food for the soul 01.2011

One person working toward a dream is worth 99 people just working.

- Lani Kraus

We’ve all worked with people who just show up to fill space. Uninspired and stuck going through the motions, they pick up a paycheck on Monday and wait for Friday. Some are just killing time until retirement. Heck, maybe you find yourself in this situation. Not a very satisfying way to spend your days is it? Sounds like an easy life – except that in life, retirement can be permanent and unexpected. In your life, do you have a dream or a vision that you’re heading for, or are you puttering around vaguely? Before it’s too late, find a dream that’s worth the trouble. Nothing is wrong with hard work. Determination and elbow grease are what make the best dreams possible. But it’s interesting that most work makes us look downward, while dreams lift our eyes to the sky. While you’re keeping that nose to the grindstone, how can you keep your head up to see where you’re going? - SPARKPEOPLE TRANSLATION

food for the soul 12.2010

We should consider every day lost
in which we have not danced at least once.
- Nietzche

Each day is a new chance to find joy and to dance. If you let it pass or think it useless, the chance is gone and you’ll never get it back. When was the last time you played? Or just did something for the sheer fun of it? Joy is not found in the world around you, it’s within yourself. You can make your own joy, especially during those dark times when you need to really feel alive again. Fun and play are healthy antidotes to taking life – and ourselves – too seriously. They’re proven boosters of immune systems and mental health and make life worth the trouble. So do the twist. Sing in the shower. Learn a magic trick. Watch a cartoon. Challenge some kids to a game. Don’t let a single day go to waste. - SPARKPEOPLE TRANSLATION

food for the soul 11.2010

What reason weaves,
by passion is undone.
- Alexander Pope

Have you ever let reason and logistics get in your way or stop you from doing something? Many times we forget that our passion could propel us to success. Don't let logistics and reasoning stop you from trying something. For example, you may want to run a marathon. Your reasoning might say, "You can't! You are overweight or you've never done it before." But don't let this stop you! Use your passion and go for it! The first step is to find what you are passionate about. We don't spend much time thinking about what we are passionate about because in our society it seems like we spend our time worrying about the other person...use the rest of this week to seek out your passions and make goals to reach your dreams. -SPARKPEOPLE TRANSLATION

food for the soul 10.2010

Far away in the sunshine
are my highest aspirations.
I may not reach them
but I can look up and see their beauty,
believe in them
and try to follow where they lead.
- Louisa May Alcott

What would you do if you knew you could not fail? What kind of person would you be? What would at typical day look like? There’s a reason that star-gazing provokes the most powerful dreams. They’re right there for the taking, yet you can’t touch them. Their distance only feeds an ability to inspire. Dreams may seem out of reach, but that’s not the point of dreams. They’re there to be felt, not touched or dissected – what a star is made of is meaningless to a moonlit dreamer. The epic possibilities are what’s important. The payoff is not so much in the destination as it is in the journey. By following your dreams, you make their beauty a part of who you are. Your life begins to shine. You become a better person. By chasing that star, you’ve already captured its magic. -SPARKPEOPLE TRANSLATION

food for the soul 09.2010

You've got to think about "big things"
while you're doing small things,
so that all the small things
go in the right direction.
-Alvin Toffler

Do you ever think about your “big picture” goal? Are your small daily tasks helping you get there? It is important to know what you want to accomplish and to periodically check to make sure that your daily actions are helping you reach success. Goal setting is an important part of being a great leader. You must learn how to set a long-term goal and break it down into medium and short-term goals. Once you start breaking things down into manageable daily actions, your big goal becomes easier to achieve. -SPARKPEOPLE TRANSLATION

food for the soul 08.2010

There are only 2 ways to live your life.
One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as if everything is.
-Albert Einstein

What do you appreciate and what do you ignore? Is a sunrise any less special because its image wouldn’t make it on a magazine cover? Is any day less precious because, in your mind, “nothing special happened?” For some reason, it’s hard to be impressed with anything these days. Driving a car is a source of strain instead of wonder. The internet is already old news. Quick, when was the last time you paid attention to a space shuttle flight? Remember when that was all people could talk about? Once you take something for granted, you also take the life out of it. When nothing is “special”, boredom and gloom aren’t far behind. Look around where you’re sitting right now, and try to see it for the first time, like a child would. Think about the human potential that created the stuff in the room. Think about the miracles of nature right outside your window. Think about how amazing it is that you’re even here to see it. - SPARKPEOPLE TRANSLATION

food for the soul 07.2010

Never look down on anybody
unless you are helping him up.
- Jesse Jackson

It’s easy sometimes to look at others and think that you could do much better than them, put in the same situation. “If I were her, I could have lost that weight already!” “If I were him, there would be much less fighting in the house.” It’s so effortless to stand back and shake your head. Resist this temptation. You’ll never be able to fully understand another person’s situation. So instead of waiting by, observing, and judging, what can you do to help make that person’s life easier? Don’t preach or give advice, unless it is asked for. Listen to them. By being a friend, you’ll not only help somebody in a time of need, but you’ll be earning this in return when you someday need it. - SPARKPEOPLE TRANSLATION

food for the soul 06.2010

The best antique is an old friend. - Anonymous

Are you an antique lover? Even if you aren't, you can probably appreciate old things. Have you ever thought about an old friend being similar to an antique? Friends are one of the cornerstones of success. They are there to support you, celebrate with you, and so much more. Old friends are the best. Have you lost touch with someone? Perhaps today would be a good day to call them up or write them a letter? Maybe you haven't lost touch with your special someone...and today is a day that you can tell them how much they mean to you? Pick up the phone or buy a special card to send. You will not only make someone's day, but you will remind your special friend how important friendship really is! - SPARKPEOPLE TRANSLATION

food for the soul 04.2010

"What a man accomplishes in a day depends upon the way in which he approaches his tasks." -Arland Gilbert

Do you go to work each day grudgingly, or do you approach things with a cheerful attitude and view them as challenges? This distinction can really make a difference. You’ll waste more energy complaining about or dreading something than if you were to just go ahead and get it done. You’ll make better use of your time, as well, by just going for it. Are there days when you sit at work or somewhere else just looking at the clock, the minutes creeping by? This could be because you are avoiding your work and don’t really want to put in the effort. But on days when you bury your head in your work, accomplishing a lot, it might seem like time just flew by. So have the right attitude. Whistle while you work. -SPARKPEOPLE TRANSLATION

food for the soul 03.2010

“I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see.” -John Burroughs

If he felt this way at the start of the 20th century, imagine what he would think today. We have the freedom to do more now than ever before. But more options can bring more frustration, because we can still see all of the things we don’t have time for.

Before you plan another day/week/month/year, write this thought at the top of the paper: I Cannot Do Everything. It’s a truth that applies today even more than it did 100 years ago. Life becomes easier when you accept the fact that you will never be able to do everything you want. Once that happens, you can start to look at what you want to do the MOST, and plan accordingly. Priorities bring peace of mind. They help you relax, knowing that you’re doing all you can by making the most of your opportunity. Low priorities are the seeds of wasted time. And days don’t need any help getting shorter. -SPARKPEOPLE TRANSLATION

food for the soul 02.2010

Step back and take a look at yourself. Would you want someone to have your attitude? Are you generally happy, optimistic, and enthusiastic about life? Or are you generally frustrated, pessimistic, and bored with life? It is true that attitudes are contagious. Think about that one person you know who can walk into a room and make everyone smile and celebrate their arrival. Now think of the person that comes in and gets blank stares because people know that they are going to bring the mood of the room down. Which person are you? If you are feeling bored and frustrated with your life, take a second to think about why you might be feeling this way. Is it your career, your relationships, yourself, etc? Perhaps it is time to think about your Purpose and your Values and Beliefs and begin restructuring your life? Wouldn’t it be great to have an attitude that everyone can admire? -Sparkpeople Translation

food for the soul 12.2009

Are you able to find inner peace? This is a difficult task for many of us since the world is so busy and often frantic around us. In order to maintain good personal health it is necessary to think about inner peace. Find ways to reflect on your life and accept the things you cannot change. Meditation and breathing exercises can often help you calm your body down and find inner peace. If you cannot be at peace with yourself, it will be hard to be at peace at all...remember this as you try to become a more peaceful person. -SPARKPEOPLE

food for the soul 10.2009

Have you ever thought about happiness as a manner of traveling? Most people try to count or remember the times when they are happy. What if you couldn’t remember the last time you weren’t happy? Can you imagine the difference in your life if you made happiness an essential part of living your daily life? Today is a great day to start making this one of your goals. Try to travel through life exuding happiness and reap the amazing benefits! -SPARKPEOPLE

food for the soul 09.2009

Being persistent is extremely important when you are trying to implement a change in your life. You will accomplish much more by constantly trying than constantly giving up. Consistency is how you build a solid foundation. Without consistency forming good habits to replace bad ones or new habits to make life better will be virtually impossible. Of course, there will be failure…but that is when persistence becomes even more important. You must remind yourself of the concept two steps forward, one step back. You will overcome the failure and bypass it with even more success. - SPARKPEOPLE

food for the soul 08.2009

If a sport’s team did not have the dedication and will to prepare for games and practice to continuously improve, they wouldn’t have a chance. We can use this same thinking toward everyday life. If we do not spend the necessary time developing our foundation, we will never be able to reap the benefits of having a life of purpose. Creating a foundation is one of the core principles of the SparkPeople System for this reason. It is so important to start small and slowly move in the right direction, rather than start huge, fail, and give up. -SPARKPEOPLE

Start small and slowly move in the right direction rather than huge, fail and give up. I had to repeat that line over and over again because it made me hopeful of business plans I have in mind. I refuse to elaborate on it for now. Allow me to be secretive. But in a few months, on its kick-off day, the blogosphere will definitely be informed.

food for the soul 07.2009

Your body is one of the most fragile things you own and must take care of. All too often, we allow sickness, stress, other people, etc. to run our lives. Not only will you feel better but other areas of your life will also improve if you work toward good general health. It's very tough to stay consistent as you pursue your goals if you're laid up or constantly fighting off sickness. -SPARKPEOPLE

Exactly what I need. Being sick the past 3 days has been a wake-up call. I am not getting any younger and I should be extra careful with what I eat and with what I do. I know have said this several times but I will still say it again --- that I am bound to live a healthier lifestyle, beginning today.

food for the soul 12.2008

Breathe deeply.
And appreciate the moment.
Living in the moment could be the meaning of life.

Photo Credits: LunaDiRimmel

food for the soul 09.2008

You are not the wave. You are part of the ocean.
-Tuesdays with Morrie

Photo Credits: Hear the Ocean Sing by Night Fate

food for the soul 08.2008

Learn to forgive yourself and to forgive others.
-Tuesdays with Morrie

Forgive by OnlyCurious

food for the soul 07.2008

Cheer up! The onset of rain means a rainbow may show up next. -Anonymous.

Rain Theme by SielojRamu