Chapter 10, Page 31, Book 13

On Hallowe'en the thing you must do

Is pretend that nothing can frighten you

And if somethin' scares you and you want to run

Just let on like it's Hallowe'en fun.

Author Unknown

Today we’re experiencing temps close to 70 degrees.  The weatherman said this is our Indian summer.  This week our high temps have been in the 50’s and 60’s and now the 70’s.  I’m sorry to say it’ll go down hill from here .  Along with the warmer temps though we are to get rain so I’m not so sure how many will be out for trick or treat tonight.  

The picture above is of a bloom on my azalea bush which usually blooms in the spring. Could be this is a little Halloween fun or Halloween magic.    It’s been confused due to the fact that we’ve been freezing cold and now it’s warmed up.  Hopefully it will still bloom when spring does come.

I hope you all have a safe and Happy Halloween!

Chapter 10, Page 30, Book 13

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of some one gently rapping.

 Edgar Allen Poe

This is the time of year, with Halloween just a day away, scary poetry, stories, books and movies become extra popular.  I know my children always watched the spookiest movies that they could find.  I watched them along with them, but I’m no fan of haunted houses and the like, so today I’m going to write about the value of naps.

I occasionally watch some of my grandchildren and I know that if they don’t get their nap, they are cranky and out of sorts.  I think we adults benefit from them too.  When I was working, I could have used one.There were many afternoons that  I’d find my self nodding off while trying to input some data on the computer.  It would have been nice, but there was no napping allowed on the job.  

Now I don’t have to worry about that anymore.  I just take one when I need one.  Even the shortest siesta works and makes you feel a whole lot better. Studies show that naps improve creativity and judgement. Just a 15 to 20 minute nap can restore alertness, memory, and curb the effects of fatigue.  

Yawn!  I don't know how I ever managed without my naps!

Chapter 10, Page 29, Book 13

So it begins.

J R R Tolkien

With the end of October in sight there will be some new beginnings.  The holiday season in all of it’s glory will be beginning.  I was out and about last week and just happened to find a few things that seem to signify the start of the holiday season for me.    Feiner Gewürz Spekulatius have been holiday favorites for a long time.  Often called windmill cookies, the cookies are known for their classic crunch and burst of flavor and spice. They're a fine accompaniment to seasonal entertaining.  

And Testori Panettone bread is delicious.  Filled raisins and fragrant candied fruits, in a soft naturally leavened dough: a long series of kneading and rest periods makes this Panettone unmistakably light and fragrant.

Plus I got a box of Cellas, cherries covered in dark chocolate.  You don’t see these things offered in the stores any other time of year.  For me it is a tradition to keep them in the house and have them ready should company appear  or just for a delicious snack for me. 

And so it begins… 

Chapter 10, Page 28, Book 13

Finish each day and be done with it.

You have done what you could;

some blunders and absurdities have crept in;

forget them as soon as you can.

Tomorrow is a new day;

you shall begin it serenely

and with too high a spirit

to be encumbered with your old nonsense.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Here we are with another new week ahead.  A week to make it the best we can.  When I open my computer each morning I look forward to reading the meditations for each day. Not only do I get a message that guides or uplifts me during the day but I also have a little fellowship with others all over the world.  This is important to me since I live by myself and with the internet I’m not so alone.  I have a chance to pray for the circumstances of the others, for their bereavement, struggles of faith, or rejoicing.  It’s like we have a wave of prayer going around the world.  

More and more I read on line rather than to open a book.  When I do read a book it is on my Kindle.  Where I used to open up my daily devotional and read in the early morning, now I’m on line in one form or another.  I still sip my good coffee like I used to while I read , but even that has changed as now I get a fresh cup every time by using my K cup coffee maker.  I can ever get a different flavor with each cup if I want to. 

 So much has changed but one thing remains true, maybe two, and that is the fact that I need my morning devotional time to start the day off right and I need others in my life.

I think I tend to get to self centered with out the interactions of others.  I do have a big family, but for the most part my days are spent alone and I’m so thankful that the internet helps to keep me connected.  

It is in the shelter of each other that the people live. 

Irish Proverb

Chapter 10, Page 27, Book 13

In the other gardens

And all up the vale,

From the autumn bonfires

See the smoke trail!

Pleasant summer over

And all the summer flowers,

The red fire blazes,

The grey smoke towers.

Sing a song of seasons!

Something bright in all!

Flowers in the summer,

Fires in the fall!

Robert Louis Stevenson

Autumn Fires.

Singing today…

In our region of the world the autumn leaves are glorious. The green leaves turn to shades of yellow, red, and orange. Landscapes turn to canvases only God could paint, the colors so brilliant that they are breathtaking

I started out dreading this  season not only because of the work of raking leaves, but because the days were growing shorter and along with that cold dreary weather would soon follow.  I overlooked its spectacular beauty.  In October the skies seem bluer and than ever and the sunshine and warmth when we have it is more appreciated now than it was in summer.

If we sing for joy at the beauty of autumn leaves, raking them will be all the more enjoyable. So as  I rake leaves, I thank God for making them beautiful so that the task is less of a burden. If we sing for joy in all God’s works, our songs will lighten our load and make our trials easier to bear.

The picture today was taken on one of the warmer afternoons week before last week.  I was sitting on my back patio with my feet up after doing a bit of work outside.  This week it has been to cold to sit out.  Yes, that is my toes showing at the bottom of the picture. 

There is a harmony in autumn, and a luster in its sky, which through the summer is not heard or seen, as if it could not be, as if it had not been!

Percy Bysshe Shelley

Chapter 10, Page 26, Book 13

Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me…

We hear the term  grace  a great deal.  We say, here but for the grace of God, go I, or we are asked to say grace over a meal.

The Bible uses the term to refer to God's unmerited favor to human beings.  Grace is the moment the flower blooms, the subtle harmony from a musical instrument, the sweet breeze of autumn, a relaxed breath.   Grace arrives as effortlessly as the falling leaves.  I can feel that grace the most when I stop trying to figure out life and just let it be. 

 I find that it's when I’m most unprepared that’s where grace kicks in. Every situation is different and I have grace in each moment.  Through life’s hardest moments and everything in between there’s grace. And grace is enough.

Grace is a gift.  God's grace is sufficient for every moment of every day. And we all need it.

Cherish every moment of your life.

Courage is grace under pressure. 

 Ernest Hemingway

Chapter 10, Page 25, Book 13

The difference between a helping hand and an outstretched palm is a twist of the wrist.  

Laurence Leamer

Using our hands and feet…

Use your eyes to be on the lookout for anyone who needs encouragement. 

Use your tongue to speak words of kindness. 

Use your hands and arms to embrace someone who is feeling alone or overwhelmed. 

Use your feet to offer quick assistance with any problems you run across. 

Offer your ears if someone needs to vent about a problem.

Most important, offer your mind to understand the best way you can help the people around you. 

Remember, we all stumble, every one of us.  That's why it's a comfort to go hand in hand.  

Emily Kimbrough

Chapter 10, Page 24, Book 2013

Isn't it funny how day by day 

nothing changes,

but when you look back

everything is different?

C.S. Lewis 

When you look out the window here at my house, you see a quiet and really peaceful street.  The neighbors keep mostly to themselves and no one bothers anyone else with rude or obnoxious behavior.  I live in one of the older sections of town.  My house is was built in 1921.  A lot of my original neighbors have move away due to new housing and people wanting a better place to live.  A few of us remain because this is home and home makes us feel safe and secure.  But it doesn't really matter where you live, things can happen anywhere anytime and when you least expect it.

When I was younger, I never really thought much about what made me feel safe and secure.  I just knew that I was.  But the world is changing and places that we've always thought to be safe aren't anymore.  Every day the news tells us of horrible situations happening in our towns across the nation.  No one seems to be safe anymore.

I've discovered an antidote to any feelings of fear though, and that is that the mood of a day is often set by our focus. If we focus on our problems, our mood is likely to be glum. If we focus on the Lord’s blessings, then in spite of our problems, we can see each day as a day that the Lord has made and we can rejoice and be glad in it 

Just think of 3 things three things you are thankful for and then thank our Father in heaven for them.  Your mood will change.

I'm not about to live a life full of fear of the unknown.  I can be aware of my surroundings and watch out for unusual happenings that might threaten my peace, but beyond that I can count my blessings and be thankful.  When you are busy counting your blessings all fear seems to dissolve and things always look brighter.

When we lose one blessing, another is often, most unexpectedly, given in its place.

 C.S. Lewis

Chapter 10, Page 23, Book 13

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. 

Aesop's Fables

It's not always the easiest thing in the world to be kind.  Somedays make me just want to groan, cry and whine.  I guess we all have days like that now and then, but when I'm down and out, being kind to others is often the best thing I can do for myself.

You know when you smile and compliment someone else you just can't help but feel good.  When you do a little something for others, it can make a big difference in your attitude.

Remember: no matter what challenges you might face today, continue to be kind to everyone you encounter.

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. 

Mother Teresa of Calcutta

We don't have to do great things but it is the little things that add up to big things in our lives.  I don't want to be remembered as a grouch.  I hope that when someone thinks of me they remember that I love to smile!

Surely we can all be just a little more kind than we are.  No matter what kind of day we're having, we don't want to spoil someone else's day.

Without kindness there can be no true joy. 

Thomas Carlyle

Chapter 10, Page 22, Book 13

Tentative efforts lead to tentative outcomes. Therefore, give yourself fully to your endeavors. Decide to construct your character through excellent actions and determine to pay the price of a worthy goal. The trials you encounter will introduce you to your strengths. Remain steadfast...and one day you will build something that endures, something worthy of your potential. 

Epictetus

On being steadfast...

This past week my daily reflections were all about being persistent and persevering and I have already touched upon those subjects in some of my posts last week.  

A new word was introduced in the Sunday readings and that was steadfast.  This old fashioned word does have a lot of meaning.  It is comparable to constancy and endurance.  If we are steadfast about something, we do something consistently, enduring what is needed to get the job done. We don't avoid or run from the challenges and pressures of life.

I had the joy of having my 1 year old grandson in church with his mama this past Sunday.  She doesn't always bring him because it is hard for him to sit still and be quiet.  He kept saying he wanted to go, go, go...  Still he had to endure it all and was held fast by his mama's arms.  He's not going to learn unless he's taught.  My daughter is one steadfast mom.

Steadfastness is hope in action.  In life, there will always be trials. It means that we are alive. And when the sun rises the next morning, it means that we have put another day of trials behind us, and that, thankfully, we have another day of trials ahead of us waiting to be endured. I say thankfully, because as long as an obstacle is before us, it provides us another opportunity to take another step up,  another opportunity to become what we are meant to be.

Steadfastness is a noble quality, but unguided by knowledge or humility it becomes rashness or obstinacy. 

J. Swart

Chapter 10, Page 21, Book 13

No miracle so strangely rare. I wonder what will next be there! 

L.H. Bailey 

Every day miracles…

So often  in our every day rush, we often fail to see the miracles that happen all around us.  We are given eyes to see but too often we are in such a hurry with a TO DO list that often life is just a blur.  Many of God’s miracles we simply take for granted.  The birth of a child, seeing a sunrise or sunset, an unexpected and unexplained phone call, a touch, a hug, a get well card, an e-mail of encouragement, a doctor finds a blockage, surgery is performed, a healing takes place, life continues and the list is endless.

The moon and the stars are absolutely stunning if we can get away from the city lights. Ordinary miracles like the laughter of children, the forgiveness of someone you've hurt, the ticket turned into a warning, clean running water, the very air we breathe…these are every day occurrences that too often we just take for granted and overlook them!  

SMILE!  Every day is a miracle!

Where there is great love there are always miracles.

Willa Cather

Chapter 10, Page 20, Book 13

Always seek out the seed of triumph in every adversity. 

 Og Mandino

A better way to live...

One simple fact I’ve learned is that positive minds produce positive lives, but negative minds produce negative lives. Because I have known some people that were always criticizing others and never happy with anything, I do know what negativity can do to others.  They had all they could want, but were still not happy.  I don't know why people want to live like that.  There is a better way.

Failure will never overtake you if your determination to succeed is strong enough. 

Og Mandino

Like most, I've had some bad things happen in my life, but I choose not to dwell on them.  The past is done and I'm living today the best I know how. I keep on looking for that bright side of life and think positively.  I'm a happy person and want to stay that way.  Life is always going to bring us some good and some bad, there will be some who disappoint us and others that will more than make up for it. 

Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson.

Og Mandino

When I googled a better way to live, nine out of 10 times, the name of Og Mandino came up so I'm choosing to share his quotes today.

Count your blessings. Once you realize how valuable you are and how much you have going for you, the smiles will return, the sun will break out, the music will play, and you will finally be able to move forward the life that God intended for you with grace, strength, courage, and confidence

Og Mandino

Choosing to find the good, the happiest, the wonderful things in life - that is the better way.

Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later. 

Og Mandino

Chapter 10, Page 19, Book 13

Don't be discouraged.  It's often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock.  

Author Unknown

Persistance in all things means that you never give up and keep on going.  There are many things along the way, meaning our walk in life,  that keep us from immediately achieving our goals.  Things that temporarily stop us from getting things done.  Interruptions and impediments that try to keep us from getting our work done, or that hold back our dreams.

It is better to persevere and keep on trying.  With a little faith and hope all things will work out for the best.  Knowing how hard it is to struggle up from the bottom of despair, I know what it is to persist.  To give every day a chance and keep on going.   It's true that patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel.  Things do change for the better.  It's when we are at the end of our rope, that we need to hang on as it is then that things will change.

Difficult things take a long time, impossible things a little longer. 

André A. Jackson

Chapter 10, Page 18, Book 13

Keep love in your heart.  A life

 without it is like a sunless garden

 when the flowers are dead.

Oscar Wilde

Love changes things…

Because I have been loved, I can give love.  Love does not come easily or without personal sacrifice. Each time we choose to love someone, it will cost us something such as time, money or effort. That’s why we are told to count the cost before we make the commitment.

Love changes us. It causes us to do things we wouldn’t normally do. It’s not just in the depths of our hearts that we are changed. Our actions are different as well.  Love nurtures life.  Love creates meaning. Love heals hurts. Love mends relationships. 

We say we love a lot of things, people and places.  There are many kinds of love and I think that all of these loves affect our lives.  They change us.  When you love what you do, then you will find it can change your life.  Love is one of the most powerful motivating factors that there is, it can give us inspiration to continue long after we other wise would have quit.

Love doesn't cost a thing; however, the environment necessary for love to take root in one's heart and flourish is really expensive when you consider your time and commitment.  It cannot be bought, sold, or traded. You cannot make someone love you, nor can you prevent it, for any amount of money.

I know that without love in my life, living wouldn't be the same.  I thankful that for me…love changed everything!

A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love.  

Mother Teresa

Chapter 10, Page 17, Book 13

A prayer

May there peace within you today.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you embrace endless possibilities that will always come your way.

May you use the gifts that you have received and pass on the love given to you.

May you be content knowing you are a child of God.

May you feel unburdened, free and energised by a sense of God in your life.

May you know that it's ok not to have it all worked out and that God will also help you work it out too!

May you treasure this day as a precious gift and be open to some surprise along the way.

May you finish today with a sense of gratitude, knowing you have done your best and that no more is asked of you.

Amen

I think that prayer is one of the most powerful ways we can use the words we speak.  Not just the words we pray but the thoughts and cares entrusted in those prayers.  There is not much I can do about a lot of situations, but I can pray.  When I pray for myself or others, I know that those words are being heard.  Knowing there is little I can do, I do what I can, and for me that is praying.

It has been said that,  Seven days without prayer, makes one weak.  That's the way it is with me.  I need to pray and it does give me strength.   Sometimes you hear someone say, We've done all we can.  The only thing we can do now is pray.  Prayer really should be our first resort rather than our last resort.

Remember the power of your words, especially when you pray.

Chapter 10, Page 16, Book 13

The ideals which have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been Kindness, Beauty and Truth. 

Albert Einstein

The best way to meet a difficult moment head on is with a deep breath and a big smile.  To me a SMILE is a thing of beauty.  Smiles can show kindness too.  People want to feel better, and anytime we smile at them it helps them do that. A smile reassures people and puts them at ease.

Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, abeautiful thing. 

Mother Teresa. 

Who can resist a beautiful smile? A smile gives back…It makes another smile …It brings happiness…and happiness is contagious.   A smile given to the right person at the right time could influence what that person does next and the choices they make.

 Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it.  Take time to look for it and SMILE.

So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life's a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about

Marilyn Monroe

Chapter 10, Page 15, Book 13

Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite.  Or waiting around for Friday night or waiting perhaps for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil or a better break or a string of pearls or a pair of pants or a wig with curls or another chance.  Everyone is just waiting.  

Dr. Seuss

Waiting is one of the hardest things to do.  Still most of us find ourselves waiting for something most every day.  It's especially hard to wait and do nothing.  Knowing when to wait and when to take action is difficult.  

Life is always a rich and steady time when you are waiting for something to happen or to hatch. 

E.B. White

If you want to take action because it gives you a feeling of control when the situation isn’t yours to control, your action might be a bad idea.  Acting as General Manager of the Universe usually just makes things worse.  When we are desperate for control, the best thing we can do sometimes is to calm down and see what else you need to discover about what you’re trying to do.

We can only appreciate the miracle of a sunrise if we have waited in the darkness . 

Author Unknown 

One of best pieces of advice I've seen is that the time to act is when you’re avoiding what you know you want to do because you’re afraid.  The time to wait is when you want to take action in a situation you can’t control.  It’s a good operating principle

We spend a great deal of time telling God what we think should be done, and not enough time waiting in the stillness for God to tell us what to do. 

Peace Pilgrim

Chapter 10, Page 14, Book 13

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.  

Thornton Wilder

My reflections this past week were all about giving thanks.  The who, the what, the when and the why, of being grateful.

The more I give thanks, it seems the more I have to be grateful for.  And who of us didn't learn to say thank you when you were given something.The words please and thank you were taught to me at an early age.  I know that when a gift is given you give thanks and that's what I try to do daily.

  Last year I started counting 1000 gifts after I read a book by that name written by Ann Voskamp.  I reached my first 1000 gifts last a few weeks ago now and I'm still counting.  This is one habit I don't want to break.

It's easy to give thanks when we receive something good but very difficult when it might be something not so good.  Some hurtful and terrible things happen and those are ones that make if difficult to be thankful for.  Still in life we are to always be thankful.  Every day may not be good , but there is always something good in every day

Living thanks is more important than giving thanks.  When we are content with what we are given it makes being thankful easier.  

The who - Our gracious and good Lord of course

The what - everything

The when - always

The why - because we have been blessed with unending gifts 

Life is a precious gift to cherish, and along with the gift of living, we are given tools to grow and succeed. Among these gifts, we are given strength to keep going when times get tough. And we are given love. So many gifts to be thankful for.

The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!  

Henry Ward Beecher

Chapter 10, Page 13, Book 13

Don’t cry because it’s over. SMILE because it happened. 


Dr. Seuss

There are lots of things that are over in my life.  I'm over the hill for one thing.  I've seen and done a lot in my lifetime. The memories of those times do make me smile.  I count them all blessings.  Not only the good but the bad too.  

I can smile because once I was married to a wonderful man.  

I can smile because I had a hand in raising 7 beautiful children

I can smile because I worked for many years, providing for myself and my family

I can smile because I had lots of pets, cats and dogs and even a parrot that provided hours of companionship 

I can smile because I have a cluttered home.  I have loads of pictures and momentos of days gone by.

Lots of smiles and lots of blessings are mine to keep and to be thankful for.  Just because things are over and done doesn't mean there won't be new things coming.  Each morning brings something new to add even more smiles to my life.

Count Your Blessings 

Poet: Unknown 

Count your blessings instead of your crosses;

Count your gains instead of your losses.

Count your joys instead of your woes;

Count your friends instead of your foes. 

Count your smiles instead of your tears;

Count your courage instead of your fears.

Count your full years instead of your lean;

Count your kind deeds instead of your mean. 

Count your health instead of your wealth;

Love your neighbor as much as yourself

Chapter 10, Page 12, Book 13

The Bend in the Road

When we feel we have nothing left to give

And we are sure that the song has ended;

When our day seems over and the shadows fall

And the darkness of night has descended.

Where can we go to find the strength

To valiantly keep on trying,

Where can we find the hand that will dry

The tears that the heart is crying?

There's but one place to go and that is to God

And, dropping all pretense and pride,

We can pour out our problems without restraint

And gain strength with Him at our side;

And together we stand at life's crossroads

And view what we think is the end,

But God has a much bigger vision

And He tells us it's only a bend;

For the road goes on and is smoother,

And the pause in the song is a rest,

And the part that's unsung and unfinished

Is the sweetest and richest and best;

So rest and relax and grow stronger,

Let go and let God share your load,

Your work is not finished or ended,

You've come to a bend in the road.

Helen Steiner Rice

It's been awhile since I shared a poem from Helen Steiner Rice, and I'm sure I've put this one in my blog before.  I also have a very fall like picture that I like to use with it.

The big bend in my road is coming soon.  It'll be the great turn here that will take us into much colder weather.  I told you about the busyness here of getting ready for winter with all the yard work here at my house, but I really haven't said a whole lot about how I plan on keeping warmer here this year.  

The cold isn't a friend at all to me.  I don't have a cozy fire place to sit by, but I do have lots of cozy throws scattered here and there to cover up with when I'm sitting still.  I also have my apple cider that warms me as I love to heat it up and enjoy it on a cold day.

I've got my cuddle duds which are like a female version of long underwear which are the first item of many layers of clothing I can add or delete depending on the weather.  I've turtleneck shirts, vests and sweaters and wool socks that'll do the job too.  

One thing that warms me up quickly is to get busy and leaf raking will do that job for awhile, before the snow shoveling takes over.  I don't like to talk about or even think about those days just yet.

I'm just thankful for all the things that'll keep me warm when it turns colder.  I'm ready for it whenever it comes.  Today I'm thankful that even though I can see the bend is coming, it's not here yet.  

Chapter 10, Page 11, Book 13

The Before

The After

Autumn, the year’s last, loveliest smile.

William Cullen Bryant

There is lots to do while the sun is still shinning here at my house.  We've been blessed with some lovely fall days.  One of the big jobs we have every year is cutting back our Rose of Sharon bushes which run along the fence and act like a hedge.  We had to wait till they were done blooming as the bees love them.  If we'd tried to do it earlier, the bees might have been upset enough to give us a sting or two.  

There is more to do toward the back of the yard and on the side of the garage but it will be done another day. Besides cutting back there is also some planting to do.  There is about 100 tulip and daffodil bulbs waiting to go in the ground.  We  have a few that come up every year but not as many as there used to be.  I think some hungry squirrels might have made a meal of them.  Next spring should be brilliant though if all of these bloom.  

We are promised a few more lovely days here through the beginning of next week and I hope to get it all done.  After that we are to get much cooler and it won't be half as nice to be outdoors.

The nights have been cool and the heat has come on a time or two, but our days have warmed up nicely.  I am SMILING… and am thankful for these lovely October days

I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house. So I have spent almost all the daylight hours in the open air. 

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Chapter 10, Page 10, Book 13

Pursue gratitude.  The grateful heart is like a magnet, sweeping over the day, collecting reasons for gratitude. Thank you, God.  Your lungs inhale and exhale 11,000 liters of air every day. Thank you, God. For the jam on our toast and the milk on our cereal, the blanket that calms us and the joke that softens us and the warm sun that reminds us of God’s love. Gratitude leaves us looking at God and away from dread. It does to anxiety what morning sun does to valley mist. It burns it up!

Max Lucado

I do love how Max Lucado words things.  He has such a great way of saying things that hit true to my heart.   Being grateful is a blessing.  

Even at the worst of times, I've always found things to be thankful for.  These are the things that make life worthwhile.  It does chase away the anxieties and cares that life can bring us.

I'm filled with gratitude for words that can inspire my soul.  

Chapter 10, Page 9, Book 13

A smile is nature's best antidote for discouragement. 

It brings rest to the weary, 

Sunshine to those who are frowning, 

And hope to those who are hopeless and defeated.

A smile is so valuable that it can't be bought, 

Begged, borrowed, or taken away against your will. 

You have to be willing to give a smile away 

Before it can do anyone else any good.

So if someone is too tired or grumpy to flash you a smile, 

Let him have one of yours anyway. 

Nobody needs a smile as much 

As the person who has none to give.

Dale Carnegie

Doing what is good for you…

We all want to make the best choices about what to do.  Every decision we make is going to affect us and those around us too.  

I have a list of things I want to do every day that mean the most to me. One of the best I've found is that laughing  is very good for you and I try to do it often

I also love reading.  It is part of my daily routine

No day would be complete with out prayer and I do that often, both for myself and others.

To look for the bright side of life is also part of my daily routine.  Not every day is going to be a good one, but every day has something good in it.

Hugs are also good things, I don't get or give one every day because I live by myself, but when I can I like to get and to give hugs

Being creative is also good for you.  That is something I can do every day.  Whether I paint a little or get busy in the kitchen and cook up something good, or write a note to my friends and family, I can create a little happiness every day.

Sharing is also a good thing.  I love to share and do it often.  Sharing a poem, a quote, or a recipe is fun and we all have something we can share.

There's so much good to do that it makes me wonder why some folks choose to do anything else. 

It's good when the good things you do enhance you life and others lives as well.

I Know Something Good About You

Wouldn't this old world be better,

If the folks we meet would say:

I know something good about you,

And then treat us just that way!

Wouldn't it be fine and dandy,

If each hand-clasp warm and true

Carried with it this assurance --

I know something good about you!

Wouldn't things here be more pleasant,

If the good that's in us all

Were the only things about us

That folks bothered to recall!

Wouldn't life be lots more happy

If we'd praise the good we see!

For there's such a lot of goodness

In the worst of you and me.

Wouldn't it be nice to practice

This fine way of thinking too;

You know something good about me,

I know something good about you!

Author Unknown