When Life Hands You Lemons

I’m sure many of us can attest that we’ve been pelted by lemons at some point in our lives. Thrown the proverbial curveball that changes everything, some people refer to it as life handing you lemons. As you know, the rest of that saying is:

When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.

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But what does that mean exactly? Make the best of your situation? Drink lemonade? Accept the disappointment, curveball, illness, and do something positive with it? Well, as someone who has made her share of lemonade, I’d like to change it up because I’m not really a fan of lemonade myself. Are you?

But I’m not sure how to do that. So I thought I’d check in with my sweet, longtime blogging friends and ask the question to you. I know many of your stories for having been reading your blogs for many years, I know none of us have escaped the lemons in life which have made us stronger. So how would you change up that quote?

When life hands you lemons…

Feel free to enjoy and share whatever comes to mind…I always enjoy a good laugh by the way!

Shine On!

xo

Wisdom From The Little Prince

“It’s madness to hate all roses because you got scratched with one thorn, to give up all dreams because one of them didn’t come true, to give up all attempts because one of them failed.

It’s folly to condemn all your friends because one has betrayed you, to no longer believe in love just because someone was unfaithful or didn’t love you back, to throw away all your chances to be happy because something went wrong.

There will always be another opportunity, another friend, another love, a new strength.

For every end, there is always a new beginning…..

And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

Just a little heartlight inspiration for the beginning of August on a Sunday morning because I feel as if we may need a little soothing reminder. While I am not posting a Rabbit Rabbit, I still hope that you remember it as I do.

Shine On!

xo

What’s Your Piece Of Good News?

“Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news.

The good news is that

you don’t know how great

you can be!

How much you can love!

What you can accomplish!

And what your potential is!”

~Anne Frank

I saw this quote today and felt like I had to share it with you!  How incredibly inspiring Anne Frank was even under her dire circumstances!  I recall reading her diary when I was in school and it reminded me of how strong we can be when we have no other choice!

So since it’s Monday and the start of a new week (and the start of school for some students), I thought I’d send a little bit of inspiration to you!

Happy Monday My Friends!

Shine On!

xo

A Simple Sunday Reminder

Mother Teresa is quoted as saying, “We can do no great things, only small things with great love,” which to me is a Simple Sunday Reminder.

I harken back many times to the moments when a simple kindness helped me so much.  I imagine that many of you have felt that gratitude when it happened to you as well.  The receiving of a thoughtful gesture, even as simple as a smile when one is feeling low can feel like something great when love and kindness accompany the small thing.

Simple kindness can be very healing.  One doesn’t need big expensive gestures to make a difference.  It is in the small acts of loving kindness that we build a bridge between souls and fortify relationships and spread love across continents.

A kind word, a hug, a smile and taking the time to listen with an open heart don’t cost a cent.  Sharing a moment with someone in even the simplest of ways often makes more of an impact and a difference than ‘great things’ which aren’t required.

Mother Teresa’s quote has often been a part of my life here.  As my life simplified, it has become even more of an integral part of my soul vision.  I see clearly how all that has happened in my life has led me to a greater understanding of myself and of others.  Peace reigns in my heart.  In that simple peace there is just that, simplicity, without the trappings of what is no longer needed.

So my Simple Sunday Reminder is, as always, to continue to shine your heartlights and know that the ‘small things with great love’ matter more than you will ever realize.  God Bless.  Enjoy your Sunday!

Shine On!

xo

 

 

World Kindness Day Inspiration

Kindness has a beautiful way of reaching down into a weary heart and making it shine like the rising sun.

~ Unknown

World Kindness Day, the purpose of which is to highlight good deeds in the community, focusing on positive power and the common thread of kindness that binds us was the other day.  I’m sorry I missed it as it was celebrated on November 13th.  In fact, it happens on that day every year and began back in 1998!

There are a multitude of quotes about kindness, but the one above has a special meaning for me for I have known kindness in my life that has unexpectedly lifted me up when I needed help.  I believe that’s the importance of kindness.  Do you feel the same way?

Kindness counts in so many ways and one never knows how even a smile can change another person’s attitude or even life!  So please, remember to be kind!  Shine your heartlights with the warmth of kindness!

Shine On!

xo

 

Never Borrow Sorrow From Tomorrow

Deal only with the present,

Never step into tomorrow,

For God asks us just to trust Him

 And to never borrow sorrow-

For the future is not ours to know

 And it may never be,

So let us live and give our best

And give it lavishly-

 For to meet tomorrow’s troubles

 Before they are even ours

 Is to anticipate the Savior

 And to doubt His all-wise powers-

 So let us be content to solve

 Our problems one by one,

 Asking nothing of tomorrow

Except “Thy Will be done.”

  ~  Helen Steiner Rice

 A good reminder for a quiet Sunday afternoon.  May your week ahead be lovely!

Keep shining your heartlights!

Shine On!

xo

What Makes You Shine

 

Always see what best you can do for everyone around you. It is this sense of offering that will make you shine.

~ Isha Sadhguru

I always find it fantastically believable when I am led to find something new, whether it be advice, music, someone’s heartfelt quotes or just a sense that I’m on the right path.  So it was no surprise to me to have found this quote which occurred yesterday by Sadhguru who was previously unknown to me.

Of course, the part about ‘make you shine’ is what touched me deep inside.  I write Shine On to end my posts and that began years ago because it came to me, just as the tagline, The Presents of Presence.  For me, inspiration strikes at the most inconvenient times when I am sleeping and wakes me up.  But I have learned to listen with a keen, open heart for inspiration such like opportunity only beckons once and then moves ahead.  So when given a moment of inspiration, I seize the opportunity.  Have you ever heard of Sadhguru?

So today, as in all days, see with your heart those around you and offer your help to allow yourself to shine even more brilliantly!

Shine On!

xo

 

 

Light, Love and Faith

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.

Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

~~~~♥~~~~

“I have decided to stick with love.  Hate is too great a burden to bear.” 

~~~~♥~~~~

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

~~~~♥~~~~

Quotes above by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in honor of the holiday today.

I think we could all use a bit of inspiration!

Shine On!

xo

September 1st Rabbit Rabbit

In honor of September 1st and our tradition of Rabbit Rabbit, White Rabbit, White Rabbit, I thought I’d include this special page from the book The Velveteen Rabbit.

May your September begin with much health, love, and gratitude!  May you have the loveliest month ahead!  Keep shining your heartlights please because many of us are still on TILT and our world could use all the kindness, compassion, patience, understanding and love that we can give!

Shine On!

xo

Friendship Lifts Us

“The circles of women around us

weave invisible nets of love

that carry us when we’re weak

and sing with us when we are strong.”

A long time friend’s Mom passed away recently.  As the text went out to all the girls, letting us know, we rallied as we often do in the face of sadness.  Exactly one month later, we received the news that her Dad passed away.  Both parents in such a short period of time is devastating to me.  I can’t even imagine her pain and sadness.

We all feel her pain for we have parents too.  Some of us still have parents living and others have mourned the loss of our parents’ demises in all different forms.  But what keeps us together is the bond of friendship we share.

I find it interesting that the group who surrounds my friend is a mixture of girls from high school, but not all of us were close in high school.  But the willingness to be there for someone else in their time of need supersedes whatever our relationships once were (and there is even someone in the group who didn’t really know her, but yet is a staunch supporter of her in this time of need because she understands how it feels).

How much of a blessing is that?

So today I ask that you reach out, gather around, bond and connect with people.  Shine your heartlights.  Hold hands in friendship.  Be still.  Be kind.  Listen with an open heart.  Be the loving souls you are please.  I think our world could use a bit more of that everyday.

Shine On!

xo