The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival.

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So many times in life we become so focused on the things we need to do to survive that we forget there is more to life than survival. Many of us live day to day or week to week - or if we are really lucky month to month, mainly in an attempt to work hard to make enough to pay our bills. Although it's nothing compared to how hard our ancestors worked just to survive - it can take its toll.

If you are in the habit of focusing your energy on survival you may be missing out on life along the way.

Last night while reading How to Get What You Want and Want What You Have by John Gray I came a gem that really started me to thinking.  

 "When outer success leaves us feeling unhappy, we conclude that the cause of our unhappiness is not having the next thing."

He goes on to explain that our thinking is logical, but wrong. According to him, unhappiness is simply a lack of inner joy and has nothing to do with the things we have. If he is correct, which he probably is, then it stands to reason that we must practice a little contemplation in our life to discover what it is that makes life pleasurable and enjoyable for us. 

For today, take some time to yourself and resist the urge to channel all your energy into survival. Sit back and consider what things you really want in life and whether you are somehow expecting them to make you happy.

Today, I am grateful for quiet moments in which to think, for increased awareness that allows me to go forward toward my goals, and for the ability to see opportunities at every turn. I am grateful for a clear sound mind, for a healthy body, and for the ability to reach for my dreams.

I am grateful for sunny days, for starlit nights, and for soft green moss beneath my feet. I am grateful for the robin that hops outside my window, for blades of grass that emerge through snow, and tulips that are soon to come.

I am grateful for family and friends who share my life, for neighbors, and for stranger I shall never know - but cross my path with smile or nod. I am grateful for the elderly who share their wisdom, for the youth so full of life, and babies with their loving smiles.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you take time to contemplate the things that really mean the most in your life, as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

Destiny is not matter of chance. It is a matter of choice ...

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Many spend their lives waiting for that magical moment when everything will fall together. Perhaps it is because we have been taught that all good things come in time and patience is a virtue. Perhaps it is because we secretly have no idea what we want in life, but think we will know it when we see.

It is infinitely easier to think that all things work as they should and that our true destiny is already mapped. It lets us of the hook and takes away our responsibility for our own success or failure.

Adjust your thinking today and embrace the thought that your destiny is not a matter of chance - that you have a choice. Begin to make choices that lead you in the direction of your dreams and you will soon find success and happiness.

Today, I am grateful for good books, soft chairs and cuddly blankets. I am grateful for writers who share a bit of their invisible world with the reader, for publishers who bring the book to life and for luxury of afternoons spent reading.

I am grateful for the inspiration that comes from nature, for the invigorating March wind and for pine trees that scatter their cones. I am grateful for the chickadee that dances outside my window, for eager dogs that cannot resist spring mud and for sprigs of new grass.

I am grateful for music that fills the soul, for silence that envelops my world by night and for laughter. I am grateful for the cry of the blue jay, the sounds of children playing and the hoot of the owl.

I am ever grateful for family and friends who enrich my life. 

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader as you stop to share my day. May you make wise choices as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

Listen to the sound of your dreams and be unafraid to follow the music.

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For many of us, following the sound of our dreams gets confused with following what others think we need or want. Instead of listening to our own music, we sometimes find ourselves listening to the sound of other people's dreams and follow it like the Pied Piper, never suspecting that it may be leading us astray.

Be still today and listen carefully for the music of your dreams that your joy may be full as you strive to reach your goals.

Today, I am grateful for frogs and toads that will soon emerge from their winter's slumber, for warm soft air that fills the heart with joy, and for melting streams and rivers that will soon flow freely. I am grateful for fiddleheads that will soon begin to grow, offering free food for all who seek them out. 

I am grateful for eyes to see, ears to hear and hands to feel. I am grateful for air to breathe, water to drink and the beauty of the Universe. I am grateful for trees that provide shade, babbling brooks that soothe the soul, and moss that creates a green carpet on the forest floor.

I am grateful for insects with their soothing hum, for dandelions that offer up spring's first flowers, and for mud that is cool and squishy beneath the feet. I am grateful for March winds that dry the earth, for spring rains that bring the promise of new green life, and for kites that fly in a clear blue sky.

I am grateful for my children who always make me proud, for my husband who is always there, and for brothers and sisters who always make me smile. I am grateful for friends who add interest to my life.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you learn to listen to the music of your soul as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

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Sometimes we become so afraid of stepping out and doing something new that all we can focus on is the long journey that looms ahead of us. The way looks too long or the path too steep and we become paralyzed unable to move forward.

It is then that we must concentrate on taking the first step in the direction we want to go. As we begin the journey, we suddenly discover that momentum increases and its isn't nearly as difficult (or steep) as we imagined.

If you find yourself afraid to begin the journey today, step out in confidence and know that within you lies the ability to achieve your goals. There is no mountain too steep or path too long unless you make it so.

Today, I am grateful for the brilliant spring sun, for melting ice and snow, and for raised garden beds that emerge beneath the snow. I am grateful for clippings of fresh herbs that have survived the winter, for the lonely fox that calls in the distant woods, and for excited squirrels that scurry to and fro.

I am grateful for March winds to dry my sheets, for sprigs of green grass for my cat, and for the mighty moon that adorns the night sky. I am grateful for my wind chimes that make lively music in the brisk breeze. 

I am grateful for family - who never ceases to amaze me with their goodness and their talents, for friends who I can count on, and for neighbors who make my corner of the world enjoyable. I am grateful for strangers whose lives I cross, for sharing a smile or laugh with someone I may never know, and for those who I will someday call friend.

I am grateful for new work opportunities that have come into my life, for the courage and confidence to do them well, and for the ability to bless the lives of others along the way.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you always remember that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.