A BLOG DEVOTED TO SHARING POSITIVE AND ENCOURAGING MESSAGES FOR THE HUNGRY HEART
“Oh, God of Dust and Rainbows,
Help us to see
That without the dust the rainbow
Would not be.”
― Langston Hughes
Life has a way of balancing itself. For good to exist, there must be evil lurking around the corner. For every sunrise, there is a sunset. For every dawn, there is a dusk. Light cannot exist without darkness. Never forget you cannot have one without the other. So, embrace all sides of life.
“We cannot, after all, judge a biography by its length, by the number of pages in it; we must judge by the richness of the contents…Sometimes the ‘unfinisheds’ are among the most beautiful symphonies.”
― Viktor E. Frankl, The Doctor and the Soul
Don’t measure your life against someone else’s. No two stories are the same, just like no two paths are the same. Each of us must travel down our own unique path. For some it may be a long winding path, while for others it may be a a short, narrow path. And each of our journeys are simply different, not easier or harder. So, focus not on how great your neighbor’s life appears to be from the outside, but rather focus on creating your own best seller.
“It takes no more time to see the good side of life than to see the bad.”
― Jimmy Buffett
Life is about which lens you choose to view it from. You can choose to always see the negative or you can choose to find the positive in every situation. And you will find that life is often more bearable and enjoyable when you choose to see the glass as half full. So, take the good from all of life’s moments and leave the rest.
“It’s life. You don’t figure it out. You just climb up on the beast and ride.”
― Rebecca Wells, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
Spend less time trying to figure out the answers to life’s many puzzles and more time simply living life. Life isn’t a puzzle that is meant to be solved. Rather, it is a journey meant to be experienced. It is a precious gift, so, buckle up and enjoy the ride.
“Pain is a byproduct of life. That’s the truth. Life sometimes sucks. That’s true for everyone. But if you don’t face the pain and the suck, you don’t ever get the other things either. Laughter. Joy. Love. Pain passes, but those things are worth fighting for. Worth dying for.”
― Jim Butcher, Vignette
You’ve heard it time and time again. You don’t know what it means to be high if you haven’t been low. And you don’t truly appreciate the sunshine until it’s gone and you’re left with nothing but darkness. The point being that with the joys of life comes pain. But, it is important to never forget that joy and the good parts of life are worth fighting for.
“There are times in our lives when we have to realize our past is precisely what it is, and we cannot change it. But we can change the story we tell ourselves about it, and by doing that, we can change the future.”
― Eleanor Brown, The Weird Sisters
Every person’s past is filled with pain, heartbreak and regrets. But, it does no good to live in the past saying I wish I could change what I did. No, the way to move forward is to change the lens from which you’re viewing your past. Choose not to look upon your past with regret; rather, choose to look at every decision as an opportunity to grow. Use life’s pains as teaching moments to shape your future in a positive way.
“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, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re Doing Something.
So that’s my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody’s ever made before. Don’t freeze, don’t stop, don’t worry that it isn’t good enough, or it isn’t perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.
Whatever it is you’re scared of doing, Do it.
Make your mistakes, next year and forever.”
― Neil Gaiman
A new year is upon us. It is the beginning of a new chapter in the story of our lives. It is a time to say goodbye to the good, bad and ugly of the past year. It is the time to embrace new opportunities and charge full steam ahead through uncharted waters. Go beyond your comfort zone, try new things, make mistakes, but never stop moving forward.
“Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.”
― Ashley Smith
People spend their entire life searching for a miracle never realizing that life itself is THE miracle. Don’t take life for granted, for it can be here one moment and gone the next. Take time to appreciate the beauty surrounding you and don’t wait until tomorrow to tell someone “I love you,” for tomorrow may never come.
“We’re so engaged in doing things to achieve purposes of outer value that we forget the inner value, the rapture that is associated with being alive, is what it is all about.”
― Joseph Campbell
It’s only natural to get swept up in the daily grind of life. But, it is important to take a moment each day to stop, take a deep breath and be grateful for the gift of life. Simply appreciate being alive, for some are fighting for that same precious gift.
“Realize that true happiness lies within you. Waste no time and effort searching for peace and contentment and joy in the world outside. Remember that there is no happiness in having or in getting, but only in giving. Reach out. Share. Smile. Hug. Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself.”
― Og Mandino
Don’t look outside yourself for happiness and fulfillment because this can only be found within. Happiness and fulfillment doesn’t come from material things, for life is not about what you get; rather, life is all about what you give.