Living

The art of living lies less in eliminating our troubles than in growing with them.

- Bernard M. Baruch

All Seasons - Timelapse

My Wishes For You

Happiness deep down within.
Serenity with each sunrise.
Success in each facet of your life.
Family beside you.
Close and caring friends.
Health, inside you.
Love that never ends.
Special memories of all the yesterdays.
A bright today with much to be thankful for.
A path that leads to beautiful tomorrows.
Dreams that do their best to come true.
Appreciation of all the wonderful things about you.

- Annoymous

To Live

To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury; and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable; and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasion, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony.

- William Ellery Channing

Anything's Possible

No day or person is unimportant.

People Always Come Into Your Life for a Reason

People always come into your life for a reason, a season and a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or even spiritually. They may seem like a godsend to you, and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer we sent up has been answered. And it is now time to move on.

When People come into our life for a SEASON, itis because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They may bring you an experience of peace, or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season. And like Spring turns to Summer and Summer to Fall, the season eventually ends.

LIFETIME relationships teach you a lifetime of lessons: those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person/people (anyway), and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas in your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant. Thank you for being part of my life.

- Brian A. "Drew" Chalker

Three Mysteries of Life

The three mysteries of life.

1) Where we came from
2) Why we do what we do
3) Where we’re going to go

- Evel Knievel

Triumphs and Disappointments

We will all experience triumphs and disappointments in our lifetime. What will separate them are how we celebrate the triumphs and not dwell on the disappointments. It's our nature to dwell on the disappointments, rather than celebrate the triumphs no matter how small they are.

- Kaoru

Greatest Love Of All

How will you invest in our future?

Discouragement

First, knowing the people and values we hold dear are just as eternal as we are, we have every reason to work happily and hopefully and take opportunities as they come -- also, knowing what could be discouraging in time is not discouraging at all in eternity.

- Laura Teresa Marquez

Happiness

Every human being has the right to search for happiness, and by 'happiness' is meant something that makes other people feel content.

- Paul Coelho

Good

Everything is either good or is in the process of becoming good -- everything.

- Laura Teresa Marquez

Beautiful Iran

People Would Rather Make Friends Than Enemies

It is unfortunate that too many people cut potentially meaningful friendships through misunderstanding and assumptions about the other person. The reality is we can never fully know a person and understand them, and often we see things from a totally different perspective, and even speak a different emotional language. A tone of voice, a look, or a comment can easily be misinterpreted, and our response is to feel hurt or offended.

The best way to find out the truth is to ask questions to discover what the other person actually means. What a person means can be very different from an interpretation from your different perspective. Sometimes people may make a statement, and not tell you the reasons why they said it.

It does take more commitment to any relationship to push through communication difficulties and not rely on assumptions. We live in a world where we have become guarded and full of assumptions.

I think most people would rather make friends than enemies, and that if they understood that and not take things so personal, people might not be so offended by the remark that was meant to brighten their day. Believe me, there are people in this world who are polite and courteous. You just haven't met one yet.

- Kaoru

Someone's Opinion

Someone's opinion of you does not have to become your reality.

- Kaoru

IronWill

What Will Matter

In the end, it's not going to matter how many breaths you took, but how many moments took your breath away

- Shing Xiong

Blessings

Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.

- Charles Dickens

Beginning of Life

Look up at the sky
Can you see the light?
It's a new day that shines so bright
As you walk out the door
You can't ignore the peace in your heart
That makes you glow inside
On this day and days to come
You reflect on memories
That have came and gone
Never knowing your next move
Only wishing to improve
So you must strive to be better in every way
Then just STOP, THINK, PRAY
That you continue to learn
Enjoy life with ease
Why, because life is the beginning
So don't stop where you are today
Keep moving toward your goals every day
RUN, JUMP, SCREAM for JOY
Sky's the limit, open your eyes
And explore what's beyond the front door

Heartfelt Poetry
by Chanetta D McNeal

Barnes & Noble.com
Conquering Books
Barnes & Nobles

Giving

You must give some time to your fellow men. Even if it's a little thing, do something for others - something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it.

- Albert Schweitzer

Elvis Presley - Blue Christmas

A Friend

(A)ccepts you as you are
(B)elieves in "you"
(C)alls you just to say "HI"
(D)oesn't give up on you
(E)nvisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts)
(F)orgives your mistakes
(G)ives unconditionally
(H)elps you
(I)nvites you over
(J)ust "be" with you
(K)eeps you close at heart
(L)oves you for who you are
(M)akes a difference in your life
(N)ever Judges
(O)ffer support
(P)icks you up
(Q)uiets your fears
(R)aises your spirits
(S)ays nice things about you
(T)ells you the truth when you need to hear it
(U)nderstands you
(V)alues you
(W)alks beside you
(X)-plains thing you don't understand
(Y)ells when you won't listen and
(Z)aps you back to reality

- Annomymous

Do you Teach or Do you Educate?

Happiness

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.

- Buddha

Kindness

Kindness is an unconditional act given without expectation of anything in return. It warms our heart and makes life worth living.

- Kaoru

Perseverance

Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.

- Annoymous

Havasupai Waterfall

Relaxation

What Does Loving Yourself Mean?

BEING AWARE - Knowing who you are, how you act, what you believe, and why you think certain ways. Knowing your boundaries, strengths and weaknesses.

BEING VALUABLE - Recognizing your own worth and the validity of your opinions. Providing value to others because you tap into your individual talents.

BEING YOUR OWN BEST FRIEND - Liking, respecting, and trusting yourself. Treating yourself well. Taking care of your needs.

BEING ASSERTIVE - Confidently expressing your unique "I" in the world. Being proactive rather than reactive and staying true to yourself.

BEING COMMITTED - Acting in accordance with your personal development or spiritual growth. Making "growth" your number one priority.

BEING SELFISH (or SELF-MINDFUL) - Respecting yourself and not tolerating disrespect from others. Neither sacrificing yourself to others, nor letting others sacrifice themselves to you.

BEING RESPONSIBLE - Knowing that you are ultimately responsible for all outcomes in your life, positive and negative, and that you alone make the choices which create your experience.

BEING HAPPY ALONE - Enjoying your own company and using solitude for nourishment to reboot your energy. That way you can share love without getting depleted.

The most important person in your life is you. The person who you love the most in the world should be you!

http://www.firstloveyou.com/

Contentment

Be Content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.

- Lao Tzu

Extraordinary life

You Can Be What You Want To Be

There is inside you all of the potential
to be whatever you want to be...
all of the energy to do whatever
you want to do.
Imagine yourself as you would like to be,
doing what you want to do,
and each day, take one step towards
your dream.
And though at times it may seem too
difficult to continue,
hold on to your dream.
One morning you will awake to find
that you are the person you dreamed of...
doing what you wanted to do...
simply because you had the courage
to believe in your potential
and to hold on to your dream.

- Donna Levine

Within Temptation - See Who I Am

Always Have A Dream In Your Heart

Follow your heart,
never surrender your dreams.
Constantly work towards your goals.
Believe in yourself, and always be truthful.
Take time to enjoy life's pleasures.
Keep your mind open to new experiences.
Think before acting,
but don't forget the joys of spontaneity.
Make your own decisions.
Look out for yourself, but remember
that you share this universe with others.
Look for the good in others,
everybody has their own song to sing.
Live each moment to the fullest,
for a moment too soon becomes a memory.
Look for opportunities, not guarantees.
Hope for the best.
Give people a chance to love you,
for that is how you learn to love.
Live your life for yourself,
but always be considerate of others.
Believe in tomorrow, for it holds the key
to your dreams.

- Melissa Ososki

One Action Can Make the Difference

Fate

Do not worry about the future for it is not yet come. Live each day in the present and make it beautiful.

- Annomymous

Smile

A smile is a language that even a baby understands.

- Annomymous

Compassion

Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world.

- Buddha

Dream

To accomplish great things we must not only act but also dream, not only plan but also believe.

- Anatole

My Date With Drew Trailer

A Movie for the dreamers in all of us. I highly recommend this documentary. It's definitely a crowd pleaser.

Determination

Within each of us is a hidden store of energy. Energy we can release to compete in the marathon of life. Within each of us is a hidden store of courage, courage to give us the strength to face any challenge. Within each of us is a hidden store of determination. Determination to keep us in the race when all seems lost.

— Roger Dawson

This Story Will Change Your Life

Life

The good, the bad, hardship, the joy, the tragedy, love and happiness are all interwoven into one single, indescribable whole that is called life.

- Jacqueline Kennedy

Doubt

When you are thankful you focus your energy on the present moment—where it is the greatest. You fuel your life with trust and love instead of fear and doubt.

- Jon Gordon

Peace Today

http://www.MakeADifference.com/movies

Strength

To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world.

- Annomymous

Morning Storm

The luminous sky is covering up,
as clouds roll quietly in
smokey gray intimidation,
satiated droplets like sin.

The sky once lit
by optimistic light,
watch the clouds move in
with a menacing might.

Pushing people and creatures
back in to their shells,
the darkness envelops
with a story to tell.

The calm days are over
the purity gone,
as the storm sneaks in
just a bit before dawn.

The first wetness falls,
slowly at first
then drenches the lands
insatiable thirst.

Zigzag lightning
escorts claps of earsplitting thunder,
provoking desperate thoughts
and feelings of wonder.

Next comes the downpour,
releasing its rage
slipping so boisterously
from it's cotton-like cage.

Thunder crashes again
not once, but more and more
pushing the people farther inward;
keeps pounding at the door.

But the rain becomes less forceful
and the thunder is subdued,
it slowly lightens up
as most storms eventually do.

The land is now replenished
flowers bloomed and grass so plush
The storm moves on to another place
just as it came; in such a rush.

© By Mary C. Hyzer

Empowering Message

Esther Hicks

Never Give Up!

There may be times when you feel
as if you have taken a million steps towards
your dreams, and acted on your plans, only to find
yourself in the same place that you began from.
At times like this, you must not give up.

- Vicki Silvers

Highest Goal

Set peace of mind as your highest goal, and organize your life around it.

- Brian Tracy

Ballet - Hand in Hand

Two very amazing dancers.

Making a Difference

To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right.

- Confucius

The Teddy Stallard Story

It's much easier to judge someone than to take the time know them. Please take the time to watch this video. http://www.makeadifferencemovie.com/

Josh Groban - You Raise Me Up

Attitude

Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation.

- Brian Tracy

Alive

If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive…

- Eleonora Duse

Change

If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain.

— Maya Angelou

Hope

Hope is always available to us. When we feel defeated, we need only take a deep breath and say, "Yes," and hope will reappear.

- Monroe Forester

Today is My Day

Today my thoughts are centred on expecting only the best
and giving only the best.

Today my mind and heart are open to new opportunities
and I make the most out of every situation.

Today I will smile and act enthusiastically in everything I do.
I will make every person I meet feel very important and
I will show them that I care.

Today my confidence is high and I am willing to step out
and take a chance.
I speak freely to all those I meet.
I know I have something valuable to contribute.
I expect results today and my time is well invested.

Today I am one step closer to achieving my goals and dreams.
I always keep my eyes focused on success and prosperity.

Today I will sow good seed so that I will reap my harvest of reward.

Anonymous

Free Hugs - Japan

What Is Success

To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived;
This is to have succeeded.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Life

Go after what you want in life, with all the blessings of all the people who care about you. And find out what making your wishes come true really feels like.

- Collin McCarty

Moments of Happiness

Flowers of Japan

Communication

Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

- Annoyomous

A Good Day

Brother David Steindl-Rast

Go After Your Dreams

Sometimes the paths we take are long and hard, but remember: those are always the ones that lead to the most beautiful views.

- Collin McCarty

Inspire

May you find serenity and tranquility in a world you may not always understand. May the pain you have known and the conflict you have experienced give you the strength to walk through life facing each new situation with courage and optimism. Always know that there are those whose love and understanding will always be there, even when you feel most alone. May you discover enough goodness in others to believe in a world of peace. May a kind word, a reassuring touch, and a warm smile be yours every day of your life, and may you give these gifts as well as receive them. Remember the sunshine when the storm seems unending.

- Anonymous

Appreciation

The word "appreciation" means to be thankful and express admiration, approval, or gratitude. It also means to grow or appreciate in value. As you appreciate life, you become more valuable—both to yourself and others.

- Sara Paddison

Judge

Remember, people will judge you by your actions, not your intentions. You may have a heart of gold — but so does a hard-boiled egg.

- Anonymous

Courage Is

The Strange Familiar

Life

Fear less, hope more;
Whine less, breathe more;
Talk less, say more;
Hate less, love more;
And all good things are yours.

- Swedish Proverb

Be Thankful

I would mainain that thanks are the highest form of thought,
and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.

- Gilbert Keith Chesterton

Being True to Yourself

One thing my spirit guides have taught me is to always be true to myself. Many people ask me about this. Being true to yourself is basically being honest with yourself, learning about yourself and maintaining the ethics that you believe in.

To do this just sit back and think about every relationship and aspect of your life, seeing the real value in yourself, understanding your strengths and weaknesses and being completely honest when you do so. Ask yourself questions such as: What needs to be changed in my life? What needs to be removed? What needs to be welcomed in? What behaviours or thoughts need changing? It's important to recognize your good points while you do this.

Read the entire article at: http://www.peacefulwillow.com/docs/beingtrue.html

MAD Hug Drive

PeopleRipple.com

Worry

When I look back on all the worries I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which never happened.

- Sir Winston Churchill

A Creed to Live By

Don't undermine your worth by comparing
yourself with others.
It is because we are different that each of us is special.
Don't set your goals by what other people
deem important.

Only you know what is best for you.
Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart.
Cling to them as you would your life, for without them
life is meaningless.

Don't let your life slip through your fingers
by living in the past or for the future.
By living your life one day at a time,
you live all the days of your life.

Don't give up when you still have something to give.
Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.
Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect.
It is this fragile thread that binds us to each other.
Don't be afraid to encounter risks.

It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.
Don't shut love out of your life by saying it's impossible to find.
The quickest way to receive love is to give love.
The fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly;
and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.
Don't dismiss your dreams.

To be without dreams is to be without hope;
to be without hope is to be without purpose.
Don't run through life so fast that you forget
not only where you've been, but also where you're going.
Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored
each step of the way.

- Nancye Sims

Happiness or Misery

The greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances.

- Martha Washington

Service

At the heart of silence is prayer.
At the heart of prayer is faith.
At the heart of faith is life.
At the heart of life is service.

- Mother Teresa

P.O.D. - Change The World

Words To Live By

It's not how much you accomplish in life
that really counts,
but how much you give to other.

It's not how high you build your dreams
that makes a difference,
but how high your faith can climb.

It's not how many goals you reach,
but how many lives you touch.

It's not who you know that matters,
but who you are inside.

Believe in the impossible,
hold tight to the incredible,
and live each day to its fullest potential.
You can make a difference
in your world.

- Rebecca Barlow Jordan

Change

I have never been especially impressed by the heroics of people who are convinced they are about to change the world. I am more awed by those who struggle to make one small difference after another.

- Ellen Goodman

Gifts

Everything we call a trial, a sorrow, or a duty, believe me... the gift is there and the wonder of an overshadowing presence. Our joys too -- be not content with them as joys. They too, conceal diviner gifts.

- Fra Giovanni

Stargazer Lilies Blooming

We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.

- Jawaharlal Nehru

Love

True love does not come by finding the perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.

- Jason Jordan

Accomplishment

To accomplish great things we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.

- Anonymous

Who I Am Makes A Difference

www.makeadifference.com/BR/

Forgive Yourself

Forgive yourself for your faults and your mistakes and move on.

- Les Brown

Helping Himself

It is one of the beautiful compensations of this life that no one can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.

- Charles Dudley

Life

You can either live life or let life pass you by.

- Kaoru

The Beatles - In my life

For a friend in Hagåtña, Guam. Thank you for all your
support and blessings.

Be Yourself

Never apologize for showing feeling. When you do so, you apologize for the truth.

- Benjamin Disraeli

Lifes Little Lessons

Effort

Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.

- Franklin D. Roosevelt

Truth

Be a lamp unto your self. Be your own confidence. Hold to the truth within yourself as to the only Truth.

-Buddha

Would You Trade Your Life?

If you could trade your life for someone else's with no questions asked -- what would you do? Would you trade it or keep it? If you trade it then you would have never of experienced any of the joys or loves in this life. Not one moment of it would have existed. If you look at your life this way, maybe you won't complain about it.

- Kaoru

Wondrous Things

Wondrous things occur everyday in our lives, only we don't take the time to see them. Don't dwell on the adversities of the day, open your eyes to see the blessing that fill your world.

- Kaoru

Slumdog Millionaire - Trailer

A beautiful story of destiny and the power of love. Anything is possible if you believe and not give up on the eye of the prize.

Humanity

Love, hope, fear, faith--these make humanity; These are its sign and note and character.

- Robert Browning

Happy Thanksgiving

It's Time for Thanksgiving
Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving
filled with beautiful and joy.

I will be away from the blog from
Nov. 26th to Nov. 30th

Peace and Happpiness,
Kaoru

Goodness

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

- Leo Buscaglia

Reflect Upon Your Blessings

Reflect upon your present blessings,
of which everyone has many;
not on your past misfortunes
of which all people have some.

- Charles Dickens

Discovery

He who never made a mistake never made a discovery.

- Samuel Smiles

Children Learn What They Live

If children live with criticism,
They learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility,
They learn to fight.
If children live with ridicule,
They learn to be shy.
If children live with shame,
They learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement,
They learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance,
They learn to be patient.
If children live with praise,
They learn to appreciate.
If children live with acceptance,
They learn to love.
If children live with approval,
They learn to like themselves.
If children live with honesty,
They learn truthfulness.
If children live with security,
They learn to have faith in them-
selves and others.
If children live with friendliness,
They learn the world is a nice
place in which to live.

- Dorothy Law Nolte

Positive Affirmations

Positive affirmations and positive thinking techniques can help develop a powerful and positive attitude to life; which is an essential element in life success and good health. With this power you can turn failure around into success and take success and drive it to a whole new level. Your positive attitude is the fuel for your success.

http://www.vitalaffirmations.com/

Pathway To Peace

Good

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Kindness

Giving is so often thought of in terms of the things we give, but our greatest giving is of our time, and kindness, and even comfort for those who need it. We look on these gifts as unimportant – until we need them.

- Joyce Sequichie Hifler

Praise

Today, tell someone something you like about them, admire or appreciate about them.

- Kaoru

Faith

When you get to the end of all the light that you know and it's time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: either you will be given something solid to stand on or you will be taught how to fly.

- Edward Teller

Inessa Galante - Flowerfields

Thanks to Campion Records.

Heart

All things are possible to a believing heart.

- Flavia Weeden

Beauty

At some point in life
the world's beauty
becomes enough.
You don't need to
photograph, paint or
even remember it.
It is enough.

- Toni Morrison

Blessings

Everyday our lives are bathed in blessings, only we don't see them. It's easier to see our misfortunes than to see the many blessings that fill our life.

- Kaoru

Desire for Fulfillment

Prem Rawat Maharaji

Experience

It is not what happens to you or for you that makes you grateful. It's how you respond to what is happening, that shows your belief about gratitude

- Sumner Davenport

www.sumnerdavenport.com

Belief

Believe nothing just because a so-called wise person said it. Believe nothing just because a belief is generally held. Believe nothing just because it is said in ancient books. Believe nothing just because it is said to be of divine origin. Believe nothing just because someone else believes it. Believe only what you yourself test and judge to be true.

- Buddha

A Simple Act of Kindness

Today I witnessed a woman who opened the door for a woman in a wheelchair. The woman in the wheelchair had been waiting there for a while for someone to aid her. Yes, this was a simple act but one that goes unnoticed in this fast paced world where we have become consumed with our own needs.

- Kaoru

You Are Unique

There is no one else like you in all the world and
only you can bring your unique qualities to it.

- Kaoru

Listnening

Listening is such a simple act. It requires us to be present, and that takes practice, but we don't have to do anything else. We don't have to advise, or coach, or sound wise. We just have to be willing to sit there and listen.

- Margaret J. Wheatley

Free Inspiration

www.3inspiration.com

Smile

If you see a friend without a smile; give them one of yours. It will brighten the world.

- Kaoru

Life

Life is a gift to be used every day.
Not to be smothered and hidden away,
It isn’t a thing to be stored in the chest
Where you gather your keepsakes and treasure your best;
It isn’t a joy to be sipped now and then
And promptly put back in a dark place again.
Life is a Gift that the humblest may boast of
And one that the humblest may well make the most of.
Get out and live it each hour of the day
Wear it and use it as much as you may
Don’t keep it in niches and corners and grooves,
You’ll find that in service ‘its beauty improve.

- Edgar A. Guest

To Act

Encourage the hearts of people around you simply by being there.

http://www.ourprayer.org

Everything Happens for a Reason

I never believed that anything was a coincidence. There's a reason for everything that happens.

- Elvis

Hope

Many are so caught up in their own problems that they cannot see the big picture. Often, seeing the big picture can give one the perspective that makes illusive solutions suddenly easy to visualize. One form of hope can be accessed through stepping outside of yourself and seeing the bigger picture.

- Mr. Prophet

Attitude

I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.

- Martha Washington

Find the Light

Truly it is in the darkness
that one finds the light, so
when we are in sorrow,
then this light is nearest of
all to us.

-Meister Eckhart

Love and Kindness

Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver.

-Barbara De Angelis

Think Different

Inspiring People

Before you can inspire with emotion, you must be swamped with it yourself. Before you can move their tears, your own must flow. To convince them, you must yourself believe.

– Winston Churchill

Maybe

Just maybe... the brightest future will always be
based on a forgotten past; after all, you cannot
go on successfully in life until you let go of
your past mistakes, failures and heartaches.

Just maybe... you should dream what you want to
dream; go where you want to go, be what you want
to be, because you have only one life and one
chance to do all the things you dream of, and
want to do.

Just maybe... there are moments in life when you
miss someone -- a parent, a spouse, a friend, a
child -- so much that you just want to pick them
from your dreams and hug them for real, so that
once they are around you appreciate them more.

Just maybe... the best kind of friend is the kind
you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk
away feeling like it was the best conversation you have ever had.

Just maybe... you should always try to put yourself
in others' shoes. If you feel that something could
hurt you, it probably will hurt the other person,
too.

Just maybe... you should do something nice for some
one every single day, even if it is simply to leave them alone.

Just maybe... giving someone all your love is never
an assurance that they will love you back. Do not expect love in
return; just wait for it to grow in their heart; but, if it does not, be
content that it grew in yours.

Just maybe... happiness waits for all those who cry, all those who
hurt, all those who have searched, and all those who have tried, for only
they can appreciate the importance of all the people who
have touched their lives.

Just maybe... you should not go for looks; they can deceive; do not go
for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile,
because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the
one that makes your heart smile.

Just maybe... you should hope for enough happiness
to make you sweet,enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to
keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy.

And just maybe... you should try to live your life
to the fullest because when you were born, you were crying and everyone
around you was smiling but when you die, you can be the one who is
smiling and every one around you crying.

Burt Bacharach - The World is a Circle

Giving

The great art of giving consists in this: the gift should cost very little and yet be greatly coveted, so that it may be the more highly appreciated.

- Baltasar Gracian

Change

Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better.

- King Whitney Jr.

Character

When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends.

- Japanese Proverb

An Inspiring Love Story - Special Someone

Kindness

A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles.

- Washington Irving

Courtesy

Change happens when you make the choice to make a difference in the world. People, are generally affected by the courtesy of strangers and in turn, will do the same for others. If we do this at least once a day we are teaching politeness and making a difference in the world one step at a time.

- Kaoru

Nature of Excellence

How to Be Positive

Practice positive thinking. Begin to exchange your negative thoughts for more positive ones, substitute riches for poverty, wisdom for ignorance, harmony for disharmony, and freedom and independence for duty and obligation. Everything which exists is some manifestation of this one basic substance from which and by which all things have been created. Start saying, "I can" more than "I can't".

Recognize that it is our mental process, our mental action and interaction is what determines the infinite variety of situations and conditions that we have and will continue to experience throughout our life.

Focus your imagination and efforts on creating the 'state of mind' that will spontaneously create the desired results. It is much easier to effect change internally because we are dealing with an aspect of the universe that we have some control over. We can't always control our outer universe, but we can, with some effort, control our inner universe.

Create your life from within. If you want more success, focus on all the ways that you are already successful. If you want more love, focus on all the people that already care about you and the abundance of love you have to give to others. If you want to create greater health, focus on all the ways that you are healthy, and so on and so forth.

Learn to act as if the life you visualize were already here. The only thing between you and your desire to be happy is one single fact: You are not happy because of how you think. This little known fact keeps many from reaching their goal of happiness.

You create your thoughts, your thoughts create your intentions, your intentions create your reality. Think about what you want, create a picture of it in your mind, and make it very clear and precise. Hold it there and focus on it in a gentle, positive way until it becomes more and more of a reality to you. That is positive thinking.

Look for the good in every situation. There are pros and cons to most situations and you get to choose which you will focus on.

http://www.wikihow.com/Be-Positive

Faith

Hope is the destination that we seek.
Love is the road that leads to hope.
Courage is the motor that drives us.
We travel out of darkness into faith.

- Dean Koontz

Believe In Yourself

Acceptance

It is easier to place fault on someone else than to accept the responsibility for our actions. In becoming a person of integrity one must take acceptance for their actions. This will lead to better made decisions and a more peaceful way of life.

- Kaoru

Education

Education is learning what you didn't
even know you didn't know.

- Daniel Joseph Boorstin

Lancaster Road

A Time to Think

The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.

- Eric Hoffer

To Love Another

For one human being to love another human being: that is perhaps the most difficult task that has been entrusted to us, the ultimate task, the final test and proof, the work for which all other work is merely preparation. Loving does not at first mean merging, surrendering, and uniting with another person -- it is a high inducement for the individual to ripen, to become something in himself, to become a world in himself for the sake of another person; it is a great, demanding claim on him, something that chooses him and calls him to vast distances.

- Rainer Maria Rilke

Free Hugs - Korea

Inspiration

Inspiration is like a Flower. It blossoms at the right times.

- Anonymous

Incredible India

Serving Others

Everybody can be great. . . because anybody can serve.
You don't have to have a college degree to serve. . . .
You only need a heart full of grace.
A soul generated by love.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Seeing the True Self

Seeing the True Self

It is easy to judge someone by their actions or words,
but quite the opposite to recognize them for doing
the best they can with the tools they were given in life.

It isn’t often we meet someone during the
course of our lifetime who will meet or exceed
our standards in life.

What we see isn’t necessarily the true self,
it is who we want to see through our opinions.
To see the true self one must
look beyond what their eyes see
and go deep within the soul to see the true self.

The true self is generally guarded and protected,
seldom revealed for fear of beings judged or
ridiculed for their beliefs.

The next time you form an opinion of someone,
give them a chance to ignite the flame buried
deep within them and inspire them to shine.
You might find out there's more that what you
you ever imagined.

What separates us and makes us all unique
are the tools that we are given in life.

- Kaoru

Living Butterflies

Light of Verse

On this
My trail of solitude
I found a place of verse

A sea
Of sweet tranquility
In which I could immerse

Myself and thoughts
Soaked to the bone
Fraught with such emotion

This ink
Releasing everything
I held with such devotion

Loneliness
It knew no friend
With bonds as strong as mine

Until
I happened on this place
Where finally light could shine

- Beautiful Chaos

http://www.poems-and-quotes.com

Charice - In Her Words

Be True to Yourself

Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.

-Laozi

Feelings

Your feelings don't have to change to get
what you want. Your behavior has to change.

- Daneen Skube, Ph.D.

Spirit

We are gardeners of spirit , if we plant and nurture happiness we will create a heaven on earth where all may walk in peace and beauty.


- Micheal Teal

True Beauty

Beauty is a thing seldom seen
No one sees it because no one looks
Or at least not in the right place
Beauty is held by all
Within the soul it lies
Waiting to come out to the surface
Only it can't
Beauty is suppressed by the evils of the world
Only love can bring beauty out
Once seen
Beauty never hides again
Not even hatred can deny beauty
Of it's true design
Beauty although possessed by all
Will only ever be truly seen by few
And fewer yet will ever see
One of the most beautiful sights
The beauty held by you

- Chad A. Booher

Nova Nova - Tones

Holding onto Your Dreams

There will be a time that you’ll think of giving up, because you’re like tired of it, but of course, as much as possible, don’t, if you’re really holding on
to that dream. Because if that’s really your dream, and you persevere, you will surely reach it.

- Charice

Morning

What is intelligence?

Let us go into the question very slowly, patiently, and find out. To find out is not to come to a conclusion. I don't know if you see the difference. The moment you come to a conclusion as to what intelligence is, you cease to be intelligent. That is what most of the older people have done: they have come to conclusions. Therefore they have ceased to be intelligent. So you have found out one thing right off: that an intelligent mind is one which is constantly learning, never concluding.

- Krishnamurti

Compassion

Never apologize for showing feeling. When you do so, you apologize for the truth.

- Benjamin Disraeli

Gossip

Remember the game you played as a child where someone whispered a sentence into someone’s ear, and they repeated it to the next person, and they pass it on. By the time it reached the end of the line it was never the same as the original sentence. You would think we would have learned something from that game but adults still repeat gossip and by the time it’s been told several times, it often no longer resembles the truth.

A friend of mine recently went through one of the most devastating experiences of her life. Her husband left her and their children for a younger woman (who was also married). Mary (not her real name) and the children have had their lives turned upside down. I have prayed for her and cried with her. After several really rough months she is slowly putting her life back together.

Imagine my surprise when a friend asked me if I knew that Mary had left her husband and children for another man. I quickly told her that was not the way things happened. “Well, that’s what I heard,” she said.

And I’m sure it was what she “heard”, but what we hear isn’t always the truth. That’s why we shouldn’t gossip and why we should never repeat something unless we know without a doubt that it is the truth.

http://akindredheart.com/?p=61

Friendship

No distance of place
or lapse of time can
lessen the friendship
of those who are
thoroughly persuaded
of each other's worth.

- Robert Southey

Elizabeth Drake - Chinsagu No Hana

Beauty

There are times when it is hard to believe in the future, when we are temporarily just not brave enough. When this happens, concentrate on the present. Cultivate le petit bonheur (the little happiness) until courage returns. Look forward to the beauty of the next moment, the next hour, the promise of a good meal, sleep, a book, a movie, the likelihood that tonight the stars will shine and tomorrow the sun will shine. Sink roots into the present until the strength grows to think about tomorrow.

- Ardis Whitman

Giving

Each person has inside a basic decency and goodness. If he listens to it and acts on it, he is giving a great deal of what it is the world needs most.

- Pablo Casals

Clair De Lune - Debussy

Life

We are here to add what we can to life,
not to get what we can from it.

- William Osler

Like Yourself

It is of practical value
to learn to like yourself.
Since you spend so much
time with yourself,
you might as well get
some satisfaction out
of the relationship.

- Norman Vincent Peale

These Are My Wishes For You

May you find serenity and tranquility
in a world you may not always understand.

May the pain you have known
and the conflict you have experienced
give you the strength to walk through life
facing each new situation with courage and optimism.

Always know that there are those
whose love and understanding will always be there,
even when you feel most alone.

May a kind word,
a reassuring touch,
and a warm smile
be yours every day of your life,
and may you give these gifts
as well as receive them.

May the teachings of those you admire
become part of you,
so that you may call upon them.

Remember, those whose lives you have touched
and who have touched yours
are always a part of you,
even if the encounters were less than you would have wished.
It is the content of the encounter
that is more important than its form.

May you not become too concerned with material matters,
but instead place immeasurable value
on the goodness in your heart.
Find time in each day to see beauty and love
in the world around you.

Realize that what you feel you lack in one regard
you may be more than compensated for in another.
What you feel you lack in the present
may become one of your strengths in the future.
May you see your future as one filled with promise and possibility.
Learn to view everything as a worthwhile experience.

May you find enough inner strength
to determine your own worth by yourself,
and not be dependent
on another's judgment of your accomplishments.

May you always feel loved.

- Sandra Sturtz Hauss

Turn a Negative into a Positive

There is always a positive in a negative, you only need to look for it. Next time something negative happens try looking at it from a different angle and find the positve in the negative. Doing so, can make it easier in the way you process a negative situation into a positive one.

- Kaoru

Perfection is Imperfection

Once one understands that perfection is imperfection,
then one can see the pureness of each moment.

- Kaoru

Ryuichi Sakamoto - The Last Emperor

Attachment

One way to reduce stress from your life is to remove attachment. This can be achieved by not imposing expectation and by accepting the pureness of the moment. Don't disrupt your energy with pride or ego. Let the moment be as it was intended to be perfect in every way. If you can achieve this you will see a change in your energy flow.

- Kaoru

The Beatles - All You Need Is Love

Trust Movement

Trust only movement. Life happens at the level of events, not of words. Trust movement.

- Alfred Adler

Life is a Gift

Truly great people are those who are grateful rather than
prideful. They realize that all life is a gift and that
what we achieve is also a gift.

- Rev. Dale Turner

Achievement

Your detailed plan of action means very little - it will change over time. Yet, writing out your detailed plan of action means everything - especially if it seems impossible.

- Laura Teresa Marquez

Choosing the Right Path in Your Life

We are all on a path. There are many . . . some lead to rewarding and healthy lifestyles and some initiate a life of misery and few options. We choose a path early in life thinking it's the correct one for us; it is based partly on our thoughts of what is an appropriate and rewarding life. And, some paths have a luck aspect - being in the right place at the right time can trigger opportunities that wouldn't normally be available. Chance encounters with influential people can provide a bridge to an unexpected fork in the road . . . a way to live a life being able to fully express our inner selves. Due to limited true life experience, the early course of one's path often has to be corrected to full-fill desires.

We are the producers and directors of our life stories. Nothing is set in stone and changes can be made as necessary. Some changes, depending on circumstances, need to be initiated immediately. Triggers for immediate change could be financial, climate or security-related. Unhappiness triggers change and sometimes one change might lead to another change.

To live a happy life, change is something that is an ongoing operation. It is necessary to stay ahead of life's negative external forces. One path in life that is appropriate for one personality type may not be correct for someone with different intellectual and emotional maturities.

Each decade brings a different set of challenges and without change of path, one could find themselves overwhelmed with a life that is too stressful, complicated or emotionally void. As we approach the end of life, paths should be leading to simplicity and peacefulness.

- Deborah Goulekas

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/458596/choosing_the_right_path_in_your_life.html?cat=34

Deborah emailed me this article she wrote and thought I could add it to the blog. Please take some time to read this great piece. Thanks, Deborah, I really appreciate it.

- Kaoru

Angel Falls

Precious Things

Some things in life are more precious than words can explain,
Watching puddles move from drops of rain.
The sounds of a wave crashing against a rock,
A sunset reflection, a vision you can not block.
Whispers of wind blowing through trees,
Walks through sand where you feel an ocean breeze.
Kittens purring in your ear,
These little things in life are so dear.
A drive at night to watch the stars
Help your dreams seem not so far.
Soft hair of your teddy bear,
A friend you know who will always care.
The sound of a newborn baby's cry,
The first time they open their eyes.
A sweet smell of a yellow rose,
This is something you will always know.
A true love that you have found,
You know your hearts will always be bound.

- Shellie Sanchez

Friendship

Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow-ripening fruit.

- Aristotle

Nobody Can Make You Feel Inferior

Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Spiritual Motivation

Building People into Better People

In the course of my day I try and build up as many people as I can. I do it unselfishly for the soul purpose of making better people. I do it because we all can use a helping hand and no one knows how much of a difference that helping hand will make in someone’s life. If you do this you will never lack people who hold you in high esteem. They will always support you as you have always supported them. Build a positive flow of energy around you.

- Kaoru

Being Good

We can do more good being good,
than any other way.

- Rowland Hill

Enlightenment

Any fool can read a book on horticulture and grow a rose, but only the enlightened will see its beauty and smile.

- Steve Lee

Faith in Action

Most people want to do good,
most people want to help,
they just don't know how.

- Della Reese

Inspiration

We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action.

- Frank Tibolt

The Duet - Because You Loved Me

Celine Dion - Introduction For Charice

Charice - Dream Comes True

The impossible dream becomes a dream come true for Charice, a sixteen-year-old girl from the Philippines.

Unity and Love

I offer you peace.
I offer you love.
I loffer you friendship.
I see your beauty.
I hear your need.
I feel your feelings.
My wisdom flows from
the Highest Source.
I salute that Source in you.
Let us work together for
unity and love.

- Mahatma Gandhi

Inspire Others

Find your
voice, and
inspire others
to find theirs.

- Stephen R. Covey

The Beach Boys - God Only Knows

Living Life to the Fullest

Living life to the fullest is something that you want to do and you want to do it with the right people that will make you feel good about who you are inside and out. Having a good quality of people to share things with will make you a happier person and give you the goals in life that are important to you as well. Do not be afraid to stand up for yourself and make decisions about the people that you want to have in your life. Get the negative out so that you can have more positive in your own life.

- http://www.singlescafe.net

Deepak Chopra: Releasing Emotion Toxins

The More We Share

The miracle is this - the more we share, the more we have.

-Leonard Nimoy

Thanks for the quote, Anita

Dreams

It's not too late... the angel said.
Even though the world's a mess...
Even though you're not as young...
Even though you've made mistakes and have been afraid
It's not too late...
And then I saw the world through the angels' eyes...
I saw the colors I could paint
The bridges I could build
The lives that I could touch
The dreams that could still come true
And it became very clear to me...
That it's not too late.

- Ron Atchison

Never Give Up

Never give up
No matter what is going on
Never give up
Develop the heart
Too much energy in your country is spent
developing the mind instead of the heart
Develop the heart,
Be compassionate
Not just to your friends but to everyone,
be compassionate
Work for peace in your heart and in the world
Work for peace, and I say again
Never give up
No matter what is happening
No matter what is going on around you
Never give up.

- Tenzin Gyatso

Choices

Life's not about expecting, hoping and wishing, it's about doing, being and becoming.

It's about the choices you've just made, and the ones you're about to make, it's about the things you choose to say - today.

It's about what you're gonna do after you finish reading this.

- Mike Dooley

The Beauty of Life

Be a Friend

Be a friend. You don't need money;
Just a disposition sunny;
Just the wish to help another
Get along some way or other;
Just a kindly hand extended
Out to one who's unbefriended;
Just the will to give or lend,
This will make you someone's friend.

Be a friend. You don't need glory.
Friendship is a simple story.
Pass by trifling errors blindly,
Gaze on honest effort kindly,
Cheer the youth who's bravely trying,
Pity him who's sadly sighing;
Just a little labor spend
On the duties of a friend.

Be a friend. The pay is bigger
(Though not written by a figure)
Than is earned by people clever
In what's merely self-endeavor.
You'll have friends instead of neighbors
For the profits of your labors;
You'll be richer in the end
Than a prince, if you're a friend.

- Edgar A. Guest

Inspire

Thought, Affirmation & Visualization

Thought:

The more you give the more you receive.

Affirmation:

I generously share my strengths with others.

Visualization:

In my mind's eye I connect with my emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual strengths. I take a moment to express gratitude for these strengths and all that they have brought to my life. In my mind's eye, I see myself generously sharing my strengths with others. I see the positive results my sharing brings to others and also to myself. I combine these images with joy and let them go, knowing that they will create the good things I am visualizing and thinking.

http://www.lightchamber.org

Belief

To trust in the force
that moves the universe is faith
Faith isn't blind, it's visionary.
Faith is believing that the universe
is on our side, and that the universe
knows what it's doing.

- Anonymous

New Beginning

Dare to believe that each step you take will lead to a new beginning.

- Kaoru

Kindness

Wherever there is a human being,
there is an opportunity for kindness.

- Seneca

When People Don't Understand, Listen Better

When people don’t understand you, it’s because you don’t understand them. If you had really known what they were saying, your statements would have responded to theirs (even if you disagreed) and would have made sense to them. Maybe you started making assumptions about what they were thinking or feeling and responded to that instead of what they were saying. Maybe what they said didn’t make sense to you, so you just said what you wanted to say without trying to understand them first. Maybe something else was going on. But whatever was going on, when people don’t understand you, it’s because you’re not listening.

- Marianne Powers

Free Hugs - Peru

Sunshine

Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and follow where they lead.

- LOUISA MAY ALCOTT

Elvis Presley - If I Can Dream

Move Forward

Life is about movement and to continue to move forward. This keeps our energy as a constant – open to all of life’s opportunities. If we cease to move forward you will become idle and build a wall around us – close to any opportunity that could come into your life. So go forward and create opportunities for yourself.

- Kaoru

Jackpot

I recently posted an ad for an item on Craigslist. I had no idea someone had been in search of this item for most of his life. It seems like I have been holding onto this item since the day I acquired it for Brendan. Here is the email from Brendan describing his journey in finding this most cherished item. I firmly believe nothing is impossible if one believes.

Hi Kaoru,

Just a not-so-little bit of background for you . . . which you may find of interest.

Imagine that you regularly bought a Lotto ticket each week using the same numbers. You won the occasional small amount, then for a couple of weeks didn’t buy one only to find out that your winning numbers had scored the $20 million jackpot……

At the age of eight after some begging and carrying-on I convinced my parents to take me to my first non-G-rated movie –– AIRPORT ’’77. It showed in a grand atmospheric theater in Auckland (which still exists today) . . .

http://www.civictheatre.co.nz/home_index.html

Enough said that it made an impression on me.

Jump forward to 1983 when I discover that the Auckland City Library has back issues of the New York Times on microfilm…… of course I dive in and hunt for newspaper ads for the release of AIRPORT ‘‘77. I am enthralled to see that the US ads differed from the international ones in that, while they included the standard art of the plane resting underwater on a sandbank, they also showed new (to me) and exciting artwork of the plane crashing.

Years and years of hunting, goggling and e-Baying later I finally happened across an auction for a fold––up map brochure (in less than stellar condition) for the Universal Studios Tour which featured a mini-pic of this artwork on the front section measuring approx. 2-inches square. I was in hog heaven when I won the auction. However, in the back of my mind was a niggling question –– surely when the Airport ’’77 attraction opened it would have been featured in some way on the front of a Tour Program. I regularly checked e-Bay for such an artifact but failed to do so for a few weeks. Then one day I do a search and find an auction (from a deceased estate) that ended the week prior . . .

Little did I imagine that it would have had sole pride of place on the front cover! So, as you can see, I didn’t buy a Lotto ticket that week, and my numbers came in …….

The day before I did my e-Bay search I had been chatting with a work colleague and somehow Craigslist came up in the conversation . . . I had vaguely heard of the site before but didn't know much about it.

My colleague happened to have a DVD on them that they had just borrowed from a student of theirs (they have more than one job) called 24 HOURS ON CRAIGSLIST. Luckily part of my job involves examining the content of DVD's so I was able to view it while I caught up on some data checking.

Having discovered that my imagined holy grail actually existed, I fell into a bit of a funk upon realizing that to get it I would have to find someone who visited the Universal tour between 1977 and 1978, who had not discarded it and who was willing to part with it after all this time . . .

After exhausting every Google and used book search I remembered the Craigslist DVD and threw caution to the wind and posted a wanted ad for the program.

A few days later I decided to just check my ad to see that it was still there which I did by doing a search for "Universal Studios" and lo-and-behold I found your ad placed just three days later - a Free to boot! In gratitude I was, and am, more than happy to have been given the opportunity to offer you something for this item, and just wanted to let you know how much I truly appreciate your releasing this item to the universe.

It has also shown me the truth of the law of attraction at work! (five days from finding out it existed to securing a copy!).

Thanks again Kaoru.

Namaste
Brendan

I thought this was a very cool story and I wanted to share it with you.

- Kaoru

Don't Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road your trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and its turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When they might have won, had they stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victors cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when your hardest hit,
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit!

- Anomymous

Johnny Mathis - Wonderful Wonderful

Gratitude

Feeling grateful or appreciative of someone or something in your life actually attracts more of the things that you appreciate and value into your life.

- Northrup Christiane

Purpose in Life

Everyone has a purpose in life... a unique gift or special talent to give to others. And when we blend this unique talent with service to others, we experience the ecstasy and exultation of our own spirit, which is the ultimate goal of all goals.

- Deepak Chopra

Shalini Kantayya - First Sight

Reach

Reachin' up, reachin' high
Reachin' higher than the sky
Reachin' out for a goal you've never tried before
Push your body to the brink
You've got more strength than you think
You've got it in you, you're gonna make it if you try.

And when the going gets rough
And when the playing gets tough
Just keep on trying...
For life is a game and the aim is to succeed
And when you reach your dream, it's not the end
There's another goal beyond the bend...
Another race to run, another hill to climb
And you can do it all over again
"Cause you've got what it takes,
You've got what it takes to succeed.

Reachin' out - reachin' wide
Reachin' wider than the oceanside
Reachin' out to others to give and to receive
Put away your foolish pride
Let their counsel be your guide
And you can ride their strength
as you ride the ocean-tide


And when the strong winds blow
And when the waves lash below
You'll keep on sailing
For their strength is yours if you only will receive
And when they let you down
Don't let it get you down,
they're only human, just like you,
Leave the hurt behind
Look around, you'll find
You can love all over again
Because you've got what it takes,
You've got what it takes to give.

Reachin' down, deep inside
Into the hidden wealth of your mind
Where your thoughts and feelings and hopes and dreams abide...
You could come up with mud or slime
Or you could strike gold in time
In the dark you'll see your true self shining through.

And when problems surround you,
Don't let them confound you,
Look within you...
You know that steel is melted in the furnace before it's strong;
So work on your weakness, and build on your strengths
There's no end to what you can do
You've got a lot to give
You've got a lot to live
And you can do it all over again
'Cause you've got what it takes,
You've got what it takes to be you.

Reachin' up - reachin' higher
Reachin' out - reachin' wider
Reachin' in - deep within you
You can do it ...all over again
Because you've got what it takes
You've got what it takes to be you.

- Trixie Asirvatham

http://www.inspirationalecards.org

Perfection

Gold cannot be pure, and people cannot be perfect.

- Chinese Proverb

The Golden Rule

We should treat others as we want to be treated

Inspirational Thoughts

Work hard at what you like to do and try to overcome all obstacles
Laugh at your mistakes and praise yourself for learning from them
Pick some flowers and appreciate the beauty of nature
Say hello to strangers and enjoy the people you know
Don't be afraid to show your emotions laughing and crying make you feel better
Love your friends and family with your entire being they are the most important part of your life
Feel the calmness on a quiet sunny day
Find a rainbow and live your world of dreams always remember life is better than it seems

- Anonymous

Saulo Couto - When You Wish Upon A Star

Past

You cannot change the past in the future, unless you begin in the present.

- Mr. Prophet

Faith

I will live my life as an expression of the principles I believe in: empower, inspire, lead, learn, love, forgive, have faith and live.

- Karl Karl Martino

You Are Special

Your presence is a present to the world;
You're unique and one of a kind;
Your life can be what you want it to be;
Take the days just one at a time.

Count your blessings, not your troubles;
You'll make it through whatever comes along;
Within you are so many answers;
Understand, have courage, be strong.

Don't put limits on yourself;
So many dreams are waiting to be realized;
Decisions are too important to leave to chance;
Reach for your peak, your goal, your prize.

Nothing wastes more energy than worrying;
The longer one carries a problem, the heavier it gets;
Don't take things too seriously;
Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.

Remember that a little love goes a long way;
Remember that a lot... goes forever;
Remember that friendship is a wise investment;
Life's treasures are people... together.

Realize that it's never too late;
Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way;
Have health and hope and happiness;
Take the time to wish upon a star.
And don't ever forget...
Even for a day...
How very Special you are!

- Collin McCarty

Inspiring Thoughts

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.

- John Muir

Friend

Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.

- Anonymous

Sacred Spirit - May You Walk In Sunshine

Appreciate All That You Have

Once you master the art of seeing all that you have in life and appreciating it, then you will always be happy and troubles become insignificant.

- Kaoru

Heart

In a heart-centered life -- acquiring more things, more status and more recognition lose significance, while beauty as given, wonder as given, wisdom as given and laughter as given greatly gain significance.

- Laura Teresa Marquez

The Magic of Words

The magic of words is that they have power to do more than convey meaning; not only do they have the power to make things clear, they make things happen.

- Frederick Buechner

张燕 - 美丽神奇的地方

A Beautiful and Mysterious Place

Cheer Yourself Up

The best way you can cheer yourself up is to cheer someone else up.

- Mark Twain

Chinese Music Video

Nature

Sympathy with nature is part of a good person's religion.

- Francis Herbert Hedge

I Believe

I believe that nothing in life is unimportant
Every moment can be a beginning
And a time for decision,
Taken against the constant background of one's faith
Each word and gesture - whether it comes from our
Strength or our weakness
May change the subsequent course of our life
And the lives of those around us.

- John McLeod

Bad Luck or Unworthiness

Bad Luck or Unworthiness is a thought one associates with disappointment. This becomes the behavior when responding to these feelings. By doing so, you’re empowering this thought to be true and you’re distancing yourself from believing anything good can come into your life.

Overcome this feeling with a Positive thought and project confidence. Adjust your behavior and try not to fall on this old behavior of you thinking you have “Bad Luck” or that you’re “Unworthy.” You are the only one in control of your destiny. So change those old behaviors and make each thought count for the best possible life.

- Kaoru

Kitaro - Passage Through Life

How to Love Yourself

Take a realistic evaluation of yourself. Be honest with yourself about how valuable you believe you are as a person. The way you see yourself and treat yourself is the very way others will see you and treat you. Do you see yourself as valuable, worthy of the gift of love? More importantly, do you treat yourself lovingly and as a valuable being? It’s ok to be truthful with yourself, it may not be pretty! Awareness is the first and more powerful step on the path to change!

Forgive yourself if you ever believe you aren't worthy of love. After all, there were probably things in your childhood or previous years that created that belief for you. It simply isn’t true; every being on this planet is worthy of love, after all, love is what we are here for, it’s what it’s all about. Say to yourself now; “I forgive myself for believing that I was not worthy of love.” Go look in a mirror and say it out loud to yourself, look yourself right in the eyes and say it like you mean it. Go on, I’ll wait.

Post this affirmation up someplace where you will see it each and every day; "I have the courage to believe that I am worthy of love." Read it out loud, every day, at least once, ideally at least ten times each time you notice it. Sticky notes are fabulous for affirmations.

Take action and make those words real. Begin loving and valuing yourself. It is said that you cannot give away what you do not have. So, if you are not able to love and accept yourself unconditionally, how in the world are you going to love and accept anyone else unconditionally? Much less accept that love in return from them?
Remember that love is not a feeling, it is a choice! Make the choice to love yourself. After all, who deserves it more? The more loving you are to yourself, the more loving you will be able to be to everyone around you. Family and friends will especially benefit from this. Make a choice to come from a place of love for yourself and for everyone who is important in your life.

Think about what you need to fill that emptiness inside, that place that is longing for love. What specifically do you need? Find the answer and then give it to yourself. No one is more capable of loving you, and giving you exactly what you need than you are! When you learn how to fulfill yourself in that way, you stop searching for it outside of yourself and you suddenly begin attracting it to you! You change yourself from a sponge to a magnet! People see you radiating self love and they are drawn to you!

Keep a journal. Write about your experiences, good and bad. When you write down your good experiences allow yourself to feel those good feelings again. When you remember the bad experiences, allow yourself to feel pride. Pride because you faced a challenge in your life and you are here today to write about it, which must mean you are a survivor and a fighter. Tell yourself, "I know pain, but I've yet to be introduced to surrender." Keep on keeping on.

http://www.wikihow.com/Love-Yourself

We all deserve to be happy in life! You just have to believe it.

- Kaoru

Kindness - An Unconditional Gift

In the quest to create a gentler, more loving world, kindness is the easiest tool we can use. Though it is easy to overlook opportunities to be kind, our lives are replete with situations in which we can be helpful, considerate, thoughtful, and friendly to loved ones and associates, as well as strangers. The touching, selfless acts of kindness that have the most profoundly uplifting effects are often the simplest: a word of praise, a gentle touch, a helping hand, a gesture of courtesy, or a smile. Such small kindnesses represent an unconditional, unrestricted form of love that we are free to give or withhold at will. When you give the gift of kindness, whether in the form of assistance, concern, or friendliness, your actions create a beacon of happiness and hope that warms people's hearts.

The components of kindness are compassion, respect, and generosity. Put simply, kindness is the conscious act of engaging others in a positive way without asking whether those individuals deserve to be treated kindly. All living beings thrive on kindness. A single, sincere compliment can turn a person's entire world around. Holding a door or thanking someone who has held a door for you can inspire others to practice politeness and make already kind individuals feel good about their efforts. Smiling at people you meet-even those who make you feel like frowning-can turn a dreary encounter into a delightful one, for both of you. Every kind act has a positive influence on the individual who has performed said act as well as on the recipient, regardless of whether the act is acknowledged. Kindness brings about more kindness and slowly but surely takes a positive toll on humanity.

Weaving the thread of kindness into your everyday life can be as easy as choosing to offer a hearty "Good morning" and "Good night" to your coworkers or neighbors, a stranger on the street, or the grocery store clerk. When you commit a kind act, you are momentarily disconnected from your ego and bonded with the individual who has benefited from your kindness. Being fully present in each moment of your life facilitates kindness as it increases your awareness of the people around you. You'll discover that each act of kindness you engage in makes the world, in some small way, a better place.

http://www.dailyom.com

Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People

Because it helps them to see how to make this world a better place. Because that’s what separates the truly good people from those who only think they are good people. Bad things happen to good people because it is a necessary part of making a good person great.

- Al at 7P

http://7pproductions.com/blog/2008/01/07/why-bad-things-happen-to-good-people/

Happiness & Wisdom

The key to a happier world is the growth of compassion. We do not need to become religious, nor do we need to believe in an ideology. All that is necessary is for each of us to develop our good human qualities.

- Dalai Lama

Inspiring People to Love Unconditionally

Never Let Go of Hope

One day
you will see
that it all
has finally come together.

What you have
always wished for
has finally come to be.

You will look back
and laugh at what has passed
and you will ask yourself,
"How did I get through all of that?"

Just
never let go of hope.
Just
never quit dreaming.
And
never let love
depart from your life.

- Jancarl Campi

The Grace of Unconditional Love

New Beginning

Every day is a new beginning. Treat it that way. Stay away from what might have been, and look at what can be.

- Marsha Petrie Sue

Take This Moment Right Here and Now

Negative Energy is a Distraction

Replace negative energy, from your mind and heart. Always radiate positive energy with goodness, kindness, love, hope and determination.

Negative energy is a distraction that drains your positive energy. It takes longer to build positive energy, so be mindful of how your use your energy.

The stronger your energy becomes you will radiate positive energy and you will find people will become drawn to you.

- Kaoru

The Miracle Network

You never know how your actions will impact another person’s life. I started emailing inspirational quotes to a friend. She told me she liked getting them, so it become a daily routine for me. I had no idea what would happen if I missed a couple days in sending them.

Days later I made a visit to her office. She asked why I stopped sending the inspirational quotes? I told her I’ve been busy and didn't have a chance to send any out. She said what you don’t know is that there’s a group of people who look forward in receiving those quotes.

Kaoru, each time you send me one of those quotes I send it out to my co-workers and friends. They’ve come to expect seeing them each day. Now you know what you've started.

From that moment on I called this network "The Miracle Network" and believe it or not, I’m still sending out those inspirational quotes.

Susan, thanks for passing the word and making a difference.

- Kaoru

Worthwhile Accomplishments

The only worthwhile accomplishments are not those we achieve outwardly but the victories we win over ourselves.

- Omar Khayyam

Ying sent this quote to me.

42 Ways to Celebrate and Enjoy Life.

Beautiful Things

We were made to enjoy music, to enjoy beautiful sunsets, to enjoy looking at the billows of the sea and to be thrilled with a rose that is bedecked with dew… Human beings are actually created for the transcendent, for the sublime, for the beautiful, for the truthful... and all of us are given the task of trying to make this world a little more hospitable to these beautiful things.

- Bishop Desmond Tutu

Joy

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy;
they are the charming gardeners
who make our souls blossom.

- Marcel Proust

This Moment

This moment is the most important moment in your life. The choices and the actions you choose right now will define your fate.

- Kaoru

Blog Post: Operation NICE

This is a very inspiring site with such a strong message in making the difference in all our lives. All it takes is being NICE.

http://www.operationnice.com

Happy People

Happy people roll with the punches. They know from experience that
everything changes. Today's good fortune may vanish tomorrow,
today's crises may turn out to be tomorrow's good fortune.

- Anomymous