A thought for the Day

[Dan Murphy]

You do post some great ones, Jilly, both here and on the one that was moved to the IB. Very nice. I do enjoy them.



Here's a great way to quickly change your attitude about anything and to put yourself in a positive frame of mind. Wherever you are, whatever has happened, in every situation, consider yourself truly blessed.
If there's something which must be done, that you'd really rather avoid, consider that you're truly blessed to be doing it. That simple change in thinking can put an amazing positive spin on the experience.

If there's a troublesome situation confronting you, consider yourself truly blessed to be able to face it. It will help you to fashion your most positive, effective and resourceful response.

Sure, it's difficult to think of yourself as truly blessed when you're in the middle of something unpleasant, frightening or frustrating. Difficult as it may be, though, it sure beats the alternative of giving in to despair and negativity.

It may not make sense at first to your logical mind, yet in some very positive and empowering way your spirit will understand. Indeed, you are truly blessed, and it can be a powerful positive boost to remind yourself of that fact. Just do it and see for yourself what a difference it can make.

-- Ralph Marston

 

[helenabear]

Wonderful words there Dan... thank you so much for sharing those with us!

 

[helenabear]

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously
for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided
the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just
wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbors to
come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt
into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried
horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads
later, the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he
saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing
something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer's
neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it
off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey
stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting
out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles
is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not
stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up!

Remember these six simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.
6. Put God first...

Life's too short and precious!! Enjoy your day and the rest of your week & shake it off!

 

[EROS]

"Indeed, Mr. Jefferson, what could be invented to debase the ancient Christianism which Greeks, Romans, Hebrews and Christian factions, above all the Catholics, have not fraudulently imposed upon the public? Miracles after miracles have rolled down in torrents."

-- John Adams, letter to Thomas Jefferson, December 3, 1813,

 

[helenabear]

Low humming sounds and sun-baked hazy days lull
us into the slowed pace of summertimes. When we
were growing up nothing was more magic than
summertime. The hot-sweet-smelling days seemed
to stretch on forever then. Summer was play itself, a
seemingly endless string of months to work off
energy and dream about the possibilities of
everything and anything. Long daylight hours gave
us a world that seemed boundless in its capacity to
soothe and delight.

Children know best how to settle down into the
heart of summer, to let go in deep down ways, to
simply "be" and enjoy.

How long has it been since we sat down with
summer and let her envelop us with smells, sounds,
and memories? Just sitting still outside on a
summer night, getting reacquainted with the season,
can make us feel like kids again.

Today, let me make the time to relax into a summer
day in the way of childhood.

--- Seasons of the Spirit

 

[Dan Murphy]

Perhaps we're too embarrassed to change or too frightened of the
consequences of showing that we actually care. But why not risk it anyway?
BEGIN TODAY! Carry out an act of kindness, with no expectation
of reward or punishment. Safe in the knowledge that one day,
someone somewhere might do the same for you.


--Princess Diana

 

[Dan Murphy]

Awaken to the ordinary beauty.

Our lives are filled with demands, responsibilities, expectations, places
to go, people to see, things to do. We may get so caught up in the next
task that we miss the golden moment happening right now. No matter
where we are or what we are doing, if we stop to breathe slowly and
notice our surroundings, we will find something to appreciate. We may
see a glint of light reflecting off a pane of glass, the look in a friend's
eyes, or a small thoughtful thing that our partner does.

Spiritual development is nourished by our senses. The sights, sounds,
tastes, touch, and scents in our immediate surroundings are the
doorway to awe and mystery. When we awaken to the ordinary beauty
in our everyday lives, warm and loving parts of ourselves grow and
extend out to those we love.

Quiet yourself for a moment, slowly breathe in and out, focus on
something you appreciate, something wholesome.

---The More We Find in Each Other by Mavis Fossum and Merle Fossum

 

[EROS]

"The separation of church and state is extremely important to any of us who holds to the original traditions of our nation. To change these traditions by changing our traditional attitude toward public education would be harmful to our whole attitude of tolerance in the religious area. If we look at situations which have arisen in the past in Europe and other world areas, I think we will see the reasons why it is wise to hold to our early traditions."

-- Eleanor Roosevelt, New York World-Telegram, June 23, 1949

 

[helenabear]

If you could change anything in the world, what would it be? If you could truly make a difference in the lives of those around you, how would you do it?
If you suddenly realized that today was like no other, with each moment a special, priceless and irreplaceable treasure, how would you spend it? If the world was depending on you to move it forward, what would your first step be?

If you could clearly see tomorrow, how would it look? If you could create tomorrow just the way you wanted, what would it be like? If you could tell others exactly what you thought, what would you say? If you knew you could not fail, what would you attempt?

The truth is, you can do all these things and more. Every moment is your opportunity, every situation is your starting point. Think of the very best you would do if you could. Then make it happen, because you can.

-- Ralph Marston

 

[EROS]

If you want to save your child from polio, you can pray or you can inoculate.

-- Carl Sagan

 

[helenabear]

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

--- Martin Luther King Jr.

 

[EROS]

"Prayers and sacrifices are of no avail".


-- Aristotle

 

[Dan Murphy]

Harsh words break no bones
but they do break hearts.

or

If anyone speaks badly of you,
live so none will believe it.

or

God always gives His best to those
who leave the choice with Him.

or

Dreams DO Come True

Choose a wish, find a dream
Or pick a wishing star
Let your hopes and spirits soar
Fly high and free and far.

Reach for the unreachable
Stretch clear up to the sky
Always know
That any dream you treasure
Is never too far away
or too high.

Believe in the impossible
Then work for it
And keep trying
And do!
For only those
who dare to dream
Can make that dream
Come true!

--Meadow Birdsong

 

[helenabear]

Wonderful words there... thank you so much Dan!

 

[EROS]

"A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death."

Albert Einstein

 

[helenabear]

Heather, very wonderful, powerful and beautiful words you chose there. I thank you for posting them!



Negativity is a dark hole full of nothing, You don't need it, You do not benefit from it, Not only is it painful, it is useless. So whenever you sense it coming on, let it go. Let it dissolve away into oblivion Just simply forget it. You have better things to do with your time and energy.

Decide to be joyful and positive no matter what. It's time to be the best you can be. Don't wallow in the darkness. Be happy.

Be genuinely joyful. You can do it!!
--- Unknown

 

[EROS]

"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires".

Susan B. Anthony
-- in 1896, addressing the National American Woman Suffrage Association meeting

 

[helenabear]

One of the most valuable things you can have is the ability and the desire to truly understand others. That's because we live in a world where no two people have exactly the same perspective. We are all unique individuals. That fact can lead to extreme frustration or it can lead to magnificent achievement, depending on your level of understanding.
Have you ever wasted a lot of time and energy being angry and resentful, only to eventually discover that it was all due to a misunderstanding? Has anyone ever been angry with you simply because they did not understand what you were doing or why you were doing it?

It takes effort and humility to practice true and genuine understanding. Often, it can seem easier to just get angry and lash out, yet that rarely accomplishes anything of value.

Imagine how much more value you could create and enjoy if you made the effort to better understand the people around you. Imagine what would happen if some of your anger and frustration could be replaced by cooperation and effectiveness.

Every day there are opportunities for you to become more understanding and to help others better understand you. Make use of those opportunities, seek to promote understanding. Your life and your world will benefit greatly.

-- Ralph Marston

 

[EROS]

Katharine Hepburn (b. 1909)
American Actress noted for her unique combination of patrician beauty and spunky earthiness

"I'm an atheist, and that's it. I believe there's nothing we can know except that we should be kind to each other and do what we can for other people."

 

[Buckalew]

These are all such good thoughts, Helenabear, Chip and Hemi, and Dan. Thanks for each one you all posted.