JoAnne's Blog

Enjoy The Ride

We all have a purpose and a plan to fullfil.  I don't know where I found this; but it has some good advice.

1.  Take a 10 -30 minute walk every day & while you walk, SMILE!

2.  Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.

3.  When you wake up in the morning, complete the following statement, "My purpose today is to .... today."

4.  Live with the three E's.....Energy, Enthusiasm, Empathy and the F's....Faith, Family & Friends

5.  Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.

6.  Dream more while you are awake.

7.  Try to make at least 3 people smile each day.

8.  Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.  Problems are simply part of life that appear and fade  away like algebra class, but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

9.  Smile and laugh more.  It will keep the energy vampires away.

10. Life isn't fair but it's still good.

11. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

12. Don't take yourself too seriously.  No one else does.

13. You don't have to win every argument.  Agree to disagreements.

14. Make peace with the past; so it won't mess up the present.

15. Don't compare your life with others.  You have no idea what their journey is all about.

16. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

17. Forgive everyone for everything.

18. Burn the candles.  Use the nice sheets.  Don't save it for a special occasion.  Today is special.

Love at First Sight

Following Valentine's Day, I wonder

Do you believe in love at first sight? 

I can't say that I really know the answer to this question; but I would venture to say "No".

I think what happens at first sight is infatuation and that can definitely lead to love.  But I question whether it happens instantly.  To really love someone, you need to know who they are. 

When I first met my husband, I thought I was in love. He was tall, dark and handsome, kind of looked like Elvis Presley to me.  On our first date, we went to my prom and danced all night; then afterwards we ate pizza with my  brother and his date.  At the end of the night, he kissed me at the door.  I can tell you I thought I was in love.  I was in love with how he made me feel, not who he was.  I didn't even know him. 

We have been married for over 48 years now and I can tell you that I do love this man.  I love my husband for who he is.  He is a man of integrity, kind, caring, supportive, and a good provider.  He is my friend and I can trust him to be there for me.

What do you think about love at first sight?   I would love to hear your comments.

Valentine's Day

"When you love someone, you love the whole person, just as he or she is, and not as you would like them to be.” a quote from the book Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Today is Valentine's day and many people will receive gifts of flowers, candy, cards, etc. items to show their love for the other person.  Some will choose this day to become engaged as a remembrance of their love for one another.  Love is something that we all desperately need.  Studies have shown that babies do not develop properly unless given love. Children and teenagers unacceptable behaviour can often be traced back to a lack of love.  Relationships die, divorces happen, because people don't love each other any more.  Old people in nursing homes, lonely and sometimes forgotten, are starving for love and often die of a broken heart. 

Why is it that love comes easy to some people; while others find it difficult to achieve? What is love? 

 The Bible describes love in the book of Corinthians and this passage is often cited at weddings.  Love is not a feeling.  Love is an action.  Love is a choice.  If you want to experience true love, you must be willing to accept people as they are.   To experience true unconditional love; we must not put conditions on it.

Reach out to someone today!  Call that friend you've been meaning to touch base with.  Smile at a stranger!

Tell your child, teenager, mom, dad, wife or husband that you love them.  Plan a special outing.

The best story of unconditional love is told in the Bible.  God sent his Son, Jesus, to die for us.  There is no greater love than this.  

Have a great Valentine's Day!

 

 

Love

Here are just a few quotes I found about love, considering that it will soon be Valentine's day.

"Love is the greatest power on earth.  It conquers all things."  Peace Pilgrim

"As love grows in you, beauty grows too.  For love is the beauty of the soul."  St. Augustine of Hippo

"The law of attraction or the law of love; they are one and the same."  Charles Haanel

"Love is life and if you miss love, you miss life."  (not sure where this quote came from)

"Where there is the greatest love; there are always miracles."  Willa Cather

"There is the miracle that happens every time to those who really love; the more they give, the more they possess."  Rainer Maria Rilke

"Three things will last forever--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love."  The Bible NLT

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."   The Bible  KJV

 

 

Feelings

The following is an excerpt of something I recently read.  I believe it is a simple truth that we must understand if we want to truly succeed.

Feelings LIE!  Emotions LIE!

To be successful, you must not follow your feelings.

Your feelings will lead you to excuses.

Your feelings will lead you to quit.

In those times, you have to Choose to speak life & stay focused on the Truth.  Stay focused on the direction you know you need to go, and do not be swayed one way or the other. 

Push through the feelings and stay focused on action, and it will you to success.

I would love to hear any of your comments.

The Power Within

This is a repost from April 28, 2008.

At the end of my e-mails, I often sign "We think life has limits; but the power within is limitless."  To that end, I believe that there is nothing that we cannot do if we put our mind to it.  Should problems arise, I have heard it said and I concur that there are no problems that do not have solutions.   We have all been uniquely and I might add miraculously created.

What is it that keeps us from accomplishing what we want in life, from achieving our dreams?  Could it be that we are waiting for the right moment?  That moment may never come.  Are we waiting until we are financially stable?  That feeling may never happen or at the very least take a long time.  Do we need more education, more knowledge?  The best school is the situation we are in right now.  We are constantly learning and everything we need to know is at our fingertips.

Truly, we limit ourselves by what we think or let others dictate to us.  To really succeed, you need to believe in yourself, and trust the wisdom that has been planted in you.

At the end of my e-mails, I often sign "We think life has limits; but the power within is limitless."  To that end, I believe that there is nothing that we cannot do if we put our mind to it.  Should problems arise, I have heard it said and I concur that there are no problems that do not have solutions.   We have all been uniquely and I might add miraculously created.

What is it that keeps us from accomplishing what we want in life, from achieving our dreams?  Could it be that we are waiting for the right moment?  That moment may never come.  Are we waiting until we are financially stable?  That feeling may never happen or at the very least take a long time.  Do we need more education, more knowledge?  The best school is the situation we are in right now.  We are constantly learning and everything we need to know is at our fingertips.

Truly, we limit ourselves by what we think or let others dictate to us.  To really succeed, you need to believe in yourself, and trust the wisdom that has been planted in you.