What would make you happy ... really happy?

Is it more money, a new car, a promotion at work? Sometimes we get lost in the materialism that's all around us and forget that happiness really lies within ourselves.

If we take a moment to reflect, our eyes can be opened to the joy behind what may seem on the surface, at least, to be the stumbling blocks in our lives.

A thankful spirit is a healthy spirit. As the twists and turns of life lead to feelings of being out of control, sometimes our attitude is all that we have control over...the following reflection may help you develop a thankful attitude. Sometimes life is all about how we look at it!

I am thankful for...

• The mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends.

• The taxes I pay because it means that I am employed.

• A lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home.

• My shadow who watches me work because it means I am out in the sunshine.

• The spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking.

• All of the complaining I hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech.

• My power consumption bill because it means I have Electricity.

• The lady behind me in church who sings off key because it means that I can hear.

• The alarm that goes off early in the morning hours because it means that I am alive.

• The piles of laundry and ironing because it means I have clothes to wear.

If you have weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day, it means you have been productive.

“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed.

Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.”

SALT- A Wonderful & Versatile Chemical.

Doctors Say too much Salt can Kill you!, Then again too much of anything is not good either. Here's looking from the bright side, How salt can help us in our day to day life from a positive perspective.


1. If you drop a whole egg on the floor, pour salt all over the egg, let it sit for a while, then use dust-pan, the egg will come right up, without all that mess.

2. Soak stained hankies in salt water before washing.

3. Sprinkle salt on your shelves to keep ants away.
 

4. Soak fish in salt water before descaling; the scales will come off easier.

5. Put a few grains of rice in your saltshaker for easier pouring.

6. Add salt to green salads to prevent wilting.

7. Test the freshness of eggs in a cup of salt water; fresh eggs sink bad ones float.

8. Add a little salt to your boiling water when cooking eggs; a cracked egg will stay in its shell this way.

9. A tiny pinch of salt with egg whites makes them beat up fluffier.

10. Soak wrinkled apples in a mildly salted water solution to perk them up.

11. Rub salt on your pancake griddle and your flapjacks won't stick.

12. Soak toothbrushes in salt water before you first use them; they will last longer.

13. Use salt to clean your discolored coffee pot.

14. Mix salt with turpentine to whiten you bathtub and toilet bowl.

15. Soak your nuts in salt brine overnight and they will crack out of their shells whole. Just tap the end of the shell with a hammer to break it open easily.

16. Boil clothes pins in salt water before using them and they will last longer.

17. Clean brass, copper and pewter with paste made of salt and vinegar, thickened with flour.

18. Add a little salt to the water your cut flowers will stand in for a longer life.

19. Pour a mound of salt on an ink spot on your carpet; let the salt soak up the stain.

20. Clean your iron by rubbing some salt on the damp cloth on the ironing surface.

21. Adding a little salt to the water when cooking foods in a double boiler will make the food cook faster.

22. Use a mixture of salt and lemon juice to clean piano keys.

23. To fill plaster holes in your walls, use equal parts of salt and starch, with just enough water to make stiff putty.

24. Rinse a sore eye with a little salt water.

25. Mildly salted water makes an effective mouthwash. Use it hot for a sore throat gargle.

26. Dry salt sprinkled on your toothbrush makes a good tooth polisher.

27. Use salt for killing weeds in your lawn.

28. Eliminate excess suds with a sprinkle of salt.

29. A dash of salt in warm milk makes a more relaxing beverage.

30. Before using new glasses, soak them in warm salty water for a while.

31. A dash of salt enhances the taste of tea.

32. Salt improves the taste of cooking apples.

33. Soak your clothesline in salt water to prevent your clothes from freezing to the line; likewise, use salt in your final rinse to prevent the clothes from freezing.

34. Rub any wicker furniture you may have with salt water to prevent yellowing.

35. Freshen sponges by soaking them in salt water.

Men and Women - How are they Emotionally DIfferent

Scientists are learning more and more all the time about significant brain differences between men and women. Men are single-focused, while women excel at multi-tasking. Men need to use only about 14,000 words to feel fully self-expressed at the end of the day, while women need to use about 46,000 words to feel fully self-expressed. Men's brains are superior when it comes to spatial object relationships, while women's brains are superior in attending to the subtle cues of non-verbal communication. Each gender has its own areas of brain strength – and weakness. Vive le difference!

When things go wrong, men and women also react differently. A woman looks first to herself as the source of the problem, "What's wrong with me that I can't (fill in the blank)?" It doesn't matter what the problem is – a woman will almost always blame herself. "What's wrong with me that I can't earn more money? What's wrong with me that my child isn't doing well in school? What am I doing wrong?"

A man, on the other hand, looks outward for the answer to problems in his life. "What's wrong here?" he'll ask. "What happened? Why didn't this work like I planned? What the heck happened?" He looks first to find the source of the problem in the situation, not himself.

These are generalizations, of course, but they are pretty typical of male/female differences in how we respond to life events. Some women with a problem feel inadequate within themselves, while a man with a problem feels frustrated by events or other people.

Is it any wonder, then, that we sometimes feel that we are the only one with a problem? We experience self-doubt about being good people; we feel inadequate to balance both work and family; we berate ourselves for what we think are "dumb mistakes." We are often our own worst critics – and to compound that harsh self-judgment, we keep our feelings to ourselves because we sometimes think that we are the only one who ever felt this way? It's a vicious cycle, to be sure.

The first step in soothing and reassuring ourselves that we're NOT alone in our feeling of incompetence is to share our experiences – our stories – with other people. For it is in this sharing that we discover that we're not alone ... and we're not all that incompetent.

Have a great weekend

Boost your mind, body and spirit

Sometimes the pressures of life can take their toll on our minds and bodies, leaving us exhausted, depressed and lacking in energy. Here’s how to give your mind, body and spirit a lift.

Mind
Make sure you start every day on a positive note. Instead of reading the papers or watching the news which, let’s face it, generally leaves you feeling pretty miserable, read a book that inspires you instead. You can catch up on the news later in the day, but make sure the first thing you read leaves you feeling uplifted.

Sit and write down a list of simple pleasures that you enjoy and pledge to do one every day. This could be anything from lazing in the bath rather than having a quick shower, to having a bar of your favorite chocolate. The important thing is that it makes you feel good.

Make time each day to focus on a moment in your life when you felt successful and empowered. It doesn’t have to be a major achievement – it could be a moment when your boss congratulated you on doing a good job. Bring to mind how you felt at the time and re-live those feelings of accomplishment, knowing you can do that again.

Body
Breathing in a rapid, shallow way is known to create a state of stress in the body. So take time to make sure that you are breathing properly. Breathe deeply, inhaling into your abdomen and exhaling the breath fully. Repeat this five times and practice whenever you feel stressed or uneasy. It will quickly bring about a state of calm.

Ensure you take some form of exercise at least three times a week. If you normally drive to work, get the bus instead a couple of days a week and get off a stop early to fit in some walking. At lunchtimes go out for a 20-minute walk instead of sitting at your desk. Take up a new hobby that you really enjoy. Not everyone is suited to the gym, so why not try salsa dancing or cycling?

Most of us have something we don’t like about our bodies, but instead of focusing on your flaws, focus instead on the bits you do like. Look at yourself in the mirror and decide on what parts of your body you like and pledge to make the most of them. Ask a friend or a partner what your best feature is – you might be pleasantly surprised.

Spirit
Every day make a promise to yourself to undertake a random act of kindness. This could include making an anonymous donation to charity, paying a compliment to a friend or colleague, holding a door open for a stranger. Enjoy the fact that you are doing something good for others.

Challenge yourself to do something you’ve never done before. It doesn’t have to be something as extreme as abseiling (unless you really want to!) Pushing your boundaries and stepping outside of your comfort zone gives you the belief that you can achieve your goals and cope with difficulties that come your way.

Make time to meditate every day – five or 10 minutes will make all the difference. Switch off the phone and sit somewhere with your back supported by a wall or chair. Close your eyes and relax. Start at the top of your head and work your way down your body, relaxing the different parts in turn. Breathe deeply, counting to five as you inhale and five as you exhale. Keep this up for five to 10 minutes, then slowly open your eyes.

Brick walls are not there to keep us out - Randy Pausch

"The brick walls are not there to keep us out; the brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something."
- Randy Pausch

Randy Pausch was 47 years old when he died from pancreatic cancer. He was, as the Independent of London put it, "the dying man who taught America how to live." His book, The Last Lecture, is an international best-seller and it offers many wonderful lessons about life.

Randy Pausch's "last lecture" was delivered in September 2007, at Carnegie Mellon University, where he taught computer science. The lecture began with him standing before a screen beaming down chilling CT images of tumors in his liver, under the title...The Elephant in the Room. He then said to a stunned audience, "I have about 6 months to live." He said, "I'm really in good shape, probably better shape than most of you," ... dropping to the floor to do push-ups.

He went on to say, "I'm dying and I'm having fun, and I'm going to keep having fun every day I have left." He talked about his childhood dreams and what they had taught him about life. He said, "If you live your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself ... your dreams will come to you."

Randy Pausch really was a dying man who has taught America how to live.

He died on July 25, 2008, but his wisdom, his passion, and his attitude are lasting sources of inspiration for all of us.

I love stories that can engage our hearts and our souls!

What about us! We are able bodies, but end up doing nothing with it, We constantly grumble and curse. Well I guess we don’t value all the things we are blessed with.

It’s better to appreciate the things we don’t have, than not appreciate the things we have.

Heart of a CAREGIVER

Most of us at some point in our lives experience what it's like to be a Caregiver for a limited time ... caring for a small child or a family member who is either sick or is recovering from an accident or surgery, or helping with the care of an aging or disabled loved one. During such times we begin to understand the physical demands and emotional strain related to the constant CARE of another individual. 

It helps us gain valuable insight into the level of patience, compassion and dedication required from the special people who make the choice to commit their lives in service to those who are hurting, to those who need comfort and encouragement and to those who need compassionate loving care 24/7.

The hours are long and exhausting. The work is hard and never-ending ... and there is personal pain and sacrifice involved in CARING. This is where true Heroes are found.

There is nothing to compare with the Beauty and Significance of this HEART that gives so unselfishly in service to others.

“There is a light in this world, a healing spirit more powerful than any darkness we may encounter. It will emerge through the lives of ordinary people who hear a call and answer in extraordinary ways.”
~Mother Teresa

Make caring a habit today!, there is nothing better than having an attitude of giving without expecting anything in return.


 If you are a CAREGIVER ... Thank you for making a difference in the lives you touch!

Which PO TATER Are you ?

I came across this poster, Thought of sharing it with you all.

PO TATERS"
Some people never seem motivated to participate,
But are just content to watch while others do the work.
They are called "Spec Taters"
Some people never do anything to help, but are gifted
at finding fault with the way others do the work.
They are called "Comment Taters"
Some people are very bossy and like to tell others what
to do, but don't want to soil their own hands.
They are called "Dick Taters"
Some people are always looking to cause problems by
asking others to agree with them.
It is too hot or too cold, too sour or to sweet.
They are called "Agie Taters"
There are those who say they will help, but somehow
just never get around to actually doing the promised help.
They are called "Hezzie Taters"
Some people can put up a front and pretend to be
someone they are not.
They are called "Immy Taters"
Then there are those who love others and do what they
say they will. They are always prepared to stop whatever they are doing and lend a helping hand. They bring real sunshine into the lives of others.
They are called "Sweet Po Taters"

So what are you?

The Donkey Attitude!

I came across this great story which has some great advice, how you benefit from this.

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw with each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing, he would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

Moral of the Story
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.