Today may there be peace within,

May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be,

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others,

May you use the gifts that you have received
And pass on the love that has been given to you,

May you be content with yourself
Knowing you are a child of God,

Let this knowledge settle into your bones,

And allow your soul the freedom to dance, sing, praise and love

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux OCD, born Marie Françoise-Thérèse Martin (2 January 1873 – 30 September 1897)

I was shown this in 30 September 2022 and was reminded of it today:

George Bernard Shaw said: "This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.

I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.

I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no "brief candle" for me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations."

The same day, someone texted me with: "I AM PERPETUALLY WITH YOU, taking care of you. That is the most important fact of your existence. I am not limited by time or space; My Presence with you is a forever-promise. You need not fear the future, for I am already there. When you make that quantum leap into eternity, you will find Me awaiting you in heaven. Your future is in My hands; I release it to you day by day, moment by moment. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow.

I want you to live this day abundantly, seeing all there is to see, doing all there is to do. Don't be distracted by future concerns. Leave them to Me! Each day of life is a glorious gift, but so few people know how to live within the confines of today. Much of their energy for abundant living spills over the timeline into tomorrow's worries or past regrets. Their remaining energy is sufficient only for limping through the day, not for living it to the full. I am training you to keep your focus on My Presence in the present. This is how to receive abundant Life, which flows freely from My throne of grace."

MATTHEW 6:34; JOHN 10:10; JAMES 4:13 - 15

Amen!

“As you wander through life, whatever your goal, keep your eye upon the donut, not upon the hole.”

Friend of Joyce Meyer

What this says to me is that too many people focus on what’s not there and what’s not right.

"Choose the non-emotional response to any given situation and see how much easier your life becomes."

@naval

“It may have been observed that there is no regular path for getting out of love as there is for getting in.” Thomas Hardy, Far From the Madding Crowd

It’s never an easy one either way!

I asked life, “Why are you so difficult?“.

Life smiled and answered “People don’t appreciate easy things”.

Make it happen... https://www.facebook.com/reel/612841583450892

#motivation #courage #times #fearless #fighter

Time is your biggest ally... https://www.facebook.com/reel/1236215880521352

#time #ally #temporary #patience #trusttheprocess #truewords #truewordsspoken #wisdom #facts #factsdaily #lifegoeson #growthmindset #growth #grow #inspirationalquotes #inspiration #motivation

Promise me you will always remember you are braver than you believe, you are stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.

- Winnie the Pooh

They clip your wings when you want to fly
Make your garden smaller so there is little to bloom.

Whereas joy, that illusive joy opens up your world to hope, love and understanding.

From 2005 Diary from FRAC Consultancy:

"If you want creative workers, give them enough time to play"—John Cleese

From 2005 Diary from FRAC Consultancy:

"The way to change minds is with affection, and not anger"—The Dalai Lama

Dan was at a loss, he didn't know what to do, he was in despair... Socrates replied "The first sign of a warrior is not knowing".

Based on true events, the film is called "Peaceful warrior".

View more healthy quotes between Socrates and Dan.

Colin is a prince of a far off European state, currently in USA (Idaho) and causing some minor scandals because of his impulsive behaviour (innocent juvenile stuff) mostly tacit rebellion at having to observe "royal protocol". His chaperone, Penelope, is forced to hire a public relations company to repair his damaged reputation. The boss in the selected company is Deirdre Kelly, who is truck with chicken pox around the time she is due to first meet the prince. She sends her assistant Amanda Cooper instead, who when challenged just goes along with the assumption that she is Deirdre Kelly. To cut a long story short, Colin and Amanda fall for each other. Amanda does a sterling job in turning Colin into a much more responsible person. However when he finds out that she is not who she said she was he is annoyed and returns to Europe. Meanwhile Deirdre is enraged that Amanda impersonated her and decides to fire her.

The best parts

• After Colin returns to Europe to celebrate his mothers jubilee and announce his engagement to a royal fiancé that had been pre-arranged, he becomes quite despondent and resigned to the shackles of his royal post. Penelope has a chat with him during which she says something like "the integrity of your decisions should not buckle under the weight of your responsibilities, but be reinforced by your authority". This restores the zest in him that Amanda had unearthed and he resolves to only marry for love. Soon after he breaks the news to his fiancé, on the evening of their engagement announcement.
• The Queen, rather than being annoyed at the "trouble" Colin's decision will cause is gracious and accepts what her son wants, reassuring him that she believes in him.
• Deirdre, Amanda's boss, reviews the work that Amanda had done and acknowledges that it was excellent. She backs down from her decision to fire Amanda. More than that, she recognises that there was something between Amanda and Colin and she sends Amanda to the Queen's jubilee party instead of going herself, in Europe, all expenses paid, including a new banquet dress. You can guess the rest.

Another film in which it's worth waiting for the ending even if the whole story is a bit "twee" according to some. However, I believe all leaders who lack integrity should be made to watch this, just to see the graciousness of the Queen and Deirdre, and to hear those very important words from Penelope!

"He knew better than you yourself what you were capable of."

There are few with that ability but I know one person. It is slightly disconcerting but over time I have known their encouragement to be true. I have achieved much that I would not have seen myself do!

This quote is from Paul Erdos biography "The Man Who Loved Only Numbers" (page 42), by Paul Hoffman. Erdos seemed to be a very unique person, however eccentric. The following paragraph in that book makes it clear that his ability to understand what you were capable of made so many achieve much more.

Is it that when we believe in people, they start to believe in themselves and so reach greater heights?

"Better pass boldly into that other world, in the full glory of some passion, than fade and wither dismally with age."

Excerpt from James Joyce, The Dead

"Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are."

Brene Brown

"He shows much more of Himself to some people… not because He has favourites, but because it is impossible for Him to show Himself to a man whose whole mind & character are in the wrong condition. Just as sunlight cannot be reflected in a dusty mirror as clearly as in a clean one."

C. S. Lewis

Take it easy, take it easy
Don't let the sound of your own wheels
Drive you crazy
Lighten up while you still can
Don't even try to understand
Just find a place to make your stand
And take it easy

Which part rings true to you? Today, for me, it's "Don't even try to understand".

95% of the population is stupid, so don’t worry about dipping into that now and again, but don’t expect me to understand and not be an arrogant so-and-so.

Interesting quote from someone who likes a challenge and to be challenged, I suspect.

Full article at: http://www.omaghenterprise.co.uk/2017/02/14-rules-success/

A tall order... am I/you up to it?

But with all of life struggles and challenges I've seen and experienced, I see more measure of success in those who Rudyard Kipling describes in his poem If, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46473/if---

As Leonardo da Vinci once said...

"Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer. Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen."

I've found it to be true time and time again.

... @kirkenglehardt tweeted:

"Scientists: The ability to tell a story is as important to your career as designing experiments. https://labwithoutbenches.wordpress.com/2015/12/20/whats-your-story/?platform=hootsuite" @bvilozny

@cbthomson commented:

"As scientists, the need for good communication is simple: data does not explain itself."

I'm no scientist, but what's my story anyway...? what can I tell about my life's work that will really speak to people and help them in their working life? That's my challenge... through various threads of this site I hope I'll convey it.

"Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected."

Steve Jobs

"Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it's worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains."

Steve Jobs

I find it hard to believe you don’t know the beauty you are.

You sometimes think you want to disappear but all you really want is to be found.

Busy in his study a minister was preparing his sermon for the coming Sunday. He reached to the shelf at his side for a book, and then remembered that he had left it downstairs.

His little daughter was playing in the bedroom, and he called her. She came, running, eager and delighted at the thought that Papa needed her. He explained carefully where she could find the book, and she went gladly, returning in a moment with a book which he saw at a glance was the wrong one. But he hardly looked at the book as he took it and laid it on the table. He looked only at the eager face of his little daughter, wreathed in smiles.

Gathering her close to his heart, he kissed her and said, “Thank you, darling.” And when she had gone back happy and contented to her play he went quietly for the book he needed.

I think I should like to listen to the sermons that man would preach.

Your body cannot heal without play. Your mind cannot heal without laughter. Your soul cannot heal without joy.

Catherine Fenwick

A laugh is a smile that bursts.

M. H. Waldrip

A man can no more take in a supply of grace for the future than he can eat enough for the next six months or take sufficient air into his lungs at one time to sustain life for a week. We must draw upon God’s boundless store of grace from day to day as we need it.

Dwight L. Moody

When I get ready to talk to people, I spend two thirds of the time thinking what they want to hear and one third thinking about what I want to say.

Abraham Lincoln

I know you think you understand what you thought I said but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.

Alan Greenspan

Man, like the bridge, was designed to carry the load of the moment, not the combined weight of a year at once.

William Ward

Knowledge is limitless. Therefore, there is a minuscule difference between those who know a lot and those who know very little.

Leo Tolstoy (1828 – 1910)

I can hardly recollect a single plan of mine, of which I have not since seen reason to be satisfied that, had it taken place in season and circumstance just as I proposed, it would, humanly speaking, have proved my ruin; or at least it would have deprived me of the greater good the Lord had designed for me.

John Newton

Convergence is everywhere. It’s easier than ever to reach a large audience, but harder than ever to really connect with it.