After celebrating with your mom, take time today to get out into Mother Nature and celebrate the wonders and splendors and beauties she has to offer.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Your Friend and Pep Pal,
Lauren
Happy Mother’s Day, Including Mother Nature!
Category Archives: Thank You
When Your Alarm Clock Rings: Thoughts to Think from James Allen
There is a sense in which every day may be regarded as the beginning of a new life in which one can think, act, and live newly, and in a wiser and better spirit. ~James Allen
I came across a reading of a James Allen work entitled Morning and Evening Thoughts. As the title indicates, some of these thoughts are intended for the morning and the others are meant to be read at night just before sleep. Even so, they are all profound and, in my opinion, are good to listen to regardless of the time of day. In fact, if you can manage it, this recording could be helpful to have running as you go about the tasks of your day.
Just a note: James Allen had a deep faith. In some of these thoughts, he talks about Jesus and other Christian ideas. Please don’t let that hinder you! Feel free to substitute other holy or wise people such as Buddha, Mahatma Gandhi, or the Dalai Lama,. Feel free also to use descriptors that fit with your philosophy or faith such as instead of God, use The Universe, The Divine Intelligence, or The Great Spirit.
Have a listen and let me know what you think:
Your Friend and Pep Pal,
Lauren
Earth’s Sounds, Nature’s Prozac
The best remedy for those who are afraid,
lonely or unhappy is to go outside,
somewhere where they can be quiet,
alone with the heavens, nature and God.
Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be
and that God wishes to see people happy,
amidst the simple beauty of nature.
I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.
-Anne Frank
I love this quote by Anne Frank. I posted it yesterday but I just had to post it again today, all by itself, so you could read it and savor it.
I hope you can get outside or open your window and enjoy the sounds of Nature. Tonight perhaps you can open your window and let the night sounds lull you to sleep.
Enjoy!
Your Friend and Pep Pal,
Lauren
Exciting Week Ahead! A Review of the Piglet’s Quote Challenge
“…I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today.” said Piglet.
By the way, happy International Star Wars Day!
Today I want to share with you a few observations I’ve had regarding starting my day with Piglet’s quote in mind.
Here’s what I discovered:
~It’s great to receive happy surprises of unexpected gifts from friends and strangers–and even The Universe;
~It’s even better to receive boosts in self-esteem and gratitude that comes from helping another who may be struggling–even if the help seems to be a small, trifling thing;
~Best of all is to wake up feeling curious, with hopeful anticipation of what good thing might come along that day.
Awaking with a positive expectancy is the best and greatest gift I received this week. I’ve noticed that I was more buoyant and cheerful each day. I was better able to handle disappointments–the motherboard on my laptop crashing, several projects at work being more difficult and challenging than I’d anticipated. Naturally these things were frustrating but I found they didn’t get under my skin; I was able to shrug them off, focus on what I had to do, and then move on. I also discovered that I was more effective and productive this week, in spite of the setbacks and obstacles.
I’ve proven to myself that it really is true that waking up with and keeping a good thought in mind and holding onto a positive attitude does pay off! It really works!
What have you discovered during this week’s challenge of waking with Piglet’s thought in mind and holding it throughout the week? Feel free to share in the comments below. Thanks!
Your Friend and Pep Pal,
Lauren
Exciting Week Ahead! Another Form of Receiving
“…I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today.” said Piglet.
We’ve been rising to the challenge we gave ourselves earlier this week to wake each day with Piglet’s quote in mind.
When we think of Piglet’s quote, we usually think that something good is going to happen to us such as finding a quarter on the sidewalk, our grumpy boss being cheerful and giving us praise and recognition for the hard work we’ve been doing, or perhaps it’s hearing from a long lost friend and them insisting upon treating us to dinner at a fancy restaurant.
Receiving in this form isn’t the only way that exciting happenings can come about.
Let me explain. Last night I went to a Toastmasters meeting and, afterward on the way to our cars, I was chatting with a young man whose passion and dream is to become a public speaker encouraging and motivating kids. He overcame a very difficult and persistent bullying situation and is now a dynamic and engaging young man. He thinks his experiences can help other kids, and he’s absolutely right.
Because he’s so enthusiastic and so certain about his chosen path, I presumed he didn’t really need any help. Boy was I ever wrong! He has one foot in his dream life–making great connections, meeting and receiving the support of fabulous people–but he still had his other foot in his current “reality”–having to work full-time at another job, limited finances, living in a very small apartment.
I was able to remind him that big name motivational speakers such as Brian Tracy and Larry Winget went through their own difficult times. In order to get to their dream life, they had to do what was necessary to get there. Larry Winget had to sell his furniture, his house, his nice cars and take any job he could get in order to make ends meet. Brian Tracy started out as a dishwasher at a local restaurant and gradually (over years) he worked his way to where he is now.
I also reminded my friend to not let current “reality” be his focus. Of course, pay attention and be responsible with where he is right now, but to keep his eye on where he wants to go–the dream in his heart.
This was just the boost my young friend needed. He’s naturally cheerful and after our chat, he regained his focus and exuberance and bounded to his car.
My exciting happening was feeling so honored, pleased, and grateful that I had the right examples and expressed them in the right way so that he heard them and received them.
I’m still riding high!
What have been your exciting happenings this week? Please share in the comments below. Thanks!
Your Friend and Pep Pal,
Lauren
Exciting Week Ahead: May Day!
“…I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today.” said Piglet
Happy May Day!
Yesterday we challenged each other to wake up each day with Piglet’s quote in mind. How’s it going for you so far?
Today makes it easy to be excited because it’s May Day–a day to revel in the fact that spring is definitely here!
How are you going to celebrate the day–what “exciting happening” are you looking forward to?
My exciting happening, the way I plan to celebrate May Day, is to enjoy the beauty of the blooming trees and flowers and to delight in the pale green haze of budding leaves on the trees.
I love that bright green color and how it has a lacy quality on the trees right now. With the weather turning warmer, the delicate filmy color lasts for only a few days so I plan to enjoy it while I can!
Let me know how you bring Piglet’s quote to life today and also let me know how you’ll celebrate May Day. Thanks!
Your Friend and Pep Pal,
Lauren
Back by Popular Demand: Quiet Time
Today’s update to the post following below is to sit outside today during your quiet time. Enjoy the splendor and gifts of the new season. In the Northern Hemisphere we’re enjoying springtime. In the Southern Hemisphere it’s autumn, which has its own magnificence.
Let the glories of the season surround you and infuse you. Enjoy and be grateful in your Quiet Time today!
Your Friend and Pep Pal,
Lauren
PS: The article below was originally posted on January 10, 2016.
Quiet Time
Make time for quietness today. Whether you spend that time meditating, praying, being alone with your thoughts, contemplating, or some other practice, take the time to do this today.
It helps make space in your life; it gives you a chance to breathe and just be. It gives you an opportunity to get some perspective on your life and see it in terms of a picture that’s much bigger than you. And, it gives you a chance to process things that may be weighing on you so that you can make your peace with them, let them go, and move on.
Your homework today is to give priority to Quiet Time first thing in the morning. If you’re new to this and don’t quite know what to do, you can sit quietly and gently think about the things in your life that you’re grateful for—the small, simple things are just fine.
Another technique is to listen quietly to music that uplifts you or softly gaze at a picture that makes you feel good.
Extra credit is to do this first thing every morning and last thing every night before bed.
You go directly to the head of the class if you do this first thing every morning and last thing every night before bed AND if you spend the time focusing on thanking the Universe for all the Goodness It sent your way, regardless of the kind of day you had, and then thinking about some of the things for which you are grateful!
You can do this, I know you can!
I’m so proud of you!
Your Friend and Pep Pal,
Lauren
