Happy New Year :)

Hello,

As we say good-bye to 2014 and start off the New Year, I wanted to share with you an inspirational poem, "The Invitation."
This much loved poem is about making the most of life, every day. It is about accepting that life will bring you pain and life will bring you joy. Letting yourself experience both is what real living is all about. Remember, you will need humor, insight and compassion to face life's difficult moments and to heal from them as well.

It is my wish that you find the courage and the commitment to embrace all that life has to offer. Be inspired. Love much. And don't let fear stop you from taking the necessary risks to live fully and honestly. Pursue your dreams and never give up on becoming all that you can be. May you find what you need and discover what really matters.

Enjoy your travels and thank you for reading.

                                                          The Invitation
                                                By Oriah Mountain Dreamer

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for,
And if you dare to dream of meeting
Your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
For love, for your dream,
For the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring
your moon.
I want to know if you have touched the center of
your own sorrow,
If you have been opened by life's betrayals,
Or have become shriveled and closed from fear of
further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain,
Mine or your own,
Without moving
To hide it or fade it or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy,
Mine or your own,
If you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers
and toes
Without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic,
or to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can disappoint another to be
true to yourself,
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not
betray your own soul.
I want to know if you can be faithless and therefore
be trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see beauty
Even when it is not pretty every day,
And if you can source your life
From its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure,
Yours and mine,
And still stand on the edge of a lake and shout to
the silver of the full moon,
"Yes!"

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how
much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up after the night of
grief and despair,
Weary and bruised to the bone,
And do what needs to be done for the children.

It doesn't interest me who you are, how you came to
be here.
I want to know if you will stand
In the center of the fire with me
And not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
From the inside
When all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone
With yourself,
And if you truly like the company you keep
In the empty moments.



I wish you and those dear to you the best for the coming year.

Cheers!


                                        

Wake Up to Gratitude!

Hello,

Each day we wake up is a miracle and a time to feel grateful. Choose to recognize it as such and you will see the power of gratitude as it begins to shift your perception of the life you see. I invite you to consider living the life you have today with a conscious sense of gratitude for this is what really matters. It truly is the best possible way of looking at life. Try it!
Think of all the good that is already present in your life and be Thankful every chance you get. Think and Thank is gratitude at its best. If you want to feel good, focus on the abundance that is present in your life instead of what your life lacks. You will notice your life improve considerably. But first, understand living in gratitude needs to be reinforced regularly. Pause often to count your blessings and remember to stop and smell the roses. Many of us are more grateful than we think but just the same may lose our way. When this happens redirect your focus toward gratitude. Yes, let yourself Wake Up To It!

There is nothing like gratitude to lift your spirits. Gratitude is the way! Gratitude in the morning. Gratitude throughout the day. Gratitude at night and before bed. Practice and discipline is the key to having a grateful outlook on life. Effort is the only requirement. A daily dose of gratitude can turn it into a habit for life-the best one ever. Imagine a new lease on life by choosing to be thankful for and appreciative of what you have and where you are right now in your life. Simply wonderful and amazing. An attitude of gratitude is a precious gift and you're the only one who can give it to yourself. It is a feeling described by many as an awakening to what is truly important. It comes from within your heart. It does not depend on life turning out a certain way, on particular circumstances, or the presence or actions of others. It is a deeper kind of gratitude. A gratitude that exists no matter what happens or doesn't happen in your life. But BEWARE, your gratitude will be tested.

Even the most faithful followers of gratitude face difficult situations that challenge their ability to be thankful all the time. They have their share of low moods, setbacks, disappointments, or traumas. Whatever their individual troubles may be they have an awareness that this too shall pass. They forge ahead with a spirit of gratitude that helps them not only to get through it but to come out of it stronger. They know without a doubt that having a gratitude mindset is the path to happiness, peace of mind, and satisfaction. Those who practice gratitude understand that it is when they feel least thankful that they need to look within to find the healing powers of gratitude. Gratitude puts situations into perspective. It helps us see that whatever struggles we are facing someone always has it worse than us-always. Gratitude helps us to quickly let go of a victim mentality; to see the "good" and "bad" in life as the way of things; and to weigh in the positive over the negative. The focus is on what is left and not what has been lost. Remember, there is always something to feel grateful about in your life.

The Science of Gratitude

The research has been summarized by leading expert, Robert Emmons in his best selling book, Thanks! How The New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier (Houghton Mifflin, 2007).

The results? People who practice gratitude experience:

*Less depression
*Stronger immune system
*Reduced stress levels and better management of it
*Stronger social/partner relationships
*Better sleep
*Greater inclination to help others
*More optimism about the future
*Quicker recovery from adversity
*More positive emotions;greater happiness
*Increased energy levels;exercise more regularly
*Fewer health complaints and symptoms of illness

Although genetics plays a role on our grateful temperament, research shows that we can actually raise our gratitude levels through disciplined use and practice. This is definitely great news!

A Few Suggestions on Cultivating Gratitude

*Write down what you're grateful for and take with you wherever you go.
*Give thanks continuously. It will make you happier. It works.
*Support those in need; the giver benefits as much as the receiver.
*Appreciate those you love and make sure to let them know.
*Keep a gratitude journal and don't forget to include yourself.
*Choose to be grateful. Yes. It is that simple a decision.
*Do a gratitude exercise: imagine losing someone or something that is precious to you. Then imagine getting a second chance at having this person or thing back in your life. Trust me, your gratitude levels will go up big time.
*Find joy in the "small" things instead of waiting for the so called "big" things to happen.
*Bring gratitude with you wherever and in whatever you do every moment of each day.
*Gratitude grows stronger with use and practice. Think it. Speak it. Feel it. Breathe it.
*Acknowledge the goodness in your life continuously.
*Pray. Meditate. Focus on what you're grateful for. Your life will change more than you ever thought possible.

Concluding Thought

The root of happiness in life isn't the money or the things you have. It is absolutely the amount of gratitude that you feel.

Quote of the Day

"You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law: the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you."
                                                         -Sarah Ban Breathnach

                                      Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Enjoy!


Related Websites

www.happierhuman.com/the science-of-gratitude/
www.health.harvard.edu/mentalextra  "In praise of gratitude"
www.cfidsselfhelp.org/library/counting-your-blessings-how-gratitude-improves-your-health
www.greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/pay_it_forward

Related Movies

It's A Wonderful Life
Forrest Gump
Pay It Forward
Mr. Holland's Opus