A thought for the Day

[Dan Murphy]

All of our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them.

-- Walt Disney

 

[Dan Murphy]

Love is

Love is difficult to define yet easy to recognize. The more of it you give away, the more of it you have. The less you demand of love, the more it will bring to you. The fewer conditions you place on love, the more perfectly it will suit you, and the more meaningful it will become.
Love can make a powerful, positive difference whenever it is present. And love can work its magic in every corner of your life. Give love to another and you forge a connection that empowers you both. Love the world around you and it will become more beautiful as a result.

Love what you do and you become considerably more effective. Add love to knowledge and you'll have wisdom. Love life itself and you'll always find ways to give real meaning to every moment.

-- Ralph Marston


and........


If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give.

-- George MacDonald

 

[Dan Murphy]

Contentment is not the attainment of everything you want, but it is the realization of the much you already have.

--Samantha T., Age 17

 

[JC2]

This is so true, Dan!

Thanks, everyone, for all that you contribute here! Some great thoughts!

 

[helenabear]

I love all these that have been posted... so many wonderful thoughts

What matters most
Before you put a lot of time and energy into being frustrated or annoyed, worried or angry about something, ask yourself this. Five years from now, will it make any difference one way or the other?
Rather than making a minor inconvenience into a major issue, take a moment to put it into perspective. If it won't matter a few days or weeks from now, is it really worth getting upset about? If you focus on the petty, insignificant things, that takes your time and energy away from what is truly important. Life is too precious to waste even a few moments, for in each of those moments there is priceless opportunity.

Imagine what you could do today that would indeed make a positive difference five, ten or twenty years from now. Think of how you can spend the moments you have right now, so you'll always look back on them with satisfaction, thankful for the choices you made.

Live this day like the special time that it is. Keep reminding yourself to focus on what matters most, letting everything else flow quietly on by. In so doing, you'll be creating value that will stay with you always.

-- Ralph Marston

 

[Disney Doll]

Little things seem nothing, but they give peace, like those meadow flowers which individually seem odorless but all together perfume the air.--Georges Bernanos

 

[helenabear]

What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail? This is the attitude you should take with all things you set your mind to
accomplish.
~ Dr. Robert Schuller

 

[Dan Murphy]

Life is not what you did. It's what you are doing.

- Jim Burns

Today awaits our attention and involvement. We can sit and merely
ponder the possibilities for action, thinking away the entire day. We
could get involved in a volunteer effort; we always said we would
when time allowed. We could reorganize the basement, the kitchen, the
garage. Our lives allow for spontaneous pursuits now. Or we can keep
our focus small, taking each hour as it comes and reaching out to at
least one other person in every sixty-minute span of time, doing
nothing major, simply expressing our aliveness.

Maybe it's a phone call that keeps us connected to the human
community. Or perhaps it's writing a long overdue letter. Offering a
hello and a smile to a neighbor or a fellow shopper quite specifically
strengthens our connection to the human community. It's not what we
do that's so important. Rather, it's making at least one human contact
with another living soul that will benefit all of our lives today.

Being too busy to let others know how much they matter to me isn't a
problem any longer. Every day offers me opportunities to connect with others.

Timeless Wisdom

--Karen Casey

 

[Catzeyes]

United souls are not satisfied with embraces, but desire to be truly each other. . . .
--Sir Thomas Browne

"If hugs could melt, if kisses were made of nothing but pure air, if talkers always agreed, and if hearts all beat to the same drum, would we desire any longer to be truly each other? No two leaves on a tree turn the same way in the wind; no two fish in a school tread the same water; and no two people can live the same life. Therefore, when we hug let's leave some space; when we kiss let's allow each other to breathe; when we talk let's permit each other to disagree; when we love let's honor each other's rhythm and way.


Is it our similarities or differences that make us want to know each other better?"

 

[JC2]

Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.

Forgive quickly.

Spend your life lifting people up, not putting people down.

Make the most of the best and the least of the worst.

 

[Lanshark]

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." -- 1 John 4:18

 

[Disney Doll]

The Starfish
A boy was walking alomg the beach, throwing the starfish that were stranded onshore back into the water. A man approached him and asked him what he was doing. "I'm saving the starfish," the boy replied. The man laughed exclaimed "But there are millions of starfish stranded on the beach. You'll never save them all. What difference does it make?" The boy picked up another starfish and tossed it into the surf. He then looked at the man and said, "It made a difference to that one."

I don't know who the author of this is, but the message is very clear. Most of us will never make a huge impact on the world. There are only so many Martin Luther King Jr.'s or Mother Teresas allotted for any one time period in history. But we can make a difference to one person at a time, and it is still a difference. You never know when one small gesture on your part, one that may even seem insignificant to you in the grand scheme of things, can make a huge impact on someone else.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Some very nice thoughts here this week. I like them.

If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give.

-- George MacDonald

 

[Dan Murphy]

Spread your kindness

Live as though every positive thing you do will start a chain reaction, the culmination of which is so beneficial you cannot even imagine. Live as though even the smallest kindness, passed along from one person to another, can change the world for the better.
Live as though every good thing you do is multiplied many times over before surely and eventually returning to you. For that is indeed the way life can work.

You have a far greater influence than it may seem over people and events, even those far removed from you. Because the way you act toward others gets passed along in ever increasing numbers.

Think about how you do it yourself. If someone has been kind and considerate to you, you're far more likely to act with kindness toward others, and many of them will do the same.

If in one hour you were to spread kindness to just three people, and each of them did the same, and the process continued to repeat itself, the results would be astounding. It would take less than 24 hours for that kindness to be spread to every person in the world.

Spread your kindness and consideration freely and respectfully to others. And the positive benefits will go farther than you can possibly imagine.

-- Ralph Marston

 

[Dan Murphy]

Prayer should be the key of the day and the lock of the night.

- Old proverb

Many of us believe prayer has to be scheduled - a once-in-the-morning
and once-at-night routine. Yet few of us remember prayer is merely a
conversation with our Higher Power. We can pray anytime and as often
as we'd like.

Prayer in the morning is a wonderful way to open the day. Yet do we
continue to keep the door open by renewing our conversation with our
Higher Power? Do we turn to our Higher Power during times of stress,
joy, sadness, or peace? We may be so busy in our daily tasks that we
forget to keep that door open.

Tonight the door is still open. Our Higher Power is still there to listen.
We can share our feelings of the day as though we were talking to a
close friend. We don't have to prostrate ourselves before our Higher
Power. All we have to do is start talking. Then we can close the door
with prayer, knowing we have with us the good, warm feelings that
faith brings. And as we finally lay down to sleep tonight, we can say
goodnight to our Higher Power and give thanks for the day.

Night Light

--Amy E. Dean

 

[Saphire]

Some people think God does not like to be troubled with our constant asking. The way to trouble God is not to come at all.

--D.L. Moody

 

[Dan Murphy]

The man who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore.

-- Dale Carnegie

 

[stevets]

Nothing is more desirable than to be released from an affliction, but nothing is more frightening than to be divested of a crutch.


James Baldwin

 

[JC2]

These are some great, thought-provoking things you guys have shared! Thank you all!

 

[Dan Murphy]

No matter your belief system, take a moment each day to say 'Thanks', for you did not do yesterday yourself.

--Steve Henthorn