Tuesday, September 28, 2010
I am thankful for fresh air!
Today I am thankful for a warm breeze and some fresh air! It was so cleansing to feel the warm breeze blowing my hair and my whole body replenished from the fresh air throughout my body. I love fall days. I started collecting some really cool leaves today, Im hoping to make a collage with them or do something with them to remember my last fall in this absolutely beautiful place. Today is special.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
I am thankful for old friends.
Today I had the pleasure of eating dinner with my MYMOM council from last fall. Not a lot of them were there, but it was so nice to see them and talk to them. I am thankful that they wanted to reunite and I am thankful for all the good things they have done with their lives since we parted ways last winter. It's so cool to watch the transformation people go through in college and really become the people they want to be. I am thankful for the opportunity to work with such fantastic people.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
I am thankful for school spirit!
On Saturday JMU beat VA Tech in football. It was pretty crazy. No one expected it, and everyone is still on a high! I am thankful that my campus was PURPLED OUT today and everyone was repping JMU. It is so nice to live in such a friendly and enthusiastic environment!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
I am thankful for the outdoors!
Today I am thankful for the outdoors! I went on a lovely 6 mile hike yesterday with Jaleal to a mountain called Cold Mountain and the summit was a half mile meadow, 360 degree panoramic view! Amazinggg!! Today I went with my LCs to a place called Camp Horizons to do high ropes. It was a beautiful weekend. I am so lucky to have those opportunities!
Friday, September 10, 2010
One of the Daily Inspiration Emails I get :)
(Excerpt from Attitude is Everything, by Vicki Hitzges)
Keep an Attitude of Gratitude
Years ago, I was the public relations director for motivational guru, Zig Ziglar. At the time, he was arguably the best-known, most loved speaker in the world. When audience members heard Zig, they witnessed a man chockfull of energy, vitality and joy. Having worked closely with him and knowing him well, I can tell you that the Zig you saw on stage was the real Zig Ziglar. In fact, I can't remember ever seeing him when he was not happy and upbeat.
The Zig I knew was one carbonated guy.
Every time Zig answered his home phone, he picked up the receiver and said with gusto, "This is Jean Ziglar's happy husband!" And he meant it!
Awhile back one of Zig's closest friends and I were discussing Zig's aura of happiness. "Completely genuine," his friend said. "I have never seen him down." Then he added thoughtfully, but with love, "Hardly what you'd call normal."
"What's Zig's secret?" I asked.
"I think," he said, "it comes down to feeling grateful. Never met a guy more grateful than Zig. Period."
You'd think anyone that grateful must have had an easy life. But that's not so.
Zig started out poor. Dirt poor. His father died when he was six, leaving his mother to raise eleven children alone. The family was virtually penniless. Yet despite their poverty, Mrs. Ziglar instilled a strong work ethic in her children and raised them to believe that both she and God loved them. She also instructed her children to practice saying "please" and "thank you." Those lessons stuck. Her formula of work, love and faith made their difficult lives easier. Gratitude made their lives enjoyable.
Zig once told me, "When we neglect to require our children to say `thank you' when someone gives them a gift or does something for them, we raise ungrateful children who are highly unlikely to be content. Without gratitude, happiness is rare. With gratitude, the odds for happiness go up dramatically."
Years ago, Zig created the popular phrase, "Have an attitude of gratitude." According to Zig, "The more you recognize and express gratitude for the things you have, the more things you will have to express gratitude for."
I know firsthand that giving thanks brings joy. Awhile back, I heard Oprah Winfrey urge viewers to keep a Gratitude Journal. It seemed pretty schmaltzy to me, so I didn't do it. But Oprah was a jackhammer. Day after day, week after week, she kept pounding on that idea. I'd catch her show here and there. Same thing: Keep a Gratitude Journal. A few months later, I was speaking to a government group and staying in a cruddy hotel. I was seated at the hotel's indoor restaurant by a swimming pool reeking with enough chlorine to purify the Love Canal. As I waited impatiently for my meal to arrive, I suddenly remembered Oprah's directive. What the heck? I had a pen and some scrap paper.
I listed my mother who spent time each day praying for me. I wrote down my father who deeply loves me. My kind, funny brother and his family. My job and the opportunity to travel and encourage people. Friends. Laughter. For the fact that I had a place to sleep that was safe. For a private bathroom. (You start listing - you begin to get thankful!) I quickly listed about 30 things and noticed that not only did I have a lot to be thankful for, but suddenly I was in a terrific mood!
Publisher Malcolm Margolin was grateful for something that's right outside our doors, but most of us have never taken the time to experience it. He wrote, "The next time it begins to rain... lie down on your belly, nestle your chin into the grass, and get a frog's-eye view of how raindrops fall... The sight of hundreds of blades of grass bowing down and popping back up like piano keys strikes me as one of the merriest sights in the world."
That might strike you as advice from a person with not nearly enough to do, but personally, I like it. If Margolin can feel joy in soggy clothes looking at wet grass, you and I can find all kinds of things for which we can give thanks!
Try it! Count your blessings. Jot them down. At least stop and think of as many things as you can that you're thankful for right now. It worked for Oprah, Zig, Margolin and me. Give it a shot. If you want to feel happy, try on an attitude of gratitude for a change in your mood, your outlook and you.
Attitude is Everything is a great resource to keep you positive everyday. It also makes a wonderful gift for friends, family and members of your team. It's filled with wonderful stories, great quotes and many "a-ha" moments that'll turn the switch from "off" to "on."
Keep an Attitude of Gratitude
Years ago, I was the public relations director for motivational guru, Zig Ziglar. At the time, he was arguably the best-known, most loved speaker in the world. When audience members heard Zig, they witnessed a man chockfull of energy, vitality and joy. Having worked closely with him and knowing him well, I can tell you that the Zig you saw on stage was the real Zig Ziglar. In fact, I can't remember ever seeing him when he was not happy and upbeat.
The Zig I knew was one carbonated guy.
Every time Zig answered his home phone, he picked up the receiver and said with gusto, "This is Jean Ziglar's happy husband!" And he meant it!
Awhile back one of Zig's closest friends and I were discussing Zig's aura of happiness. "Completely genuine," his friend said. "I have never seen him down." Then he added thoughtfully, but with love, "Hardly what you'd call normal."
"What's Zig's secret?" I asked.
"I think," he said, "it comes down to feeling grateful. Never met a guy more grateful than Zig. Period."
You'd think anyone that grateful must have had an easy life. But that's not so.
Zig started out poor. Dirt poor. His father died when he was six, leaving his mother to raise eleven children alone. The family was virtually penniless. Yet despite their poverty, Mrs. Ziglar instilled a strong work ethic in her children and raised them to believe that both she and God loved them. She also instructed her children to practice saying "please" and "thank you." Those lessons stuck. Her formula of work, love and faith made their difficult lives easier. Gratitude made their lives enjoyable.
Zig once told me, "When we neglect to require our children to say `thank you' when someone gives them a gift or does something for them, we raise ungrateful children who are highly unlikely to be content. Without gratitude, happiness is rare. With gratitude, the odds for happiness go up dramatically."
Years ago, Zig created the popular phrase, "Have an attitude of gratitude." According to Zig, "The more you recognize and express gratitude for the things you have, the more things you will have to express gratitude for."
I know firsthand that giving thanks brings joy. Awhile back, I heard Oprah Winfrey urge viewers to keep a Gratitude Journal. It seemed pretty schmaltzy to me, so I didn't do it. But Oprah was a jackhammer. Day after day, week after week, she kept pounding on that idea. I'd catch her show here and there. Same thing: Keep a Gratitude Journal. A few months later, I was speaking to a government group and staying in a cruddy hotel. I was seated at the hotel's indoor restaurant by a swimming pool reeking with enough chlorine to purify the Love Canal. As I waited impatiently for my meal to arrive, I suddenly remembered Oprah's directive. What the heck? I had a pen and some scrap paper.
I listed my mother who spent time each day praying for me. I wrote down my father who deeply loves me. My kind, funny brother and his family. My job and the opportunity to travel and encourage people. Friends. Laughter. For the fact that I had a place to sleep that was safe. For a private bathroom. (You start listing - you begin to get thankful!) I quickly listed about 30 things and noticed that not only did I have a lot to be thankful for, but suddenly I was in a terrific mood!
Publisher Malcolm Margolin was grateful for something that's right outside our doors, but most of us have never taken the time to experience it. He wrote, "The next time it begins to rain... lie down on your belly, nestle your chin into the grass, and get a frog's-eye view of how raindrops fall... The sight of hundreds of blades of grass bowing down and popping back up like piano keys strikes me as one of the merriest sights in the world."
That might strike you as advice from a person with not nearly enough to do, but personally, I like it. If Margolin can feel joy in soggy clothes looking at wet grass, you and I can find all kinds of things for which we can give thanks!
Try it! Count your blessings. Jot them down. At least stop and think of as many things as you can that you're thankful for right now. It worked for Oprah, Zig, Margolin and me. Give it a shot. If you want to feel happy, try on an attitude of gratitude for a change in your mood, your outlook and you.
Attitude is Everything is a great resource to keep you positive everyday. It also makes a wonderful gift for friends, family and members of your team. It's filled with wonderful stories, great quotes and many "a-ha" moments that'll turn the switch from "off" to "on."
I am thankful for Fall Air!
I have had the pleasure of being outside the past few mornings when the sun is just appearing over the mountains, the air is crisp and fresh, the city is quiet and peaceful, and I am so happy to be alive! I am thankful for early mornings that help me focus on the day ahead of me and remind me how lucky I am to live the life I do.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Holla
Hello everyone. I have heard you got hammered with snow- funny thing is we don't have any up here in Western New York! Basically I would like to say hey and hope everyone is doing well and that I am so thankful to have such a great support system back home! As you all know first semester was a struggle for me, but now that I am back, I am having the time of my life! Everything has really turned around and it has a lot to do with you all being so positive and awesome, so thanks :). Can't wait to see you all over my SB, which is Feb 27- March 7.
Thanks for being the best family ever!!! and if anyone would ever want to skype, I'm always down to!!
LOVEE,
maureen
Thursday, January 28, 2010
I am thankful for the moon!
tonight i was walking back to my apartment at around 5:45 and i saw the most beautiful things. to my right was an amazing sunset of bright, bold orange and yellow in front of a clear sky and behind many outstanding mountains! to my left, already!, was one of the brightest, most full, largest, whitest, clearest moon i have ever seen! How pretty it was to walk home today! the sky is so clear, and wonderful! i am thankful for the opportunity to experience nature in its truest form :)
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
I am thankful for nature
Let's post about things in nature we are thankful for, and take time to notice things we may often see, but not really pay any attention to:
I am fascinated by the way the bare branches on the trees look when you are standing under them and you look up. It almost looks like a maze, it is very mysterious, confusing, beautiful, and at the same time concrete. Although I am sure all the trees look very different, today I realized how often I pass trees and don't really notice them. They are beautiful, even without their leaves, which typically makes them beautiful, and so vital to our lives. I am thankful that I can walk every day to school and take time to take in all that is around me. :)
What are you thankful for in nature?!
I am fascinated by the way the bare branches on the trees look when you are standing under them and you look up. It almost looks like a maze, it is very mysterious, confusing, beautiful, and at the same time concrete. Although I am sure all the trees look very different, today I realized how often I pass trees and don't really notice them. They are beautiful, even without their leaves, which typically makes them beautiful, and so vital to our lives. I am thankful that I can walk every day to school and take time to take in all that is around me. :)
What are you thankful for in nature?!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
so many little things
Over the weekend I had an old friend visiting, while she was at a conference. We remembered many of the small incidents we shared, the people no longer with us, and laughed a lot! and we always have laughed a lot - Lyn is an entertaining and sharp personality. She is now on the Charles County, W. VA county commission - and no doubt has shaken them up a bit!
I am glad I had the opportunity to work with her in Mont. Co, for 18 years - and that we can visit fairly often!
I am glad I had the opportunity to work with her in Mont. Co, for 18 years - and that we can visit fairly often!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
What to write about?
Hello - I 'm thinking of so much to be grateful for that I'll have to think where to start. Maybe start with Christmas, 2009. Everyone was together for breakfast, which is a great way to start the day.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
New Years!
hey guys! One thing I am thankful for right now is the opportunity that Lucy has set up for us here. I never thought about gratitude this way before so this may open my eyes to a lot of things and I hope we all at least try it and stick to it to see what we can make of it. Also, as well as both of you..I have taken my new years resolutions a bit more seriously this year for some reason. I do not believe I have ever really set or wrote down specific goals before so this year i did! Some of mine are to :
-Mary
- Find some hobbies (I'm thinking of trying cooking? or a new sport or game? I'm looking for new ideas so help me out if you have some pleasee)
- In trying to find new hobbies, I want to get out there and experience new things. Take on every opportunity and challenge that comes my way.
- Stay on top of school is always a good one. I want to go beyond the expectations; join some clubs, become more involved with my teachers.
- I want to try and write in the journal and blog as much as I can, start out with once a week at least.
-Mary
Saturday, January 2, 2010
first time!
hey everyone.
happy new years! this is blog number 1 for me and im not so sure what to write about. Today am also thankful for a new beginning as is lucy. even though it happens every year when people set goals for themself and say that they are going to stop doing this or start doing that, this year will hopefull be successful. although last year wasnt bad, we can always make this year much better. this year i want to accomplish...
1. go on a plane
2. give my hair to locks for love
3. i want to make dinner one a week (at tops!)
4. i want to write in the blog every week at least.
the list will grow when i think of things throughout the year. i hope you all find a new start and begin!, love everyone
-- traceyy
ps lucy i think its a good idea to have themes each week, it will help things flow.:] love youuu!
happy new years! this is blog number 1 for me and im not so sure what to write about. Today am also thankful for a new beginning as is lucy. even though it happens every year when people set goals for themself and say that they are going to stop doing this or start doing that, this year will hopefull be successful. although last year wasnt bad, we can always make this year much better. this year i want to accomplish...
1. go on a plane
2. give my hair to locks for love
3. i want to make dinner one a week (at tops!)
4. i want to write in the blog every week at least.
the list will grow when i think of things throughout the year. i hope you all find a new start and begin!, love everyone
-- traceyy
ps lucy i think its a good idea to have themes each week, it will help things flow.:] love youuu!
this is it!
Hi! it's so exciting to start this. And in congruence with my slight quote obsession it would only be right to start this out with some lovely words of wisdom...
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow."
--Melodie Beatty
Today I am thankful for new beginnings. I am thankful that, although every day can be a new beginning if you make it one, yesterday, January 1st, was created for everyone to remember that they can change, they can set goals, they can start fresh.
New Years is the day when all your talk about doing good and being amazing turns into a challenge and becomes real. I know I have set my standards high, and have for sure talked the talk. We'll see if I can live up to my own expectations.
Bring it 2010 :)
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow."
--Melodie Beatty
Today I am thankful for new beginnings. I am thankful that, although every day can be a new beginning if you make it one, yesterday, January 1st, was created for everyone to remember that they can change, they can set goals, they can start fresh.
New Years is the day when all your talk about doing good and being amazing turns into a challenge and becomes real. I know I have set my standards high, and have for sure talked the talk. We'll see if I can live up to my own expectations.
Bring it 2010 :)
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