Thank You Backwards

BE THANKFUL

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.

                                                                                —Author Unknown

Do You Have Promises To Keep?

STOPPING BY WOODS ON A SNOWY EVENING·

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.·

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

·

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound’s the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

·

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

 ·

—Robert Frost

---

• More about Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening
• MUCH More about Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening
• More about Robert Frost

---

Speak To Me

We are each a seed.
We are each a blossom.
We are each a flower.
We are each a tree.
We are each in need of tending, pruning, and love,
from others and our self.

Friend, speak to me of you.
Speak to me of others who have loved you.
You have spoken to me of God.
-                           —Paul Mark Sutherland

artist credit:  Cassandra Donnelly
.

Peace + Passion = Alive

ALIVE

If I fail to catch the music in the gently falling rain,
If the splendors of the sunset spread their hues for me in vain,
If my heart sends back no echo to the bird in yonder tree —
Though my purse may hold a million, I would still a pauper be.

If the triumphs of my fellows wake no thrill within my breast,
If the task that waits the doing spurs me not to do my best,
If I do not find fresh courage with each day that passes by —
Then the beggar at the corner needs his crutches less than I.

—Nellie Goode (written nearly 100 years ago)

Photo credit: Evgeni Dinev / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Free Gratitude – Today Only …Really

One of our regular readers is Felipe Adan Lerma. He is a writer, poet, photographer, yoga guru, and fitness instructor, among other things…and all-around nice guy. He has authored many works and is making his latest available for free for anyone to download. However, YOU MUST DOWNLOAD IT TODAY, MARCH 20, 2012. I have already downloaded my copy and am looking forward to reading it. The title is “Everyday Gratitude Vol. 3.”

Head on over to Amazon here for a description and to get your free copy. Also, you can read Adan’s blog and discover his many other works here. Please spread the word about this free offer as it ends today!

Happy Spring everyone, and enjoy your free GRATITUDE book.

ps. I have heard from Andy Smallman from ‘the kindness school’ which we posted on last week. I’ll share more on that tomorrow.

Paul Mark Sutherland