Think, Be, Glow

Being thankful is so easy, but because it is so easy...it is also so easily forgotten. Without much trouble, we can go hours, days, even weeks and not thank anyone. We have built a society in which it is too easy to not even think thanks.  Sad. Really sad. 
Today I'm dedicating this post to grace; to being grateful. By thinking thanks you not only ease stress and by default, enter a state of optimism, but also glow thanks. It's true. Thankful people look different. They smile more, walk taller, and glow. Keep watch for this. And the more conscious a person is about this phenomenon, the more potential they have to glow. And that's just thinking thanks.
By being thanks you run your life. You are the leader. Being grateful means sharing grace. And sharing grace is to truly understand thanks and live it. Let yourself feel thankful and let others know when you do. Being thanks is thinking thanks to the fullest.  Reflect upon actions, happenings, events. How did someone else impact you, your day, your time? It is amazing what you'll find. 
Being thanks is to truly glow. To shine. To sparkle with presence, optimism, and grace. Being thanks means carrying yourself differently in a world lived differently. It is a life of peace. Being thanks simplifies the world into a society of ease, of nice, of beautiful.  *Simple*, small alteration have the potential to change your life. Be thanks today. Share your grace. Glow.

Hope (with a smile)

This quote found me today; funny how somethings happen just like that - at just the right time.  I couldn't help but take it in and then send it along.... perhaps it will find you in just the same way. Applicable to every single person - amazing. (Especially calling out to all with migraine!) Maybe these words came today for a reason? I think they did.


One day you will see that it all has finally come together.
What you have always wished for has finally come to be.
You will look back and laugh at what has passed and you will ask yourself,
"How did I get through all of that?"
Just never let go of hope.
Just never quit dreaming.
And never let love depart from your life. 
~ J. Campi


Powerful. True. Peaceful. Happy. Hope. Enjoy!

Today's wisdom

Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful. - Buddha

Sending Easter Joy

heaven

    peace

         soul
 spirit

     blessings

         renewal

I found an Easter card with this blessing - couldn't be more perfect to send to my parents.  I was so touched by the simplicity and depth of the saying and want to share this *Wish for Happiness* to all. 

Happy Easter come this Sunday!

Come visit the new renovations of studio mr!

Introducing the Gratitude Wall, by studio mr. Please take a visit (link is listed on the right) and share your Thank You's, Lucky's, and Appreciation. Take a second and reflect on your day, your life, opportunity for a delicious lunch outside, an extra great yoga session, and/or the wonderful people in your life ...friends, family and those who inspire you....the wall is open to all gratitude.

Please feel free to visit anytime and share the things you're grateful for....this project is an ongoing *Thank You Simple*.

This post is dedicated to everyone who has helped me through this website. I am so lucky to have such an awesome readership - thank you, thank you, thank you!!

How to be 'extra' Irish + blessings and luck

   

Sending a few of my favorite Irish blessings...

For each petal on the shamrock

This brings a wish your way-

Good health, good luck, and happiness

For today and every day.

May joy and peace surround you, 
Contentment latch your door, 
And happiness be with you now 
And bless you evermore.

Dance as if no one were watching,

Sing as if no one were listening,

And live every day as if it were your last.

Tips to be 'extra' Irish today - appreciate all you have, the world around us, family and friends....

Wear GREEN today! (and be sure to pinch anyone not)

Take a deep breath of nature...and appreciate it; even for just a moment.

Recycle, Recycle, Recycle

Share an Irish blessing with someone you love

Spend as much time enjoying nature as possible today

Drink a beer!

Wear GREEN :)

Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

Are you Soul Mates?

Tough question - Easy answer....

And when one of them meets with his other half, the actual half of himself, the pair are lost in an amazement of love and friendship and intimacy and one will not be out of the other’s sight even for a moment.

-Plato (2,500 years ago)  

You know you've found your Soul Mate, Twin Mate, Perfect Other Half when:

1. Laughter is part of everyday; no matter what - rain or shine, tragedy, loss, pain, pleasure - laughter comes natural.
2. This person makes it into every thought you think, everyday....somehow!
3. You have utmost trust in each other.
4. You've found your Best Friend. Someone you can always count on.
5. Sharing is so easy. Share hopes, dreams, chores and dishes, funny times, sad minutes (hours, days, years)....and somehow the laughter is still surfacing daily.
6. Silly has a new meaning and a permanent part of life.
7. Random days are so much easier because you know you're so in love with your Perfect Other Half and at that very moment, your Soul Mate is thinking the exact same thing.
8. You've found a happiness that you never knew existed.
9. Growing old (even 30!!) is now so exciting - Imagining all time together has to offer undoubtedly makes you smile.
10. Laugh together in the morning, laugh together in the evening, and secretly laugh together every minute in between.

I dedicate this to my Soul Mate - I love you. And I send hope and patience to everyone still searching for their Twin Mate. Patience pays off.

Be a survivor

My Dad is my Super Dad. He is living through both brain cancer and colon cancer...isn't one cancer enough? Through the past 4 years I have learned more from my Dad than ever. Most of all, I learned the importance of a strong soul and that positive pays off. I read these few bits and pieces from a couple of articles today and don't think the thoughts could be better said.

Life is both magic and tragic. We all have to face loss, failure, and disappointment sometimes. People who are optimistic find a way to recover. They develop resilience. Life is a series of recoveries. 

Dad you are my inspiration everyday. I've seen proof that smiling more, believing in the 'unbelievable' and looking forward to miracles not only strengthens daily life, but it gives hope to everyone you touch. You are so much more than a 'survivor' to me - you're my Super Dad. I look forward to everyday and the lessons I'm going to learn from you. I hope this collection of words give hope, faith, and a smile to everyone 'recovering' from any of life's twists and turns.


Most of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Dad! I love you.

Fear Hurts

Fear - more than scare, than uncertainty, more than fright. Yesterday, out of occasion, I had the opportunity to have a 'life talk' with a new doctor I'd never met with. After the tears and laughs about my past 4 years (and after his several remarks to be sure I wasn't on a TV show, or out of a movie!) he caught me quite off guard. He asked me "What are you scared of?".

I couldn't answer. I couldn't believe I couldn't answer. So, he asked again, "What is it that you are scared of?" I had no answer other than "I'm scared of everything". Not a satisfactory answer.

The Doctor asked again, "What is it that you are scared of?" After several deep breaths it came to me. I'm scared that I've lost hope. Correcting myself, "I'm scared that I am 'missing' hope". Somewhere living through suicide, death, cancer, homicide, marriage and now more cancer....I am scared to trust. How do you fill your life with Hope when Trust has fallen again and again and now it almost seems out of reach? I am scared to live because I know Trust can crumble at any second.

The Doctor knew by looking in my eyes, I was healthy; I was just so filled with Fear.

Often times 'fear' is thrown around as a move genre, a joke, a game - but true Fear is none of that. True Fear hurts. Thank you Doctor for the 'life talk'. I learned more yesterday about myself and about my health than the reason I had gone to office in the first place. And I was also reminded, "It is what it is". So now my task, to practice acceptance and trusting the moment. Every second alone is filled with 100% Hope.

Don't look back, don't look forward....BE now.

Make today a *Thank You Thinking Day*

Gratitude - There is so much in this world we are all so lucky for....and probably never think twice about it. Have a *Thank You Thinking Day* today. It's the little things that really mean the most....a hot water shower, friends near and far and family, even those you haven't talked to for years. They care. Just take a second a *think thanks* for these people. Feel lucky for the flowers that you thought would surely die that are now in full bloom. And for (in my case, that the rain didn't completely overflow the my backyard - 'our bog').

Everyone is entitled to sadness. So let yourself have a sad day - but be thankful that sadness comes and goes and think an extra thought of thanks for your health.

Today I feel lucky that my orchids are growing! Blooming? - No.  Do orchids ever re-bloom?  But they are loving life...no worries, no let downs, no gripes. Nature has a way of taking full advantage of *thank you thinking*. Something in our face daily, and yet why is it so hard to learn from? Maybe take all that's needed is a 'closer look'.

And I'm also thankful for the ability to realize 'thanks'. So easily overlooked. Today, stand still for a second. Look around...and enjoy. And more than ever enjoy your *Thank You Thinking Day*.

PS- No thinking about tomorrow....*thank you thinking* is about the now. For me again, thanks for reading! I'd love, love to hear about your *Thank You Thinking Day" - feel free to leave a comment.

Cancer hurts, but we all have the inner strength to aid the wounds

This is a poem I wrote while sitting in the hospital waiting room during my Dad's most recent emergency cancer surgery. Hospitals are difficult, after being on both sides, I think the hardest part is for the 'waiter'. Family is much more than a 'role' - it the strength when your loved one is struggling to hold onto strength. Family are those who are there for you. Blood ties do not matter in hospital waiting rooms.....we all hold on tight to each other and gather strength for those who need it most.


Poem poetry writing words;
emotion anger hurt hate.
Let go.
Let go.

Rip tear shred burn;
lose emotion anger hurt hate.
Be free.
Be free.

Poem poetry writing words;
emotion calm happy real.
Live on.
Live on.

I'm not going to pretend - Hospital waiting rooms are anything but easy. They are not silent, calm, serene......rather filled with overwhelming emotion of every sort. Perhaps silent, but in scare. This poem describes my therapy to write my feelings, to assist in tending to the heavy air and long sit waiting for the surgeon to say Dad has amazing strength and is going to be ok.  Ok. Ok. Ok.

And now to call on my own strength to rip and burn my scare and move forward. To be. To live. To care for Self to best care for others. I send blessings to anyone in need of a bit of hope, an extra prayer, and a hug.

Cultivating Compassion

This beautiful meditation helps us see others and ourselves through the eyes of the heart. Take a few deep breaths and rest your hands tenderly on your heart as you softly repeat the following phrases:

May I remain in peace and let go of expectations.
May I acknowledge my anger, fear, and sadness without thinking it makes me bad or wrong.
May I offer unconditional attention and care to others knowing it may be met by indifference or anger.
May I find the inner resources to truly be able to give freely.
May I be filled with compassion and loving kindness for myself and all beings.

by Karen Sothers

It is so easy to get LOST - lose your mind, lose your temper, lose your keys. The difficult part is finding what's lost.  The easiest way - look inside yourself. Remember, Self's powers are indefinite, even in the utmost uncertain times. So, take a peek. Invite the compassion into your day. You'll find an amazing snowball effect; the awareness of a brighter day, more smiles, and a new found appreciation of yourself and the world. 

Om (Aum) is the Hindu or Yoga symbol of the Absolute. Chanting Om with hands placed in the universal form of prayer, gently pressing against the chest, allows a connection between Self, Consciousness, and Spirit.  Prayer may also be dedicated to a person, group, cause as hands open outward and/or upward while chanting Om.

Sunny Days

I used to live easy,
I was, I did, all
thought-free.

I used to live easy,
I played, I laughed, all
thought-free.

But one day
the sun did not shine.
I could not see,
I could not be,
I could not live.

Tears, tears, tears
Scared, scared, scared
Tears, tears, tears.
Cancer hurts
everyone involved.

And then one day
the sun came out.
I saw a new day
and the lessons I learned in the dark.

Now I live easy
I play, I laugh, all
with thought and awareness
of hope, of health, of love.

Now I live easy
I am, I be, all
with thought and awareness
of hope, of health, of love.

And now I understand what it is to live.

Cancer Sucks

Bottom line - cancer sucks, sucks, sucks.  I share a prayer with anyone suffering any cancer and send a special healthy blessing to those diagnosed with brain cancer and colon cancer.  Dad is my inspiration to 'not think' this weekend.  And Dad, I am keeping my promise, no worrying yet or to come.  Wednesday is going to be a day to courage, strength and conquer for you, Mom and me. And I'm sending these affirmations to Dave too.