Gratefully Define Yourself With Hope and Hard Work

 As we make our way into 2014, I know we all want to believe this will be our best year yet.  There is something to be said for hope.  It can be motivational.  It can lift us above the disappointments of the past.  It can spur us on to thinking in positive, creative ways.  But what happens when we hit a bump in the road, and it feels more like a brick wall?

I think we can all agree, it's really easy to give up on our resolutions and dreams when obstacles present themselves.  But is that really necessary--or in our best interest?  What can we do when we have a vision of our future that simply isn't manifesting itself or, worse yet, seems beyond our reach in spite of our best efforts?  What can we do when circumstances seem to combine to make us a liar in the story of our own life as we dreamed and planned for it to be?

Like you, things don't always go my way.  I'm learning to deal with that.  I've come to find ways of picking myself up quite quickly and adjusting my thinking to a positive perspective, especially since I've gotten older and have faced more daunting problems.  Below, I've included a link to a young woman who is especially adept at this.  Her story is much more compelling than mine;  her obstacles much greater than any I have faced.  Listen to her and ask yourself, "What defines me?"

Gratefully, for each of us, life is the product of your own creation.  No matter what challenges you face, or who may attempt to dissuade you from your belief in your potential, it is YOU who are in charge of your life.  Click on the link, and be prepared to be inspired!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=channel%3A529518ab-0-2179-99e6-1a11c2d77a&feature=iv&src_vid=sohGDfNQV7M&v=c62Aqdlzvqk
 

5 Simple Rules for Filling Your Bank Account

My sister-in-law shared this post on Facebook.  I find the woman in this story is the essence of dignity and true gratitude.  What if we all decided to "arrange our minds" to appreciate the good in life.  So much of how we see our world depends on choice.  We can choose to be unhappy or we can choose to be positive and appreciative, no matter where we find ourselves, or what our circumstance.  I don't know about you, but when I grow up (and I hope I will--quickly) I want to be just like this lady!

   This is the story of a 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud lady.  She is fully dressed each morning by eight o’clock, with her hair fashionably coiffed and makeup perfectly applied, even though she is legally blind.  She moved to a nursing home today. Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready. As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on her window. “I love it,” she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy. “Mrs. Jones, you haven’t seen the room …. just wait.” “That doesn’t have anything to do with it,” she replied. “Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how the furniture is arranged, it’s how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. It’s a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open I’ll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I’ve stored away, just for this time in my life.” She went on to explain, “Old age is like a bank account, you withdraw from what you’ve put in. So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank. I am still depositing.” And with a smile, she said: “Remember the five simple rules to be happy: 1. Free your heart from hatred. 2. Free your mind from worries. 3. Live simply. 4. Give more. 5. Expect less.       Shared by John at Suspended Coffees There is absolutely nothing I can add to that.     Have a wonderful, happy day!