Today’s Inspiration

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Be Glad!

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Wherever you may be, whatever you have gone through or are going through, just be glad. Be glad because you are still here. Here in the beautiful world of chaos. Where there is beauty, there is hope, where there is hope there is joy. Where there is joy, happiness overflows. Happiness can be found in your dreams, your expectations of tomorrow, and your belief in miracles and the unknown. So be glad that you’re here, in a world where you can remain for as long as you desire. Be glad that your soul has visions beyond measure, visions that surpasses your own imagination. Be glad that you have the opportunity to enjoy whatever the day may bring, sunshine or rain, be glad!

~YNG

Today’s Inspiration

P.U.S.H and Live in Eternal Gratitude

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I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, and changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something.  ~Neil Gaiman

Gratitude is something that’s encouraged, it’s something that we are told if we’re grateful for all that we have, it creates room for more things to be grateful for. How easy is that? It’s not always easy to be grateful, and how is gratitude measured? If you’re ill are you grateful that you’re still alive to fight the illness? Are you grateful for your family as well as the expenses that come with raising a family?  If you’re grateful for your job, are you also grateful for the long hours, the office politics that come with it, and being undervalued on that job? Gratitude is selective, we can be grateful for anything that we have but not everything that surrounds us. 

It’s difficult to smile in the face of adversity when it seems that adversity is all that you’re facing. I have always prided myself on living in gratitude and being faithful to everything I believe in, I believe in the kindness of mankind even when they’re not so kind. I lived in hope, love, and joy even on days when I can find none. I believe in miracles even when there is none in sight because I believe that faith takes us to the brink of our breaking point, then pulls us back to the point where that miracle happens. 

 As I smiled on the dying year, I was a bit apprehensive in asking God for a better year than the last year. On the surface, it was difficult to remain in gratitude and faithful when my world seemed to be falling apart. It was difficult to pray when my most significant prayers seem to go unanswered. But in all things, I gave thanks for each day I have with my family, each day I have to build my faith and grow in strength to face whatever this year may bring with it. My only hope is that it’s more kind, more gentle than the last, and definitely filled with miracles. 

When I think about all the things I continue to pray for, I’m reminded……

1. To be thankful for every day.

2. To smile, just because! A smile makes even the worse days better.

3. To reach out and help others with an uplifting hand, without expecting anything in return.

4. To remember that it is never too late to say ‘Thank you or ‘I am
sorry.

5. To eat ice cream often-lol! No seriously, eat ice cream. In fact, eat anything you want, this life is short and you don’t know when you’ll be by this way again.

6. To appreciate family and friends as a very special gift. Rather than a convenience.

7. To P.U.S.H- Pray Until Something Happen and pray often. 

8. To Take care of myself. I have one body, one mind and I don’t know how long I’m going to need them.  

Prayer has the Power to Bring Change

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We’ve just celebrated the last week of the year, and each year we’re always hoping the coming year is better than the last, only to find out that the new year comes with its own challenges. It’s customary back home to ring in the new year in Church, in one of the ‘watch-night services,’ where we prayed for Good Health, Wealth, Prosperity,  and all those good stuff we want in our lives.  That’s just one tradition that has become a casualty of moving, to be honest, not sure I can still stay up that late anymore.  So many traditions have been lost over the years but I’ve learned to make new ones, and through ringing in the New Year with prayer and thanksgiving, I’ve learned that I can do this anytime, anywhere because prayer has the unwavering power to bring change. It may not always be the change we’re looking for but change will come!

~YNG

4 Things to Remember This New Year!

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May Light always surround you;
Hope kindle and rebound you.
May your Hurts turn to Healing;
Your Heart embrace Feeling.
May Wounds become Wisdom;
Every Kindness a Prism.
May Laughter infect you;
Your Passion resurrect you.
May Goodness inspire
your Deepest Desires.
Through all that you Reach For,
May your arms Never Tire.”
― D. Simon

We’re hours away from welcoming a new year, well, a day at least.  Given the uncertainty of the past few years, I’ve heard some people say they dread the New Year, and just take it as it comes. Me, I’ve never been the one to make resolutions. 2023 will come in just as all those before it, bringing with it a clean slate, and new beginnings, giving us 365 days of endless possibilities.  How you use them is entirely up to you but, if you’re not sure yet, here are four points you may wish to consider,  your future self will thank you!

Choose to be YOU!  Faking it is one of the most exhausting activities you’ll ever carry out.  Trying to be someone else is hard, it’s so much easier to be yourself because you don’t have to think about it, it all comes naturally. If people don’t like the real you, then find a new group.  If no one else chooses you, choose yourself above all else, in the end, it’s you, you have to live with.  

Choose to Live in Joy

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“We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy.” ~Joseph Campbell

Life isn’t always kind and definitely not always fair, it also has a way of tossing everything at you at once. With Christmas literally just around the corner, the season brings new challenges, the challenge of trying to keep everyone happy and in good cheer…..the challenge of buying those perfect gifts for everyone on your Christmas list. For the past few years I’ve scaled back on Christmas, the pandemic helped a little with that, but this year I’ve scaled back even more. I’ve taken the commercial out of the season by choosing my gifts wisely, buying only what’s needed and nothing extra, it’s not about budgeting, it’s about appreciating the season without getting lost in all the commercialism.  Don’t get me wrong, I still love the joy that Christmas brings, and I still revel in the decorations, I revel in the feeling of peace, joy, and hope the season brings with it. 

Today’s Inspiration

When You’ve Given It All You’ve Got, Just Stand!

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Recognizing that you are not where you want to be is a starting point to begin changing your life.”
― Deborah Day

well-being

noun[ U ]

US/ˈwelˈbi·ɪŋ/

the state of feeling healthy and happy

~Cambridge dictionary

When we think about well-being we like to think about the definition as reflected in the Cambridge Dictionary above. It may sound simple but it’s a struggle to maintain a healthy balance when life has other plans for you. It’s even more difficult to stay happy when there are so many bad reports. Mental Health on the whole is a struggle, it’s something I’ve struggled with for years but have always just gone through the motions of filling my days with anything that would keep my mind off of what was not going right in my life.

Living a Life of Faith

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Living a life of faith is not superficial. You are not simply living in some hurt from the past, trying to be the top dog, or even trying to fulfill a parent’s inadequacy. No, you are on a unique journey, living each day anew, with the freedom to be yourself, with special guidance from above, there is a set purpose to what your doing, and some goal in mind.
― Phil Mitchell