Principles for Peace

photo by:  Material Boy

Over two years ago I read this story and it is something that I have remembered to this day.  Whether it is true or not, I have no way of knowing, but it certainly could be true.  It’s message is extremely powerful so I wanted to share it with you.

Bank Account

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o’clock, with his hair fashionably coiffed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.

As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, Read More »

photo by: nojhan

“If you aim at nothing, you’re sure to hit it.” ~ Danny Hall

It has certainly been a while since I have written a post.  I’ve been doing a lot of traveling, teaching and writing -  just not in the form of blog posts.  I’ve even done some speaking - something I thought I would never do - and I enjoyed it!  I’ve had some great adventures.

It is always my goal to make people think when I write or teach - to cause people to live more consciously.  I’ve been accused of doing just that many times over and I consider it a real compliment each time I hear it.  For much of my life I didn’t do a lot of “thinking” and it was very detrimental to me.  I’ve learned from personal experience that “thinking” - or living consciously makes me happier and helps me to have more peace so I enjoy sharing this gift with others.

Keeping this in mind, Read More »

photo by:  Todd Young

“Leave  everyone  better than you found them.”

Well, it has now been a week since I sent out the challenge - since I challenged myself and challenged you - to leave every place, every person better than we found them.

I don’t know about you, but this has been fun. I want to tell you of my results and then hear of yours.  I can’t wait to hear yours!

I have to start out being honest.  There were times I forgot, but it was something that I really tried to keep at the forefront of my mind and do actively and it DID make a difference.

The responses I got varied - seemed to vary much more than I thought they would.

Every place:

One thing I did was Read More »

photo by: listentoreason

“Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.” ~Anthony J. D’Angelo

This weeks post is not going to be a long one, but it has HUGE potential…

We’ve all been around those people….  The room brightens up when they leave.  Everything is negative.  Nothing is good.

We’ve all also been around those people who brighten a room every time they enter one.  When they leave you just feel good about yourself.  You feel good about life.

What if…. just what if…. we could brighten every place we go.  What if we could make a difference everywhere we go, every place we visit, with every person with whom we have contact….

What if Read More »

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” ~ Acts 20:35

photo by:  Saquan Stimpson/monstershaq 2000

Sometimes we come across extra special people in our lives.  Sometimes we come across those people who offer us gifts of  hope and healing, joy and peace, unconditional love, acceptance and respect.  The world would not be the same without them.  OUR world, OUR life, would not be the same without them.  It was no accident that God put these people into our lives.  What is the best way to say thank you to these people and to God?

What happens when we keep these gifts to ourselves?

Something interesting happens after a time when we keep these gifts…..  We actually become weighed down.  The gifts become heavy on our shoulders.

If we were to ask any of the people who have given us these gifts what they wanted us to do with them, I am most certain they would all unanimously say to Read More »

What if….

* People loved you and saw the good in you when you got mad at them - and they didn’t get mad back at you?

* People loved you and saw the good in you when you were rude to them – and they didn’t get rude back?

* People loved you and saw the good in you when looked your worst – and they saw your beauty?

* People loved you and saw the good in you when you rolled your eyes at them – and they smiled back at you? Read More »

The time has finally come.  It’s been long in the making… and here it is….. the last of the thinking errors (see others in the list at the bottom of this post.)  And what a great series it has been as I have learned so much from you my readers and I thank you for that.  There are probably more thinking errors that you will notice as you go along this journey we call life, but most will fit into one of the categories we we have talked about here.  If you notice others I would love for you to drop me a line and let me know.  For now, let’s wrap up the last one on the list.

16. Should statements: using “shoulds”, “shouldn’ts”, “musts”, “oughts”, and “needs” to motivate yourself or others through guilt. Read More »