Gratefulness and Encouragement~~ June 22

 

 

 

“No one who achieves success

does so without the help of others.

The wise and confident acknowledge

 

this help with gratitude.”

Alfred North Whitehead

 

Have you ever known anyone who never needed help from anybody? Do you have a mentor or someone who has helped you, coached you or been a positive influence in your life?

 

I am finding most people I know that are successful have had the guidance and help of other people and are also quick to give back to help others as well.

 

Appreciate those in your life, don’t forget to be grateful and acknowledge the things others do for you. I am grateful every day to all the wonderful people who encourage, empower, and have faith in me. I am happy and content and am truly grateful for the positive people in my life.

 

Susie Austin

Be Happy~~June 21

“Being happy doesn’t mean

 

that everything is perfect.

 

It means that you’ve

 

 decided to look beyond

 

the imperfections.” 

  

A lovely thought to start the day. Think of the people in your life, are any of them perfect?  We know no one is perfect and we know in order to be happy and content we need to look past others imperfections and realize this is a key factor in life. I remember my mother telling me when advising me as a youth, when choosing a mate make sure you find someone whose faults you can live with. Mothers are so wise aren’t they? I wish I would have listened to her more.

With friends acquaintances, family, and coworkers they all may have irritating qualities, problems, or even things we don’t approve of. The key is to love them anyway in spite of their imperfections. If we concentrate on the things that bother us about others we will not be happy, however if we look to the good in people we will be happier and have lower stress levels.

 

Being happy is a choice that we make every day, we can decide to be happy and overlook the small things or we can choose the other path, which one do you choose?

 

Susie Austin

Lets Look At Our Goals Today~~~~Susie Austin

Og Mandino: 

“I am here for a purpose and that purpose is to grow into a mountain, not to shrink to a grain of sand. Henceforth will I apply all my efforts to become the highest mountain of all and I will strain my potential until it cries for mercy.”

 

Let’s do a reality check today and see how much progress we have made on our goals and dreams so far this year. It is the beginning of May and soon we will have reached the six month point in the year, yes I know it is hard to believe.

 

This is a good time to assess and possibly make some changes in your plan for the year. If you have not started goals this is the perfect time to begin.

 

I believe we must be willing to adjust our goals as we make progress on our journey. Everything is a learning process. Successful people are committed to learning and realize you can learn from all life experiences. Successful people also know when to make necessary changes in goals, this is why writing them down is important. Make sure you continue to monitor your progress as you venture on your journey. Make necessary changes as you learn and grow, remember to stay positive and focus on all the good things  life has to offer.

 

Create a strategy for making your vision a reality, then build confidence and believe that you can really make it happen and your dreams can come true. The first step is to start, begin today to plan your life and start to write down your dreams and how they can become a reality; with vision and belief the future can be exciting and rewarding. Make this first step and walk into the life you are meant to have full of hopes and dreams.

 

Susie Austin

 

Live For Today~~~Susie Austin

“The best thing about the future is that it

only comes one day at a time.”

Abraham Lincoln

 

    

Today is the here and now, this day is what matters. What have you done today to make it worth while? Are you still stuck in yesterday? If you’re anything like me you may have a difficult time even remembering yesterday. I suggest to remember your best yesterdays and use them to move forward into the best of today and the best of things to come.

   

I had an interesting observation today; my nine year has been on vacation for the last nine days with a friend and her family. When talking to her, she talks of all the wonderful things and the fun adventures. On the other hand the teenagers were on a choir trip and although they had a wonderful time and many adventures they were quick to point out the negative as well. I believe there is so much negative in this world today people naturally look for it,

I have an idea I would like to purpose to you today. Look for the positive in today. When your talking about yesterday only remember the good things when it comes to the negative just don’t go there. It might take some practice but the results will be worth the effort.  

The best thing about the future is it comes one day at a time and each day we get a new start. If we mess up occasionally its ok, we are human the beauty of this is we get another day. The key is to not get caught up the bad but concentrate on the good.    

Today is a perfect time to begin a positive start on a more positive future!

Susie Austin

Happy Saint Patricks Day~~~Susie Austin

May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

traditional Gaelic blessing

The person who was to become St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was born in Wales about AD 385.   When he was 16, he considered himself a pagan. At that age, he was sold into slavery by a group of Irish marauders that raided his village. During his captivity, he became close to God.

 

 

His wishes were to return to Ireland, to convert the native pagans to Christianity.  He traveled throughout Ireland, establishing monasteries. He also set up schools and churches which would help him in his conversion of the Irish to Christianity.

 

His mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. He died on March 17 in AD 461. That day has been celebrated as St. Patrick’s Day ever since.

 One traditional icon of the day is the shamrock. And this stems from a more believable Irish tale that tells how Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity. He used it in his sermons to represent how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit could all exist as separate elements of the same entity. His followers adopted the custom of wearing a shamrock on his feast day.   

Today, people celebrate the day with parades, wearing of green and drinking beer. One reason St. Patrick’s Day might have become so popular is that it takes place just a few days before the first day of spring. Some say it has become the first green of spring.

 

 

Since I am part Irish I would like to think I maybe have a little luck of the Irish. 

Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket today.

 

 

I wish to extend to everyone a very happy St. Patrick’s Day, may the wind always be at your back and remember, God always has you in the palm of his hand.

 

 Susie Austin 

Gratitude Nutures the Soul ~~~Susie Austin

March 16

“If you concentrate on finding whatever

 is good in every situation,

you will discover that your life will suddenly

 be filled with gratitude,

a feeling that nurtures the soul.”

~ Rabbi Harold Kushner ~    

Today I would like to talk about the importance of being thankful and finding good in every situation.

Take a look at the weekend you most recently experienced. What did you do? How many positive things in the weekend can you remember and can you reflect on them? In every situation there are always good things that happen, however we need to be aware these good things and recall them often.

I try to encourage the positive in each day, for example I went roller skating over the weekend and I must say I did pretty well until I got a bit over confident and tripped over my own skate. I went down on my knees and had a pretty major fall. I think what I hurt the most was my pride. I assessed the situation and after I got up and we put the glass back into my glasses I decided to take a bit of a break. I did go back out for a little while to mostly prove to myself I could. I was very thankful I was still in one piece andMore importantly I was thankful my kids were having fun and we were having a great time together. I was by far the oldest mom out there and they were not embarrassed but proud.  

I was privileged to watch my son Dustin and my daughter Brittany perform in a beautiful concert with combined choirs along with a youth symphony orchestra. It was a beautiful day. When your heart is filled with gratitude, it will nurture your soul I know it has mine.

Susie Austin  

A Little Bit About Manners~~~Susie Austin

March 6

Manners are a sensitive

awareness of the feelings of others.

If you have that awareness,

you have good manners,

no matter which fork you use. 

 ~Emily Post

 

 

 

When deciding to discuss manners today I did not realize the scope of this one word. Did I want to discuss social manners, edict, table manners, morality, politeness, intercultural, bad manners or what not to do?

Think over the last two days, can you remember saying thank you. Please, may I help you? Did you offer someone your seat? Saying excuse me when you walk in front of someone or interrupted another during conversation.  What do you say when someone sneezes? 

Many of these things we take for granted; however what if you have never been taught these things? I believe there are many who have never been taught social skills and in turn come across as being rude.

  

I believe a great starting point would be to recognize and be aware of this in your life and in the lives of those around you. Is there something you could to assist others in a way that is not humiliating?

  

Have you ever thought about teaching or discussing this with others in your life? Manners are extremely important in life especially good ones. Rudeness seems both dehumanizing and threatening, and it is quite possible one may be acting out of ignorance.

  

Be patient and kind in dealing with others, as you may not know their circumstances. Teach by example, be a good role model and please, mind your manners. J

  

Thank you,

  Susie Austin   

A Little About Friendship~~~Susie Austin

January 28

The making of friends,

who are real friends,

is the best token we have

of a man’s success in life.”

- Edward Everett Hale

 

Today is a good day to talk about friendships and how they affect us throughout the course of our lifetime. I have the privilege to have many different kind of friendships in many different places over the years.

Do you remember your childhood friends and how important they were in your life? In teenage years friendships were more important than parents. The influences these friends have can significant influences either good or bad in the lives of teenagers. I believe any parent needs to be very aware of whom your teenage children are associating with. We carry friendships to different stages in our lifetime and in most cases friends have made a difference and impacted us in very special and positive ways. Think for a few minuets how your friends have influenced you throughout your lifetime?
There are friends who come into your life for a reason and some for maybe just for a season. To all we have a purpose but many times we forget about the special friends we have met along the way. If we are truly lucky we maybe have opportunities to reconnect with old friends, share some laughs and compare journeys.  I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to reconnect with old friends in which I have not seen for many years. I was a little concerned things would be different because of all the years and events over time. I am thrilled as I have laughed much, caught up with families and feel as if all the years in between have melted away. This is the true mark of real friendships. It does not matter what has happened over the years, what matters is the bonds have remained.
If there is someone in your life you have lost contact with over the years I encourage you reconnect. You might have to do a little investigation but it will be worth the effort.
Don’t hesitate to tell your friends you cherish their friendships and stay connected.  What a great feeling it was the other day when I received a phone call from a friend who just wanted to say hello my friend, I was just thinking about you and wanted to call you and tell you what a wonderful friend you are. Live life as it was meant to be, happy, healthy, in mind body and spirit but don’t forget to include your friends.

Susie Austin

 

Experience Life~~~Susie Austin

January 27

“Just as the wave cannot exist for itself,

but is ever a part of the heaving surface of the ocean,

 so must I never live my life for itself,

but always in the experience which is going on around me.”

Albert Schweitzer

 

 

Have you ever walked along the shore of the ocean and marveled at the wonder of it all? The ever changing tides, the sound of the sea? The world upon its self where all forms of life struggle for survival and it is not just the strong that survive? If you have not imagined the vastness of which the eyes can see and the tremendous power that goes along with it. Imagine the sound of the ocean, walking along the sandy beach and feel the sun on your face. When you learn to appreciate all these things, you can’t help but wonder of the Creator who gave us things to experience.

It may be the beauty of the rain and the rainbow, it might be the glistening snow on a dark winter night or it might be the look in your child’s eyes when they have told you they love you.

Just for today I encourage you to experience life and all the joy and wonder that goes with it. Look around where ever you may be and find the beauty. Which was meant to enjoy as it is everywhere. The key is to open your eyes and decide you want to be involve in life and all it as to offer. We are the key to our on happiness and our destiny. When we realize and understand this it picture is a bit clearer.

Close your eyes for a bit and imagine you’re in a beautiful and happy world. Open them and look around, see what you have and what you have to do to make that happen and make the decision to begin today.

As sea in all its majestic power can’t exist by itself we must realize we are part of Gods creation as well, and were meant to experience life and the beauty given to us. Look around and be thankful you are where you are at this exact moment in time.

Susie Austin

 

Slow Down You Move To Fast~~~~Susie Austin

January 26

Slow down you move to fast

you got to make the morning last

kicking up the cobble stones

looking for fun and feeling groovy

Mommas and the Pappas

We live in a fast paced society with little time to waste. We all have schedules, and obligations and commitments. It seems as technology progresses we become prone to progress in fast pace and stressful lives. We hurry up and wait to get there, drive to fast only to wait at the stoplight. Some talk on their cell phones, put makeup on and eat their breakfast all while driving to work!

I think of a simpler day when life was at a slower pace and it was not that long ago. I had a discussion with a friend recently in a busy airport as we were watching people which, by the way is very interesting if you have never done this I suggest trying it sometime. She and I had great fun observing all the activity around as everyone seemed very much in a hurry to wait. From the anxious parents with two year old having a temper tantrum, to the lady with the dogs, one in her purse and one in her pull along.

I wondered how it would have being an earlier settler in this country and traveling to a new land by horse and wagon with no Internet, iPod, or hot showers.

After thinking about this I can’t help but wonder how exciting it must have been for them venturing off into the unknown with hopes of a better future. I am sure there was a tremendous fear of the unknown but the excitement of a new and better life was their driving force.

They faced many difficult times and I can not imagine some of the hardships our forefathers endured, but they never gave up their dream. I believe this is just as true today for us but a different world. Along with modernization came social issues, drugs, greed and many more people, but with this came the “helpers”. These are the amazing people who have dedicated their lives to helping others.

Do you have a dream?

I encourage you today to get outside and look around and stretch your eyes. We live in amazing world where we have the abilities and resources to accomplish and see awesome things.

Enjoy, relax, slow down, put the cruse on to able to even view the ride. If we speed though this life to fast we just might miss the best things meant for us. The key here is today is to slow down, look around and enjoy the day.

Susie Austin