Happiness is never out of our reach for the miracle of life is that we are all free to follow the path of our dreams.

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Sometimes we get so caught up in the daily business of living that we forget to pursue our dreams. Not because our dreams aren't important anymore, or we think we can't reach them - but because we somehow lose track of where we were headed in the first place. This has been one of those times for me.

It's not that anything monumental has happened. It hasn't. It isn't even that I've suddenly had too many demands on my time. It has been more of a falling off so gradual I didn't even notice. Maybe it is due to the long winter or the economy that has all of us struggling to meet the demands of daily life. 

Yesterday, I took the day off from writing to work in my garden. As evening approached, I took my coffee to the backyard and sat listening the bird's as they bid the day farewell. Gazing over my garden beds,the gentle summer breeze bathed my face, and I was suddenly struck with just how lucky I am. Suddenly, I remembered why I have chosen the solitary life as a writer in the first place. It is the freedom to enjoy God's creation that has lead me to life where I set the hours, I direct my path and God provides the inspiration.

If you, like me, have lost your way in pursuing your dreams, take the time to reconnect with the life force that propelled you in the direction of your dreams in the first place. Find that silent inspiration that makes you soul sing. Only by reconnecting to with that life force - whatever you perceive it to be - can you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

Today, I am grateful for the beauty of the universe, for green growing things, flowers that burst forth in bloom, and birds that soar to the heavens. I am grateful for the color of the sky as day descends to night, I am grateful for the bright night stars, for the shimmering moon, and the vastness of what lies beyond.

I am grateful for the tiny hummingbird, the song of the robin, and butterflies that flit from flower to flower. I am grateful for the summer sun, for the cool breeze that plays music through the leaves, and for gentle rain that refreshes the earth.

I am grateful for family and friends who bring me great joy, for my children as they go forth into the world ready to pursue their dreams, and for my husband who shares my life.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May  you find your source of inspiration today as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

The question for each man to settle is not what he would do if he had means, time, influence, and educational advantages, but what he will do with the things he has. Hamilton Wright Mabie

By cohdra

 

 

Often we fill our thoughts with the things we will do when we have enough time or enough money believing that we are powerless in our lives until the magical moment arrives when we have enough to pursue our dreams. But the power doesn't lie in what we attain, it lies in doing the best we can with what we already have.

Each of us holds the power to go forward and improve our lives--to reach our dreams--if we but consider how to use the resources we already have.

Let go of the idea that what you have is not enough to start you on your journey to reach your heart's desires. Focus on what you want and the path will become clear.

Today, I am grateful for a good night's rest, for houseplants that thrive inside the home and for flowers that will return in spring.

I am grateful for effective use of my time, for a quick, sharp mind that allows me to pursue my dreams and for much laughter along the way.

I am grateful for lazy days to allow thoughts and dreams to grow, for busy days to put them into motion and for the faith to wait until they come to pass.

I am grateful for family that continually amazes me, for friends who share my dreams and for old friends who have seen me through it all.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you cast aside thoughts of lack today, and use what you've already been given to go forward in the direction of your dreams.

Chance is always powerful. Let your hook be always cast; in the pool where you least expect it, there will be a fish. Ovid

Photo by demondimum

Sometimes, we get discouraged when our goals and dreams don't come quick enough to suit our desires. Instead of exercising patience we give up and go in search of other opportunities or to test the waters in other areas. 

We will never know how many opportunities we have missed due to our lack of patience, for all things come in their own time.


If you are struggling to reach a particular goal today, use care not to give up too soon. Develop the patience of the angler today as he sits quietly casting his line over and over waiting for the big one to strike. 


Today, I am grateful for the sound of snow as it lights softly on the trees, for the silent flight of winter birds and for the fragrance of winter.


I am grateful for the muffled whoosh of cars as they travel past, for the joy of dogs as they tussle in the snow and for squirrels that prance lightly on the surface.


I am grateful for electricity to light my world, for old movies and well-loved books.


I am grateful for family, for friends and readers who share my day.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your lines always be cast and may your catch be great.

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day. ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Photo by mconnors

As we turn the page to a new year, life looms before us filled with opportunities and unexplored dreams.  Take the time today to really consider what that means to your life and set goals for reaching your dreams this year.

Don't worry that you dream too big, as that is seldom the case. It is not that our dreams are too big that cause I us to fail, it is that our faith is too small.

Cultivate the faith to believe you can accomplish your hearts desires, as your life will follow wherever you thoughts lead. It is up to you to set the sails and determine the direction you will go.

Cast off the belief that people and circumstances control your destiny, for surely your faith and determination are greater than the minor details that appear to hold you back.

Go ahead. Open the book. Begin writing the pages of a brand new year, filled with hope and promise of all good things that will come to pass. Get ready for the amazing journey that lies before you. You have the power inside you to make things happen. It's always been there. Isn't it time you set it free?

Today, I am grateful for a fresh new slate to start a new year, for the faith to carrying through and for the vision to see where I need to go. I am grateful for the "still quiet voice" that guides me, for the power to realize my dreams and the courage to stand by my beliefs.


I am grateful for the drive and determination to succeed in everything I do, for a sound mind that will see me through and for a healthy strong body to support me. I am grateful for renewed energy and a renewed mind that sees clearly where I need to go.


I am grateful for family that share my journey, for readers who benefit from my words and for opportunities I have yet to see. I am grateful for love, for laughter and for quiet moments to reflect on the beauty of nature, the song of the bird and the incredible will and faith of people around me. 


I am grateful for those who share my vision of a bright tomorrow, who are willing to work toward their goals by casting their gaze on all that is good and just in the world, and who know that the real power to change the world lies within each of us.


I am grateful for music that lifts up my soul, for a higher being that knows exactly where I should go and who never tires of showing me the way.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your vision is bright and your heart be light as you go forth to realize your dreams in this glorious new year.

New Year's eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights. ~Hamilton Wright Mabie

 Photo by grafixar

I've always liked New Year's Eve, not for going out or entertaining guests, but because it holds that magical moment when our symbolic past and our hopes for the future lie in balance, waiting for the scales to tip. 


It's not that I don't value the past or that I have anything negative in my life that I wish to put behind me. I don't. It's the anticipation of new adventures, the hope of reaching new goals and the light of a brand new year approaching that I love the most.


In it lies the promise of reaching new heights, accomplishing new things and going new places.


Consider where you've been this year and take pride in all you have accomplished. Express your gratitude for all you have, but aim for more. 


Today, I am grateful for the hundreds of people who have voted for my daughter's entry in a photo contest so she may win a college scholarship. Your votes bring her closer to realizing her hopes and dreams for the future. (You can vote here, if you are so inclined.)


I am grateful for the opportunity to share my holidays with my son, even though he is miles away, for my brother who cared for my animals while I was away and for family to spend the holidays with.


I am grateful for another year to work towards my goals, for the opportunity to spend my days doing what I love best--writing.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you view your past with pride and view the future with hope and never lose sight of your goals.
 

Sometimes opportunity knocks, but most of the time it sneaks up and then quietly steals away. ~ Doug Larson

photo by cohdra


Many of us are in the habit of sitting back and waiting for opportunity to knock on the front door, but what we don't consider is that opportunity is every where if we but look. 

Sitting idly by expecting opportunity to enter our lives with fanfare and announce itself is a bit naive, to say the least. If you seek opportunity in your life, you must be ready to recognize and act when it appears.

Keep your options open today and don't be too quick to close doors that may lead you down the path you should go. I'm not suggesting you follow every "fly by night" opportunity someone puts in front of you--but I am suggesting you consider your options regularly.

Today, I am grateful for the winter sun, clear roads and grocery stores that provide fresh fruits and vegetables in the midst of winter. I am grateful for seeds that lie silent throughout the winter and burst forth into lush green plants in spring. I am grateful for snow laden trees that decorate the wintry world.


I am grateful for talented and intelligent children who express there concern for the world, for family that I can count on and for friends who share my journey. 

I am grateful for the approaching new year ready to unfold, for new opportunities to go beyond what I ever dreamed possible and for recognizing them when they appear.


And, I am grateful for you dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your opportunities be many and may you be ready to act when they arrive.

Don't turn away from possible futures before you're certain you don't have anything to learn from them. ~Richard Bach

 





Consider all your choices today and use caution with discarding possible paths to your goals simply because they aren't what you expected.


In the movie Beyond the Secret, Bob Proctor speaks of the value of intuition in reaching our goals. When a thought or idea pops into your head, take a moment to consider its value. Would acting on that idea move you closer to reaching your goals? 


Today, I am grateful for those who choose to share their insights and knowledge of the world, for freedom of choice that allows me to find my own path, and for intuition to guide my day.


I am grateful for an open mind that allows me to consider the world from varying viewpoints, for a sound clear mind with which to think, and for a heart that beats.


I am grateful for family and friends who fill my day, for afternoon naps, and kittens.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop and share my day. May you take the time to consider all paths to your goals before casting them aside without thought.

“You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith.” Mary Manin Morrissey

Photo By: nasirkhan

Consider the effect of fear on your ability to reach your goals today.If you allow fear to become boulders in your path, you will never reach the water's edge. Clear away the fear that you may follow the path to reach your goals and dreams today.

Today, I am grateful for mountains that stand proud against the storm and valleys that offer their protection. I am grateful for lightning that energizes the air, rain that washes away the soil and soot, and a mighty universe that holds us tight upon this little planet called earth.

I am grateful for gravity, for whirling gasses that make up the sun and far-away-stars that hold mysteries we are yet to learn. I am grateful for the vastness of the universe that gives rise to contemplation of our place in life, for open fields that allow wildflowers to grow and for the great ocean that teems with life, yet undiscovered.

I am grateful for the people who have entered my life and those who I have yet to meet. I am grateful for family and pets to keep me company.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop and share my day. May you clear away the fear and follow your path to reach your dreams today. 

There are exactly as many special occasions in life as we choose to celebrate.  ~Robert Brault








photo by earl53

Consider what you choose to focus your energy on today. Each of us holds the power to to focus on the good things in life and celebrate the events and people in our lives that bring joy and peace into the world. Look for those special occasions in your life that give you cause to celebrate and let them be your focus.

Make a decision to cultivate a positive attitude about yourself and about your life. If you hold ill feelings toward another or harbor resentments and hurt today, make a decision to let them go. They can only hold you down and rob you of your joy. Lift up your heart and your life to the light today and celebrate.

Today I am grateful for a good night's sleep, for a soft pillow on which to rest my head and comfortable blankets to keep me warm. I am grateful for streaks of sun that tell me it is time to awake. I am grateful for pouncing cats, ambitious dogs and cawing crows that announce the beginning of a new day.

I am grateful for a day off from work so I can gather my thoughts and refresh my mind for another week. I am grateful for the great oceans that I know exist beyond my view, mountains that stand strong against the storm, and forests.

I am grateful for family and friends that bring me strength, for online friends who lift others up when they are down, and those who will cross my path as I follow my dreams and strive to reach my goals.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you find much to celebrate today as you lift up your heart and seek all that is good in the world. 

Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.  ~Maori Proverb








photo by anitapatterson

Consider where you choose to focus your attention today. You may not be able to eliminate all that is negative in the world, but you can choose to put it behind you as you focus your attention on the positive. 


Forget the shadows today and go forth with faith and conviction that you can conquer your dreams.  Have faith in yourself and your abilities today and seek out opportunities that will bring you closer to realizing your dreams.


Today, I am grateful for another day to go steadfastly toward my dreams. I am grateful for insight and wisdom to make the right choices, courage to stand for what I believe even when those around me are filled with doubt, and the joy that comes from knowing the path is always open.


I am grateful for new ideas, for happy memories and beautiful songs. I am grateful for life-long friends who support me in whatever I choose to do. I am grateful for those who question as it brings to light new thoughts, poses new considerations, and opens new pathways. 


I am grateful for the sun that brings life to our world, for the rain that nourishes the earth and darkness that brings solace to the soul. 


I am grateful for a spouse that supports my work, for my children who work steadfastly to improve their lives and for siblings that share a family bond. 

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop and share my day. May you look always to the sun and may the shadows always fall behind you.
 

So often time it happens, we all live our life in chains, and we never even know we have the key.  ~The Eagles, "Already Gone"


photo by wintersixfour



Consider the chains that bind you, today. So often we tell ourselves "I'm too tired," "I don't have enough time," or even "I'm not smart enough or good enough or talented enough to reach my dreams."

Take off the shackles today and allow yourself the freedom to pursue your dreams. Claim your right to your dreams today and know that working steadfastly toward them will bring them to pass. 


Today, I am grateful for the driving rain that soaks into the parched earth, for cool air that brings relief from smothering heat, and happy birds that sing despite the rain. I am grateful for mud puddles and frogs that stop to bathe.

I am grateful for the magnificent universe with galaxies beyond where the eye can see. I am grateful for starry nights, moonrise and sweet night air that envelopes the world.


I am grateful for those who work behind the scenes--plumbers, electricians and sewer workers-- that keep my world running as it should. I am grateful for rainforests, deserts, and mountains that help create a diverse world.

I am grateful for family to love, friends to share with, and strangers who brighten my day.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop and share my day. May you loosen the chains that bind you and go forth to conquer your dreams.

You are always free to choose a different future . . . or a different past. Richard Bach

Yesterday, we talked about creating new futures by letting go of the past. Let's take a look at our past today. Whatever has happened in our lives up until today has been cemented into our memories and formed the foundation of who we are. It is over. Gone. It is what it is and we are powerless to change it, or are we?

I was born the youngest of 8 siblings, but more importantly, I was born much later making me the little sister that was never really part of "their childhood" and certainly not a part of my parent's youth. I never really minded. Life was what it was and I didn't question that.

One day, when we were grown, my sister commented that I had grown up in a "different family" than she had. She was right, of course. Our parents had grown and life had changed and the world was a very different place when I came along, but I also realize it was much more than that.

Of course we grew up in different families. Our family is a reflection of our thoughts, our beliefs, our personal perception of the world. My life was different, not because of the people and events that unfolded in my lifetime, but because of my interpretations of those events.

Your life is a reflection of your individual perception, too. What you call reality is nothing more than your interpretation of a series of events you call the past. You can't change the events, but you can change the way you look at them.

If you have pain and hurt and struggles rooted in the past that are holding you back today, make a conscious effort to examine the events that created them and view them from a different light. Come to peace with your personal demons and move forward toward the future knowing you can accomplish your dreams.

Today, I am grateful for the dusting of snow that shimmers like a thousand diamonds in the morning light. I am grateful to hear, to see and to feel. I am grateful for the winter chill that proves I am alive. I am grateful for age and the timeless beauty of remaining forever young in mind and soul. I am grateful for laughter to lift the spirits, for solitude to rest the soul and companionship of family that makes life full.

I am grateful for healing of old wounds, for beginnings and for the hope of what is to come. I am grateful for a past that has molded who I am but has no power to alter my future, unless I allow it. I am grateful for the understanding that I alone can reshape my past by viewing it in a different light and accepting it for what it was and nothing more.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, for allowing me to share what I have learned and for joining me on the journey to the future. May you consider your past today and give thanks for that which has made you strong and view your old struggles in a different light. Take its power away today, by creating a different past that leads to a different future. May you day be filled with abundance.

Dreams Determine Your Tomorrows

Dreams are illustrations... from the book your soul is writing about you. Marsha Norman Consider your dreams today; they are the seeds of your tomorrow. Whether you dream big or you dream small determines the degree of the greatness you can achieve. Be the mighty hot air balloon that floats effortlessly above the earth with a clear vision of the world below. Many years ago a dear friend gave me a birthday card. A gorgeous Hot Air Balloon floated across the deep blue sky. The verse indicated that she wanted to give me a hot air balloon ride for my birthday, but could not. Taped inside was a bright red balloon with the verse.. . "So, I'm sending you the seed." What a marvelous idea. The card has long been misplaced, but the thought has lingered across the years. My very own hot air balloon seed was more than I could hope for. Of course, at the time I didn't see the significance, but I understand now. To reap the things we want in our life, we must sow the seeds. Isn't it time you rewrite the book of you? Illustrate it with your dreams and watch your life as it transforms from ordinary to extraordinary. Today, I am grateful for time -- time to dream, time to do, time to be, and time to become. I am grateful for the the sun that rises, the winds that blow and the air I breathe. I am grateful for the calming peace that comes from knowing my life transforms gracefully from old to new as result of my thoughts and dreams and prayers. I am grateful for birds on wing, for the music of the wind and cats that cuddle lovingly despite the circumstances. I am grateful for family and friends that make my life full. And, I am grateful for you, dear reader as you summon up the courage to dream big and make remarkable changes in your life. May your day be filled with peace and joy and all that is good.

If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed ...

If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to your mountain, """"MOVE!" and it WILL move... and NOTHING will be impossible for YOU! - Matthew 17:20 Consider the lowly mustard seed this morning. Although there is much controversy over what plant Jesus actually referred to (some claim there are huge mustard trees, others claim that true mustard is a bush, while others prefer to believe Jesus spoke of ordinary mustard ... like the picture here... ) the fact remains that a tiny seed harbors within itself the ability to sprout and grow into a living plant much greater than itself. But how does it do that? If we are to believe the teaching of Jesus, it does it by faith ... and if we have this faith we can move mountains. The lowly mustard seed can lie dormant for years, but given water, warmth and good soil it will sprout and flourish. It doesn't worry that it cannot grow. It doesn't spend its days begging for water or praying for the sun. It doesn't fear that perhaps it is not good enough or smart enough to grow. It simply trusts that within itself lies everything it needs to sprout and grow into exactly what it was meant to be. I always thought having the faith of a mustard seed meant to have tremendous faith, something I had to work hard to attain. But the seed doesn't work hard. It doesn't need to study or perform specific tasks. All it needs is the quiet faith of knowing it will become something much greater than itself. How much greater are we than the tiny seed, and yet we lack faith. Have faith in yourself today and let the seed of who you are sprout and bloom. Today, I am grateful for the bright winter sun as it glistens on the snow, for houseplants that thrive throughout the long winter days, and for my garden of flowers that waits under the snow ready to grow and bloom when spring returns. I am grateful for those I love and for those who love me. I am grateful to be alive and for the chance to share my thoughts with you. And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your day be filled with joy and peace and may you find the faith of a mustard seed that will set you free.