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

The morning glory meets each day with joy and stands proud in all its beauty. How much greater we are than the flowers of the earth, yet we have not yet learned to greet the day with such dignity and hope.

You may argue that I simply don't understand you circumstances. You are right. I don't. I can only say that the flowers of the earth do not give up when the soil is dry or water is scarce. They extend their roots to reach the water.


May you extend your roots today to reach that which gives you life and brings you joy.


Today, I am grateful for the cool morning air that gives my soul rest from the oppressive heat. I am grateful for birds that sing, winds that blow and the promise of a cold front arriving soon. 


I am grateful for a cool home, for electric fans and the electric company. I am grateful for yapping dogs in the distance that bring their family's joy. I am grateful for neighbors who make me smile, for family that makes me strong and children who bring joy to the world.


I am grateful for the air I breathe as it brings me life. I an grateful for the hummingbird that hovers over my head expressing his gratitude for cool fresh nectar in his feeder.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. may your day be rich and your heart be full.

Hope is not a dream ...

“Hope is not a dream but a way of making dreams become reality.”

photo by jillallyn 

When life gets tough we all have the tendency to look around us and begin to wonder if our hopes and dreams are simply the workings of a foolish mind, but when we face struggles is exactly the time when we need to focus on our dreams and have hope for our future. Giving up or giving in the the circumstances  paves the road to more difficult times.

If you are facing difficulties in this struggling economy, this is exactly the time when you need to focus on your dreams and maintain hope. Remember that nothing is as it seems. Opportunities are everywhere. Keep your mind sharp and your heart full of hope so you will recognize them when you see them.

Above all, remember to be grateful. Find the things in your life that you are grateful for and sing it to the universe. The very act of releasing those positive thoughts and those grateful statements frees you to receive all that is good in the world. 

If you are struggling, today, get out the pen and paper. Make a list of all you have to be thankful for. I promise you, your thoughts will shift. Your energy will shift from positive to negative and you will see the opportunities as they arise.

Today, I am thankful for quiet time to write, for cool mornings before the heat of the day and for growing things. I am thankful for a clear, sound mind to approach my day, for a sense of humor and for the vision to see beyond the immediate surroundings.

I am grateful for those who share my vision and for those who are yet to join me. I am grateful for family and friends that make my life complete. May their days be filled with joy. I am grateful for new opportunities, the insight to see them and for the courage to pursue them.

I am grateful for life and beauty and this wonderful world that surrounds me.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your dreams be big and your hope unwavering as you go forth into the world today.

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

Photo by by Yasin Hassan - 





Consider your dreams today. Whatever they are, wherever they lead--they have come to you because you can achieve them. 

Today, I'd like to recommend the book Wake up and Dream  by Pat Mesiti published in 1994. I came upon this book in a little shop piled high with an assortment of books ranging from the metaphysical to romance novels. This easy-to-read book is both down to earth and inspiring, as the author blends personal experience with motivational quotes from a range of sources. Although not religious per se, he does provide scripture when appropriate, but maintains a good balance that makes this book suitable for Christians and non-Christians alike.















Today, I am grateful for cool summer evenings and birds that lull the world to sleep. I am grateful for time to read, time to feel the wind against my skin and time to watch my garden grow. 

I am grateful for fresh clean air to breathe, for sunshine to soothe the soul and for raindrops that glisten in the golden rays of sun. I am grateful for stars, for friends and for the people I have met who have lightened my load. I am grateful those I have yet to meet for they will bring me what I need to learn.

I am grateful for family that brings comfort, that keeps me grounded and  brings me great joy. 

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your day be filled with strength and courage as you work hard to pursue your dreams. 

The Secret Power of the Mind

Today, I want to share a video with you. Check out this quick demonstration of how what we think immediately effects the world around us.

Consider how your thoughts are affecting your world right now.  What things to do you see and experience simply because you expect to see or experience them?

Practice the art of changing your thinking and watch the world change around you. Suddenly, you may realize that things are not as they seem and you do have the power to alter what you see, what you feel and what you validate in your life. And then take the time to express your gratitude for what you have in your life.

Today, I am grateful for the cool crisp air that envelops my world this morning. I am grateful for the sparkling drops of dew that reflect the colors of the rainbow. I am grateful for the bright blue sky, wispy white clouds and summer breezes.


I am grateful for time to think and feel and be. I am grateful for people and places I have yet to see, for worlds I have yet to create, and for the life I have the joy of living. I am grateful for a powerful mind and a healthy body.

I am grateful for family and friends who make my life full, who give me strength and who share my life.

And I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your day be filled with awe and inspiration today as you learn to harness the power of your mind.

Focus

“We can always choose to perceive things differently. You can focus on what's wrong in your life, or you can focus on what's right.” ~ Marianne Williamson

Consider your focus today.  If worry and fear are creeping into your thoughts today, give them no heed. Remember that like attracts like and those things we dwell on are what we draw to our lives. Look past the worries and focus on solutions today.

Today, I am grateful for sleeping in and waking rested. I am grateful for flowers in bloom, for hummingbirds and butterflies that brighten my garden. I am grateful for tiny seeds that lie dormant and burst forth when conditions are right. I am grateful for the universe in its magnificent beauty, for the ability to learn and apply that knowledge, and for those who are willing to teach me.


I am grateful for patience, today, as I learn to respond with patience to those who do not yet understand how negativity effects their lives. I am grateful for insight and wisdom to guide my day. 


I am grateful for family and friends who make my life full. May their days be filled with joy, today.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your day be filled with joy and your focus be clear.

 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. Mark 9:23



Photo by Richard0 Flickr


Consider the Bible today and what it has to say about the power of believing. Some would have you believe that when the Bible speaks of believing it is strictly referring to believing that Christ was raised from the dead, but that's not what it says.  It says, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."

Man has known since the beginning of time that what he believes, what he visualizes and what he focuses on will come to pass, but he has obscured it and hidden it away until it is no longer a truth in our world. It has become a secret practiced by a few. How wonderful that you have chosen to practice it to.

Today, I am grateful for a clear sound mind, for the clarity to go forward and capture my dreams. I am grateful for the great source of energy within myself that I am just now learning to use. I am grateful for the courage to hold fast to my beliefs amidst those who can not yet see beyond their surroundings.

I am grateful I have a voice that lets me speak, ears that let me hear and a heart that lets me feel. I am grateful for eyes that allows me to see the beauty of the world. 

I am grateful for family and friends that keep me centered, for pets to bring me comfort and for nature that breathes life into my soul. I am grateful for raindrops and rainbows and green growing things that envelop the world. 

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop and share my day. May your day be blessed with all the good life has to offer and your heart be filled with joy. May you have the courage and strength to pursue your dreams and the compassion to help others along the way.

"I can't change the direction of the wind,
but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination."
Jimmy Dean 
  
photo by kconnors

Consider the direction you wish to go today, and set your sails to take you there. So often, we convince ourselves that obstacles lay in the path and prevent us from going forward. It is up to us to find the way around those obstacles and press forward in the direction we want to go. 

Your belief in the power of positive thinking and gratitude is not a guarantee that the path will be clear and the road will be swift. But it does give you the tools to clear the obstacles and steer your life in the direction you want to go.

Too often, we begin to think that everything should fall in place without effort and find ourselves falling victim to old beliefs, old habits old ways of thinking.

Set your sails today and go forward in the direction of your dreams.

Today, I am grateful for the knowledge that I can reach my dreams, that I have the power to set my sails and that I can direct my path. I am grateful for the strength and conviction to move forward with confidence, for the courage to stick to my dreams and for those who help me along the way.

I am grateful for family and friends who fill me with hope and bring me joy. I am grateful  for those I have yet to meet for they have knowledge to share. I am grateful for teenagers as they challenge the beliefs of those who have gone before them. 

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader as you stop to share my day. May your sails be set to take you to your destination and may obstacles fall to the side.