A week into this New Year and almost all of the Posts I'm reading speak of it being a shining bright New Year... full of promise, Hope, optimism, dreams renewed, believing, fresh vision and positive attitudes. My Hope is that this positive energy and enthusiastic vibe does not diminish one iota as the New Year continues to unfold!!! Wouldn't it be nice to see the same outlook far into 2011? Shouldn't we attempt to wake up every day with enthusiasm, dreams, vision and wishes intact, with positive thoughts predominating each fresh new day... not just at the turning of another year? Because truly each new day gives us the same opportunities to focus on our Life as the turning of a New Year does. And though there are the ups and downs of living, we do have choices... on how we will respond and react, what we think upon, focus upon and magnify, how we will choose to LIVE, what we will choose to do, or not do. To meditate upon what Hopes, dreams and vision have we set aside or lost along the way on this Journey of Life? Has the process of existing and getting by or going through the motions somehow replaced truly living? I Hope not... I would like each and every precious Soul to have few regrets and tons of living Life fully, however that plays out for you in a way that is meaningful, unique and special to you. Certainly there will be the bumps in the road, the rain that falls into each Life... and we must play the hand we've been dealt to the best of our abilities... and find a way to be truly Thankful for OUR Life. To make the best use of our time, our talents and our treasures. I've often had people seem amazed and ask me how I can appear to be happy almost all of the time? Those that don't know me well may not know the back end stories and personal challenges and sorrows, so it would be easy to assume or believe that I just must have this magical, pain-free, carefree, enchanted Life with few problems or worries... and therefore, happiness just comes naturally based on circumstances and opportunities? But I have found that happiness is a choice, a state of mind if you will and sometimes takes work and daily effort to maintain... chosing on purpose to focus on that which encourages, inspires and uplifts, what we can or should be grateful for... the thoughts we choose to magnify. Embracing the Joy of the Lord, which thankfully is never based on circumstances like mere happiness... so it can be maintained even during the difficult or dark times and see us through, illuminating the darkness, with our Light still shining brightly... so that we can smile often, celebrate Life, Love unconditionally, sincerely enjoy everyone and everything around us, see the future as a shining bright New Year perpetually... and really, really BELIEVE and have Faith that everything good can happen to us... Dawn... The Bohemian
"Joy is not the absence of suffering. It is the presence of God." Robert Schuller
"It is okay to feel more Joy than the people around you. It is one of the greatest gifts we can give. They need our Joy, not our sadness." - Unknown
"Joy is what happens when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things are. Joy is not necessarily what happens when things unfold according to our plans." - Marianne Williamson (A Woman's Worth)
The greatest gift you can give yourself is joy, not only because of the feeling that goes with it at the moment, but because of the magnificent experience it will draw to you. It will produce wonders in your life." - Jack Boland
*Beautiful Jewelry, Spring Flowers and Clock Ornaments can be found at Carol's "COTTAGE GARDEN" Shops, Vanity Set can be found at "Zinnia's At Melrose" Antique Mall*
*Beautiful Jewelry, Spring Flowers and Clock Ornaments can be found at Carol's "COTTAGE GARDEN" Shops, Vanity Set can be found at "Zinnia's At Melrose" Antique Mall*