happy new year!

we celebrate new beginnings now, but really every morning is a chance for a new start. even any time of day we could see something we'd like to change. there's no reason to wait for the next day or the next year to make a change for the better. every moment is a chance to make a positive choice.

the positive choice i made before i started this post was to let someone i love know how much they mean to me. then, i decided to share my positive feelings here. i'm not sure what i'll do next, but it's up to me to make each moment as good as it can be.

so, i say, 'happy new moment!'

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.

tell them

do you ever hear...life is so short? i just read a [true] story in which a woman was killed at the age of 45. so short. i'm already 40 myself.

i'm here to urge you to spend time with people who make you happy and tell them how you feel. i tell my husband i love him everyday. i say 'i love you' to my family at the end of each phone conversation. i try to look for ways to express my gratitude to the many wonderful people in my life. i put effort into maintaining the relationships that enrich my life. loved ones are the greatest treasure on earth.

so take some time to express your appreciation for your loved ones. simple phrases like 'i love you,' 'thank you,' and 'you're great' go a long way. you may even hear them repeated to you. if the words make you uncomfortable, actions speak loudly. give a pat on the back, a hug or even a hand shake. these gestures of kindness are equally powerful.

just be kind while you can. life is too short to leave positive thoughts unspoken. if you know me, please know i appreciate your presence in my life. you're awesome!

the most important person in the world

as a teacher i asked students at the beginning of the school year, 'who do you think the most important person in the world is?' kids would guess: my mom, God, the President!

then i would show them my 'magic box.' this box will show you who the most important person in the world is. each student will look in the box, one at a time, to learn this secret - but don't tell anyone until i ask the question at the end.

each student discovered the answer with a smile or giggle. when everyone had their peek i asked them to answer all at the same time, 'who is the most important person in the world?' i would hear a cheer of variations of, 'ME!' inside the box was a mirror.

i went on to explain that each of us are our own 'most important person.' no one is more important than their neighbor, but we have to treat ourselves well because every one of us is very important. some kids still insisted that their mom or dad was more important.

i saw it as my job to help kids see the truth in my statement. i hope you can see it in yourself. only you can make sure you are treated well. by doing so, the world at large will be a better place.

*the magic box idea was one i found in a jack canfield book.

the people we meet

do you ever think about the people you meet in passing? at the bank, out shopping and other public places we go, we must meet hundreds of people. then there are people we see occasionally like doctors, bus drivers, maybe mail carriers. they are people we see fairly regularly but don't get to know very well.

on may 10, 2008, i wrote about interactions. the thought reoccurred to me today because i met someone new, though someone i may not see again. she was friendly, chatty and smiling. when she left i felt cheerful. so here i am hoping to pass on that cheerfulness. our interactions with one person can affect the next person we see. not only did this person make me feel good, but the good feeling gets passed on in my following interactions.

for each person we meet our mood can be shared. offer a smile or a 'thank you' to the people you meet. that good feeling can grow exponentially!