Within our hearts there are certain things we know to be true, and though sometimes our choices, life or other events seem to be telling us something quite different we must stand firm in our knowing. Over the last 5 years I have journeyed down some very unfamiliar territory. In doing so I have made mistakes and at the same time made some amazing discoveries.

In our minds without even our 

Think about the times in your life when you’ve really needed your friends.  I know for me they have rallied around in times of tragedy but they are also there to celebrate occasions big and
small.  I remember as a little girl in Brownies we would sing this song, “Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold.”  I don’t think that there is ever a time when we can’t make room for a new friend.

Everything shifts and changes, nothing stays exactly as it was at a given moment.  Like a stream altering its direction from shifts in the banks, our life shifts.  It slows and sometimes seems to stop and then a shift and once again it is flowing.

Tonight my mom’s baby brother passed away.  Less than 6 months ago he was a healthy man, married for 43 years to his first love.  Then one day a headache became a tumor and within months his life has stopped.  His memory will live on in the life of his wife, children, grandchildren, family and friends.  Yet, his time here has come to an end.

“It is wise to direct your anger towards problems — not people; to focus your energies on answers — not excuses.” ~ William Arthur Ward

When we fail to reach a goal or accomplish a task the first thing we often do is make excuses and then we find somewhere to place the blame. This only keeps us grounded in the negative thoughts and actions.  If we instead accept the outcome and examine the steps that lead to the outcome we are now able to learn from where we have and been and start moving towards where we want to go

You just keep pushing. You just keep pushing. I made every mistake that could be made. But I just kept pushing.” ~ Rene Descartes

In life there are times things don’t move according to the time frame we have in mind.  Sometimes this is outside of our control.  Yet, other times if we are to be completely honest with ourselves we can see points where we are responsible in some small way.  Maybe we procrastinated or ignored a situation.  Maybe we decided we were going to wait for fate to step in and bring us a better choice. 

hope“Beginnings are scary. Endings are usually sad, but it’s what’s in the middle that counts. So, when you find yourself at the beginning, just give hope a chance to float up. And it will!” – Hope Floats -1998

I recently heard a speech in which the speaker was saying that sometimes we just need to “let it go.”  It was 

Opportunities, many times, are so small that we glimpse them not and yet they are often the seeds of great enterprises. Opportunities are also everywhere and so you must always let your hook be hanging. When you least expect it, a great fish will swim by.” ~ Og Mandino

I thought this morning, what seeds can I plant today to help me work towards my goal.  Then, I realized, I was unsure of the seeds I had planted the day before.  So starting

John Petit-Senn said, “Not what we have but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance.”

How very true.  Over the years we have done many things as a family that didn’t cost us anything financially but created some of our best memories.  We would go to the park or beach or rake up a big pile of leaves and jump in them.  As the kids got older, we had fun fishing at a local pond or hiking in the state park.  Some of the most abundant memories are just shooting hoops and the boys learning from their dad

“In order to be utterly happy the only thing necessary is to refrain from comparing this moment with other moments in the past, which I often did not fully enjoy because I was comparing them with other moments of the future” ~ Andre Gide

Part of staying positive is learning to live your life today. Not the life you had, not the life you think you will have, instead live this moment today. How often in the past have you thought if this could happen I would be set, I would be happy.

You’re more likely to act yourself into feeling than feel yourself into action. So act! Whatever it is you know you should do, do it.” ~ Unknown

When we are pushed in life and feel at the edge of where we really want to be our emotions have a tendency to be a little sensitive.  This has been my case for a few weeks. In a discussion with a friend I shared with them a comment they had made which left me feeling a little wounded.  Rather, than receiving a response that was supportive, I received this comment.  ”Maybe you shouldn’t act like Pollyanna then.” The conversation proceeded to go down a path of how if hurt their feelings that they can’t be themselves a