FOOD FOR THOUGHT . . . bon appetite!
WORDS OF WISDOM TO INSPIRE, CONSOLE, COMFORT, ENERGIZE, INVIGORATE;
PILLOWS TO REST THE WEARY HEAD AND ABSORB THE ENERGY OF
LOVE AND HAPPINESS, AND JOI D’VIVRE!
FROM
ME TO YOU The
universe is filled with infinite joy and love, which in turn bear
limitless fruits of all kinds. We are the gardeners of Love and Light
within and around us, and we must sow those seeds with great thought &
care.
Like
flowers that bloom in every season, let your inner light
“photosynthesize” and your beauty, radiance, and unconditional love
will flourish. Wishing
you peace, love, health & happiness now and always. Ciao 4 now. Peace
& love. -SB FOR
THOSE WHO NEED TO KNOW Many
people have friends or loved ones going through cancer and want so
badly to help or to "fix" it and feel helpless to do so. I want
to share this with you so that you know and so you can tell others
you may know who are caring for or know someone who is experiencing this
health challenge: the kind of love and positivity you have given me
even from near and afar, via phone, mail, email communications is so very
important and vital. Just your feeling the Truth of that Love for
that person is so powerfully felt even if you just stand in the
room or send a note or touch their hand for a moment. As soon as
people realize their own power to heal themselves and others by tuning
into the Love of the Universe that is within and around all of us, than
there will be healing and peace for all. THE
ILLUMATED RUMI . . . “Keep
walking, though there’s no place to get to. Don’t
try to see through the distances. That’s
not for human beings. Move
within. But
don’t move the way fear makes you move.” “Let
the beauty we love be what we do.” "The
Net of Gratitude"
JOURNEY
OF SURRENDER On
your journey of Life you have good days, bad days, fair-to-middling days,
feeling better, feeling great, then over-expanding and having a relapse.
Feeling a lot worse. It's hard to remember sometimes that healing is a
journey and not a destination. We want what we want, and we want it now. LETTER
FROM THEO . . . Dear
Sharon, You may not know immediately or right on the surface or right in the middle of the big emotions, but there is a wisdom inherent in your being. And if you can find moments of quiet – if you can step away from the turbulent thoughts and emotions even for the tiniest moment, you may begin to hear the "still, small voice" that will give you insight into your situation and point the right way for you. Everyone
who cares about you naturally wants to come to your rescue or defense, and
that can often sound like judgement or advice, or it can push you toward
an imposed interpretation or conclusion. So it can feel like pressure. But
there are no shortcuts for your own process of seeing your own way. I have
no doubt that you will find your way beautifully, and that love will
continue to find its own unique way to And
I have no doubt that whatever and however painful this passage, it is an
opportunity for you to learn more about love and that will only bring
blessing to your life – no matter what unfolds. It is inevitable that
you will be blessed. Think of how you have been guided and loved and
blessed by the universe so far! This is the truth and always will be. Sending
you very much love, Theodora INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIFE IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM FROM
THE DALAI LAMA: 1.
Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great
risk. 2.
When you lose, don't lose the lesson. 3.
Follow the 3 Rs: Respect for self, Respect for others, Responsibility for
all your actions. 4.
Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of
luck. 5.
Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly. 6.
Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship. 7.
When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct
it. 8.
Spend some time alone every day. 9.
Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values. 10.
Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer. 11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to
enjoy it a second time. 12.
A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life. 13.
In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation.
the past. 14.
Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality. 15.
Be gentle with the earth. 16.
Once a year, go some place you've never been before. 17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds
your
need for each other. 18.
Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it. 19.
Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon. MAYA
ANGELOU SAYS . . . When
I was in my younger days, I
weighed a few pounds less, I
needn't hold my tummy in
to wear a belted dress. But
now that I am older, I've
set my body free; There's
the comfort of elastic Where
once my waist would be. Inventor
of those high-heeled shoes My
feet have not forgiven; I
have to wear a nine now, But
used to wear a seven. And
how about those pantyhose- They're
sized by weight, you see, So
how come when I put them on The
crotch is at my knee? I
need to wear these glasses As
the print's been getting smaller; And
it wasn't very long ago I
know that I was taller. Though
my hair has turned to gray
and my skin no longer fits, On
the inside, I'm the same old me, It's
the outside's changed a bit. But,
on a positive note... I've
learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today,
life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three
things:
a
rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when
they're gone
from your life. I've
learned that making a "living" is not the same thing
as making a "life." I've
learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You
need
to be able to throw something back. I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right
decision.
I've
learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm
hug,
or just a friendly pat on the back. I've
learned that I still have a lot to learn. I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
THE POSITIVE SIDE OF LIFE Living
on Earth is expensive, but
it does include a free trip around
the sun every year.
How
long a minute is depends
on what side of the bathroom
door you're on.
Birthdays
are good for you; the
more you have, the
longer you live.
Happiness
comes through doors you didn't
even know you left open.
Ever
notice that the people who are late are
often much jollier than
the people who have to wait for them?
Most
of us go to our grave with
our music still inside of us.
If
Wal-Mart is lowering prices every day, how
come nothing is free yet?
You
may be only one person in the world, but
you may also be the world to one person.
Some
mistakes are too much fun to
only make once.
Don't
cry because it's over; Smile
because it happened.
We
could learn a lot from crayons: some
are sharp, some are pretty, some
are dull, some have weird names, and
all are different colors....but they
all exist very nicely in the same box.
A
truly happy person is one who can
enjoy the scenery on a detour.
Have
an awesome day, and know
that someone who
thinks you're great has
thought about you today!
INSPIRATIONAL
BEAUTY TIPS For
attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For
beautiful eyes, look for the good in other people. To
lose weight, let go of stress, hatred, anger, contempt, and the need to
control others. To
improve your ears, listen to the word of God (by whatever name you use). Rather than focus on the thorns of life, smell the roses and count your blessings, giving
thanks
for each one of them. For
poise, walk with knowledge and self-esteem. To
strengthen your arms, hug at least 3 people a day. Touch someone with your
love. To
strengthen your heart, forgive yourself and others. Don't worry and hurry so much. Rather than walk this earth lightly, walk firmly with
determination
and leave your mark. For the ultimate in business, casual, or evening attire put on the robe of LOVE; it fits like a glove but allows room for growth. Best of all, it never goes out of style and is
appropriate
for any occasion. Doing
these things on a daily basis will certainly make you a more beautiful
person. Peace is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of God.
I WISH YOU ENOUGH Recently I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said “I love you and I wish you enough.” The daughter replied, “Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom.”
“Yes,
I have,” I replied. “Forgive me for asking but why is this a forever
goodbye?”
LESSON FOR TODAY by Stephen Ivory I
open my eyes in the morning, and I wonder: What will it be today? I
brush my teeth in anticipation. How will it come? The phone rings
and I ask myself – Is this it? Is it in the newspaper I read?
The letter I am opening? The glass of water I am drinking – is
there something more to this activity than the obvious? When I am aware
enough to contemplate it, I ask myself: What lesson will I learn
today?
The
greatest thing about life is that no matter who you are, no matter where
you live, whether you are rich or poor, young or old, everyday you have
the opportunity to learn something new.
Admittedly,
I don't approach every day in this fashion. Like most people, quite
often I waken, preoccupied with the day's deed at hand. On the
mornings that I am aware, however, I grow giddy. Because to
discover a lesson and recognize it as such is like being on a personal
treasure hunt: I know that if I am open, I am bound to learn
something. The world is a classroom, and tuition is free. The only
thing to be paid is attention.
I
might find it anywhere – in the lilt of a Jobim song whose Portuguese
lyric I don't even understand, or in a conversation with a parking
attendant. It may come by not talking at all, by simply watching him.
A stroll in the park could hold a revelation. Behind the shower
curtain, an epiphany may await.
A
couple of days ago, my lesson was delivered by Jane, a long-retired
grandmother who came to rest on my bench. During our conversation,
she told me that three months after retiring – or was it three months
after buying her home sixteen years ago? She slipped on the stairs and
broke her foot. It didn't heal properly, and for several years she
endured the pain before one doctor corrected the misdiagnosis of another.
When
I asked her how she dealt with her misfortune, she replied that she relied
on two things: Gratitude and Faith. Gratitude that, despite her
condition, things weren't worse, and faith that she'd find someone to
fix it. Gratitude, she said, should always be the starting point from
wherever you sit in life; wherever you are, be grateful for what you do
have. And always have faith that things will get better, because if you
are truly doing all that you can, they will.
She
told me she begins her day by sitting in her favorite chair with a cup of
coffee and meditating. She gives thanks for her health and her family
and her home, which she loves and the front yard of which she managed to
landscape herself, even with a broken foot. And then she just sits
there, sometimes up to an hour, enjoying the serenity of simply being
alive.
At
her home, Jane tries to fix at least one thing everyday. This way, no
matter how small the repair, your life is always moving forward. Jane
said that when she finally steps out of her home and into the world, she
does so with the faith that she will always encounter something, anything,
good. This, she said, is where I came in – which, I replied, was funny, considering that
the moment she sat down, I suspected that with her would come my
lesson.
We
began chatting that Saturday afternoon at about one-thirty. When Jane
eased up off the bench, it was a little after five. We went our
separate ways, both privately satisfied that what we each embraced in
life was more than just a hunch. We'd affirmed not only our own
views, but those of the other.
The
greatest thing about life is that no matter who you are, no matter where
you live, whether you are rich or poor, young or old, everyday you
have the opportunity.
TAKE HOLD OF EVERY MOMENT A
friend of mine opened his wife's underwear drawer and picked up a
silk paper wrapped package: ”This, - he said - isn't any ordinary
package.” He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk
paper and the box. ”She got this the first time we went to New York
8 or 9 years ago. She has never put it on. Was saving it for a special occasion.”
Well,
I guess this is it. He got near the bed and placed the gift box next
to the other clothing he was taking to the funeral house, his wife
had just died. He turned to me and said:
“Never
save something for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special
occasion”. I still think those words changed my life.
Now
I read more and clean less. I sit on the porch without worrying
about anything. I spend more time with my family, and less at work. I
understood that life should be a source of experience to be lived up
to, not survived through. I no longer keep anything. I use crystal glasses
every day. I'll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket, if I feel like
it. I don't save my special perfume for special occasions, I use it
whenever I want to.
The
words ”Someday . . .” and “One Day . . .” are fading away
from my dictionary. If it's worth seeing, listening or doing, I want
to see, listen, or do it now.
I
don't know what my friend's wife would have done if she knew she wouldn't
be there the next morning, this nobody can tell. I think she might
have called her relatives and closest friends. She might call old friends
to make peace over past quarrels. I'd like to think she would go out for
Chinese, her favorite food. It's these small things that I would regret
not doing, if I knew my time had come. I would regret it, because I
would no longer see the friends I would meet, letters that I wanted
to write “One of these days.”
I
would regret and feel sad, because I didn't say to my brother and sisters,
sons and daughters, not times enough at least, how much I love them.
Now,
I try not to delay, postpone, or keep anything that could bring
laughter and joy into our lives. And, on each morning, I say to
myself that this could be a special day.
Each
day, each hour, each minute, is special.
HEAVEN’S GROCERY STORE As I was walking down life's highway many years ago, I
came upon a sign that read Heaven’s Grocery Store. When
I got a little closer the doors swung open wide And
when I came to myself I was standing inside. I
saw a host of angels. They
were standing everywhere One
handed me a basket and said "My child shop with care." Everything
a human needed was in that grocery store And
what you could not carry you could come back for more First
I got some Patience. Love
was in that same row. Further
down was Understanding, you need that everywhere you go. I
got a box or two of Wisdom and Faith a bag or two. And
Charity of course, I would need some of that too. I
couldn't miss the Holy Ghost It was all over the place. And
then some Strength and Courage to help me run this race. My
basket was getting full but I remembered I needed Grace, And
then I chose Salvation for Salvation was for free I
tried to get enough of that to do for you and me. Then
I started to the counter to pay my grocery bill, For
I thought I had everything to do the Masters will. As
I went up the aisle I saw Prayer and put that in, For
I knew when I stepped outside I would run into sin. Peace
and Joy were plentiful, the last things on the shelf. Song
and Praise were hanging near so I just helped myself. Then
I said to the angel, "Now how much do I owe?" He
smiled and said "Just take them everywhere you go." Again
I asked "Really now, how much do I owe?" "My
child" he said, "God paid your bill a long, long time ago."
This
poem has been sent to you with love and for good luck. Feel
free to copy and send it on to others whom you love and cherish.
HOW
WE TREAT PEOPLE Five
(5) lessons to make you think about the way we treat people. 1.
First Important Lesson: Cleaning Lady During
my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a
conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read
the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the
school?"
Surely
this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times.
She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I
handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank.
Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would
count toward our quiz grade.
"Absolutely,"
said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All
are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do
is smile and say "hello".
I've
never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.
2.
Second Important Lesson: Pickup in the Rain One
night, at 11.30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the
side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her
car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet,she
decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her,
generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to
safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.
She
seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him.
Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a
giant console color TV was delivered to his home.
A
special note was attached.. It read: "Thank you so much for assisting
me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes,
but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to
make it to my dying husband's bedside jus! t before he passed away. God
bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others."
Sincerely,
Mrs.
Nat King Cole.
3.
Third Important Lesson: Always remember those who serve In
the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10 -year-old boy
entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of
water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" he
asked.
"Fifty
cents," replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out of
his pocket and studied the coins in it. "Well, how much is a plain
dish of ice cream?" he inquired. By now more people were waiting for
a table and the waitress was growing impatient.
"Thirty-five
cents," she brusquely replied. The little boy again counted his
coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said. The waitress
brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy
finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left.
When
the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table.
there, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five
pennies. You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have
enough left to leave her a tip.
4.
Fourth Important Lesson: The Obstacle in Our Path In
ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid
himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of
the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked
around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear,
but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.
Then
a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the
boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to
the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally
succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed
a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained
many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for
the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned
what many of us never understand!
Every
obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.
5.
Fifth Important Lesson: Giving When it Counts Many
years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a
little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare & serious disease.
Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her
5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had
developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor
explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if
he would be willing to give his blood to his sister.
I
saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying,
"Yes I'll do it if it will save her." As the transfusion
progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did,
seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his
smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice,
"Will I start to die right away".
Being
young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was
going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.
LEAVING
THE CITY OF REGRET I
had not really planned on taking a trip this time of year, and yet
I found myself packing rather hurriedly. This trip was going
to be unpleasant, and I knew in advance that no real good would
come of it. I'm talking about my annual "Guilt Trip."
I
got tickets to fly there on "Wish I Had" airlines. It
was an extremely short flight.
I
got my baggage, which I could not check. I chose to carry it myself
all the way. It was weighted down with a thousand memories
of what might have been.
No
one greeted me as I entered the terminal to the Regret City International
Airport. I say international, because people from all
over the world come to this dismal town.
As
I checked into the "Last Resort" Hotel, I noticed that they would
be hosting the year's most important event, the "Annual Pity
Party". I wasn't going to miss that great social occasion. Many
of the town's leading citizens would be there.
First,
there would be the "Done" family, you know, "Would
Have", "Could Have", and "Should Have".
Then
came the "I Had" family. You
probably know ol' Wish and his clan.
Of course, the Opportunities would be present, "Missed"
and "Lost".
The
biggest family would be the "Yesterday's". There are far too many
of them to count, but each one would have a very sad story to
share.
Then
"Shattered Dreams" would surely make an appearance. And It's "Their
Fault" would regale us with stories (excuses) about how things
had failed in his life, and each story would be loudly applauded
by "Don't Blame Me" and "I Couldn't Help It".
Well,
to make a long story short, I went to this depressing party
knowing that there would be no real benefit in doing so. And,
as usual, I became very depressed.
But
as I thought about all of the stories of failures brought back
from the past, it occurred to me that all of this trip and subsequent
"pity party" could be cancelled by ME!
I
started to truly realize that I did not have to be there. I
didn't have to be depressed. One thing kept going through my mind:
I CAN'T CHANGE YESTERDAY, BUT I DO HAVE THE POWER TO
MAKE TODAY A WONDERFUL DAY.
I
can be happy, joyous, fulfilled, encouraged, as well as encouraging.
Knowing this, I left the City of Regret immediately
and left no forwarding address.
Am
I sorry for mistakes I've made in the past? YES! But
there is no physical way to undo them.
So,
if you're planning a trip back to the City of Regret, please cancel
all your reservations now.
Instead,
take a trip to a place called, "Starting Again". I liked it
so much that I have now taken up permanent residence there.
My neighbors, the "I Forgive Myselfs" and the "New Starts" are so
very helpful. By the way, you don't have to carry around heavy baggage
because the load is lifted from your shoulders upon arrival.
God
bless you in finding this great town. If you can find it, it's
in your own heart.
Please
look me up. I live on "I Can Do It" Street.
CHRISTINE
NORTHRUP SAYS: The
only lasting safety and security come from the peace that you create
within yourself.
We
live the lives that we have the courage to live.
YOUR
INPUT DETERMINES YOUR OUTPUT by
Willie Jolley, Host of “Willie Jolley Motivational Minute” syndicated
radio show Before
you change your thinking, you have to change what goes into your mind.
To change where you are going, you must first change your thinking.
Your
thinking affects how you act and therefore what you do, just as to change
your weight and health you must change what you eat. And the same is true
for your mind. You must fill your mind with positive, healthy,
inspirational, and encouraging material and get rid of the things that
will kill your dreams and aspirations: doubt, fear, and negative thinking.
Just
as you are what you eat, you are exactly what you think about. Remember
that your input always determines your output. Change
your thinking and change your life!
IF
I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER – by Erma Bombeck
dirt
when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
hair
had just been teased and sprayed.
was
guaranteed to last a lifetime. realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist
God
in a miracle.
washed
up for dinner." There would have been more "I love you's."
More "I'm sorry's." |