Welcome!

Use optimism as a tool to change your own world. Not convinced optimism works? Read this to shift your view!

Best Friend – is that YOU?

Could you ever be your own best friend? How would you begin? Join me over at AngiesForum.com to learn more!

Be more kind than necessary.

Be more KIND than necessary. 10 Easy ways to practice

Do the next thing.

encouragement, faith

If you’re overwhelmed, just do the next thing. Here’s a poem that’ll give you the outline of how to do the next thing without worry or concern.

Curiosity and questions spark relationships.

goal achieving, thankfulness

Curiosity and questions. Get curious. It might take a relationship to the next level. Sure, being kind is important, but maybe curiosity holds an even greater power? Curiosity may even develop into empathy for others. It's about asking questions - the right questions....

Be thankful for the one. It starts with one.

It all starts with one thing – and we need to appreciate the joy of one thing done. How? Be thankful for the one and then record it in some way.

What would you give if you could?

parenting, relationships

What would you give? I found a poem with a plethora of things I would give if I could… and they’re not items that could be bought! What about you?

Do not wait for the right moment. Do it now.

Wait. Hang on. Hold up. Pause. Why? Why wait? Will the moment ever be right? And if we're waiting for that mythical just-right moment, how much will we miss? (Oh, yeah. I'm preachin' to the choir here. Waiting is my pass-time. I've spent 50+ years practicing the art...

Forward is forward – your speed is subjective.

Forward is forward. Yes, you need to know your trajectory, but try not to get hung up on your speed. There's always a pace you'd rather be experiencing, but it might not be what's really happening. At least right now. Forward is forward - your speed doesn't matter....

Beautiful Destinations

Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. What goal are you reaching for? How is perseverance changing your character? It’ll all be worth it!

Good friends help us appreciate the journey.

Good friends help us appreciate the journey. How would you identify a good friend? For me, loyalty is a necessary value. What other values would you identify in a good friend? Perhaps: empathetic, trustworthy, supportive, humorous... Do you have any of those traits?...

Grief is yet another way to express love.

encouragement, relationships

Life goes on. And as positive as that statement is, it can be a jarring reality when we are working through a sad goodbye. Photos are an important part of grieving, as is reviewing memories. The act of grieving may never end, but it does change. It softens and the...

You have great worth.

You have great worth. You’re here for a purpose – God does not make mistakes. Even if others don’t affirm or approve, you do have great worth.

The value of a moment.

relationships, thankfulness

This first day of a new year has me sifting through conflicting emotions. People I cherish are celebrating the birth of a long awaited baby. Oh, what joy in a dream realized. And yet others are coping with the untimely death of a sister and friend - the first in...

Getting Started – Anytime is a good time.

The secret to getting ahead is getting started. That's a quote by Mark Twain. Is he right? Maybe. Maybe not. From my personal experience, finishing is more difficult than starting... but not everyone is alike. For some it's starting that's a barrier. Either way, to...

You can. It’s just that simple.

encouragement, thankfulness

You can. Sometimes it’s as simple as that. You’re enough. It’s time to get out of your comfort zone and be assured that you are capable.

HIS plans are greater than my dreams

encouragement, faith

HIS plans are greater than my dreams – read Jeremiah 29-11 – Any dream we can dream as flawed humans will always be less than HIS plan. God’s plan always has hope embedded in it!

Be thankful for now.

Be thankful for now. Is that difficult sometimes? Yes. It can be. I've been there. If you're looking at your "now", and it's so far from what you want or what you had, it can feel discouraging. Our inner push to set goals or our outer need for achievement and...

Be kind. Always. With yourself and others.

encouragement, relationships

Be kind. Always. With yourself and others. It's rare to know how much someone else is hurting... Even if you're standing next to them... (Regardless - even if you're their spouse, parent, sibling, best friend, significant other, and especially if they're a stranger.)...

Reach out to share your wish and obstacle.

goal achieving, Uncategorized

Isolation is the dream killer. Reach out! Reach out to share your wish and obstacle. Then surround yourself with people who are dedicated to helping you overcome your obstacle. These are Barbara Sher's ideas. She says that, as humans, we are problem solvers. Even if...

Gratitude – Happiness doubled by wonder.

relationships, thankfulness

Happiness doubled by wonder - that's what can grow out of being thankful and living a grateful life. I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. - Gilbert K. Chesterton It's not that simple, though....

Looking on the bright side – here are a few ways.

encouragement, thankfulness

Looking on the bright side - can you do that? All the time? If you're anything like me, it takes real effort to continue to look on the bright side - regardless. But even though it takes effort, (and sometimes huge effort), it never hurts me in the long run. In fact,...

You are capable of so much – now go do it.

You are capable. It's time to stop thinking you can not - and step up. Move on. Reach out. Push forward. Lean into... You are capable of so much! Set your achievable goal. Make a plan. Now go do it. And don't discount a small goal. They count. Even if it's a small...

You’ll see a change if you make one.

You'll see a change if you make one. What are you waiting for? If you're waiting for something to happen in your life, maybe it's time for you to take action. Chicken or egg? It's so easy to look at our life and think it needs to change. That's as far as we go. And...

Positive People in Your Life – Need more?

encouragement

Positive people in your life - do you have enough of those kinds of encouragers around you? Sometimes we need to have less of one thing and more of another... Here's an idea: Be so positive that negative people don't want to be around you. (I dare you not to smile at...

Begin with positive thoughts to feel better

encouragement, thankfulness

Begin with positive thoughts and there's a good chance you'll "feel" better! Since you have control over both your thoughts and feelings, maybe try an experiment. Want to feel better? Begin with positive thoughts! Hurricane gust. Gentle breeze. How do you "feel"? Our...

Prayer Provides Strength

faith, relationships

Prayer provides strength. And isn't strength what we all really need as we face challenges and questions? Strength to move forward, strength to meet the challenge, strength to persevere, strength to overcome, strength to stand our ground, strength to... As good as...

Tomorrow holds promise – be thankful today.

Tomorrow holds promise. Positivity is knowing there are still good days to come even when today is not good. Hang on. It'll get better. What can you be thankful for in this moment? Write it down. (Yes, I'm talking to you - pick up your pen... it'll just take a...

Growing in Wisdom and Patience