“The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.” ~ Epictetus

Over the course of the past few months, I have found myself sucked into the negative outlook of those around me. Oh, I'm not talking about my family here - or even my friends in real life. What I am talking about is online friends who seem to think it is necessary to bombard my senses with all that is negative and bad in the world.

The greatest offender, of course, is Facebook. Hardly a day goes by without several posts magically appearing that exhort me to take action to prove that I am a decent human being. You know what I am talking about. Those posts that claim any intelligent or compassionate human being would share their posts as proof of their superior standing in this world, while reminding me that and if I don't, then the devil must have a stronghold on my life. 

Sometimes, I find the irony amusing - especially when politically inclined people cry out for individual freedom while implying that if I don't share their message I am somehow a lesser human being. Do they not realize the irony of their ways?

Other times, I find them offensive. Not because the cause isn't worthy - it often is - but because the post invariable leaves readers feeling as though they are somehow lacking. I suppose the person who posts the message gets a temporary lift in spirits. Maybe they even think they are sending a valuable message to the world. What they do not realize is that by taking a jab at others they are tearing themselves down too.

I don't know about you, but I'm feeling the drain of being bombarded with negative comments and negative news. I have decided to follow the words of Epictetus and keep company with those that uplift me and call forth my best.

Today, I am grateful for a break in the rain, for sunny skies and gentle winds. I am grateful for my garden as it reaches for the sun, for songbirds who sing out in joy, and for baby animals everywhere that get some refuse from the rain. 

I am grateful for quiet moments to reflect, for lively times to laugh and have fun, and for my family that I love deeply. I am grateful for friends who lift me up, for opportunities to shine, and for another day to enjoy this glorious life. 

I am grateful for good books, well-told stories and the light of the moon. I am grateful for fireflies that light the night, for campfires that draw people close, and for the owl that hoots in the night.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you keep company with those that uplift you and call forth your best as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

Dream and give yourself permission to envision a You that you choose to be. Joy Page

Many of us fall short of what we want in life, not because we are not capable, but because we lack the courage to give ourselves permission to succeed. Cultivate the courage to dream big and give yourself permission to reach those dreams, today.

Know that what lies in you is greater than the ways of the world. It is bigger than the petty thoughts of those who want to prevent your success. It is not limited by what someone else says or does or believes. They are not your enemy -- although it may seem like they are at times. Your enemy -- like your success -- lies within. Your enemy is your inability to believe in yourself enough to grant yourself permission to succeed.

Today, I am grateful for rain and the heavy musky scent of fall. I am grateful for fallen leaves and pine needles that blanket my yard in carpet of gold. I am grateful for pine cones that bring visions of Christmas in its glorious blanket of snow.  

I am grateful for the miraculous cycle of the seasons that brings beauty at every turn, for the grace of summer folding silently into fall and for the promise of winter that envelops my world in soft blankets of white. 

I am grateful for the blue jay that cries out to announce the coming rain, for the chick-a-dee that flits from tree to tree never tiring of his cheerful song, and for the purple finch who wears his red coat despite his name. 

I am grateful for family and friends and the house I call my home. I am grateful for those who lend a helping hand when they see a need, for the fruit of earth that fuels our bodies and for coffee to start my day. 

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you cultivate the courage to dream big and give yourself permission to succeed as you go forward in the direction of your dreams. 

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

If you are like most people, you probably take the little things in your life for granted. Not because you don't appreciate them, and not because they aren't important, but because they've always been there and you have come to see them as "normal" parts of your life. Deborah Norville refers to it as Thank you Power in her book entitled Thank You Power, others refer to it a gratitude and still others call it thanking God--but it all boils down to being thankful and showing appreciation for the good things in our lives.

The simple act of expressing your gratitude releases tremendous power in your life as it forces you to shift your focus from what you do not have to what you already have in your life. It's normal (and even desired) to wish for bigger and better things for yourself and your family, but how you do that matters.

What we focus our attention on determines the results we reap. Because the human mind works to bring about the images we feed it, focusing on the lack in our lives often magnifies the lack. When we focus on the things we do not want in our lives, such as financial difficulties, health problems or struggling relationships, our mind becomes stayed on those and works diligently to create the image we have provided.

The trick, of course, is to feed the brain images of what we want in our lives. Cultivating the habit of taking a stock of your blessings is a powerful way to do just that. Not only does it set the stage of the things that give meaning and value to your life, according to an article published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (2001) it improves the immune system, helps you handle stress and may extend your life up to 10 years. Other studies indicate that positive thinking and gratitude improve your attention span, promote creativity and expand your ability to think in divergent ways.

Get into the habit of expressing your gratitude or saying thank-you for those things in your life that bring your joy and you will soon find yourself feeling better about yourself and better able to tackle any obstacles that loom in your way to realizing your dreams.

Today, I am grateful for my cat that lies calmly in the morning sun while I work, for snoring dogs and the brilliant blue of the sky. I am grateful for wind chimes that make music in the breeze, for blades of grass that blanket the lawn and for little dirt roads that meander out of sight.

I am grateful for sunflowers that stand tall and strong, for wood vines that creep along the fence and for birds that sing. I am grateful for good books to read, for the echo of laughter and the sound of the loon.

I am grateful for family that keeps me strong, for friends who teach me much and for strangers that I may never meet but who touch my life in indiscernible ways. 

And, I am grateful for you dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you cultivate the art of expressing your gratitude as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

"To reach a port, we must sail - sail, not tie at anchor - sail, not drift." -- FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT

So many times, we set our sights on a destination and then sit ourselves down with the expectation that we will somehow reach it without even setting the sails for that direction. We cast our hopes and dreams to the wind, thinking that the wind itself will power our path--never entertaining the thought that in order to sail we must harness its power.

Cultivate the habit of setting your sails. You may not always be able to determine the direction of the wind, but a skilled sailor knows how to use it to his advantage. Be a sailor today, as you determine the direction you shall go.

Today, I am grateful for the approach of fall, the smell of leaves and the cooling of air. I am grateful for fall winds, sunflowers and the tiny hummingbird that gathers energy for its long flight. I am grateful for fresh, clean rain; for white, puffy clouds and for the energy that only fall brings.

I am grateful for children as they head off to school, for teachers who provide their care and parents who adapt to the seasonal changes in their lifestyle. I am grateful for the renewed expectations of another school year, for eager learners and for knowledge available to our children.

I am grateful for family and friends who bring me joy, for strangers who challenge my thinking and for  writers who share their knowledge via the written word.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you cultivate the habit of setting your sails to harvest the power of the winds to lead you in the direction of your dreams.

“A man is but the product of his thoughts what he thinks, he becomes.” Gandhi

So often in life, we become so caught up in people and things that lead us astray that we forget that our lives become what we think about. Instead of focusing on our goals and dreams, we let the troubles of the world dictate what we shall think, feel and believe. Before we know it, our lives have changed and we are mystified as to how it happened.

Guard your thoughts carefully today and develop the habit of focusing on that which is uplifting and leads in the direction of your dreams.

Today, I am grateful for the chorus of birds, the flush of new growth in my garden and  soft white clouds that make way for the sun. I am grateful for buzzing bees, for flitting moths and for the first blooms of spring.


I am grateful for the changing of seasons that melt slowly one into another, for new leaves that emerge in green-gold to adorn bare trees, and for tiny ferns that begin to unfold. I am grateful for babbling brooks that flow swiftly in early spring and settle into placid pools by midsummer. I am grateful for inspiration that comes with spring and lifts the soul.


I am grateful for family who brings me great joy, for children who challenge my thinking and make me proud,  and for brothers and sisters who made me who I am. I am grateful for a husband that supports my efforts as writer and listens to my grumbling when the words fail to flow. I am grateful for parents who have gone before me, but not without leaving their mark on the world. I feel them both in all that I do.


I am grateful for those who commit their lives to improving the lives of others, for those who lend a helping hand and for those who give a willing smile.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you focus your thoughts on all that is good and positive in the world as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

Most of the shadows of this life are caused by our standing in our own sunshine. Ralph Waldo Emerson

So often in life we look at opportunities, but instead of seeing all they have to offer, we concentrate on what might go wrong. We become so concerned that there may be inherent pitfalls that we cast a shadow over our dreams.

Develop the habit of letting the sun shine without constantly looking for what may go wrong. Seize opportunities when they come and know that the sunshine will always outweigh the shadows.

Today, I am grateful for the ability to see opportunities for what they are, for the courage to look past the possible shadows that may come and the faith that everything will work out as it should.


I am grateful for music, for fine art and watermelons. I am grateful for the roaring stream filled with fresh spring runoff, growing green things that emerge under the cover of the night and for laughter that fill the soul.


I am grateful for family and friends who bring joy to my life, for the beautiful blue jay that swoops in to gather food, and for paperclips.


And, I am grateful for you dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your day be filled with sun shine as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

To climb steep hills requires a slow pace at first. Shakespeare

So often in life we set off thinking that we should conquer out mountains swiftly. That reaching our goals is simply a matter for making a mad dash toward the goal. We become discouraged when the climb is steep and the way is difficult.

Develop the habit of working steadily in the direction of your dreams, today, realizing the climb may be slow at first. Each step takes you closer to your goal.

Today, I am grateful for the rising sun that brings the promise of a bright spring day. I am grateful for tiny green shoots of daffodils and tulips that just now have emerged from beneath the snow. I am grateful for sheets dried on the line, for spring birds that sing a chorus as I awake and for melting snow.


I am grateful for quiet moments, for Mt Katadin as it towers above the earth and tiny goldfinches that don their coats of brilliant gold announcing the arrival of spring.


I am grateful for my children who never cease to amaze me, for my husband who has always been there and for my extended family--may their days be filled with joy today.


I am grateful for those I have met along the way and those I have yet to meet. I am grateful for those who have touched me with the written word and those who have shared a bright smile. I am grateful for laughter, for tears of passion and the ability to love.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you work steadily to reach your goals, even though the hill may be steep and the climb may be slow, at first. Have patience and know that all things are possible as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

"Do not wait for your ship to come in - swim out to it." Author Unknown

Many of us live our lives with the underlying belief that "someday my ship will come in", mistakenly believing that something from the outside world must happen before we find success and happiness in life. We wait and watch for that perfect opportunity to land in our lap, never realizing that we allow opportunities to sail past because we are unwilling or unmotivated to swim out to meet the ship.

Cultivate the desire and motivation to strive to reach those opportunities that may seem a bit out of reach. Resolve to take action to make your dreams and goals come true and let go of your old beliefs that keep you stationary, waiting for your fictional ship to come in.

Today, I am grateful for the bright spring sun that promises to melt the snow, for soft-blue skies and the gently wavering pine. I am grateful for spring birds that flit and dart oblivious to the snow-covered world below, responding only to the knowledge that spring will return. I am grateful for squirrels that chatter and scurry singing the praise of the coming of spring.


I am grateful for gardeners who hold a vision of green and growing things in their hearts, for the tiny hummingbird as he wings his way north and for houseplants that begin their burst of new growth. 


I am grateful for words to express the desires of my heart, for dreams that lead me where I need to go and for the vision of bright tomorrows. I am grateful for health and happiness and the comforts of a secure home, for homemade bread and steaming coffee.


I am grateful for family that molds my world, for memories that will last a lifetime and for dreams that lead into the future. I am grateful for friends who share their thoughts, for acquaintances that inspire me and for neighbors who are always near.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you cast aside thoughts that opportunities must come to you and cultivate the courage to swim out to meet them as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

“'Tis the set of the sail that decides the goal, and not the storm of life” Ella Wheeler Wilcox

by matthew_hull

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As human beings, we become accustomed to getting caught up in the storms of life that we forget to set our sails to take us in the direction of our dreams. Instead of moving forward, we willingly enter the turmoil and confusion that swirls around us unable to see the direction we need to go.

Consider your ability to look past the storms today and set your sails for the direction you want to go. Focus your energy on that you want to accomplish instead of the obstacles in your way.

Today, I am grateful for warm spring sun, for melting snow and the tiny patches of bare ground that grow bigger with each passing day. I am grateful for soft spring air, for honeycomb snow and for blue skies.


I am grateful for ideas that come when least expected, for moments of inspiration and for the courage to rise above the storms and head in the direction of my dreams.


I am grateful for this massive earth that we call home, for an infinite universe filled with great beauty and for the joy of life.


I am grateful for the outpouring of concern for those facing disaster in Japan and all the areas affected by the recent earthquake and tsunamis. May they reach out in love and a spirit of giving without cultivating a spirit of fear for impending disaster across the globe. 


I am grateful for family and friends who make my life full, for the ability to see that which is good and uplifting in all who I meet and the grace to overlook that which is not.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you find the courage to look past the raging storms and set your sails to take you in the direction of your dreams.

With vision there is no room to be frightened. No reason for intimidation. It's time to march forward! Let's be confident and positive! Charles R. Swindoll

By dtl

It's amazing how easy it is to go forth with confidence once you get a clear vision of where you want to go. Consider your dreams and goals today and create a detailed image of what you really want -- then get busy taking the steps required to reach your goal.

Remember the words of W. Clement Stone, "If you can conceive it... you can achieve it." Often times we fail to reach our goals because we have not taken the time to visualize what we really want to achieve. We want more. We want to be better. We want to be happy. But to achieve those things we must be more specific. 

Get specific with your goals and dreams today. Add the details and create a vision that is worth striving for.

Today, I am grateful for snow tires, snow plows and the knowledge that we will not need them much longer. I am grateful for blue skies and puffy white clouds that bring rest to the soul. 

I am grateful for the mighty moose that roams the forest, for the whitetail deer that seeks out food and for the cotton tail rabbit that nibbles bark from the trees. 

I am grateful for birds who fill the air with song, add bright color to the world and flit happily from branch to branch. I am grateful for trees that provide shelter and stand strong against the wind. 

I am grateful for family, for friends and for neighbors.

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

Most people wish to serve God - but only in an advisory capacity. ~Author Unknown

kananaskis_country

How often we turn to God when we have needs, lay our souls bare and ask for his guidance--only to then try to direct his answer. Instead of giving our needs to him and trusting that he knows the way to bring our hearts desires to pass, we take it back into our own hands and view it from our own limited view, thinking we can somehow direct God's hand.

Faith is letting it go and trusting God to show you the way--not using your own fallible intellect to direct God's way.


Get into the habit of offering up your heart's desires and allowing God to direct the way.

Today, I am grateful for dawn as it makes way for day, for a sleeping world that rests silently at night and for puffs of new snow that cover the world.


I am grateful for music that lightens the load, for artists who add new perspective and for the manual laborer who works quietly to complete his tasks. I am grateful for scientists that study our world, for parents who provide guidance to our youth and for communities who pull together to improve the world.


I am grateful for family and friends who form the foundation of my life, for laughter and pizza that enrich our lives.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you cultivate the art of allowing God to direct your ways as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

"A tiny change today brings a dramatically different tomorrow." — Richard Bach

By: melodi2

 

 

 

Consider the flowers of the earth today. They don't appear in full bloom, but unfold naturally according to their time. Your life is no different. Exercise patience as events begin to form and work diligently to bring them to full bloom.

So often, we expect to see big changes and overlook the little changes that transpire around us leading us to our dreams. Get in the habit of celebrating the little changes and giving gratitude for what you already have and soon you will be surprised by the way your life transforms.

Today, I am grateful for the morning sun that catches the clouds before it breaks the horizon, for distant clouds that pick up hints of pink and rose and for the first silver rays that shoot upward from the sun.

I am grateful for the distant cry of birds and the sound of dripping water that celebrate the arrival of morning.


I am grateful for eyes that see, ears that hear and a heart that feels. I am grateful for the marvelous power of the mind and the God that created it all.


I am grateful for family and friends who share my life.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your celebrate the little changes in your life as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

Always be a firstrate version of yourself, instead of a secondrate version of somebody else. Judy Garland

By manicmorff

So often in life we become so caught up in being what others expect or what we think the world wants from us that we lose sight of who we really are. Before we know it, we are modeling ourselves after someone we simply we never meant to be.

Consider who you are today and strive to be the best you you can be and let go of the idea that you should be like everyone else.

Today, I am grateful for clear, crisp nights aglow with stars, for the glowing moon and the infinite universe. I am grateful for clean air to breathe, fresh water to drink and soap bubbles that glitter in the light.


I am grateful for tiny puppies that nuzzle together for warmth, for baby bunnies that arrive in spring and newly hatched birds with gaping mouths waiting to be fed.


I am grateful for family and friends, for good books and the singing of frogs in spring.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you become at first rate version of yourself, today as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore. Christopher Columbus

By: lcg2001

Sometimes,  we are frustrated because we think we can not reach our goals, yet spend our  time clinging fearfully to old habits and old ways. Without the  courage and faith to step away from the known and venture into new  areas, we cannot go further than our current shore. Like the sailor, we  must be willing to risk losing sight of the shore before we can cross  the ocean and reach our dreams.

Cultivate faith in your dreams today by visualizing yourself completing  them and experiencing the joy that brings. Focus on where you need to go  and step forth in faith today, casting aside fear and doubt. Know that  your desires are within your reach, but that it may require the courage  to lose sight of the shore.

Today, I am grateful for the strengthening sun that sings of approaching spring, for our nation's children who go forth toward their futures--may they be filled with the faith and courage to do what they know is right, and for teachers who we entrust with their care--may they treat them with respect and concern.

I am grateful for those who devote their lives to building up others, who are eager to share kind a word or lend a helping hand.

I am grateful for the sharing of ideas, for good conversation and laughter that makes my life full. I am grateful for air to breathe, water to drink and food to fuel the body and soul. I am grateful for road crews and emergency workers who keep others safe amid the storms that blanket our nation today.

I am grateful for family who bring joy and courage and faith in the face of any circumstances.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you find the courage to step away from the shore of old habits and fears today, as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

To begin to think with purpose is to enter the ranks of those strong ones who only recognize failure as one of the pathways to attainment. James Allen

By Greenfinge

The runner doesn't win because he cannot fail; he wins because he meets failure with determination as he uses his failure to improve his performance. Why then do we think we that failure is the end of the path?

So often in life, we give up on the things that are important to us, we succumb to the slightest hint of failure assuming that all is lost without considering altering our path.

Consider your seeming failures, today and cultivate the habit of seeing them as mere bumps in the road that give you strength and  direction to the path you must take to reach your goals.

Today, I am grateful for  rolling mountains, for untamed forests and the mysterious ocean teeming with life we have scarcely discovered.

I am grateful for the vastness of the universe that we call home, for the beauty of nature and for the unseen hand that created it all.

I am grateful for changing seasons, the rise and set of the sun and the cycles of the moon that sets the world aglow on dark summer nights.

I am grateful for family that surrounds me, for friends who brighten my day and for strangers who challenge my thinking. 

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop and share my day. May you meet failure with strength and determination today that you may find the pathway that leads in the direction of your dreams.

The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible. Author Unknown

By aconant

So often in life we become immobilized by the fear that what we wish to achieve is too hard, too far away or too difficult to attain and turn away from our heart's desires by convincing ourselves that we cannot go a step further.

Seldom do we admit that fear controls our actions. We rationalize and look through the eyes of the world and tell ourselves that we are being realistic, but in truth we have allowed fear a stronghold, as it cultivates doubt and colors our thoughts.

Guard against fear, today. Cultivate positive thoughts and faith and know that you can achieve the seemingly impossible--if you but believe.

Today, I am grateful for the seeds of success that have been planted with positive thoughts and the faith that all shall come to pass as it should.


I am grateful for ladybugs that survive the coldest of winters to remind me that spring is on its way,  for the gentle fall of lacy snowflakes that glitter in the morning light and for the day that is set before me.


I am grateful for those who lend a helping hand, for those who offer a positive word and those who offer up their lives for the good of man.

I am grateful that positive thoughts and positive energy chases away doubt and fear, that I have the ability to choose my thoughts and that I have the ability to touch the lives of others.


I am grateful for a past that has made me strong, for the present that holds great joy and for the future filled with awesome possibilities.


I am grateful for family that I call home, for my children who have grown strong and for the bright vision of their futures.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you cultivate an attitude of gratitude for all you have been given and challenge your fears so that you may go forward in the direction of your dreams.

Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It's what sunflowers do. - Helen Keller

This little beauty sprung forth beneath my bird feeder in a secluded corner that receives filtered sun a mere few hours each day. Instead of withering away from want of the sun, it choose to stand strong and tall to welcome the few rays it receives with gratitude.

Instead of giving up for lack of soil, it sent forth its roots into the shallow soil and held fast never faltering against the winds.

It held its head high and bloomed despite its circumstances and reached forth to greet the sun with joy, turning its face to follow its path.

We have much to learn from the lowly sunflower that awakes with joy, never faltering in its focus on that which brings it warmth and growth and life.

I wish for you, today, that you greet the world like the humble sunflower, lifting up your face with joy to all that is good and life affirming. Maintain your focus and follow the path of that which brings you joy with gratitude.

Today, I am grateful for the quiet of the morning, the cool soft breeze and the first rays of sun. I am grateful for birds on wing, for butterflies and blooming flowers. I am grateful for the fragrance of nature, the glorious dew drop on the leaf and grass that blankets the land. I am grateful for the opportunity to greet another day with joy. I am grateful for the rustling of leaves, delicate ferns in dappled sunlight and wildflowers that bloom despite their circumstances. I am grateful for family and friends who bring me great joy and make my life full. I am grateful to my God, and creator, for the immense beauty he has bestowed upon this earth.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader. May you greet the world like a radiant sunflower lifting up your face to all that is good and life affirming today.