Thank you! Thank you!! Thank you!!!

“I have noticed that 

the Universe loves Gratitude. 

The more Grateful you are, 

the more goodies you get” 

Louise L. Hay

I am the most luckiest AND grateful mom EVER!! 

love, mom

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Let us be thankful for true friends ...

There is nothing on this earth

more to be prized

than true friendship.

Thomas Aquinas

love, mom

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cultivate an attitude of gratitude ...

use this sticker to remind yourself to be grateful

Yesterday I went to a meditation class and the teacher announced that in light of recent tragic events that she was going to lead us in a gratitude meditation.  

It was a good class.

There are numerous studies and articles about the transformative power of gratitude.  Below is a link to a wonderful article from www.huffingtonpost.com called The Transformative Power of Gratitude, by Dr. Randy Kamen.   The article speaks to the power of being thankful, listing the benefits of gratitude, suggesting some strategies and exercises to help one cultivate a grateful attitude, and even offers a gratitude meditation.  

a possible 'gratitude journal'

I have personally experienced the power of gratitude and consciously practice being thankful every day, especially when things are hard and it would be easy to spiral into anger and despair. 

A few years back I heard the amazing Louise Hay talk about thanking the universe when anything good, big or small,  happens.  She continued with this example, 'if you gave another person many gifts but that other person never ever said thank you, then you might not be so excited about giving that person anymore gifts?!' That made a lot of sense to me.  She then said, 'why not say thank you to the Universe, or to Mother Nature, or to God or the Goddess or whatever larger power that you believe in?!' For me that idea resonated and since hearing her theory, I thank the universe constantly, throughout the day.

When I find my keys ... "thank you universe"; when I get the 'walk' sign when I am in a hurry to get to work .... "thank you universe"; when I have a moment to sit on my front step and watch the setting sun ... "thank you universe"; when my girls are both under my roof,

safe and sound for the night ....

"THANK YOU UNIVERSE"

Of course when you are having a bad day, or you are involved in a natural disaster or violent act, to think about being thankful may seem like a sick joke, and I am not saying it is easy, at all.  But I have come to the conclusion that it does not hurt me to be thankful.  Even when it seems absolutely impossible to believe that there is anything for me to be grateful for, something happens when I just start to consider being grateful, there is a ever-so-slight inner shift, and I find something small or everyday that I am thankful for and I seem to stop that negative spiral.  

One gratitude exercise that the article recommends is keeping a gratitude journal.

some 'gratitude' swag ...

• Keep your gratitude journal by your bedside and each night list 3-5 positive experiences from the day. Elaborate on one of these ideas.
I believe you have heard me mention a gratitude journal, once or twice?!? I have been suggesting that your Grandmother Gommie start one :) Again, I have experienced a lot of benefits from keeping a gratitude journal. There is something reassuring about ending the day thinking about some of the good things that had happened during the day.

I appreciate that this all may sound a little too 'mom crazy' for you two, however it can not hurt to try being thankful.  

And I speak from experience, you will lose nothing and you will gain so much

 when you cultivate an attitude of gratitude.

love, mom

p.s.  In case you didn't know, 

I am so so so grateful, beyond words grateful, for you two, 

my two amazing daughters!! xxxx

The Transformative Power of Gratitude,

by Dr. Randy Kamen.

CLICK HERE to go to ARTICLE

www.huffingtonpost.com

p.s.s. and if you are hankering for some 'gratitude' swag ...

you can find this journal, t-shirt and other fun products 

(displaying Meister Eckhart's wise words) 

on my Redbubble online shop.

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Today, let's fill the world with the power of LOVE!!!!

“The day the power of love overrules the love of power, 

the world will know peace.” 

Mahatma Gandhi

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'thank you' and amen ....

'Thank you' is the best prayer 

that anyone could say.

 I say that one a lot. 

Thank you expresses extreme 

gratitude, humility, understanding.

Alice Walker

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may this dress remind us to practice gratitude!! XXX

If the only prayer you ever say

in your entire life is 

thank you,

it will be enough.

Meister Eckhart

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to express my extreme gratitude . . .

'Thank you' is the best prayer that 

anyone could say. 

I say that one a lot. 

Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, 

humility, understanding.

Alice Walker

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may this remind us the gratitude is ALWAYS good!!!! xx

"If you must look back, do so forgivingly. 

If you must look forward, do so prayerfully.  

However the wisest thing you can do is 

be present in the present. 

Gratefully. " 

Maya Angelou

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Happy Mother's Day to ALL . . . .

 & especially to some very special women out there . . .

the one who IS my mom!!! <3

& the amazing ones who MADE me a MOM!!!! <3

How blessed am I????? 

XXXXXXXX!!

 

If you have a mom, 

there is nowhere you are likely to go 

where a prayer has not already been. 

Robert Brault

Luv this quote as a mother and a daughter!!!

 Here's to the generations of loving!!! 

Mom,  Hope you enjoy the photos!!! :D

Happy Mother's Day to you! xxxxx

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May this dress remind us to be mindful & grateful!!

“Be present in all things 

and 

thankful for all things.” 

Maya Angelou

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may this dress remind us to be present and grateful . . .

and not let the many stresses of the season get us down!!!!

“Be present in all things and 

thankful for all things.” 

maya angelou

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May this dress remind us to be grateful!!!

Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer.

And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.”

Maya Angelou, Celebrations: Rituals of Peace and Prayer

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today, remember your grateful heart . . .

“Love cannot be far behind a grateful heart and thankful mind…

These are the true conditions for your homecoming.”

A Course in Miracles

I have recently rediscovered the wonderful work of Louise Hays.
Today she shared a story by Alan Cohen from Louise's book called, Gratitude: A Way of Life.

After reading Alan's story I knew that I needed to share, namaste ~ 

I Love My Wall
by Alan Cohen

One Saturday after our excursion to Pizza Hut, the mall, and a movie, I drove my ten-year-old goddaughter Samantha to her family’s new residence. As we turned off the highway onto a dirt road that led to her house, my heart dropped to see that she and her parents were living in an old school bus in a field.

As Samantha showed me around her family’s quarters, I began to feel sad that this little girl whom I love so much was growing up in such a shoddy environment. As my eyes painfully fell upon rusted seams on the metal walls, cracked windows, and a leaking roof, I realized that her family had fallen into bare, subsistence living. I wanted to rescue her from such a barren plight.

Looking up at me with her big brown eyes, Samantha asked me, “Would you like to see my room?”

“Okay,” I answered hesitantly.

The child took me by the hand and guided me up a makeshift staircase that led to a small wooden addition that had been superimposed over the roof of the bus. I shuddered to observe that her room was in the same condition as the rest of the place, just barely livable. Looking around, I noticed one fairly attractive element of her abode, a colorful tapestry hanging over the one section of the room that could be called a wall.

“How do you feel about living here?” I asked Samantha, waiting for a glum response.

Instead, to my surprise, her face lit up. “I love my wall!” she giggled.

I was stunned. Samantha was not kidding. She actually enjoyed the place because of this colorful wall. The child found a touch of heaven in the midst of hell, and this is what she chose to focus on. She was happy.

I drove home in a state of awe. This ten-year-old saw her life through the eyes of appreciation, and that made all the difference. I began to consider all the things in my life that I have complained about. I realized that in my preoccupation with what isn’t there, I have been missing what is here. While focusing on rusty metal, I have overlooked some colorful tapestries. I made Samantha’s statement my meditation: “I love my wall!”

Gratitude is not the result of things that happen to us; it is an attitude we cultivate by practice. The more we are thankful for, the more we will find to be thankful for. I heard of a woman named Sarah who lay in a hospital bed after an accident, deeply depressed, unable to move any part of her body except the little finger on one hand. Then Sarah decided she would make use of what she did have rather than bemoan what she was missing. She began to bless the one finger that could move, and she developed a system of “yes” and “no” communication with the little finger. Sarah became grateful that she could communicate, and she felt happier. As she blessed the movement, her flexibility increased. Soon Sarah could move her hand, then her arm, and eventually her whole body. It all started with the critical shift from complaining to blessing.

Harville Hendricks’ book Getting the Love You Want has become a popular manual for relationships.The first step to getting the love you want is to appreciate the love you have. The universe always gives you more of what you are focusing on. Jesus taught, “To him that hath, more shall be given; to him that hath not, more shall be taken away.” Jesus was elucidating a supremely important metaphysical principle, the very key to the manifestation of abundance. Jesus was teaching the importance of concentrating on what we have or want, rather than on what we lack or do not want.

We can look at any experience in two ways: through the eyes of lack, or the eyes of plenty. Fear sees limits, while love sees possibilities. Each attitude will be justified by the belief system you cherish. Change your allegiance from fear to love, and love will sustain you wherever you walk. A Course in Miracles tells us, “Love cannot be far behind a grateful heart and thankful mind…These are the true conditions for your homecoming.”

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today, i dare you . . . .

'eclipse . . . ' #fromthelandofdragons 12aug14

Dare to Be

When a new day begins, dare to smile gratefully.
When there is darkness, dare to be the first to shine a light.
When there is injustice, dare to be the first to condemn it.
When something seems difficult, dare to do it anyway.
When life seems to beat you down, dare to fight back.
When there seems to be no hope, dare to find some.
When you’re feeling tired, dare to keep going.
When times are tough, dare to be tougher.
When love hurts you, dare to love again.
When someone is hurting, dare to help them heal.
When another is lost, dare to help them find the way.
When a friend falls, dare to be the first to extend a hand.
When you cross paths with another, dare to make them smile.
When you feel great, dare to help someone else feel great too.
When the day has ended, dare to feel as you’ve done your best.

dare to be the best you can –
At all times, dare to be!”

― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

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may this dress remind you of all your blessings . . . .

wishing all a blessed day of gratitude ~

'dress of plenty'  (2012)

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” —”

William Arthur Ward

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may this dress express my gratitude!!!

'to have and to hold'  currently on exhibit at Fountain Street Fine Art

The essence of all beautiful art,

all great art, 

is gratitude.

Friedrich Nietzsche 

As this very busy weekend comes to a close, 

I wish to say a HUGE thank you!!! 

A thank you to all who came to the opening reception of 'breaking open'!!!

A thank you to all who came by my open studio. 

And THANK YOU to you all, far and near, 

who gave me encouragement when self doubt 

was overwhelming, 

who listened to my ramblings as I was working out the nuances of a piece, 

and for all my amazing friends who continually support me on 

my roller~coaster of a journey called life!!! 

thank you!!! & peace

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Aligning ourselves back to our zone ~

Dear blog followers ~ today I have a follow-up to my daily post.

This morning I received that opportunity from life coach, Maria Salomão-Schmidt,  to share what I am thankful for.  This exercise is a chance to align ourselves with our life purpose, as Maria explains with her prompt:

WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR? 

(answer this to align yourself back to your "zone")

The power of focus is immense, and it is stated over and over again how the energy of gratitude is overwhelming and life affirming.  However in our current everyday high-octane life we tend to forget to be grateful.  This is one of the main intentions behind this blog, to focus on the positive, the good in us and our particular journey.

Also, today I struggled with which dress and quote to post. I eventually decided
to post this heart dress on a background covered with different ways to say thank you?! Coincidence?!? I think not ~

So considering the nature of this blog I felt that it was important to share this prompt as well as my response.

I encourage you to do this exercise yourself and I believe that you will be amazed at the power of it!!

Let's align ourselves back to our "zone"!
then go out into this glorious day and find more reasons to be thankful!! Namaste ~

I am thankful for my amazing daughters, my sweet angels who continually fill my life with awe and love. 

I am thankful for my creative drive and the overwhelming desire to create. 

I am thankful for the ability to pursue my life purpose, even though I am not sure of exactly what that purpose is, however I do know I love to inspire people and share the many wonders I experience.  And I am so thankful for those who support and encourage my creative endeavors as the role of the artist can demand one to go into dark and lonely place.  

I am thankful for the roof, under which my girls and I can safely lay our heads, and for the certainty of food in the cupboard.  And for the opportunities offered to me that I allow me to financially maintain these blessings.  

I am thankful for my health and the resources that support me in my pursuit of self care.  

I am absolutely grateful and thankful for the amazing community of loving family and extraordinary friends, new and old, far and need, who continue to support me during my ups and downs and in joy and sadness.  Who stand with me, either spiritually or physically, as I ride the rapids of this glorious adventure that we call life.  

I am so blessed by the many phenomenal souls that have come into my life and added their unique marks.  

I am truly thankful for life in it's fullest.  
And I am truly thankful to Maria Salomão-Schmidt, for asking!!

peace & love

more blessed than i can say!! XXXXXXX <3

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