“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.

In the hopes of reaching the moon men fail to see the flowers that blossom at their feet. Albert Schweitzer

Often we become so focused on reaching our goals, that we forget to enjoy the journey. Guard against becoming so single minded that your goals and dreams take over your life and prevent you from experiencing what life has to offer along the way. Although it is necessary to keep you eyes on your goal and work steadfastly in the direction of your dreams, life is meant to be lived.

Take time today to enjoy the people and things around you and appreciate them for the joy they bring.

Today, I am grateful for the new fallen snow that envelops my world in white, for the soft glow of sunrise as the sun's rays try to penetrate the clouds, and for the mighty trees laden with snow. I am grateful for the muffled sounds of cars in the distance, for the quiet that descends when snow encases the world, and for a warm cozy home that protects me from the storm.

I am grateful for opportunities that come my way, for hope of a bright future, and for family to share my journey. I am grateful for my flower garden as it settles down for a long winter's rest, for the nearest of Christmas, and twinkling lights to light the storm.

I am grateful for healthy food to fuel the body, for hot coffee to warm to warm the soul, and for the fragrance of fresh-baked bread. I am grateful for lavender whose fragrance lulls me to sleep, for the scent of citrus to invigorate and inspire, and delicate roses that hold summer in their scent.

I am grateful for eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to feel.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you take the time to see the flowers at your feet as your strive to reach the moon as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust the sails. ~Author Unknown

It's amazing how often we make our way through life thinking that if we but change the world around us, our lives will suddenly fall into place, without considering that perhaps we need to adjust our sails. The direction we will go and the destination we will reach depends on our ability and willingness to set the course.

Consider the journey you wish to take today and instead of fighting the prevailing winds -- adjust your sails to take you in the direction you need to go.

Pay no attention to the doom and gloom preached by those around you, as they are merely a reflection of the winds that blow. Take action today and harness the power of the wind to fuel your journey to a bright and prosperous future.

Today, I am grateful for bright winter sun, blue skies and white clouds that do not yet threaten snow. I am grateful for the glint of color as sunlight glistens off the frozen landscape, for the tinkle of my wind chimes, and for the blue jay who calls in the silent air. 

I am grateful for new opportunities yet to come my way, for a clear sound mind to start my day, and for the joy of beginning another December awaiting the arrival of Christmas. What a glorious season to close out the year! 

I am grateful for family and friends, for good health, and for the ability to feel joy in the softness of the wind or the beauty of the night. I am grateful for the freedom to choose which path I shall follow, for the insight to make good choices, and for the energy to sustain my efforts. 

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

You cannot plough a field by turning it over in your mind. Author Unknown

So often, we spend so much time thinking about what we are going to do that we never accomplish the things we want in life. Somehow, we think that everything will fall in place -- if only we wait for the right time. But the right time never comes, because we have not prepared the field for our dreams to grow.

The gardener doesn't wait until the conditions are perfect for growing and then plant a seed. The gardener knows he must prepare the soil and isn't afraid to get his hands dirty to do it. Be like the gardener, today, and begin preparing the soil for your dreams to flourish and grow.

Consider your dreams today and go about the business of making them come true. Continually turning them over in your mind will not bring them to pass. It takes action. Act.

Today, I am grateful for the new fallen snow that envelopes the world, for the sound of birds as they seek shelter, for excited dogs who prance in the snow and for children who scurry to find last year's mittens. 

I am grateful for the big white flakes that swirl and dance in the wind, for snow-laden trees who bow down to its beauty and the glorious preview of another winter to come. 

I am grateful for the excitement in the air, for a cozy warm home and for my office window that allows me to watch the gentle storm. I am grateful for hot coffee and the gentle chickadee that stops by for a bite to eat. I am grateful for changing of seasons as it tells me life will go on as it should. 

I am grateful for family, for friends and for pets that enrich our lives. I am grateful for days off that refuel the soul, for abundant work that allows me to meet my family's needs and for the ability to recognize new opportunities when they come may way. 

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

Life is a mirror of your consistent thoughts. - Napoleon Hill

                                                                                                by Petra Bubníková
Even scientists are beginning to agree that what we think about, the thoughts we give our energy to and our underlying beliefs about ourselves and our world creates our reality. For some this comes as unwelcome news because it places responsibility for our destiny back on ourselves.

For those dealing with illness, personal struggles or financial difficulties it may seem a bit like blaming the victim--but that is not my intention here. We all find ourselves in trying times that seem to be created by people and events beyond our control, at times. The key is not to worry about how you may have created or contributed to the difficulties--although that may be a good exercise to increase your understanding of how your thoughts alter your reality.

The key is how you choose to alter your thoughts and behaviors to handle the seeming obstacles in your life, today.  Recognize that if your thoughts and your beliefs got you where you are today, they can also take you to where you want to be in the future.

Understanding that your thoughts and actions do in essence create your reality is a monumental step in taking control of your future.

Most of us are familiar with the concept of placebos--the proverbial sugar pill. Doctors have used them to bring about amazing results with unsuspecting patients. It seems that what the patient believes will cure their illness often does, whether the treatment is genuine or simply a placebo.

In the book Quantum Healing, Deepak Chopra introduces the concept if nocebos. A nocebo refers to the doctor's underlying belief--whether he verbalizes it or not--about the patient's recovery. According to Chopra, patient recovery typically follows the doctor's beliefs. If the attending doctor believes the patient has no hope of recovery, the patient typically obliges--while the doctor who recognizes that recovery is not only possible, but likely, often observes quick recovery in his patients. Of course, there are other factors that effect patient recovery, but Chopra exerts that the nocebo effect may be more instrumental that previously believed.

Beware of the nocebo effects in your own life. There is no reason to assume that it applies only to doctor-patient relationships; therefore must be at work in your life. There are always those around you who will expect you to fail. Guard against fulfilling their misguided expectations of you.

Today, I am grateful for the bright spring sun that melts away the mounds of winter snow. I am grateful for blades of grass that emerge and begin to grow, for spring birds that flit joyfully from branch to branch, and for fresh spring air that uplifts the soul.


I am grateful for two strong, healthy children who are not afraid to stand up for what they believe, who manifest their concerns for the world with the right action at the right time, and for their sharp clear minds that will take them far.


I am grateful for a husband who shares my life and brings joy to my soul. I am grateful for siblings who helped me make my way in the world, for my extended family that makes life rich, and for those I have loved that have gone before me and crossed over to the other side. May they enjoy the peace that comes with eternal life.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May the reflections of your thoughts--that we call reality--be crisp and clear, as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

"To bring anything into your life, imagine that it's already there." — Richard Bach

by tinah

The gardener has no difficulty imagining the beauty of the flower when he plants the seed, why then is it so difficult for us to imagine the beauty of our future?

Develop the faith of the gardener today and know that as you plant the seeds of a prosperous and bright tomorrow that it will surely come to pass in its time. It will, however, require nuturing and care as it begins to grow. Consider the seedling that soon withers under the heat of the sun if it is neglected--but flourishes when provided the right care.

Nurture your dreams and desires by maintaining faith and cultivating a positive attitude, for the energy it releases provides the environment for your dreams to grow.

Today, I am grateful for the opportunity to dream and to go forward and claim those dreams. I am grateful for the courage to rise above seeming obstacles and to nurture my dreams even when they seem far away.


I am grateful for the power of the universe in its infinite beauty, for night that transitions to day and for the illumination the sun provides. I am grateful for the vast, unexplored regions of the brain that hold great power to manifest that which is good and just and uplifting.


I am grateful for people who share my dreams, for family that makes the journey light and for old friends who have been part of my world and always see me through.


I am grateful for those I have yet to meet, for I know they hold hidden treasures and insight into this journey we call life.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. You provide focus and keep me ever conscious that we are all in this journey together. May you cultivate the faith of a gardener today, knowing that the future you imagine is already there. May you nurture it with faith and a positive attitude as you go forward 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.

When you realize how perfect everything is, you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky. Buddha

photo by Benhur

Sometimes, we become so focused on the things that go wrong in our lives that we allow it to overshadow all that is right in the world.  We are so accustomed to viewing our lives for what it lacks, that we forget that what we already have.

Strive to view your life through the lens of abundance today. Look carefully to what you already have and you will soon discover that what you lack pales in comparison. Tip back your head and laugh at how silly your obstacles really are in comparison to the goodness you have received.

Focus on the good and the just to draw more of the same into your life today as you go forward to reach your goals.

Today, I am grateful for the abundance in my life--for air to breathe, food to eat and shelter from the storm. I am grateful for work that keeps me focused, for electricity to fuel my computer and the energy to do my work well.

I am grateful for opportunities to expand my work, for insight to know the directions I should take and for the courage to follow my dreams.

I am grateful for an unseen force that directs my life, for the awe-inspiring universe that I call home and for laughter that warms the soul.

I am grateful for the people who fill my life--family, friends and neighbors who are always near. 

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you tip back your head and laugh at how perfect your life is becoming as you go forward in the direction of you dreams.

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time. ~Laura Ingalls Wilder

photo by cohdra




 My wish for you today is that you may find the simple joy of Christmas as your share memories and become childlike in your joy.  

For many of us,  money is tight and forces us to make changes in our spending this year, but don't let that prevent you from giving. 

Give of yourself, give of your time and give from your heart. If you are discouraged as Christmas approaches, take the time now to give thanks for all you have, for surely your wealth is great--if you but look. 


Today, I am grateful for the winter sun that pales in comparison to its summer brightness, yet manages to set the world aglow shimmering against the snow. I am grateful for sparkling ice, for tiny prisms of light in every snowflake glittering in the sun, and evergreens that stand proud and tall.


I am grateful for children everywhere who anticipate the coming of Christmas with joy in their hearts. May their wishes be granted and may they find pleasure in all they receive.


I am grateful for the ability to make a comfortable living from doing what I love best, for the many readers and followers I have gained during the year and for the wisdom to provide what my readers need most.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your days be filled with untold joy as you become a child again at Christmas.


Recommended reading:

 

“The world is full of abundance and opportunity, but far too many people come to the fountain of life with a sieve instead of a tank car… a teaspoon instead of a steam shovel. They expect little and as a result they get little.”

~Ben Sweetland  

Photo by earl53


Many Americans, it seems, live in a culture of lack, expecting nothing great from the world and quite willingly accepting a life of lack in return. But this doesn't need to be the case.

You hold the power to change your thinking about yourself and your life.Once your expectations increase, you are on your way to meeting your goals.

Today, I am grateful for Christmas lights, for multi-colored bows, and boxes tied up with ribbons. I am grateful for the fresh scent of the tree and my cat as she gently bats the balls.


I am grateful for Christmas music to make my heart light, for feelings to make my life full and words to express it all.

I am grateful for family that I hold dear, for old friends who send Christmas cheer and and snow that creates a winter wonderland.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you expect much and receive much as you go forward to meet your goals.

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

“We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”

“We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.” Frederick Keonig











photo by kakisky



According to Marci Shimoff author of  Happy For No Reason, Americans tend to believe they will be happy if they have more material things. This, however, does not prove to be the case. She cites statistics that over the past 50 years income has increased by more than 2 1/2 times, but the happiness level of Americans has remained the same. Amazingly, over 40 % of the wealthiest American's are "less happy" than the average American.

Believe it or not, once your income level is above $12,000 a year, the amount of money you have does not alter your happiness level. So, what does?

You do. The thoughts you choose to entertain, your ability to express gratitude for what you have and your willingness to give up self-defeating ways of thinking and behaving determines how happy your are.

To be happy, you need to let go of the negative and focus on the positive. One way to do that is to examine your life and express gratitude for what you have. Won't you join me today and take tally of the wonderful things in your life that you are grateful for?

Today, I am grateful for the crystals of ice that form on the car windshield creating a feathery display of artistry. I am grateful for crisp white leaves that crunch beneath my feet, for yellow stars that bid me good morning and for cloudless skies that promise a new day.


I am grateful for lingering geese that have not yet flown south, for busy squirrels that leap from tree to tree and for baby animals that will soon take up their winter's sleep.


I am grateful for a warm home, warm socks and soft pillows on which to rest my head. I am grateful for a sound mind and warm heart to lead me through my day. 

I am grateful for family, for friends and for neighbors that give me a foundation for my life. I am grateful for parents who taught me much before they departed from this world, for teachers who guided me along the way and for classmates who helped me find my direction in life.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop and share my day. May your happiness be great as you focus your thoughts on all that is good and just in the world the world today.

 
“Dreams are like the paints of a great artist. Your dreams are your paints, the world is your canvas. Believing, is the brush that converts your dreams into a masterpiece of reality.”





Photo by xandert


Consider the world you are painting today. Your positive thoughts and beautiful dreams of the future add color to your world, but guard against the effects of negative thoughts. They can easily ruin your masterpiece.

Grab your belief and begin painting, today. Give no mind that your style is different from those around you. The world needs the color only you can bring. Stroke the canvas boldly. Create what is pleasing to your eye and others will be drawn to its beauty.

So often boldness is seen as a negative quality lumped together with harshness and conceit. But boldness is none of those things when your thoughts are aright. Confidence and faith in your dreams cannot help but build the boldness to step out and take action.

Today, I am grateful for morning sun, blue skies and whispy clouds that meander across the sky. I am grateful for brilliant leaves that flutter in the wind, pine cones that settle in my yard and dirt to catch the seeds and start the cycle anew.


I am grateful for eager dogs who sniff the earth in search of the imaginary beasts that have visited in the night, for squirrels that scurry to reach the fallen nuts and store them away for winter, and cats who chase shadows on the wall.


I am grateful for good food, beautiful music and laughter, as they fill the soul. I am grateful for family that I can always turn to, for children who make me proud and a husband that knows me well. 

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you go boldly in the direction of your dreams and paint with the brush of many colors creating your masterpiece, 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.
 

Those who wish to sing, always find a song.  ~Swedish Proverb




photo by napfalevel



Consider your song, today. People recognize it by the quality of your voice, the message you choose to send and the words you choose to use. Even though the quote refers to expressing joy and gratitude in song, many choose to sing the mournful song of loss and lack. 

Guard your song carefully, today. Make it one that brings joy, uplifting both yourself and others, today. 

Today, I am grateful for light that illuminates the world, for air that fills my lungs with breath, and for soil beneath my feet. I am grateful for leisurely hours to contemplate this awe-inspiring world, for clouds that swim swiftly across blue sky, and leaves that have not yet turned to red and gold.

I am grateful for my backyard that allows me to sit amidst nature, a clothesline for freshly washed clothes, and garden beds that nourish my plants. I am grateful for plumbing, electricity and telephones that bring convenience to my life.

I am grateful for smiling children, laughing adults and animals that add color to the world. I am grateful for bees that buzz, crickets that sing, and daisies dancing in the breeze. I am grateful for the promise of a new day.


I am grateful for family that brings meaning to my life, for friends that listen to my song, and neighbors who share my world.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you find your song and sing it joyfully throughout the day.
 

“The block of granite which was an obstacle in the pathway of the weak becomes a stepping-stone in the pathway of the strong.” ~Thomas Carlyle







Photo by rosevita


Consider the obstacles in your life today and look for ways to use them as stepping stones to a better life. 

So often we become focused on the things in our way that we become paralyzed with fear or overcome with despair. We forget that objects and events in our lives may look like obstacles, but when we shift our focus they may actually be stepping stones we can use to reach our goals.

Practice evaluating your obstacles today and look for ways to use them to reach your goals.

Today, I am grateful for pine cones, seed pods and nuts that replenish the earth. I am grateful for silence that brings solace to the soul, for noisy birds that search for food, and tinkling wind chimes that add music to the air.

I am grateful for those who spend their lives quietly helping others asking nothing in return, those who are willing to share their knowledge and experience with the world, and those who are ready and eager to learn. I am grateful for scientists who investigate our world, for philosophers who offer a different view, and writers who share their thoughts in written form. 

I'm grateful for for family that brings comfort when times are difficult, that adds color and flavor to my life, and reminds me that life is a glorious journey.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you turn obstacles into stepping stones as your work steadfastly to reach your goals.

“People only see what they are prepared to see.”~Ralph Waldo Emerson


What you see in this picture depends on how you look at it. Some see a polar bear as he climbs out of a pool of water, while others see a seal. 

Many of us can see either by shifting our focus, but others become so fixated on one image that it is all they are able to see.


It's a lot like life, really. As Emerson says, each of us sees exactly what we are prepared to see.


Consider what you are prepared to see this morning, as it will surely color your day and your life. Focusing on the negatives around you fine tunes your ability to see the negative, but with a slight shift in focus you may be surprised at the positive you will see.


Practice shifting your focus today to allow yourself to see the positive around you. Look for opportunities today and be ready to act. 


Today, I am grateful for darkness that gives way to light, rain that replenishes the earth, and joyous birds that flit from tree to tree untouched by gentle rain.

I am grateful for a clear, sound mind, a heart that beats, and feet that will carry me through my day. I am grateful for the scent of summer as it gives way to fall, for wildflowers that punctuate the earth, and natural springs that bubble cool, fresh water from the earth.


I am grateful for family and friends who share my life and give me strength, for new perspectives that allow me to see the world in another way, and for opportunities I have yet to recognize. 

I am grateful for insight and understanding that improves my life, for laughter that lightens the load, and for forgiveness that allows me to release those who have wronged me.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you stretch your mind today to see the world through a new perspective and grasp the opportunities you find along the way.