what there is

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

today i want to remind you to be grateful for your blessings. the small things that we take for granted are often the best parts of our lives. a home, heat, food, sunshine, people we love.

here's my list:
i have a strong, positive spirit.
i am smart and creative.
i am compassionate and giving.
i am loving and loved by family and friends.
God loves me as He does all people on Earth.
i have many interests that keep my mind active.
i have support to keep my body active.
i have money to pay for my needs and some wants.
i have plenty of food that I enjoy, not just to sustain me.
i have a comfortable home.
i have had great experiences and expect to have many more.
i have made mistakes and learned from them.


Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is. - Ernest Hemingway

so what can i do with all of that?
i can write to share my strong, positive spirit.
i can come up with ways to support myself, if only to apply for help from the government.
i can smile at strangers and shake their hand. i can listen when others need to talk.
i can call or visit loved ones.
i can go to church or out in nature and remember i am part of something much bigger.
i can go to the library and read about many things.
i can exercise and feel strong and motivated.
i can go on living and searching for new experiences.

what are your blessings? what do they allow you to do?
there is always something!

wonderful evenings

i've got a collection of quotes. i've decided to use them as starters for positive thinking ideas.
my 1st one:

I have had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn't it.
- Groucho Marx

this time of year there is a lot of pressure to be cheerful and have a good time. if you don't feel cheerful, the pressure can make you feel even worse. or, like 3 of my friends this past month, you've had a tragic loss. cheerfulness is just not happening. or, you're like many people at the holidays and your problems seem overwhelming and unbearable. sometimes it's incredibly difficult to be positive.

so don't force it. ignore that pressure. feel what you need to feel. just remember that in the past there were perfectly wonderful evenings. there will be more in the future. so while you're feeling down, think back to a favorite memory, or envision a fabulous future evening. your 'in the moment' may not be great and that has to be addressed. yet you have an imagination - use it to create a happier future.

moments of hope or crisis

this is a busy time of year for most people. some things are stressful and others are fun. i'm writing today to remind you to appreciate moments. you may not have time to slow down, but it is possible to appreciate moments during the busy-ness.

if you're in line to pay for something, you might see that the waiting is a time for you to rest. you might notice the people around you and remember 'it takes all kinds' to make the world more interesting. you might feel grateful that you have the money to pay for what you're buying.

traffic can give you a breather. it's no fun but you have no control over it. you might as well enjoy the enforced slow down.

if you're the type of person that does everything for everybody because you like to please them, remember the person/group who will see the results of your hard work. think of how they'll feel. see that all of your busy moments will create even more moments to appreciate.

if you're not fortunate enough to have people to please, look hard for good moments. the world is full of them even though they might seem hard to find. are you healthy? is the sun shining? can you sing a happy song? if you're sick, the sky is full of clouds and all hope seems lost, find someone like me. i care about what happens to you whether i know you or not. there are others out there who feel the same way. go to - http://www.contacthelplines.org/ or call 1-877-266-8222. if you're not in nj, maybe call information and ask for a crisis center. someone out there cares about you!

it is a time of 'good will to all.' don't forget to feel good will toward yourself.