Happiness is not in our circumstances, but in ourselves. It is not something we see, like a rainbow, or feel, like the heat of a fire. Happiness is something we are. John B. Sheerin

Photo by Beanworks

Consider your happiness today and the degree to which you let your circumstances determine your happiness. If you are like most people, it may never occur to you that happiness is more than a reflection of the things that happen in your life, the attitudes of those around you and the your degree of success --whatever you conceive it to be.


Happiness runs deeper than the fleeting emotions we feel as we react to the world. It resides in the very core of who we are. If you have trouble finding happiness, try looking within.

If you find yourself thinking that you would be happy if your financial situation changed, remember the work of Marci Shimoff in Happy for No Reason that showed us that once our basic human needs are met, money has no bearing on how happy we are.  

Today, I am grateful for renewed energy, for the bright winter sun and for dark winter skies alive with stars. I am grateful for eyes that see, ears that hear and feet that walk. I am grateful for cold crisp air to fill my lungs, for water to quench my thirst and for laughter that fills the air.

I am grateful for pencils, clean blanks pages and the desire to fill them in. I am grateful for wind chimes, pine cones and rocks.

I am grateful for family and friends who share my life, for pets that trust so willingly and children nestled snug in their beds.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop and share my day. May your heart be light and your life be filled with the happiness that comes from within.

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.
 

“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.

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.

Beauty

 “Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson 

God visits my garden every morning and I do my best to join him there. I am always amazed by its beauty in the rich color and peaceful energy.

Concentrate on the beauty around you today. Take the time to look. You may be surprised by what beauty there is in your own backyard that your busy life simply hasn't allowed you the time to see.

Today, I am grateful for the mighty winds that cast the clouds across the sky, for singing insects that remind me that life goes on just as it should whether I notice or not, and for squirrels that prance beneath my feet making the way to my bird feeder.I am grateful for the opportunity to work, for whispering leaves and for grass that feels cool beneath my feet. I am grateful for the exquisite beauty of shadows cast by a rising sun, for crisp tender vegetables from my garden and for wind chimes that add music to the air.I am grateful for family and friends who make life full and help me see the world through another's eyes. I am grateful for beginnings, for hard work and hope for a bright tomorrow.And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your day be filled with beauty as you go forth toward your future.

When you get the hang of this, before you know it you will KNOW you
are the creator. (quote from The Secret)

photo by xandert


Just as the artist needs vision that he brings to life on the canvas, we need vision to bring to life in our lives.


In the beginning, it may be difficult to hold onto images and bring them to pass, but with practice and belief, it will happen. 


The artist doesn't begin his journey with a full-sized mural expecting to paint a masterpiece. He begins with a vision of what he wants to express and lets the vision guide his hand.


Consider the artist today. Create a vision of yourself living in abundance. Feel the joy of knowing it will come to pass. Let the vision guide your action today as you work towards filling the canvas of your life with brilliant color.


Today, I am grateful for quiet time to think, for the gentle spring breeze and for trees as they begin to awake for spring. I am grateful for laughter and the kitten's purr. I am grateful for the brilliant color that God paints the sky when the sun is done, for the soft blue hues of the mountain as night beckons and the purity of snow-covered peaks. 


I am grateful for the people who touch my life and bring unbridled joy, for family that gives me  a solid foundation and for those I have yet to meet who have much to teach me.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your visions be bright and you way be clear today.

Faith is Taking the First Step

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. Martin Luther King, Jr. If you are new to the concept of the Law of Attraction, you may be struggling with where to start. You may be a little afraid to get your hopes up. Don't belittle yourself yourself for that today. It comes from years of conditioning and years of believing that your life is beyond your control. It's not your fault. No man can go further than what he has been taught. Consider the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. today. You may not see the entire staircase, but you can reach out and take the first step. Have faith today and step beyond what you have been taught. Take a moment to visualize your destination. Feel the joy, feel the peace and comfort of knowing your future is limitless and step forward to begin the journey. Great things are waiting for you today. May you have the faith and courage to go forth with expectation and the joy of knowing that what you want most in life is within your reach. Today, I am grateful for swirling snowflakes and crisp cold air that fills my lungs and wakes my body. I am grateful to hear the chirping birds, to see the rising sun and for clouds as they float effortlessly toward their destination. I am grateful for clean clothes to wear, for food to fuel my body and for family that shares my day. I am grateful for movies that make me feel and books that stir ideas. I am grateful for the generous souls who put pen to paper in a effort to improve my life. I am grateful for a clear sound mind that allows me to dream and to be and to act. And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, may you step out today and ascend the staircase to your future with faith and joy and peace. May your life be filled with rich experience and deep conviction. May your steps be sure and your journey fruitful.

Faith is putting all your eggs in God's basket, then counting your blessings before they hatch. ~Ramona C. Carroll

 



We've all been taught not to count the proverbial chickens before they hatch. I suppose there is some wisdom in that, but it flies in the face of what we know to be true about visualization and how it brings those images into our lives.

We are conditioned to believe that life must be difficult and we must struggle in order to succeed. Once again, there is some logic to that and it does serve to teach the value of hard work to get you want. It also assumes that working hard is a negative thing that causes us discomfort.

As the economy falls into disarray, more and more people are joining the forces of those who preach doom and gloom. If you are finding yourself bombarded by naysayers and those who believe the end is near, you need to step outside that circle and look to your future with faith and joy and gratitude for what you have and for what is possible.

Take the leap of faith today and greet the world as though it were a wonderful place filled with opportunity and joy and you will surely find it. Remember, what we focus on will be drawn into our lives.

Today, I am grateful for the brisk cool winds of fall. I am grateful for the brilliant sun, for flying birds and for earthy fragrance of fall. I am grateful for fresh tomatoes from my garden, for brilliant fall mums and crickets as they sing into the night. I am grateful to breath the cool fresh air and steep in the music of chirping birds. I am grateful for family and friends who bring me great joy and inspiration.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader as you stop to share your day. May your life be filled with all that is good and uplifting. May your faith be magnified and your heart be full.