Exceptional Living

Why Do We Shout In Anger?

2012-01-10T09:36:00.000-05:00

A master asked his disciples:
‘Why do we shout in anger? Why do people shout at each other when they are upset?’

The disciples thought for a while, and one of them said
‘Because we lose our calm, we shout for that.’
‘But, why to shout when the other person is just next to you? ‘Isn’t it possible to speak to him or her with a soft voice? Why do you shout at a person when you’re angry?’
The disciples gave him some other answers but none satisfied the master.

Finally he explained:
‘When two people are angry at each other, their hearts distance a lot. To cover that distance they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the stronger they will have to shout to hear each other through that great distance.’

Then the master asked:
‘What happens when two people fall in love? They don’t shout at each other but talk softly, why? Because their hearts are very close. The distance between them is very small…’

And he concluded:
‘When they love each other even more, what happens?
‘They do not speak, only whisper and they get even closer to each other in their love.

‘Finally they even need not whisper, they only look at each other and that’s all. That is how close two people are when they love each other.’

Written by Paulo Coelho

Modern Wisdom

2012-01-10T09:15:00.000-05:00

Listen To Your Heart

2012-01-09T00:48:00.001-05:00

Listen to your heart

it will give you peace of mind.

Listen to your heart

leave all your cares behind.

Listen to your heart

for your mind sees just one way.

Listen to your heart

for it has alot to say.

Listen to your heart

the answer is so clear.

Listen to your heart

it holds all that is dear.

Listen to your heart

joy and love it does hold.

Listen to your heart

the answer will be told.

~ Author Unknown

Exceptionally Eye Candy Wisdom

2012-01-09T00:30:00.000-05:00

A Dose of Humor

2012-01-09T00:00:00.000-05:00

Life Is Always Speaking To You. Are You Listening?

2012-01-06T01:00:00.000-05:00

Before I traveled to Italy in May 2010, if anyone would have told me that I would be remarried to Thomas, our family back together and I would have a new, loving perspective about myself, I would have told them that they were crazy. Not that it hasn’t been the most wonderful thing, but it wasn’t in my plans. It was part of the Universe’s plan and we are back together because I finally payed attention to life’s messages and messengers. The messages had been there for years, but I chose not to listen to them.

On the trip, not only did I meet the little spiritual woman who told me I was a daisy in a field of roses and to not compare myself, but forgive and love myself, I was also encouraged by a yogi to read Paulo Coehlo’s, The Alchemist, which reminds you that all of your heart’s desires reside within you. And, check out the room that I stayed in at the Tuscan Farmhouse. It is called the Mystic Rose room. It’s the seventh room photo down the page. It is filled with roses. I was a daisy surrounded by roses and I didn’t even realize it until I started writing my book last year and did research on the farmhouse. And, the spiritual woman had no idea what room I was staying to call me a daisy in a field of roses. When I realized all of the messages coming together, it freaked me out too. Isn’t it crazy when life is better than fiction?

Some may call all of these messages coincidence or serendipity, but I have noticed that as I acknowledge them as Life’s Whispers and follow them, my life gets better. When I have ignored Life’s Whispers, life has taken a turn for the worse until life is screaming at me. “I warned you, Claire! Now, I’m going to have to humble you!” I never want to ignore the messages or messengers again. Some say it’s your subconscious or intuition. Wherever the messages originate, pay attention to what life is telling you. It is speaking to you often. You’ve probably encountered times in your life where you felt like you didn’t even know what you wanted – to stay in a relationship or not. To pursue a passion or not. Or, in my case, to finally heal, love and forgive myself. Life will tell you if you chose to listen.

Life sends you warnings and blessings. Both kinds of messages and messengers. Pay attention to all of them. Ignore none. Have you ever ended a bad relationship and people have asked, “Where there signs?” Of course there were signs. Don’t kid yourself. You just chose to ignore them. Have you ever read something, perhaps in an email or on Facebook, and thought, “I needed that?” The Universe knew you did. It’s always conspiring to give you what you need. Have you ever had a friend call you just as you needed them? Is that the third time someone has mentioned a certain book or movie they thought you needed? Has a friend’s question kept you pondering? What keeps you up at night? I no longer take any experiences or messages for granted. I absorb all of them. I don’t rapidly act on everything, but I bring it into my heart and mind. Listen to the whispers before they become screams The more you acknowledge them as miracles, the more you notice them appearing often in your life.

Try this: for the next few days, become more aware of your environment – the things you read, the people you speak to and what lies in front of you. Take deeper breaths because it forces you to stay present and have to slow your racing mind. You can also listen better by taking at least five minutes upon rising from sleep or before going to bed to meditate. The subconscious and the conscious are closest at those times. Your subconscious has many messages it is trying to tell you. Mine was telling me to forgive myself and love myself. It took a little spiritual woman in Italy to bring that out, but you can do that in the comfort of your own home. Pay attention to life in a way that you usually don’t especially if you find yourself at a crossroads and you don’t know which way to go – whether or not to pursue a new relationship or fix an old one, leave a job, try a new passion, life is giving you messages and messengers. Just open your eyes and ears to what the Universe is conspiring for you and follow the path.

Written by Claire Denise Johnson from the fabulous blog, Daisy Among Roses.

Modern Wisdom

2012-01-06T00:45:00.000-05:00

Fitness Motivation

2012-01-06T00:30:00.000-05:00

Be Yourself

2011-11-21T01:00:00.001-05:00

Why would you want to be someone else

When you could be better by being yourself

Why pretend to be someone you are not

When you have something they haven't got

Cheating yourself of the life you have to live

Deprives others of that only which you can give

You have much more to offer by being just you

Than walking around in someone else's shoes

Trying to live the life of another is a mistake

It is a masquerade; nothing more than a fake

Be yourself and let your qualities show through

Others will love you more for being just you.

Written by Ellen Bailey

Monday's Tidbit of Advice

2011-11-21T00:45:00.000-05:00

"Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it."

~ Groucho Marx

Picture credit here

Modern Wisdom

2011-11-21T00:30:00.000-05:00

Daily Dose of Humor

2011-11-21T00:00:00.000-05:00

I Can Relate...

Ask Yourself: 'Is there another way to make this happen?'

2011-11-18T01:00:00.000-05:00

For Amanda Hocking, hundreds of rejection slips initially crushed her hopes of being an author. "Then I realized, if you have a dream, you can't let people tell you no," she says. "I decided to do whatever it took for my books to get out there." So she self-published her novel electronically on amazon.com. The first day, she sold five books; the next day, five more. Hocking kept writing—and publishing. Pricing her books low (some at 99 cents) and releasing frequent new titles helped fuel her fan base. Today she has grossed $2 million and become a best-selling e-author on Amazon. She's poised for stardom in the print world, too: St. Martin's Press offered her a four-book, $2 million deal and bought the rights to her series, The Trylle Trilogy. The first one will be printed in January.

Exceptionally Eye Candy Wisdom

2011-11-18T00:30:00.000-05:00

Friday's Fun Fashion Quote

2011-11-18T00:15:00.000-05:00

"The most beautiful makeup on a woman is passion, but cosmetics are easier to buy."

~ Yves Saint Laurent

Picture: Yves Saint Laurent

I Can Relate...

2011-11-18T00:00:00.000-05:00

You Gotta LOVE

2011-11-07T09:47:00.002-05:00

If you've been hurt in a relationship really badly, you may want to build some walls around you so that it will never happen again.

You will then block 99% of the chance for broken trust, deception, lies, or anything else awful from ever happening to you.

But, if those walls are up, you will also block out 99% of the chance for trust, openness, truth, and love from ever happening to you.

Realize instead, that the pain was caused by THAT person, not every person. By keeping the walls up, you're choosing to punish yourself and every person who tries to love you.

Don't punish the innocent.

Improve your odds for love. Break down the walls.

Written by Doe Zantamata, founder of Happiness in Your Life

Picture credit here

Monday's Tidbit of Advice

2011-11-07T09:00:00.001-05:00

‎"One should not enter into another relationship before healing. Sometimes we end up punishing others for what exes did, then regret doing so, and subject ourselves to even more pain of regret of treating the new person poorly. We should be more patient with ourselves and allow enough time to heal before seeking a new love."

~ Doe Zantamata

Picture credit here

Exceptionally Eye Candy Wisdom

2011-11-07T08:30:00.001-05:00

Daily Dose of Humor

2011-11-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

Putting a STOP to Bullying

2011-11-03T00:30:00.000-04:00

A teacher in Newfoundland was teaching her class about bullying and gave them the following exercise to perform. She had the children take out a piece of paper and told them to crumple it up, stomp on it and really mess it up but do not rip it. Then she had them unfold the paper, smooth it out and look at how scarred and dirty is was. She then told them to tell it they’re sorry. Now, even though they said they were sorry and tried to fix the paper, she pointed out all the scars they left behind. And that those scars will never go away no matter how hard they tried to fix it. That is what happens when a child bully’s another child, they may say they’re sorry, but the scars are there forever. The looks on the faces of the children in the classroom told her the message hit home.

So true. Even once, one harsh word can hurt even the most strong of souls. Be kind with your words.

Exceptionally Eye Candy Wisdom

2011-11-03T00:15:00.000-04:00

Daily Dose of Humor

2011-11-03T00:00:00.000-04:00

Make A Decision

2011-11-02T07:12:00.002-04:00

Make a decision that , from this moment on , you will never be less than friendly toward yourself.

No more treating yourself like a slave.

No more putting yourself down - ever.

No more negative assumptions.

No more torment over past events that you can't change.

No more ''putting up with'' other people's abuse or unkindness.

No more postponing doing what you love most.

This will radically change the way you feel on the inside. And it will change the way that you think about other people , interpret their behavior, respond to them and act toward them.

It is impossible to see the world as a friendly place (despite the disappointments and hassles) until the world inside your own mind is also friendly.

When the old thoughts or behaviors arise , see them for what they are (tired , useless habits) and move on. They will continue to tug at you , but only as long as you pay attention.

Written by Stephanie Dowrick

Exceptionally Eye Candy Wisdom

2011-11-02T06:30:00.000-04:00

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

2011-11-02T06:20:00.000-04:00

‎"No one is in control of your happiness but you; therefore, you have the power to change anything about yourself or your life that you want to change."

~ Barbara de Angelis

Daily Dose of Humor

2011-11-02T06:00:00.000-04:00

Don't Forget To Treasure The Journey

2011-11-01T00:10:00.000-04:00

Remember all you have learned;

knowledge is the fuel for achievement.

Reflect on the lessons of life learned so far;

they add up to a priceless wisdom.

Appreciate the gift of choice available to you;

choose wisely and you will live well.

Listen to your inner voice;

it is the most important connection between your head and heart.

Leave self doubt behind;

it serves only to make you hesitate.

Never stop questioning, searching and reaching;

they are the only ways to stretch your mind and soul.

No matter what you do in this life;

remember it is never about the treasures you acquire;

It's about making certain it is life you treasure.

Written by Lisa Crofton

Exceptionally Eye Candy Wisdom

2011-10-10T00:10:00.000-04:00

Monday's Motivational Quote

2011-10-10T00:05:00.001-04:00

"The purpose of life is to discover your gift. The meaning of life is to give your gift away."

~ David Viscott

Picture credit: here

50/50

2011-10-10T00:00:00.000-04:00

On Saturday night I saw the movie 50/50. I’m not sure if you’ve seen that movie but in case you haven’t, it’s an awesome movie. I have a feeling it will definitely get nominated for a few awards come Oscar season.

That movie will have you both- crying and laughing. And for many it’s a subject that is too close to home. When I was growing up, cancer in my world was unheard of. No one I knew I had it. Fast forward 20 years later and things are so different, to the point it seems that we’re living in a completely different world. Now, you read about it, see it on the news, see it on billboards and even people at work talk about it. It seems that now almost everyone personally knows someone in which cancer has affected them- whether directly or indirectly.

50/50 taught me so much. It taught me to be a more compassionate person and to be more available for my family and friends. My priorities have been shifting lately anyways but this movie just confirmed what I need to prioritize in life. Cause the truth is that life IS short and I do have to spend it with my loved ones. I never know if I may get diagnosed with cancer or if a family or friend may get diagnosed with cancer again. Yes, you read right, I said the word ‘again.’

About 3 years ago my mom was diagnosed with cancer. Cancer in her uterus. It started out with sharp pains and bleeding (she had already gone through menopause). The pain and the bleeding continued to the point where she couldn’t walk, sit, or lay down. She pretty much couldn’t do anything. So she was rushed to the hospital and the medical staff performed all sorts of medical exams. My mom’s world changed when the doctor told her she had cancer. She called me and I told her that everything would be all right because the cancer hadn’t spread and it was only in Stage 1.

Within days she was operated and the doctor removed the tumors. Afterwards she was to follow a very strict diet and way of life. Fast forward three years later and my entire family is happy at the fact that medical x-rays show no signs of cancer. We feel blessed to have our mom healthy and cancer-free.

Months after the operation, the x-rays weren’t showing any more malignant tumors so I breathed a sigh of relief because I knew this was a good sign. That it meant that the cancer would be gone and hopefully wouldn’t return. Unfortunately, I started treating my mom how I normally always had. Don’t get me wrong, I treat my mom well but I know I could have treated her a lot better.

Watching 50/50 was emotional for me because it made me realize, ‘what if my mom wouldn’t have survived?’ Had my mom not survived I would have felt guilty. Guilty for many reasons. For not having had spent more time with her. For not having had treated her better. For not making her feel more important. For not appreciating all the little things she always did for me. Lucky for me, my mom is healthy, alive and lives in the same city as I do.

After watching 50/50, I feel I would do a better job of coping with cancer if I were to be diagnosed with it one day or if a loved one of mine were to be diagnosed by it. I saw the importance of how much it means to ‘be there’ for someone. That includes having patience with everything they’re going through, being there for them, going to all the doctor appointments if they wanted me to go with them, etc. The movie taught me that if I am not the one with cancer, it is not about me but about the person who has it. And to cherish the time they have left because life is much shorter than we all tend to realize.

If you haven’t seen this movie, I highly recommend it. The lessons you’ll learn from this movie are valuable and priceless.

Black and White Pebbles

2011-10-05T00:10:00.001-04:00

Many years ago in a small Indian village,a farmer had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a village moneylender. The moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the farmer’s beautiful daughter. So he proposed a bargain.

He said he would forgo the farmer’s debt if he could marry his daughter. Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the proposal. So the cunning money-lender suggested that they let providence decide the matter.

He told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag. Then the girl would have to pick one pebble from the bag.

If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father’s debt would be forgiven.

If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father’s debt would still be forgiven.

But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail.

They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the farmer’s field. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into the bag.He then asked the girl to pick a pebble from the bag.

Now, imagine that you were standing in the field. What would you have done if you were the girl? If you had to advise her, what would you have told her?

Careful analysis would produce three possibilities:

* The girl should refuse to take a pebble.

* The girl should show that there were two black pebbles in the bag and expose the money-lender as a cheat.

* The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order to save her father from his debt and imprisonment.

Well, here is what she did…

The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles.

“Oh, how clumsy of me,” she said. “But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked.”

Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she had picked the white one.

And since the money-lender dared not admit his dishonesty, the girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into an extremely advantageous one!

Moral of the story:

Most complex problems do have a solution. It is only that we don’t attempt to think. Also, the important thing about a problem is not its solution, but the strength we gain in finding the solution! The next time you face a problem, consciously make an attempt to think more clearly, cleverly and calmly… and you will surely find the best solution for it.

~ Author Unknown

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

2011-10-05T00:05:00.000-04:00

"There is no joy without hardship. If not for death, would we appreciate life? If not for hate, would we know the ultimate goal is love? At these moments you can either hold on to negativity and look for blame, or you can choose to heal and keep on loving."

~ Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Wednesday's Hump Day Humor

2011-10-05T00:02:00.000-04:00

Exceptionally Eye Candy Wisdom

2011-10-05T00:00:00.000-04:00

The Mouse Trap

2011-10-04T00:10:00.001-04:00

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall in his home to see the farmer and his wife open a package. What food might this contain the mouse wondered? He was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.

Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse warned all the animals "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr.Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it."

The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mouse trap in the house!" The pig felt bad so said "I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers."

The mouse turned to the cow and said "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The cow said "Wow Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose."

So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap alone. That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife.

The farmer rushed her to the hospital and she returned home with a fever. Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.

But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbours came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig. The farmer's wife did not get well; she died. So many people came for her funeral and the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.

The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.

Words of Wisdom: So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, remember that when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to help one another.

~ Author Unknown

Tuesday's Tidbit of Wisdom

2011-10-04T00:05:00.000-04:00

“Art is what we call the thing an artist does. It's not the medium or the oil or the price or whether it hangs on a wall or you eat it. What matters, what makes it art, is that the person who made it overcame the resistance, ignored the voice of doubt and made something worth making. Something risky. Something human. Art is not in the eye of the beholder. It's in the soul of the artist." ~ Seth Godin

Picture credit: here

Exceptionally Eye Candy Wisdom

2011-10-04T00:00:00.000-04:00

I WISH YOU ENOUGH

2011-10-03T00:10:00.003-04:00

Recently I overheard a Father and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure.

Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the Father said, 'I love you, and I wish you enough.'

The daughter replied, ' Dad, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Dad.'

They kissed and the daughter left. The Father walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, 'Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?'

'Yes, I have,' I replied. 'Forgive me for asking, but why is this forever good-bye?’

'I am old, and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral,' he said.

'When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough.' May I ask what that means?'

He began to smile. 'That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone.. .’ He paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and he smiled even more. 'When we said, 'I wish you enough,' we wanted the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.' Then turning toward me, he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good- bye.

He then began to cry and walked away.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them; but then an entire life to forget them.

Take Time To Live...

To all my friends and loved ones, I wish you Enough! ♥

~ Unknown

Picture source: Pinterest

Wednesday's Hump Day Humor

2011-09-28T00:02:00.000-04:00

10 Tips To Stay Young Forever

2011-09-21T00:10:00.000-04:00

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay them.

2. Keep only cheerful friends.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain get idle. “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop……And the devil’s name is Alzheimer’s!”

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with HIM/HER.

6. The tears happen.

Endure, grieve, and move on.

The only person who is with you your entire life, is yourself. LIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love whether it’s family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health. If it is good, preserve it.

If it is unstable, improve it.

If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don’t take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

2011-09-21T00:05:00.000-04:00

“How far you go in life depends on you being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these.” ~ George Washington Carver

Wednesday's Hump Day Humor

2011-09-21T00:02:00.000-04:00

Exceptionally Eye Candy Wisdom

2011-09-21T00:00:00.000-04:00

Life Isn't About Keeping Score

2011-09-20T00:10:00.000-04:00

Life isn't just about keeping score.

It's not about how many people call you

And it's not about who you've dated or haven't dated at all.

It isn't about who you've kissed,

What sport you play,

Or which guy or girl likes you.

It's not about your shoes or your hair

Or the color of your skin,

Or where you live or go to school.

In fact it's not about grades, money,

Clothes, or colleges that accept you or not.

Life isn't about if you have lots of friends or if you are alone,

And it's not about how accepted or unaccepted you are.

Life isn't about that.

But life is about who you love and who you hurt.

It's about how you feel about yourself.

It's about trust, happiness, and compassion.

It's about avoiding jealousy, overcoming ignorance

And building confidence.

It's about what you say and what you mean.

It's about seeing people for who they are and not for what they have.

Most of all it is choosing to use your life.

In a way that could have neverbeen achieved otherwise.

These choices are what life's about.

Source: Unknown

Tuesday's Tidbit of Wisdom

2011-09-20T00:05:00.000-04:00

‎"Life doesn't put anything in front of us that we can't handle. It's all in the handling. Coherent or incoherent. Clarity or chaos. Everything that ever happens is there to make us stronger. And when we understand, our strengths get stronger. And when we don't understand, our weaknesses get stronger."

~ John Trudell

Exceptionally Eye Candy Wisdom

2011-09-20T00:00:00.000-04:00

The Radical Self Love Manifesto

2011-09-19T00:10:00.000-04:00

Strive to always be thankful and optimistic.

Focus your gaze on what is good and positive; never dwell on the negative.

Do not allow life to make you cynical or closed off.

Remaining open and true to yourself is a life-long adventure, and the only one worth having.

Choose to see the best in people.

Strike up conversations with strangers.

Never be afraid to ask for what you really, really want.

To love, purely and fiercely, without agenda, is the most terrifying and rewarding thing you'll ever do.

Travel is essential to the spirit.

A pair of great shoes means nothing if you have an ugly heart.

Try your hardest not to judge anyone else; it never leads anywhere good.

Always avoid tabloids and gossip; they destroy the soul.

Be kind and loyal.

Many things in this world are more important than money.

Always trust your intuition, always.

Rescue animals, it will strengthen your heart.

Never delight in anyone else's misery.

Trust in others.

You are your own best investment.

Believe in the magic of a new day and a fresh start.

Follow your bliss.

Do more of what you love.

Always do the best you can.

Create your own family and care for them ferociously.

When people offer you opportunities that scare you, say yes: it's the very best way to grow.

You are never as stuck as you think.

Stay eager.

Love yourself.

Say YES to the adventure of Life.

Written by Gala Darling

Monday's Motivational Quote

2011-09-19T00:05:00.000-04:00

‎"Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success. Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream.”

~ Lao Tzu

Exceptionally Eye Candy Wisdom

2011-09-19T00:00:00.000-04:00

Gandhi’s Top 10 Fundamentals for Changing the World

2011-09-16T00:10:00.000-04:00

1. Change

“You must be the change you want to see in the world.”

“As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world – that is the myth of the atomic age – as in being able to remake ourselves.”

2. Control.

“Nobody can hurt me without my permission.”

3. Forgiveness

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”

“An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind.”

4. Action.

“An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching.”

5. The present moment.

“I do not want to foresee the future. I am concerned with taking care of the present. God has given me no control over the moment following.”

6. Everyone is human.

“I claim to be a simple individual liable to err like any other fellow mortal. I own, however, that I have humility enough to confess my errors and to retrace my steps.”

“It is unwise to be too sure of one’s own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err.”

7. Persist.

“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”

8. Goodness.

“I look only to the good qualities of men. Not being faultless myself, I won’t presume to probe into the faults of others.”

“I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles; but today it means getting along with people.”

9. Truth

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”

“Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well.”

10. Development.

“Constant development is the law of life, and a man who always tries to maintain his dogmas in order to appear consistent drives himself into a false position.”

Source: here

Friday's Fantabulous Advice

2011-09-16T00:05:00.000-04:00

Exceptionally Eye Candy Wisdom

2011-09-16T00:00:00.000-04:00

The Power of A Hug

2011-09-15T00:10:00.001-04:00

This picture is from an article called "The Rescuing Hug". The article details the first week of life of a set of twins. Each were in their respective incubators and one was not expected to live. A hospital nurse fought against the hospital rules and placed the babies in one incubator. When they were placed together, the healthier of the two, threw an arm over her sister in an endearing embrace. The smaller baby's heart stabilized and temperature rose to normal. And now they're both healthy 15 year-old teens.

Thursday's Tidbit of Wisdom

2011-09-15T00:05:00.000-04:00

Relationships of all kinds are like sand held in your hand. Held loosely, with an open hand the sand remains. The minute you close your hand and squeeze tightly to hold on, the sand trickles through your fingers. You may hold onto some of it, but mostly it will be spilled. A relationship is like that. Held loosely, with respect and freedom for the other person, it is likely to remain intact. But hold too tightly, too possessively, and the relationship slips away and is lost.

~ Kahlil Jamison

Exceptionally Eye Candy Wisdom

2011-09-15T00:00:00.000-04:00

10 Commandments for Reducing Stress in your Life

2011-09-14T00:10:00.001-04:00

‎10 COMMANDMENTS FOR REDUCING STRESS IN YOUR LIFE

1. Thou Shalt Not Be Perfect, Or Even Try To Be.

2. Thou Shalt Not Try To Be All Things To All People.

3. Thou Shalt Sometimes Leave Things Undone That Ought To Be Done.

4. Thou Shalt Not Spread Thyself Too Thinly.

5. Thou Shalt Learn To Say No.

6. Thou Shalt Schedule Time For Thyself And Thy Supportive Network.

7. Thou Shalt Switch Off And Do Nothing Regularly.

8. Thou Shalt Be Boring, Untidy, Inelegant, and Unattractive At Times.

9. Thou Shalt Not Even Feel Guilty.

10. Especially, Thou Shalt Not Be Thine Own Worst Enemy But Be Thine Own Best Friend.

~ Author Unknown

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

2011-09-14T00:05:00.000-04:00

“Love comes when manipulation stops; when you think more about the other person than about his or her reactions to you. When you dare to reveal yourself fully. When you dare to be vulnerable.”

~ Dr. Joyce Brothers

Wednesday's Hump Day Humor

2011-09-14T00:02:00.000-04:00

Exceptionally Eye Candy Wisdom

2011-09-14T00:00:00.000-04:00

Before God

2011-09-13T00:10:00.002-04:00

An old man sold toys in the Baghdad market. Knowing that his sight was not quite perfect, his customers sometimes paid him with fake money.

The old man discovered the ruse, but did not say anything.

In his prayers he asked God to forgive those who cheated him.

“Perhaps they’re short of money and want to buy presents for their children,” he said to himself.

The time passed and the old man died. Standing before the gates of Heaven, he prayed once more:

- Lord! – he said. – I am a sinner. I did many wrong things, I am no better than the false coins I was paid. Forgive me!

At that moment the gates swung open and a Voice was heard:

- Forgive what? How can I judge someone who all through his life never once passed judgment on others?

Written by Paulo Coelho

Picture credit here

Tuesday's Tidbit of Wisdom

2011-09-13T00:05:00.000-04:00

‎"A woman would be much better off if she could distinguish the difference between a man that flatters her and a man that compliments her.

A man that spends money on her and a man that invests in her.

A man that views her as property and a man that views her properly.

A man that lusts after her and a man that loves her.

A man that believes he is God's gift to women and a man that REMEMBERS a woman was God's gift to man.

Know your self worth. God doesn't make junk, He makes jewels."

~ Michelle Borquez Thornton

Exceptionally Eye Candy Wisdom

2011-09-13T00:00:00.000-04:00

What It Means To Be Real

2011-09-09T00:10:00.000-04:00

Clementine says:

Joely....

Joel says:

Yeah Tangerine?

Clementine says:

Do you know the Velveteen Rabbit?

Joel says:

Clementine says:

It's my favorite book since I was a kid. It's about these toys. There's this part where the skin Horse tells the rabbit what it means to be real.

(crying)

I can't believe I'm crying already. He says, "It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't often happen to people who break easily or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

Photo Credit: here

Friday's Fun Fashion Quote

2011-09-09T00:05:00.002-04:00

"When I first moved to New York I bought Vogue instead of dinner. I just felt it fed me more."

~ Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City

Exceptionally Eye Candy Wisdom

2011-09-09T00:00:00.000-04:00

Coincidence or Creepy?

2011-09-08T00:10:00.001-04:00

Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846.

John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946.

Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860.

John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960.

The names Lincoln and Kennedy each contain seven letters.

Both were particularly concerned with civil rights.

Both of their wives lost their children while living in the White House.

Both Presidents were shot on a Friday.

Both were shot in the head.

Both were shot with one bullet.

Both were rumored to be killed in a conspiracy.Neither was confirmed to be a conspiracy.

Lincoln was shot in the Ford Theater.

Kennedy was shot in a card made by the Ford Motor Company (a Lincoln no less)

Lincoln's secretary was named Kennedy.

Kennedy's secretary was named Lincoln.

Both were assassinated by Southerners.

Both were succeeded by Southerners.

Both successors were named Johnson.

Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in 1808.

Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908.

Their first names both contain six letters.

John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was born in 1839.

Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born in 1939.

Both assassins were known by their three names.

Both names comprise fifteen letters.

Booth ran from the theater and was caught in a warehouse.

Oswald ran from a warehouse and was caught in a theater.

Both assassins were assassinated before their trials.

The only complete filming of Kennedy's assasination was shot by Abraham Zapruder.

The only complete account of Lincoln's assasination was written by John Zelfindorfer.

A week before Lincoln was shot, he was with friends in Monroe, Maryland.

A week before Kennedy was shot, he was with his friend Marilyn Monroe.

Lincoln's last child, Tad, had his funeral held on July 16, 1871. Later he was exhumed and moved to a different grave site.

Kennedy's son JFK Jr. was lost at sea on July 16, 1999. Later he was found, brought up, and then re-burried at sea.

Thursday's Talented Artist Quote

2011-09-08T00:05:00.000-04:00

"The thing about life is that you must survive. Life is going to be difficult, and dreadful things will happen. What you do is move along, get on with it, and be tough. Not in the sense of being mean to others, but being tough with yourself and making a deadly effort not to be defeated."

~ Katharine Hepburn

Exceptionally Eye Candy Wisdom

2011-09-08T00:00:00.000-04:00

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

2011-09-07T00:05:00.000-04:00

‎"Today I want you to ask yourself this one question. 'Why not you?' Why not you to do something for work that you love? Why not you to have a healthy body? Why not you to have healthy love? Why not you to be, have, or do anything you have ever dreamed of?! We are so quick to think others are deserving over ourselves. The truth is that we are all deserving. So why not you?!

~ Jillian Michaels

Wednesday's Hump Day Humor

2011-09-07T00:02:00.000-04:00

Exceptionally Eye Candy Wisdom

2011-09-07T00:00:00.000-04:00

Exceptionally Eye Candy Wisdom

2011-09-06T00:00:00.000-04:00

Exceptionally Eye Candy Wisdom

2011-09-05T00:00:00.000-04:00

Letting Go

2011-09-02T00:10:00.001-04:00

To "let go" does not mean to stop caring. It means I can't do it for someone else.

To "let go" is not to cut myself off. It's the realization that I can't control another.

To "let go" is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands.

To "let go" is not to try to change or blame another. It's to make the most of myself.

To "let go" is not to care for, but to care about.

To "let go" is not to fix, but to be supportive.

To "let go" is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being.

To "let go" is not to be in the middle, arranging all the outcomes, but to allow others to affect their own destinies.

To "let go" is not to deny, but to accept.

To "let go" is not to nag, scold, or argue, but instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.

To "let go" is not to adjust everything to my desires, but to take each day as it comes and cherish myself in it.

To "let go" is not to regret the past, but to grow and live for the future.

To "let go" is to fear less and to love more.

~ Author Unknown

Friday's Fun Fashion Quote

2011-09-02T00:05:00.000-04:00

"I don't understand how a woman can leave the house without fixing herself up a little - if only out of politeness. And then, you never know, maybe that's the day she has a date with destiny. And it's best to be as pretty as possible for destiny."

~ Coco Chanel

Picture credit here

Exceptionally Eye Candy Wisdom

2011-09-02T00:00:00.000-04:00

Shake It Off and Step Up

2011-09-01T00:10:00.000-04:00

A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer's well. The farmer heard the mule 'braying' -- or whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer felt sorry for the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened and asked them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back, a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back: he should shake it off and step up! This is what the old mule did, blow after blow. "Shake it off and step up... shake it off and step up... shake it off and step up!" he repeated to encourage himself.

No matter how painful the blows, or distressing the situation seemed, the old mule fought "panic" and just kept right on shaking it off and stepping up! You guessed it! It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of that well! What seemed like it would bury him, actually end up blessing him. All because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.

- Author Unknown

Picture credit here

Thursday's Talented Artist Quote

2011-09-01T00:05:00.001-04:00

‎"My biggest influences are strong, creative women that chart their own path, lead their own lives and drive the course of history.”

~ Rachel Roy

Exceptionally Eye Candy Wisdom

2011-09-01T00:00:00.000-04:00

Recipe for Sparkle

2011-08-31T00:10:00.000-04:00

Recipe for sparkle

Ingredients:

1 cup of love

1 cup of light

1 cup of trust

1 cup of empowerment

1 cup of integrity

A dash of self confidence and courage.

Sprinkle of gratitude and faith and a pinch of hope and little forgiveness.

Directions:

Mix all together and you have yourself some amazing *Sparkle*

Picture credit here

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

2011-08-31T00:05:00.001-04:00

"The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. The true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives and the passion that she shows. The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years."

~ Audrey Hepburn

Wednesday's Hump Day Humor

2011-08-31T00:02:00.000-04:00

Exceptionally Eye Candy Wisdom

2011-08-31T00:00:00.000-04:00

You Learn

2011-08-30T00:10:00.001-04:00

After a while you learn the subtle difference

Between holding a hand and chaining a soul,

And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning

And company doesn't mean security.

And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts

And presents aren't promises,

And you begin to accept your defeats

With your head up and your eyes open

With the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child,

And you learn to build all your roads on today

Because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans

And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.

After a while you learn...

That even sunshine burns if you get too much.

So you plant your garden and decorate your own soul,

Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.

And you learn that you really can endure...

That you really are strong

And you really do have worth...

And you learn and learn...

With every good-bye you learn."

Written by Jorge Luis Borges

Tuesday's Tidbit of Wisdom

2011-08-30T00:05:00.000-04:00

"Love is saying, 'I feel differently' instead of 'you're wrong.'"

~ Unknown

Exceptionally Eye Candy Wisdom

2011-08-30T00:00:00.000-04:00

Words To Live By

2011-08-29T00:10:00.001-04:00

It's not how much you accomplish in life

that really counts,

but how much you give to others.

It's not how high you build your dreams

that makes a difference,

but how high your faith can climb.

It's not how many goals you reach,

but how many lives you touch.

It's not who you know that matters,

but who you are inside.

Believe in the impossible,

hold tight to the incredible,

and live each day to its fullest potential.

You can make a difference

in your world.

~ Rebecca Barlow Jordan

Monday's Motivational Quote

2011-08-29T00:05:00.001-04:00

"Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you."

~ Jim Rohn

Exceptionally Eye Candy Wisdom

2011-08-29T00:00:00.000-04:00

The Power Of The Word

2011-08-26T00:10:00.000-04:00

Of all the powerful weapons of destruction that man has invented, the most terrible – and the most cowardly – is the word.

Knives and firearms leave traces of blood.

Bombs shake whole buildings and streets.

Poisons can always be detected.

But a destructive word can provoke Evil without leaving behind it a single clue.

Children are subject to years of conditioning by their parents, artists are mercilessly pilloried, women are systematically undermined by remarks made by their husbands, the faithful are kept apart from religion by those who judge themselves capable of interpreting the voice of God.

Check to see if you yourself are using this weapon.

Check to see if someone is using this weapon on you.

And put a stop to both.

Written by Paulo Coelho

Friday's Fantabulous Quote

2011-08-26T00:05:00.000-04:00

"I remember the morning that I first asked the meaning of the word 'love.'

Miss Sullivan put her arm gently round me and spelled into my hand, 'I love Helen.'

'What is love?' I asked.

'Love is something like the clouds that were in the sky before the sun came out,' she replied.

'You cannot touch the clouds, you know; but you feel the rain and know how glad the flowers and the thirsty earth are to have it after a hot day. You cannot touch love either; but you feel the sweetness that it pours into everything. Without love you would not be happy or want to play.'

The beautiful truth burst upon my mind-- I felt that these were invisible lines stretched between my spirit and the spirits of others."

~ Helen Keller

Exceptionally Eye Candy Wisdom

2011-08-26T00:00:00.000-04:00

Education Does Not Mean Good Judgment

2011-08-25T00:10:00.000-04:00

There is a story about a man who sold hot dogs by the roadside. He was illiterate, so he never read newspapers . He was hard of hearing, so he never listened to the radio. His eyes were weak, so he never watched television. But enthusiastically, he sold lots of hot dogs. His sales and profit went up. He ordered more meat and got himself a bigger and a better stove. As his business was growing, the son, who had recently graduated from college, joined his father. Then something strange happened. The son asked, "Dad, aren't you aware of the great recession that is coming our way?" The father replied, "No, but tell me about it." The son said, "The international situation is terrible. The domestic is even worse. We should be prepared for the coming bad time." The man thought that since his son had been to college, read the papers, and listened to the radio, he ought to know and his advice should not be taken lightly. So the next day, the father cut down his order for the meat and buns, took down the sign and was no longer enthusiastic. Very soon, fewer and fewer people bothered to stop at his hot dog stand. And his sales started coming down rapidly. The father said to his son, "Son, you were right. We are in the middle of a recession. I am glad you warned me ahead of time."

What is the moral of the story?

1. Many times we confuse intelligence with good judgment.

2. A person may have high intelligence but poor judgment.

3. Choose your advisers carefully and use your judgment.

4. A person can and will be successful with or without formal education if they have the 5 Cs:

character

commitment

conviction

courtesy

courage

5. The tragedy is that there are many walking encyclopedias who are living failures.

Picture credit here

Thursday's Talented Artist Quote

2011-08-25T00:05:00.000-04:00

I think the quality of sexiness comes from within. It is something that is in you or it isn't and it really doesn't have much to do with breasts or thighs or the pout of your lips.

~ Sophia Loren

Exceptionally Eye Candy Wisdom

2011-08-25T00:00:00.000-04:00

What Every Girl Needs To Know

2011-08-24T12:34:00.002-04:00

What Every Girl Needs To Know....

You Are...

2011-08-24T00:10:00.000-04:00

You are the cheese to my macaroni

You are the horizon to my sky

You are the bacon to my eggs

You are the laces to my sneakers

You are the jelly to my peanut butter

You are the smile to my face

You are the gravy to my mashed potatoes

You are the bubbles to my bath

You are the milk to my cookie

You are the ink to my pen

You are the ketchup to my french fries

You are the water to my ocean

You are the icing on my cupcake

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

2011-08-24T00:05:00.002-04:00

"Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it."

~ Bill Cosby

Picture credit here

Wednesday's Hump Day Humor

2011-08-24T00:02:00.000-04:00