character

If You’re Happy and You Know It…

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossoms.” ~ Marcel Proust ♦♦♦ Looking back at old photos, the discussion turned to the woman who had done so much for everyone there. She had been the one to show up with a hot meal, […]

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Teach Me, Shape Me

When I had my first voice lesson I was 15 years old. And I had a really good teacher. This is what made all the difference. A good teacher will teach you the technique, but also how to listen to your voice. ~Cecilia Bartoli Opening the brown paper bag when I left the school, I […]

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Charity begins…with you

“There is not a man of us who does not at times need a helping hand to be stretched out to him, and then shame upon him who will not stretch out the helping hand to his brother.” ― Theodore Roosevelt Long before the Democrats and Republicans of today’s society in the United States (and the […]

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Letting Go to Look Ahead

“There are far better things ahead than any we may leave behind.” ~C.S. Lewis Rose told Jack that she would never let go of his hand in Titanic, Randall loosens his glove to keep Fisher from having to hold on to him in The Guardian, and Tyler Durden brings home a most difficult idea of […]

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The Gift of Life

“Ye cannot live for yourselves; a thousand fibres connect you with your fellow-men, and along those fibres, as along sympathetic threads, run your actions as causes, and return to you as effects.” ~Henry Melvill Do you have your wish list ready? It’s the holiday season, and even people who aren’t religious often exchange gifts and […]

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and we cry

“There are three things we cry for in life: things that are lost, things that are found, and things that are magnificent.”  ― Douglas Coupland The little boy fell, began to whimper, and then was caught by his father’s eye. There was so much said in that silent glance, and the little boy stood up and […]

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Willing to Change? Then Do It!

Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe “It will take a long time, it’s not overnight, but if you’ll add a sardine to your diet each morning at breakfast, you will get rid of the pain,” the doctor told the man. With joint pain […]

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The Other Side of the Story

“Every truth has two sides; it is as well to look at both before we commit ourselves to either.” ~Aesop   The teacher walked into the room to see one boy punch the other in the arm. Quickly, she chastised the offender and checked to be sure the victim was ok. “But Teacher,” said the […]

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Perspective

“One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one’s work is terribly important.” ― Bertrand Russell, The Conquest of Happiness The morning was one not easily forgotten. Standing at the back door, my husband yelled into the house for me to come outside with a towel or paper towels. He sounded more urgent […]

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No More Shame

“The difference between shame and guilt is the difference between I am bad and I did something bad.” Brene´ Brown This is a story that could be a trigger if you have lost a child. It is about more than that, but I feel I must warn you that it could bring some tears. The story […]

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Thoughts to Encourage

Joy is the will which labors, which overcomes obstacles, which knows triumph.~ William Butler Yeats

Whether you think you can or think you can’t you’re right. - Henry Ford

The best way out is always through. ~ Robert Frost

Real difficulties can be overcome, it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable. ~ Theodore N. Vail

Success consists of getting up just one more time than you fall. ~ Oliver Goldsmith

You must be the change you want to see in the world. - Mahatma Gandhi

Nothing helps like a good nap…

Birds are Beautiful

A Dog is Faithful…