10 Tips To Have a Long Lasting Relationship

Here are 10 Tips for Having a Long Lasting Success in Relationships

1. Celebrate the small stuff.

“It’s not enough that your partner knows that you take pride in her or her accomplishments. You have to show it. Making a fuss over the small, good things that happen everyday can boost the health of your marriage.”

2. Learn how to fight productively.

“The key to fighting productively is to recognize when a disagreement is going in the wrong direction and to take steps to calm things down and repair rifts.”

3. Silence is not golden.

“By staying quiet and avoiding conflict when things bothered them, they had missed important opportunities to cultivate and grow their relationship.”

4. Don’t put negative thoughts into the universe.

“Men and women who had pondered thoughts of divorce in 1980 were nine times more likely to have gotten divorced by the end of the study.”

5. Plan together.

“Couples who planned a baby’s arrival or who were equally joyous at becoming parents were far more likely to maintain their marital happiness or even enjoy an increase after the baby was born.”

6. Maintain a circle of friends and support.

“Strong friendships outside the marriage can take the pressure off your relationship, help you work things out away from your spouse, and ultimately protect your marriage from unnecessary stress and discord.”

7. Overcompensate for mistakes.

“Do marriage math. Even when you make a mistake, tell yourself that you’re going to do at least five positive things for your spouse to make up for it, and then do them. And don’t wait until you bicker to turn on the charm. Nice gestures and comments go far in a marriage, they are easy to do, and they will help insulate your marriage from being damaged by the inevitable bad days.”

8. Set the marriage bar high.

“Husbands and wives who hold their partners to a reasonably high standard have better marriages. If you expect a better, more satisfying relationship, you improve your chances of having one.”

9. Give it a break.

“Sometimes, improving your marriage means giving it a break. Increasing your connections with family, friends and society is good for your marriage.”

10. Be aware of your body language.

“Eye rolling is a painfully obvious sign of contempt, and it’s a powerful predictor that your relationship is in serious trouble.”

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

10 Tips To Have a Long Lasting Relationship

Thanks For Believing In Life and Me……..

Playfulness and Laughter

Suggestions for Playfulness and Laughter:

• Spend time with children
• Go to toy stores
• Play with your animals
• Go to an improvisational theater show
• Watch funny movies
• Go to a comedy store
• Rent old Candid Camera episodes
• Watch Marx Brothers movies
• Go to the beach
• Take a ski trip
• Watch I Love Lucy reruns
• Ride your bike
• Go bowling
• Rent Rollerblades
• Go to a baseball game
• Start a pillow fight
• Tell jokes
• Play board games
• Tickle someone
• Have a staring contest
• Throw a costume party
• Go to an animal-free circus
• Dance
• Have a tea party
• Go to an ice cream shop
• Bake cookies
• Blow bubbles
• Play miniature golf
• Go to the batting cages
• Watch people at shopping malls
• Go to an amusement park
• Paint with watercolors
• Rent a sailboat
• Go on a picnic
• Make up lists of fun and playful things to do
• Read My Blog : )

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Thanks For Believing In Life and Me……..

The Blue Rose

The Blue Rose

Having four visiting family members, my wife was very busy, so I offered to go to the store for her to get some needed items, which included light bulbs, paper towels, trash bags, detergent and Clorox. So off I went.

I scurried around the store, gathered up my goodies and headed for the checkout counter, only to be blocked in the narrow aisle by a young man who appeared to be about sixteen-years-old. I wasn’t in a hurry, so I patiently waited for the boy to realize that I was there. This was when he waved his hands excitedly in the air and declared in a loud voice, “Mommy, I’m over here.”

It was obvious now, he was mentally challenged and also startled as he turned and saw me standing so close to him, waiting to squeeze by. His eyes widened and surprise exploded on his face as I said, “Hey Buddy, what’s your name?”

“My name is Denny and I’m shopping with my mother,” he responded proudly.

“Wow,” I said, “that’s a cool name; I wish my name was Denny, but my name is Steve.”

“Steve, like Stevarino?” he asked.

“Yes,” I answered. “How old are you Denny?”

“How old am I now, Mommy?” he asked his mother as she slowly came over from the next aisle.

“You’re fifteen-years-old Denny; now be a good boy and let the man pass by.”

I acknowledged her and continued to talk to Denny for several more minutes about summer, bicycles and school. I watched his brown eyes dance with excitement, because he was the center of someone’s attention. He then abruptly turned and headed toward the toy section.

Denny’s mom had a puzzled look on her face and thanked me for taking the time to talk with her son. She told me that most people wouldn’t even look at him, much less talk to him.

I told her that it was my pleasure and then I said something I have no idea where it came from, other than by the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I told her that there are plenty of red, yellow, and pink roses in God’s Garden; however, “Blue Roses” are very rare and should be appreciated for their beauty and distinctiveness. You see, Denny is a Blue Rose and if someone doesn’t stop and smell that rose with their heart and touch that rose with their kindness, then they’ve missed a blessing from God.

She was silent for a second, then with a tear in her eye she asked, “Who are you?”

Without thinking I said, “Oh, I’m probably just a dandelion, but I sure love living in God’s garden.”

She reached out, squeezed my hand and said, “God bless you!” and then I had tears in my eyes.

May I suggest, the next time you see a BLUE ROSE, don’t turn your head and walk off. Take the time to smile and say Hello. Why? Because, by the grace of GOD, this mother or father could be you. This could be your child, grandchild, niece or nephew. What a difference a moment can mean to that person or their family.

From an old dandelion!

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

“People will forget what you said,
people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget how you made them feel!”
Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Thanks For Believing In Life and Me……..

Demons In The Desert

Demons In The Desert [The Correct Way Of Thinking]
Once upon a time there were two mer¬chants, who were friends. Both of them were get¬ting ready for business trips to sell their merchan¬dise, so they had to decide whether to travel together. They agreed that, since each had about 500 carts, and they were going to the same place along the same road, it would be too crowded to go at the same time.

One decided that it would be much better to go first. He thought, “The road will not be rutted by the carts, the bullocks will be able to choose the best of all the grass, we will find the best fruits and vegetables to eat, my people will appreciate my leadership and, in the end, I will be able to bargain for the best prices.”

The other merchant considered carefully and realized there were advantages to going sec¬ond. He thought, “My friend’s carts will level the ground so we won’t have to do any road work, his bullocks will eat the old rough grass and new ten¬der shoots will spring up for mine to eat. In the same way, they will pick the old fruits and vege¬tables and fresh ones will grow for us to enjoy. I won’t have to waste my time bargaining when I can take the price already set and make my profit.” So he agreed to let his friend go first. This friend was sure he’d fooled him and gotten the best of him – so he set out first on the journey.

The merchant who went first had a trouble¬some time of it. They came to a wilderness called the ‘Waterless Desert’, which the local people said was haunted by demons. When the caravan reached the middle of it, they met a large group coming from the opposite direction.

They had carts that were mud smeared and dripping with water. They had lotuses and water lilies in their hands and in the carts. The head man, who had a know-it-all attitude, said to the merchant, “Why are you carrying these heavy loads of water? In a short time you will reach that oasis on the horizon with plenty of water to drink and dates to eat. Your bullocks are tired from pulling those heavy carts filled with extra water – so throw away the water and be kind to your overworked animals!”

Even though the local people had warned them, the merchant did not realize that these were not real people, but demons in disguise. They were even in danger of being eaten by them. Be¬ing confident that they were helpful people, he followed their advice and had all his water emp¬tied onto the ground.

As they continued on their way they found no oasis or any water at all. Some realized they’d been fooled by beings that might have been de¬mons, and started to grumble and accuse the mer¬chant. At the end of the day, all the people were tired out. The bullocks were too weak from lack of water to pull their heavy carts. All the people and animals lay down in a haphazard manner and fell into a deep sleep. Lo and behold, during the night the demons came in their true frightening forms and gobbled up all the weak defenseless be¬ings. When they were done there were only bones lying scattered around – not one human or animal was left alive.

After several months, the second merchant began his journey along the same way. When he arrived at the wilderness, he assembled all his people and advised them – “This is called the ‘Waterless Desert’ and I have heard that it is haunted by demons and ghosts. Therefore we should be careful. Since there may be poison plants and foul water, don’t drink any local water without asking me.” In this way they started into the desert.

After getting about halfway through, in the same way as with the first caravan, they were met by the water soaked demons in disguise. They told them the oasis was near and they should throw away their water. But the wise merchant saw through them right away. He knew it didn’t make sense to have an oasis in a place called ‘Waterless Desert’. And besides, these people had bulging red eyes and an aggressive and pushy attitude, so he suspected they might be demons. He told them to leave them alone saying, “We are business men who don’t throw away good water before we know where the next is coming from.”
Then seeing that his own people had doubts, the merchant said to them, “Don’t believe these people, who may be demons, until we actu¬ally find water. The oasis they point to may be just an illusion or a mirage. Have you ever heard of water in this ‘Waterless Desert’? Do you feel any rain-wind or see any storm clouds?” They all said, “No”, and he continued, “If we believe these strangers and throw away our water, then later we may not have any to drink or cook with – then we will be weak and thirsty it would be easy for de-mons to come and rob us, or even eat us up! Therefore, until we really find water, do not waste even a drop!”

The caravan continued on its way and, that evening, reached the place where the first cara¬van’s people and bullocks had been killed and eaten by the demons. They found the carts and human and animal bones lying all around. They recognized that the fully loaded carts and the scat¬tered bones belonged to the former caravan. The wise merchant told certain people to stand watch around the camp during the night.
The next morning the people ate breakfast, and fed their bullocks well. They added to their goods the most valuable things left from the first caravan. So they finished their journey very suc¬cessfully, and returned home safely so that they and their families could enjoy their profits.
The moral is: One must always be wise enough not to be fooled by tricky talk and false appear¬ances.

Lovely thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You…..

Thanks For Believing In Life and Me……..

The Nature of Love and Pleasure……LOVE

The Nature of Love and Pleasure

Love
There are different kinds of love, and these are variously expressed as motherly love, brotherly love, sensual love, emotional love, sexual love, selfish love, selfless love and universal love.

If people develop only their carnal or selfish love towards one other, that type of love cannot last long. In a true love relationship, one should not ask how much one can get, but how much one can give.

When beauty, complexion and youth start to fade away, a husband who considers only the physical aspects of love may think of acquiring another young one. That type of love is animal love or lust. If a man really develops love as an expression of human concern for another being, he will not lay emphasis only on the external beauty and physical attractiveness of his partner. The beauty and attractiveness of his partner should be in her heart and mind, not in what he sees. Likewise, the wife will never neglect her husband even though he has become old, poor or sick.

“I have a fear that the modern girl loves to be Juliet, to have a dozen Romeos. She loves adventure……The modern girl dresses not to protect herself from wind, rain and sun, but to attract attention. She improves upon nature by painting herself and looking extraordinary.”
— Gandhi

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Thanks For Believing In Life and Me……..

Touch of Lemon

When I met Mr. Jim Lemon, I was a sixteen-year-old freshman at Houston’s Jackson Junior High and the chances of my finishing high school were slim. I was a troubled teenager with an attitude, living in a neighborhood that fostered troubled teenagers.

Mr. Lemon taught American history and it was clear from the first day that his classroom was not going to be disrupted. It was apparent, very quickly, that Mr. Lemon was quite different from the other teachers I had known. Not only was he a disciplinarian, but also he was a great teacher. He would never settle for my usual standard of classroom work. Mr. Lemon pushed and prodded and never tolerated the mediocrity that had become my standard.

On the occasion of our first semester report cards, Mr. Lemon called me aside and asked how it was possible that I was a B student in his class and a D and F student in the rest of my classes.

I was ready for that question. I passionately told him about my divorced parents, the local gangs, the drugs, the fights, and the police – all the evils that I had been subjected to. Mr. Lemon listened patiently and when I was through he responded, “There’s a problem with your list Mr. Phillips, you are not on it.”

Then Mr. Lemon explained that the only person responsible for my situation was me. And the only person with the potential to change my situation was me, and that when I personally accepted that responsibility I could make a significant change in my life.

He convinced me that I was failing not because I was a failure, but because I was not accepting the responsibility for my results in those other classes. Mr. Lemon was the first teacher I had who made me believe in myself. He inspired me to become a better student and he changed my life.

Ten years later, I spoke to him again. I was preparing to graduate from Chaminade University in Honolulu.

It had taken weeks of telephone calls to find him but I knew what I had to say. When I finally did get Mr. Lemon on the telephone, I explained what his brutal honesty had meant to me, how I finally graduated from high school, and how I was a proud staff sergeant in the Army. I explained how I had married the most beautiful and wonderful woman of my dreams and how we had a beautiful daughter.

Most of all I wanted him to know that I was about to graduate magna cum laude after going to school for four hours a night, four nights a week for three years. I wanted him to know that I could never have done any of these things if he had not been a part of my life.

Finally, I told him that I had been saving money for two years so that I could invite he and his wife to come to Hawaii at my expense to be part of my graduation. I’ll never forget his response. Mr. Lemon said, “Who is this again?”

I was just one of hundreds of students whose life he changed and he seemed genuinely surprised of his impact.

Perhaps none of us realize the impact that we have on other people nor do other people have any idea how much of an impact they have on us. How much, then, should we be aware of our influence on others to make sure that it is for the best? And how much more should we tell those who have had a positive impact on our lives?

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Thanks For Believing In Life and Me……..

A childs Angel

Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born. So one day he asked God:

They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless? Among the many angels, I chose one for you. She will be waiting for you and will take care of you.

But tell me, here in Heaven, I don’t do anything else but sing and smile, that’s enough for me to be happy. Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you everyday. And you will feel your angel’s love and be happy.

And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me, if I don’t know the language that men talk? Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak.

And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you? Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray. I’ve heard that on earth there are bad men. Who will protect me? Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life.

But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore. Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the way for you to come back to me, even though I will always be next to you.

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from earth could already be heard, and the child in a hurry asked softly:

Oh God, if I am about to leave now, please tell me my angel’s name Your angel’s name is of no importance, you will call your angel:
Mother

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Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Thanks For Believing In Life and Me……..

Mindfullness…….Budha

Mindfulness should be the most natural thing in the world-without any unnecessary strain or effort. But for us, habitually unmindful beings, being mindful might be a daunting task. The more unmindful we become, the more habitual it becomes, and attaining mindfulness soon feels near impossible. How scary! Let’s all guard our minds more carefully from now on.

I was walking to the subway station in the near noon sun. I remembered my promise to myself to be as mindful as I could the whole day. The sun felt hot. I caught myself screwing up my face, frowning in its glare. This, I realise, only when I realised I was having mild dizziness. The mindfulness came this “late.” Suddenly, I wasn’t sure whether it was the heat of the sun that made me dizzy or that it was me feeling contempt for the sun that made me dizzy. Funny. I think the latter that is true. The sun meant no harm. It was me to be blame ultimately. I should have experienced the heat mindfully without attachment-that’s all-no need to grumble about it inside.

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Thanks For Believing In Life and Me……..

Dont Save The Best For Last

I realized a couple of years ago that I often “save the best for last”.

It started with little things – I’d use the crumpled facial tissue or paper towel before grabbing the crisp new one next to it, or I’d save the best bite of food on my plate until I reached the end of my meal. Something told me at the time that it was symbolic of other areas in my life where I was settling for less in hopes of a better thing “later” – always “later”.

I made a mental note of it, to remember to use the “good” thing first, but I wasn’t committed to the exercise and soon was back to my old ways.
Lately, I’ve realized that this way of doing things really is symbolic of a behavior I’d like to change.

It all started with perfume.
I had purchased a few perfume oils that I really liked a lot. Two were Indian scents – strong, floral, perfume-y, and rollerball, I just loved them. I started wearing the one I liked the least on a daily basis (why did I do that?), then when that one was finished, I used the one I liked more. I had also purchased two other oils, one which it turned out my Main Squeeze liked a lot, but I didn’t like that much, so I only wore it on our outings or other special occasions.

Lastly, there was “Beautiful”, a copycat of two of my favorite Estee Lauder scents “Beautiful” and “Knowing”. The “Beautiful” fragrance oil was by far my favorite scent, and because it was, I chose to save it for extra special occasions.

But in recent weeks, I decided I didn’t always want to be looking forward to some brighter future while suffering in a difficult present, and I connected to my continued “saving the best for last” to my challenge. I decided to use the best first.

I began with, well everything. If I pulled out a bunch of crumpled, yet clean tissues from my purse or backpack, I would still go out of my way to use the clean and folded napkins or tissues inches away. From my collection of scented body lotions and creams, I began using the pricier, more fragrant, “special” stuff.

Maya Angelou says she always eats dinner on her finest china and silverware. Now I know why. When you use the best for yourself, even when you’re by yourself, you’re saying “I’m worth it.”

When you don’t save the best for last, when you use the best first, you’re creating space for even better to come into your life.

This is what I learned when I started using “Beautiful”. I made it my everyday scent, and here’s what happened:

First, I felt very special. I felt rich, like Oprah, wise, like Maya Angelou, and glamorous like Miss Piggy and Mae West!
Secondly, I noticed that as I used the oil, I realized I would at some point need to replace it.
And then I had the thought, “I wonder what he (the perfume shop owner) has that’s even better than this and in my price range?”
After that, I thought, “Or by then I’ll probably have much more money and will be able to choose from many more options in his store!”
And after that, “Or maybe by then I’ll be able to afford and actual bottle of Estee Lauder’s ‘Beautiful’!”
And lastly, I recalled that a friend of mine had recently been window shopping at Macy’s and I’d discovered another Estee fragrance I liked a lot, Azuree. My friend teased me because it was so strong and perfumey- like Indian incense, which I liked a lot, but which is totally not her style.

When I was at Macy’s smelling Azuree I knew I would sometime soon have it, even though it wasn’t in my budget at the time. And as long as I was using my least favorite fragrances, I wasn’t really thinking much about Azuree – certainly not enough to WoManifest it into my existence and enjoyment.

By putting “Beautiful” to use – enjoying the best first, space was immediately created to be filled – in this case, space that previously had held the best.

You see, when you use up the best, you automatically make room for a new and better “best” to come into your life.

So now I exercise this new theory often.

Is there a down side? Sure, there is. I feel a sense of loss and sadness using the best first because then I no longer have anything in my immediate future to look forward to.
Whenever I’m eating now, and there’s that delicious bite on my plate, and I decide I’m going to eat it first, I’m sad because I no longer have that bite to look forward to anymore. But I do it because it’s a good exercise. It’s a metaphor for other areas in my life where I no longer want to be longing for improvement or something better.

I invite you to partake of this experiment and experience with me.

If you have “nice” or “good” china or silverware, take it out and use it yourself, use it now. You’ll find that sometime in the near future you’ll want to replace them with even better china and silverware, and when you have acquired those, use them first, too, and so on. Think of Maya!

When you’re eating, enjoy the finest part of the meal first. Don’t wait until the end.

If you have three kinds of shampoo, one “every day” kind and one “special occasions” one, use the “special occasions” or fancy one first. See how you feel using fancy shampoo every single day, even just to go grocery shopping.

Why should you only take out the best of anything for “company” (your guests), your job/employer, or a date? Are any of those human beings worth more than you? Absolutely not. And more importantly, they probably won’t care or notice that your hair is more fragrant or your skin is softer than on another day. They won’t go home and shriek with delight how impressed they were at your glimmering dishware, and if they do, that says something about their personal values and priorities, which likely don’t match yours, or you probably wouldn’t be reading this article!

Don’t let your lover be the only one who sees you in sexy underwear. Wear sexy underwear for yourself, first! Maybe no one else will know what you have on underneath, but you will, and you’ll feel better for it – more confident, and more worthy because you took the time and effort to put it on for yourself – not for anyone else.

Think of Oprah Winfrey. She has the finest things, and uses them for herself. And I believe that’s why she continues to WoManifest even more things and more money to have more things, because she actually uses them for herself, and not only for others. It’s important to use your resources to make the world a better place, but it’s no good to put yourself lower, as second class citizen. Spirit didn’t make you any less worthy and the world doesn’t do any better by anyone’s misguided so-called sacrifice. We are All One, and that means you’re worth every bit of good you want to do “for” others.

Now, you may ask about recycling and overconsumption of products. Doesn’t using the best and then creating more new “bests” just overcrowd landfills and create waste? It doesn’t have to, and that’s a very valid concern. In fact, this is one story I would tell myself when I was resisting using the best first.

I thought it was good to use the soap til it’s a speck o’ nothing, while I left the fancy one in the box to be opened and displayed for, and used by, guests only.

Then I realized there were no exceptions to my “Use the Best First” exercise. I had to go through the motions until I learned all there was to know about this issue.
And what I learned is this – we can always adjust. The world will not be harmed by your giving yourself the best.

I still save soap scraps – I just use them to wash my hands on a daily basis, while I use the fancy soap in the shower. And I enjoy this – that’s what counts – to do what you enjoy while using the best. You can still have your values. You can still recycle.

Someday, I plan to have a system of putting all my small pieces of used soap in a mitt-like contraption so that lots of bits of soap can be used at once. I can also, if I wish, or when I’m ready, boil it in water with a little bit of borax to make liquid soap. My schedule is too busy these days to do that, but I do think about it. And so can you make similar adjustments as you use the best first!

Enjoy the best now. Know what it feels like to create space for even more and even better in your life. You may be pleasantly surprised by what you discover about yourself while you consider and enjoy being worthy of the best. Why? Because your soul knows you’re worth the best, and not later, but now!

Courtesy
“Don’t Save the Best for Last” by Cassendre Xavier. (c) Copyright 2010 by Cassendre Xavier. All rights reserved. Visit http://cassEndrExavier.com for more information.

Lovely Messages For Lovely People Just Like You……..

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Thanks For Believing In Life and Me……..

Forgive and Say Thanks ….to Yourself and to GOD…..

From stuffed turkeys to full tummies, we celebrate Thanksgiving by immersing ourselves in the moment. We enjoy ourselves by coming together and sharing our food and memories. We reflect on our country, our faith and our family. The day-long – and sometimes week-long – preparation of one meal, testifies to the significance of the day. Along with our gratitude, Thanksgiving offers us a time to express forgiveness, as well as thanks.

Good Times

When we look back over the year, or the decade, or the course of our lives, we quickly recognize our gifts and happiness. When sharing with those we love, we recall times of joy such as births and weddings and other rites of passage. And for those, we sincerely give thanks. Remembering difficult situations transforming into positive opportunities, we take particular joy in celebrating the gifts of Spirit for bringing in the highest and best for our life. That’s the easy part.

Challenges

Often, we require life’s harshest lessons to learn and grow. Gentle teachers guide and direct us, but the difficult headmaster provides the most opportunity for progress. Immersed in a challenge, we experience a variety of emotions ranging from anger, to fear, frustration and anxiety. Then, when we triumphantly emerge from the struggle, like a mother giving birth, we forget the pain and rejoice in the joy of the outcome. And sometimes, we hold grudges against the very things that we strived to overcome, which taught us the most. The joy of forgiveness goes hand in hand with gratitude.

Forgiveness

Forgiveness definitions vary from a simple letting go, to a more complex cautious dismissal. We accept apologies when offered, and interpret this as forgiveness. By that interpretation, we can never forgive someone who fails to apologize. Another conundrum appears if the object of our forgiveness isn’t a person (its a circumstance or situation), or the person is no longer living. We then claim to suffer from the malaise of “not having closure.” Since most of us don’t really know what forgiveness is, we conveniently make excuses to not forgive at all, simply because we don’t know what it looks like in our world. We create our destiny of carrying around resentment and anger the remainder of our lives.

Who benefits?

The starkest contrast between forgiveness and gratitude, not surprisingly, resides within us. In gratitude, we experience peace of mind, a sense of honor and satisfaction, wrapped in the recognition of Spirit’s blessing in our lives. Not only do we lovingly embrace the things for which we are thankful, those around us absorb our positive energy and grow inspired to consider their own reasons for gratitude. In short, an “attitude of gratitude” affects more than one person.

In holding grudges, anger, or resentment, we mostly affect ourselves. Many times the subject of our disdain continues on his or her course blissfully unaware of our feelings, or worse, appears apathetic. In such cases, we hold the negativity all to ourselves. We alone experience all the anxiety and physical ill-being brought about by our feelings. Alternatively, the person we need to forgive the most awaits our forgiveness. He or she harbors feelings of inadequacy or sorrow that we cannot seem to release and let them go. Now, you affect that person, too, and cause untold hardship on his or her well-being. In short, nobody benefits from unforgiveness.

Letting go / Surrender

The true but overused phrase, “Let Go, Let God,” serves us well. Releasing anger, fear, resentment not only frees you, but other, too. By doing so, we acknowledge our inability to control the situation, and give up the struggle. That’s all it is, really, just struggle for control. And the negativity takes its toll on you, in fact, its killing you. So, if you give up trying to control everything around you, even the people in your life, the struggle falls away along with it. Everyone is free to explore the doors of opportunity for gratitude in all areas of life.

Today, give thanks for life’s harshest lessons for bringing you to the present moment. Thank people whom you feel wronged you in any way, for they are Spirit’s special messengers for self-reflection. Put what happened to you in the past and leave it where it belongs. Appreciate all that you’ve overcome which enriched you, educated you and strengthened you. Rejoice in your new well-being, and the Universe will support you in amazing ways.

And most of all, thank God for your incredible capacity to love.

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Thanks For Believing In Life and Me……..