Category Archives: Positive Thinking

My new motto–and you have my permission to quote me!

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One of my social media outlets is Pinterest, though I usually only go there occasionally because of my situations, obligations and physical conditions.

The other day I was re-pinning a post from another user on my GREAT THOUGHTS board and made a statement which was entirely my own, out of my heart. I have chosen to make it my new motto. The statement was: “Strive to be your best even at your lowest point.”

This year I have been on a roller-coaster ride from highs to lows and vice versa. I have truly reached some of my lowest points. The deaths of my son, my uncle, my cousin and a dear friend; multiple injuries resulting in surgery, and heavy dental procedures resulting in continuous pain–the last two not being over yet. And there have even been other great upsets.

Even at the lowest points I have chosen to retain faith in God and the gifts that have been granted to me which keep me going.

Sure, I have had moments when I was less than positive, but I have always picked myself up and taken another positive step.

So when life “gets your goat” (see my book Most Comprehensive Origins of Cliches, Proverbs and Figurative Expressions for this one), remember to drag out my personal motto: “Strive to be your best even at your lowest point.” And you may quote me on that!

 

The pen is mightier than the sword

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It was pleasing to me to find that while I was away for the past several days visiting family and doing research for a new book, that folks were still clicking on my blog and buying our books.

The world is full of strife, and if that’s what you want to hear about and meditate upon, our news media will be happy to hand you plenty of fuel for the flame of anxiety and greed. Newspapers and television sell their products by honing in on the gross atrocities which surround us.

At St. Clair Publications we want to give you an alternative. Why not relax and order your copy of Most Comprehensive Origins of Cliches, Proverbs and Figurative Expressions, and at the bottom of page 416 you will see this:

pen is mightier than the sword, The

This metonymic adage was coined by British author Edward Bulwer-Lytton in Act II, Scene ii of his 1839 play, Richelieu loosely based on a cardinal by that name:

“True, This! —
Beneath the rule of men entirely great,
The pen is mightier than the sword.”

**************************************************************************

I much prefer the pen to the sword (or terror plot, murder, storm or pestilence). But even the pen (or computer) can do both harm and good.

For today, why not meditate upon the good.

Moments that take our breath away

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There’s a proverb that says, Life is not measured by the nember of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. How true. With all of the ugliness we see on the news one might think that all is bleak–that no one cares–but that is not true. God cares for us all, and we are all in His hands.

If we paid less heed to media hype and spent more time on positive matters, we would see that there is much good to behold. So absorb yourself in your blessings today, not the evil which lurks in the dark corners of the minds of those who see no hope.

Think of the beauty of nature–the purple mountains’ majesty, the unconditional love of a mother for her child and that of the Creator for His creation. Read some inspiring poetry; watch an uplifting film.

The beauty, love and hope are out there for free. Inspiring poetry may be found in many places. One good source are books from St. Clair Publications like my Reflections on Life, Inspirational Poems of Encouragement by Philip C. Vinson and Apprentice on a Journey.by Canadian poet and music teacher, Susan Flemming.

Lose yourself today in a moment which will take your breath away.

A Sense of Accomplishment

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At the end of each day I mentally review the events of that day from a personal prospective and ask myself what I have accomplished that day. Have I done anything which will positively impact the lives of anyone else? Have I accomplished anything which will have a lasting effect for good? If the answer is ‘no,’ then I want to try to do something positive before retiring.

Not every day in my life or the lives of any single person are what we would wish they could be. Not every action I have taken is one that I now am proud of. Some days are filled with circumstances which we wish would never have arisen, but which we could not avoid. But how we react to those negative happenings determines whether or not we can look back on that day with pride or regret.

Remembering that I alone have control over my actions and destiny helps me to make more wise decisions rather than foolish ones and enables me to accomplish more with my time and talents. We all have the same number of hours in a day, and what we do with them are up to us. I trust that today will be a good day for everyone who stops long enough to read these words. Vaya con Dios.

Garbage trucks

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I get a lot of emails that I don’t ask for, as everybody does. Most of them are ‘spam,’ and there’s a story behind how they came to be called that, but I won’t get into that now, because that’s not what this post is about. I got one unsolicited email this morning from a friend that I took time to read, becaise it flowed along the stream of thinking which starts a positive day. I’m reposting it below. It’s food for thought.

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us.  My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly.
So I asked, ‘Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!’
This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, ‘The Law of the Garbage Truck.’

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment.
As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they’ll dump it on you. Don’t take it personally.

Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don’t take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day.
Life’s too short to wake up in the morning with regrets,
So … Love the people who treat you right.
Pray for the ones who don’t.

Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!

Have a garbage-free day!