soon we’ll be on lock down again if this doesn’t stop.  We need to consider others in what we do. 

It’s like a ripple effect.  What comes around,  goes around

People need to learn their actions do affect other people . So be careful what you say and do.  It’s not always about just you..

Chapter 6, Page 25, Book 20

Be happy .  It drives people crazy

June 25th - smile, happy looks good on you !

Make them wonder why you’re still smiling.

Author Unknown

Not everyone that smiles is happy . Some people smile to hide their pain.  Not everyone who cries is sad.  There maybe many times there can be happy tears as well as sad ones.  I’ve been so happy that I’ve cried.

We can actually make ourselves happier by smiling more. Science has shown that the mere act of smiling can lift your mood, lower stress, boost your immune system an possibly prolong your life.

Smiling more is a simple way to greatly improve your quality of life.  All you have to do is smile and you’ll be a happier person   Really it is that simple.  Smiling is contagious and it can transform you and the world around you.

Each time you smile you through a feel good party in your brain.  There is magic in your brain. There is also the idea that we we see a smile, we want to reciprocate because we feel endeared.  It makes you want to pass it on.  

If you smile when no one else is around, you really mean it.

Andy Rooney

Chapter 6, Page 24, Book 20

It’s not about having time, it’s about making it. If it matters you will make it.

Author Unknown

June 24th -save the excuses 

Don’t waste your time in anger, regrets, worries and grudges.  Life is too short to be unhappy.

Roy T. Bennett

It seems to me that we all have just enough time in our days to do what we want to.  If we don’t want to do something, there is never enough time for it.

Time is something we can never get back so it’s important that we don’t waste it.  Time moves surprising fast.  In life, you turn around and before you know it, years have gone by.

Making the most of your time all boils down to time management. You have to plan, prioritize , and spend wisely the hours you have. We have to focus on the things that mean the most.

Time is free, but it’s priceless .  You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it.  Once you’ve lost it you can never get it back.

Harvey Mackay

Chapter 6, Page 23, Book 20

Life won’t sparkle unless you do.

Author Unknown

June 23rd - Life is what you make it.

Life is what you make it.  Always has been always will be.

Eleanor Roosevelt.

Our present life is the result of all the choices we’ve made up until now.  We are the only one responsible for where we are, for how our life looks and for how we are being treated by those around us. Our lives are the sum of all our choices.

We only have one life to life and we must make it to be the way we want it to be for life is what you make it. It’s up to each of us to make our lives what we want them to be.

You can make it easy on yourself or you can make it hard.  It’s your choice. Life is a gift that has been given to you.  It is in you hands to make the most out of it.  

Life is precious and fragile and many of us take it for granted.Truth is we only live once but if you do it right, once is enough. 

God gave us a gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.

Voltaire

Chapter 6, Page 22, Book 20

What we have once enjoyed we can never lose.  All that we love becomes apart of us.

Helen Keller

June 22nd - remembering

Nothing can ever take away a love the heart holds dear.

Author Unknown

Our memories keep alive those things and people.in our life.  Somethings we never forget.  I love looking back at times past and remembering special moments in my life.  

Thankfully I have lots of pictures stored away in my photo album that gently nudge my memory and help to keep alive those special moments.  I don’t know about you but most of my pictures are of the good times in my life.  And these days we need to remember them and forget about all the sadness going on in our world. One thing I’ve learned is that we have taken so many of the things in our past for granted.

Remember, remember this is now, and and now, and now.  Live it, feel it, cling to it.  I want to become acutely aware of all I’ve taken for granted.

Slyvia Plath 

Chapter 6, Paga 21, 2020

The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.

Theodore Hesburgh

June 21st - Happy Fathers Day

…that the most precious things a father can provide are time, attention and love.

Tim Russert

I think that children learn best by our example and when they see a father who loves their mother.  they learn how to respect women and how to show they care.   

I had such a husband and he set a good example for his sons.  Each one is a caring helpful spouse. They pitch in and help with the housework and the cleaning.  They are willing to let their wives take time outs from watching the children.  I think when one has a goid example to follow then they’ll do the same.  He taught them to kind and loving. He didn’t do much about diapline but backed me up when needed.  He taught them to believe in God and that faith would see them through.  We prayed together and went to church together and he was ever faithful. 

My children had s great example in their dad and all have become good fathers. It’s nice to see just how influential their father was as forming their character.  

A parent’s love is whole no matter how many times divided.

Robert Brault

Chapter 6 Page 20, Book 20

Start where you are; use what you have, do what you can.

Arthur Ashe 

June 20th - stay the course 

Act as if what you do make a difference.  It does.

William James 

Frustrations in our daily life tend to bog us down, but I’m determined to see this through. And I am thankful for all I have.  

I cannot change the past or where I find myself now. I am where I am.  But each past event and experience has helped to make me  who I am today;

 We need to recognize our years of hard work, disappointments, the failures and the occasional good fortune that have resulted in our achievements . Using what means we have and focus on the best use of our time and skills rather than be driven by factors outside our control.  

Progress depends on how we apply our skills, time and resources, the actions we take, the decisions we make and the distractions we resist.  It all comes down to us.

Do what you can and trust if action is taken results will follow. We may wish for more favorable conditions , but we have the choice to accept them or to act regardless what has happened.  

Just do the best you can.  No one can do more than that.

John Wooden

Chapter 6, Page 19, Book 20

Positive attracts positive

June 19th - always be positive

The attitude of positive expectation is the mark of a superior personality.

Brian Tracy 

There are so many benefits of being positive.  It lowers heart rate and blood pressure, bings a level of peace and it can help you create what you want in your life. What we think about we bring about.So remain positive as much as you can to bring about positive changes.

These days we are bombarded with negative news and people are getting tired of hearing it all.  The only thing we can do is adjust our attitude to a possitive one.

Positivity is a skill than can be learned by anyone, but those who have mastered it have a personality to be be envied.  Try to be like them.

If you have a positive attitude and willingness to seek to do your best you  you will overcome  your problems and into a place of peace.  Give it a try.

If you have positive attitude and constantly strive to give your best effort,eventually you will overcome your immediate problems. 

Pat Riley

Chapter 6, Page 18, Book 20

Not all storms come to disrupt your life, some come to clear your path.

Paulo Coelho

June 18th- What doesn’t kill you, will make you stonger

Every storm runs out of rain, just like every dark night turns into day.

Gary Allan

After a storm, the air will often seem extra fresh and clean, clearing the way for the start of a new day filled with adventure and new opportunities to explore.

Just as sometimes we need something bad to happen to clear our minds.  A storm might shake us up, but afterward we feel better.  

Anything that challenges us makes us better.  They make us stronger and without them life becomes somewhat meaningless because we have nothing to compare the good times to.  It’s important to remember that no matter what happens. there will be a solution.  Facing these challanges / storms is a way to push ourselves and see what we area capable of.

When we look back on tough times we can be proud of how we dealt  with the challenges and remind ourselves that life does get better.

When you are in the middle of a storm cloud it’s hard to think outside of it, but the only way out of the storm is to ride it through it and things will be a lot clearer on the other side.

Jodi Ann Bickley

Chapter 6, Page 17, Book 20

Not everyone will like you , but not everyone matters.

June 17th - be there for those that matter

One of the most freeing things we learn in life is that we don’t have to like everyone and every one does’t have to like us and it’s perfectly okay.

Author unknown

It’s human nature to want to be liked and accepted.  However, this often leads to people worrying too much about what others are thinking of them.What I found out is that I should be my self because that those that matter didn’t mind, and those that didn’t matter, didn’t care. 

Even though not everyone likes me there are also people that care and they are the ones that matter.Time is precious and there is not use trying to get people to like you that don’t care.  It’s those we that love us who want to be close to us so we should value them and show we care. 

This our life to live and at the end of they day we are the only person who needs to approve of our own choices. You and only you know whats best for you.What’s right for someone else may be completely wrong for you. What’s one persons’ garbage can be another person’s treasure.  We are all so unique.

The people that matter will cheer in your corner, and give you confidence.  What more they will do all of this without you making an effort to please them.  They  think like you and enjoy similar things and have similar views on life.

Understanding you don’t have to be liked at all is important for your well being. The only person you really need to impress can be seen when you look in the mirror.  That’s the individual whose opinion counts.  The best friend you’ll ever have as long as you treat him/her with respect.

You wouldn’t worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Chapter 6, Page16, Book 20

A beautiful day begins with a beautiful mindset. Every day you wake up, think about what a privilege it is to simply be alive and healthy.  Stop focusing on the negatives and every thing that could go wrong and start thinking about what could go right.  Better yet think of everything that is already right.  Be thankful for the night that turned into morning, friends who turned into family, to fuel an even brighter today and tomorrow.

John Geiger

June 16th -  think positively 

Don’t waste your time in anger, regrets, worries and grudges.  Life is too short to be unhappy.

Roy T. Bennett

Positive thinking , or an optimistic attitude is the practice of focusing on the good in any given situation.  It can have a big impact on your physical and mental well being.  

I believe in positive thinking, to accentuate the positive.  You can boost your happiness by focusing on positive things and reducing your negative thinking.  It will help you be more productive and energetic.  Best of all it will make you happier.

It doesn’t mean you ignore reality or make light of problems, It means you approach the good and the bad in life with the expectation that things will go well. 

When negative thoughts come along, think about something positive. Decide that you will think only positive thoughts.  Combine this with a smile on your face . This will help erase the effect of negative thoughts. Good choices produce a good life.  We are what we think about. 

Our thoughts and  our deeds are in reality the choices we make So we must make sure we choose good ones. We need to take advantage of our opportunities to feel happy every day.

Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will.  

Zig Ziglar