Saturday, August 13, 2016

Being Nice

Nice guys finish last! That's what people say. Well whats the benefits of  finishing last? The journey is extended. Perhaps along the way you helped someone finish ahead of you. A truly nice person is not afraid of being last. Because they are confident that what they need will be met at the end. People who are genuinely nice receive kindnesses from others.  Being nice is a 24 hour job. When you are nice you show you value how others feel, so its easy to put others ahead of you. A nice person listens and lets another person talk about themselves. There is nothing you can substitute for being nice. Either you are nice or not. Being nice takes a lot of humility. This is something that cant be faked. It is always genuine. It also shows tolerance. Yes there are many benefits that come from being nice. But being  genuinely nice is the key to happiness. My mother used to say " charity starts at home and then spreads abroad. " So we must start by  being nice to ourselves first. Then we can extend niceties to others. Do things that make you happy. Did you know that if you sing every morning upon rising, it will make you happy and cheerful all day long. Even listening to music.  Listen to something funny.
These are things that cheer us naturally. It's easier to be nice if you are in a good mood.  Anyone can be nice sometime, but it takes a special person to be genuinely nice all of the time. This means doing random acts of kindness on a regular basis. Oh the rewards of being nice are plentiful.  So make being nice a habit. Make it  a lifelong practice. Sow seeds of niceness, you will be so glad you did!!!

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Extraordinary Courage

This amazing person displays extraordinary courage in his rescue and befriending the king of the jungle. As  a conservationist in the jungles of Africa rescuing lions. Imagine that! The king of the jungle dwelling with man in peace.  How many of us would dare to take on  a challenge so great? Well, every challenged faced head on is great. Just goes to show, that whatever challenge that exist, it can be conquered. We are all extraordinary people. The thing that makes us extraordinary is the thing we enjoy doing and doing it courageously and well. Accomplishing things takes courage. Courage in itself is extraordinary.  No matter what our limitations are, we are individually unique. This video shows that what we are interested in doing no mater what it is, can be accomplished. There's no challenge too great or to small. We are all born extraordinary. Always remember what the mind can conceive, you can achieve!

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Why Smile?

I could give you a million reasons why smile. As an extraordinary person I learned long ago smiling is a very good thing. Smile is one thing that is recognized universally. Like love it means the same thing in everyplace, culture and nation. Like love, you give it, you will get one in return most likely  any place and anywhere.  It can do wonders for your health.  A smile often times is a prelude  to laughter. Laughter massages the inside. Its good for the heart, boost the morale of others and as was already stated very contagious. You give one you will get one back. Smiling throws off positive energy. It puts everyone at ease. A smile invites others to trust, move in closer. A smile lets others know you care. It tells others you are content or happy. Smiling communicates so much. Did you know that if you write a letter to a friend they can tell if you were smiling when you wrote it. You've heard the expression,"grin and bear it."  It can get you through the most precarious situations with ease as well as comfort. A smile is a beautiful thing, if you see someone with out one, give them one of yours. S is for Super, M is for magnificent, I is for irresistible, L is for lovely, E is for everyone, that's a smile for you.There are so many benefits from smiling. It's rewarding. If you want to live longer then:  Smile,Smile,Smile!

Thursday, June 2, 2016

What's Good?!

What's Good? That's a good question to think about, isn't it? But unfortunately, so much of whats Not good  stays on the forefront of our mind and makes what's good seem obscured or outta of focus. It seems that no one even want to tell whats good any more. It's not gone, we just cant see it clearly. Our focus is in our peripheral vision  and not in the front or straight ahead.  It's there if we just stop and ponder. Life forces us with so many other negative distractions that we really take the good for granted. So much so that we don't really stop to think about it. We focus or think about the negative a lot more. The negative is the headline. I've found this to be so discouraging.   Learning NOT to do this early on in life would be such a benefit to any who are able to learn this. Stop and smell the roses as the saying.  What's really good? Lets consider ten things that's really good, There is no  down side to any of these things. We know even every cloud has a silver lining.

1.Waking up in the morning
2. Feeling the Sun on your skin Sunshine
3. Knowing every problem we have is really just temporary and will pass.
4. Love
5. Being able to watch a beautiful sunset
6. having  loved ones close by
7. The starry heavens
9. Food, clothing and shelter
10. A good nights sleep!

This list could actually be endless.  It would do us all well to consider whats good. It would be accentuating the positive and eliminating the negative. This will keep us extraordinary and healthy! So let me ask each and everyone of you to respond to me by sharing with me whats good in your life right now amidst the adversity, I'd love to know!!!

Monday, April 11, 2016

Remember The Golden Rule!

Ahhh Yes! The golden rule, What is it again?! " Do Onto Others AS You Would Like Them To Do Unto You! Why is this so difficult to remember? Or better yet, why is this so difficult to do? We all want others to treat us good. Did you know that one definition of Golden is having talents that promise great success? It's true. But also anything golden is not easy to acquire. Take Golden Anniversary for instance, That's fifty years, that's nearly a life time with someone.  How bout gold?  Very difficult or expensive to acquire. But when we think of the golden rule, its just simply the way we treat another individual. Very difficult also, because its human nature to get even  or to exact punishment when we find ourselves offended. We forget the golden rule and it becomes "Do Onto Others AS They Do Onto you." This way could lead to disaster. It's very important to remember the complete rule and add "As You Would Like Them To Do To You".  This should be our first endeavor out the gate. I have to admit it's been  very difficult for me too.  What I have learned as an extraordinary person is that when we follow this simple and basic rule of treating others the way we want to be treated, it leads to success and happiness just as the definition promises. Even in our day to day dealings with strangers. When we extend kindness, we receive kindness in return.  Generally life gives us like for like. I'm not saying we will never be taken advantage of or mistreated, because in this crooked and twisted world, we could just find ourselves in the wrong place at the wrong time.  And as a result some negative unforeseen thing takes place. But certainly you have heard of Murphy's Law?  That states what goes around comes around. Which means all that you are dishing out is what you gonna get back generally. So if you are kind, you will receive kindness in return, or rude you will get rudeness in return. Remember its the way we would like to be treated is how we treat others. We all make mistakes and have to retract a remark or a certain behavior.  But trying honestly to practise the golden rule on a daily basis I have learned does enhance our lives. This constantly something I have to remind myself of. I just wanted to share it with you. So remember the golden rule, it goes like this: DO ONTO TO OTHERS  AS YOU WOULD LIKE THEM TO DO ONTO YOU YOU! Our lives will be much better for it.

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Being Resilient!

This was a blog I blogged more than a year ago. I thought the message was strong and worth repeating. If you didn't see it, take a look:

 Hello my over 50's, today I'd like to blog about resilience. That word in itself is not a word  we stop and think about specifically or even often. But by the time we have gotten over fifty, we either have acquired or have not  acquired this quality of resilience. Our being resilient will be present for others to see and easily observed throughout trying times. It will become the label we are recognized by. She has a resilient nature, it may be said of you. Life hasn't  always been a bowl of cherries and it will continue to give us some  pits until the end of it.  As individuals we have  been through many hardships and have suffered many set backs stemming from a death of a loved one, an illness of self or another, a divorce, a financial need, loss of home or other material possession. Just one set back after another. Like the saying goes, its always something! Or if it ain't  one thing its three more. We were born with a certain degree of resilience by nature. Mankind was instilled with the power of recovery to a certain extent.  Within us is that natural ability to throw off trouble. You can recall how a child bounces back quickly or easily from what seems to us as impossible adversity. This is a wonderful quality. You heard it said that what doesn't kill us makes a stronger. That's resilience in motion.  This quality of resilience is so beneficial for us to maintain.  Being  resilient has a lot of hidden benefits such as it promotes our very own longevity. Helps us to be cheerful,  shows our inner strength and even fights off disease. How so?! Well being resilient decreases our stress levels, our attitude is more positive there by warding off sickness and disease. As a result this is a quality we need to work on or improve at this stage of our life. One motivational speaker made this statement: "If you are going through hell, keep going!" In time you will get through it, there will be light at the end of the tunnel and you will see it. So let us develop this quality in a fuller measure. To be resilient is an extraordinary quality to possess. It all starts with our mind. Making the needed adjustments and continuing on in the forward march. Yes, we are not fifty and extraordinary for nothing.  These are credentials we have fully earned through the blood sweat and tears that came with it.We are strong, we are invincible, we are resilient!! I hope you enjoyed this blog, please share what you think!

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Disagreements

Disagreements are going to arise. No matter how hard we try to avoid them with others, it cant be done. From the very beginning of man, disagreements have arose. And disagreements are part of imperfect mans fiber. What is mans fiber? It's our essential structure or character. It's what became inherently inevitable. Like nature, cant remove what's natural.  They cant be avoided, disagreements that is. So since they are going to be there, what can we do?  Unfortunately, it takes about the first fifty years of our lives to accept this. This  is evident because its only after then that we learn how to handle or deal with them successfully them or we no longer care. Up until then it seems we fight for every right or redemption of ourselves personally. This is especially so in relationships. Yes, life has finally taught us how to handle them and to be at peace.  Because its not always necessary that we come to an agreement on everything or matters in life.  We all have our opinions or belief systems  that will effect us as to what we will agree with or not agree with.  How do you deal with disagreements as they arise? Do we really need fifty years? For those of you who are not yet over fifty and extraordinary could benefit from those of us who are. Using wisdom is always the beneficial course to take. Sometimes it's just necessary to accept another's view or perception of a matter. It pursues peace and respect. I remember my mother used to tell us to learn to respect the differences. If we didn't go along with something, the one with the right to decide had the final say. If we learned this then our relationships will be a lot better. In worse case scenario and you felt that you must reach an agreement, then she would say: "Just agree to disagree."  There now we are all in agreement. Disagreements can cause a lot of discontentment in our life if we let it. But as extraordinary people we have moved beyond petty grievances.  By not allowing disagreements to interrupt our peace.  So let us all if we have too for the sake of peace, let's just agree to disagree and move on. If you are in agreement, share your comment!

Friday, February 26, 2016

Celebrating!!!

Celebrating good times!! It's human nature. Everyone loves to celebrate something. It doesn't even have to be official, just a reason to have a party. It's only natural to want to have a good time. Yes stepping outside the normal routine and doing something festive or special for no reason. Dont wait for a specific holiday to celebrate, create your own. Bringing smiles to the faces of our dear loved ones and friends will never be forgotten. We need to do this often. Life and its challenges can get you down. There are so many things on a daily basis that can distract us with sadness and negativity. Keeping the right mental attitude will help a lot. We have to make sure that our personal happiness is not dependent on our personal external circumstances. And to remember happiness is an inside job. It comes from within. The more we find to celebrate, the more it will consume our lives and become a natural part of it.  When was the last time you enjoyed a good celebration?  We cant wait for a specific occasion, it may never happen. Because time and unforeseen things happen to us all. Create a reason to a celebration today. Celebrate Everything!! Celebrate life, it is truly a good thing!

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Feelings

Feelings, an awareness of our sense's. Our feelings are an very important thing. Whether it be a singular feeling or multiple. The dictionary defines feelings as : 1. An emotional state 2. Thoughts of wanting to do something  3. An awareness by our body of something on it or in it. Feelings encompass nearly every minute of our lives. We feel something all the time. Having reached an extraordinary age, I reflect back and remember how often throughout the years how my feelings have changed on the same subject matter. This sometimes affected my life because I made some decisions on how I was feeling at the time.  This has made me think of my feelings from time to time. And I began to question myself, how valid are my feelings? Am I gonna feel differently tomorrow, next week, next month or even next year?  It really made me put my feeling into perspective. Before I base a decision or action on my feelings, I ask myself have I really thought things through? Am I gonna ask myself at a later time "what was I thinking?" I'm not saying this to say our feelings at any time should be discarded because they should not.  But rather they are truly  something to think about. We should never make a big decision when we are upset emotionally. Even when we are distracted and our thinking is clouded, Our feelings can get us in situations that we can later regret. So going forward, before we make a rash decision lets make sure are feelings are intact and solid before we decide. When it comes to our feelings,  lets meditate for a moment to see how they will affect us in the long run. Usually when they change, it's for the better. And we are glad we didn't make a quick decision that can affect us the rest of our lives. Rather than make a decision based on a feeling at the moment, make a sound decision based on thought provoking meditation. This takes time. So when you think of your feelings go deep and go with the gut!!

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Hugs, Hugs, and more Hug's!

Have you hugged someone today? Hugging imparts power to those in need. It energizes the recipient. It is an natural antidote, and actually very good and healthy for you.  Hugs helps us both mentally and physically. It's like medicine it can actually takes away pain. Think for a moment of how you feel when your are hugged. Its a good feeling and most often a welcomed thing. And after it you feel better and usually have a smile or look of happiness on your face. In most instances you give a hug you get a hug.  But sometime you just need a hug. The power of touching is so strong. And for whatever the reason, hugging is always a good thing. There are some in society who were raised without a lot of affection and find hugging AWKWARD!  Don't take it personal. Respect their space and over time you may win them over with a very brief friendly hug. There are so many reasons for hugging as well as so many that could be made up for giving a hug. The list is endless and too numerous to mention. A hug can be given to everyone we encounter. From our babies and everyone in between to our lovers.  We even hug strangers if circumstances calls for it. Did you know the origin of hug is to soothe. The dictionary defines it as holding someone close. So we can say hugging means to soothe by holding close.   That in itself is an awesome definition.  So if it's in or power to do something good for someone, let's give them a hug.  Especially our dear loved one's. Hugging will help to confirm our love for them and leave them with a warm and fuzzy feeling.  So if you haven't hugged someone today, make it a point and Oh! What a feeling!!!

Sunday, January 3, 2016

Self Improvement!

2016, another new year. Wow, time is fun when you having flying! I mean time flies when you having fun! Are you having fun yet? Sometimes you stop and really wonder or not just how much fun you are having if any. 2016, can you believe it? Just yesterday seems like the year 2000 was fast approaching, but  that was sixteen years ago.  Now that a new year has arrived and  many are thinking about their new resolves  of what they are planning to do, make or change in their life.  Have you resolved  to do anything different?  Have all your previous resolves come to pass or failed?  Don't be discouraged, a new year can be likened to a new day. Take one day at a time, begin again as often as you need too.  As long as you and as often as you start over your effort will get stronger and stronger. Rome wasn't built in a day as the saying goes. So it just means that whatever things we need to change or make different in our life will take time. We may experience setbacks, that's normal. Just remember that it is persistence is the key. Never give up the trying to do any good to self or others. The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement. This applies to everyone, but unfortunately, we can only work on or change our self. Sometimes if we makes changes for the better in our self, it brings out the best in others.  If you try and don't succeed, try try again! Remember that saying we were all taught as a child? I still recall it and have been forced to live by it. Our inherent imperfections will forever keep us at the trying to do good, get better, change or whatever the case maybe. So resolve to be your best. You can achieve that this year, just by never giving up. Don't throw in the towel on self improvement. This year can be the best year ever, one day at a time!