Blogging Your Blessings

Words to live by: No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of another.— Charles Dickens If the only prayer you say in your life is “ Thank You, ” that would suffice. — Meister Eckhart Silent gratitude isn’t much good to anyone.—Gertrude Stein Charity never humiliated him who profited from it, nor ever bound him by the chains of gratitude, since it was not to him but to God that the gift was made.—Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse.—Henry Van Dyke Some people grumble that roses have thorns; I am grateful that thorns have roses.          —Jean Baptiste Alphonse Karr They do not love that do not show their love.—William Shakespeare

   For love casts out fear, and gratitude can conquer pride.—Louisa May Alcott  Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little—Buddha   Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts.—Henri Frederic Amiel   You cannot do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late.         —Ralph Waldo Emerson    Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.—Epicurus  One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. —Carl Jung (September/back to school or June/graduation?)

Practice Random Acts of Kindness and Senseless Acts of Beauty    I always love to hear how this meaningful movement has touched other’s lives. You’ve seen those bumper stickers, the ones encouraging you to commit “random acts of kindness?” What they can’t tell you in that little space is how performing those acts can be a way of transforming yourself. When you begin to focus on extending kindness toward others, you’ll feel more kindness coming toward you. Not only will you make someone else’s day better, you’ll be surprised at how well yours improves. It’s rather like the “secret Santa” gift exchange that many offices and families adopt during the weeks leading up to Christmas. There is delight when you do something for another while keeping your identity a secret. When you watch a person receiving a surprise gift, you see their face change, the eyes open wide with delight, a smile bursting into a grin, and laughter erupting. They appear to feel sheer joy at the unexpected. The

Forego using technological devices today. Texting your friend, watching your favorite show, checking your email—all can wait until tomorrow! Turn off your devices and turn on your senses! Read a book, cook a meal, and enjoy the outdoors by taking a walk or tending to your garden. Technology distracts us from the real world, occupying our attention with game applications, chat rooms, social media website, commercials, and so on. Want to know what’s going on in the news? Read a newspaper. Be aware of the here and now by finding activities that don’t require electricity or a battery. Make your own entertainment! 

Teach your children well. Sit down with your child and ask him or her to create a talk about thankfulness. Provide a simple starting point: “Thank you for…” Then ask your child to draw a picture to go with the concept and get started writing the first of MANY thank you notes for years to come!  Be happy, noble heart, be blessed for all the good thou hast done and wilt do hereafter, and let my gratitude remain in obscurity like your good deeds.—Alexandre Dumas If you count all your assets, you always show a profit.— Robert Quillen The soul that gives thanks can find comfort in everything; the soul that complains can find comfort in nothing.—Hannah Whitall Smith The essence of all beautiful art, all great art, is gratitude.—Friedrich Nietzsche Gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.—GK Chesterton The worship most acceptable to God comes from a thankful and cheerful heart.—Plutarch I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old an

Power Thoughts: A Thankful Way of Life  Gratitude and esteem are good foundations of affection—Jane Austen ’Enough’ is a feast—Buddhist Proverb  When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive- to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love. – Marcus Aurelius  I have found that worry and irritation vanish the moment when I open my mind to the many blessing that I possess. – Dale Carnegie  It is impossible to feel grateful and depressed in the same moment. – Naomi Williams

This is your life, only you can truly control your choices, and choosing thankfulness and happiness is the best way to achieve being a good to yourself as well as the world. Here are some suggestions for how you can ensure simple joy in your life: ·   Be the best you can be by your own standards ·   Surround yourself with people who inspire you and make you feel good ·   Focus on what you have, not what you lack ·   Optimism trumps pessimism every time! ·   Smile often and genuinely ·   Be honest, to yourself and to others ·   Help others ·   Embrace your past, live in the present, and look forward for what is yet to come

“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

No kind action ever stops with itself. One kind action leads to another. Good example is followed. A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves.”  –Amelia Earhart