March 30, 2013 - Dancing Every Day

Dancing Every Day

"Every day brings a chance for you to draw in a breath, kick off your shoes, and dance."
     ~Oprah Winfrey~


     When opportunity presents itself, we need to be willing to stand up, take a breath, and commit ourselves to it wholeheartedly, even at the risk of looking a little silly. Life is short. Let's engage it as passionately as we can.

I want to dance today. And so I will. Maybe I'll dance by myself, or maybe I'll grab someone I love and have them dance with me.

HAPPY

Oh, and I forgot all the happy sloths!

Admit it.. you liked it.

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We always think we have time

Life is shorter than you think. Stop wasting time on things that don't matter. Love everyone and spend time with those that are closest to you. Never take people, events, materials, or most of all, time, for granted. Time is always running out.

March 29, 2013 - Being Satisfied

Being Satisfied

"You can never get enough of what you don't need to make you happy."
     ~Eric Hoffer~


     More. We always want more. More possessions, more money, more popularity - whatever it is, we think we don't have enough of. If we just had more, we'd be happy.
     We should know better. If what we have of something right now isn't giving us any happiness, why should more of it give us happiness? More of nothing is still nothing.

Today I will find satisfaction in things I already have. Before I look for more of something, I'll make sure that it is something I know brings me happiness.

March 28, 2013 - High Inspirations

High Inspirations

"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow them."
     ~Louisa May Alcott~


     We set simple goals for what we need to do today or this week, writing them on a to-do list: buy groceries, pick up the dry cleaning, wash the car. It feels good to accomplish these things, but they aren't the kind of goals by which we hope to define our legacy.
     Our long-term goals should reflect our highest aspirations - goals that we can reach only if we stretch ourselves, do the best we can, and be the best that we can be.


I will write down my long-term goals and put the list where I can see it easily to remind me of what I hope to accomplish in my life.

March 27, 2013 - Positive Attitude

Positive Attitude

"A strong positive mental attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug."
     ~Patricia Neal~


     We don't understand entirely why positive thoughts impact our bodies in positive ways, we just know that they do. Research has shown that people who are sick improve more quickly when they have a positive attitude rather than a negative attitude. And we all know the power of the placebo effect.
     A positive attitude by itself may not cure an illness, but at the very least it helps us cope better. If a positive attitude can help us when we're sick, how might it benefit us when we're not sick?

I can face whatever comes today with a positive attitude.

March 26, 2013 - Politeness and Friendship

Politeness and Friendship

"It is wise to apply the oil of refined politeness to the mechanism of friendship."

     ~Colette~

     Friends are the people we can just kick back with. We don't have to treat them special; they'll love us anyway. So we take them for granted. No need to clean up, watch our language, or listen to them respectfully. That's the kind of stuff we save for the people we don't know very well.

     Why is it we so often treat the people closest to us with the least care? We're polite to the waitress who beings us coffee, but we can't spare a happy smile for our best friend because we're in a bad mood.

I'll experiment with treating my closest friends just as nicely as I treat the many strangers and casual acquaintances in my life. My friends may be surprised at my sudden politeness, but I'll bet they like it.

March 25, 2013 - The Cost Of Anger

The Cost of Anger

"Anger can be an expensive luxury."

     ~Italian Proverb~

     Ever notice how many mistakes we make when we let ourselves get angry? We drop a dish while cleaning the kitchen, back the car into a pole while we're trying to park, yell at a person who didn't do anything wrong. Such mistakes just make us angrier - only now we're angry at ourselves as well.

     We can decide not to be angry in the first place, or we can release our anger as quickly as possible. This doesn't mean that we have to let others take advantage of us. It simply means putting things in perspective so we can act calmly and constructively rather than angrily.

I don't have to get angry, even if it seems justified. Instead, I can think about why I'm upset, whether there's something useful to do about it, and what steps to take next.

March 24, 2013 - Doing Our Best

Doing Our Best

"'I have done my best.' That is about all the philosophy of living one's needs."

     ~Lin Yutang~

     We don't always do our best. Sometimes we rush through an unpleasant taks, put in a half-hearted effort on a menial task, or fail to finish a task we weren't required tod o. We know when we're not doing our best, and it tends to make us feel bad.

     Our lives are very complicated. Maybe we can't always do things perfectly. But we can try to do our best, even if we're the only ones who know it.

I may not always be able to do things as well as I would like, but I can still try to do the best I can, given the time and priorities I have.

March 23, 2013 - Our Potential

Our Potential

"There are admirable potentialities in every human being. Believe in your strength and your youth. Learn to repeat endlessly to yourself, 'It all depends on me.'"

     ~Andre Gide~

     Young or not, we can believe in ourselves and in our ability to get things done. The alternative - to be convinced that whatever we do makes no difference - gets us nowhere.

     Positive self-talk, like that of the locomotive in The Little Engine That Could ("I think I can, I think I can") can be surprisingly effective. Just as surprising is how often we forget this.

I will keep telling myself that I can make things happen, that what I do is important, until I believe it.

March 22, 2013 - Perspective

Perspective

"We are all something, but none of us are everything."
     ~Blaise Pascal~


     Do we think too much of ourselves - or too little? We may have tendencies towards one end of the spectrum or the other. Or we may go back and forth between two extremes, convinced of our importance one day and our insignificance the next.
     We all have a place in the world that is significant; we all matter. The trick is not to think that we matter more than anyone else in the world.

I can be happy with my place in the world, without distorting it one way or another.

March 21, 2013 - Friends' Recognition

Friends' Recognition

"The best mirror is an old friend."

     ~George Hubert~

     Those who've known us the longest can tell us the truth about ourselves - even when it's truth we might not want to hear. They see us clearly - the good and the bad - and they recognize when we are being phony or overly impressed with ourselves. We need to see our true selves reflected this way.

I'm lucky to have longtime friends who know me and aren't afraid to tell me the truth about myself.

Stay Happy!!

Stay Happy!

March 20, 2013 - Trying To Be Happy

Trying to Be Happy 

"If only we'd stop trying to be happy, we'd have a pretty good time."

     ~Edith Wharton~

     We can spend a lot of time, money, and energy trying to make ourselves happy - eating fancy meals, going on expensive vacations, throwing big parties, buying nice clothes. We think these things will bring us happiness but often our happiness is short-lived, lasting about as long as it takes to get heartburn from eating too much, return to work from vacation, clean up after the party, or realize that we don't look as nice in our clothes as we'd hoped we would.

      If we could learn to find happiness from moment to moment  in the small things of life, we'd always have a pretty good time.

I don't need something outside of myself to make me happy. Happiness is a choice I can make under almost any circumstances.

March 19, 2013 - Making Decisions

Making Decisions

"Never cut a tree down in the wintertime. Never make a negative decision in the low time. Never make your important decisions when you are in your worst moods. Wait. Be patient. The storm will pass. The  spring will come."
     ~Robert H. Schuller~


     When things are going wrong, we want to change them right away. So we buy something that we don't really need. Or we throw away something that we really do need. Or we decline an opportunity because we're afraid that something else might go wrong. Or we make the same mistake again, thinking we'll do better this time.


If I'm in a bad mood, I will put off making important decisions until my outlook and judgment improve.

March 18, 2013 - A Sense Of Humor

A Sense of Humor

"A sense of humor is part of the art of leadership, of getting along with people, of getting things done."

     ~Dwight D. Eisenhower~

     Being able to laugh at ourselves and the situations we find ourselves in is a highly desirable quality. We don't need to conceal our sense of humor in our public life, keeping it under wraps until we're safely surrounded by family and friends. The ability to approach problems with equanimity and good humor makes things easier not only for ourselves, but also for anyone else lucky enough to be part of our life.


Stand-up comics can make the most ordinary things seem funny. I don't have to be this clever, but if I can see the humor in everyday life, I'm going to be a much better companion to myself and others.

March 17, 2013 - Opening a Hand

Opening a Hand

"You can't shake hands with a clenched fist."

     ~Indira Gandhi~

     We sometimes have to act polite towards a person we dislike or who has hurt us. Sao we put on a fake smile and do what we need to do to make things okay.

     Instead of putting on a fake smile, though, what if we tried smiling for real? Is there something we might like about this person if given a chance? Do we really have a good reason to dislike the person in the first place?

     Maybe we won't become great friends. But we'll never know unless we open ourselves to the possibility.

The next time I encounter someone I don't particularly like, I will be genuinely interested in what the person thinks and says. This may show me a new side of the person.

March 16, 2013 - The Value of Friends

The Value of Friends

"True friendship consists not in the multitude of friends, but in their worth and value."

     ~Ben Jonson~

     We like to be the life of the party, to have a calendar filled with social events, to have many friends clamoring for our attention. We like to feel wanted, and the more people who seem to like us, the better.

     Still, we recognize who our true friends are - and we don't have so many of these. They are the friends who don't wait to ask what they can do when we need help. They're the friends who tell us the things we don't want to hear, but we need to hear anyway. They're the friends who know us - in both our good and bad moments - and love us as we are.

I am lucky in having true friends. I will be a true friend as well.

March 15, 2013 - Blessings To Come

Blessings To Come

"Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way."
     ~Native American Proverb~


     We're pretty good at counting our blessings and being grateful for all the wonderful gifts life has bestowed upon us.
     It takes a certain amount of faith to be thankful for blessings we haven't received yet - faith that the world is bountiful and generous enough to keep giving us as long as we live; faith that we will be able to recognize and appreciate our blessings whenever and from wherever they may come.


Today, when I count my blessings, I will make a small leap of faith and be grateful in advance for whatever blessings may come my way tomorrow.

March 14, 2013 - Nature's Beauty

Nature's Beauty

"The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature."
     ~Anne Frank~


     A sunny day, a light breeze, a temperature perfect for sitting outside without a jacket -  such days make us feel happy, at peace with the world, grateful. 
     But walking in the rain, making snow angels, or watching the wind whip the trees can also make us feel happy. Nature keeps us grounded in what's real. Winter balances summer, giving the land time to renew itself. Wind sends seeds flying, to give birth to new plants in other places.

     If I find myself feeling grouchy, I will get up from my chair and take a quick walk. I will look for signs of nature's beauty that will cheer me.

March 13, 2013 - Following Our Feelings

Following Our Feelings

"I pay no attention whatever to anybody's praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings."
     ~Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart~


     We have good instincts about many things. Time and experience have taught us lessons about what we like and don't like, what works and doesn't work, what is true and not true.
     We need to trust our intuition. Yes, there will be times when we make mistakes despite our best instincts. But these mistakes add to our experience, hone our instincts, and help us make even better choices the next time.

Before I listen to what everyone else thinks I should do, I'll take some time to figure out how I feel about the situation. Maybe I will need the help of other, but I don't need to follow what others think.

March 12, 2013 - The Moral Of The Story

The Moral Of The Story

"Everything's got a moral, if only you can find it."

     ~Lewis Carroll~

     Things happen for a reason. And if we don't know what that reason is, we create one. It's part of what makes us human - this need to explain things, to feel that there is logic, rationality, and order to the world.

     Some of the reasons we come up with for why things happen are thoughtful; others are silly. Some are possible; others are improbable. More important than coming up with the right reason, though, is respecting the impulse that drives us to look for meaning in our lives.

What can I learn from things that happen to me? I'll look for the moral of my own stories.

March 11, 2013 - Thoughts of Change

Thoughts of Change

"Change your thoughts and you change your world."

     ~Norman Vincent Peale~

     There's no great mystery behind the power of positive thinking. If we assume before the fact that we can't accomplish something, we almost certainly won't. If we believe that we can, we are much more likely to succeed. At least, we'll make the effort.

     We talk ourselves out of interesting opportunities all the time - when we ought to be talking ourselves into them.

If I catch a negative thought crossing my mind, I can toss it out and replace it with a more positive one.

Checking In!

Hey there, everyone! I just want to say I hope you are all enjoying this blog I've started and if you guys have any ideas to make this better, please let me know! :)

I apologize for not always staying on top of every post, but they are all up, despite being a little late. We all know how life gets in the way. I will do my best to stay on top of it in the future! :) 

STAY POSITIVE, everyone!

.....and  never.   stop.   dreaming!


And in conclusion, here's a happy llama:

March 10, 2013 - Happiness

Happiness

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."

     ~Marcel Proust~

     We enjoy our time alone - we almost never have enough of it. But there is something wonderful about time spent with friends and family we love that can't be matched by our time alone. As we look back over our lives,  it's hard to recall a moment of great happiness that wasn't at least partly due to the fact that we were sharing it with a loved one. How much better our lives would be if we always kept those who make us happy close to us.

I will hug a loved one today, and as I do I'll think how happy I am that this person is part of my life.

March 9, 2013 - Divine Balance

Divine Balance

"So divinely is the world organized that every one of us, in our place and time, is in balance with everything else."

     ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe~

     Whether we believe that our world has a divine order, a natural order, or no order at all, we all must acknowledge that everything in this world is interconnected. This world is our world, the only world we have, and we are in it. Science suggests that something as trivial as the beating of a butterfly's wings in the Amazon can influence the formation of a tornado in Texas. Even our smallest acts can have major effects.

I appreciate the miracle of the world. My life's task is to determine my place in it.

March 8, 2013 - Finding Others

Finding Others

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.'"

     ~C.S. Lewis~

     Some friendships grow over years. Others form in an instant. The commonality of all these friendships is - well, commonality: the recognition of the special things we share in common. Friends assure us that we are not alone in the world - that, as improbably as it may seem, there are other people with quirks, habits, beliefs, and preferences similar to ours. People who agree with us about politics. People who think our jokes are funny. People who like to eat the same food we do.

I love my friends, and I try to show it. Today, I will talk to at least one friend about how much I value our relationship.

March 7, 2013 - Stepping Out Of Our Ruts

Stepping Out Of Our Ruts

"The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers."

     ~M. Scott Peck~

     As much as we may dislike being unhappy, discomfort can be a powerful motivation to change our lives. Similarly, too much comfort can lull us into complacency and stagnation.

     There is nothing wrong with being comfortable, as long as we don't let it close our eyes and mind. And there's nothing wrong with being uncomfortable, as long as we use our discomfort to make our life better.

If this is a good period of my life, I will enjoy it fully. If this is a difficult time, I'll do what I need to do to get through it and to com out stronger.

March 6, 2013 - The Gift of Responsibility

The Gift of Responsibility

"Few things help an individual more than to place responsibility upon him, and to let him know that you trust him."

     ~Booker T. Washington~

      Ultimately, we learn by doing, not by reading a manual. It can be nerve-racking to let children do the dishes for the first time (What if a dish gets broken?) or stay home alone for the first time (What if something happens?). But children will never learn to do the dishes or develop independence without taking that first step on their own.

     It can be hard to give up responsibility. We may fear that others won't be as competent as we are. But unless we want to keep doing everything ourselves, eventually we have to be willing to trust others.

Instead of saying, "Oh, thanks, but I'll do it myself," I will trust someone else to take on the responsibility.

March 5, 2013 - Joy In Living

Joy In Living

"When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself."

     ~Chief Tecumseh~

     Starting the day with a positive thought sets the tone for everything that follows. Instead of focusing on our trobules and worries, we can think about our blessings - how lucky we are to have a warm, dry place to sleep; good food to eat; nice clothes to wear; a job to go to; family and friends to support us; a new day to enjoy; fresh air to breathe. And, most of all, how lucky we are just to be alive.

I wil take a few minutes when I first wake up to think about the many good things in my life.

March 4, 2013 - Having Faith

Having Faith

"Not truth, but faith it is that keeps the world alive."

     ~Edna St. Vincent Millay~

     We search for truth throughout our lives, but for many of the things most important to us, we simply have to have faith. We have faith that our relationships with others will work out. We have faith that our best efforts will be rewarded with success. We have faith that others will treat us as we deserve to be treated.

     This kind of faith is tested, just as spiritual faith may be tested; but our lives are happier for having such faith.

I need to value truth, but I realize that not everything important can be measured against truth.

March 3, 2013 - Nurturing Creativity

Nurturing Creativity

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up."

     ~Pablo Picasso~

     When a child gives us a picture, we ooh and aah and put the picture on the refrigerator, regardless of how expertly the picture was rendered. The child's delight in creating something is celebrated and reinforced without needless criticism.

     It would be wonderful if we were just as eager to nurture creativity in ourselves as adults, celebrating the creative act for itself, separately from any judgments about its value or quality.

I will compliment others for their creativity instead of trying to come up with reasons why their ideas aren't as good as they might be.

March 2, 2013 - Self-Confidence

Self-Confidence

"Did you ever see an unhappy horse? Did you ever see a bird that had the blues? One reason why birds and horses are not unhappy is because they are not trying to impress other birds and horses."

     ~Dale Carnegie~

     Our gut is sticking out. Are we wearing the right clothes? The car looks pretty battered. Is it time to get a new one? We said a witty thing at work. Did our coworkers notice?

     Some days we act as if we're on a stage, performing for an audience. Even when we think we're doing well, we can't be happy until we know what our audience thinks of our performance. The problem is, we can never know for sure before - or even after the fact - what other people are really thinking.

What others think of me matters, but it should not matter as much as what I think of myself.

Stay positive!

Life is short.
Be happy! :D

March 1, 2013 - Keeping It Positive

Keeping It Positive

"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort."

     ~Herm Albright~

     People with negative attitudes are easily annoyed by people with positive attitudes. This may be because they see positivity as an implicit indictment-as if they were being charged with weakness, cowardice, or self-indulgence for giving in to their negativity.

     On the other hand, people with positive attitudes rarely seem annoyed by people with negative attitudes. This may be because negative people are such easy targets-there's not much sport in taking them on.

Even with some of the crabbiest people I know-maybe especially with the crabbiest people I know-I'm going to stay positive today. It will be interesting to see how they react.