Happiness Is a Choice

      Good evening everyone,
I'm tired. I am bumping this up. I wrote this last year on May 23rd. It a message that is still worth hearing. I trust that you will enjoy it.
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      Today has been wonderful; the weather is lovely. This morning, the skies showered the region, scrubbing the air and refreshing it. I'm mindful of a quote: "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."  Abraham Lincoln echoed this sentiment when he said happiness requires very little, it's all in our way of thinking.

         I choose to be grateful, full of hope, looking backward with thankfulness and looking forward with eager anticipation. I'm thankful because I know I'm not alone.

Priorities That Contribute to Our Sanity and Serenity ........4/6/12

      I just got in from spending time with others. I followed up that time with watching a movie in Union City.  I'm bumping up the following post. I think you'll enjoy it.
     I hope it adds perspective as to what is our responsibility and what isn't. As always, I ask you to take what you like and leave the rest. I'll write more tomorrow. I need sleep as I'll meet with two clients in the early afternoon.

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"Amidst the constant turmoil and drama that surrounds us, as we live life, many stop
 noticing what is going on with themselves.Something more important and life threaten-
ing always seems to intervene....When we acknowledge a situation as it is, we want
look at our options instead of looking at the options available to other people."
                                                                                   Courage to Change, p.359
      
            It Is Never My Responsibility To: 

G

ive what I really don’t want to give

Sacrifice my integrity to anyone

Do more than I have time to do

Taming the Dragons Within. Have You Ever Heard of Al-Anon Family Groups? It May Tame Your Dragons, Too.

”The best way to pay for a lovely 
moment is to enjoy it.” — Richard Bach

    Good evening,
I just got in.  How was your day?
My Gratitudes for Wednesday:
Paying Ninety-nine dollars for wisdom
1. I found out what's wrong with my car.
     I'm going to fix it at a $avings of $500.00. That's a pretty good deal. My mechanic used his diagnostic machines to let me know the problem and a bang of the hammer to temporarily fix it.
     I thought it

 “There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude,
 a quiet joy.” — Ralph H. Blum
 Image: "Tulip" by Ddsnet

       Good morning everyone,
I got carried away with my studies and missed my usual deadline. How was your Tuesday? Mine was good. I'm seeing progress----my car will be fixed in a few days. My mechanic is popular. He was not able to see my car until today.
My Gratitudes for Today:
1.  I took care of practical duties today. It always reduces mental clutter when I do.
2.  I visited with my youngest son.  I was disappointed

Getting What We Tolerate (And, Thankful for My Reptilian Mind) ..................4/3/12

 “Grace isn’t a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal.
 It’s a way to live. ”       — Attributed to Jacqueline Winspear

       Good evening one and all,
Did you have a good day?  I did. I'll get to keeping our cool when with an angry person and about using our reptilian mind after these gratitudes.

Good evening one and all,

Did you have a good day?  I did.

My Gratitudes for Monday:
1.  I got a ride to San Leandro; someone offered to take me there. This is the destination where I've had some adventures on my way to and from this place. I was touched by Naomi

Unexpected Kindness and Enjoying The Dialog We Share

The woman in the story below was maybe ten years older

      Good evening everyone,

It's fun talking with those who write in the comments section.  I enjoy the one-on-one time we share. Thanks for letting me know what's on your mind and sharing your gratitudes.

       As you know, if you sign the registry to this inn by posting, I'll reply. This week, you guys kept me busy.  If  you can't remember where you wrote your comments, check the box on the bottom right corner of this inn.  Click on your posting and you'll see our dialog.
My Gratitudes for Today:
Unexpected Kindness
        First, this morning, I walked in the rain, heading towards Park St. when a young woman spoke to me.  She sort of spooked me, I didn't know she was there. Sandy had observed me walking in front of her. She asked if she could share her umbrella with me.  Of course. What a great way to start the day.
        We strolled several blocks, chatting. When we arrived at my destination, we spoke for a few minutes. Offering me a shared umbrella was a first. I told her so. It was the sweetest thing that would happen this day, I said.
        It was.
        Her number I got before saying good by. We made plans to get together for coffee. Earlier, I arrived home at 1:00 a.m. after taking in two movies Friday night. I wrote replies to comments until 3:45 a.m. this morning. I didn't get to bed until 4:30 a.m., arising at 9:30.  I couldn't sleep, being wired from soda I drank at the theater.
        After saying bye to Sandy, I joined a gathering of friends. It was 10:30 a.m. and the day was already terrific.
         I pushed my body by attending.  But experiencing support and intimacy is inspiring. It strengthens my hope for mankind; my need for inclusion, empathy and consideration are met.
        After the event was over, five of us lunched at Juanita's. Yum, and filling.  So was our conversation, authenticity and talking with others who are present, enjoying life in the moment is awesome.  I'm happy I've been taking care of myself by hanging out with positive people, receiving plenty of love.

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Slowing My Mind Down: Good for Me!

        Secondly, I napped early Friday evening. Later, I saw two first-run movies, free. Not bad. It was great laughing, being in my body.
        So often, I'm in my head.  I laughed plenty while watching the latest Will Ferrell movie, "Casa de Mi Padre." Several parts of the film was corny, deliberately so. That was part of the fun in watching it. Sometimes I need to shut off my mind and enjoy plain silliness.  I did.
        Last gratitude: I had a terrific day at the office on Friday---my work is fulfilling. Someone entered my office agitated and depressed. Before we were done, she felt lighter and was happy. I'm not saying that's always the case, but it was Friday.
So How About You? 
1.  Can you share when someone recently did you an expected favor?
2.  What is it that you enjoy about your friends?
3.  What do you do, to shut down your mind, to give yourself a break from the pressures you feel?
        I always enjoy learning from you. I look forward to hearing your answers.
        I'm off to bed,

Heaven is Now (Also, Experiencing Community: A Terrific Way to Be Nurtured) ..............................3/29/12

 “What if you gave someone a gift, and they neglected to thank you for it-would

 you be likely to give them another? Life is the same way. In order to attract 

more of the blessings that life has to offer, you must truly appreciate what you

 already have.” — Ralph Marston

Spoke Before A Group
       I spoke last night.  For me, talking before others is fun, something I've done for decades. The awareness that's stimulated

Staying In the Solution: Moving Beyond Being Stuck ..............................3/28/12

What a lot we lost when we stopped writing letters.
 You can't reread a phone call.  ~Liz Carpenter

       Wow, an amazing day. How was yours?
We Don't Need to Stay Stuck
       A letter to a friend, I wrote at five in the morning.  It was intense, but necessary.  I'm less emotionally constipated when I

God Isn't Limited By My Perspective

“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our
 hearts are conscious of our treasures.” — Thornton Wilder
Image: Redwood Regional Park. It's in my neighborhood.
 I love the canopy of green, amazingly majestic!

      Good evening,

Wet weather kept me indoors today, making me antsy. I've gotten the exercise bug and now miss it, when I'm unable to scoot around on my bicycle.  However, we've needed this weather; we didn't get much of it this winter.
     The nearby hills are luminescently green, vibrantly alive, always a pleasure to view. The scrubbing of the metropolitan air with the recent showers and the