Quote of the Day 20080512

“The fixed determination to have acquired the warrior soul, to either conquer or perish with honor, is the secret of victory.” — George Patton 1885 - 1945, U.S. Army General

I’m sure General Patton was thinking about war, but the single minded determination he speaks of can be applied to many areas of life. It could be making your country’s Olympic team, it could be business, it could be raising great children. What are you willing to give your all to accomplish?

Gratitude Journal 20080511

I am thankful for or that

1. A cool, rainy night and morning.
2. A sunny breezy afternoon.
3. Automatic Teller Machines that accept deposits.
4. LEB grocery shopped on Saturday.
5. I could buy charcoal and beer on Sunday at a grocery store.
6. Our grill.
7. Match light charcoal.
8. We had frozen broccoli in the freezer.
9. White and sweet potatoes.
10. The microwave.

I acknowledge myself for

1. Being health focused and taking a short walk in the cool mist.
2. Realizing that my back was not up t the walk and calling for LEB to pick me up in the van.
3. Being helpful and cooking dinner.
4. Being family oriented by eating dinner with the family.
5. Being family oriented by calling the various mothers in our extended family.
6. Being health focused by going to bed at a decent hour.
7. Being health focused by taking my prescription.
8. Being consistent by reading 10+ pages of personal development material.
9. Being consistent by taking a shower.
10. Being family oriented by taking the boys w/ me to the grocery store and having them help me cook dinner.

Quote of the Day 20080510

“Nurture your mind with great thoughts for you will never go any higher than you think.” — Benjamin Disraeli 1804 -1881, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield

Where can you find great thoughts? Obviously from people and books! I’ve been taught to read 10 pages of a good book a day. You are much more likely to find great thoughts in a book than on television. What do I mean by a good book? I would suggest biographies of great people like Booker T. Washington, John F. Kennedy, George Washington Carver, Bill Gates, WArren Buffet and Oprah. Or books like Think and Grow Rich, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Learned Optimism, The Power of Now, The 4-Hour Work Week, etc.

What if you don’t like to read? Get a book on tape. But still try to read at least 2 or 3 pages a day until you do develop a love of books. What if you think you can’t afford to buy books or books on tape? The library is free, at least it is in the USA. And many libraries have book sales where you can pick up books for as little as $1 or sometimes fifty cents or less. No excuses.

This is easy to do. It’s also easy not to do. The choice is yours, but think about this. You are sure to find a library in the homes of most wealthy people. Why is that? What do think came first, the great thoughts or the wealth?

Gratitude Journal 20080508

I am thankful for or that

1. I could drop LEB off at work and keep the van.
2. I had an interview with Nuvox.
3. Nuvox validated my parking lot ticket so I parked for free.
4. A beautiful spring day.
5. My cell phone.
6. That we had enough gas for all of the driving I did yesterday.
7. National Public Radio.
8. LEB buying subs from Subway for dinner.
9. The ceiling fans in our house.
10. A cool, spring night.

I acknowledge myself for

1. Being consistent and listening to 30+ minutes of personal development material.
2. Being consistent and reading 10+ pages of non-ficiton material.
3. Being disciplined and checking the messages on my phone.
4. Being helpful and clearing the kitchen table.
5. Being health focused and listening to my body and therefore taking a day off from working out.
6. Taking immediate action to deal with a credit card issue.
7. Feeling the anxiety but not letting it stop me from taking that action.
8. Being prepared for my interview.
9. Being helpful by putting the garbage out at the street.
10. Being helpful by putting the recycling out at the street.

Quote of the Day 20080508

“You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.” — Walt Disney 1901 - 1966, Animator, Film Producer, Entrepreneur

Gratitude Journal 20080507

I am thankful for or that

1. My cell phone.
2. Two working refrigerator/freezer units.
3. A working oven.
4. GAB for taking the chicken out of the oven.
5. CIB and MJB walking home safely.
6. A sunny, breezy, spring day.
7. Dariks Boot and Nuke (DBAN).
8. GAB cooking vegetables to go along with the chicken.
9. LEB taking the IBM laptop box out of the attic.
10. LEB taking the fan out of the attic.

I acknowledge myself for

1. Being helpful by washing dishes.
2. Being helpful by cooking chicken for dinner.
3. Being family focused by eating dinner with the family.
4. Being consistent by taking a walk.
5. Being health focused by doing some body weight calisthenics.
6. Being health focused by taking my prescriptions.
7. Being consistent by reading 10+ pages of non-fiction material.
8. Being consistent by listening to 30+ minutes of personal development material.
9. Focusing on abundance with this journal.
10. Focusing on gratitude with this journal.

Quote of the Day 20080507

“The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!” — Henry Ward Beecher 1813-1887, Author, Clergyman, Abolitionist

This quote was in my email inbox from yesterday, but I just read it today. Talk about synchronicity. It was on my mind to write a separate post today on being thankful. You see, today started out not so good. I allowed myself to get annoyed with MJB because he was messing around and missed his opportunity to have LEB drive him to school. So, since we only have one vehicle right now, I had to walk him to school and of course he was late.

After that, I figured I might as well go on and get my walk in, but I didn’t bring my CD player. So, my mind was unoccupied. I cannot yet stay present in the moment for an entire 40 to 60 minute walk and my mind has a way of going down negative paths when unoccupied. I recognized it happening and tried to keep switching my attention to the beauty of the trees, flowers, bushes, lawns and houses. I really do live in a wonderful neighborhood. But the mind has a mind of it’s own!

Then, I turned onto a street and there was a in home health care professional out at the end of a driveway with a child in a motorized wheel chair. The child also had a tracheotomy, and a little breathing tube. I had been thinking about my somewhat achy back, my hamstring which was still tight from a strong cramp the day before, and everything bad and wrong with my life. Then here is a child with so many more and severe physical problems than anything I have. Made me feel kinda’ bad for being mopey.

So, I began to give thanks for being able to walk and breathe on my own. I gave thanks for being able to speak, because it seemed that he couldn’t. Right now I’m praying and hoping that the child will be miraculously healed and able to live a full and productive life. I’m focusing on the good things I have and do, no matter how small. I’m being grateful for it all.

Gratitude Journal 20080506

I am thankful for or that

1. We have a van to drive around in.
2. I could drive the van to take GAB to choir practice at church.
3. There was gas in the van.
4. The opportunity to quietly and look at the trees, clouds and boys playing basketball in the church parking lot.
5. The opportunity to help DG spray herbicide on the overgrowth of ivy, weeds, etc near the friary at church.
6. The Greenville Public Library.
7. Our Crockpot.
8. Electricity.
9. A beautiful, sunny, breezy spring day.
10. The ceiling fan in my bedroom.

I acknowledge myself for

1. Being helpful and cooking dinner.
2. Being helpful and driving GAB to choir practice.
3. Volunteering to help with the weeds around the friary.
4. Being helpful by washing and drying a couple loads of clothes.
5. Being health focused by taking my prescriptions.
6. Being health focused by drinking lots of water.
7. Being family oriented by making sure all 3 kids had their homework done.
8. Being family oriented by making sure all 3 kids did at least one chore.
9. Being consistent by listening to 30+ minutes of personal development material.
10. Being consistent by reading 10+ pages of non-fiction material.

Gratitude Journal 20080504

I am thankful for or that

1. A beautiful, warm, breezy, spring day.
2. The swing under the tree in the back yard.
3. Coffee.
4. LEB and GAB making it safely back from Charlotte.
5. Playing basketball with MJB and CIB.
6. Plenty of food to eat.
7. Fresh water.
8. Screens on the windows.
9. Electricity.
10. My portable CD player.

I acknowledge myself for

1. Being health focused by taking a 55 minute walk.
2. Being family oriented by playing basketball with the boys, CIB and MJB.
3. Being helpful by washing and drying a couple of loads of clothes.
4. Being consistent by listening to 30+ minutes of personal development material.
5. Being health focused by taking my prescriptions.
6. Being relaxed and reading in the swing.
7. Being open to learning.
8. Being abundance focused with this journal.
9. Being gratitude focused with this journal.
10. Being family oriented by taking care of the boys while LEB and GAB were away.

Quote of the Day 20080503

Today I’m going to reprint the 20080502 Spiritual Message from The Daily Guru.

“Money is a highly charged subject. And most of the emotions people feel around it are negative: fear, shame, embarrassment, anger.” — Jerrold Mundis, Author of How to Get Out of Debt, Stay Out of Debt & Live Prosperously

How do you think of money? How do you feel about money?

Many of us are afraid of money. With this fear, we avoid dealing honestly and completely with our financial situation. We only have a vague idea of how much money we earn and spend, and even how much we owe. By refusing to accept financial responsibility, we sacrifice our chances for a better life.

“Choosing wealth as a goal requires facing everything about your money bravely, honestly, with courage — which is a very, very hard thing for most of us to do. But it can be done.” — Suze Orman, Author of The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom: Practical and Spiritual Steps So You Can Stop Worrying