Is Bordeaux Worth Visting?
4 hours ago
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Ways To Have Joyful Holidays
Be genuinely interested in others. Talk about what interests your friends and relatives. Note what another enjoys and feels good about. Ask about a garden, hobby or other neutral topic. Give up needing others to change in order for you to be happy or feel loved. Keep your heart and ears open.
Treat others like they are royalty. For whatever reason some people never change. Remember we are all doing the best we know how to do. Instead of complaining hold a vision of peace and happiness for difficult friends and relatives during the holiday season. Love them for being themselves.
Keep your ego in check. Become aware of the temptation of thinking you're better than others. Become aware of the ways we are the same. For example, we all love to be validated, loved and appreciated. We all want the best for ourselves and our children.
Give yourself permission to shine. Don't dim your light for anyone. On the other hand don't brag. If someone lost their job don't blurt out how well your job is going. Instead genuinely care about others. Offer your help in any way you can.
Take a time out if the coversation gets heated or others bring up the past. Excuse yourself from that conversation. Change the subject. Find something to do in the kitchen.
Bless everyone. Take a moment while sitting at the table and silently look at each person and be sincerely grateful. These people are in your life for a reason. They will teach you how to love unconditionally. They will mirror positive and negative traits you may otherwise not see in yourself. Silently thank them.
Play. Bring something fun to do. Bring bubbles to blow, a simple craft to make or a book to read to the children. Be the fun you wish to have at the party.
Be prepared. Spend time in silence before you leave. Put a few affirmation cards in your purse or pocket. As you catch yourself thinking or feeling negatively excuse yourself. Recenter yourself and stay calm by reading your cards.
Listen to others. We all want to be heard. Be the last to speak and the first to listen. Genuinely care what the other person is talking about. Robin Easton becomes one with the speaker. I can't think of a better time or place to practice that exercise!
Share. Bring a favorite childhood dish. My Aunt Lucy used to make English Toffee that melted in your mouth. It was my sister's favorite dessert. I'm going fill a small gift box for Cher to take home.
Be on your best behavior. Practice what you preach. Be your spiritually mature self. Leave your feelings of being unfairly treated, resentment or envy, in your journal. This leaves room for calm, peace and contentment.
Enjoy the moment. Breathe in six counts and pause. Breathe out. Practice this anytime you feel anxious. You have the power to bring joy with you to any situation.
Forgive your past and everyone in it. Begin doing forgiveness work today. If you have a problem with someone your goal is to be at peace with them before the family event. Each night before falling asleep wish this person well. See them with a smile on their face. Silently offer them peace. Fill a helium balloon with the problem. Let it drift away.
Feel the love. Fill your love tank prior to arriving to a dinner or party. Spend time with friends and have fun. Exercise and get enough sleep. Read a great book. Spend time in prayer.
Fill the home or restaurant with love prior to arriving. Visualize everyone having a good time. Make your intention to be loving and choose to feel loved.
You will receive what you give to others over the holidays. You will get what you expect. Spread joy. Expect love. Have fun.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
20 Little Attitudes of Gratitude
20 Little Attitudes
of Gratitude
Mind your manners. Say please, thank you and excuse me.
Smile when you see your family. Turn your frown upside down.
Pick up after yourself and for someone else too. Be happy you have someone to pick up after!
Notice when others do kind things for you, show gratitude by action or words.
Say I love you before you leave in the morning and before bed at night.
Give hugs daily.
Don't worry about tomorrow. Focus on what you are happy about today.
Create gratitude journals to keep track of daily blessings.
Show thankfulness for even the little things others do for you.
Leave love notes in unexpected places like lunch boxes and under pillows.
Encourage someone with a compliment.
Verbalize what you are grateful for when you feel like complaining about life.
Keep a basket of small slips of paper on the table. Write notes of thankfulness during the week and read them to each other during a family meal.
Remember to thank God for blessings each day.
Surprise your family (or friends) with little gifts or treats to show you thought of them.
No grumbling about minor annoyances around the house.
Do special things to cherish time with your family. You never know what tomorrow will bring.
Reflect on happy memories regularly. Make inspiration boards or photo walls of special times.
Help someone out without them having to ask you. Watch for someone in need.
When you are doing household chores, be grateful you have a home to clean.
By making a list of 20 attitudes of gratitude and putting them into them into practice, we can make our homes a much more pleasant place to be!
Friday, November 20, 2009
True Tales of saying grace
Hungry 8 year old's version:
"Who wants to say grace?"
"I do, I do!"
"OK, go ahead."
"GRACE!"
Cleless 4 year old's version:
"Thank you for this bounty we're about to receive....Mom? Why are we praying about paper towels?"
Wiseguy 11 year old's version:
"Thankyouforthisturkeynottobeconfusedwithmysistertheturkeyamen."
Love actually - All i want for Christmas is you (cantata da Olivia Olson)
He's all grown up but having my baby home for Christmas would be magical...
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Susan Werner, "May I Suggest" Kerrville 2007
This spoke to me this morning when I came across it. Nothing flashy or Hollywood. Today a friend of mine lamented she will turn 50 this year. May I suggest (and she doesn't even know my blog exists) that this is the best part of your life sweet Lori.
Today I read a review of a summit my husband is speaking at and it listed him as a world reknowned speaker. May I suggest, this is the best part of his life.
Heading out into a blue sky sunny day in Michigan with my 53 year old self to inhale the beauty of this day. May I suggest....
Monday, November 16, 2009
SMILE PINKI: Academy Award Winning Documentary Trailer
So sad. Share forward the Smile Train information! :)
Veterans Day Montage - American Anthem - Norah Jones
As we approach Thanksgiving, I would like to share this video fromNorah Jones which I'm just now seeing. Too late for Veteran's Day and yet something I am always thankful for....Semper Fi!
Ten Tips To Be A Best Friend Forever
TEN TIPS TO BE A BEST FRIEND FOREVER
By Irene Levine
What does it take to be a best friend forever (BFF)? Whether you are 6 or 66 years old, the same rules apply for forming and keeping lasting, meaningful friendships. The following top 10 tips to be a BFF were gleaned from insights culled from more than 16,000 essays submitted in the No nonsense® Between Friends Contest. For more information, visit www.nononsense.com.
The Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth. Whether your friend has spinach in her teeth or a cheating boyfriend, an authentic best friend doesn’t take the easy way out. A real best friend dishes out the unvarnished truth, recognizing that when it comes to best friends, tact is less important than honesty. But, be prepared to receive it, too.
Give What You Take. We’ve all heard the tales of one-sided friendships. It’s not fair for one friend to bear the burden of perpetually orchestrating plans. And never keep a friend waiting. Best friends recognize they are equals in their responsibilities and need for respect. Strive for an equally balanced, give and take friendship.
Keeping Secrets. If you harbor big secrets, such as financial worries, a health scare or a marriage crisis, it’s important to share your worries with your best friend. Don’t expect to be a BFF for long if you choose to hide life-changing events from those who want to be there for you.
Accept Your Friend for Who She is, Not Who You Want Her to Be. Embrace a best friend for the gift of who she is. Don’t expect a BFF who loves modern furniture to leap at the chance to join an antique hunting expedition. Understand it’s okay to be different than your best friend and cherish the unique aspects she brings to the friendship.
Be There. Being a great best friend is knowing when it’s best just to listen. Often the mark of a good friend is one who is silently present.
Bask In Her Success. There’s no room for competitive jealousy with friends. Show her you are sincerely happy for accomplishments and even celebrate her good luck.
Show Up. Respond to invitations, calls, emails and texts. Be there for the small moments and the big events. Involvement in the day-to-day minutiae of each other’s lives keeps friendships on track. Attend to the friendship and make it flourish.
Quote Scarlett. Friendships, like marriage, have natural cycles of ups and downs and a best friend is mindful that tomorrow is another day.
Say “Thank You.” Don’t take the friendship for granted. Take time to say thanks, send cards and give hugs.
Fish or Cut Bait. A true friend is there for you when you need her and has your best interests at heart. Be honest and know when it’s time to cut a toxic friendship loose. Lend your best friend skills to someone else deserving.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Hmmmm du jour....
So I’ve been thinking a lot about life lately, specifically my relationships with those around me.
I consider myself an extrovert who enjoys being social and interacting with others, but lately I’ve been examining the depth of my relationship with others.
How much do I love others?
It’s easy to say I love others, but deep down, if I’m honest with myself, do I really?
I’ve tried to be more aware of my conversations with people. I’ve listened more – talked less. I’m trying to soak in what’s going on around me and I’ve discovered that this is hard to do while talking.
I think I’m like most people in that when I’m in a conversation with others, I’m often too busy thinking about what I’m going to say that I’m not really listening to what they’re saying.
I guess my question is: If I don’t hear what they say, and only want to get out my stories and ideas, do I really care about them?
I’ve also found that when I listen to others, I mean, really listen to them, it’s difficult. Maybe it’s because most of what is discussed among people these days seems to be surface crap information. You know, the kinds of things you read on someone’s Facebook status or Tweets. This seems to have bled into real life conversations.
Humans have always tried to gloss over the deeper parts of themselves, because this part includes the scared, worried, ashamed, and anxious aspects of life.
But glossing over something or pretending it’s not there doesn’t make it go away.
The social mediums in the world today have allowed for more connections with others, but have they allowed deeper connections? Have they allowed you to be real?
Honestly though, social exchanges have always hovered around the surface. For years this has been a common exchange – “Hey, how’s it going?” To which you’d respond, “Fine, you?” If you’re honest, is it really fine? And the times when you do stop and share something more deeply, often the other person is looking for an exit because they really didn’t want to know.
Which leads me back to the question: Do they really care? Do you? Do I?
The deeper connections require more from me. It requires that I slow down and share my life with others. That I shoulder some of their weight and burden with them. But it also offers the possibility that they’ll shoulder some of mine.
Real relationships move past the “niceities”. They get below the surface and enter the area of our lives that house fears, frustrations, failures, but also strengths. You see, I believe it’s this part of our lives, the authentic part of us, where healing resides. This healing actually begins when I share this part of my life with another person.
If I were to slow down my life and listen, I must come face to face with this part of myself. There are times when I feel isolated and alone. When I’m insecure about what I’m doing or who I am. And these times also bring me to how I began this post – how much do I love others?
I’m wading deeper into this struggle – care to join me?
Friday, November 6, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Summary of Life
Summary of Life
GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:
1) No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.
2) When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.
3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the
second person.
4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food...
6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.
7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
10) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa's lap.
GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:
1) Raising teenagers is like nailing jelly to a tree. You've got that
right.
2) Wrinkles don't hurt.
3) Families are like fudge..mostly sweet, with a few nuts.
4) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.
5) Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.
6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy
GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD
1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.
3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down
there.
4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking
chair that you once got from a roller coaster.
5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to
ask you the questions.
6) Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician.
7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.
THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE:
1) You believe in Santa Claus.
2) You don't believe in Santa Claus.
3) You are Santa Claus.
4) You look like Santa Claus
SUCCESS:
At age 4 success is . . . not piddling in your pants.
At age 12 success is . . . having friends.
At age 17 success is having a drivers license.
At age 35 success is . . having money.
At age 50 success is . . having money.
At age 70 success is . .. ... having a drivers license.
At age 75 success is . . having friends.
At age 80 success is . not piddling in your pants.
Pass this on to someone who could use a laugh.
Always remember to forget the troubles that pass your way;
BUT NEVER forget the blessings that come each day.
Have a wonderful day with many smiles
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Create Experiences
Create Experiences: Gifts That Can Last A Lifetime
What do you want for your birthday, Christmas, Anniversary etc…?
If you’re anything like me you get asked this question about a dozen times a year. As I get older and work towards simplifying my life, it’s getting tougher and tougher to answer this question. I really and truly want for nothing these days. I have my family and good friends, a modest home and everything I need to maintain it. Sure the oven mitts are a bit tattered but they’re still good.
In light of our abundance and desire to reduce clutter, my husband and I have chosen to create experiences as gifts for each other as opposed to exchanging material things. When thoughtful and close to your heart these gifts can truly last a lifetime.Why do experiences tend to make most people happier than material possessions do?
For starters material things lose their luster. The initial feelings of pride and joy quickly disappear when you see the item everyday.
The feelings from experiences on the other hand don’t usually disappear all together. You’re able to relive the moments through memories and can quickly be transported back in time to relive the positive experience.
Experiences allow us to spend time with people and connect with loved ones in meaningful ways.
Granted not everyone will like this idea, but if you find this idea intriguing and would like to give it a try here are some thoughts on how to create experiences that become gifts that last a lifetime.
How to create experiences
1. Know what makes them tick. Remember that this is a gift for them and should be something you know they will enjoy. Consider their hobbies, goals, aspirations and see what you can do. If they often talk about taking a pottery class but have never done it, book a beginners class for them or a one day pottery painting session. If it’s hiking that they enjoy plan a day trip to somewhere they’ve never been. Pack a lunch, plenty of water and a camera. It should be something they are interested in or would enjoy. Pay attention throughout the year and be on the lookout for clues as to what you could do for them.
2. Make it for two…or more. An experience is more memorable when you are able to share it. When deciding on what to do for someone consider going along yourself or buying an extra ticket for them to take whoever they want. It’s nice to be able to talk about the activity with someone afterwards and to be able to reminisce weeks, months or even years later. This is what makes experiences the gifts that keep on giving.
3. Push the boundaries. Another reason people prefer experiences to material gifts is the experiences make them feel invigorated, charged, alive. Consider pushing the boundaries a bit. If your loved one has always wanted to try skydiving but has made every excuse in the book for not getting around to it, book it. If they took a dance class years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it make an evening of it and go out dancing. Let them feel alive or rekindle an old passion…live a little.
Some inspiration to get you going
Deep sea fishing
Camping weekend
Photography treasure hunt
Laser tag/paintball
Miniature golf
Skydiving/parachuting
Hot air ballooning
Weekend at a bed and breakfast
Picnic in the park
Pool party
Lunch at a country tea house
Go-karts
Gliding
Rent a sports car/luxury car for an afternoon (convertible if it’s nice and feel the wind on your face)
Make a 5 star restaurant dinner at home
You are really only limited to your imagination and to the likes loves of your loved one. Get creative, have fun and give a gift that will last a lifetime and deepen a relationship.
What are your thoughts? What experiences have you created? What’s been your favorite life experience that’s made you feel alive?
End of the Day ?'s to ask yourself
A few END-OF-THE-DAY questions for YOU!
Copyright © 2009 by Veronica M. Hay
Did I make someone giggle, smile or laugh today?
Did I take the time to really listen to someone today, with rapt attention,
as if nothing else mattered in that precious moment but the words they spoke and the look in their eyes?
Did I allow myself to focus on all the blessings in my life today instead of contemplating the things I don't have?
Did I take a moment to imagine what I would like to experience in my life,
if for no other reason than in the imagining, is the living, and in the living,
comes the joy and delight?
Did I let go today, let go of resentments and unforgivingness that I have been holding onto,
all the while realizing that another person may be wounded too and struggling with their own pain?
Did I keep my word today, no matter how simple a promise I may have made,
knowing it meant a whole lot to someone else?
Did I make a conscious choice just to be happy today,
no matter what is happening in my own life, just for the next moment,
and the next moment and the next?
Did I stop caring about what other people think of me,
and give myself permission to be who I am regardless of their good opinion of me or not?
Did I set myself free today just by doing that?
Was I successful in noticing and appreciating the bounty before me wherever I went
or was I just too busy or lost in my own thoughts to notice?
Did I contribute something beautiful to the world today?
A new creation of some kind, a poem, a dinner, a dance?
Was I kind today to anyone or anything that crossed my path,
no matter how trivial or how monumental? Did I give away my heart?
Is one person richer because of me today, because of my presence on the planet,
my essence, my decision to keep on going no matter what?
Did I learn something new today, something about life, something about myself,
something about another that I didn't know before?
Did I let go of my attachment to being right today,
and open my mind to the possibility of another way, without judgement?
Will someone sleep better tonight because of me?
Will they awaken in the morning believing in themselves again,
and walk with their head held high?
Was I the answer to someone's prayers today?
If today was to be my last day on the planet,
would I feel happy about how I lived it?
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
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Wednesday, October 21, 2009
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