Celebrate Life

Start your day with positive thoughts. Find Happiness in yourselves then share that love with others.   Celebrate the small gifts you receive today. Being optimistic and motivated can be very contagious. 

  

Find the humor and laughter in your life. Laughter helps us relax. We must become the things we like to experience. Life is how you make it. How far are you willing to go for it? 

 

A Toast To Dad

Today is Father’s Day and I could not help and take a moment to reflect. 

Many of us can look at our fathers and recognize that we wouldn’t be where we are or who we are today if not for the many ways they have positively impacted our lives and shaped our characters. Father’s Day provides a great opportunity to make our dads feel special and to know how much we value them. 

I was 5 years old when my father passed away and just 7 years ago when my step father passed away.  I am very fortunate to have had multiple “father figures” in my life to learn from.  Each of them taught me vastly different life-lessons.  They did not preach their ways to me.  Instead, they simply lived their lives and I gained valuable insight. I will take a moment to share some of the things I appreciate about these wonderful men.

My dads taught me:

-There is no substitute for hard work. He owned a company but titles did not matter to him.   He showed up every day to perform a service and he did his job until he couldn’t do so anymore.  

-His easy going spirit.

-His sense of humor.

-His joy in life and his belief in me.

-His joyous outlook on the world, his awesome way of being there for people.

A tribute to my father: The First Good Man I Ever Loved. Dad, I love you for an infinite number of reasons. I feel so blessed to have you as my father and I’m thankful for the wonderful life you have given me, and for a little light heartedness, -His half of my genes: earthiness.

I thank you, Dad. I am grateful that you were on this planet at that time.

Simple Pleasures

You have only to observe your cat's behavior closely to learn some of the secrets of happiness and a contented life.

My cat's enjoy the simple pleasures of life:

• Learn to Play. Cats, no matter what their age, are never embarrassed to let their kittenish side show. They’ll chase a butterfly or roll in the grass in the sunshine just because – you should, too! Play is good. Studies have shown that people who play regularly will be calmer and happier.

• Live in the moment. Cats know how to live in the moment. If there is a ray of sunshine, a cat will stretch out in it, enjoying each warm sunbeam. If there’s a soft pile of laundry warm from the dryer, cats will lie down in it. If there are birds flying around outside, cats will enjoy their antics. Learn to appreciate the little joys of life.

• Don’t hold a grudge. If you push your cat off your lap or your keyboard because you are busy, he/she will just find another spot near you to settle down. If you wake your cat up, he/she will not be grumpy. They don't sweat the small stuff! How much stress would be eliminated from your life if you followed their example?

• Take plenty of naps. Cats know that naps are good for you. You might have to go out hunting late at night or get up early to see the sunrise, so it’s a good idea to take a power nap now and then. Researchers have found that people who take a 20 minute nap have improved creativity, better performance, are more alert and have better cognitive function. 
• Eat well.  Cats are usually thought of as finiky eaters, and will often reject food that humans consider choice tidbits. If cats do accidentally eat something disagreeable, they know enough to cough it up as soon as possible on a nice soft rug or bed. While a cat's diet may not be ideal for humans, eating a balanced meal is definitely one of the keys to health and happiness. If people were as finikey as cats, they would not eat fast food or junk food. Like cats, we would do well to know what our bodies will tolerate. And if we allow ourselves a special treat now and then, it just adds to our overall happiness.
• Be Kind to Your Friends. Cats reward their furry friends with a quick rub or by washing their faces. Cats know the importance of having friends. Psychological studies have shown that friendship is surprisingly important to people, too. Social support can lower blood pressure, protect against dementia and reduce risk of depression.

We would do well to follow our cat's example by learning how to enjoy the simple pleasures of life, and using our creativity to find the fun in our everyday lives.