The ABC's of Life...H is for Home

"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort." ~Jane Austen

"There is a magic in that little world, home; it is a mystic circle that surrounds and comforts & virtues never know beyond it's hallowed limits." ~Robert Southey

"Home is the one place in all this world where hearts are sure of each other. It is the place of confidence. It is the place where we tear off that mask of guarded and suspicious coldness which the world forces us to wear in self-defense, and where we pour out the unreserved communications of full and confiding hearts. It is the spot where expressions of tenderness gush out without any sensation of awkwardness and without any dread of ridicule." ~Frederick W. Robertson

Home is more than just a building with walls and windows...it's more than just furniture and knick-knacks and "stuff". It's a place filled with family and love and laughter. With warm hugs and the echo of "love you's" lingering in the air. It's a sanctuary and a refuge. It's a shelter from the outside world. It's filled with light and fresh flowers and stacks of books in every room. It's a place where your spirit can be free and your soul can be refreshed. For me my home is simple, casual and relaxed. It's comfortable. It's organized (for the most part...just don't look in the hall closet). It's where I can wear my comfy clothes and go barefoot. Home is where happiness lives.

The ABC's of Life...G is for Grace

"The winds of grace are always blowing, all we need to do is raise our sails."
~unknown

"Grace isn't a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal. It's a way to live."
~Jacqueline Winspear

"Life is a gift, and I try to respond with grace and courtesy." ~Maya Angelou


"Grace" means different things to different people. To me having "grace" means to...

Appreciate beauty in life (and I don't mean physical beauty)...count your blessings...be grateful and give thanks...help a stranger...be kind to others (and to yourself)...live your life with dignity...have humility...have a moral compass...have good manners...find the good in every situation...have poise...be a good winner (and a good loser)...take nothing for granted.

The ABC's of Life...F is for Focus.

"It's not what's happening to you now or what has happened in your past that determines who you become. Rather, it's your decisions about what to focus on, what things mean to you, and what you're going to do about them that will determine your ultimate destiny." ~Anthony Robbins


"We can always choose to perceive things differently. You can focus on what's wrong in your life, or you can focus on what's right." ~Marianne Williamson


"Our thoughts create our reality...where we put our focus is the direction we tend to go." ~Peter McWilliams




In life things will go wrong...and things will go right. Focus on the things that go right. You will make mistakes...learn from them, but don't dwell on them. Focus on the positive...not the negative. Be dedicated. Be disciplined. Be passionate. Be a dreamer...but also set goals and make your dreams become a reality. Make lists...and follow through. Stay on task. But in the end always remember to focus on what really matters...on love and on family.

The ABC's of Life...E is for Enjoy.

"Plenty of people miss their share of happiness, not because they never found it, but because they didn't stop to enjoy it." ~William Feather


"The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time." ~Bertrand Russell


"Not what we have but what we enjoy constitutes our abundance." ~Epicurious

Enjoy life...embrace it! Laugh and smile more...don't take yourself quite so seriously. Relax. Unwind. Relish the journey. Have fun...today. Enjoy spending time with friends...but also remember the importance of spending time alone. Life is too short...exercise and eat healthy foods (that includes a little chocolate now and then). Enjoy the beauty in nature and life's simple pleasures. You'll get a lot more out of life if you are grateful and think positive thoughts. Enjoy listening to music that touches your soul. Be creative. Delight in learning new things. Just enjoy being you!

The ABC's of Life...D is for Discover

"There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." ~Anais Nin


"Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore." ~Andre Gide


"Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart give yourself to it." ~Buddha


"Let your heart guide you. It whispers, so listen carefully." ~Littlefoot's mother (Land Before Time)


Don't ever stop discovering new things...about yourself and about the world.


* Learn a new language
* Try different types of foods
* Mix it up with your music...if you always listen to country try a little classical
* Travel to other cities, states or countries (or try visiting a park near your neighborhood)
* Attempt a new hobby...sew, knit, scrapbook, scuba dive (the sky's the limit)
* Read...if you have a favorite type of book, try a different genre.
* Take a class

No matter what you do...never stop learning. And who knows...you may even find your life's purpose along the way!

The ABC's of Life...C is for Celebrate

"Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey." ~Barbara Hoffman


"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate." ~Oprah Winfrey


"Celebrate what you want to see more of." ~Thomas J. Peters




Celebrate life! Have fun celebrating the "big" things (like birthdays and graduations), but don't forget to rejoice in the simple, little things in life too. This is something that we all know we should do...yet it's sometimes easy to forget when we get busy with our day to day lives. Take the time to observe, notice and celebrate...

sunsets and rainbows
finding a beautiful seashell on the beach
hugs from your kids (especially when they're teenagers)
selling a piece of your art (even if it's only a $2.00 note card)
taking a walk or going to exercise class (when you really, really don't feel like it)
a good night's sleep
organizing a junk drawer or a closet
a sunny day
the butterfly that lands on a flower (just as you're getting ready to take a picture)
bumping into an old friend
the kindness of strangers
hearing your favorite song on the radio
finding a four leaf clover

Celebrate the simple!