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

Freedigitalphotos.net

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.