Sometimes it’s hard to smile, but when we share a smile with someone it makes us feel so much better! Smiling creates endorphins, the brain’s happiness hormones … and the more we have of those the better! According to the latest scientific research, smiling has loads of benefits: Reduces anxiety Lowers blood pressure Drops heart rate Improves mood Enhances relationships Strengthens immune function Relieves pain And …. drumroll, please… The happiness a smile brings is equivalent to having 2,000 bars of chocolate!! You’re welcome.
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TODAY’S QUOTE: Wings of Faith
A few weeks ago, this gorgeous scarlet tanager landed in a tree right outside our sunroom. It is a rare bird in this part of the country so it thrilled us to see it, especially close up. When I was looking for a quote to fit the photo, I came across this one by celebrated author and playwright, J. M. Barrie. He was a fascinating man whose life was filled with success, but also much sorrow. Barrie often took long walks in London’s Kensington Gardens, where he met the five Llewelyn Davies brothers in the late 1890s. He found inspiration for his best-known work—Peter Pan—in his friendship with the boys. […]
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TODAY’S QUOTE: Your Harvest
The last time I was down visiting my daughter’s family we went strawberry picking. My grandees, who are five, two, and eight months, loved “helping.” Little Myles sat in the dirt and squished berries between his fingers and had berry juice smeared all over his face, hair, and clothing. It was a memory I won’t soon forget! I brought home almost three pounds of berries (this is a photo of the harvest) and my husband and I enjoyed their sunshiny sweetness for over a week. The whole process got me thinking about how important it is to control our thoughts; they can be dark and worrisome, or they can be bright […]
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TODAY’S QUOTE: Let It Go
I know, I know, this is easier said than done. For those of us who struggle with anxiety and worst-case-scenario thinking, being mindful of staying in the present is a challenge. This is a conscious decision I have to make every day because I know that obsessing about yesterday, last week, last month, or last year is not only painful, it also ruins the future and the important work I have yet to accomplish. Lament less, trust more. That’s my new motto. Join me?
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TODAY’S QUOTE: Morning Gratitude
Anyone who knows me personally understands that I am NOT a morning person. I never have been, and I suspect this won’t be changing anytime soon. I have suffered with chronic fibromyalgia for nearly thirty-five years and along with the sun, mornings bring pain, stiffness, and brain fog. I never schedule a conference call or client meeting before eleven o’clock because I feel just plain stupid. But you know what? I am still grateful because each a.m. provides an opportunity to do something good with my day. And let’s face it, as I am now much closer to 60 than 50, it’s awesome just to wake up this side of […]
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TODAY’S QUOTE: Trust, Live, Enjoy
Every time I think it’s time to put away my keyboard and switch out my writer’s hat for my old corporate one, an amazing new project comes along that reminds me of my purpose. I know I am on this earth to share people’s inspiring stories through the written word. What is God’s plan for you? Are you living it? Are you enjoying it? Please use the talents you’ve been given to make the world a better place.
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TODAY’S QUOTE: Everybody is Somebody
One of the life lessons I learned from my father was to treat everyone like they matter, whether they are a janitor or the president of a company. Last night I watched the movie Same Kind of Different as Me and I cried like a baby. Respecting others, no matter their station, is just… right!
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Ruth Riley Inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
Last week I was thrilled to read that Ruth Riley Hunter is part of the 2019 class of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Not only is she a phenomenal athlete, she is a global humanitarian, and a VERY nice person. Oh, and for you Miami Heat fans, Ruth is now a TV studio and radio analyst! At first blush, Ruth is nothing short of intimidating. A hair under 6’ 5”, the veteran center is a powerful force. (I’m only 4’ 10”… you do the math.) She helped Notre Dame win the NCAA championship, and she has two WNBA championship rings. We certainly can’t forget that she also received a gold […]
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TODAY’S QUOTE: No Regrets
Alexander Graham Bell, the recognized inventor of the telephone, understood that looking back at past failures can hinder one’s future accomplishments. Inventing is all about coming up with new ideas, after all. His forwarding-thinking quote is engraved in the stone wall within the Peace Chapel of the International Peace Garden on the border of Manitoba and North Dakota. “Woulda, coulda, shoulda” thinking will get you nowhere other than in a spiral of regret. We’ve all made mistakes we can learn from, but obsessing about them serves nobody #lookahead
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Happy Birthday America!
On July 4, 1776, our forefathers signed the Declaration of Independence to rid the thirteen colonies from the tyranny of British rule. American patriots with rudimentary weaponry fought a powerful foe to forge a new nation: The United States of America. In 1783, the United States formally became a free and independent nation. Official records state that 4,435 soldiers died from wounds suffered during the Revolutionary War. I am grateful.
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