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Published On: April 1, 2009
"The best mirror is an old friend."
*GEORGE HERBERT*
Those who've known us the longest can tell us the truth about ourselves - even when it's truth we might not want to hear. They see us clearly - the good and the bad - and they recognize when we are being phoney or overly impressed with ourselves. We need to see our true selves reflected this way.
I'm lucky to have longtime friends who know me and aren't afraid to tell me the truth about myself.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: March 31, 2009
"A sense of humor is part of the art of leadership, of getting along with people, of getting things done."
*DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER*
Being able to laugh at ourselves and the situations we find ourselves in is a highly desirable quality. We don't need to conceal our sense of humor in our public life, keeping it under wraps until we're safely surrounded by family and friends. The ability to approach problems with equanimity and good humor makes things easier not only for ourselves, but also for anyone else lucky enough to be part of our life.
Stand-up comics can make the most ordinary things seem funny. I don't have to be this clever, but if I can see the humor in everyday life, I'm going to be a much better companion to myself and others.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: March 30, 2009
"Never cut a tree down in the wintertime. Never make a negative decision in the low time. Never make your most important decisions when you are in your worst moods. Wait. Be patient. The storm will passs. The spring will come."
*ROBERT H. SCHULLER*
When things are going wrong, we want to change them right away. So we buy something that we don't really need. Or we throw away something that we do really need. Or we decline an opportunity because we're afraid that something else might go wrong. Or we make the same mistake again, thinking we'll do better this time.
If I'm in a bad mood, I will put off making important decisions until my outlook and judgement improve.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: March 10, 2009
"Change your thoughts and you change your world."
*NORMAN VINCENT PEALE*
There's no great mystery behind the power of positive thinking. If we assume before the fact that we can't accomplish something, we almost certainly won't. If we believe that we can, we are much more likely to succeed. At least, we'll make the effort.
We talk ourselves out of interesting opportunities all the time - when we ought to be talking ourselves into them.
If I catch a negative thought crossing my mind, I can toss it out and replace it with a more positive one.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: March 4, 2009
"The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers."
*M. SCOTT PECK*
As much as we may dislike being unhappy, discomfort can be a powerful motivation to change ourlives. Similarly, too much comfort can lull us into complacency and stagnation.
There is nothing wrong with being comfortable, as long as we don't let it close our eyes and mind. And there's nothing wrong with being uncomfortable, as long as we use our discomfort to make our life better.
If this is a good period of my life, I will enjoy it fully. If this is a difficult time, I'll do what I need to do to get through it and to come out stronger.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: March 3, 2009
"Did you ever see an unhappy horse? Did you ever see a bird that had the blues? One reason why birds and horses are not unhappy is because they are not trying to impress other birds and horses."
*DALE CARNEGIE*
Our gut is sticking out. Are we wearing the right clothes? The car looks pretty battered. Is it time to get a new one? We said a witty thing at work. Did our coworkers notice?
Some days we act if we're on a stage, performing for an audience. Even when we think we're doing well, we can't be happy until we know what our audience thinks of our performance. The problem is, we can never know for sure before - even after the fact - what other people are really thinking.
What others think of me matters, but it shouldn't matter as much as what I think of myself.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: March 2, 2009
"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort."
*HERM ALBRIGHT*
People with negative attitudes are easily annoyed by people with positive attitudes. This may be because they see positivity as an implicit indictment - as if they were being charged with weakness, cowardice, or self-indulgenece for giving in to their negativity.
On the other hand, people with positive attitudes rarely seem annoyed by people with negative attitudes. This may be because negative people are such easy targets - there's not much sport in taking them on.
Even with some of the crabbiest people I know - maybe especially with the crabbiest people I know - I'm going to stay positive today. It will be interesting to see how they react.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: February 27, 2009
"Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it's when you had everything to do, and you've done it."
*MARGARET THATCHER*
In our too-busy lives, a day with nothing to do sounds as if it would be heavenly. We could stay in bed until noon, read a book without interruption, watch television for hours at a time, or lie in a hammock listening to the buzz and hum of life in the backyard.
Usually, though, if we stay in bed or read a book for too long, our legs start twitching to get up and move about. There's never anything good on television. And our backs hurt when we try to lie in a hammock.
What can I do that will make me feel I've accomplished something in my free time today? I don't have to paint the house or turn up the car: Going for a walk, baking a loaf of bread , or washing the dishes can be enough.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: February 26, 2009
"To a quick question, give a slow answer."
*ITALIAN PROVERB*
Quick wit is much admired. We're impressed by those who can toss off a clever remark on the spur of the moment, seemingly without effort.
A more thoughtful and reasoned remark takes longer. But it can last longer as well. Wouldn't we rather be admired for our wisdom than for our jokes?
I can stop to think before I answer a question. If I do, what I end up saying is likely to be more useful and true than if I spoke quickly without thinking. And, more importantly, I'm less likely to say something I'll regret.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: February 24, 2009
"It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get back up."
*VINCE LOMBARDI*
Watch a baby learning to walk. When she first goes from crawling to walking, she's down more than she's up. There may be a few tears, but she quickly bounces back up, ready to try again. The urge to walk, to explore the world in a new way, keeps her going.
Wouldn't it be great if we could maintain this same kind of spirit? A baby doesn't think, "Gee, I fell. Now, I'll never learn to walk." As adults, we sometimes let our failures discourage us. If something goes wrong one time, we think it will always go wrong. We don't get up to take the next step.
I know I'll fail once in a while, but I can learn from my failures. When I try something new that I fear I'll fail at, I'll remind myself that I've succeeded in the past by persisting...
From "The Daily Book of Positivie Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: February 23, 2009
"Good advice is always certain to be ignored, but that's no reason not to give it."
*AGATHA CHRISTIE*
How many times have we done something stupid and wished that someone would have warned us before we did it? Probably not as many times as we were warned beforehand and did something stupid anyway.
We often ignore good advice, but we still need to hear it - and more than once. Sometimes it takes several times before good sense can sink in.
Without being bossy or unpleasant, I will give advice when I think it's important - even if I risk irritating someone I like.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: February 22, 2009
"When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced; live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice."
*WHITE ELK*
We may not be rich or famous. And we may not be important to anyone other than our friends and family. Still, that's enough. We each have our own legacy to build.
How would we like our friends and family to remember us? How do they think of us today?
The difference between these two things tells us what we need to do with the time that we have left.
I have just one life in which to bring joy to others around me.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone.
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Published On: February 20, 2009
"It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one."
*GEORGE WASHINGTON*
We all make mistakes. The problem isn't so much making mistakes as the lengths to which we sometimes go to defend ourselves when we make them. However deep the hole that making the mistake has put us in, it just gets deeper the more we try to explain ourselves. If we would simply say, "I was wrong" and move on, we wouldn't waste so much of our time and energy, and the people around us would respect us more.
I will try to calmly admit any mistakes I make today...and then move on.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: February 19, 2009
"Humor is our way of defending ourselves from life's absurdities by thinkg absurdly about them."
*LEWIS MUMFORD*
There's almost nothing that can't be helped with a healthy dose of humor. We could rail in anger and frustration about our relationships, work, politics, or the world in general. But it's a lot more fun - and more useful - to laugh instead.
Taking life with a dose of humor can relieve stress, improve mood, help us cope with change, and put things into clearer perspective.
Instead of becoming annoyed today, I will look for the humor in whatever it is that is threatening to irritate me.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: February 19, 2009
"One kind word can warm three winter months."
*JAPANESE PROVERB*
It's easy to say sonething nice - and even easier to neglect to do so. We glow when someone tells us how much they appreciate something we've done, even if what we've done is as inconsequential as holding open a door or picking up litter. But in our busy daily rush, we don't always think to pass such kindnesses on to others.
I will offer kind words to others as often as I can.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: February 17, 2009
"I ask not for a lighter burden but for broader shoulders."
*JEWISH PROVERB*
Learning to handle problems is like lifting weights: The more we do, the stronger we become.
None of us wish for problems, of course, but when they come along - and we all must face problems in our lives - we can take solace in knowing that we are gaining coping skills that will help us in the future.
I have learned a lot from the most difficult times in my life, and I am a stonger person as a result.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: February 16, 2009
"A goal without a plan is just a wish."
*ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPERY*
If we ask people about their goals in life, we may get quick and precise responses - to find a certain kind of employment, to start a business, to learn to play an instrument, to retire early. But many of those same people may have no idea how they will accomplish their goals.
Having goals is important. Without goals, we don't know where we're headed. But having a goal is easy; planning to achieve it is the heard part. What's the first step? How long will it take to reach the goal? What kinds of effort will we need to make? How likely is success? Who can help?
I'll choose one of my goals and lay out a plan to acomplish it, step by step.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: February 15, 2009
"Life is an adventure in forgiveness."
*NORMAN COUSINS*
People are by nature flawed. There will always be times when we do things that are disappointing or hurtful to others. Sometimes these things are done on purpose; sometimes by accident. In either case, the result is the same: someone feels wronged.
It's tempting to hold on to these feelings of being wronged and to harbor grudges. But since we're as likely to wrong as be wronged, would't the world be a better place if we could forgive others as we would like them to gorgive us?
I will try to forgive someone who has wronged me.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: February 13, 2009
"Who, being loved, is poor?"
*OSCAR WILDE*
The Beatles sang that money can't buy us love. It's true. Love is its own sort of wealth, more precious than any material wealth. And if we were to sit down and really tally this wealth, we might be surprised at how well off we are. The love of a spouse or partner, of family members and friends - these accounts can quickly add up.
One thing we have to remember, though: Love is like friendship. We can't expect to receive it unless we're willing to give it in kind.
I will say "I love you" at least once today. And I'll mean it.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: February 3, 2009
TAKING CHANCES
"Chance is always powerful. Let your hook be always cast; in the pool, where you least expect it, there will be a fish."
*OVID*
We can't get into a college or find a new job if we don't try. Those that we think of as being lucky are often simply those who have been willing to take a chance, to put themselves on the line.
We often talk ourselves out of exploring opportunities, because we're convinced that there is little chance we would succeed. But if we aren't willing to put our hook in the pool, it's guaranteed that we will never catch a fish.
I will look for an opportunity I might otherwise pass by and take a chance on it.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: February 2, 2009
LIVING EVERY DAY
"May you live all the days of your life."
*JONATHAN SWIFT*
How often do we ask ourselves, as if waking from a dream, "Where has the time gone? What happended to yesterday? last week? last month? last year?"
Our lives are all that we have on earth, and yet how many days do we let slip by without living them as fully as we might?
Living every day doesn't have to mean trying to achieve something significant every moment that we're conscious. No one could sustain a life like that. It just means doing something each day that adds value to our lives and the lives of others.
I will do something today that will make me feel that I have really lived it.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: January 29, 2009
COURAGE
"Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you're scared."
*EDDIE RICKENBACKER*
Some of us seem to never fear failure. But do we just hide our fear really well? Others of us acknowledge our fear, even when doing so may feel embarrassing. We may be afraid of falling flat on our faces, but we stand up straight and do our best.
It's okay for me to be afraid. I can admit this to myself and others and still tackle the things that frighten me.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: January 23, 2009
Friday - A daily dose of Positivity
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LAUGHING IN ADVERSITY
"Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh."
*GEORGE BERNARD SHAW*
How can we laugh and have fun when so many bad things are going on aound us? Isn't it wrong to enjoy ourselves when others are going through difficult times?
Laughter is a gift that can help us through difficult times. We shouldn't be ashamed of smiling when life seems bleak.
Laughing may not solve my problems today, but it may very well help me cope with them.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: January 22, 2009
THE MIRACLE OF LIFE
"The miracle of life is not to fly, or to walk on water, but to walk on the earth."
*CHINESE PROVERB*
To be born, to grow, to walk among the wonders of nature, to live a life of dignity, humor and grace - this is the miracle of existence.
The complexity and possibility of our lives can fill us with awe. We should never take the miracle of life for granted.
Today I will remember how extraordinary even my ordinary life is.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: January 21, 2009
LETTING GO
"Pick battles big enough to matter, small enough to win."
*JONATHAN KOZOL*
The flip side of "don't sweat the small stuff" is fighting for the things we care about. At the same time, we should try to avoid battles we have absolutely no chance of winning.
In general, things that help us be the person we most want to be are the things worth fighting for. Those that don't have much impact - or that may even detract from our best self - need to be let go.
Of the possible battles I may face today, which really matter? And of those that matter, which will make the biggest difference if I fight them?
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: January 20, 2009
KEEPING FRIENDS
"People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone."
*AUDREY HEPBURN*
As we go through life, we make - and lose - many friendships. "We grew apart," we say when a friendship we valued drops away. We stop seeing friends who were once close to us because our lives have gone different directions.
But it can take only a little effort to keep "lost" friends in our lives. Perhaps the friendship has changed. The person we used to talk to everyday is now someone we see only once or twice a year. But our life is richer for keeping this person in it.
What friend have I not talked to in far too long? I will reach out today, by phone, letter or email.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: January 19, 2009
LAUGHING EVERYDAY
"Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face."
*VICTOR HUGO*
Even a baby responds happily to the sound of laughter. "I can't just make myself laugh," we say when someone chides us from being grumpy. But we can. Everyday is full of amusing moments - if we take time to notice and appreciate them. We can even laugh at ourselves.
I will laugh wholeheartedly today.
From"The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: January 19, 2009
GIVING OUR ALL
"Throw your heart over the fence and the rest will follow."
*NORMAN VINCENT PEALE*
To keep from being disappointed, we sometimes lower our expectations or avoid taking chances. There can be good reasons for this, but it can limit what we experience.
When we follow our heart, even at the risk of disappointment and pain, a world opens up we might not otherwise have entered: a job that takes us in new and exciting directions; friends we wouldn't have guessed would "fit" in our lives; experiences we didn't expect.
I will keep my expectations high and look for what excites me. I will risk disappointment to follow my heart.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Pincone
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Published On: January 19, 2009
SLEEP'S VALUE
"Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise."
*BENJAMIN FRANKLIN*
It's lovely to sink into a warm bed, close our eyes, and let the world fall away. A good night's sleep helps our bodies and minds recover from the stress of the day.
When we go to bed early, we can wake up early. And when we wake up early, we have a jump-start on the day. We can use the time to write in a journal, take a quiet walk, or mediate - things hard to squeeze in once the day gets busy.
I'll make a "date" with myself to go to sleep early tonight, snuggling into my own cozy bed and enjoying the luxury of slumber.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: January 16, 2009
CREATIVE THINKING
"The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas."
*LINUS PAULING*
We are much more creative than we give ourselves credit for. The problem is that we often suppress our ideas too quickly: No, that won't work. Can't afford that. Wouldn't enjoy that.
If we can have the courage not to censor our ideas, we might surprise and delight ourselves.
I will free my mind today and see how many interesting ideas I can come up with. Even if it turns out that none of them have practical value, I will still benefit from the creativity that I set free.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Pincone
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Published On: January 15, 2009
MAKING CHANGES
"They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself."
*ANDY WARHOL*
We often think of time as a powerful healer. Sometimes we wish we could just go to sleep and wake up six months or a year later, so we wouldn't have to suffer through what we're suffering now.
But time doesn't change things. It's the work we do while time is passing that changes things. The good news is, we don't have to wait six months or a year or even a minute to start this work.
If I know I'll feel better about something six months from now, what can I do today that will help me feel at least a little better now?
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: January 14, 2009
STAGES
"Start by doing what's necessary, then what's possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible."
*ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI*
One step at a time, one step at a time - that's all we can do. But it can be more than enough. There are things we have to do each day: go to work, care for a child, prepare a meal. And there are things we do because we want to: volunteer for a community organization, host a party for a friend, plant a garden.
We bustle about happily doing all that we need to do, plus the things that bring pleasure to ourselves and others. We might be intimidated by the amount of work involved, but by simply doing things we can accomplish more than we think.
Instead of thinking about how I can't possible do something I want to do, I'll just start doing what I can and see where it leads.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quatations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: January 13, 2009
A BALANCE IN LIFE
"There are as many nights as days, and the one is just as long as the other in the year's course. Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness."
*CARL GUSTAV JUNG*
Wouldn't it be wonderful if we never had a problem or a bad day?
And yet the sunsine after a storm is often brighter and more pleasurable than the sunshine after a string of cloudless days. Happiness that follows a troubled time can be more intense - or at least more appreciated - than happiness is the midst of an easy time.
If I feel like things are not going well right now, I'll think about how good it's going to feel when I get through this - and I will get through this.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: January 12, 2009
LAUGHING AT OURSELVES
"Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly; devils fall because of the gravity."
*G.K. CHESTERTON*
We are at the center of the drama that is our life and, like actors hamming it up, we sometimes play our role with excessive amounts of emotion, self-importance, and shouting.
We'd be a lot more effective - and a lot more fun to be around - if we thought of our lives as a comedy. A comedy with a moral, perhaps, and filled with gentle laughter rather than howls - a comedy that recongnizes that there's more to the world than what we do or think.
I recongize that the things I do - my accomplishments and my mistakes - are not insignificant, but if I take things too seriously, life won't be fun. Humor can help me keep things in perspective.
From ""The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: January 11, 2009
MAKING OPPORTUNITIES
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."
*THOMAS EDISON*
Other people get all the breaks, don't they? Or so we tell ourselves. While it's true that sometimes others really do get a break, we could do a lot more to create our own breaks it we really wanted to.
Did we skip an opportunity to get some trainig because it was scheduled after work hours? Did we pass up a chance to try something new because we were nervous about whether we could do it? Maybe it's time to roll up our sleeves and work a little harder or longer.
How can I create my own opportunity - at work or in my personal life? What steps do I need to take?
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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Published On: January 10, 2009
DAY BY DAY
"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives."
*ANNIE DILLARD*
Next week, next month, next summer..... that's when the good times will come. But right now we're just trying to get through today, and maybe tomorrow, and, with luck, the day after that.
Let's not miss our lives while they're happening. We can make choices about what we want to do right this moment. Sure, the garbage still needs to be taken out and work has to be done, but even in the rush of the everyday we can take time to appreciate what we have.
I'll give myself a few minutes to appreciate a beautiful sunrise, the comfort of my warm bed, the sheer joy of a baby's laugh, or even the pleasure of solitude - whatever my life holds today.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Pincone
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Published On: January 9, 2009
SMILING
"Somtimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy."
*THICH NHAT HANH*
Physiologically, it's been shown that smiling can make us feel happy, even if we are forcing the smile deliberately. Regardless of the science, it makes sense to smile, whether we feel like it or not. A smile energizes our brain as well as our muscles. And we don't want our face to settle into sadness.
As silly as it may seem, I'm going to remind myself to smile regularly today, and then I'll see what happens.
From "The Daily Book of Positive Quotations" By Linda Picone
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