Grateful for Veterans (TY-20)

Today, I would like to recognize and appreciate veterans. I often do not think about all the wonderful men and women who have devoted their lives to defend our wonderful country (United States of America); yet, many of my dearest friends and a few of my relatives have served in the armed branches  (Navy, Air Force, Army, National Guard, Coast Guard and Marines) . They are honorable people and I love them dearly. 

I appreciate the time they spent away from their families to serve under uncertain conditions to maintain our military presence and protect/inspire democracy in unstable areas of the world. I am grateful for their sense of duty, their enthusiasm, and their self-discipline. While, I value and appreciate all the veterans in my life, today I would like to thank every veteran for their honorable services to our great nation. I salute you! 

 

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Appreciating Halloween (TY-13)

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays of the year next to Christmas. I enjoy dressing up and all the spooky sights. I feel Halloween gives us permission to be a bit mischievous and a whole lot of playful.

I appreciate how Halloween comes at the end of October as the nights grow longer and the air a bit cooler, as it brings us closer to winter. We are going from a time of harvest and plenitude to a time of scarcity and reduction. Life is transitioning to death as we approach the end of another year. Of course, this is all geographically dependent to the northern hemisphere.

In the southern hemisphere, it is springtime transitioning to summer; and many of the Halloween traditions such as bonfires and Jack-o-Lanterns make no sense. However, I believe Halloween is also celebrated in various countries below the equator, where there is strong European and American influences. Halloween has quite a history…here is an excerpt from the History Channel:

Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. (http://www.history.com/topics/halloween)

I would encourage you to read more about it from the aforementioned website; it is fascinating. Halloween is a fun time often filled with mystery and superstition. And, I for one appreciate it for both the lighthearted fun as well as a reminder that winter is approaching (in my part of the world).

 

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Upcoming Long Weekend and Gratitude

Many countries in the Americas and Spain celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas, which happened on October 12, 1492, as an official holiday. The landing is celebrated as Columbus Day in the United States, which will be observed Monday, October 14th this year (2013). It is also the Canadian Thanksgiving Day.

According to Wikipedia, Canadian Thanksgiving coincides with the U.S. observance of Columbus Day since the United States implemented the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in 1971 (most countries in the Western Hemisphere fix Columbus Day to October 12). As it is, U.S. towns with high amounts of Canadian tourism will often hold their fall festivals over Thanksgiving/Columbus Day weekend in part to draw and accommodate Canadian tourists.

This leads me to my next topic: gratitude. a state of being appreciative or thankful.

This is a wonderful time of the year to start counting blessings and expressing gratitude. After the long weekend, starting Tuesday, October 15, between Columbus Day and the U.S. Thanksgiving Day (November 28), I intend to write daily (Monday – Friday) about all the things for which I feel grateful. That is 32 blessings I will count, appreciate, and share with you between the 2 holidays.

This is my opportunity to publicly open my grateful heart and share with everyone the top 32 things I am most grateful, the blessings in my life I most appreciate. I hope you will join me by either keeping a private journal or publicly sharing on your blog, on Facebook, Twitter or in the comment section below. Let us be thankful together. And, as a bonus challenge, let us go out and say thank you to at least 32 different people in the next few weeks. And, please feel free to share your experiences.

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today.  Have you used one to say “thank you?”  ~William A. Ward

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Hope

Next to love, hope is one of the most positive emotions we can embrace, which is to hang onto the best possible outcome.  Hope is holding onto a belief of a positive future. It is having faith. It is trusting that everything will be alright. Everything will turn out for the best.

Hope is to wish for something with the expectation of its fulfillment. Can hope lead to disappointment? Maybe, but I would rather be hopeful than despondent or in a state of despair. There is more joy in hope.

Despite the U.S. Government shutdown, we need not lose our hope. We need to continue to hope that there are those in Congress that are committed to serve the People of the United States of America. Yes, we are disappointed that a faction of those in power cannot see past their personal agendas and/philosophies to do what is BEST for his and her fellow citizens. We cannot lose hope and faith.

Martin Luther King, Jr. said: “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”

Despite what is going on in our Nation’s Capital, we have to lead our own individual lives. We have our own goals and dreams to fulfill. Never stop hoping.

Hope is optimistic! Hope gives one something for which to strive. Giving up hope is failing to try to live a life of possibility.

Why go down that road to despair and depression? Even if a situation seems hopeless, you gain so much more in reaching for the winning outcomes and experiencing life. We will lose/fail one hundred percent of those things we never attempt. Failure only occurs when we stop trying. Hope keeps our hearts blissful. It is that positive anticipation that drives our life purpose.

You decide, hope or despair? Which is going to give you the best possible outcome? Methinks, it is hope.

Happy Independence Day, 2013

Since today is Independence Day, I am re-posting an acrostic poem I composed last year; however, the artwork above is brand new. I just painted it a few hours ago…

It is a time for
Nationalism by honoring our
Democracy, Independence, Liberty and
Equal rights.
Patriotism bounds as we participate in parades,
Enjoy cookouts and watch fireworks.
Never letting go of the American
Dream, this
Awesome
Nation is able to
Celebrate and
Embrace freedom.

Daring to be…
Amazing and free…
You and me.

Happy Independence Day! I am proud and delighted to be a citizen of the United States of America. I appreciate where I live and feel blessed to be born here. In all my travels, I have seen wonderful cultures and countries; however, I have not found another that surpasses the United States. We are truly free to be whomever we wish to be; and, have access to so many opportunities! God Bless America!

As a creativity/ life coach and anti-bullying specialist, I have come across many who wish to liberate themselves from their self-doubt and fears, because they come to me for inspiration and guidance. Are you ready to be free and independent of doubt and fear? I am currently offering an amazing summer program, heART Splash, which will help you to splash into your creativity and delve into your inner treasures that will boost your confidence and liberate you from your insecurities. <www.HeartsThatCare.net>

“Ready to Create a Successful Life?”

“I’m excited to show you “Step by Step” how YOU can Focus on Your Dreams….Prioritize them….and ACHIEVE THEM!!!

• 10 Fun & Creative Packets helping you Map Your Success
•  Downloadable videos …yours to keep….that will help you MAP OUT YOUR INNER TREASURE MAP!!
• 5 Private Live Class Sessions that will liberate your Creative Spirit – and help You to Focus on the True Potential you were Designed For!!!
• We will Create Amazing Journal Spreads…that will help REVEAL… Your gifts and talents….and “springboard” you to Your Own Positively Empowered Life!!!

Participants of  HeART Splash will be invited to an EXCLUSIVE GROUP on a PRIVATE social site ran by Hearts That Care called Positively Empowered People. This program will run until Monday, September 2, 2013 (Labor Day); however, downloadable materials will be available until Monday September 1, 2014 (Labor Day)

Please e-mail: Dr. Angi (admin@heartsthatcare.net) to register.

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Gratitude for our Veterans!

I want to take this time to thank ALL the Veterans out there for their valor and courage, for their sacrifices and self-discipline! I am honored to have many friends and loved ones who have served our country. I feel fortunate and blessed to have you in my life. Thank you for being a part of the backbone of our wonderful country, whilst you created flight plans, flew planes and helicopters, sailed the ocean blue, marched through unfamiliar territory and watched brothers and sisters in arms come in harm’s way. Thank you so very much! I love you!

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Grateful For The Voting Process and Democracy

I am grateful that I get to vote! I have a voice and no one is going to take it away from me because I exercise my right to vote. In fact, I feel it is my responsibility to vote.

I follow the issues and make informed decisions. I voice my support and I voice my protests as I see fit. I am deeply grateful to have the freedom to do this. Furthermore, I respect and welcome the voice of others, who have different perspectives and insights.

The hodgepodge of wonderful ideas and different viewpoints is what makes The United States of America a WONDERFUL place to live. God bless the United States of America! I know my readers who are eligible to vote in the U.S. went out (or going to) and exercised their right to vote during this 2012 U.S. Presidential Election, right?  Thank you and God Bless YOU!

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Thank Goodness

As we appreciate the goodness in the world and in people, we plant seeds, nurture these seeds and create roots for more goodness to grow in the world and develop in people. I have seen some incredibly wonderful, kind deeds being done. My schoolmate and friend Janet has arranged it so that our local donations of blankets, winter clothing and coats and similar items can be taken to those devastated by hurricane Sandy up in New Jersey, New York and other surrounding areas. This gave me and my family an opportunity to share and contribute.

I know of many people who are finding ways to help and make a difference one way or another to all those up in the North Atlantic and in the Caribbean who were in the path of the freakish storm. I am certain that many of you who follow my blog have prayers in your heart and have most likely made a contribution to help one way or another to those who have been affected by Sandy. Thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart. All this goodness is appreciated. Thank goodness!

 

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Happy Independence Day!

It is a time for
Nationalism by honoring our
Democracy, Independence, Liberty and
Equal rights.
Patriotism bounds as we participate in parades,
Enjoy cookouts and watch fireworks.
Never letting go of the American
Dream, this
Awesome
Nation is able to
Celebrate and
Embrace freedom.

Daring to be…
Amazing and free…
You and me.

Happy Independence Day!

I am proud and delighted to be a citizen of the United States of America. I appreciate where I live and feel blessed to be born here. In all my travels, I have seen wonderful cultures and countries; however, I have not found another that surpasses the United States. God Bless America.