Gratitude

"I have come to feel that one of the most important ingredients for a happy life—a life of joy, contentment, hope, and peace—is gratitude. Surely gratitude—being thankful, being aware, and expressing appreciation—is one of the most important of all heavenly virtues."

(Mary Ellen Edmunds, You Can Never Get Enough of What You Don't Need, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2005], p. 138.)

Sharing the Love

The Thanksgiving season is one in which we remember all of the things we are grateful for and try to focus on our blessings. One suggestion has been given which I thought worthy of passing onto you.

Sharing the Love

Make a list of twenty reasons you are thankful for your sweetheart / child / friend / parent. Then give them your list (along with a small sweet treat such as M&M's.) Then as you read the list to them, they eat one of the small candies along with each item you are grateful for.

It's a small way to not only remember your blessings, but to share your love to those around you.

Power of Attention

We all need to become more consious of our own lives. Life can be short and it may pass us by unless we can be aware of the journey.

Each day, we are presented with thousands of choices and opportunities. How do we choose how to spend our time? We are bombarded with messages from advertisers, news, family, friends. I recently read that we are assaulted with over 10,000 marketing and advertising choices just with one visit to a grocery store. What will get our attention and our time? Is it the message that screams the loudest?

It seems that those things which are of the most importance are felt or experienced during the quiet times, moments of reflection or one-on-one times with our children or spouse. If we can focus the power of our attention on what matters most, and not allow the constant distractions to take us away from our chosen path, we will experience life in a rich, deep way. Our challenge is to learn how to filter out those distractions and focus ourselves.

Joy in the Journey!

Putting Things Into Perspective

Perspective makes the whole difference.

Perspective!

A mother passing by her son's bedroom was astonished to see the bed was nicely made and everything was picked up.

Then she saw an envelope propped up prominently on the center of the bed. It was addressed: "Mom".

With the worst premonition, she opened the envelope and read the letter with trembling hands:

Dear Mom,

It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing you. I had to elope with my new girlfriend because I wanted to avoid a scene with Dad and you. I've been finding real passion with Joan and she is so nice.....even with all her piercings, tattoos, and her tight motorcycle clothes. But it's not only the passion Mom, she's pregnant and Joan said that we will be very happy.

Even though you don't care for her as she is so much older than I, she already owns a trailer in the woods and has a stack of firewood for the whole winter.

She wants to have many more children with me and that's now one of my dreams too. Joan taught me that marijuana doesn't really hurt anyone and we'll be growing it for us and trading it with her friends for all the cocaine and ecstasy we want!

In the meantime, we'll pray that science will find a cure for AIDS so Joan can get better, she sure deserves it!!

Don't worry Mom, I'm 15 years old now and I know how to take care of myself. Someday I'm sure we'll be back to visit so you can get to know your grandchildren.

Your Son,
John

P.S. Mom, NONE of the above is true. I'm over at the neighbor's house. I just wanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than my report card that's in my desk center drawer.

I LOVE YOU!

Call when it is safe for me to come home.

Starting a Life Coaching Business

Are you starting a life coaching business? Would you like to be involved with a large group of life coaches across the country? Do you want to do your own marketing or would you like to have leads generated and sent your way? If you are a life coach or are starting a life coaching business, and would like help getting started or would like to become a Success Life Coach, email me at romay@success-life-coaching.com for more information.

Taking up a Hobby

One of the best ways to learn how to have harmony with your mind, body, and spirit is to take up a hobby that you are passionate about. A creative hobby is best, since you are using your mind, your body, and your spirit during creation. Some good examples are painting, gardening, scrapbooking, photography, flower arranging, and much more. Pick a hobby that brings you joy and make sure you spend some time each week doing it.

NOTE: Make sure you are balanced and that your hobby doesn't take too much of your time or energy, otherwise you will not get the harmony you are seeking.

Success Life Coaching Website

For those of you who have not checked out our Success Life Coaching Website you can read the latest news about life coaching, how to get a good life coach, and reasons why a life coach might be just what you're looking for. Come check out the site.

Key to a Happy Home

Try not to be too demanding of one another. There must be a little give and take, and a great deal of flexibility, to make a happy home.

—Marjorie Pay Hinckley, Glimpses into the Life and Heart of Marjorie Pay Hinckley