To be happy, we must not be too concerned with others. Albert Camus

So often we let others determine our happiness or peace of mind by being too concerned about what they think to enjoy our lives. Although others are important and treating them with love and respect is always a good choice - being true to yourself is important too. 

Strive to remember that what others think about your dreams and goals is never as important as what you think.      Seek out support and advice from those you trust, but resist the urge to doubt yourself due to their negativity.

Today, I am grateful for a snow-covered earth that glistens under the winter sun, for pine trees covered with snow and green grass that sleeps beneath the surface. I am grateful for mild, moist air that feels like spring in the midst of winter for it reminds me of the warm days to come.

I am grateful for new opportunities that come my way when I least expect them, for the wisdom to choose wisely which I will pursue, and the courage to take risks when necessary. I am grateful for the power to choose, the right to make my own decisions, and the freedom to pursue my dreams.

I am grateful for life that I may enjoy the enormous beauty that surrounds me. I am grateful for people who never cease to amaze me.

I am grateful for family and friends who make my life whole, for acquaintances from long ago who helped mold the person I am today, and for those yet to come into my life who will help mold what I become.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you always remember that happiness comes from within and not from the opinions of others as you go forward in the direction of your dreams. 

Your life is your message to the world. Make it inspiring. Lorrin L. Lee

By: wallyir

Consider the message you send out to the world today with the way you choose to live your life. Often, we become so self-absorbed that we forget that others perceive our motives and our beliefs according to the attitudes and actions we show to the world.

By practicing a positive outlook, expressing sincere gratitude for all that you have, and aligning your actions with your beliefs your life you will soon take on a new appearance and the message you send the world will overflowing with positive energy.

Today, I am grateful for the sliver of the moon that glitters in the night, for stars that dance in the cold and for woodsmoke that drifts pungent and comforting in the air. I am grateful for the blue-black sky, the vastness of the universe and snow that blankets the earth below.


I am grateful to know the sun will rise again and chase away the darkness, for the changing of seasons and for gravity.


I am grateful for the people in my life who have made me who I am, today--for those who challenged me and those who lead the way. I am grateful for family that grounds me, for ideas that excite me and the courage to pursue my dreams.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you always send out the message that expresses the wonderful being your are and you go forth 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.

Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results. Willie Nelson

by hotblack

Consider the lowly caterpillar that transforms into a butterfly able to soar above the treetops. He doesn't enter the chrysalis with thoughts of dread. Instead, he knows that all will transpire as it should.

Cultivate the faith of a caterpillar today, exchanging old negative thoughts with positive thoughts and watch your world transform.

Today, I am grateful to be warm and snug inside as yet another snowstorm engulfs Maine, for administrators who must make the important decision of whether or not to close schools and for the brave men and women who work diligently to clear the roads.


I am grateful for the ability to work from home uninterrupted by winter storms, for a clear sound mind and for vision to see where I must go. I am grateful for all the circumstances in my life that have worked together to bring me to where I am, for the joy of the day and the promise of a bright tomorrow.


I am grateful for family and friends that make me strong, for old friends along life's journey and for new friends I have yet to meet. 


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you replace your negative thoughts with positive thoughts and go forth to meet your dreams.

Playing the Hand You are Dealt

Photo by Chelle

Life is not a matter of having good cards, but of playing a poor hand well. Robert Louis Stevenson

So often people fall prey to thinking that they can't accomplish their heart's desires, can't be prosperous or can't be successful because they simply were not born into the right family or haven't been handed the family money. For others it takes the form of believing they are not attractive enough, not smart enough or simply not worthy of success and happiness. They believe the hand they have been dealt is flawed.


This self-defeating trap holds hundreds of thousands--perhaps millions--of people in its grip rendering them powerless to change their lives and find joy and happiness. 


But life isn't about the hand you have been dealt by the world. Its about learning to play your hand well and succeed despite the circumstances. The Bible tells us in Romans 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The key, it seems is the renewing of your mind, not only towards God, but towards life itself. When we accept the warped view the outside world paints for us, we fall victim to comparing ourselves to some fictional image of success. When we are unable to attain it, we then internalize our failure believing that we are flawed.

Let go of the image of your flawed self and the notion that you must live the faulty hand you were dealt, today. Renew your mind by focusing on all that is good and just in your life, give gratitude for what you have and get on with the business of playing your hand well.

Today, I am grateful to live in America where my choices are many and my opportunities are great. I am grateful for the ability to look beyond what others believe and the world expects and see where I must go.


I am grateful for crystal clear skies and brilliant night stars that bid me good morning, for puffs of smoke that streams from chimneys and the occasional bark of a far-away dog.


I am grateful for the flow of ideas, the courage to listen to them and the desire to make a difference in my world.


I am grateful for family and friends who fill my life with laughter and good times, for strangers who carry on with their lives with courage and strength and those who spend their lives uplifting others. 

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you rise above the hand you were dealt, renew your mind to all that is good and just in the world and play your hand well.

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.

In honor of my daughter..

My Favorite Photo (I've Ever Taken) 3 Brickfish

I'd like to deviate from my typical post today to share my daughters work. She has entered this photo in a competition to earn a scholarship for  college and can use your support. Voting is quick and easy and only takes a second. You can vote twice a day, everyday for the next 45 plus days. To win, she needs to make her way to the top. As of this writing, she is rated as 33 out of 8518. Points are earned both from votes and from posts to other sites, such a twitter, facebook and blogs.


Today, I am grateful for good friends, the generosity of strangers and sugar free French vanilla coffee creamer. I am grateful for family that lighten my load, for writers who share their knowledge and for photographers who capture what the eyes cannot. 

I am grateful for holiday wrappings, dangling ribbons and candy canes. 


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader as you stop to share my day. May your holidays be cheery and your heart be light.


UPDATE: 12/23/10: Her entry is now #28 out of 9251 entries. Thanks for your continued support.

Live your life each day as you would climb a mountain...

“Live your life each day as you would climb a mountain. An occasional glance towards the summit keeps the goal in mind, but many beautiful scenes are to be observed from each new vintage point.”
- Harold B Melchart



Photo by kananaskis_country


Sometimes, we become so focused on where we want to go that we forget to enjoy and appreciate everything around us. This is particularly true when our goals involve making money or paying the bills.Although keeping your goals in sight and maintaining focus on ways to achieve them is important to success, don't forget that without gratitude for what we already have, the journey is incomplete.

Take the time to look around you today, and learn to express your gratitude for all that is good and just in the world. You may not have reached your goals, yet--but there is great beauty and goodness around you, if you but take the time to look.

Resist the urge to think that you'll be happy when you attain your goals. As we learned in "Happy for No Reason" by Marci Schimoff, if we can't experience happiness where we are, we will not experience it by attaining more money or material things. Happiness comes from within when we appreciate what we have already been given. Only then, can we go forth with confidence to attain our goals.


Today, I am grateful for new fallen snow that envelops the world in white, for Christmas lights that twinkle into the night and for the stars in the heavens that perform their own light show. I am grateful for gentle music, purring cats and the sound of the wind.

I am grateful for eyes to see, ears to hear and a mouth to speak. I am grateful for the natural energy to do the things I love, for words that flow easily from my soul and and the ability to change negative thoughts to positive by simply changing my focus.
 
I am grateful for family, for friends, and for neighbors who keep my world secure, promise a bright future and share my life. I am grateful for opportunities to help others as they meet obstacles in their lives, to share their joy in celebrating their successes and to encourage them when times are tough.
 
And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you celebrate all that is good and pleasing in your life today as you work toward your goals.

We awaken in others the same attitude of mind we hold toward them. ~Elbert Hubbard

Photo by kakisky



It's easy to believe that our attitude would be different, that our lives would be more enjoyable or that we would be better able to reach our goals if those around us would simply get with the program and change their attitudes towards life.

If you are like most people, you have probably experienced days when everything runs smoothly, everyone you meet is in a happy and uplifting mood and life simply flows. You've probably also experienced days when everything goes wrong and those around you are in sour or depressed moods.

You might even be guilty of saying that the moods of others are getting you down.

Consider that your attitude, your mood, your approach toward the day may actually be the attitude that starts it all.  Guard your attitudes and outlook carefully today. Consider not how others effect you. Consider how you effect them.

Today, I am grateful for the beginning of a new week, for the energy and commitment to meet my goals. I am grateful for gray skies that remind me that winter will come, for changing seasons that add beauty to our world and for frozen puddles that crackle and pop with my step.


I am grateful for time to complete daily tasks, for cozy evenings to read good books and for the infinite expanse of the Internet filled with wonderful uplifting stories of those who overcome all odds to meet their goals. I am grateful for the ability to filter what I feed my mind, the insight to seek out that which is uplifting and the wisdom to make the right choices.


Am grateful for the people in my life that I call family. For friends who offer support and all the  lives that my words touch today. 

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you guard your attitude well, today and make a positive difference in the world.

“Dreams are like stars...you may never touch them, but if you follow them they will lead you to your destiny.”

Sometimes we think that dreams are just mysterious wishes that pop into our thoughts and our lives for no reason, and treat them as though they are fleeting fancies that belong to the night. Some dreams may be fleeting, but those that linger are given to your for a reason.

Consider the dreams of your heart today. Perhaps you want a better home, a happier lifestyle or perfect health.  Develop the courage to Follow Your Dreams because they will lead your where you need to go.


Today, I am grateful for the break of dawn, for the beginning of a new and glorious day, for courage and strength and vision as I go forth into the world today.

I am grateful for the vast universe that inspires awe, for a human body to house my soul and for the smell of rain and the feeling of approaching snow. I am grateful for evergreen trees that stand strong in winter storms.


I am grateful for family that makes my house home, for holidays to call us together and memories that build strong bonds.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your follow your dreams today and learn from them what your need to learn.











Photo by NASA.gov

“Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results.”~ Willie Nelson

Many of us confuse the cause and effect of our attitude-- thinking that what happens in our lives determines our attitude, when in reality our attitudes often dictate what happens in our lives.

Cultivating a positive attitude towards life, and towards ourselves, doesn't eliminate all the negatives in the world, but it does effect how well we deal with them and how much joy we find in our lives.

If you find that difficult to believe, consider for a moment how an entire day can be filled with joyous uplifting experiences while another seems doomed to bad experiences from the moment you awake in the morning.

It's no coincidence that whatever you set your mind upon follows you through your day. You are conditioning your mind to seek out more of the same. You give the directions and your mind dutifully obeys.

If you are a religious person, you already know that God instructs us to renew our minds.  "And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:2.


Isn't it time you renew your mind today and place on focus on all that is good and just in the world?

Today, I am grateful for food to eat, clothes to wear and a home to live in. I am grateful for books to read, words of wisdom and laughter that makes my heart light. I am grateful for giving hearts and caring souls that populate our earth. 

I am grateful for new opportunities within my grasp, for the courage and strength to pursue them and the wisdom to discern their worth.


I am grateful for family, for wonderful children who both make me proud, for siblings that make me strong and a life mate that shares my life. I am grateful for my small rural community that keeps me safe, for rolling hills and majestic mountains that beautify the world and ladybugs.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your mind be renewed as you go forward toward your dreams, today.










Photo by  where_ever_i_am

Things do not change; we change. ~ Henry David Thoreau

I found the amazing book Happy for No Reason tucked beneath other more popular books at my local store the other day. I haven't read it all, but the first three chapters have me hooked--so I thought I'd take a moment to share with you today.

For those of you who are not aware, Marci Shimoff appeared in The Secret and does motivational speaking across the globe. I expected to hear more of the same, but I got  a big surprise. I expected to be told that I needed to do to find true and lasting happiness was to change my thinking--but I found much more.

The first three chapters referenced actual scientific studies that supported the fact that--are you ready--we have a happiness set-point ( much like the weight set point) and no matter what happens in our lives we return to the same level of happiness within a very short period.

Unless you suffer from clinical depression or some other biological disorder, it doesn't matter if the event is positive or negative. As human beings we return to the same point we have spent our whole lives functioning at.

The good news is, we can reset our happiness meter and enjoy peace and happiness we never thought possible.

Isn't that just amazing?

Of course, one of the ways to reset your happiness meter is by expressing your gratitude for the things you already have in your life. Check back tomorrow to see what other amazing things this book has to offer.

Today I am grateful for wide-open fields, scurrying field mice and fall berries that continue to linger until snow. For crisp cold mornings and chimneys that send up a straight gray plume, for golden lights that illuminate distant windows and dog barks that tell me the world is wake.


I am grateful for the distant call of the chickadee that will soon find his way to the feeder, for blue jays that teeter on branches looking for a frozen treat and mourning doves as they draw close for cracked corn.


I am grateful for family and friends who share my world, for old friends who have gone on to their own lives in their own worlds and for future friends whose path I am destined to cross.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your happiness meter remain on full as you go forward to reach your dreams.

“Dreams are today's answers to tomorrow's questions.” ~ Edgar Cayce

Photo by badrobot

According to Edgar Cayce, tomorrow's questions have already been asked and you get the wonderful chance to answer them by following your own dreams. Think about that for a bit and you will realize there is never an excuse for arriving unprepared.

Consider your dreams and goals for your future and what questions in life they may answer for you. Hold tight, move forward and always strive to follow the dreams of your heart.


Today, I am grateful for clean, fresh sheets dried on the clothesline, for for soft pillows on which to rest my head and cuddly blankets that keep me warm as the fall chill overtakes the air.

I am grateful for sandwiches for a quick dinner, for steaming hot coffee and wool socks. I am grateful for wind chimes that sing out in the crisp fall wind, for bunny rabbits that hop down the road and the moon in its continual change of shape and beauty.


I am grateful for family and friends that I hold dear, for neighbors whose light shows the way and strangers I will someday call friend.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your dreams provide the answers to the questions of tomorrow.

“There are always flowers for those who want to see them.”~Henri Matisse









Photo by nrichford 



Consider what you choose to see today. The world is filled with beauty, if we but take the time to look. Lift up your eyes today and gaze on all that is good an uplifting. 

Resist the urge to dwell on things that bring you down for they will surely color your day and blind you to your goals and dreams.


Today, I am grateful for breath, for a beating heart and for life that I might bring goodness to the world. I am grateful for the example set by those who have gone before me, for laughter of good friends and tears that wash away all pain.


I am grateful for summer flowers that succumb to frost for now, but will be reborn in the glorious spring. I am grateful for the changing seasons that remind me that there is a time for everything whether I recognize it or not.


I am grateful for family that keeps me strong, for community that that supports its members and for spider webs that glisten in the sun.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your day be cheerful and may you always keep sight of the flowers.

“Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.”~ Ovid

by seemann

Take time to rest today and resist the urge to make your work all-consuming. Consider why you have the goals in the first place. For most of us, they are a way to improve the quality of our lives, but when they begin to take over every waking moment, we defeat their purpose.

Rest your mind and your body today, if possible. If today is not an option, set aside a day soon that you can devote to rest.  You deserve it. 

Today, I am grateful for solitude that refreshes my soul, for the freedom to choose rest, and the ability to enjoy it. I am grateful for the distant cry of the blue jay that announces "the feeder is full," for the tiny hummingbird that has not yet winged his way south, and stray flowers that continue to bloom.

I am grateful for bright blue skies and scattered white clouds and the soft flutter of leaves in the morning air.  

I am grateful for family and friends. May their hearts be filled with warmth and their days filled with joy. 

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you find rest from your work and comfort for the soul.
 

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.~Harriet Tubman

photo courtesy of NASA

Consider your passions today for they will guide you to your goals. Practice doing what you love and you will find ways to go beyond what you ever dreamed possible. Your passion will carry you through, but you need to be ready to follow wherever your passion leads.

Whether you are a writer, an artist or simply want to make the world a better place, you can do it by following your heart and your passion.

Look for opportunities to use your skills and passion to go forward, today.

Today, I am grateful for a heart filled with passion and the patience to follow where it may lead. I am grateful for opportunities to use my skills to better the world. I am grateful for the vision to see opportunities at every turn, the courage to pursue them and the knowledge that I can achieve whatever my heart desires.

I am grateful for brightly colored leaves that bid farewell to summer and announce the arrival of fall, for pungent fragrance of fallen leaves and winter birds that return to my feeder.

I am grateful for country air, the magnificent blue jay and chickadees that sing their merry song. I am grateful for the ability to reach the world from the comfort of my home, for computers that make my task easy, and for electricity to keep my world afloat.

I am grateful for family and friends who make my life whole, for little children who relish the wonders of newly fallen leaves, and dogs that chase busy squirrels as they prepare for winter.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your passion be great and and your heart be warm as you go forth to pursue your dreams and goals today.

Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal. Pamela Vaull Starr

photo by NASA

Consider your deepest dreams, today. Work to transform them into goals. Only then can you work toward bringing them to life.

If you haven't done so already, begin writing down short term goals that take you closer to where you ultimately want to go. Not only does this clarify what you really want in life, it provides a road map leading to your dreams.


Start small, if you need to. There is no time limit on reaching your goals. You are free to move as quickly or as slowly as necessary. Cherish the journey and reward yourself for each milestone you reach. Remember, small steps leading in the direction of your dreams soon add up to great strides.


Today, I am grateful for old friends who encourage me, new friends that share common goals and those who spur me to look at life in varying ways. I am grateful for family, for community and laughter.


I am grateful for fall flowers that continue to bloom as frost draws near, for trees that dance in brisk fall winds, and dappled sunlight that drifts through my window.


I am grateful for opportunities to expand my craft, for the time to devote to reaching out to others, and for the wisdom to see their needs.


I am grateful for the infinite beauty of the Universe.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your dreams be big and your goals be clear as you go forward to make a better day.

“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.