The Neil Diamond song, Forever in Blue Jeans, contains the lyrics,
“Money talks
But it don’t sing and dance and it don’t walk
And long as I can have you here with me
I’d much rather be forever in blue jeans.”
There’s lots of wisdom in those words. Money can give us many things, but it can’t give us  someone who loves us unconditionally and becomes our soul mate/best friend.
I asked a good friend who helped people in very poor parts of the world what he did. He told me, “In the winter I go outside and shiver with the poor. In the summer, I go outside and sweat with the poor.” His words stuck with me. I came to realize that what counts more is my presence and not my words.Â
If I placed a patch on my body for each time I’ve been hurt, I’d look like a mummy. It’s better to forgive the hurts, learn from them, and let them go. Wounds will heal, scars will remind us of the lessons, and life becomes filled with hope.
You are awesome.
You are the rainbow after a storm.
You are just what our world needs.
You bring the sunshine into the darkness.
I always feel better when I fall in love each day. I may fall in love with a sunrise or sunset, the hummingbirds that visit my yard, gazing at a simple wild flower, or seeing a couple laughing and holding hands. Fall in love with this wonderful gift called life each day. It changes everything.
Do you use a check list? I do? I feel great when I put a check next to all the items on the check list. How often does that happen – I refuse to disclose on the grounds it may incriminate me. LOL.Â
Check lists are great for helping us to organize. They take away from our sense of peace if completing all items determines our self worth. Using a check list as a guide for the day is a good thing. Letting it dominate the day is not a good thing. Unexpected things happen that need our attention happen. Unexpected phone calls, emails, etc., are common. Go with the flow. It makes life a bit easier.
Each day is a new chapter. How are you going to write it? You’ll have some twists and turns, unexpected events, that’s for sure. Be the hero you were born to be. You’ll get through it, shining brightly leaving a well marked trail for others to follow.
Here’s a mental checklist:
What makes you sad? Do less of it.
What makes you glad? Do more of it.
What makes you frown? Do less of it.
What makes you smile? Do more it.
Put a zip in your step, a smile on your face, and a good word on your lips and you’ll carry the sunshine wherever you go this day.
If you’re from the same spiritual tradition as me, you’ll recognize the tips come directly from the Prayer of St. Francis. They are the emotional equivalent  Mediterranean Diet.
Taking the first step in any journey is often the most difficult.
The next steps come easier, and soon you’ll break into a run.
