HAPPINESS

Do you believe that happiness happens by chance? I don’t think so. I always believed that HAPPINESS is a choice. I also believe that everyone has a happiness potential, yet often, we are not choosing to live up to that potential. When people ask me about happiness, I always give this advice:

(1) You have both the opportunity and the responsibility to make the choices that result in happiness.

(2) You have to learn to develop your happiness potential in order to enrich your life and around you. You have to learn the power of gratitude and forgiveness.

(3) You have to simply say YES to happiness. Pursue your passion and giving yourself permission to be happy and much more.

Why should you choose to be happy?

Happiness is freedom – it is a mindset that is free from fear, self pity, and negative thinking.

Happiness is purpose – those who are truly happy know their lives count for something. They are creating their world, achieving their dreams.

Happiness is energy – when you are in a state of happiness, you are energized. You are motivated to create, move and develop.

Remember, everything we fear in ourselves, the world around us, and the things we want to change can be transformed through happiness, the simplest desire we have, and also the most profound. You only live once,make a choice to be happy right now!

THE TABLE FOR OUR FALLEN SOLDIERS

I went to a prayer breakfast on post this morning at 0600 hours to commemorate and celebrate Memorial Day. The Evergreen Club was filled with people, Soldiers in uniform, Retirees like me, family members, and spouses. There were so many people occupying all of the tables there. Yet, in the front, there is one small table, empty and guarded by two Soldiers.

Let me just educate you for a minute on this one. In all military celebrations and official ceremonies, you will always see a small table dedicated to our “Fallen Soldiers” who never made it back. During the official ceremony and toasts such as “To the United States of America,” “To the Commander in Chief,” etc., everyone will respond the same while raising their glasses and will drink from their glasses. But a special toast is always made at the end, reciting the items below and explaining the table of our Fallen Soldier.

“This Table, It is Small – set for one, symbolizing the frailty of one prisoner alone against his/her oppressors.

The Table Cloth is White – symbolizing the purity of their intentions to respond to their country’s call to arms.

The Single Rose – displayed in the vase reminds us of the families and friends of our mission brothers/sisters who keep faith while awaiting their return.

The Red Ribbon – tied prominently on the vase reminds us of the red ribbons worn on the lapels and brothers/sisters who are not among us tonight.

The Place Setting – single, alone no friends or family to dine with.

A slice of Lemon – reminds us of their bitter fate.

Salt Sprinkled – on the plate reminds us of the countless fallen tears of families as they wait.

The Glass is Inverted – they cannot toast with us this night.

The Chair is Empty – they are not here.

The Candle – reminiscent of the light of hope, which lives in our hearts to light the way home: from their captors to the open arms of a grateful nation.

The Bible – represents the strength gained through faith to sustain those lost from us, from our country, founded as one nation under God.

Let us pray to the Supreme Commandant that all our brothers will soon again be among our ranks.”

And when the narrator says, “To our Fallen Comrade,” Silence is the appropriate response, and no one is to drink from their glasses.

To all my comrades - You are never forgotten…..

May God forever watch you, protect you, and your families.

HOOAH!!!!

From Ella - US Army Retiree

17 March 1988 - 31 December 2009

Dream Big, Work Hard

As much as you plan and dream and move forward into your life, you must remember that you are always acting in conjunction with the flow of energy of the universe. You move in the direction of your goal with all the force and verve you can muster - and then let go! Releasing your plan to the power that's bigger than yourself....DREAM BIG --- dream very big. WORK HARD --- work really hard. And after you've done all you can, you stand, wait, and fully surrender!

"To fulfill a dream, to be allowed to sweat over lonely labor, to be given the chance to create, is the meat and potatoes of life!"

~ Bette Davis

6 CLUES TO CHARACTER

The traits that shape us remain stable over time, making them the closest thing we have to a crystal ball. Whether you wish to take an inventory of yourself, gauge the suitability of a partner, glimpse what a friendship hold, or preview a child's trajectory, here are six key candidates for your attention:

INTELLIGENCE - the biggest boon

Of all the attributes to consider in another person, intelligence is probably at the top of the list. Since it is the most stable quality over time, and primarily a product of genetic endowment - although stimulating environments allow it to blossom - it is almost as reliable a guide in adults as well as in children. More than any other trait, it is the great declarer of possibility, an indicator of the likelihood of doing well in life.

DRIVE - the goals you set

Everyone defines it differently, but is there a person alive who doesn't want to succeed? There is a quality beyond working doggedly - some call it surgency - in which the energy of hard work is accomplished by vibrancy and a sense of pleasure. Others call it passion; either way, it is the "engine of accomplishment." It allows a person to achieve whatever goals they set in life. And yet, persistence also begets passion. Further, both of them are made possible only by a sense of optimism.

HAPPINESS - the capacity for finding satisfaction

There's a great deal of cultural confusion about what happiness is and how to achieve it. Exploring a person's belief about happiness is likely to reveal not only how they might approach it but how likely they are to find it. Happiness comes not from a magical power to escape setbacks but the ability to rebound from them, also known as resilience. There is no happiness without challenge, risk, and growth.

EMPATHY - the legacy and capacity for goodness

Empathy shows up early in life and it endures. How motivated is someone to care when you are hurt? How mindful is a person toward your goals? Empathy is laudable by itself, but it has enormous social utility. It is a source of restraint against the abuse and exploitation of others. There are people who get good at faking empathy although they are at heart ruthless. Internally, they feel little concern, they are just being fake. The capacity for empathy is necessary for goodness.

FRIENDSHIP - the capacity for reciprocity

Friendship allows you to grow. Knowing there is a support system encourages you to take more chances and move toward greater success. Relationship with peers hinge on equality and reciprocity - one reason, they are so inherently satisfying. Endurance is an important measure of friendship quality. The ability to build a history with someone is about the value they place on loyalty, and how sustainable they are through the ups and downs of experience. A long term friendship signals a person to be able to tolerate human foibles and having been accepted fully by someone registers deep inside a person.

INTIMACY - the capacity for vulnerability and trust

Intimacy is an important source of balance, the ultimate leavening in life and the deepest source of comfort. And because it is the root of psychic security, it is a firm foundation for approaching the new and a wellspring of willingness to engage in exploration of life. Gauge someone's capacity for intimacy and you will understand something about their ability to trust another human being, reveal vulnerability, make a commitment of any kind, and regulate distress as well. In fact, no human enterprise can operate soundly in the absence of trust.

Source: Psychology Today

YOUR THOUGHTS

When facing a problem, stop overreacting or exaggerating. It only creates a negative cycle of thoughts. Instead treat it as a challenge and focus your energy on solutions. Every action and every feeling begins as a thought in your mind. Therefore if you can control your thoughts, then you can control your actions, your feelings and ultimately your life. Our thoughts play an important role when working on a problem. Let it be positive and not negative. This helps you to focus your energy on solutions. Remember; let your thoughts guide you!

Serendipity

Risk-taking, trust, and serendipity are key ingredients of joy.

Without risk, nothing new ever happens.

Without trust, fear creeps in.

Without serendipity, there are no surprises.

Inhale

Let us arise and breathe in the morning wind,

fresh from God's mouth.

~ Rumi

Don't Judge Me

Don't judge me until you know me.

Don't underestimate me until you challenge me.

And don't talk about me until you talk to me.

Rain....

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing....hmmmmm - Rain is Grace!

LIFE IS GOOD

The truth is that life is

delicious

horrible

charming

frightful

sweet

bitter

and

everything in between.

So savor it while you can!

Strong Shoes

Let go your fear

and always remember,

if God sends us

on hard paths,

He provides us

with strong shoes!

Go! ♥

FAITH

GOD is good!

For beyond the darkness, HE gives us light.

Beyond our nightmares, HE gives us dreams.

Beyond our tears, HE gives us comfort.

So with this new day that HE has provided,

let us thank HIM even if our plans failed and our expectations not reached.

For beyond these things is GOD's embrace saying;

"My child, the path I have laid for you is just beyond the corner. Take my hand and

have FAITH."

A blessed life to everyone.

God bless us all! ♥