Natural Resources

All natural resources are precious. It's up to each one of us to practice wise stewardship and to encourage our neighbors -- and our local, state, and federal government to do their share as well.
(The Christophers, Three Minutes A Day, Vol. 41, 16 November)
29 June 2015

Once Upon A Time

I can begin my record of growth and goals, and dreams, and all my feelings. I can be the author of the book of my life.
(Amy E. Dean, Night Light, 1 February)
28 June 2015

Do Not Argue

Photo by Melva in Panama

If anyone who is spoken to once or twice will not listen and change his ways, do not argue with him, but leave it all to God, for He knows well how to turn bad things into good.
(Thomas 'a Kempis, The Imitation Of Christ, Book 1, Chapter 16)
27 June 2015

Inventory

As we inventory our fears, we may discover that they are a direct result of our inability to make decisions.
(The Twelve Steps For Christians, p. 68)
26 June 2015

Dysfunctional People

Dysfunctional people attract dysfunctional people and healthy people attract healthy people. It's uncanny how consistent it is. There is just no such thing, for example, as someone who is in a long-term relationship with an addict who is not in some way codependent.
(Dr. Henry Townsend, The Secret Things of God, p. 103)
25 June 2015

Perseverance

Abuse is an act where power is used to steal from another what can only be given freely.
(David Mura in The Color Of Light by Perry Tilleraas 27 November)

Life is an exercise in perseverance. If you persevere, you win.
(Charles Swindoll in 100 Days of Prayer For Women, p. 31)

Let it [perseverance], grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.
(The One Year Book Of Bible Readings, 20 September)
23 June 2015

Enjoying Life

If we live each day to the best of our ability, we will soon find we don't have time to worry about the future or regret the past. We will be too busy enjoying life.
(Alateen - Hope For The Children Of Alcoholics in Hope For Today, p. 56, 19 May)

If you feel like you're helping too much, stop it immediately.
(Sondra Smalley in The Color Of Light by Perry Tilleraas, 17 May)

The next time I react to another's behavior, I'll ask myself how many times I've reacted the same way before.
(Hope For Today, 9 January)

Our hopes and desires may be able to weather the criticism of a stranger, but they have a more difficult time surviving when undermined by a friend.
(John C. Maxwell, Leadership, 24 August)

22 June 2015

Missing Someone

How many of the people who came into the world with you are already gone out of it?
(Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Chapter VI, 56)
19 June 2015

Power

Old Cape Henry Lighthouse, Norfolk, VA

Photo by: Mr. Dickie

In general, we keep our power when we protect the power of others.
(Thomas Moore, Care Of The Soul, p., 126)

One of the marks of mental health is the degree to which people realize that they have control over their own lives and exercise that power to choose.
(Dr. Henry Cloud, The Secret Things Of God, p. 204)

... I have choices and may make whatever decisions I desire in my best interests, provided those decisions do no harm another person.
(Hope For Today, 18 May)

No man can hinder you from living according to the reason of your nature; nothing will happen to you contrary to the reason of universal nature.
(Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Chapter VI, 58)

17 June 2015

Don't Take It So Seriously

Do not take life's experiences too seriously. For in reality they are nothing but dream experiences. Play your part in life, but never forget that it is only a role.
(Paramahansa Yogananda in The Color Of Light by Perry Tilleraas, 19 May)
16 Jun 2015

Attitude

Photo by: Corel

If my attitude at home is habitually glum and critical, I will try to change this by observing what I say and do, and how my family reacts.
(One Day At A Time In Al-Anon, 2 November)

Don't let fear of family dramas keep you from changing outmoded, unnecessary, and unwanted thought patterns.
(Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, Excuses Begone, p. 39)

... humor works to lighten the heavy seriousness of our daily living, and smooths out the rough spots in our communication with each other.
(One Day At A Time In Al-Anon, 6 December)

Sometimes the choices I make are not as important as the fact that I make them.
(Hope For Today, 6 December)
15 June 2015

Inventory

Photo by National Geographic

How optimistic are you?
Do you see problems as solvable or impossible?
Do you see your abilities as expanding or limited?
Do you set goals for yourself, or do you feel goals are unattainable?
(After, Amy E. Dean, Night Light, 2 November)

A deeply rooted habit of self-justification may tempt us to explain away each fault as we uncover it.
I must go on day after day trying to face myself as I am, and to correct whatever is keeping me from growing into the person I want to be.
(One Day At A Time In Al-Anon, 18-19 June)
14 June 2015

My Quest

Today I continue my quest to discover what I believe. I consciously take time to get to know who I am now and work at letting go of negative ideas about myself. Today I affirm myself.
(Perry Tilleraas, The Color Of Light, 20 June)
7 June 2015

Attitude

We don't get to choose every situation that happens in our lives, but we always have the opportunity to choose our own attitude. Never be afraid to live life with as much enthusiasm -- and good judgment -- as possible.
(The Christophers, Three Minutes A Day, Vol. 41, 3 September)
6 June 2015

You Have Forgotten This

When you are troubled about anything, you have forgotten this, that all things happen according to the universal nature, and that a man's wrongful act is nothing to you; and further you have forgotten this, that everything which happens always happens so, and will happen so, and now happens so everywhere; forgotten this too, how close is the kinship between man and the whole human race, for it is a community, not of a little blood or seed, but of intelligence. And you have forgotten this too, that every man's intelligence is a god, and is an efflux of the deity; and that nothing is a man's own, but that his child and his body and his very soul come from the deity, that everything is opinion, and lastly, that every man lives the present time only, and loses only this.
(Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Chapter XII, 26)
5 June 2015

Nobody and Nowhere

Consider that before long you will be nobody and nowhere, nor will any of the things exist which you now see, nor any of those who are now living. For all things are formed by nature to change and be turned and to perish in order that other things in continuous succession may exist.
(Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Chapter XII, 21)
4 June 2015

Soul Thoughts

• Should I be a vegetarian?
• Is there ever a just war?
• Will I ever be free of racial prejudice?
• How far should I go toward responsibility for the environment?
• How politically active should I be?

Moral reflections like these give rise to a philosophy of life that may never have absolute clarity or simplicity. But these soul thoughts can generate a deep-rooted moral sensitivity, different from a straightforward adherence to an established set of principles, but solid and demanding nonetheless.
(Thomas Moore, Care Of The Soul, p. 247)
3 June 2015