Never Forget.......

NEVER FORGET HOW SWIFTLY this life will be over, like a flash of summer lightning or the wave of a hand. Now that you have the opportunity to practice dharma, do not waste a single moment on anything else. — Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoch

Don't Be Trapped......

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” ~ Steve Jobs

Stunningly Beautiful......

"How we look is not important. How we behave is. Regardless what we look like on the outside we are the most stunningly beautiful people every time we lead with our peaceful, kind, patient, and loving hearts." `Regina Cates

Learning self-love.....

"Maybe I'll learn self-love fully in this lifetime, maybe I won't. But I have lea...rned three things: to commit to loving myself no matter what, to take care of myself when I am hurting, and, most importantly, to be grateful for my life-lessons and the teachers who make me face them."
~ Sue Patton Thoele

Keeping your eyes and thoughts on love....

"We can be so afraid of the unknown and the lack that could potentially show up, that we are scared of going into the void of the unknown. But, you see, we live in a kind and compassionate Universe who will always take care of us. It may be painful to recognize and come to terms with the choices we've made and the effects of our choices, but, if we keep our eyes and thoughts on Love, soon enough that pain will turn into awareness, bliss and joy."

Expectations:

"If you live by the expectations of what others will give, in regards to what you giveto them....you will set yourself up for disappointment. Focus on the positive at this moment, "today". Don't let the lack of immediate feedback and encouragement discourage you. Be understanding and patient. You don't know what the others are thinking, going, or dealing with. Don't assume. Expectations can sometimes put a lot of pressure on others. It can scare them or make them feel overwhelmed. If you continually give without expectation, pressure, and frustration...it eases the mind of others. it allows them to relax, trust and be "willing" to give back to you in the future. So just keep giving, be patient, and in the mean time, focus on your "present" positives. Do this and you will build appreciation, love, trust, and respect in the mind of others. Lead them to appreciate you and "want" to...rather than feel pressured and "need" to. Let go of expectations. Remain positive and relaxed despite situations not going as you "expect" or "want" them to. If you do, you will be pleasantly surprised suddenly, when you "expect' it the least." ~Simply Positive, 8-21-11

Perspective......

 ‎"Perspective is a personal choice just like being happy is. No matter how difficult the experience is you are living it is has the potential to change your life… because it gives you the ability to make better choices going forward. Easy, maybe not. Simple, Absolutely!" - C.Maloney., from 'Simple Steps, Real Change'

I Will Continue........

‎"I will continue believing, even when people lose hope
I will continue to love, while others sow hatred
I will continue to build, even when others destroy
I will continue talking about peace, even in the midst of a war
I will continue to illuminate even in the midst of darkness."

Continue Believing......

"I will continue believing, even when people lose hope
I will continue to love, while others sow hatred
I will continue to build, even when others destroy
I will continue talking about peace, even in the midst of a war
I will continue to illuminate even in the midst of darkness."

Some of my Favorite Inspirational Quotes......

"Never regret. If it's good, it's wonderful. If it's bad, it's experience......" ~Victoria Holt

"Learn to be happy with what you have while you pursue all you want." ~ Jim Rohn

"It's very difficult to remember sometimes that your very worst moment or day is still better than anything some people might ever experience in their entire lifetime. Refocus and BE GRATEFUL."

"When I tried to control or change someone else, or get my own needs met by someone else, or be validated for how I felt or who I was, I was really placing the responsibility for my happiness and contentment with lifwe on other people. That was not fair to them and most importantly, it was not fair to me. Not to mention it never worked."

"I am bigger than anything that can happen to me. All these things, sorrow, misfortune, ad suffering are outside my door. I am in the house and i have the key...." Charles Fletcher Lummis

"When the sun rises on this new day....Remember it also rises on a new opportunity for you to live your life as you choose. Decide today to be true to yourself, committed to happiness and kind to others."

"When we lead with love we know that there is no competition....and plenty for everyone. Others may not be in the same place but better that we live by example then to follow unhappiness."

"Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint." re-quoted from my very beautiful friend, Patricia Parker

"The true meaning of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good." Samuel Johnson

"You're the only one who knows when you're using things to protect yourself and keep your ego together and when you're opening and letting things fall apart, letting the world come as it is- working with it rather than struggling against it. You're the only one who knows....." Pema Chodron

Deserving happiness......

"Whether you are the person that you want to be or a work in progress remember that you deserve to be happy. No one can take that away from you.
When you realize that in every moment you have the ability to change your life to be what you want it to be…the only opinion that you need to care about is your own." - C.Maloney

Shades of Grey.....

Emerging from the Grey Ways We Numb Ourselves

Numbing yourself prevents you from confronting your issues and keeps you from ever finding resolution or peace.

We are born equipped to experience a complex array of diverse emotions. Many of us, however, are uncomfortable confronting our most powerful emotions. We may shy away from delight and despair and deny life’s colors by retreating into a world of monotone grey. We may numb ourselves to what we are truly feeling. It’s easier to suppress our emotions than to deal with them, so we may momentarily turn to pleasures such as alcohol, food, sugar, shopping and too much television. We may even numb our hearts. While it’s normal to temporarily seek distractions as a means of coping with intense emotions, numbing yourself prevents you from confronting your issues and keeps you from ever finding resolution or peace. When you are numb, there is no pain or powerlessness, but there can also be no joy or healing.

The activities that numb you may seem harmless or pleasurable, but using them to numb yourself diminishes the quality of your life. Numbing yourself so that you don’t have to feel intense emotions can often satisfy a surface need while blocking your awareness of a deeper need. You may find solace in food or shopping when what you really need is spiritual nourishment. The less you feel, the less alive you feel. Your feelings add vividness to your experiences and serve to connect you to the world around you. It is possible to disavow yourself of numbing behaviors a little at a time and once again taste life’s rich flavors. When you sense that you are engaging in a particular behavior simply to deaden your emotions, stop and ask yourself why. Examining the feelings that drive you to numb yourself can help you understand what is triggering your desire to emotionally fade out.

With each numbing activity that you cut out of your life, you’ll find yourself being more aware and experiencing a greater emotionally acuity. Senses once shrouded by the fog of numbness become sharp and acute. Traumas and pain long hidden will emerge to the forefront of your consciousness and reveal themselves so that you can heal them. You’ll discover a deeper you—a self that is comfortable experiencing and working through intense emotions with courage and grace.
Taken from today's "Daily Om"

Suffering

"Suffering will in time lead to deeper strength and love, and betterment of life, even in face of difficulties ahead. Temper aloneness, longing and grieving. There are kind, good, loving friends in this world to glean hope and help from. Greater peace can be found, with skillfulness. Find strength and care from loving...kindness, insight, friends, action, and time. Up comes the Sun."
Giancarlo

Today is more........

"Today is more than just the beginning of a new week…
It’s the beginning of a new time in your life to be the person that you want to be...
This day, this hour, this minute… Now!
It’s your time… what are you going to do with it?
Take a step… for you!" - C.Maloney

Don't let.........

Don't let the lessons, the experiences of the past dampen your enthusiasm for beginnings. Just because it's been hard doesn't mean it will always be that difficult. Don't let the heartbreaks of the past cause you to become ...cynical, close you off to life's magic and promise. Open yourself wide to all that the universe has to say.

Let yourself begin anew. Pack your bags. Choose carefully what you bring, because packing is an important ritual. Take along some humility and the lessons of the past. Toss in some curiosity and excitement about what you haven't yet learned. Say your good-byes to those you are leaving behind. Don't worry who you will meet or where you will go the way has been prepared. The people you are to meet will be expecting you. A new journey has begun. Let it be magical. Let it unfold.

All parts of your journey are sacred and holy. Take time now to honor the beginning. Melanie Beattie.