"Better keep yourself clean and bright. You are the window through which you must see the world." George Bernard Shaw

It is so easy to forget that how we view the world creates our reality. When we focus on the obstacles to reaching our dreams and goals, we lose of sight of where we need to go. When the momentum is broken and the vision becomes clouded by circumstances, our paths darken and we cannot find our way.

For today, strive to clear your vision by viewing the world in a positive light and know that you can reach your goals as long as you continue to go forward in the direction of your dreams. Allow yourself to see the world through the innocence of childhood today and believe in the power of your dreams.

Today, I am grateful for new opportunities I have yet to recognize but I know lie just out of sight. I am grateful for the beauty of the Universe, for the music of the wind, and the earthy scent of greenhouses.

I am grateful for a clear, sound mind with which to view the world, for the courage to pursue my dreams, and for the knowledge that dreams do come true.

I am grateful for the people who have touched by life - for good and bad - who helped me become who I am today. I am grateful for the ability to make wise choices, for a heart that feels compassion for others, and the wisdom to know when to offer help and when to let them find their own way. 

I am grateful for my family who forms the center of my life, for my pets who bring peace and joy into my life, and for my garden that patiently sleeps beneath the snow. I am grateful for improved health, abundant energy and the vision of a bright tomorrow. 

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you keep yourself clean and bright today that you may see the world clearly as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

The most powerful moral influence is example. Huston Smith

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I've been trying to find the right quote and image for this post for a while now. You see, recently I saw a post by someone on Facebook who has a habit of posting cryptic messages about all the people who are mistreating her. Her recent post declared their devotion to Christianity. I found this very disturbing - not because I think Christians should be perfect, but because of the contrast in the example she sets for others and what appears to be her real beliefs.

It started me thinking about how easy it is to become pulled into behaviors that don't match our beliefs. When how we live our life is opposed to our beliefs, we will never reach our dreams and goals.

If you, like all of us at times, have gotten into the habit of focusing on set backs, instead of your dreams and goals, take time today to consider the values you portray with your words and actions and compare it to your beliefs about reaching your dreams.

Today, I am grateful for the nearness of spring that I know lurks beneath the snow. I am grateful for a cozy home, a warm fire and healthy food to eat. I am grateful for the road crews who work diligently through the night to keep the roads free of snow and ice.

I am grateful for warm blankets and soft pillows that keep me comfortable through the raging storm. I am grateful for dogs and cats that love unconditionally. 

I am grateful for my greenhouse that allows me to grow green things in the midst of winter, for good books to read and for the sound of wind chimes.

I am grateful for my family - for my children who always make me proud, a new daughter-in-law who has joined our family and for my husband who is always there. I am grateful for brothers and sisters who made me who I am, and for my parents who have long passed on.

And I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you take the time to consider the example you set for others as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world. Harriet Tubman

It is so easy to forget that within each of us lies the enormous power to change the world around us. We become lulled into thinking that the outside world holds all the power and soon find ourselves letting circumstances control our lives. We give away our power to chose, our power to act, and our power to believe and then wonder why our world begins to crumble around us.

Believing in the power of your dreams - whatever they may be - is one way to regain your power and make changes in your life. Just the act of believing set the wheels in motion for achieving the seemingly impossible.

If you have become lulled into thinking that your dreams and goals will remain out of your reach forever, it's time to start believing in the power of your dreams and begin working to achieve them.

For today, gather your dreams and begin the journey toward reaching them. Give no thought to the criticism of those around you, for they do not have your insight and your desire to go forward in the direction of dreams.

Today, I am grateful for the brightness of the sun that brings life to earth, for the blue of the sky that adds beauty to the world, and for blankets of snow that creates a blank canvas that will awaken in glorious color in spring. I am grateful for chattering of the squirrel, the call of the jay, and the tiny chickadee.

I am grateful for warm clothes, hot coffee, and a roaring fire that keep me warm as winter rages on. I am grateful for houseplants that liven my world, for paperwhites in bloom, and tiny plants that struggle to burst forth from seeds.

I am grateful for a clear, sound mind that I may see the direction to go, for a healthy body that sees me through the day, and for laughter that brightens the world. 

I am grateful for family that I hold dear - for children who always make me proud and for their ability to go forward in the world and make a bright future for themselves. I am grateful for a husband, who is always by my side, for my cat who brings me great joy, and for a dog that alerts me when strangers are near.

I am grateful for the freedom to pursue my dreams, for the courage to follow wherever they lead, and for the quiet joy they bring to my life.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. In the words of Harriet Tubman, "May you always remember  you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars and change the world."

Be careful the environment you choose for it will shape you; be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them. W. Clement Stone

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I've been thinking a lot lately about how the people I choose to spend time with - both online and in real life - and  the environment I  choose affects me and my ability to reach my goals. In the past few months, I've been writing about topics I'm not particularly proud of because they are popular and bring in the most readers. 

Although I've enjoyed the added revenue, I've found myself drifting further and further from the things that matter to me. As I dabbled in writing celebrity gossip and reality tv reviews, I soon discovered that in order to write it, you have to live it. That's something I'm not willing to do. I have a friend who is wildly successful at it and I envy her ability to somehow put it all in perspective and enjoy what she does.

Filling my mind with gossip and the misfortune of others has taken me down a path that I don't want to go. The environment and the people began to mold my thinking and I can't let that happen.

You see, I love my cozy little life filled with images of flowers and herbs (yes, I am garden writer, too). I love encouraging others to reach for their goals. I love writing about touchy-feely new age topics, reading good books, and growing plants in my greenhouse. 

Be on guard today for ways you may be sabotaging your own success by staying in environments and associating with people that may hinder your success. Look carefully to those around you and choose friends and environments that build you up instead of tear you down.

Today, I am grateful for the freedom to pursue my dreams, for the ability to see the way, and the wisdom to choose my path wisely. I am grateful for the positive people in my life who always look to the good in others, for warm hearts that are willing to share, and for the insight to guide my way.

I am grateful for the winter sun that grows stronger everyday, for the blue sky that brightens the day and for night stars that fill me with wonder. I am grateful for nourishing food, a cozy, warm house, and family to share my world. 

I am grateful for opportunities to grow and learn, for good books to challenge the mind, and for music to sooth the soul. I am grateful for lavender-vanilla candles to bath my world in scent, for hot coffee, and for fuzzy socks that keep my feet warm.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you be ever careful of the environment and friends you choose, as you go forward in the direction of your dreams. 

In absence of clearly defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily acts of trivia. Author Unknown

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We all know that without goals, we are not likely to achieve the degree of success that we desire in life. Not because we aren't working hard enough or are not talented enough - but because we fail to focus our energy on the tasks required to meet success.

There is no better time to refine your goals than the beginning of a new year when we are offered a fresh start. As 2012 draws to a close and 2013 lurks just around the corner, I've taken some time to consider my goals for the upcoming year.

In the past, I have set goals for how much I will write or how much money I will earn from my writing, but this year, I've decided to try something new. I have decided to set a goal of reaching a wider audience with my writing. This, of course, means increasing my following in social media. Although the exact numbers I am aiming for are not well-defined, just yet, I still have a few days to get that worked out.

In the meantime, if you are so inclined, you can help me reach my goals by subscribing to this blog and following me on Twitter and Facebook. You can also subscribe to any of my writing topics that interest you, or share them with friends and family you think might be interested.

•  Pop Culture

•  Gardening

•   TV

•  Paranormal

•  New Age

•  Breaking Amish

You can also find me on Maine Garden Ideas and Yahoo! Voices.

Today, I am grateful for the many outlets I have for my writing, for readers who make my work worthwhile, and for the ability to earn a living doing what I love. I am grateful for new opportunities to take my writing to a higher level, for the energy and inspiration to do my best, and the joy that comes from knowing I have given it my all.

I am grateful for new followers that I may enrich their lives as they work to reach their goals, for the technology that allows readers and writers to connect across the globe, and for the compassion of strangers that reach out to others in times of need.

I am grateful for falling snow, moonlit skies, and clouds that float aimlessly in bright-blue skies. I am grateful for the bright sun and the increasing hours of sunlight that promise us that spring will surely return. I am grateful for flowers as they sleep beneath the snow, for green grass that will once again blanket the earth, and for snow drifts that silence the world.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you focus on clearly-defined goals, today, as your go forward in the direction of your dreams.