Kindness

Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness. ~Seneca

Do Good, Be Kind

“Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” ― Desmond Tutu

Social Media Monday

This week I checked out my Facebook, Twitter and Instagram postings. I found a Sesame Street quiz to see what character you are and I was happy, loveable Grover, a local crime tracker which was interesting and scary at the same time, pictures of Morgan and some quotes re-tweeted. Here's one of my favorites for the week. :) Hope you have a great week, Reader!

Inspirational Quotes ‏@Inspire_Us  Feb 12

We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same. -Carlos Castaneda

Social Media Monday on Tuesday

We had a very busy weekend! So, today I will catch up from our busy weekend, to talking about family and Social Media. :) Our oldest daughter wasn't going to come home this past weekend. It was her fall break (no classes Fri.-Sun.) However, all her activities and observations for Friday were canceled. She had plans with another girl who was staying on campus, but our girl was homesick because her younger sister's family birthday get together was Sunday morning. We've always all been together for birthday celebrations, so this was a bummer of a milestone-I do understand that will soon be the norm, not the exception. However, my in-laws said they'd drive 2.5 hours to get her and surprise our younger daughter. They didn't get back until 11pm and our oldest couldn't wait so she went in and woke our youngest. Our youngest has no recollection of this and slept-talked through it. In the morning, as our youngest was getting ready for her cross country meet, I told her to be careful not to be too loud. She asked why and I said because Sis was still sleeping. She ran in and crawled into bed with older sis, not knowing she had come in the night. :) It was a sweet sight to see. It will be nice to see our oldest again so soon when she comes back this weekend for the half-marathon the three of us are running in.
On Sunday we made a breakfast/brunch with some new recipes (which I will share on Friday!) And spent time celebrating our youngest, being together and then we all four headed to take our oldest back to school. We stopped at a local on-campus favorite restaurant for lunch and enjoyed just a little more time together.
Our oldest has started to think about transferring colleges for next year. Her roommate now, whom she adores, will be rooming in another dorm so she will have to find another or "wing it". Plus, she is a family girl, a homebody and I think she would like to transfer closer. However, she likes it where she is... So, another adventure. We told her she at least has a one year commitment, but she does need to be looking ahead to find the transfer information in advance.

I went back through my Twitter and Facebook posts for my Social Media Monday post and found that I tweeted/re-tweeted several quotes (see below), a link to Runner's World where they discuss running the muscle issue I have (piriformis), and this: 10 Apps to Relax Your Body and Mind from PBS. I haven't gotten any but some sounded interesting. (Some sounded silly, but who am I to judge. ;))

I hope you are feeling relaxed and healthy today, Reader!

• RT"@DrHenryCloud: Remember....when we open our mouths, something happens. Words are difficult to take back. Use them wisely.”

  • RT "@LiveInspired: Every smile makes you a day younger.
    -Chinese Proverb”

    • RT "@RealSimple: Today's thought: "It is never too late to do right." —Ralph Waldo Emerson #quotes”

Social Media Monday

On October 4th, I re-tweeted a "Real Simple" quote. I always love an inspiring quote, and like to share them, hoping for others to be inspired, as well. Do you have any quotes you like to live by, Reader?

Real Simple Magazine ‏@RealSimple4 Oct

Today's thought: "Each step upward makes me feel stronger and fit for the next." —Mohandas K. Gandhi #quotes

Grateful Quote July 8 2013

Whatever we are waiting for - peace of mind, contentment, grace, the inner awareness of simple abundance - it will surely come to us, but only when we are ready to receive it with an open and grateful heart. Sarah Ban Breathnach

Kindness

Today I saw someone's post on Facebook that made me unhappy, even though it wasn't to me. It was just unkind. It was one of those posts that, when you read it, you feel yucky, as if their words were an ooze that spread to you. My first thought is to respond, but then I know that's not what I should do. So, I immediately post a "kindness quote". That usually relieves me from the ooze. As I was searching for the perfect quote today, I found these and thought I would share. Again, I hope you experience some kindness this week, more than normal, and share some as well. We have the power to change the world-at least in our own corner, and a great way to do that is to spread kindness. :)

Today I bent the truth to be kind, and I have no regret, for I am far surer of what is kind than I am of what is true. ~Robert Brault, www.robertbrault.com


If you haven't any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble. ~Bob Hope


Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up. ~Jesse Jackson


A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble. ~Charles H. Spurgeon


It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice. ~Author Unknown


Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day. ~Quoted in P.S. I Love You, compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Quotes

This week my status updates in facebook have been positive quotes. I thought I'd share a few of them:

"Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine. ~Anthony J. D'Angelo

"Attitudes are contagious. Are yours worth catching?" ~Dennis and Wendy Mannering

If you don't get everything you want, think of the things you don't get that you don't want. ~Oscar Wilde

I had the blues because I had no shoes until upon the street, I met a man who had no feet. ~Ancient Persian Saying

Oh, my friend, it's not what they take away from you that counts. It's what you do with what you have left. ~Hubert Humphrey

Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. ~Winston Churchill

Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day. ~Author Unknown

There are exactly as many special occasions in life as we choose to celebrate. ~Robert Brault

Have loved this quote since the first moment I read it. "A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely." ~Roald Dahl

Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same. ~Francesca Reigler

If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it. ~Mary Engelbreit

Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures. ~H. Jackson Brown, Jr., Life's Little Instruction Book

Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples, don't count on harvesting Golden Delicious. ~Bill Meyer

What's been extra nice is that people are thanking me for doing so, that they have enjoyed them, as well. One friend who is a teacher said she shared one with her students who wrote them in her journal and said she'd like to hear one everyday. :)) You never know how you'll positively affect a life. :)

Quote

"Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." -Archbishop Desmond Tutu

New Quotes

The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts-Marcus Aurelius

"If you work really hard and you are kind, amazing things will happen."- Conan O'Brian (don't watch any late night tv guys, but saw links to this quote and clip here and here, and liked it.)

Read these on a blog I frequent and loved them. Thought I'd share on this cold afternoon. :)

Good Day!

Good morning, Reader! :) Hope you are smiling on this day, and that it is sunny where you are. Here, it is cloudy, raining and threatening snow flurries. Sadly, I didn't get a long run this past weekend and haven't run in about a week and a half! Have to be careful that I don't wait too long to get back to it! :) When we get a busy family schedule, though, that's what suffers, for now. :) I do keep up my weekly yoga, though. I enjoy it so very much! I have also cut back on my lattes! I was up to one per day! It's painful on the waistline and the wallet! But, I cut back to either no coffee or making regular coffee at home. Then neither the husband nor I slept well last night (actually, the husband didn't sleep well, thus his tossing and turning caused me not to sleep well, but it's neither here nor there. ;)) This caused me to want coffee to keep my eyes open! :)
I have gotten my time in with the Word this morning and liked today's Peace reference (Remember my word of the year? I chose peace. Then I looked in the concordance of my Bible and have been trying to read and write down a peace reference daily. Once I run out of them, as there aren't 365, I will go back and try memorizing them. :) Anyway... These two have become two of my new favorites.
Colossians 3:15 "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."
2 Thessalonians 3:16 "Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you."

I also found a couple quotes that inspired me to live my day, today:

“Face your deficiencies and acknowledge them; but do not let them master you. Let them teach you patience, sweetness, insight... When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another. ” —Helen Keller (1880-1968), author, lecturer, activist

"The brook would lose its song if we removed the rocks." —Wallace Stegner

“Confidence, like art, never comes from having all the answers; it comes from being open to all the questions.” —Earl Gray Stevens

I hope you, Reader, have a wonderful day and week ahead! :)

The Weekend

Here it is, another weekend, too long since my last post. I've been subbing and running errands. I've also been trying to get some things ready in advance for our spring break trip. We'll be camping again, with my in laws on the beach. I so look forward to it, especially with snow in the forecast for tomorrow. I will be shivering and thinking of pending sunshine. :)
I did end up running a 7 miler the day after I posted last, but that is the max distance for me, so far. I've been to my yoga class, and will miss it the week we're gone on break.
I've been thinking of ideas and projects for the long term sub position that will start in just a few weeks. I finished reading the newest Laura Childs book: Oolong Dead, a Tea Shop Mystery. They're always a good, fast read, filled with details and descriptions about food that make me drool. ;) I'm still reading The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austin for our book club, also. For our trip I have The Lucky One and the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society to read on our trip, since I heard they both were good. I have a few others on reserve at the local library, but most are out to other people and may not arrive before we leave. I've reserved some classics like A Separate Peace and Of Mice and Men. I haven't read them since high school and I like the different perspective I have on books, now, reading them as an adult.
I've been on Facebook a bit here and there, but not very much lately; too busy, I guess. I did change my quote today, though. Here is the new one:
"True religion is real living; living with all one's soul, with all one's goodness and righteousness." -Albert Einstein
My girls started their spring sports seasons last week. My oldest is running track and my youngest is playing soccer. Both were excited to get started since they've had practices for a while. Now we're just all hoping for nicer weather for their competitions (and our viewing! :))
That is all I have for now. I have been reading blogs and enjoying them, just haven't had time to sit down and write my own, lately. I will try to post again before spring break. Hope you are well!

New Quote

Saw this quote a while back-so long ago, I don't remember where, and wrote it down. Then I stuck it in my purse. I cleaned out my purse today and found the paper I'd written it on. Again, I thought "I really like this"... So, wonderful readers, I thought I'd share. :))

"Don't just live the length of your life, live the width of it as well." Daniel S. Goldin

Quote

Just read a quote I liked:
"Use what talent you possess:
the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best."-Henry Van Dyke

Love this!

I was in the midst of cleaning my desk, when I took a break to check my google reader for new posts. I saw this book excerpt in a post by Thimbleanna, and totally loved it. I printed this out to put on the fridge! :) Hope you get a smile! :) This excerpt is from Thimbleana's blog-thanks, Thimbleanna!

"It’s from The Twits by Roald Dahl and it’s describing Mrs. Twit. (Oh how we love Roald Dahl.)

But the funny thing is that Mrs. Twit wasn’t born ugly. She’d had quite a nice face when she was young. The ugliness had grown upon her year by year as she got older.

Why would that happen? I’ll tell you why.

If a person has ugly thoughts, it begins to show on the face. And when that person has ugly thoughts every day, every week, every year, the face gets uglier and uglier until it gets so ugly you can hardly bear to look at it.

A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely."

Here's to sharing sunbeams! :))

Quotes and Goals in Type

I found some of these while surfing other blogs, from blog to blog: see running blog column!

• "Life is a journey not a destination. Enjoy the journey. It will be over way too soon."
• "You can either live your life like a daring adventure or live your life safe but sorry you missed it."
• "The race is not always to the swift, but those who keep on running!"
• "I don't generally like running. I believe in training by rising gently up and down from the bench." Satchel Paige :)
  
• "Aiming for the marathon is a task of sorts which can include terrific highs and lows." -Bill Rodgers
  
• "Being a runner means you are now "free" to win and lose and live life to its fullest." -Bill Rodgers
  

I am committing myself to running most everyday, holding myself accountable by putting the "carrot" at the end of the proverbial stick by blogging my running goals. Goal: I am going to run another marathon: in 2007 and break the four hour mark. But....

I've been scared to commit to another marathon because, well, for starters it is hard work. Second, I am afraid I'll get a teaching job in the fall (which means all kinds of overwhelming changes for this household and me!!!) and not have time to train as I like. Also, the hubby will support any goals and decisions I make, it's just that he's a realist and brings me back to earth. :) It's time consuming for sure; weekend long runs can be two hours. And I know it might not work out... but I love running, once I get into a regular routine. I will think on it more, but this is a goal I hope to accomplish.

I did run again today-in incredible wind. It was great, even sunny for the first 5 minutes of my run...but then the wind kicked in and I'd swear I was in Chicago (the windy city! :)) I didn't wear anything on my ears, because of the sun at the start, so my ears hurt a bit, as well as the runner's cough setting in already. But I bettered my time: 4 miles in 29:24, wind and all. :) When I got home the sky was black. There's no "prediction for rain or showers" but the sky says otherwise... I feel great!! Three days...and counting! :)

Two more great quotes

"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." -Abraham Lincoln

"The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." -Marcel Post

Another good quote

"If you are lucky enough to find a way of life that you love, you have to find the courage to live it."-John Irving

Aumtumn quote I liked

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.
Albert Camus

Quotes

It is looking like a rain or storm is headed my way, the dark clouds blocking out the sun. I have a few chores to do, it is Thursday and my list says clean the upstairs, but I have scrapbooking on my schedule, too. I started it about a year ago and I am just doing yearly family albums, not going back and doing baby albums for the girls right now. I am mid March of last year and enjoy it when I take the time to get out all my supplies and work at it. In doing so, I come across quotes I like to use. There are some in the magazines I peruse, but there are also a number of sites I like to look up quotes online. Thought I'd share some:
http://www.worldofquotes.com/
http://www.quoteland.com/
http://www.quotegarden.com/
http://www.quotegallery.com/
https://www.terimartin.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=38
http://www.inspirationpeak.com/
http://www.brainyquotes.com/
http://www.annabelle.net/