Thoughtful Quotes

Good Words are worth much, and cost little.   - George Herbert

Where can one better be than in the bosom of one's family?  Traditional French song

Love's sweetest meanings are unspoken - Christian Nestell Bovee

Yesterday was my sisters birthday.  I love these sentiments.

You know it's your sister just by the way your phone rings.

A sister's hug wraps you in the love and security of the home you grew up in.

So, brothers and sisters, as we go, Still let us move as one - Alice Cary

Sharing becomes second nature to sisters.  It's holding back that takes effort.

Alll of these quotes came from a yard sale find (where else)
EVERYDAY THOUGHTS (tm) SISTERS published by New Seasons.  Its a desk type standup display with thoughts for 365 days of the year.

Happy Weekend
Judy McGarry

Chinese Nervous Song

The BGM is Chinese song where the singer is 龚琳娜 and the song is 《忐忑》mean nervous. No special lyrics, its just the music and vocal.

The boy did a great job with his acting talent.

.

.

how can this be?

 

how did it ever, ever

get to be this way

what could anyone,

anywhere possibly say

to a child who has to

pick his crumbs from

out of the dirt

while wars rage on

and billions are spent

in the business of hurt

we lock our possessions

up so very tight

and send the homeless poor

out into the night

to fend for themselves

in a world full of hate

where living and dying

are all left to fate

as prophets of doom

say that all is well

while all that is sacred

is condemned into hell

in a hand basket on

a bright sunny

Sunday afternoon

where lies are the truth

and truth is banished

and put away,

saved, I suppose

for some far off rainy day

when all hope is lost

and we finally

count the cost

asa

image; internet

Garden of Life #7

While I was growing up, my "Garden of Life” included a best friend who was always there for me. Elementary school was not the most enjoyable time of my life, especially when I was in the fifth and sixth grades. I was the one the kids always picked on or bullied mercilessly. I remember nights when I’d lie in bed with tears in my eyes, hands clenched in fists, wishing that I “fit in,” that I “belonged.” I kept wishing, but it wasn’t meant to be. There were days when I’d tell my Mom that I wasn’t feeling well in hopes she’d let me stay home. She was a pretty savvy Mom and she would take my temperature, look me up and down and say, “No temperature, dear. If I can go to work when I’m not feeling quite up to par, then you can go to school when you’re not.” I knew she loved me but I sure didn’t love school.

No matter what happened during my school day, though, my best friend always made me feel better. He offered a shoulder to cry on and unlimited love and support. I would sit down with him and tell him all my “trials and tribulations” and he would quietly listen while I worked all that frustration out of my system. I remember a girl named Rebecca who was a new student and befriended me for a little while but then abandoned me to go hang out with the other girls. My best friend never did that; his loyalty was endless. It made me feel better to know that, in his eyes, I was ok just the way I was and that I was actually someone he looked up to. Because of the way he made me feel about myself, I felt the same way about him.

By the way, my best friend’s name was Thunder and he was a beautiful black German Shepherd dog with silver and tawny markings. We loved each other unconditionally for the 10 years I was blessed to have him in my life.

Have YOU appreciated and loved your “pet(s)” today?

Until next time. . . remember the roses.

Turn it UP!

Greetings to you on this mildly warm Monday morning! As your ready yourself for a kickoff, I do hope you had a wonderful weekend with friends, family and yourself. Time is ticking and we are in April. Geesh…and it’s not slowing down. So, today, let’s catch up and turn it up. The “it” of which I am referring to, is our internal voice.

Monday is here and it is truly easy and almost without any effort to fire off our “to-do” list, book meetings, read emails, and schedule other appointments. Pretty soon, you feel the pressure mounting in your shoulders or your mind. STOP! It is now time to include you on your list and listening to your still small voice that is urging you to recognize the voice and realign to hear the voice throughout your day of lists.

• Recognize the voice – often times when we ignore the voice and do what is contrary to what we “know” to be the right choice. As a result, we now feel guilty, stressed, or tense. To avoid this negative feeling, take a moment to just recognize that small voice by being still for a moment. Even if it’s just five minutes, give yourself permission to honor your internal voice. It will bring you a sense of peace and guidance. Take a deep breath, say an affirmation or prayer, or just sit with silence to truly just “be”. Recognize the voice today in your busyness of life and work to truly connect with what matters and it will in turn allow you to approach your “lists” in a different manner.
• Realign to hear the voice – As you review your lists of “to-do’s”, take a moment and include this realignment on your coveted “to-do” list. Example: 1) Schedule meeting with boss, 2) write white-paper on eco-friendly office furniture, 3) return emails from my vacation, 4) order lunch for board meeting, 5) schedule site visit for conference, 6) talk to HR about staffing issue…you get the picture. Example of realigned list: 1) Schedule meeting with boss, 2) write white-paper on eco-friendly office furniture, 3) Realign to hear the voice, 4) return emails from my vacation,5) order lunch for board meeting , 6) Realign to hear the voice, 7) schedule site visit for conference, 8) talk to HR about staffing issue, 9) Realign to hear the voice…etc.  By inserting or scheduling in time to ‘realign to hear the voice’, it reminds you to do so. When we fail to realign, we run the risk of being burned out and running in circles without perhaps accomplishing all that we set out to accomplish.  For better performance, today include yourself on your list that will bring a peace of mind and less stress. 

Here’s wishing you a Monday filled with intentional peace and alignment for all you set out to accomplish!

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Garden of Life #6

My "Garden of Life” (please see my posts from last year) revolves around one stable structure – the house where my husband and I have lived for over 13 years. It’s the first one we ever bought together. After all our Navy years of living in barracks, aboard ship, in apartments and in rentals, we purchased a place we could finally call our own. At the beginning, it was quite a novelty as we moved in and made it our home; then, after a while, not so much so. We “settled” in, took it for granted, and the only time it became a top priority in our minds was when something broke and needed to be repaired.

Through the years, an occasional “thought” would cross my mind that we were very fortunate to have a home. I’ve seen people lose their houses to fire, tornadoes, hurricanes and, lately, the economy. When we first moved to Florida, I worked for a charitable organization and met folks who couldn’t afford to purchase any house or apartment to shelter their loved ones. After I’d spend a day listening to them, I’d go home, walk through my front door, look around, and count my blessings.

That occasional “thought” suddenly took on blinding proportions when the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan on 3-11-11. I watched the television in horror as walls of water swept away hundreds of homes. Many people are missing and those who survived are spending their days and nights outside with no place to get warm, no food to eat, no water to drink, no place to rest, no loved ones to cherish – all of these precious elements comprise the basic comforts of “home.”

Have YOU given thanks for your “home” today?

Until next time. . . remember the roses.

(Please continue to keep the people of Japan in your thoughts and prayers.)

The Art of Being an Overcomer

Monday Moments

Top of the morning to you! Hi there!  Good morning! Morning! These are some of the few ways I greet you online and in person. Sometimes, it’s accompanied with a hug, but always with high energy and a big smile. So, this morning I hope you feel my sheer joy, enthusiasm and thankfulness to you, as I help you start your Monday on a favorable note.

Today, as I awoke, the thunder was rumbling and the lightening commenced; followed by downpours. For sure, I wanted to stay under the covers and listen and lull and just…you know…do all of those things when it rains. Relax and settle in. But, no-can-do!  I must overcome this feeling and quickly overcome this feeling. After-all, I truly believe how we act and feel in those first moments of arising will set the tone for the rest of the day.  Therefore, time to shift some energy to overcome this relaxed state!

So, today as we greet the second day of spring, let’s overcome.  I like definitions, so we’ll start there.

Overcome(r) – Definition – to gain the superiority: WIN, to get the better of

Isn’t that good news? Thanks Merriam-Webster.  Now that we know what it means, I want to encourage you to overcome these Monday blues that sometimes try to creep upon us or other “blues” that may try to rear its head today or this week.

1)      Recognize the “blue” feeling and change it – this morning, I could have chosen to lie in the bed and feel ‘blah, blue or relaxed’. But, I also know  there is  lots to do and should I chose to ignore the many action items, later today I would be kicking myself for wasting time. NOPE! We have free will to choose another thought that will render us productive, happy, and active. Freely and intentionally choose the thought or best action that will serve you in a greater capacity.

2)      How to change the feeling:

a.      Say an affirmation – ex. Today is a great day, even in the rain. The rain allows me to wear my cute rain boots. Thank you for the rain and the stylish wardrobe to accompany this weather.

b.      Turn on some “feel good” music that will enhance a happy feeling, thought or act.

c.       Stand and give yourself a standing ovation for deciding to rise & shine.

d.      Find a scripture – it will remind you that you are not alone and give you strength. (Phil 4:13)

e.      Call a friend, family member  or colleague for a quick hello and share your affirmation, wishing them well for today

f.        Take ten minutes to stretch, have prayer or meditate

g.      Exercise (time permitting) – get the endorphins moving with ten sit-ups, push-ups, jumping jacks – just MOVE!

h.      Five finger rule – say aloud five things, events, places or actions you are thankful for, that you experienced over the weekend.

i.        Expectations & Intentions - Expect today to be a GREAT day! Intentionally make it a GREAT day!

j.        I am an OVERCOMER – repeat aloud ten times.

Go forth and overcome. Have a winning wonderful Monday and feel free to share your feedback on the blog or drop me an email. Oh, and by all means, share this Monday Moment with someone who may be experiencing a “blue Monday”. 

----Antoinette Sykes, MBA

www.StandingTallinLife.com