Being Grateful

Having an attitude of gratitude is just as important today as it will be going forward. Showing ourselves grateful and thankful is something we should make a life long goal. It should also be a daily practice. Something of utmost importance to remember is we can never move backwards. We can never take back something we wish had never occurred, but we can move forward doing better. Yesterday was the past, tomorrow is the future, today is a gift, that's why it is called the present. We want to be thankful for this gift.  We want to express love and kindness as well as appreciation to those who are a part of our present and close to us that need to feel and know it. Tomorrow is promised to no one. This may not always be simple to do but must be done. Life is so uncertain, as the saying goes : Here today, gone tomorrow! Many people speak of a future time as though its a promise. But the fact remains, we have the present, life can change from one moment to the next. Sadly the other day I watched a man on  T.V. on the one year anniversary of his wife's death pass out cards to virtual stranger's telling them they were loved and special. He outwardly admitted that he felt bad because during the time his wife was alive, He never showed love, appreciation and gratitude for her that he should have.  He appeared to be a really nice man.  Also  he told the world now what a wonderful loving, generous and caring person she had been in her life to other's. Some people was moved to tears, as I was also.  I guess somehow doing this helped ease the guilt of his conscience he must have felt for not being the person for her should or could have been.  Although he told the world, apparently, She never knew. How sad.  We don't always get second chance's. Sometimes we get what we deserve, and sometimes we just get what we get.  Life is best lived with fewest regret;'s as possible. As a reminder to myself and other's, be grateful, show love and appreciation in the present.  Let others in our life know now while they are alive and can appreciate just how they are regarded and how we feel about them. Remember now is the time. Don't let the world know, let them know.

Hearing & Listening

Listening is an art. It's kinda funny, many people feel they have this particular quality nailed. But in actually, not many of us have learned this  quality or  practice it the way we think we do. Also it is so important most times when we talk to people, we really need them to listen to what we are saying, especially in close relationships. Life has taught me  from personal experience that probably only one person out of ten people  we talk too are actually listening to what we say.  They may be hearing it, but not listening to it.  Do you agree with that? The one comment a person can make to me that tells me that they are not listening is "I heard you. "  That reply tells me first hand hearing only. This applies especially to our spouse ,children, family. Yes, typically to those who need to be not only hearing but  listening.  We are trying to convey our thoughts, feelings and even motives and even teaching. However there are others, outside these circles who fall into the hearing but not really listening category also whom we deal with in our life that really need to be listening.  There are so many other matters of importance we need to deal with in our life.  Yes, our health and welfare. The doctor,we tell them many things, did you ever walk away saying to yourself, "He completely ignored me, or they never heard a word I said!" Down to even going through the drive thru at a fast  food restaurant.  It's something we really need to pay attention too. It's a two way street.  Do we listen when others talk?  Because as I said it can affect our very lives and of those whom we love as well as relationships.  But it's not our fault people don't listen. What can we do to get people,to listen to what we say? There are ways we can get more of a listening ear of most.  I've learned that we cannot talk to anyone if we are angry, they tend to feel the wrath but never listen to whats being said , it's like the anger is a distraction. So we always need to be calm, not that this has worked for me every time, because we all lose our cool sometime. Yep me too. We need their attention, one sure way is to have it is  eye to eye contact with whom ever we are speaking, children spouse, doctor, etc.  We need to speak at a moderate pace. Our voice need to be low or at least match the topic we are discussing.  If a thought to an idea or response is interjected, we need to remain silent until it is complete. Our words need to be the choicest, and tactfully delivered. Never talk to a persons back, or share attention with a T.V. or book etc. your conversation will be less effective. And I guarantee they will never listen to your speech.  Take your leave till a more convenient time.   I always like to share my life learning tips  and reflections with you.  It's been my experience when I practice these tips, I have had my best communication possible with those I've needed.   Hearing  and listening is something we can all improve in. Hope you find these tips helpful!!

For Your Entertainment!

Dancing is something that makes us all feel good. The one common emotion connected with dancing is happiness.   We enjoy dancing  as well as watching others do it. Dancing like love is universal.  It sends the exact same message each time it's displayed.  Its feeling transcends all national boundaries. In this descriptive song by Pharrel Williams, Happy, we all get happy when we hear it and it makes us want to dance because we are happy!  It moves us to be happy. Have you danced today? Enjoy this short entertaining video as a change of pace and on a lighter side.  Remember if we allow our selves to be happy, we will dance! When we are happy we thrive!!

Goal Setting!

Goals, something so very important to me. Ive blogged on this before. I believe that if goal setting is not taken seriously, it can have a negative effect on what we could actually achieve. Although it's  a long journey of something we set out for. A long arduous road with typically many obstacles or challenges. Some are easy to overcome, some are difficult and then there are the ones that seem outright impossible. We can liken it to a trip of many miles. It all begins with the first one. As long as we continue  on our mission will be eventually accomplished.  There may be challenges, we may be travelling in the winter. But in spite of the challenges that beset us, goals are still obtainable and should continue to be set. With this in mind,  do you have any goals that you have abandoned?  How bout the one's you are working on? Have circumstances in your life caused you to forfeit something you really wanted to do?  If so, why not re-think what ever it was you have cast aside and consider putting it back on the table. Goal's are reachable. What do we need on our side that despite of the obstacles we face we can overcome them? A strong focal point, that center of concentration. There are always gonna be distractions and other things going on in life that will be there. When we lose our center of focus, we sink.  As an illustration, picture your self in a crowd, the one person you want to get to is at the head of the crowd, the crowd is noisy and moving to and fro, things are going on etc. because of our peripheral vision we can see it all, it all there on the side of what we are looking at.  If you stop for one moment and start to look at the stuff that's distracting you on the sidelines, you are gonna lose sight (even if for a moment) of the person at the head of the crowd you re trying to get too and you may never gain sight of him again or at least for a time. This happens to all of us. In order to obtain our goals we have to keep the main thing the main thing. We have to block out that peripheral vision so to speak. Act like its not there. It may take a while, but where there is life there is hope.  Age has little to do with it.  Because It's been done. Regain your focus to accomplish that life long goal you always wanted too. Set new goals. I know it can be done and YOU can do it!

Happy Anniversary!! 1 Year!!

Happy Anniversary to me, Happy  Anniversary to me!! Today marks the first anniversary of my  "Over 50 and Extraordinary"  blog. October 21, 2014.  So too all those whoe have shared that last year with me: Happy Anniversary!!  To all my followers, It's been a wonderful year of reflecting, learning and excitement together with you.  Thank you for being there and, allowing me to vent. I hope you have enjoyed some of my venting.   In celebration over the last year I have been creating my own inspirational quotes.  The  things I have learned and shared over the last year. Here's is one for each month since the start. I hope you enjoy them. It's my year in a nutshell.  My own reflections in  inspirational  quotes:

October- Dreams are just imagined realities in your heart waiting to become real in your life!

November- Hope is realizing and believing the best is yet to be.

December- Humility means allowing yourself to be at a disadvantage and enjoying it.

January- Patience will keep us from ever losing our joy.

February- Love means believing your loved one's are  perfect, inspite of their  shortcomings!

March-  Having a great attitude excels a great accomplishment!

April- Winning is everything when we are talking about relationships!

May- Being understood is as needful to someone  as the air we breathe!

June -Laughter is the harmony in life, as harmony  is to music?

July-  I am important, remember to tell yourself that daily.

August -   Happiness is a choice- Choose it!

September-  Good Habits are better than motivation.

October-  The mind set has a lot to to with success.


Looking forward to another year of reflections and growth!!

Happiness Now

I'll be happy when...  I get a better job, get married, a new car, a new house etc. etc etc. Have you ever made that statement? Most of us have have, it's quite common. When I reflect back on how many times I made that statement (in the past), It's mind boggling. Life has taught me that I was postponing my own happiness. I no longer use that statement or rarely if ever  and I forget. Yes, it's true I was deciding not to be happy until my external circumstances were 100 percent to my liking. It also makes me think how many times I could have been content in life  and wasn't. I remember my Dad telling  us all the time of the wonderful  and most of them simple things he would do when his ship came in. I used to reply that his ship was the Titanic (it wasn't coming) and he would laugh. His ship never came, but his life did end. Somehow I knew then it was better not to put things off till our circumstances were completely favorable. Life has taught me that happiness postponed is sometimes  never realized.  We have to decide to be happy now amid whatever circumstances we are having. Yes Iv'e learned that Happiness is an inside job and not dependent on any external circumstances. It's a mindset and attitude adjustment we must make.  We may not choose our present set of circumstances, but being that they are present we  must mentally adjust with them till they are past. Some of us have learned and live by this rule, but still others struggle with being content until all is favorable. Did you ever ask someone  how they are doing with something and they reply "I'm coping"? If so, that is a smart reply because to cope means to deal successfully with.  We must decide to be happy now, with what we are and what we have. So remember happiness is a inside job. Yes it starts within our mindset. Want happiness now, it can be done!

Music

Music, what an impact it has on our lives. It has a strong motivating force on our lives. Everyone loves the sound of music. From the very beginning of our lives from  infants in the womb there is a noticeable effect.  I remember even  now, if I hear a certain song, it will bring back my wedding day. Or something from my childhood, a memory of my parents, perhaps it was a song they used to like. I associate certain songs or music with happiness or sadness, we all do. How sweet it is, soothing to our heart and soul. But it can also make us feel downhearted if we allow it. All types and varieties, from classical to pop and more, music is a gift. Like love if you take away the language, it's all the same. It's universal. Interesting, isn't it? Not one person who has lived that have not been affected by music. It takes us back to a certain time in our life, an event, brings back memories of yesterday. Life and even death. It's associated with everything. If we were to take away music altogether, it would render life boring, bland and very dull.  It livens our spirit. Without it most all would be depressed and life -less.  It's safe to say that music is very therapeutic. It's necessary as air, that's why we have it. It's to be enjoyed!  Let us use this gift in music to keep us strong, upbeat and positive. On days when we are feeling a little low, let music's mood altering effect help change that. We can even set the home stage atmosphere with a little back ground soothing sound of music. Think of the music that brings back happy memories and relive it. Move to the beat of the sound you like to hear. It reduces stress and can put a crowd all in the same mood instantly! Ever notice that? Music is a great thing! Let it work it's charm on  you. So sit back and enjoy some relaxing music on me today! If you like it let me know!! Enjoy!!