Dream

"We must accept finite disappointment, but never loose infinite hope."                  - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

photo credit: kids.nationalgeographic.com

On a hot August day, 50 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr gave his famous I Have a Dream Speech...one of the most powerful speeches of our lifetime (in my opinion....)

He started with a dream and fought to make it a reality..since then our country has improved, has had some trials and some victories...

What dreams do you have? For yourself, for your children, for the world? How can you help make them a reality? Dream on friends! Wish upon those shooting stars and reach for your goals! You never know how far you can go, how high you can reach if you don't try! 

We all have the power to change the world one dream at a time...

Lessons from My Children...

               "Worry does not empty tomorrow of it's sorrow, it empties today of it's strength."                        

-Corrie ten Boom

I'd always been a worry wart - stressing over the little things in life. Yet surprisingly, and luckily, after my children came into my life my stress level decreased. Yes, there were different stresses, and a few more stresses in my life but I found myself handling them a lot differently. I found myself taking more time to stop and smell the flowers, and less time stressing about where the flowers are found.

My children had discovered a way to re-kindle in me a little bit of that zest for life that only a child has....and I'll be forever grateful.

How can you release your stresses, and enjoy the strength today can bring?

Nursery Rhymes

"What are little boys made of?

Snakes, snails, and puppy dog tails...

That's what little boys are made of. 

What are little girls made of?

Sugar, spice, and everything nice...

That's what little girls are made of."

According to the rhyme, that is what children are made of, that may be true (but I'm doubtful).  In my experience children are concocted with wonder, excitement, and unconditional love. They forgive us our mistakes, love strangers and family alike, and don't try to hide anything..they are honest and true..they know what life is all about. 

I'm proud of who my children are, and who they make me. These frames are a way for me to remember the wonder of childhood even as my babies grow older... 

Moments

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away." - Anonymous 

This quote has always spoken to me...and here is why...

Often times people are so concerned with "what's next" we forget to look at "what's NOW". I'm usually too concerned with what needs to be done, or with future events, I forget. I forget to enjoy the present moment. I get so caught up in what will be that when I finally do stop I'm quite often surprised at what has been!  I'm in a steady battle with myself to live in the present moment, and look to the future as opposed to living in the future. 

Taking time to stop and smell the roses while we journey through life may seem insignificant along the way, but in my experience as a hospice nurse, it's all those roses we gathered that create a beautiful bouquet, its those moments that make life worth living. 

Power to change...

"You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty" -Mahatma Gandhi

Following the terrible events that occurred at the Boston Marathon on Monday I began to feel disheartened with humanity. How many of these nonsensical acts of violence are going to occur, and why do they happen? My faith began to waiver in humanity...but then I found this quote by Mahatma Gandhi (he always seems to 'speak' to me at just the right moment) and my attitude was changed...my thoughts began to shift. 

Events such as Boston will continue to occur as long as humans breathe. Wars will wage and hate and ignorance will rear its ugly head. But , there will also be peace that flows and love and compassion in the world to battle the darkness of hate.

I may only be one, but I am one of many.

I am one tiny drop in the vast ocean of humanity, but sometimes one drop is all it takes to initiate a ripple of change.

So, I may only be one, but one can make a difference. 

I will make a difference...

Setting Sail and Weighing Anchor

"A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for."

 - Grace Hopper

My initial reaction to this quote was "Tell that to the USS Arizona"...but then that got me to thinking...

Not all oceans are safe all the time, just like they aren't dangerous all the time. The same goes for various ports...If life is like the ocean, what are the ports? To me...the ports are our friends, family, co-workers, and yes..strangers. And just as in the case of the USS Arizona, not all ports,though they are meant to be, are safe...

 We are all sailing through life. The ocean isn't always calm nor is life always easy. The waters get rough, hard to navigate...and sometimes ships loose their way. Sometimes we loose our way. In times like these we need our ports. We need the lighthouse on shore to guide us in to safety. Into the arms of love and support. 

Some 'ports' don't have a lighthouse, or their light is burnt out too. We have the power and the ability to surround ourselves with positive energy, to surround ourselves with those who give a shoulder to lean on, or cry on...a safe haven to rest during one of life's storms. Or a place to find courage to face the storms up ahead. We have the power to chose our lighthouse...

We also have the power to be a lighthouse to others...a guiding light when our loved ones are lost. Be a lighthouse, be peace for others...as others are peace for you in this great big ocean of life. 

Self Discovery

"You must begin to think of yourself as becoming the person you want to be"       - David Viscott

This quote had gotten me thinking, especially lately following the birth of my second child. What kind of person am I? What kind of person do I want to become? What kind of mother do I want to be for my son and daughter? Answers kept swimming around in my head to questions like...Where am I? Where do I want to be? Who do I want to become? 

But how do I get there? 

That answer to me is, ultimately, given by Mr. Viscott himself. As we begin to think of who we want to become we naturally start becoming the person we desire...The mind is a powerful tool. All we have to do is use it. 

How will you put your mind to use?